Page 34 of Her Dark Melody
Atlas ignored the mention of his twin, his eyes anguished. “How’sRomy?”
“Still groggy. I’m just on my way to see if she’s still awake. Come withme.”
The two men made their way back to Romy’s room, where Magda smiled at them both. “She’s in and out of sleep and her voice isn’t very strong, but she’s lucid. She remembers what happened, and who did this toher.”
“Franks?”
Magda nodded. “She seemsangry.”
“Wonder why. Hey, beautiful.” Blue stroked Romy’s cheek, and she opened her eyes and smiled at him. “Hey, sweet thing,” Blue said tenderly, and bent down to brush his lips against hers. “I brought you avisitor.”
He stepped aside so Atlas could see Romy, and she, him. Romy’s eyes filled with tears and she reached for Atlas’s hand. Sosorry.
Atlas was visibly moved. “Thank you, Romy. Just keep getting stronger, will you? For all of us. Ebony sends her love. When you’re stronger, she’d love to seeyou.”
Romy nodded. She looked at her husband.And the kids. Blue hesitated, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He chuckled. “Fine, as long as they don’t crawl all over you. You’re still very sick,baby.”
They’ll make me…“…feel better.” Romy croaked, motioning for morewater.
Blue pulled up a chair next to her and helped her take a drink, then stroked her hair back from her face, his gaze intent onher.
“Don’t worry, baby,” she whispered, finding that speaking almost under her breath worked well. “I’m going to beokay.”
Blue half-smiled. “You are in so much trouble,honey.”
“I know, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Carson Franks. We get threats all of the time, so I wrote it off as another…it was my decision not to say anything so don’t blameAtlas.”
Atlas started to protest, but Romy stopped him. “Atlas…words cannot express how sorry I am aboutMateo.”
“Romy, please, don’t. I should have made sure we were fully protected. I think, like you, I didn’t take the threats seriouslyenough.”
Blue was still studying his wife. “Romy…you sure it was Carson Franks who stabbedyou?”
“Definitely. Mom tells me he says he has an alibi. Whoever is giving it to him is a liar. I saw him, I heard him, every second while he was attacking me.” She swallowed hard, remembering. “He threatened to finish the job, should I survive, and then he told me he would go after you and thechildren.”
“Motherfucker!”Blue hissed and got up, pacing. He yanked out his cellphone to call Det. Halsey. “Halsey?”
“Hey, Dr. Allende, I was just going to call you. Mateo Tigri’s shooter just rolled on Carson Franks. We’re going to his place to arrest and charge himnow.”
ChapterSixteen
Ebony’s shoulders slumped. “God, that’s wonderful news, baby.” She squeezed her eyes shut, grateful Atlas was at the other end of the phone and couldn’t see her crying. “And you promise, Romy’sokay?”
“She’s getting there, it’ll be a long road, but I think hearing Carson Franks will be put away for a long time is helping.” She heard himsigh.
“Tired?”
“Exhausted, but I need to check in with my lawyer before I come home. I could bring take-out?”
“Good idea. Fino seems a little brighter, still clingy. Bella’s taken him out for hotchocolate.”
Atlas sighed again. “Good. You’ve been an angel with him, but I’m glad you have some time to yourself. I’ll be home soon. I loveyou.”
“I love you too, baby. Drivesafe.”
The empty housestill echoed with grief. Ebony decided she would go to the kitchen, bake some cookies while she waited for the others to return. Stanley, who she had grown close to over the past couple of weeks, was in New York finalizing his retirement plans, and with Bella and Fino out of the house, she felt strange about being herealone.
Mateo’s death had left a rip in their foundations, and Ebony didn’t know how they would ever repair it. She tried to imagine if Obe died, how she would feel, but couldn’t even bear to contemplateit.
