Page 34 of End Game

Kayla never understood people who ascribed to the fashionably late mindset. Somehow those people had convinced themselves that being the last to arrive gave them a boost of power over the lesser, on-time mortals present.

Their inflated egos blinded them to the fact that the real power resided in the quiet one-on-one conversations of the early arrivals. Many plans had been cemented and much awareness had been seeded before a dinner or party ever started.

Being heard, being understood—that was power.

Not being seen.

Jillian’s gaze locked on hers, and the conversation at the table halted. Unease put a hitch in her purposeful stride, and her mother’s spine slowly straightened, as did her aunties’.

No one smiled. No one stood for their normal requisite hug.

Tension crackled in the air, like a bolt of summer lightning.

A distant part of her mind noted they each wore black, though Elsie, being Elsie, added a splash of color to her mourning outfit with a chunky, multicolored necklace.

Kayla slid into the open chair next to Jillian. “Apologies for my tardiness. I had to do a bit of a dance to elude my protectors.”

Sybil waved off her excuse. “Never mind that.” Her dark midnight eyes clasped Kayla’s in an unbreakable hold. “We have a problem.”

Kayla breathed in a steadying breath, while she smoothed a linen napkin over her lap. “I’m listening.”

15

As soon as Phin picked up the phone, Ash asked, “How’s shadow duty going?”

“Fine. She’s locked in her office doing video conferences.”

Ash slid his index finger over the condensation coating the lower half of his glass of ice water. “When did you last lay eyes on her?”

“Right before lunch.”

“You haven’t seen her since?”

“I haven’t, but Luke, one of my coworkers, delivered a salad to her not long ago. I’ve got a direct line to her door.”

“Luke saw her?”

“I assume so. He came out of her office laughing like they’d been joking around.” Phin’s voice hardened. “What’s with all the questions, Ash? I said I’d protect her and I am.”

“Bro, she gave you the slip.”

A short silence, then, “Bullshit. Quit fucking around.”

“Go check her office.”

He heard the squeak of a chair, then a sharp knock, then, “Sonofabitch.” Hard footsteps, metal rolling against plastic. “What the hell?”

“Speak to me,” he said.

“Her purse is still here.”

“What about her billfold?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not digging around to find out. Give me a minute. I’ll track down her accomplice and figure out where she went.”

“Leave him alone. He was only following orders.”

“You’re taking this well,” Phin said with suspicion.

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