Page 28 of Guarding her Gangster Queen (The Colombo Family Duet #2)
CHAPTER 28
Brie
A scalding shower has washed away the surface tension, but not the bone-deep exhaustion or the gnawing ache in my chest when I think about Nik.
God, I miss her. And I literally just left her a half hour ago. But I feel like a chasm has opened up between us that might never close, and I’m mourning that loss. She’s become part of my life—no, a part of me —in such a short time. And now I miss her steady presence, her quiet strength, the way she makes me feel both protected and powerful at the same time.
But I can’t persuade my heart to put aside its doubts. To trust again.
I learned early that no one was going to save me but myself. And now I live in a world where the strong survive and the weak end up buried in the desert. Pushing Nik away, telling her to think about what she really wants…
It was the right thing to do. The safe thing. For both of us.
Even if it feels like I’ve cut my heart out.
I emerge from the bathroom wrapped in one of the hotel’s fluffy robes, my hair twisted up in a towel, and I nearly jump out of my skin when I see Holden sitting cross-legged on my bed in his midnight blue silk pajamas.
“Oh my God ,” I gasp, clutching my robe front as my heart bangs into my ribs. “Holden, you scared the hell out of me.”
He gives me that crooked smile I’ve seen a thousand times before, but something about it seems different tonight. Strained. “I’m sorry,” he says softly. “Just…got nervous being alone out there.” His fingers pluck at the silk covering his knee. “Keep thinking every shadow is someone coming to carry out those threats.”
I settle into the chair at the vanity, studying our reflection in the mirror. I start working my comb through my damp hair, the familiar ritual soothing my nerves. “Actually,” I say carefully, “like I said, I talked to Frank about that earlier. He seemed…surprised about those threats you received. Said he never heard anything about them.” I watch his reflection carefully.
“Yeah, I guess maybe he just didn’t realize how serious it was.” His response is quick—too quick? “That’s on me. I should’ve made him understand. Anyway—did you and Nik get any further on finding the will?”
I set my comb down, meeting his eyes in the mirror. “Not yet. I didn’t even know Terry was planning to write a new will. He didn’t mention it to me at all. Kind of hurts, actually. I thought we shared everything.”
“Why would you think that?” he asks, expressionless. “You were just supposed to be his cover story, Brie. That’s all.”
“Yeah. But we became more than that.”
Holden says nothing, but there’s a tick in his eye, making his eyelid flutter.
“You’re sure he never mentioned a new will to you?” I ask, turning slightly to catch his real expression rather than just his reflection. “You were his assistant, after all, along with everything else. Must have known his schedule better than anyone.”
Holden fidgets with the sleeve of his pajamas now. “No.” He hesitates, then leans forward slightly. “You know, Brie, I bet if you think really hard, you could figure out where he might have hidden it. Terry was clever, but he only had a few places he liked to keep important things.”
The intensity in his voice makes something cold clench in my belly. I take a breath and turn back to the mirror, keeping my eyes on him. “The killer probably destroyed it. Or maybe Terry changed his mind and got rid of it himself.”
“No.” The word comes out sharp enough to make me flinch. “No, he wouldn’t have changed his mind. Terry really respected you, Brie.” His voice catches. “He thought you deserved everything .”
I meet his eyes in the mirror again, and this time I can’t ignore the strange note in his voice. “Do you think that’s why he was killed?” I ask carefully. “Do you think the will was the motive?” Holden shrugs. “Maybe Larry or Vince found out they weren’t getting what they wanted. But why try to kill Sophie? And why frame Phil? Or me, for that matter? The killer keeps jumping from patsy to patsy, like they’re…”
“Panicking.” Holden’s voice is barely a whisper. “Maybe they’ve been trying really damn hard to find that stupid will so you wouldn’t find out they had a motive. And maybe they just can’t take it anymore.”
He draws something out from under his leg and I turn slowly on the stool to face him fully.
To face the gun in his hand, pointed straight at me.
“Don’t,” he says sharply as I open my mouth. “Don’t call out.”
I feel the terry cloth robe absorbing my cold sweat, feel the weight of all my choices leading to this moment.
I think of Nik, who I pushed away when I needed her most, too afraid to trust her. God, I’m such a coward.
I hope I’ll have a chance to apologize to her. I hope I’ll have a few seconds between the bullet and the afterlife for my spirit to whisper in her ear. Tell her how sorry I am.
How much I love her.