Page 105 of Ace

"I'll be back soon," I tell her with a quick kiss.

The first couple of times I walked out of this room, leaving her alone inside, I wondered if she'd change her mind about me before I got back, but I was always met with a smile upon my return. It makes it no easier this time to walk out and close the door behind me, and I don't know how long I'll have before my world crumbles around me, but as the days pass that thought seems to fade a little. Hopefully, one day it'll be gone completely and I won't feel the need to clench my chest as if I'm suffering a loss of some kind.

The next few days are going to be hard for everyone involved. Sadie's memorial is planned for tomorrow, and although we'll be going back to Columbia, we won't be returning to her family estate. I know the blood has been cleared, but her memories will take longer than a week to fade.

William, although not happy about it, scheduled someone to go inside and have a lot of Cora's things packed and sent to us. I think he only agreed to do that because he wanted to make sure the person entering the home was vetted and was less likely to take pictures and sell them to TMZ. William Preston Jr. has taken the leadership role of the family and has been the one to stand before cameras and answer questions.

Kincaid had voiced his concern about Cora's link to Cerberus, but there hasn't been any chatter about our involvement in any part of the case or her life. I know there was fear that the Gatlinburg chapter would be outed, and that would complicate everything we were trying to do here. Reporters asked, once that I know of, about Cora and William, and they were simply told that she was resting and the family needed time to grieve their losses, including their younger brother and his mental health crisis.

It hasn't been revealed that Christopher Preston is a true psychopath because that doesn't bode well for anyone. The company line is that Sadie died of an overdose, the roommate committed suicide, and Faye was Chris's only victim. Poor Petal has never been found, and when asked about it Chris just stares blankly for a second before the maniacal laughter sets in.

According to his attorneys, they believe they have a good shot at an insanity plea which means the man will probably be wreaking havoc at a mental institution for the rest of his life, and honestly as far as I'm concerned, that's better than he deserves. I also have to take into consideration that he's Cora's brother, and she loves him. I think there are days she wished she didn't because it would make things a hell of a lot easier for her, but her heart is bigger than anyone else I know, and I don't want her experiences to harden it.

"How's life?" Lark asks with a knowing grin as he meets me in the hallway on the way down to the meeting.

"From the looks of that grin, you already know my answer," I mutter.

Maybe living in this cabin with all of these other people isn't the best idea after all.

"Don't look at me like that," he says with a wide grin as he gives me a slap on the back. "Thin walls."

"If you even hint at or mention that to Cora," I snap.

"She'll cut you off?" His grin grows wider. "I'll keep that in mind."

"And I'll schedule you on another case in Atlanta," I threaten, knowing he hated his last trip there.

"That's cold," he says, but I think the bluff will work, not that he's a spiteful guy or anything. I know he's just giving me a hard time. "Hey, Jersey."

The man in question glares at us after he leaves his own bedroom.

"What's that look for?" I ask.

"The newowners turned The Lost Kitten into a brunch place," he mutters. "Do you know how far that makes the next closest bar?"

The Lost Kitten was the bar that Hemlock was assigned to when the organization first formed. It's where he met Zara.

"A few more miles down the mountain," Lark answers.

"Do you know how long a few miles are in fucking Tennessee?" he growls.

"Regretting leaving ICE?" I ask. He along with Jericho both retired from the Agency to join Cerberus.

"Not a chance. Last night I sat in on a dinner and show. What do you know about the Hatfields and McCoys?"

"Nothing," Lark says, clapping the man on the back. "And I want to keep it that way."

I know we have to sound like a herd of elephants taking the stairs down to the conference room, but Zara just smiles at us from one of the massive sofas in the common area.

"I made breakfast," she says. "Lark, don't eat all the bacon."

"Yes, ma'am," he says, but there's a glint in his eyes as he hastens his steps in that direction.

"Will I see Cora today?" she asks me.

I know the two have been getting along pretty well and were even discussing a meal plan. It seems they both love to cook and work together well even though helping others out around here isn't a requirement. We're all men that can take care of ourselves, but they don't seem to mind stepping into that role. When I asked Cora about it, she said she likes to know that she’s able to help.

"We have that trip back to Columbia today," I remind her, watching as her face falls.

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