Deception (Infidelity #3)

Silvia commented more than once that Oren and Lennox were more similar than either cared to admit. They were both determined, hardworking, and stubborn. From what I knew, I couldn’t help but agree—especially with her last assessment.

In every instance, Silvia spoke fondly of Angelina. Apparently, Silvia had worked for Lennox’s mother until the day she died. She even admitted that she’d almost moved away after Angelina passed. She no longer needed the Demetris financially. Angelina had ensured her economic independence. Silvia admitted that she probably would have left were it not for Lennox.

After the support Angelina had given to her, Silvia wanted to fill that role for Lennox. Despite their relative closeness in age, she wanted to be there for him.

I wanted to ask about Oren and why he was absent, but I didn’t want to interrupt her memories.

She shared as we sat, cooked, and ate. Intertwined throughout each story were innuendos that there was more than she could say. Though I didn’t fully understand exactly what she meant, I’d already learned that it would take more than a couple months with Lennox Demetri to make sense of his world.

I supposed it would be the same for him, if he were at Montague Manor. Perhaps that was one of the elements that drew us together, a shared sadness for childhoods lost.

By the time I retired for the evening, I sensed that Silvia and I were now friends. Since Nox’s happiness was one of her priorities, I knew that she was someone I wanted on my side. The only unsettling feeling I had while at Westchester, besides the obvious external threat, was when Silvia and Deloris were together. Maybe it was simply because my day had been too long and too dramatic. Maybe I was seeing clues that weren’t there. But I got the feeling they weren’t close.

Now as I settled in my room with a warm cup of Earl Gray tea, I longed for the reassurance I’d felt sitting with Silvia. Instead, as the wind blew and the rain coming off the sound pounded against the windows, I was tired and uneasy. My mind was a blur with all that had happened, and I wanted nothing more than to rest in Nox’s arms and feel his strength around me as he protected me from the ghosts and shadows.

Though I wanted to call him, I hesitated. Nox was working, away doing whatever it was he did. Oren had all but said I was a distraction. Calling Nox would only confirm his father’s opinion. I hated comparing Nox to Alton, but I truly had no other reference. I rarely remembered my mother talking, or wanting to talk to Alton when he was away.

So instead of calling Nox, I tried Chelsea.

Her phone rang three times before going to voicemail.

“Hey girl,” I said, trying to sound more upbeat than I felt. “Let me know when you’re coming in to New York City. I know you have that big secret job in DC.” And then the thought occurred to me. “Oh my goodness, Nox is in DC for business. Maybe I’ll be able to visit you there when my classes allow. In the meantime, I’m ready for some girl time. Things have been… well, this message isn’t long enough to finish that sentence. We need wine. Tell me you’re getting to New York before Friday. I miss you! Call me.”

I disconnected the call even more uneasy with not being able to reach her. Since leaving Montague over four years ago, after my graduation from the academy, I’d always been with Chelsea and then with Nox. I told myself that it was normal to feel alone. I just needed to face it. After all, I was the one who had planned to live alone in that apartment. Well, I had considered a cat.

As I was about to pull back the covers, it occurred to me that this was the same bed where earlier Nox and I had come back together—literally.

My face flushed as I recalled his passion and hunger. The way he looked at me, needing to assure himself with his eyes and touch that I was whole and unscathed.

My mind couldn’t process that someone as possessive and protective as Nox could or would ever hurt his wife.

He wouldn’t.

I just wanted to know why he felt responsible. Had something like today happened? Patrick had mentioned a hit.

Then a realization struck that changed my train of thought. The bed was made.

No longer merely flushed, heat filled my cheeks, no doubt turning them redder than my hair. I hadn’t made the bed. I was certain Nox didn’t.

That meant the entire time I was getting to know Silvia, she already knew me or about Nox and me, about how close we were.

As that embarrassing thought resonated through my consciousness, my phone rang.

My sullen heart leapt, hoping it was Chelsea.

“Hello,” I answered, not looking at the screen, but knowing that the tune meant it was a friend versus a foe.

“What the hell, little cousin?”

I grinned, hearing Patrick’s voice.

“Yes, sorry for the cryptic message earlier today.”

After Deloris and I talked about what I could say, I simply left Pat a message saying I wouldn’t be staying there tonight. I didn’t mention anything other than that Nox and I were fine. Leaving details of my day on his voicemail didn’t seem like a good idea.

“Cryptic?” Pat asked. “Girl, I couldn’t have figured that out with a decoder ring. All it told me was that you were well enough to call. At least hearing your voice left me a trail of breadcrumbs to follow. What the hell happened?”

I recalled Deloris’s advice—keep it simple. “After you left the apartment, I told Nox I wanted to walk to class. Well, you know him?” I didn’t wait for him to respond. “He’s not very big on my walking alone.”

“Apparently he has reason!”

I ignored Pat’s comment and continued, “Nox walked with me and while we were in the park, chaos broke out. It was frightening. I didn’t see much. It all happened so fast. Nox has… people.”

“A good looking man with people. Jackpot!”

I shrugged. “This time I’m not complaining. The people were a good thing. They whisked in from the commotion and took us away.”

“You don’t think that what happened—the shot—was meant for one of you, do you?”

“Shot? So you heard about it?”

“Heard? I saw your face pop up on my news app. It scared the shit out of me.”

It wasn’t until my talks with Silvia that I began to think that maybe the shots could have been meant for one of us. I guess in some ways, Silvia’s innuendos scared me more than anything Deloris or Nox had said.

“I have no way of knowing who the person was shooting at,” I replied, “but why? Why would anyone want to do that?”

“Little cousin, I don’t know. I’m just glad you’re both okay. I saw on that news app that the woman who was shot is in stable condition.”

A bit of the fog that had begun to settle around me lifted. “That’s great news.”

“So I imagine you’ll be staying wherever Mr. Good-looking has you hidden away for what, the next year?”

I shook my head, now sitting against the headboard, my legs tucked under the blankets. “No, I’ve got class. I’ll be back in the city tomorrow.”

“You? What about Mr. Good-looking?”

My cheeks rose. “Why don’t you or Chelsea call him by his name?”

“I don’t know. I like Mr. Good-looking. If your friend calls him the same, she and I’ll get along fine.”

“She calls him Mr. Handsome.”

“Same difference,” Patrick replied.

“Mr. Whatever-You-All-Want-To-Call-Him is working out of town. I was going to call you and ask if maybe I could—”

“If you could shack up with Mr. Sex Appeal himself?”

“So now we all have code names?”

“You’re the one living in a spy movie. I want some of the action.”

“Okay, so Mr. Sex Appeal? You’re saying that Cy will be back? That’s his code name, right?” I asked with a grin.

“Oh, little cousin, that hurts. I was referring to me.”

“How about I just call you Pat? We can say it’s short for Mr. Sex Appeal.”

“That works for me, and Cy won’t be back until Friday. You’re always welcome. You know that.”

“Thanks. I’m waiting to hear from Chelsea. She’s due in the city tomorrow or Friday. I’m so messed up with everything, I can’t remember.”

“We can have a slumber party.”