“This just showed up. The label says it’s for you.”
Fiona stared at the box. How did anyone know she was here? “Where did it come from?”
“I don’t know. I went to the restroom, and it was here when I got back. I asked the crew out front, but no one saw anyone bring it in.”
Fiona started forward, but Ace stopped her.
“Don’t open it,” Ace said. “Call your husband, Ivy. Do it now.”
Ivy took her phone out of her pocket and dialed Kit.
“Ivy-mine, s’up?” he said. She had the call on speaker.
Ivy drew a deep breath. “Kit, there’s a problem. Well, it may be a problem. It’s probably nothing, just odd.”
“What is it?”
“A box was delivered here for Fee.”
“Is she there?”
“Yes. It’s just—no one saw anyone bring it.”
“Max, check the videos at the diner,” Kit said, slightly away from the phone. “Don’t touch the box, Iv. I’m on my way.”
Ivy hung up. “Let’s wait for them out back.”
A few minutes later, they saw one of the team’s SUVs drive up the alleyway. Kit and Kelan got out of the front, then Kelan held the back door for Eden and Tank.
Kit went over and hugged Ivy. Kelan looked at Fiona. She hadn’t told him she would be there with Ivy. He slipped an arm around her back and kissed her hair. “You all right?”
“Yeah.” She was great. Better than ever. Absolutely coming apart at the seams.
Kit and Kelan went into Ivy’s office first, clearing it for Eden and Tank. The girls stayed in the hall, watching them. Eden let Tank sniff around. He didn’t catch any scents that interested him. After a minute he sat and looked up at Eden, who shook her head. “No drugs or explosives. The box is clear.”
Kelan pulled a pair of nitrile gloves on and opened the lid. He held still a minute, then pulled out a card that was tucked inside the pink tissue paper lining. “Shit.”
Fiona covered her mouth.
Kelan handed the card to Kit, then showed him what was in the box.
“What is it?” Fiona asked.
“Nothing,” Kelan said.
“Kelan, what is it?”
He shook his head. “More bullshit from King. You don’t need to see this.”
Kit handed the card to her. It read, Everything must die sometime. Remember our talk. A flower for your twenty-first birthday, daughter. Inside the box was a black rose, withered and brittle.
Fiona handed the box to Ivy and hurried out the back of the diner. She leaned against the brick wall in the alleyway, sucking in big gulps of air.
King had known she was there.
And he probably also knew who was with her. Working here, living here wasn’t a safe option—for her or Ivy or anyone.
Oh, God.
She would never be able to outrun him.
Kelan came outside. He came right to her, catching her face in his hands. “Fiona, Mahasani, look at me.”
She didn’t. She couldn’t. She was frozen. Her lungs had quit pulling air.
He rubbed the knuckles of one hand over her sternum. “Baby, breathe.” He blew warm air in her face. Her breath caught. She lifted her eyes to him. He gave her a small smile, then stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “That’s it. Don’t let King’s stupid Halloween gag spook you. He’s an ass. Of course everyone, everything dies. In due time. In the proper order of things. Except him. He will die soon and violently, and far younger than he ever expected. Got it?”
Fiona reached for his wrists. “I wanted to leave.”
“No, you didn’t. You wanted to make us safer, which will only happen if we’re together.” He pulled her into his arms. “Come home with me.”
The others came out of the diner. “Max said a guy dressed like a farmer in a plaid shirt and jeans, wearing a baseball cap, came into the diner with a gift bag,” Kit said. “He went straight to the back, left the box on Ivy’s desk, then left. The cameras didn’t get a good shot of his face. I checked for bugs, but didn’t find any.” He looked at Ivy. “I think you should come back to the house.”
She nodded. “Just let me get my things.”
Fiona handed her the keys to the apartment. Kelan noticed that exchange and frowned. She avoided his eyes, looking at Ace instead.
“What about Ace?” she asked Kelan.
The guys looked at her. She shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” She came over and gave Fiona a hug. “Think about what I said.”
“I will. And likewise.”
Ace smiled, then waved and went back into the building.
“What did she say?” Kelan asked.
“She said not to run.”
The hard look he gave her didn’t need words. That she would heed advice from a stranger but not him cut deep.
“I’m driving Ivy home,” Kit said. “I’ve got the box. Let’s see if there’s any info Greer can get off it.”
*
Kelan sat on the edge of his bed later that night. He’d brought Fiona down for supper that night, then stayed with her in the billiards room afterward, when everyone gathered for some downtime.
Fear had such a grip on her mind that he didn’t know how to reach her. She’d been withdrawn the whole evening. He wanted to hold her, be with her while she worked through everything, but he’d told her he wasn’t going to put his needs before hers. So until she came to him, he was going to give her room.
The trunk sitting in the corner caught his attention. His mom had sent it out a couple of weeks ago. It was a big thing, full of the tools he’d need for their claiming ceremony. He’d been so excited to show it to Fiona, but now it was going to have to wait.
Kelan knelt beside the trunk and opened it. His mom had sent a ceremonial gown made of white deerskin for Fiona. He had no idea how old it was, but the beadwork had been restored a couple of decades ago.