“It’s the exact opposite of you and Liam, Samantha. You love him. And he feels something for you. Why do you think I called him an asshole?”
“Because he wanted me to go to high school instead of tour professionally?”
“No, he was probably right about that. I thought he was an asshole because he keeps his distance from you instead of saying how he really feels.”
My body tightens as I remember his hands on my thighs, his tongue on my clit. “What if the way he feels about me isn’t appropriate for a guardian to his ward?”
“He isn’t a regular guardian,” she says gently. “And you aren’t a regular ward. So why should your feelings be the same as other people?”
“Beatrix, whatever happened between you and Edward?” He was her father’s business partner. When both her parents died, he became the trustee of the considerable wealth she inherited. The only thing I know is that they had a falling out about her husband.
“He wanted to marry me,” she admits. “Not in the sweet ‘I love you’ way. More like a ‘you can’t leave the penthouse so you’ll make a nice attic wife for me’ way.”
“Oh, Bea. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was embarrassed. Ashamed, really. I didn’t have a regular life going to high school. You know I couldn’t even leave the hotel for years, until I met Hugo.”
“Edward didn’t take it well?”
“No, and there’s something else, something I found out about his past. It doesn’t matter now except to say that he’s not a good man.”
My heart clenches. “I’m sorry.”
“I know we have this in common, and I’m grateful to call you my friend. But our situations are completely different. Even before I knew the truth about Edward, I knew I couldn’t marry him. That I would never love him—not as a husband or as a guardian.”
She’s right. Our situations aren’t the same at all. If Liam North were to ask me to marry him, I would give up everything to say yes. The tour, a music career. Traveling the world. I’m excited about it, but it pales in comparison to the man one floor down. Of course, he would never ask me to marry him. He doesn’t even want to see me again. I stroke the smooth wood of the Stradivarius, which may be all I ever have of Liam North.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The world’s fastest violinist played “The Flight of the Bumblebee” averaging fifteen notes per second.
SAMANTHA
Laney insists on taking me to the local café, where we have tea and chocolate croissants while discussing the latest Outlander episode. Josh drives us there, even securing the back exit before he lets us come inside. I give him a strange look. He’s often been responsible for driving us around, the most overqualified chauffeur in the world, but this seems extreme.
In answer he gives me a wink and takes his latte outside.
I glance back at Laney, who’s trying to hide her grin. And the notch of worry between her eyes is gone. “Do you have good news?” I demand, already suspecting as much.
A grin. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but…my mom got back last night. She’s exhausted but absolutely all in one piece. I checked. Two arms. Two legs. One nose. It’s all there.”
I give her a quick hug. “I’m so glad. But wait. Why were you not supposed to tell me?”
She rolls her eyes. “Because Elijah came back with her, and he’s all like, ‘I got Samantha a snow globe from the Kremlin and you can’t tell her I’m here until I give it to her.’”
A bemused laugh escapes me. None of that sounds true. “Whatever.”
“The important thing is that everyone is home. Nothing dangerous ever happens in Kingston.”
I stick out my tongue at her. “Way to tempt fate.”
An unrepentant grin. “Sorry, but I’m a firm believer in nihilism. We don’t believe in fate, but we also think that if fate did exist, tempting it wouldn’t matter. What’s going to happen will happen.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s determinism.”
“Exactly,” she says, snatching the last bite of chocolate croissant from my plate. “Which means I’m not responsible for stealing this, and it doesn’t matter anyway.”
“You know what? I’m not even mad.”
She grins. “Because you have a fancy new violin waiting at home?”
“Yes.” My smile fades. “Though it won’t be home for long.”
“Ugh. I can’t believe he said that to you. Just do what I do when I don’t like something—pretend it didn’t happen. Show up whenever you want. What is he gonna do? Turn you away?”
My stomach turns over, despite the comforting tea and croissant I just ate. “Even if I can come back, that’s going to be in a year and a half. And that’s only the initial tour dates. If I get booked for concerts after that, it could be even longer.”
The label will put me up in hotels for the tour. And after that? I’ll basically be homeless. Oh, I’ll have enough money to rent an apartment or something.
It won’t really be a home.
Silence falls between us, both of us wondering where we’ll be in two years from now. The future stretches out with endless uncertainty. Well, maybe I’m the only one wondering that. It’s possible Laney’s considering stealing the chocolate croissant from the display case.
After all, it would happen anyway.
A rap on the window. Josh taps his watch.
“Let’s go,” Laney says, grabbing her purse.
I take a final swallow of my tea. “Yeah, I’ve got to get my snow globe.”
On the drive back to the house I notice Josh’s raw knuckles.
“Who did you hit?” I say, disapproving. All three brothers are well trained and determined, but of the three of them, only Josh enjoys a fight.
“Oh, this?” he says, his tone innocent. “This was just a love tap.”
He drops us off at the front of the house. It’s dark and unnervingly quiet inside. I wonder if Liam is working, and if he’d mind if I played the Strad again.
“Surprise!”
A squeak escapes me as people jump out from behind the furniture and around the corner. My heart thumps in uneven rhythm. I grin at Laney with accusation. “Did you know about this?”
“It was my job to distract you.”
“So sneaky,” I say, looking around at the hot pink balloons and neon green streamers. A cake on the dining table forms the shape of a violin, the frosting in bright colors.
“I basically told you,” she protests, laughing. “The snow globe. The Kremlin. Honestly who buys souvenirs from the Kremlin?”
“Those are the worst hints in the history of the world.” I throw my arms around her for a big hug. “And thank you for being an amazing friend.”
It seems like all the people who work for North Security are in attendance, including Hassan and his young bride, back from their honeymoon and googly-eyed in love. There’s Laney’s mom, looking no worse for the wear. Liam, looking grave surrounded by so much revelry.
Elijah is back, and though he doesn’t have a snow globe, he does have a black eye. I’m careful not to make a fuss over him in front of everyone—I know he’d hate that.
After “Happy Birthday” has been sung and the cake has been cut, I corner Elijah with a hug. He gives me a quick squeeze before letting me go. Strangely enough, Elijah is known as the asshole out of the three brothers, but my relationship with him has always been easiest. Maybe because we’re closest in age or because you always know where you stand with him.
Though I think it’s more likely because we both know about loss.
“I was worried about you,” I tell him.
“You know I’m too stubborn to die. I’ll probably live to be two hundred.” He doesn’t sound very cheerful about the prospect. But then again, he doesn’t sound cheerful about much of anything.
I give a pointed look to his black eye. “You’re not infallible.”
“You should see the other guy.”
“Nice try, but I already know Jos
h hit you. And he looks fine.”
He grins, which with the black eye makes him look like a pirate. “And I’m guessing Liam will give me a matching one on the other side when he has a spare minute.”
“Liam wouldn’t hit you,” I say, indignant. “You’re injured.”
“My pride is the only thing injured if you think I can’t take a punch. Besides, I deserved it. I deserved worse than that, but Liam’s gone soft.”
“Because he cares about you.”
Elijah studies me, his hard features set into shadows and edges. His face gives the impression of a cliff, something that’s been hewn over centuries of water and wind but still manages to have hard angles. “No, squirt,” he says gently. “It’s because he cares about you. Everything changed the day he got custody of you.”
I look away. Is that why he’s so eager to get rid of me? I imagine a twelve-year-old girl would cramp anyone’s style, especially a man in his prime who loves adventure. And women. My stomach clenches. “I suppose he’ll join one of the teams once I’m gone.”
“He doesn’t want to do that shit anymore.”
“Or maybe he just didn’t go because he felt obligated to stay with me.”
“He used to take any job. Every job. If it was likely to end up with him in a wooden box, he would do it. He wanted it to end that way. It was only his bad luck that kept him alive.”
The way Elijah speaks, I know he’s talking from experience. “Is that what you do?”
A humorless smile. “That’s the North brothers’ curse. To survive.”
SAMANTHA
The party goes late into the night. It’s ten o’clock when Laney comes to me quietly. “Cody’s here. He’s outside. He doesn’t want to come in.”
The hair on the back of my neck rises at her tone. “What’s going on?”
She glances to the large windows that overlook the hills. Any gathering here involves beer and an overabundance of testosterone, which led to the men competing in impromptu boxing matches. Liam was called outside to arbitrate a particularly dirty one.
Only his decisions are trusted as being completely impartial.
“He’s got bruises,” she whispers.
Birthday cake turns to lead in my stomach. Cody has always hidden his bruises from Liam—and usually from us. He must be in a bad way if he’s come here. “Should I tell Liam?”
Her eyes widen. “You can’t.”
“He helped with Coach Price.”
“That was different. He could get rid of Coach Price. How is he going to get rid of Cody’s dad?”
“The authorities. A social worker. I don’t know.”
“The man’s the only family Cody has. Do you think he’s going to be safer in some group home? And besides, you had to convince Liam to help with Coach Price. What if he won’t be convinced this time?”
For all I know there are a hundred Coach Prices working at the group home. And besides, I know what it’s like to have a father who isn’t very good—but he’s the only one you have. I wouldn’t want Cody to lose that—or to suffer retribution if his father finds out he talked to us.
“I still think we should tell Liam.”
“We can talk about that later, but right now I’m going on a drive with him.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“Maybe,” she says. “No, it’s your birthday party. Don’t be silly.”
“I’m not being silly. You guys are my best friends. If he needs to talk, I should be there.” A thought occurs to me, and my cheeks heat. “Unless you’d rather be alone.”
Shock widens her eyes. “Nothing like that is going to happen.”
“Okay,” I say, keeping my tone mild.
“I’m serious. Now you have to come.”
She slips outside, and I start to follow. At the threshold of the house I pause, remembering the strange sounds and shadows in the antique shop. Probably my imagination.
“Come on,” she says, and I take another step forward.
And then stop.
