Page 131 of Roses in Summer

“We need to call Sergeant Maroaka, please, Lincoln. Trust me?” He’s asked for my trust multiple times, both literally and physically. With every plea, I give in. I submit. I’m asking for him to give me that same honor.

He nods swiftly and grabs my hand, walking beside me as we make our way through the hall and into the vestibule. “Wait,” I whisper, squeezing his hand to stop him before we exit the main door of the library. Looking through the window, I check the area to see if Chris or any of his apparent friends are still present. “I think it’s safe.”

“I have so many fucking questions, ciern,” Lincoln grits out, shaking his head as his hand tightens around mine.

“I know, Lincoln.” I sigh, pulling him through the doors and down the library steps. We’re almost at his car when a voice calls out to me.

“Ms. Gregori?” I whip my head around, searching for the owner of the voice. My eyes land on Ajax.

“Who the fuck are you?” Lincoln steps in front of me, an impenetrable wall.

“A friend of sorts. Tell Maroaka ‘Red Sevens.’”

“What?”

His gaze bores into us before nodding and turning toward the back lot. “He’ll know.” We watch him walk away, disappearing until the telltale sound of a motorcycle engine fills the early afternoon. Lincoln reaches behind him, tugging my arm until my body stands before his. