She’d also come up with their name. Sirius. The brightest star in the sky. Rune said she used to stare out between the bars on her window every night and wish upon the stars that somebody would rescue her.
“I think you make a good team too. What happened to the other girl, though? The one you saw in the bar?”
“Ravi found her hidden in a room behind Sunan’s office. You know, keep your sex slave at work so your wife doesn’t find out? Judd dropped him off a bridge.”
“Good.” Emmy managed a proper smile. “I’d have offered my services otherwise.”
She fell silent, but at least she was eating. More than just picking too—she attacked the burger with a steak knife and ate more than her fair share of the onion rings. Although the circumstances were awkward as hell, Alaric still enjoyed spending time with Emmy. A quiet dinner. Just the two of them. It was nice.
The only thing nicer would have been if Beth were sitting opposite him instead.
How was she getting on in Kentucky? He’d spoken to her earlier as he drove back from Boston. The funeral had been every bit as bad as she’d expected—trying to comfort a devastated Harriet while fending off well-wishers offering fake sympathy. Apparently, Stéphane had nearly decked a woman who got offended when Harriet wouldn’t speak with her.
“What are you thinking about?” Emmy asked, stuffing the last fry into her mouth.
“You first.”
Boy, that was a heavy sigh.
“I’m thinking that I should take a lesson from Rune too. That no matter how shit this last week has been, at least it wasn’t ten-year-old-in-a-whorehouse bad.”
This week? So whatever it was had been building while Alaric was away. It had just come to a head this evening.
“Do you want a lesson from me too?”
“Not really.”
“Well, you’re gonna get one anyway.”
Sometimes, tough love was needed.
“Hurrah.”
“Don’t run away from this one, Cinders. You’ve got a habit of that.”
“Ha! You can talk.”
“Which is why I’m qualified to advise. Speak to Black and clear the air. Don’t let whatever happened fester and grow because you’ll end up hurting yourself as well as him. I meant what I said earlier. You two were always destined to be together, no matter how much I once wished otherwise.”
“He lied to me,” she whispered.
“Then he’s got a hell of a lot of grovelling to do.”
Another long pause. Emmy was thinking, and Alaric wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. Sometimes, she’d mull over a problem and come up with a solution way out of left field. But tonight, she just smiled.
“I think maybe I’ll have that cheesecake now.”
“Two pieces? Or do you want to share?”
“Two pieces. What were you thinking about?”
“Beth.” Since they were being honest with each other.
“You like her, don’t you?”
“I do. I more than like her.”
“And have you told her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Firstly, I’m her boss, and secondly, I always promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with anyone until I found Emerald and cleared my name. That fucking painting’s cursed my life, and I’ll always be on a crusade until it’s found.”
That and he was scared. Scared of rejection. Since the night on the couch, Beth had pulled back.
“Black’s my boss,” Emmy pointed out.
“Bullshit. Nobody’s the boss of you.”
“And how bossy do you feel towards Bethany? On a scale of ‘I want her to rearrange my schedule’ to ‘she can spank me any day’?”
Alaric had to smile at that. “I’d hand her the fucking paddle.”
“Well, there you go. Just tell her. Don’t make the same mistake I did with Black.”
And the sadness was back. Further distraction was called for. Alaric waved a hand, and the waitress hurried over.
“Two slices of chocolate orange cheesecake, sweetheart. Is Milo’s still open?”
“Comin’ up. And Milo’s is always open.”
“Prince, we’re not going dancing.”
“What, you want to waste that sparkly top? Since we’re reliving our misspent youth tonight, we’re going dancing. Just try not to lose your shoes this time.”
CHAPTER 39 - EMMY
“EMMY, YOU’RE GONNA have to help me out here.”
I tried, honestly I did, but my legs refused to cooperate. Was that me giggling? Oh, right, it was.
“No more cocktails for you. Ever.”
Alaric tipped me sideways and dragged me out of the passenger seat by my armpits. I made a half-hearted attempt to hop towards the house, but thankfully he picked me up bridal-style before I broke my ankle. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hung on. The driveway was rippling like a demented snake.
“Have I ever told you that I love you?” I slurred.
Honestly, after all the shit I’d inadvertently rained down on him, I didn’t deserve his company, but the selfish part of me accepted it anyway.
“No, actually, but it’s nice to finally hear it. Do you need to puke before I take you inside?”
I considered the question carefully. My stomach felt kind of weird, sort of churny, but—
“What the hell is going on here?”
Uh-oh. Ana looked pissed.
“I might have drunk a teenshy bit too much.”
“I’ve been trying to call you. I was worried.”
“Her purse is in the car,” Alaric said. “I haven’t heard her phone ring, but the music was deafening. If I’d known you were looking for her…”
“Where’s her other shoe?”
“No idea.”
“Please don’t maim Alaric. I forgot the cocktails and drank too much time.”
Or was it the other way around?
“You definitely did not forget the cocktails.”
Oops. Was Ana really mad? I wasn’t sure I could disarm her while I was a bit tipsy.
“I’m sorrrrrrrry. It was all my fault. And maybe the bartender’s. He
