Page 4 of White Raven (Nevermore Duet #2)
Rhaena cocked her head. “And you didn’t tell him to go step in front of a train?” He shot up a middle finger and she giggled. “It’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
“Happy about what?” Jenkins asked, toweling his hair as he stepped into the kitchen.
“Detective Brood just put a ring on it!” Rhaena laughed, backing up against Brandon, who whipped an arm around her.
“That right? Awesome!” He offered his hand and Athan took it first, shaking it. “Congrats! I never thought I’d see the day.” He shook Sarah’s next.
“Wait a second,” Rhaena paused, scratching her head and picking the box back up off the table. “Are you sure this was meant for you, Sarah?”
“I assumed so. Why do you ask?”
Rhaena peered down at the note, flipping it over and then looking closer at the bird inside. “This says: ‘Welcome to the family.’ ”
“Yeah, we were thinking maybe he found out she was turned?” Athan tightened his hold on Sarah.
“But what if it isn’t that?” Rhaena looked up, raising the note in front of her.
“What if he knew about your engagement instead? Think about it. This is a Starling. The same type of bird that we found in that vic’s mouth that was meant to resemble Sarah.
That was also the same crime scene where Dahlia left that calling card for you, Kane.
That whole setup was meant to spook you . ”
For the first time in a long while, the faint sound of whispering in the back of his mind started to make themselves known. A nervous fluttering twisted his insides, and he felt Sarah stiffen under his arm.
“Okay, but how would he have known that? It just happened last night. The only other people that know about it are you and Brandon. I haven’t even had a chance to tell Wren yet.” Sarah thrust out a hand.
“Because whoever left that box saw it…or heard it.” Athan said in a voice like gravel. Sarah looked up at him, those eyes screaming for answers.
“There’s no way they would have had time to get that kind of information and kill a bird, write a note and wrap a damn gift that quick. I’m not buying that. This was premeditated.” Sarah’s voice was raspy. It sounded like a combination of fear, anger and hurt. It made him want to murder people.
“But we can’t rule it out, either.” Rhaena cut in, closing the box. She turned her attention to Jenkins. “Do you think we could get a forensics team to pull prints or DNA off this?”
“Yeah, I could drop it off after the holiday. But we’ll have to get it cleared through Foley. He won’t be back in until Monday.”
Rhaena made a face when she turned back towards them, handing over the gift box. “I really… really …hate to say this. But we need to keep this fresh.” She gagged. “Put the whole box in a plastic bag and stick it in my fridge.”
“You don’t have to do that, Rhaena.” Sarah held up a hand.
“And lose a good lead? Yeah, I do.”
“You’re too good to me,” Athan smirked, taking the box.
“Yeah, no shit. I’ve been saying that for a decade.” Rhaena gave him a wink and turned to follow Jenkins to the living room.
“I’m gonna go see if Wren’s up. Wait for me?” Sarah asked, tugging the front of Athan’s jacket towards her. He took the back of her neck and angled her face up.
“Forget this shit right now, Sarah. I’m gonna put this bird in the fridge, and we’re gonna enjoy the rest of this day. You just agreed to spend eternity with me. I’m not ready to give up the joy I’m taking in that. I refuse to let you do it, either.”
“You’re right,” she nodded. “Fuck him right now.”
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her, lingering on the taste of her before he gave up the opportunity to do it again for a couple of hours. When they finally broke away, he pressed their heads together. “Go check on her. I’ll make us some more coffee. It’s about the only thing I can cook.”
Sarah laughed, and the way that sound made him stumble over himself still shocked him. “‘Kay.”
That word. Damn it. It made him wish he could walk next door, plop down on that leather couch again and pull her into his lap.
There’d be time. An eternity of it. He smiled at her while he watched her head for the door.
He wasn’t sure how long he stared at that door even after she’d closed it behind her.
Loud purring roared in her ear as Wren pulled her covers under her chin, curling in on herself in the heavy darkness that Athan’s old curtains provided.
It felt more like home in this building now than it ever had in her old place.
She’d spent very little time there the past couple of months anyway, and the warmth of Sarah and Athan’s gesture made it all the more comfortable.
