Page 101 of The Two Last Moments

“Oh, this is happening.” Quinn hooks her arm through mine. “Lark and I will judge.”

“No arguments here,” I say.

We start toward the kitchen, and Matteo steers a reluctant Aiden to come with us.

But on the way, I check my phone again. No word.

Danny, where are you?

* * *

Quinnand I commentate from the sidelines while Matteo and Aiden cook more food than I even knew we had in the house. Matteo is all smack-talk and boisterous laughter, while Aiden is gruff and reticent. But it’s just an act. He keeps snorting to cover his laughs.

Matteo whips up homemade pasta, while Aiden does some kind of savory cream-puff things filled with cheese and an array of other small bites. It’s ridiculously good, and since I skipped lunch, I’m ravenous. Afterward my stomach is stuffed and I’m smiling so much that my cheeks hurt, despite all the terrible things that happened today.

In between, I go check on Nina and bring Starla samples of the food. Nina’s exhausted, looking more frail than I’ve ever seen her. But when she wakes, I sit with her and hold her hand, just grateful she’s got more time with us. Matteo and Aiden take a break from cooking as well to say their hellos, and Quinn gives Nina a rundown of all the gossip from the West Oaks DA’s Office. Nina isn’t feeling well enough to talk much, but she smiles and chuckles along with us.

I need to update her on the rest of what happened earlier, how Z was here on her property. I have no intention of keeping anything a secret from her. But that can wait. For now, it’s enough just to be with her.

Quinn is right. Iamtough, and I want to fight for the friends I’ve made here. This family. I doubt I’ve ever been a part of anything like this, and I have to find a way to hold on to it. The only thing that’s missing is Danny. I keep checking my phone, but he hasn’t written back.

I need Danny here. His absence is an ache that just gets worse with every minute we’re apart.

Andfinally, he texts me.

Danny: Got held up. Heading home.

Me: Hurry back. Did you hear from Cliff?

Danny: Yeah, he told me they caught the asshole. Thank God.

Me: I miss you.

Danny: Miss you, too. So much.

Me: We’re okay?

Danny: We will be.

I’m on pins and needles until I finally hear the door open. The rest of us are back in the kitchen to give Nina some quiet. I can’t eat another bite, but somehow Matteo and Aiden are still at it.

“Danny!” Matteo says. “Get your ass in here. You need to break a tie!”

Aiden makes a face. “Bradley is the deciding vote? Can’t we get someone with a decent palette?”

Quinn rolls her eyes at them both.

Danny’s still in the foyer, but I hear his footsteps approaching. I walk toward the front to head him off, too eager to wait another moment. “Hey, took you long e—”

The words die on my tongue when I see Danny isn’t alone.

I recognize the man with him from the photos Nina showed me. Travis Bradley’s eyes rove over the kitchen and then land on me, widening in recognition. “Lark. My God. It’s really you.” He races toward me, and before I know what’s happening, he’s swept me into his arms.

Danny stands slightly behind his uncle, his face carefully impassive, revealing only a slight frown.

“How…” I stammer. “What…”

Travis lets me go, and I realize Matteo, Aiden and Quinn are crowded behind me, staring at us. Danny’s eyes are as dark as stormclouds.

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