Page 87 of Chaotic Curse
“I’m fine,” I say quickly, before he can work himself up.“Spent the night at Hawk’s.Don’t worry.”
Silence.I’m not sure what it means.I’m of age.No longer married.Not that I ever really was.
Then, “You sure you’re fine?”
“Yes,” I whisper.My throat feels dry.“Really.”
“Good.Because I’ve got something on Hernando Reyes.You ready to come home?”
The name alone tightens my chest.“Yes.Absolutely.”
“Bring the note and the flowers you got from the hospital.I know a guy who can run DNA and get us answers tonight.”
“They might still be in Hawk’s truck.”
“Get them from him, then.”
“Okay.I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I rise.“Hawk?”
I walk to the bathroom.No Hawk.
Then I see it.The note on the night table.Not sure why I didn’t notice it before.
He’s gone.Things to take care of.And Raven dropped my car off.
Why did Vinnie not know where I was then?
Maybe she didn’t want to tell him I’d spent another night at Hawk’s.He’s protective of me, even though I’ve never felt safer than I did last night.
I’m slightly irked that Hawk left me without waking me, but I also understand he wanted me to get some rest after all the activity of yesterday.And he had the foresight to make sure I wasn’t stranded here without my car, which means he cares.
Still, I need those flowers for Vinnie.
I grab the first thing I see to put on—a T-shirt of Hawk’s—and walk out of the bedroom toward the kitchen.
The flowers sit on the counter, so innocent-looking from where I stand.Hawk must have brought them in before he left.
The rusty barbed wire is still invisible.My arm still smarts a little from that tetanus shot yesterday.
I go back to the bedroom and shower again.I have only my clothes from yesterday.Not optimal, but I can change when I get home.
I gather the roses, the envelope, the card.The teddy bear’s gone, destroyed by the bomb squad.The chocolates are still in my trash.
I drive with the windows cracked, letting the late-morning heat pour in.By the time I reach Vinnie and Raven’s, my nerves are crawling under my skin.
I step inside and set the bouquet down on the table in the foyer.I take the note and find Raven and Vinnie in the recreation room.The first words out of my mouth aren’t about Reyes.
“How’s Belinda?”
They glance at each other.That look says more than any answer could, and guilt spikes through me.I’ve been so fixated on Hawk, on the danger circling me, I’ve neglected her.She’s been through enough without me vanishing into my own mess.
“She’s fine,” Raven says.“She’s at a friend’s house.Spending the night.They met at one of her homeschool groups.”
I raise an eyebrow.Belinda doesn’t do sleepovers.Not ever.
“We encouraged it,” Raven continues.“She needs more time with kids her own age.We checked out the family—good people.She’s safe.”
