Page 98 of The Devil We Know

“Any buzz on the streets?” I ask hopefully.

She shakes her head and says, “No one’s saying anything at this point. We don’t want to divulge any possibilities, so we’re waiting for chatter to come up on its own.”

“And nothing on his watch?”

“No,” she answers. “But Matt and Tony said they took his watch, so that being out of commission doesn’t actually confirm anything.”

I glance around the room again, settling on Carolina, who’s sitting on a chair in the corner, looking morose. “What’s up with her?”

Antoinette looks over at her, her lips pressing together, and then she turns to me and responds, “She blames herself.”

“For Darius?” I frown.

Antoinette nods. “Yes, she was trying to get him out, and he made her leave. Made her promise she wouldn’t let anyone come back.”

I grimace, glancing back at Carolina briefly before turning to Antoinette and saying, “Well, it’s not her fault. Lord knows when Darius makes up his mind, there’d be no changing it.”

“That’s for fucking sure.”

“Should I go talk to her?”

“Yes,” Antoinette replies firmly. “Some reassurance would probably be good.”

I walk across the room, stopping in front of Carolina, who’s still sitting in the chair. She stares off blankly, apparently not even noticing I’m there. I reach out with my foot and tap her on the ankle until she starts, her gaze flying to mine. “What’s up?”

Her eyes immediately water, becoming glassy but not overflowing. I immediately kneel in front of her, saying soothingly, “None of that, now.”

A short hiccupping sob escapes, along with a tear that she wipes away hurriedly. “It’s my fault.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s no one’s fault, but it’s certainly not yours.”

She shakes her head slowly as she whispers, “I shouldn’t have left him.”

I laugh bitterly and raise my brows. “We all know you didn’t have a choice in that.”

“Of course I did. I should have just told him to fuck off and got him out.”

Her hands clutch together in her lap, and I rest one of my hands on top of both of hers as I say patiently, “You know it’s not that simple.”

“No. I should have stayed the course. I should have done my job.”

Now, I glare at her, my hands moving to her upper arms. I yank her to her feet as I rise, then I lean down so I’m right in her face as I hiss, “You know for a fact that wouldn’t have done you any good.”

She shakes her head some more, and I give her a tiny shake and then add, “If Darius thought for one second you could have gotten him out, he would have helped you try. The fact that he gave up and made you leave and promise to keep everyone out means in his eyes, he was doomed.”

She meets my eyes head-on, searching intently, and then she deflates a bit as she says, “But maybe he’s alive?”

It’s hard to tell if it’s actually a statement or a question, but still, I pull her into a hug. “Maybe.”

Her arms come up around me, and she clutches me briefly before pulling back and giving me a watery smile. She clears her throat and then says, “I never thought a maybe would make me feel better, but here we are.”

I grin at her, tilting my head in agreement. “We’re going to find out one way or another. And until then, let’s not speculate too much on the end.”

She nods and then pats me on the chest as she says quietly, “Thank you.”

I frown down at her and ask, “Thanks for what?”

“Giving me a little shake. You always know how to bring me back down to reality.”

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