Page 63 of Kissing Kayley

Back in the lobby I bumped into Emmy, in full Little mode and dressed in a cow onesie, who introduced me to Lilah, also a Little.

I offered Lilah a hug and she accepted it. “Thank you so much for the bracelet,” I told her. “I love it.”

Lilah smiled, looking a little bashful. Her dark blonde hair lay braided down each side of her head. “Thank you, Miss DeeDee. I’m glad you do.”

It was hard to believe this woman, who was dressed in a Stitch onesie, was a game warden.

“Do you make other kinds of jewelry?”

She nodded. “I teach classes too!” But it was a kid saying it, not a woman.

And in this circumstance, it fit her perfectly.

“When’s the next class?” I asked.

“Tomorrow afternoon. You can sign up over there.” She pointed to the front desk.

“Thanks.”

I let them continue on their way and headed over to do just that. From there I made my way to the cafe, got myself a milkshake—because why the hell not, since it was my vacation, dammit—and settled into a comfortable chair in front of the spacious view to read for a little while.

It was difficult to focus on my book because the view… drew me in.

Soothed me.

Everything moved at a slower, calmer pace here, and I knew I could easily get addicted to it. I’d been reading for the better part of an hour when my secret shadows walked up to me.

Their “hidey-ho neighbor” aw-shucks Midwest accents were gone.

“Dr. Cruz, we need you to please come with us,” Ashe said. He beckoned me with that two-fingered wave Vic, my brother, and their coworkers were infamous for.

I think that’s when it slammed home something bad had happened, because of that wave and that he used my real name.

These wereabsolutelySecret Service agents.

I stood. “What about Vic?” I said.

Jenette motioned for me to start moving. “He’s aware of the situation, ma’am.”

“What’s happened? What’s going on? And I’m not going anywhere without Vic!”

The woman stepped in close. “Ma’am, he’ll meet us at the car,” she quietly said. “He went to your room to get your things. Please, come with us.Now.”

A deep chill seeped into my soul and I let them herd me out the door and down the drive, their heads on a swivel, to where a vehicle sat idling. They opened the back door and were about to help me inside when I turned and spotted Vic sprinting toward us with my purse, computer bag, and my smaller carryon.

Relief filled me until I realized he carried only my bags.

He ran up and handed my things off to Ashe before turning to me. “You need to leave, baby. Right now.”

“Why aren’t you coming?”

“I need to wrap up here. They’ll take you home. To LA,” he clarified.

“What the hell’s going on? Is it more attacks?”

He grimly shook his head. “Stella Woodley was murdered by her husband before he killed himself. It happened while she was on a video call with Elliot. Elliot, Leo, and Jordan witnessed everything. Shortly before that, she publicly released a video that exposed her husband and several others as the ones behind the attacks.”

Horror filled me. “Oh my god!”