Page 14 of The Fragile Truth
Humor flashed over his features. “Do you really think you’re in any position to be making demands? I’m holding all the cards.”
She arched an eyebrow, her voice growing testy. “Do you want the necklace or not?”
He chuckled. “That’s what I love about you—your foolhardy defiance. Okay, beautiful Lina, make your demand.”
“I want Effie Romeo dead.”
He blinked. “Wow, you don’t mess around.”
“That’s my condition.” Lina refused to live in a world where Effie Romeo had taken over her life.
His features hardened. “Don’t tell me you’re still pining away for Talon Chasing. I thought your paltry affair with Wesley would’ve gotten that out of your system.”
She rocked back. “H—how did you know?” she sputtered. A wave of white-hot anger splintered through her. “Did Wesley tell you?”
“He didn’t have to.”
“Were you behind those photographs that destroyed my marriage?”
His laughter cut her off short. “Of course not. Do you really think I’d waste my time with such inconsequential matters?”
She settled back down. “Okay then. Do we have a deal?”
His words came out in an incredulous squeak. “Of all the things you could ask me to do for you, and you really want me to kill Effie Romeo?”
“Yes. That’s my condition. Once that’s done, we can move forward.”
His eyes sparked with determination. “No, we’re moving forward right now. But I will comply with your wishes. Consider it my gift—a token of my undying devotion to you.” He searched her face. “That’s the reason I asked you to come to the lighthouse that night. I wanted to craft our plan to be together.” He frowned. “But then you broke my trust and showed up with that imbecile cop.”
Startled laughter rose in her throat. “Broke your trust? I didn’t know who you were. You were threatening to go public with the dirt you had on me. What did you expect me to do?”
His voice sharpened. “Did you tell Brent Allen about me?”
“No,” she lied, her throat thickening with unease. He was dangerous. She had to remember that.
He studied her for several moments. She hardened her jaw, enduring his scrutiny. He was so methodical and level-headed, but there was an underlying ruthlessness about him that scared her. Finally, his jaw relaxed. “Too bad Brent had to die.”
“Too bad,” she said lightly.
The corners of his jaw twitched as he reached a decision. “Okay, if you want Effie Romeo dead. Consider it done.”
A swell of victory rushed through her veins. “Good,” she shot back. “In that case, you may kiss me now.”
5
The familiar scents of dust, vinyl, coffee, and lemon floor cleaner invaded Ian’s senses as he strode into the Sheriff’s Office, which was on the basement level of the courthouse.
Callie looked up from her desk as he passed by to grab his coffee mug from his office. “Well, well … look who finally came dragging in at nine forty-five. I thought I was gonna have to send out an APB.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Ian said dryly, giving her a sidelong smirk. Normally, he reported to the office by seven a.m. at the latest, but today, he took a detour to The Sea Salt Grill to see Sadie.
“Look at you,” Callie hooted, “with that extra giddy-up in your step.” Her eyes sparkled with innuendo. “I guess the rumors are true.”
“What rumors?” he asked pleasantly, even though he knew exactly what she was getting at. He grabbed his mug before going to the coffee station and filling it nearly to the brim. Then, he tore open a cream packet, dumped it in, and added some sugar. He circled a stir-stick through the liquid before tossing it into the garbage.
Callie stepped up beside him. Wiry and petite, she came to his shoulder. “I hear you’ve been getting pretty chummy with the new waitress over at the café.”
Word certainly traveled fast in Summerhaven. Sadie had been in town less than a week, and already tongues were wagging. He raised his cup to his mouth and took a long sip and then winced at the bitterness. It had been sitting in the pot for a while. He was used to getting a fresh-brewed cup. The early birds had already gotten the worms, and Ian was left with a cup of sludge. “What’s on the docket today?”