Page 110 of The Cinderella Secret
“Who’s Josh?” asked Evan.
“Aiden’s trainer,” said Ella.
“Ella!”
“What?” said Ella and Jackson at the same time and Evan laughed.
“You’re going to be fun to have around,” said Evan approvingly, and Aiden looked flummoxed.
“I don’t think that you get to—” Aiden began.
“Jackson?” yelled someone in the hall, interrupting Aiden.
“Yeah, Nowitsky, come ahead,” Jackson yelled back. “We’re in the conference room.” Jackson seemed about brush past them, and then paused to check his pockets. “Ah,” he said and held out his hand to Ella.
“Oh!” exclaimed Ella, realizing she was still holding his gun. “Sorry.” She handed it over and Jackson tucked it away before going out to the hall.
“Jackson, what the fuck did you do?” demanded the police detective, his voice echoing off the tile of the corridor.
“It wasn’t me! Why does no one ever believe me? Although…” he stepped back in and looked around the room. “Aiden, I give up. Where did you put the third one?”
“Hm?” Aiden turned to look at his cousin.
“Three went out. We’ve got Foss here. And then there’s the one in the emergency eyewash fountain. That’s two. What’d you do with number three?”
“Oh. There’s a janitorial closet down the way. Shoved him in there for safe keeping.”
“Ah.” Jackson disappeared out into the hall again.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” asked Evan, looking at both of them sternly.
“Ev, stop worrying,” said Aiden. “Between Ella and Jackson, we’ve got the badass angle covered. I don’t think—”
There was more yelling in the hall and Ella grimaced.
“Tamade!”she swore and grabbed at the pocket square in Evan’s suit jacket pocket.
“I can’t finish a sentence,” said Aiden. “What are you doing?”
“That is my uncle,” she hissed, swiping at his face. “And you’ve got…”
“Got what?” he asked, leaning down to make it easier for her.
“You’ve got blood on you,” said Evan. “Although, I don’t see why my pocket square has to suffer for it.”
“I don’t have one,” said Aiden. “I left my jacket in the car.”
“Always underdressed,” said Evan, shaking his head.
Ella scrubbed at a tough spot and Aiden chose that moment to kiss the tip of her nose, just as her uncle walked in.
“Ella! What the hell is going on!”
Ella looked into Aiden’s eyes. He looked like he was trying not to laugh.
“Oh,” said Ella, straightening up and snapping the pocket square to make a nice popping noise. She really was going to owe Evan a new one. “Is it not obvious? Aiden and I are dating. Charlie MacKentier killed Dad. And Jackson and the police are trying to get everyone handcuffed before they regain consciousness.”
Bai looked from Aiden to Ella to Evan and then back to Ella. “I think I need to sit down,” he said.
