Page 73 of Sinners Atone
I frown. “Really?” Now I’m even more surprised it hasn’t been picked up by national news. “What company was it?”
“Oh, none that you’d know,” she says, reading intently.
I reach for my phone. “Yeah, but I can Google it.”
“Actually, I can’t remember the name myself now.” She flicks the page. “Something beginning with s or a b.”
“I think it was a y,” Tayce drawls, pulling the sides of her thong bikini even higher over her hips and snapping another photo.
I open my mouth with the intent to interrogate further but close it again because I’m steering off track.
“Well, anyway. Angelo seems to be working around the clock, and I’m sure he’ll have the port back up and running as soon as possible, what, with all these late-night meetings.” I make a show of looking at my watch before realizing I’m not wearing one. “Who’s he in a meeting with at this time, anyway?”
“Oh, you know,” Rory says, fluttering a dismissive hand toward the door. “The usual suspects.”
“Uh-huh. Like who?”
“Like Rafe.”
“Of course.” I pick up another strawberry. “Who else?”
“Cas. Nico’s here too, I think.”
“Cool.” I pause. “And?”
“Maybe Benny?”
“Is that it?”
Rory slowly lowers her book and narrows her eyes at me. “Is there someone in particular you’re looking for, Wren?”
Crap.I guess that wasn’t as subtle as I’d hoped.
The shells of my ears grow hot, and my brain can’t think of a casual reply quick enough. Before I can blurt out a sniffy comment about just making conversation, Rory sighs.
“Oh, Goose. You’re worried about Gabe, aren’t you?” She shuts her book, expression softening to something more sympathetic. “I made him promise he won’t go near you again.” She studies me. “Hehasn’tcome near you again, right?”
My nerves hum like a live wire, short-circuiting when they reach my brain.
I barely pause. My breath comes out steady, wrapped around a two-letter lie that has no business leaving my lips so easily. I don’t even blink. I don’t even feel a twinge of guilt about lying to my best friend. My body is too distracted by the thrillof sharing a secret under the cloak of darkness with the Boogeyman, even if it was just a routine night at work for him.
It happened in the dark.
It didn’t happen.
“I’m bored,” Tayce announces. “Let’s watch a movie.” She grabs the controller off the floor and points it at the television. “Sorry, Wren. I’m vetoingMama Mia!We’ve watched it twice already this month.”
Heart still thumping, I settle back on the floatie and stare at the screen while she navigates through movie trailers. Tayce wants to watch a low-budget horror, but Rory wants to watch a Christmas movie, so they compromise with The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Halfway through a musical number, Rory starts snoring and Tayce stops complaining, which means she must have fallen asleep too.
I can’t sleep though. The restlessness won’t let me. My eyes are on the movie, but my ears are on the bedroom door, straining for any hint of slow, heavy footsteps or the deep timbre of a rough command. The mere thought he could be under the same roof as me right now has me on a knife’s edge.
Frustration and curiosity are a dangerous combination, and I eventually give in to it. I just need to know. Grabbing my cell, I slowly rise to my feet, slide on a robe and slippers, and creep out into the hall.
Abstract shadows pass through the glow spilling out from beneath Angelo’s office door. The possibility that Gabriel is somewhere behind it slows my movement. I imagine he’s darkening a corner, his mere presence spilling out of theshadows and charging the particles in the room. I bet he barely speaks, but when he does, the room falls silent, and everyone turns to listen.
I keep walking before I do something stupid, like knock and find out.
