Page 106 of The Midnight Club

Lucia pursed her lips but said nothing. She hugged Maceo goodbye before hopping in the waiting cab. Maceo drew in a deep lungful of night air and sighed.Cassie. Goddamn it.Why couldn’t the rest of the world leave him and Ori alone? Just for one day?

Doesn’t work that way, Maceo.

“Yeah, I know,” he muttered to himself. Inside, he found coffee and went to sit with Ori again, before pulling out his phone. As he gazed at his love sleeping peacefully, he smiled, and when Lisander answered his call, he began to speak, to ask Lisander for help.

Alex found Netta at breakfast and told her that he planned to fly back to America. “I’ve talked to the police; they’re not asking me to stay in Italy. I can’t be here, Netta, knowing what Maceo thinks of me, what he thinks I’ve done. I just can’t bear it.”

Netta nodded sadly. “I know, Alex, and I don’t blame you. For what it’s worth, none of the others think you did it either.” Even to her own ears, she sounded fake, and Alex tried to smile at her.

“I don’t blame them, Nets. I just can’t face them anymore.”

Netta was sad that he seemed to have given up and said as much to Seth later. Seth sighed.

“I don’t know what to say, Netta,” he said softly. “I think he should stay, but he’s a free man.”

“So, you think he did it?”

He took her in his arms, cupping her face in his big hand. “I don’t want to think that, but I can’t honestly think who else it could be.”

Netta sighed and leaned against him. “I can’t bear it, Seth.”

“I know.”

Seth toldMaceo that Alex was going back to America and was surprised when Maceo took it so well. “Good,” his Italian friend said abruptly, “I want him a million miles away from Ori.”

“How is she?”

Maceo’s expression softened. “She’s perfect. The doctor says she’s improving, although he has warned us not to rush things. She’s still sick, very sick, and exhausted. I think, what with everything else that’s happened as well as being stabbed, she’s finally feeling everything. AJ’s death, Janek’s abuse … it’s all hit her.”

Seth hesitated, then smiled. “Maceo … may I go visit with her? I know that out of all of us I know her the least, but I would like to get to know her better. Maybe I could be your relief; you look like you could do with a good meal and a long sleep. I’d be happy to sit with her.”

Maceo nodded gratefully. “I’d like that, Seth. I won’t need long, just a couple of hours, maybe.”

Ori washappy that Maceo was going to get some much-needed rest. “Baby, take as long as you need; I’ll be fine here with Seth.”

When Maceo had at last been persuaded to leave, Seth grinned at her. “I hope you don’t mind me offering to sit with you.”

“Not at all. Maceo is about ready to drop, but he wouldn’t leave me alone.” Ori smiled at the thought of her lover. “He’s very protective.”

“As he should be,” Seth’s smile faded. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Ori.”

Ori flushed. “Thank you. But, hey, I’m still here and,” she said grinning at him, “it’ll be nice to spend some time with you.”

They chatted easily. Ori found Seth to be erudite and charming underneath his shyness and they were soon laughing and ribbing each other gently.

“Maceo tells me you had a long-term girlfriend?”

Seth nodded. “Irina. Yeah … that ended a few months ago after she cheated on me.”

Ori looked alarmed. “Please tell me she didn’t cheat with Maceo?”

Seth half-smiled. “No, it wasn’t Maceo or anyone I know. She was very open and apologetic, but the trust had gone and the relationship just sort of petered out.”

“I’m sorry.”

Seth smiled. “Don’t be. I think it may have been for the best, I really do. And besides, now that Netta and I …”

“What?” Ori interrupted him, her eyes wide with excitement and Seth couldn’t help but laugh.