Victoria's Destiny by L.J. Garland

Author:L.J. Garland [Garland, L.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decadent Publishing, LLC.
Published: 2018-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vicki shuffled toward the diner. Through the window, she glimpsed Becca and Lenny laughing. They seemed so happy. Her heart squeezed at the realization she would be the one to shatter their illusion of a future. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them back.

She opened the door, the weight a monolithic stone in her hand. Completing the death march across the diner, she dropped into a chair opposite her best friend and the guy who’d returned the smile to her face. God, this sucks. The combined weight of truth and guilt bore down on her.

“Hey.” Lenny narrowed his eyes. “You don’t look so good. You need some food or something?”

She shook her head, her stomach rolling at the mention of food.

“Coffee, then.” Becca signaled the waitress.

A moment later, a steaming cup slid in front of her. She sipped the aromatic brew to appease her friend. Her focus moved to River’s half-empty cup still sitting on the table. Not long ago, he’d been in the café, waiting for her to finish in the bathroom. Now, he was off, inspecting a murdered police officer and searching for a kidnapped waitress. He didn’t hide from the messiness of life. He faced it head-on and encouraged her to do the same.

Tell them, Vicki. His final words rang in her ears.

Was she strong enough to tell her best friend she had days to live?

She stared at them across the table. They leaned toward one another, Lenny stealing furtive glances and Becca’s lips curving into a smile. However mismatched they appeared, the truth lay in their body language. Given time, Lenny would make her happy in a way Becca’s ex-fiancé never could have.

Except, they don’t have time.

“I have to tell you guys something,” she blurted. She clutched her cup, her knuckles whitening.

A slender eyebrow rose, and Becca grinned. “We have something to tell you, too.”

“You first.” A sigh shuddered through her. Anything to put the inevitable off just a little longer.

“Check out what Lenny found on the Internet.” Admiration sparkled in her eyes as he spun the laptop screen in her direction.

Her breath caught. The pointed D. Coffee and acid churned in her stomach, threatened to heave up her throat. “It’s…it’s….”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “It’s the killer’s signature.”

“I told him about it.” Becca’s eyes reflected concern. “I hope that’s okay.”

He patted her hand. “It’s okay. I already talked about it with Detective Chastain. He was cool.”

“You talked with River?” Vicki swallowed. “What did you tell him?”

“Thurisaz.” Her friend wrinkled her nose. “You found it, Lenny. You tell her.”

“In a nutshell, the symbol represents one evil god who gives his truest followers immortality. Or at least that’s what the stuff I read online alludes.” He tilted his head and stared at her. “Hey, you about to hurl or something?”

“I’m okay.” Vicki forced her emotions down, tried to focus on Lenny’s words.

“Here, sweetie. Take my toast.” Becca pushed a small plate of crispy, buttered bread toward her. “I already finished a pile of pancakes.”

She picked up a piece and nibbled on one point of the triangle.

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