Page 93 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“No, but he took his sister’s side.”

“What side? Tragic accidents happen.” She wracked her brain for the details. “I’m sure Casey apologized, and she served time. Isn’t that enough? Is forgiveness really so hard?”

“Both my parents died within a short time after the crash. She didn’t just kill my sister—her actions hastened their demise as well.”

Loriana was not going to point out that Mrs. Finnegan’d been a terrible drunk who was well on her way to taking herself out. She didn’t enjoy gossip, but Zach’s mom’s problems were so profound that even Loriana’d heard about it. She remembered being most concerned about the youngest child.

“How is Anika these days?”

Finally—finally—Zach smiled. “Precocious. She’s started university and plans to get into all kinds of mischief. Naturally I’ve put my foot down, and naturally she’s not going to listen to a word I say.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

His eyes flashed. “Yes, she is. We got each other through the past few years. And part of me is happy she’s starting to make her way in the world and part of me is terrified what that means. If something goes wrong. What that’ll do to me.”

Loriana wanted to assure him that nothing was going to go wrong. That the odds said Anika would be just fine. But she didn’t have the right to say that, and so she wouldn’t.

“I’ll head out. I think Xavier, Darius, and Noel are still hanging out in the kitchen. If you need me to encourage them to leave, I’m happy to do it.”

“No need.” Noel clapped Zach on the back as he and the other men appeared. His blue eyes sparkled as he pivoted to Loriana. “I had a great time tonight. Despite everything.” He glanced around at the men. “Sometimes it’s nice to just hang out with people and not stress about my little sister.”

“Trouble?” Part of Loriana wanted everyone to leave, and part of her was happy for the distraction.

Noel shrugged. “Nothing much. Just that she’s a menace on the Harley she bought herself. Kendra’s all of twenty-one and insanely independent. I worry, though.”

Zach nodded. “My sister is just a bit younger, and I get the stress.”

“I’m an only child.” Darius grinned. “No stress.”

Xavier tapped his chin. “I’m also an only child. I wonder what the odds of that are?”

Silence descended on the group. Apparently no one was willing to step forward to tackle a math problem.

“Okay, I think it’s time for us to take our leave.” Zach glanced around the group of men, and general agreements abounded.

“Let me put together leftovers for you. You can each take a care package.”

“We’re fine, really.” Xavier offered a grin. “I think I did well tonight.”

But Loriana’d seen the sheer volume of food they’d stuffed back into her freezer. “Seriously, there’s no way Mitch and I can eat it all.”If Mitch even comes back.

A moment’s lull set over the group before finally Noel spoke. “I wouldn’t mind a deviled egg to take home to Kendra.”

“Great. Let me put together four care packages.” She’d planned on eight, but she’d cope. She moved to the kitchen with four gorgeous, tall men following her. With a little coaxing, she managed to get each to take a container.

Ten minutes later, she was completely alone.

With tremendous fatigue dogging her, she made her way to the couch. She sprawled and let out a bone-deep breath.

What the fuck just happened?All of it. Mitch. The men. The horrific matchmaking miscalculation—all of it. She’d call Marnie in the morning. Keep it casual and light. Hopefully her friend’d forgive her. Although what seemed to upset Marnie the most was Mitch’s situation. There had to be something in the woman’s past, and Loriana was determined to ferret it out. Sure, she should respect her co-worker’s right to privacy. But curiosity was going to be the death of her.

Just as she was curious what was going on down at the police detachment. Were Colton and Dorrie interrogating Mitch? Had Zach’s friend the lawyer showed up? Part of her wanted to get online to look up all the details about the woman Mitch used to be involved in. The woman he allegedly had some part in killing. Of course, maybe they thought he hired someone to do it. He hadn’t, of course. She was one hundred percent confident that he had nothing to do with it.

Okay, maybe ninety-nine-point-nine percent.

Plato jumped on her lap, and she jerked, heart racing. She petted him as he began to purr. “Hey, big guy.”

He butted against her chin.

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