Page 243 of The Black Trilogy

Not only that, sugar skulls were a part of the Day of the Dead, which was what I created when I was on form. My skull showed up under black light because it was under Black that my skills to create my own Dia de Los Muertos first emerged. The design was symbolic, but I couldn’t tell Tia that.

And now, as the skull shimmered under the ultraviolet spotlight above me, I thought of my husband and knew where I’d be going the next day.

Luckily, Tia’s attention was taken by her phone ringing. I glanced at the screen. What did Arabella want at this time of night?

Tia picked up and answered, “Hey, what’s up?”

Then her face went ashen.

“L-L-Luke,” she stammered. “I can explain.”

CHAPTER 34

TIA LOOKED AT me, wide-eyed in panic.

Luke must have gone over to Arabella’s and found Tia missing. Rats. My streak of bad luck was holding, and the cat was out of the bag. Our cover was blown. The beans were well and truly spilled.

“I’m just with some friends,” Tia told her brother. “Yes, I do have friends apart from Arabella. No, not the same ones I used to hang out with.” Tia screwed up her face. “No, I’m not taking drugs.”

Tia held the phone away from her ear as Luke lost it and started yelling. I didn’t catch most of it over the music.

“No, I’m not with a guy,” she said.

Except Tia, what with being sat on Ryan’s lap and all, sounded well and truly deceitful.

“It’s just friends, honestly. No, I’m at one of their houses. The stereo’s on really loud.” More yelling. “I can’t turn it down. Er, the remote’s gone missing.”

Ouch. Tia was such a bad liar it was almost painful. We’d have to work on that.

But not tonight. I reached over and took the phone out of her hand.

“It’s Ash.” Now it was my turn to hold the phone away. “For goodness’ sake, stop shouting. It achieves nothing. Look, this is my fault. I called Tia earlier and asked if she fancied a night out with me and a few friends. She was planning a quiet evening with Arabella, but I encouraged her. I’m sorry.”

“She’s my little sister! What have you done, dragged her out clubbing?”

Luke didn’t lower the volume, but our waitress held out a pair of earplugs on a silver tray.

“We are in a club, yes, but it’s perfectly safe, and Tia’s had one of us with her at all times.”

“Clubs aren’t safe. All sorts of bad stuff happens. There’s sex, drugs, alcohol. Someone could have spiked her drink.”

“Not in this club. The door policy’s strict. Anyone even thinking of trying that would be out on their backside.” With my boot up it.

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, Luke, I do. You want to know why? Because it’s my club, and I set the door policy. And as I hardly ever come here, but I’m in here now, the staff are all on their best behaviour. If someone so much as took a cough sweet this evening, they’d get questioned. Tia’s had one glass of wine, which, I’ll point out, is far less than I’ve seen her drink when you’ve taken responsibility for her.”

That took the wind out of Luke’s sails a bit. “Whatever. I want her home, right now.”

“Fine. But just remember, this was on me. Don’t punish Tia for something that wasn’t her fault.” I hung up and turned to Tia. “Gonna have to go now, honey.”

“I know.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ve called for a car,” Bradley informed me, ever efficient.

“Thanks, Bradley.”

“You want me to ride with you?” Ryan offered.

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