Page 64 of Unspoken Lies

“Can I ask what’s on your list?” I ask, setting the full glasses on the island as I sit down.

“They’re things I will probably never do,” she says ruefully.

“Like?” Liliana asks, brow raised.

“Have sex,” Rachelle says as I take a sip of water.

Accidentally inhaling in surprise, I begin to cough. She winces, getting up to rub my back.

“I’m okay,” I wheeze. “‘Have sex’ is on your list?”

Shit, so much has changed in the last years, while others stay the same.

“I mean, who was I going to sleep with?” she teases me.

“You have a very valid point,” I growl as she sits again.

“I know,” she purrs, wrapping her lips around her straw as she sucks down her water. Her plate is empty, as are mine and Liliana’s. “Tarot card reading in person was one of my items. I got to do that at Cellie’s Mystics yesterday. There’s a few other odds and ends too.”

“What’s on your therapist’s list?” I ask. “Is everyone done?”

Lili and Rachelle nod, and I begin to clear plates and put food away. I’ve learned where things are while living here, and Rachelle’s eyes follow me with a small smile. Anyone else would be jealous, yet she doesn’t seem to be.

“My therapist’s list surrounds getting out of the house. I don’t think jumping to the fire escape was quite what he wanted,” Rachelle says drolly.

Liliana’s phone chimes, and she glances at it before rolling her eyes.

“Jared says that your window is locked and your door is now fixed and locked,” she says. “He also says that your neighbors are nosy and almost called the cops on them.”

“They’re all senior citizens or people with kids,” Rachelle says. “I’m sure they scared them with how loud they were.”

“I’m glad Nacio caught you instead of me having to start shooting the guys in the middle of Montecito,” Lili says with a smirk. “I did manage to smack one of them over the head as I passed them.”

Food put away, I begin to wash dishes as I think about that.

“I followed the guy who made the drop until he disappeared into a black van. I took a photo of the license plate, but I doubt that’ll lead to anything,” I say to Lili. At Rachelle’s curious look I add, “Dad has Liliana here because there’s a pretty serious drug problem he wants cleaned up. He thought it was his men that were involved, but it’s appearing as if it’s not.”

“I got roofied with a stick of gum,” Liliana grumbles. “I went to Brothers Speakeasy, which is the club behind the shop you work at, and on my way out I took an offered piece of gum from a girl in the bathroom. I feel as if this is personal now.”

“Gum?” Rachelle breathes. “Yet another reason the world scares the shit out of me.”

I wince because while the world is scary, she should still experience it. I can’t even promise to protect her from it all, because of how epically I failed her last time. Putting the dishes away after drying them, I stand there methodically drying my hands.

Rachelle and Liliana are staring hard at me, and a smile pulls at my lips.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” I ask, chuckling softly.

“It’s unfair how hot you look doing dishes,” Rachelle practically purrs.

“That,” Liliana sighs happily. “He grew up well, baby.”

She pretends to dry a few tears as I bark out a laugh and hang up the towel.

“That’s funny,” I say. “Why don’t you show Rachelle the house, starting with your bedroom. I think we have some unfinished business to continue.”

Liliana grabs her hand and they hop off the stools to take off together.

“Ready or not, here I come!” I yell, running after them.