Page 105 of Liars and Liaisons

“Are you interested in my Violet?”

We turn to find Amelia leaning over her armrest, blue eyes fixated on me.

“She’s not a car I’m looking at buying, so, no, I wouldn’t say I’m interested.” I check my phone again, my chest deflating when my messages still haven’t been sent, sending anxiety spiraling through my veins. “I am, however, your future son-in-law.”

She gives me a slow once-over. I wonder if she’s trying to assess if I have money and how she can get her hands on it, just like her husband.

Finally, she asks, “Do you have tillable land? Places she can plant flowers and raise vegetables?”

I nod, my brows furrowing. “Whatever I don’t have, I can get her.”

“Do you love her?” A pause. “Would you love her, no matter what? Even if… if she developed a gambling addiction and couldn’t stop spending your money? Or if she had an affair and wound up pregnant with another man’s child and then abandoned that child because she was too afraid of owning up to her mistake?”

My hands curl into fists. I’d tear out the spines of anyone she ever dared to smile at, but I’m not sure I should mention that to her mother.

Besides, the way Kal’s jaw works, it doesn’t feel like that adage is really for me. I don’t know their exact history, but Violet did say Kal was the product of her father’s affair, so it’s not difficult to put the pieces together.

Not for him either, it appears. A muscle works slowly in his jaw, and I wonder if his head ever aches for days after clenching. The way mine does when I’ve gone too long without playing a few chords on the piano.

Eventually, I nod at Amelia. “There’s nothing she could do that would make me stop loving her. It’s… instinctual. My soul is bound to hers.” Even if she doesn’t exactly know it. “I’d be content to just exist in her orbit.”

“Good.” She sits back, folding her hands in her lap. “Then, you have my blessing.”

I’m half-tempted to point out that I didn’t ask and don’t need it, but then her gaze slides to Kal’s stone-faced form, and I keep quiet. She opens her mouth, clearly contemplating speaking to him, but ultimately closes it and rests her chin in one hand.

Good. I don’t want to be in the middle of a reconciliation—or otherwise. They’ll work out their issues whenever they have a chance to. Or maybe they won’t. I don’t know or care. It’s not my problem.

The only thing on my mind at all is getting back to my Little Echo as quickly as possible. Taking her away from Duris and keeping her safe.

Then, I’ll find Nathaniel and cut out his tongue for threatening her. I’ll rip off his fingernails and force-feed them to him and then remove each finger after the agony makes him pass out.

I don’t think I’ll feed him to my goats though. They deserve a better, more balanced meal. Plus, Violet’s been feeding them, so they won’t be particularly starved for anything I throw their way.

But maybe I’ll hog-tie him and toss him in the barn with them anyway. Let them urinate and defecate on him before I inject a beautiful cocktail of lethal street drugs into his system. Just to watch him go out the way Sydney did.

The rest of the flight is tense, but luckily over soon enough. As soon as we’ve unloaded at Boston Logan, a call comes through my cell, and I swipe it open immediately. Dread fills my chest before she’s even spoken.

“There’s a fire at the estate,” Riley rushes out, her words almost blurring with how quickly she speaks. “I just got the alert that emergency crews are on their way.”

Nausea clogs my throat. “Why am I just now being told?”

“I’ve been trying to reach you for the last forty minutes. The cell towers must be fucked up or something. None of my calls have been going through to you, and my cameras have been struggling to stay online.”

I consider that. “So, you don’t have eyes on the estate?”

“No, I have eyes on it. Please, I’m not an amateur. That’s why I’m telling you that your barn is on fire and I can’t reach the people inside the house.”

Swearing under my breath, end the call and scan the curb outside for Janus or Arsen, coming up empty. With their absence, I make a mental note to fire them later.

Behind me, Kal snaps his fingers to get my attention. A valet attendant brings forward a blacked-out GMC, and his assistant hops behind the wheel while he takes the passenger seat. Amelia and I climb in the back, neither of us bothering to buckle as the redhead peels out of the airport.

It’s a solid two-hour drive to the estate, and now, I’m struggling to focus on anything other than getting back and getting Violet out. We’ve not had rain in over a week, and those trees are kindling, even when the ground is wet.

Shooting a quick text to Priya, I ask if she’s seen Nathaniel.

Priya: Yes. He’s very boring. A jog through Central Park, coffee and scones, and then picking up dry cleaning. Not sure this is the guy you need to worry about.

Frowning at the screen, I reply with flying thumbs.

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