Page 64 of The Best of Us

“I had a feeling you’d be awake, so I gave it a shot. How are you?”

I kicked the truth to the side for now and lied. “Fine.”

“Ouch. That bad, huh?”

“That bad,” I snarled. “No, thatconfusing.” An important distinction.

I thought back to my conversation with Juliette and how she’d misinterpreted so many things I’d said. I wasn’t used to sharing my thoughts and feelings with anyone, so why was I shocked she couldn’t also read my mind?

To know when I’d said she was dangerous, I meant to my heart.

And when I told her she had power over me, I’d been referring to how I’d do anything for her, no questions asked.

Then there were my misunderstood words I’d tossed out at the end of our conversation about not wanting to disappoint Colin. She’d turned and run opposite from my intention, diving headfirst into a discussion about obligation.

“You ready for me now?” Izzy asked, drawing me back to the present.

“What?”

“You were stewing and angry. I could feel the heat from your overthinking roll in waves through the phone.”

“Damn you,” I teased, fighting a grin.

“Got you smiling, at least, didn’t I?”

I rolled my eyes, not that she could see me. “Just give me an update. Distract me, please. Anything from the NYPD or FBI about what went down at the rave?”

“No, you know the Sicilians, they’d burn or bury any bodies you may have dropped instead of calling the police to report a crime.”

Right.I wasn’t thinking straight to waste my breath on that question.

“I did go ahead and run both Jamie’s and Lennon’s faces through our software in hopes of getting a hit on their full names and current addresses.”

“Let me guess, nothing?”

“Nothing in any government database Stateside, but I did get a hit for Lennon. Flagged her on security footage at a hotel in Brooklyn. When I did a deep dive into their CCTV footage, I caught a profile view of Jamie and Daniel along with her.”

“Did you hack the hotel records to see what room they’re staying in? I assume Jamie didn’t pay for it?”

“I did, and you’re right. The suite’s checked out to Dylan Kelly. Irish American. Has been in New York for a decade. Single. Fifty-two. Independently wealthy. No priors. Not even a parking ticket.”

“I assume you checked my bodycam footage and Daniel’s before it was shut off to see if Dylan was at the rave?”

“I did, and he wasn’t there. Not even sure if Dylan’s at the hotel with them now, or he just footed the bill.” She added, “And unfortunately, aside from proving Dylan wasn’t at the rave, nothing else of use from the bodycams. Well, except to witness your badassery firsthand.”

Yeah, don’t remind me of that.“Any chance Dylan’s the boss and is in charge of the operation?”

“I’m going to keep digging into everyone before I give you my opinion.”

“I no longer think we’re dealing with a low-level gang selling drugs to rich kids on street corners and at raves. Especially considering the Irish had enough pull to throw together a meeting with the Sicilians.”And my son was hanging out with these people. Fucking great.

“I assume Colin hasn’t told you anything about Jamie or Daniel, or his connection to them aside from dating Jamie’s sister, or you’d have led with that.”

“No, we haven’t had a chance to talk alone, and I don’t think he wants to get into that in front of his mom. She’s stressed out enough.”Especially after what I already told her.“I did mirror his phone while we were outside the hospital.”

“Constantine.” After her dramatic use of my name, a harsh breath crossed the line.

“What?”

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