Page 66 of Little Wing
“I think I may walk tonight,” I responded quietly, taking his hand in mine when he reached out. “But if you’d like to pick me up or walkback with me once I’m done with my shift, I certainly will welcome the company. Maybe we can even stop at Kait’s for a drink or two?”
Silas’s silver eyes lit up as his smile widened. “Sure. Just text me and I’ll meet you there, Lo.”
Even without Luca on the streets searching for me, I could still feel the tug on the tether. It was more prominent now with him in the same town. Even without his fangs on me, I felt it in my heart that I was his creation—still tied to him. It made the wait for these next steps that much more anxiety-inducing, forcing me to find solace in distractions or now… a routine I had gotten used to.
As I made my way to the bookstore, I tried to imagine what life could be like if I could finally be free of the connection to my brother. In truth, it wasn’t much different. I didn’t wish for extravagance, or anything other than what I already had. I had my family in Reina, Kait, and Silas. Plus, I even considered Mateo and Quinn part of my small circle. The bond I shared with them did not require familial blood running through our veins. This bond went beyond blood.
When I arrived, I quickly let Silas know that I made it before slipping my phone back in my purse. It was a good thing I did, because it only took moments after I entered for Reina to rush at me with her arms ready to throw around my neck. Her delightful squeals greeted me.
“Oh, my gods! You’re finally back!” she laughed once she allowed herself to pull away to look me up and down. “You look fucking good, girl!”
“Wow, had I known you’d react that way, I might have come back sooner.” I smirked and allowed for her to pull me deeper into the store. The moment the fragrance of my favorite books hit my nose, I immediately felt like I was back home.
“Come, come,” Reina whispered, ushering us to the checkout counter where we could continue our conversation, but also keep an eye out for any customers in need of assistance. “So, what’s been going on? Tired of staring at your vampire eye candy, so you decided to come in?”
I appreciated her lightheartedness. Despite not showing up to work since Luca was arrested, I continue to keep Reina and Kait informed on any developments.
“Ah, not quite. I just needed a break from Mateo accidentally spoilingLove After Sunsetfor me,” I said with a wink.
We laughed, catching up on the happenings at the store before our conversation inevitably brought us back to the true questions that lingered between us. What was happening? Was there any news? What will happen to you?
“Can you feel him?” Reina asked softly, pressing her hand to her chest.
I repeated the motion and exhaled steadily. “Yes. Because he’s so close it’s like trying to block out a buzzing fly that just won’t leave you alone. I can feel his strain on it.”
Hearing my disappointment, Reina reached across the counter and pressed her hands over mine. “They’ll figure something out, Lo. They have to.”
That was all that I wanted to hear. Not because it would solve everything and make me feel better, but because I needed a mental break from the anguish that roared in my head. Without the need to explain myself, Reina moved on to talking about her dating life as if wenever skipped a beat. She filled me in on her recent dating app matches while we put books away, and for a little bit it felt like nothing had changed. That my personal history wouldn’t have to be unearthed.
But even the façade of normalcy had to be shattered eventually. I just did not suspect for it to happen so soon. Even while I listened to Reina continue on about her after-work escapades, I felt the air in the store shift.
I turned at the sound of a man clearing his throat and set the book I held onto the counter. Reina quickly followed and wasted no time in donning on a smile worthy of customer service awards. But it was when the man’s pointed canines revealed his vampiric nature that Reina paused and glanced back at me.
“Detective Morello,” I began. “How may I help you?”
The man, who looked no older than his early thirties, stepped deeper into the store and reciprocated the greeting. He was dressed in black fitted slacks and a striped navy button-down shirt. He wore it with the sleeves rolled up to reveal an intricate sleeve tattoo on both of his arms. No doubt one of them connected to the ones on the side of this head. At his waist was his badge that he didn’t bother concealing. “Hello Ms. Everett and…?”
“Ms. Everett’s best friend,” Reina spoke simply. Her eyes were black slits, a protective air shrouded her, but I could hear her heart pounding wildly against her chest.
“This is the detective who came when…” I started before Reina stepped in front of me. The idea was quite noble, despite me being about a head and half taller than her.
“I know,” she quickly responded. “Are you here about her brother, or what?”
“Reina,” I sighed softly, placing my hand on her shoulder. I tried masking my tension as best as I could. The detective did not yet state what he was doing at my place of work, so I had to allow him a moment to speak to us because the sooner he did, the sooner I would know if the tension in my entire body could let up. “What can I do for you, Detective?”
The man nodded slowly and pivoted on his right foot, glancing back at the door before looking back at me. “I’d like for you to come with me to the precinct. We just have some questions to ask you.”
“Um—what?” Reina squawked. “Lotus didn’t do anything wrong!”
Before Reina’s feathers could be even more ruffled, I stepped in front of her and cocked my head to the side. “Is this about my brother?”
He nodded. “Just some information we need to go over with you.”
“Will I need someone with me?”
“If at any point you do not wish to speak, you can absolutely request representation. We can take my car together and you can inform anyone you need about your whereabouts.”
Despite Reina already racing to text Silas, I grabbed my cross-body bag and fitted it across my chest. “Alright.”
