Page 101 of Beautiful Trauma

Quinn’s growl echoed through the line. “Where the fuck are you?”

My eyes met Mila’s. There was no way I could admit that I was in Philadelphia. “New York. I came to see Maeve,” I lied. When I went back to get my things, I’d have to make sure Leo didn’t say anything about my visit to Callum.

“Last time I checked, we cleared all travel outside of Boston with the family.”

“I forgot.”

From the pause on the line, I knew Quinn wasn’t buying my lie. “Just get the fuck home.”

“I’m on my way.”

When I hung up, I jerked a hand through my hair. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go.”

“No. I totally understand. I couldn’t help hearing your brother.”

“You’re welcome to stay–”

She shook her head. “I’m coming with you.”

“Okay.”

After telling the specialist that we were done and tipping the cellist, I ushered Mila out into the hallway. As we started to the exit, Mila said, “How horrible that a child was murdered.”

“It is horrible, but Nick was in his thirties. Ava was a late-in-life child, so her nephew was actually two years older than her.”

“Oh, I see.

Once we got outside, we hustled over to the waiting SUV and jumped inside. As we started to go to her apartment, I glanced over at Mila. At her nibbling on her bottom lip, I knew something was wrong. “Talk to me.”

“I just can’t shake this nagging feeling within me.”

“About what?”

“Ava is the woman Dare broke the contract with Annika to be with, right?”

“That’s right.”

“And now a family member of hers is dead.

“Let me guess. You’re thinking that it had something to do with Nick’s murder?”

Mila swallowed hard. “I am.”

I shook my head at her. “This hit tonight wasn’t part of retaliation. It’s something much darker and sinister than that.”

“While that sounds terrible, I hope you’re right.”

“I can’t always reveal everything I know to you, Mila, but trust me when I say, this isn’t your father.”

“Promise?”

I nodded. “If I didn’t know everything about the situation, he would be my prime suspect.”

A relieved breath whooshed out of her. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“So am I.”

Mila snuggled against me, resting her head on my shoulder. I would’ve given anything in the world to be able to stay in that moment. To not have to rush back to Boston because my brother’s girlfriend had been the target of a hit that ended in the murder of a loved one. To not have my girlfriend’s family try to kill me the other day. To not have her father’s wrath end up paralyzing his son.