I need a break.
I fill the tub in the master bathroom of the beautiful Airbnb Carmine rented and add some bath salts to the water. Before I can strip down and sink in, my phone rings.
Why would Alex be calling me this late?
It’s midnight in Atlanta.
“Is Papa okay?” I ask in way of greeting.
“As far as I know,” he says. “Can’t a guy just call his sister to check in?”
“Not usually. No.” I lean my butt on the counter and stare at the water in the tub, wondering what he wants. “What’s up?”
“I’m wondering how you’re doing. Found anything yet?”
“Not really. We’re back in Denver.”
“Yes, I heard.”
My eyes narrow. “How?”
“We have eyes everywhere, Nadia. You know that. You’re still with Carmine.”
“Yes.”
“Are you still fucking him?”
I don’t even know this man anymore. When we were kids, we were close. I adored him. But the older he got, the colder he became.
“You realize you basically just called me a whore?”
“Answer the question, Nadia.”
“No, Alexander. I won’t. Because I’m a grown woman, on a job given to me by the boss, who doesn’t happen to be you.”
“You’re such a bitch. Just tell me what’s going on there. Keep me in the damn loop. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s happening.”
“I don’t want or need any help from you,” I counter. “I never have before, and I definitely don’t need you now. Just keep your nose and your fingers out of this.”
“Nadia—”
I hang up before he can say more.
The water has grown cold, so I drain it and think about starting over. But I’m too tired, and I’ve lost interest.
Instead, I start the shower and get in, quickly washing the day away, and then step into leggings and a sweatshirt.
I stop by the kitchen and pour a glass of Cabernet, then scoop up my laptop and walk into the living room.
The sofa faces a wall of windows. It’s dark now, but during the day, you can see the mountains to the west.
Carmine has a thing for beautiful views.
I’ve just opened the laptop and started going through some unanswered emails when Carmine walks through the front door, also looking tired.
But my eyes zero in on the box in his right hand.
“Is that what I think it is?”
He sets the container on the kitchen island, tosses his keys next to it, and glances at me. “I thought you’d enjoy some donuts for breakfast.”
“I’d enjoy some donuts now.”
I laugh and launch off the sofa with renewed energy at the promise of sugar but stop short when I get a good look at Carmine.
“What’s wrong?”
He shakes his head and walks to the fridge, pulls out a bottle of beer I didn’t know we had, and takes a long pull from the bottle.
“Did something else happen?”
“No.” He swallows another sip and then sits on one of the stools. “It really shouldn’t be this hard. I feel like I’m on another wild goose chase, just missing the mark by an inch. It’s damn frustrating.”
“I know. But we’ll figure it out. People are loyal, but I’ve also found that they like to run their mouths. Someone will fuck up and say something they shouldn’t, and we’ll find them.”
“It’s odd for a family to target another and not be bold about it. To stand up and say, ‘Yeah, motherfucker, I did this. And I’ll do it again.’”
“The mafia has arrogance down to a science,” I agree with a laugh.
“Well, they’re not copping to anything now.”
I open the box and immediately salivate at the sight of a maple bar. I grab for it like a kid starved to within an inch of her life.
“These are my favorite donuts in the city.” I wander over and sit on the couch, chewing happily. “Oh, by the way, we’re having dinner at Annika and Rich’s place tomorrow.”
“We are?” he asks.
“Yep. She called earlier. Your brothers are also invited.”
He nods and then wanders to me, leaning in to take a bite of my donut.
“Hey, get your own.”
“No.” He takes my hand, pulls me to my feet, and leads me to the bedroom. “Now, I want to taste you. You’re much more delicious than any donut.”
“Lead the way.”
Annika and Rich’s home in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver is beautiful. It’s an upscale area that professional sports players, celebrities, and the wealthy in general call home.
And I can see why. In addition to a nice golf course with a country club, there is excellent shopping, restaurants, and bars. If I lived in Denver, this is where I’d buy a house.
“Hi, you guys,” Annika says with a wide smile as she opens the front door and gestures for us to come inside. “I’m so excited to see you all.”
“You’re gorgeous,” I say as I lean in to kiss my cousin’s cheek. But when I pull back, I can see the tension around her gorgeous blue eyes. I narrow mine, but she shakes her head quickly, sending me a silent message that now isn’t the time for that conversation.
She greets Carmine and Shane, and when she reaches Rafe, she pauses. “Hi, Rafe.”
“Annika.” He kisses her cheek, as well, but the look he gives her is anything but friendly.
It’s intimate.
How did I miss that?
“Come on in, everyone. Dinner’s almost ready. Ivie’s checking on it right now.”
“Ivie’s here?” Shane asks, his interests piqued.
“I thought it would be fun if she joined,” Annika replies as we all take seats around the large living room. The house is traditional, all of the rooms separate—no open-concept here.
But it’s beautifully decorated, and I know that Annika invested a lot of time making this house a home for Richard and her.
“Where’s your husband?” I ask, but before she can answer, the man does.
“Sorry, everyone,” Rich says as he hurries into the room from the back patio. “I had to take a call.”
Rich is tall, slender, and utterly boring.
I don’t know what Annika sees in him. Sure, he’s smart and comes from a good family, but he’s as dry as a corpse that’s been left out in the sun for a year.
I bet he only likes to fuck in the dark, under the covers, after a shower.
I wrinkle my nose at the thought and then smile when Rich turns his attention on me.
“Hello, Nadia.”
“Hi, Rich. Thanks for having us over for dinner.”
“Oh, it’s our pleasure. Annika should get to see her family from time to time.”
What the hell does that mean?
Before I can ask him, Ivie comes bustling out of the kitchen and almost falls on her face.
Poor Ivie. She’s such a klutz.
“Whoa,” she says with a laugh.
“Easy there.” Shane immediately jumps up to help her. He takes her hand, kisses it, and leads her over to the sofa.
“Oh, thanks. I’m good. Just clumsy. Annika and I decided to make lasagna with garlic bread and salad. It’s just about done.”