As Darkness Gathers (Dark Betrayals Book 2) by Emma Elliot

Author:Emma Elliot [Elliot, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop
Published: 2014-09-09T00:00:00+00:00

Clay retrieved a garbage bag from the kitchen and dealt with my shredded undergarments while I placed my clothes back on the hangers.

I caught sight of the skewed lid on an old, decorative hatbox at the back of my closet and gasped. I hadn’t thought to check it before, but I knelt and pulled it into my lap and found it rummaged through.

The envelope labeled emergency fund was usually tucked at the bottom and stuffed with three thousand dollars, but it lay on top of the pile of old letters, newspaper clippings, ticket stubs, and other miscellaneous items. With my hands trembling, I opened the envelope and counted the bills within.

It was short by exactly fifteen hundred dollars.

“Finch? Hello?”

I jumped at Julia’s voice and glanced up to find Clay watching me, his eyes sharp on my face, which I knew had drained of color.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” I shoved the envelope back in the box and pushed it toward the corner of my closet. Then I rubbed at the ache lodged behind my breastbone.

“Here you are,” Julia said as she stepped into my room. “I was—oh.” She grinned. “Wonder Boy.”

Clay laughed, but I could feel his gaze on me. “How are you, Julia?”

“Peachy. The front door was unlocked, so I let myself in. But . . .” Her gaze bounced back and forth between Clay and me. “I can come back.”

“No, of course not,” I said, staggering as I stood, and Clay’s hand under my elbow steadied me.

She dropped a department store bag onto my bed and removed a new duvet from the plastic. “Syd said you needed a new one.”

She’d pick a tan colored one with cream polka dots, and I stroked a hand over it, touched by their thoughtfulness. “Thank you. I’ll pay you back for it.”

“Don’t mention it. What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I said, trying to inject insistence into my voice. “Nothing’s wrong.”

They were both perceptive enough to realize I was lying, but Julia only said, “I brought cupcakes.” She linked her arm through mine and drew me down the hall. “My chocolate mint julep cupcakes are a cure-all,” she told Clay.

“If they’re anything like the ones you brought to the hospital,” he said, “I believe it.”

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