Page 143 of The Fractured

We were hungover.

After a late breakfast of the greasiest things we could find in the kitchen, Seb and Kira stumbled back into bed, armed with aspirin. Lily and I were tempted to do the same, but we had agreed to lunch with Mom.

“We could push it back to dinner with her instead.” I pulled on my sunglasses as we left the apartment, trying to nullify the throb in the back of my eyeballs.

“We’ll survive,” Lily laughed, taking my hand to tow me towards my car. She wore ankle boots, a light purple T-shirt, and skinny jeans that made this hangover only slightly better as long as she stayed in view. “And she’s probably already made the food.”

“Well, while you eat, I’m takin’ a nap.” I fished the car keys from my back pocket.

“Okay, old man,” she grinned, walking ahead of me, out onto the sidewalk.

Her smile faded when her eyes landed on the front of the Cadillac. She froze.

I followed her gaze.

Placed on the hood of the car was a pristine white lily.

The hangover became a second thought as I scanned the street. There was nothing out of place, and the cop car was still parked across the road fifty feet away.

Lily carefully picked up the flower. “Maybe it was some kids trick or treating…”

I took the flower and marched to the cop car. If it was something as innocent as a joke, maybe it's why they hadn’t reacted.

What kids leave flowers on Halloween?

I knocked on the window impatiently with the side of my fist.

The driver lazily rolled down his window. “Can I help—”

“Did you see who left this?” I said.

He looked at the flower with disinterest. “What do you mean?”

Don’t drag him through the window.

I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm. “It was on my car.”

“We were told to make sureshewas safe,” he nodded to Lily as she joined my side. “No one said anything about watching your car.” He seemed to think this was a joke with the way he chuckled with his partner.

I’m gonna drag him through the window.

“You do realize we’re together, right? She travels in my car.” My tone was getting sharper. I couldn’t help it. “You didn’tthinkthat maybe those orders to protect her included watchin’ for anyone who stops outside the fuckin’ apartment block?”

“Watch your tone, Moretto.”

My eyebrows lifted, and I stepped forward. “Watch my tone? Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me—”

Lily placed a hand on my arm but addressed the officers. “Can you contact my father, Detective Whitmore, please?”

The officers shared a look before the driver sighed and lifted his radio, except right before he went to speak, a report buzzed through about a house fire and gunshots.

He responded to that instead, and I rolled my eyes, moving away from the car.

Lily followed. “It’s okay, Dean. We’ll take it to my dad after we see your mom—”

An address for the fire was given over the police radio, barely audible over the static but clear enough for Lily and I to stop.

It was my address.