Your father had enemies. If they think you know something—
No, I won’t leave without telling anyone where I’m going. Liam was right about that—it’s not the grown-up decision to make people worry.
I find Liam outside, shaking his head as Josh and Elijah fight across the grass, tumbling outside the makeshift white boundary, using moves that I’m pretty sure aren’t allowed in even the most underground boxing ring.
“I’m going on a drive with Laney and Cody.”
“No,” he says, almost absently, his eyes still on the fight.
“I’m not asking permission,” I tell him gently. “I’m eighteen now. Remember?”
He glances at me, his green eyes filled with humor and melancholy. “Would you have asked permission if I agreed to be pen pals when you left?”
I shake my head slowly, not breaking eye contact.
“Christ,” he says. “All right. Go. I won’t try to stop you, but I’m still responsible for your safety as long as I—as long as you’re here. I’ll follow at a discreet distance.”
I make a face. “Are you serious?”
“Hey,” he says gently. “I know how to tail someone without them knowing.”
“That’s weirdly reassuring.”
That earns me a small smile.
Outside I find Cody and Laney waiting by the beat-up white truck, Cody looking miserable, his shoulders slumped as if perpetually protecting himself. He actually looks better than Elijah—no black eyes or visible bruises. I think they’re all on his ribs. His father hits him where it can’t be seen.
I move to hug him, but he takes a reflexive step back.
My face falls, but I struggle to act casual. “I heard we’re going for a drive.”
“Happy birthday,” he says, apology in his voice. “I got you a present, but it’s… I lost it.”
More likely his father found it, whatever it was, and beat him for it. Acid rises in my throat. I hate not being able to do anything about it.
Maybe on the drive I can convince him Liam can help.
“The only thing I want for my birthday is hanging out with you,” I say, climbing into the truck. I don’t know how much a normal high school experience really helped me. The endless classes and exams when all I really wanted to do was play the violin. Having Laney and Cody as friends is different. If this is what normal means, I understand why it’s so important.
I know without asking that we’re heading to the lake, where trails lead to a rocky swimming hole. We go there a lot to hang out. Except we barely get ten minutes from home before headlights appear behind us, way too close to the truck. Cody swears in surprise. “What the hell?”
“Oh my God,” I moan. “He said he would be discreet.”
Laney turns in her seat. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s not anyone from North Security. It’s a Crown Victoria, late nineties model.”
She has that kind of detailed knowledge of random things, so I trust her. The North Security vehicles are all black Explorers designed to hold a maximum number of people, and a couple large trucks for hauling supplies.
“Then who is it?” Cody says as the car behind us speeds up.
Impact. We’re jolted forward as the car slams into the truck. Cody swerves hard but manages to keep the truck on the road.
“No one we want to meet,” I say, gripping the leather seat. “Keep going.”
It comes to me with calm certainty—this is about my father.
A child who might remember something from when she was hiding under her father’s desk. Not only from the day he died. From before that. A phone call. A conversation.
I still don’t remember anything. There were diplomats and formal dinners where I would be forced to wear itchy dresses. Endless phone calls where I would play with my doll underneath his desk. What could I have heard that’s dangerous? Maybe Liam is right. It doesn’t matter what I’ve heard. It only matters that someone thinks I might know som
ething.
The car behind us speeds up, pulling alongside. “Oh shit,” Laney says.
They’re trying to run us off the road. The crunch of metal. Cody fights to keep the truck straight. If we go off the road right now, we’ll head straight into a ditch—and then be sitting ducks. Elijah taught me self-defense, but I have a feeling the man in that car has a gun.
A burst of light as a large black SUV jumps onto the road, headlights overbright, engine smooth and loud. It must be Liam in one of the Explorers. He slams into the Crown Vic, pushing it into the embankment instead of us.
Cody fights the steering, but we’re going too fast. There’s a loud pop as the ancient white pickup truck is pushed one mile past its endurance. The truck swerves hard, almost flipping over, before it rocks back onto four wheels.
There’s a shout. A wild cry.
The whole world shakes as we leave the pavement and hit sliding rocks.
A tree looms ahead in the windshield. We’re slowing down, but not fast enough. We slam into the trunk with a loud thunk and the punch of a half-inflated, ancient, yellowed airbag.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The London Symphony Orchestra was booked to travel on the Titanic's maiden voyage, but they changed boats at the last minute.
LIAM
The man driving the Crown Victoria has pale eyes and a scar across his left eye. I put a bullet in the middle of his forehead before he can talk. There’s a half second of regret about that. He could have had useful information, though probably not. And he deserved a painful death. But I can’t risk the fucker hurting anyone while I’m losing my mind with worry. I sprint across the road to the white truck, which smokes from its rumpled hood. By the time I get there Cody is helping Laney out. Samantha pushes her way out from the other side, in time for me to catch her in my arms.
“Are you okay? Talk to me.” I run my hands over her body, searching for injuries. The whole chase probably lasted two and a half seconds, but it’s more than enough for someone to be hurt. For someone to be killed. The human body is so fucking fragile.
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