Page 114 of Girl Anonymous

“Yes.” Maarja smiled in her best imitation of Dante’s shark smile, and she pointed at the bruised and stitched wound under her jaw. “By my hand.” She offered her ring to the teen. “Do you want to be the first?”

Lucy hesitated. That was not the role she’d envisioned for herself in this scene. But with every eye on her, she had to make a decision, and she made the wise one. She came forward, tookMaarja’s hand, bowed over it, and kissed the ring. For good measure, she took Dante’s hand and kissed his ring, too.

Behind her, an orderly line of Arundels formed, although predictably, a few hung back.

Lucy started away, but Dante called her back. He handed her the bottle. “Test the seal,” he challenged.

She did, gingerly at first, then with more vigor. “Fuck! How’d you get it on there so tight?”

Everyone in the family used that word, and flagrantly. Mentally, Maarja dug in her heels. Darned if she was going to learn!

Dante intoned, “The fires of love and fate fused them into one.”

“This would be a great video game!” Lucy changed from a smart-ass to a smart kid. “Okay if I design that, Cousin Dante?”

“Go for it, kid,” he said.

The tension in the backyard perceptibly relaxed.

The line, which had rapidly become a reception line, moved forward, with hand-shaking, congratulations, some laughter, and a lot of ring-kissing.

“I’m getting sick of having my hand slobbered on,” Maarja muttered to Dante.

“Not a problem. We’re out of here.” He gave her the dark and golden-eyed Arundel stare. “Law enforcement has arrived on the scene.”

CHAPTER 56

Officer Guerrero finished taking statements from Dante and Maarja, Connor and Nate, Raine and Andere, and was now packing her briefcase. She looked around them, seated at the large conference table in the dining room/Dante’s office, then focused on Octavia and Alex. “Mrs. Maldovitch, the Oakland police see a lot of violence, but this is the first time I’ve dealt with two killings in one house on one wedding day.”

“And one resurrection!” Octavia said brightly. “I know Mrs. Arundel—”

“Call me Raine, dear,” Mrs. Arundel said.

Octavia switched smoothly. “Raine and I will be best friends. I like a woman who’s prepared to take care of herself and her family!”

The officer replied carefully, diplomatically, “We in the force frown on people handling potential murder with their own weapons, but—yes, she certainly reacted quickly and with great precision. Fedelma Arundel was shot through the heart. Twice.”

Maarja knew Raine had shot only once. Dante had also shot. When the police department performed the autopsy,ifthey performed the autopsy (the department was woefully underfunded), bullets from different pistols would be revealed. She didn’t feelobligated to point that out, or that in this crowd Fedelma had been lucky to be shot only twice.

Octavia took Officer Guerrero’s hand. “Won’t you join us as we celebrate this marvelous, healing marriage? We’re dancing and drinking and eating, and you deserve a happy time after your duties today.”

“Unfortunately, I’m on duty, but…” Officer Guerrero looked out into the backyard where the folding chairs had been cleared away, a temporary dance floor laid down, fairy lights lit the scene, and a battered rock band played a barrage of music from the World War II years all the way to the current war. “I’m off at ten.”

“We’ll see you then.” Octavia smiled until she heard the door shut, then sagged in her chair. In a tone of reproach, she said, “Maarja, you used to be the easy child!”

“Ha!” Alex gloated. “I’m Mom’s favorite now!”

“You were always my favorite, dear. As are Maarja, Chrispin, and Emma.” Octavia turned to Nate as if she could see him. “I’d love to dance while I’m spry enough.”

He rose easily to his feet, and Maarja noted that after the crisis today, he seemed to have shed injuries, years, and cares. He put Octavia’s hand on his arm and led her out to the sounds of music and laughter.

Alex viewed the table from beneath lowered lashes, and recognized it was time to make an exit. “I don’t think I can dance, but I can eat.” She turned to Owen and Connor. “Maybe you could help me to the buffet before the neighbors and the Arundels come to blows over the cheesecake.”

Before she could finish the sentence, the two guys were on their feet and helping her out of her chair.

That left Dante and Maarja alone at the table with Raine and Andere.

Maarja glanced at Dante, but he shook his head. The die was cast, a child was on its way. They had to have faith that despitethe heavy weight of the Arundel genes it possessed, with love and good intentions, somehow they would pull this off.

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