Page 27 of Secrets & Desires
“He doesn’t have a piano at themansion?”
Livia shook his head. “You know, I never even considered that,butno.”
“Huh.”
Livia’s eyebrows shotup. “Why?”
“You don’t know?” Charvi pulled out her iPad and flicked to a page on the internet. She handed it toLivia.
It was a page from the archives ofThe Advocate, the newspaper of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The story was dated twenty-five yearspreviously.
Local Boy WinsPrestigious MusicAward.
The sonof New Orleans society maven Gabriella Renaud has been awarded top prize for his solo composition,Lux, at the New Orleans Children’s Music awards. Twelve-year-old Nox Renaud wrote and performed the piece on the cello to an audience of local luminaries at the Lafayette Emporium Music Theatre. Also rumored to be listening to the young prodigy, members of the illustrious Peabody Institute. Sources close to the Renaud family, whose patriarch, Tynan Renaud, is one of Louisiana’s richest philanthropists, say that the family is encouraging the young man to seek a future in music. Nox’s elder brother, Teague, is currently being feted by Harvard and Brown, and the family has a long history of academicexcellence.
Livia looked up at Charvi.“I had no idea. Why wouldn’t hementionit?”
“I don’t know. But I’m guessing, since he and his mother—she was a pianist like you—used to play together, it’s toopainful.”
“Oh.” Livia felt a little sick. “And here I am, rattling onabout…god.”
“Hey,no, don’t do that. If I know Nox, this is like…a lifeline. Not that he’s using you to remember his mother, but through you, he can get something of her back, you know? I’m sure it’s entirely separate from how he feelsaboutyou.”
Livia half-smiled. “We’re having dinner with Moriko and Marcel, and a couple of others tonight. Come. He’d love toseeyou.”
Charvi hesitated but Livia could see there was a small desire in her to see her lover’s son. “Please,” Livia saidsoftly.
Charvi smiled. “Alright. Just tell me whereandwhen.”
Livia grinned and hugged her. “It will be wonderful, Ipromise.”
Charvi nodded. “Look, the next student isn’t due for ten minutes. Have a quick practice beforeyougo.”
“I will,thanks.”
When she was alone, Livia couldn’t stop thinking about Nox. He was a cello player? She wondered what his composition had been like. She could picture him, his dark curls messy, hanging in his face as he bent over his cello, the intensity of his green eyes as he played. She could see him as an adult, taking the applause of his audience, looking devastatingly handsome in a suit as he played. She had to get him to open uptoher.
She was still smiling as she opened the lid of the piano. An envelope slid out and to the floor, and as she bent to pick it up, she realized it was addressed to her. She didn’t recognize the handwriting and assumed it was some college communication. She ripped open theenvelope.
Ice shotthroughher.
Break it off with Nox, or I’ll make your life hell,whore.
Livia couldn’t help the gasp of hurt that escaped her lips. What the fuck? She glanced at the envelope and then shook herself.Are you really looking for a return address?It was so vile, so hurtful for a moment that she couldn’t breathe. Then, adrenaline shot through her, a flash of anger. Who the hell would send such aspitefulnote?
“Whoever you are,” she said to herself grimly, “you can just gofuckyourself.” She crumpled the note and shoved it into her coat pocket. She had a pretty good idea of the one person it might be.Mavis Creep.Livia grabbed her stuff and began to walk from the college to the local bus stop. She smiled grimly to herself.Well, Mavis, just for that, I’m going to ride Nox longer and harder than I ever have tonight. What do you think of that, bitch?She wished she could say it to the otherwoman’sface.
So wrappedup in her thoughts, Livia never saw the man following her. He rode the bus with her back to the French Quarter and followed her toLa Chat Noir. He watched her interact with her friends—the cute Asian girl, the darkly-handsome Frenchman who clearly owned the restaurant. Close friends of hers, obviously. Good, that was good. It meant she wasvulnerable.
When her shift finished, he followed her home. Was she alone now? He imagined the fun he could have if he surprised heralone.
But a quick thrill kill wasn’t his plan for her. This was the long game. The note would have unsettled her but not scared her. Probably just made her angry. Itbegins…
He was going toenjoythis.
ChapterEleven
Nox feltsomething shift inside him as he saw Charvi arrive at the restaurant. His hand tightened reflexively on Livia’s and she smiled up at him. “It’s okay, baby,” she whispered and kissed hischeek.
