Page 4 of Malevolent Secrets

“What I’m trying to say is that, love like that doesn’t die. You know how couples say ‘til death do us part? Some religions believe that death is only the beginning of our story.” She looks at me with a small smile. “Maybe you and Jeremy’s story is just beginning.”

“Thank you, Renee. That's a beautiful thing to say.” I don’t know if I understood it, but Renee is always full of new-age ideas. I’ve come to expect it from her.

“Sure,” she says with a smile. “I've been accused of being unable to properly articulate my thoughts in the past. I'm glad that didn't happen this time.”

I almost smile, but again, the effort is too much.

She’s beautiful, I think as I stare at her, trying to think of something to say. How have I never truly noticed it until this moment?

I’m distracted by a car pulling up by the road.

The funeral is already wrapping up. Everyone who should be here is here, but the car stops right by us.

It’s a sleek number, a black Mercedes that probably cost more than I could earn in two or three years of paychecks.

Two men step out of the vehicle and they are tall, so tall. They also look similar in their black suits and ties and with their matching black hair and beards. They look menacing, and my heart freezes in my chest.

“Oh dear,” Renee says, and I turn toward her.

“Who are…”

“I'll be right back Dani,” she says before I can complete my question. I watch the men walk up to the newly erected tombstone and I give them a minute to pay whatever respects they came here to take care of. Then I approach them.

“Excuse me, I'm not sure I know you.”

The two men exchange glances and then the slightly taller one steps forward.

“Massimo Ranieri.”

He stretches his hand out and I stare at it, confused for a second before taking it.

“Daniella. Who are you?”

“We were friends of Jeremy,” the man says, and I stare at the two of them with confusion. I have never seen them before. They can’t have been friends with Jeremy.

“I’ve met all his friends and I’ve never met you two. Where did you know him from?”

They exchange another look and my goodness, they couldn’t have been more suspicious if they were waving flags announcing just how suspicious they are being.

“We met in college. Have a good day.”

Before I can get another word in, the men slip back into their car and drive off.

“Do you know who those people are?” I turn to face Renee, wondering when she showed up next to me.

“Um…no. But they said they were friends of Jeremy’s.”

“Hmm. Okay, I have to leave now, but please call me if you need anything, even if it’s just someone to talk to.”

I nod and my friend envelopes me in a big hug that feels surprisingly good. Then she takes off.

It isn't until I'm in bed later that night, staring at the empty space that Jeremy would normally be occupying, that I remember what the men said. They said that they knew Jeremy from college.

There’s just one problem with that.

Jeremy’s parents died when he was twelve. He was tossed around between distant family members before finally entering the foster system at fifteen. He ran away from his foster parents because they were abusive and only cared about the welfare checks they were cashing each month.

He had struggled to get through high school due to all the upheaval of the foster system and being on his own at such a young age. He took the GED at twenty-one and got a job working at a small accounting firm before he met me.

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