Page 105 of Kill Your Darlings

I smiled, not looking at him.

“Try not to worry so much,” he said.

“I’m okay.”

Mostly I was resigned to taking it—whatever it turned out to be—one step at a time.

Was going to prison still my biggest concern?I wasn’t sure.I couldn’t decide if my life really was in danger or if the idea was to frame me for Colby’s murder.What had Colby done to turn himself from co-conspirator to liability?What had I done to turn myself into a potential murder victim?

On the walk back to the hotel I got a text and started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”Finn asked.

“Mindy.She texted to thank me for sending flowers.She appreciates the gesture and she forgives me for standing her up.However, she isn’t going to allow me to climb my way back to power on the coattails of CIA Operations Officer Bebe Bloom.”

“What the hell?”Finn started laughing, too.“Climb your way back to power?”

“I’m glad the series is doing well for her, but…”

“Poor Min.You know, her boyfriend left her for a twenty-year-old romantasy writer.”

I stared at him, aghast.“Aromantasywriter!”

He grinned.“I love that you think that’s the worst part of that story.”

We were still laughing when we got back to the hotel, and the rest of the afternoon was as relaxed and casual as if we really were on vacation with nothing to worry about beyond where to have dinner.

In fact, we were dressing for dinner when someone knocked firmly on the suite door.

Finn moved me aside and went to peer out the peephole.He threw me a baffled look and opened the door.

Adrien English, Christopher Holmes, J.X.Moriarity, and Kyle Bari stood in the hall.They didn’t say anything, although their expressions spoke volumes—if all in different languages.

More perplexing, J.X.wasn’t even one of my authors.

“Oh!Cocktails are tomorrow night.”I must have looked as confused as Finn.“But if you’d like to come in for a quick drink—”

“A drink is probably a good idea,” Adrien said.

Which seemed rather cryptic, especially from him.

Finn’s brows shot up.He made a sweepingCome in gentlemen!sort of gesture and stepped aside.

Adrien, Christopher, J.X., and Kyle walked into the suite.They seemed just a little bit wary, and I wasn’t sure why.

Well, Adrien, Christopher, and Kyle seemed wary.J.X.seemed his normal sociable self.

“Very nice,” he remarked, glancing around.“That view of the bay is incredible.”

The others ignored him.

Christopher said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, Keiran, because we’re all agreed that you’re a terrific editor and a good person.If you killed someone, you’d have to have a very good reason, and we’re committed to helping you in any way we can.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Kit!”J.X.exclaimed.

Adrien gave Christopher aSeriously?look.