Page 49 of Heartless

I hadn’t expected to find her awake, wearing that long, white gown.With her hair curling down her back, she’d been the picture of a lost princess from another era.

“Cam worries about you.”

She didn’t reply.

“Tell me about your mother.”

Her chin dipped to her clasped fingers in her lap.“It’s always been the two of us.Not against the world, but in our own world.”

“What did she tell you about Morrison?”

She cleared her throat and turned her face toward the window.“Nothing.Our lives were not defined by him.”

Rain pounded on the car.“You never asked about him as a kid?”

After a pause, she said quietly, “There are no secrets in my past that would give you ammunition against him.”

The rest of the drive went on in silence.

****

Ilocked the frontdoor behind us, and she turned to me but kept her head down.

“Good night.And thank you again.”

While she quickly paced toward her quarters, I went to my office, poured a bourbon, and turned on the surveillance monitor.She was in her living room and had taken off her jacket.

She then disappeared into her bedroom.I was about to switch off the screen when she reappeared in her long nightgown.It draped in a train behind her heels and flowed around her, only hinting at her curves underneath.

Her cell in the drawer of my desk pinged.Most of her social media was about writers, writing groups, and quotes.The motherfucker had sent dozens of messages, asking her to call or text.He was begging.I watched her glide to the small library, pick up a book, and lie down on her side on the small couch with her head on a cushion.

The bourbon slid down my throat, and I switched off the computer.

Collateral damage was part of every war.

****

Afew days later, onmy way to work, I stopped in the hallway near the kitchen to listen to Sienna’s alto voice.

There was sorrow in her tone.“I do, but she was in a lot of pain at the end, so I’m glad she’s finally at peace.”

Cam’s voice was quiet.“I’m sorry, Sienna.”

“I knew she was holding on for me because she didn’t want me to be alone.But I loved her just as much, so every day, I’d hug her and tell her all the ways I would be fine.”She cleared her throat.“And then, one morning...she was gone.”

“Sia, that’s so sad and so beautiful,” Cam said.“Come here, sweet girl.”

And I didn’t need to look to know they were hugging.

I headed toward the front door.

****

Acouple of days later, I entered the kitchen a little after three.She was there, barefoot with her ass tilted back and the top half of her body in the fridge.A book laid open faced down on the island beside a tray on which she’d set a bowl of blueberries and a bag of chips.

I stepped farther into the room.“Hey, Sienna—”

Her head jack-boxed out of the fridge.Her big eyes ate her face.She slapped her hand over her scream and dropped her chin.