Page 26 of Liars and Liaisons

My jaw drops. “How do you evenknowthat?” I didn’t give Cora specifics.

He scoffs. “I have acquaintances in many places, Violet. I knoweverything.”

There’s a threat in those words, but I don’t have time to dissect it. Grayson’s waiting on me, and if I’ve learned one thing since meeting him, it’s that he has as much patience as a tornado. And is willing to inflict just as much damage.

“Suffice it to say,” Elena cuts in, reaching for my hand across the table, “if youdidneed something… we’d be able to help.”

She squeezes my fingers, and I give her a small smile in return. I’m tempted, as always, to take them up on their offer. To let them welcome me into their dark, twisted little fold and wipe away the problems I have sitting in limbo.

My life is proof enough that being good and doing good don’t necessarily mean the universe will reward you. These two seem to be happy and well-off, so maybe being baddoespay.

Still, I can’t do that to my mother. Can’t bring the wrath of poor decisions down on my family when I’ve worked the last several years to keep them safe.

“I don’t need anything,” I tell them, pulling my hands into my lap. “I just thought the courteous thing to do would be to tell you guys I’m leaving the island rather than just… leaving.”

“That hasn’t stopped you any of the other times you’ve done it. You’ve been on and off Aplana for six years.”

“This is different. I don’t know if—whenI’ll be back.”

Kal’s stare hardens, those black eyes turning to granite. “I see. Then, I suppose we’re done here.”

He shoves back from the table, keeping his toddler’s head pressed firmly to his chest. He pauses, looking down at Q; she lifts her head, a wide smile breaking out across her cherub face.

“Daddy can take me to see the gulls?”

Her soft voice feels like a tiny punch to my gut even though it shouldn’t. Now, the rejection is twofold.

Something softens in his face, and he extends his long arm. “Absolutely.”

Q scrambles from her chair, leaving her book and crayons to push her fist into her father’s hand. They walk off together, leaving just me and Elena in a cloud of discomfort.

She drops her face into her hands and groans.

“He’s a good dad, isn’t he?” I ask her, watching them exit the patio area and head down to the beach.

A knot solidifies in my throat, memories assaulting me—of watching the kids back home do the same with their parents. Mine were always too busy working or praying or gambling their savings away to take us to the beach even though we lived up the street from it.

Elena smiles. “Better than I could have dreamed. He spoils the shit out of them, but I’m okay with that. Better than the alternative.” She sobers up a bit, straightening her spine. From across the table, she looks regal, like a queen presiding over her court. “I meant what I said about you needing anything. If you’re anything like Kallum, I’m sure asking for help isn’t something you’re accustomed to, but… we’re here, you know? Always.”

One of my brows quirks. “Are you sure he feels the same?”

“I can’t speak for him,” she says, reaching to twist the solitaire diamond on her left ring finger. “All I know is that he’d do anything for the people he loves.Anything.”

“Cryptic.”

Another smile, this one mischievous. “Well, like he said, he knows everyone and everything.”

She reaches out again, turning my hand over; something cold and solid weighs against my palm, and she curls my fingers over the object, holding my gaze as she sits back in her seat.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” she tells me, “but I can’t send you off without at least giving you something to protect yourself.”

When she sits back, I pull my hand close and uncurl the fist, my face going slack at the rose-gold pocketknife she tucked inside.

I lift my eyes to hers, and she stands up, waving a hand.

“Use it; don’t use it. I don’t care. Just… don’t get yourself killed, okay?”

After I nod, she leaves the table to go join her family on the beach, and I sit there a little while longer, turning the cool weapon in my hands.

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