Page 144 of Triggered By Love
“Except you,” he whispered. “Where do I go to get made up?”
She looked at her phone and yelped. “Actually, you’re late. Go with Kerry to the art studio we rented. The limo will pick up all the models there. I have to get ready for my Alida chore.”
“Lucky you,” he said in a droll voice. “Is it dinner with Matt?”
“Matt and Joan.” She giggled. “Oh, I almost forgot. Joan texted me just now and said she saw Tatiana throwing trash in the chute.”
Jason knew exactly where he was going and what he had to do. Avery would have to go without the feathers, fur, and scales. Good riddance, but a hard pill to swallow if the shapeshifting trend took off like hot rockets.
* * *
Mrs. Bonet was only toohappy to buzz Jason up to her apartment. He brought her a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. He noticed she’d put on a bit of makeup and was dressed in a comfortable linen dress with a colorful scarf around her neck.
“I wanted to let you know Avery and I are thinking about you. Tonight is a big night for you and for your son’s memory.” He handed her the flowers and chocolate.
She brought the tulips to her face and smiled, tucking the chocolate under her arm. “It’s both bitter and sweet. There isn’t a day that I don’t miss my son, but I have to get used to it.”
“I understand. The more we loved, the more we lost.” There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t miss his mom, but it only underscored how close they’d been when she was alive.
“The more we also gained,” she said, touching his elbow. “It’s the magnitude of the love we had that makes life meaningful.”
“Avery loved Brando very much. She’s worked her heart out to honor him. I’m sure she pictures him wearing those clothes. She says everything is done in his style.”
“I’m very honored,” Mrs. Bonet said. “Please, will you come in?”
“Another time when Avery’s with me,” Jason said. “I still have to get made up.”
“Are you one of the models?”
Jason nodded. “I’m doing the outdoors look.”
“I can’t wait.” She beamed at him. “I’m curious where they’re taking us. It’s a secret location.”
“It’ll be perfect,” Jason assured her. “Have a wonderful dinner with Avery.”
“And Matt Swanson.” Mrs. Bonet stepped back into her apartment. “I’m such a fangirl.”
He had a smile on his face after taking leave of her. She was exactly the kind of mother who’d raise a good and decent person like Brando. Her heart was also big enough to include Avery, and he hoped they would always be close.
He stepped down the hall and knocked on Tatiana’s door. He could picture her lurking behind the peephole and trying to decide whether to open it or not.
He knocked again and announced, “Detective Burnett, NYPD. You can either speak to me or I’m returning with a warrant.”
The door whipped open, and she hissed, “You lie.”
She was devoid of makeup. Her lower lip was cut and puffed up, and one eye was swollen.
“What happened to you?”
“Get in before anyone sees you.” She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him inside. She shut the door and crossed her arms underneath her braless breasts. “How dare you show your face after that fiasco at the professor’s? You terrorized them.”
“I’m not playing games,” Jason said, getting in her face. “You wired Avery’s bathing suit. High-tech spy gear. Are you blackmailing the Leaches?”
“You know what I heard?” She lifted an eyebrow over her swollen eyelid. “That you were the one who hired Ernesto to shoot Brando, and you shot Ernesto to keep him from talking.”
“You know what I want to know?” He leaned against her wall like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Which one of the guys you’re slumming with beat you?”
“No one beats me.”
