Page 46 of Heartless

Her voice softened further.“I can’t imagine ...I’m so sorry, Sienna.”She touched my arm.“I just wanted you to know that if there’s anything you want to eat, please ask, and I’ll be happy to cook it for you.Jake said you’re a writer, if you need books or anything else for that, I’m here to help.”

She sounded like a normal enough human being, so I asked, “Why are you helping them?”

The attractive woman took a visible breath.“I wasn’t lying.I didn’t know he tricked you into being here.”After a pause, she added, “Sienna, I’ve known Jake and Silas for a long time.And what Jake did is...unlike him.But they’re good men.”

That was a joke, right?It had to be.“Good men?”

Her nod was curt.“Your father has hurt a lot of good people.Jake is one of them.”

The image of Rowena’s sad expression sprang to my mind.“Right.”

Again, she spoke softly.“Fifteen years ago, I met a man, fell in love with him until the first time he hit me.He was wealthy, entitled and thought I was his...thing.No one would help, so I moved here and walked into one of the sports bars Silas and Jake own.I told them my story, and a month later, my ex disappeared from my life and never came back.Then, Jake gave me a job.These are the men I know.”

It was more than loyalty.She loved them both.

She tilted her head to the side.“I can’t even imagine how strange this must be for you, but you’re safe here, and if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.Are you hungry?I know I shouldn’t brag, but my food is really good.”

When I nodded, she said, “Do you need a hug?”

I did.“I’m okay, thank you.Tuesday’s the anniversary of my mom’s and my arrival in the U.S.Could you please arrange a flower delivery to her grave?”

Mom used to call it our Us Day and she would make Beans on Toast, but I didn’t tell Camila that.

She smiled.“Let’s get something to eat.Then we’ll take care of your mom.”

At the end of the delicious meal of a Caprese salad and homemade olive bread, I helped Camila clean the kitchen while she talked.Her parents lived in Minneapolis.When she’d broken things off with her abusive ex, they’d sided with him, so she’d cut them off from her life.

When it was time for her to leave, she showed me how to reheat the Shepherd’s Pie she’d made for dinner.

Slanting her head to the side, she asked quietly, “Do you want me to stay until Jake comes home?”

I shook my head.After she’d left, I returned to the apartment and curled up on the sofa in the small library with a book.

Chapter Thirteen—Shepherd’s pie

Sienna