Vindicated by M. G. Reyes

Author:M. G. Reyes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2017-05-10T04:00:00+00:00

PAOLO

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL, WEST COVINA, TUESDAY, JULY 7

They sat at an outdoor table, unwrapping burritos. Paolo watched as Grace tried to take a bite. She couldn’t.

After a moment she put the burrito on the table, screwing her eyes shut. Tears began to spill, but she made no sound. Paolo’s fingers stretched toward hers.

“Gracie, you’ve done everything you can. You finally got ahold of that Pete Martens guy; by now he should be in Napa.”

She spoke then, brokenly, through sobs. “But . . . Candace! I should call my mom, I need to.”

“Hold on a little longer, babe. We’ll be at Lucy’s parents’ house soon, we’ll get the nail polish. And then you can call your mom, the cops, everyone. But if you say anything now, we’ll have to talk to the cops right away.”

Grace plucked a napkin from the small pile on their tray. “You’re right; Ariana might find a way to get the nail polish before us,” she said, wiping her nose. “Maybe we shouldn’t even stop to eat.”

“We stopped to use the bathroom and to plan how to get into the house,” he said kindly. “And it doesn’t look like we’re gonna eat.”

Tentatively, Paolo raised his right hand, trailed fingers through her hair. Grace closed her eyes and leaned in to his touch. Her eyes opened slowly, gazing into his. She filled his field of vision, the dazzle of her eyes never bluer, the soft pink of her lips never more tempting.

Paolo held his breath. His whole body was rigid as he willed himself not to kiss her. “Grace . . .”

“Tell me everything’s going to be okay,” she whispered.

“Everything’s going to be okay.”

Any other day, any other hour, he’d be kissing her by now. Did Grace have any idea what she was doing to him? In that moment she looked utterly vulnerable, full of hope and trust. He would do anything in his power to keep her safe. He’d go to prison for her if he needed to. The only thing he wouldn’t do, couldn’t do, right then was kiss her. Not while she was still mourning her sister, not unless she asked.

The moment probably lasted only a few seconds, but it left him reeling. Then Grace drew her knees toward her chest and wrapped both arms tight around them.

Did people get used to this? Did people survive unexpressed desire?

“We should go,” he told her. “We can eat in the car.”

“Lucy isn’t answering her phone,” said Grace as they made their way through the parked cars. “Maya isn’t picking up, either.”

“You spoke to John-Michael on his burner, though, right? You told him that Martens was on his way?”

“Not yet. I’ll try John-Michael again.”

“We need Lucy to call her folks’ house,” Paolo admitted. “Or else we’re gonna get stalled by the housekeeper, just like Ariana.”

“What d’you think Ariana’s plan is?”

Paolo was pretty sure that by this time Dana Alexander would have heard about Kay’s violent suicide. If Kay was her daughter, that news would be hitting her pretty hard.

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