Page 35 of The Woman in the Hollow
“Like when?”
“Mass shooting events came up. When it is to protect others. That sort of thing.”
“Pretty sure us killing to protect the family isn’t the same as taking out someone committing mass murder.”
“You never know. I mean, there were some people in the class who insisted that there was no such thing as a good reason to kill another. Not even to stop them from killing dozens of others. So it says something that he believes there can be reasons.”
“Well, we don’t even know if it matters since we don’t even know if Mom wants to date.”
“True. But you never know until you try. Speaking of trying,” she said, nodding over toward where Hazel and the professor were speaking. “I think I was interrupting a moment.”
“Probably for the best.”
“Why?”
“She works for me.”
“So what?”
“So, I need her to keep working for me.”
“And the two of you are immature eighteen-year-olds who couldn’t possibly navigate the aftermath of a hook-up. Oh wait.”
“You know how complicated it—”
Just then, Domenico walked up with the pizzas just as the squeals started from the final performer in the woods, cutting off our conversation.
Which was good.
Because the last thing I needed was someone giving me permission to hook up with the woman who not only worked for me but who I’d just lied to mercilessly.
CHAPTER TEN
Hazel
I tried to let it go.
Really, I did.
I probably could have.
Except after the family night at the garden center, those men I figured might be connected to the Grassis were still at work every single day. Sure, there were fewer of them, but they were always around, lingering, watching, not speaking. It was borderline creepy.
And no one was talking about it.
Not Domenico.
Not the other employees.
I almost felt like everyone understood something I just wasn’t privy to.
As someone in a position of authority, I guess I had to be happy that everyone seemed to be on their best behavior since the men showed up. No sneaking off to smoke pot, no talking in groups when they were supposed to be working, not even showing up late.
That said, it was weird.
And I didn’t like not being in the know.
It felt weird to ask them, though.