Denver’s warm paws kneaded the side of her neck, dragging strands of her hair back as his purring grew louder.
It seemed he was just as content. She had almost drifted back to sleep before a knock sounded at the front door.
Most likely Rhaena. She couldn’t bring herself to move, nor did she particularly care to see anyone.
Rhaena had a spare key. If it was important, she’d let herself in.
Wren pulled the heavy blanket tighter around her.
The knocking rang out down the hall a few more times, and she heard the deadbolt unlock. She didn’t even raise her eyes as soft footsteps crept down the hall, along with the telltale rustling of a plastic bag.
“Wren?”
Not Rhaena. That was Sarah’s voice.
“I’m in here,” Wren croaked, keeping still as Denver continued matting her hair. Sarah’s silhouette appeared in the doorway and stilled, easing whatever bag she was carrying down to the floor.
“I won’t ask if you’re alright,” Sarah breathed, keeping her stance at the doorway to Athan’s old bedroom. “I always hated when people asked me that shit after…well… after .”
“I appreciate that.”
“I came bearing gifts. If you’ll give me five minutes, I’ll leave. I just…I wanted to see you. It’s Christmas. It wouldn’t be the same without your wretched singing.”
“Fa-la-fucking-la…la-la-la-la.” Wren’s hand waved over the blanket. Sarah snorted, inching towards the bed.
“I can think of someone better suited to fuck your ‘la,’ ” she chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“The time for cracking on me about that was yesterday, bitch.” Wren couldn’t help but smile beneath the blanket.
“So…you’re saying if a certain… piano bar prick, had been at the door, you wouldn’t have at least brushed your rat’s nest hair?”
“I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Why not? You never do anything you don’t want to do. You must have needed it as much as he did.”
Wren slowly eased herself out of the blankets and nudged her squishy cat.
“Denver, stop , dude. You sound like a busted air conditioner.” She reached over and tugged the chain on the bedside lamp, squinting at the light as her swollen eye barely focused.
She straightened herself and leaned back against the headboard.
“Hot, isn’t it?” she smirked, looking at her best friend as she took in her eye.
“I finally was able to open it last night after I got out of the shower.”
“It really doesn’t look that bad. Can you see out of it?”
“Yeah, a little. It’s fuzzy right now, but I can see. Still makes my head hurt. They sent me home with some pretty decent meds, though. I don’t think I expected that. I’d rather not see the bill if it’s anything like yours.”
“You don’t need to worry about the bill,” Sarah said, reaching into the bag and pulling out a pack of four chocolate pudding cups. “We know what that secret weapon is anyway, right?”
“Goddess,” Wren smiled, reaching for them.
“I also brought these.” Sarah reached back in and handed her a large pack of red licorice braids. “And these.” She emptied the bag, a fresh pack of cigarettes hitting the blanket.
“I love Christmas.”
Wren started popping the sealed pack on the heel of her hand and fished around for a lighter. “I know you do. Are the good meds the reason you’re holing up in here like a hermit?” Sarah asked. Wren slid a cigarette into her mouth and offered her friend one. Sarah took it and they both lit up.
“No,” she replied, blowing smoke. “No, it isn’t.”
“Talk to me.”
“Why did you say I didn’t have to worry about the bill?” The cigarette stayed between her teeth as she pulled her unbrushed red hair up into a messy knot.
“Because Brent is footing it from Conrad’s estate settlement. Yours and his. The old bastard was the reason you were both there, anyway. You shouldn’t have to pay for that.”
Wren grew quiet as she took another long drag.
She stared forward, and then finally started to shake her head slowly.
“I thought I’d never make it out of that basement, Sarah.
” Her voice broke, and she could feel the knot in her throat growing.
Her eyes burned with hot tears, and her chest hurt.
Sarah scooted closer. “I thought his crotchety ass was gonna kill me. I thought—I thought Brent was…” She sniffled and wiped her nose on the back of her hand.
Sarah said nothing. Instead, she reached for her hand, thumbing over the back of it and listening quietly.
“Of all the people I thought were coming after me, I…I never expected it to be him. And the minute I heard his voice upstairs…” Wren shrugged. “I shouldn’t have kissed him.”
“Why, Wren?”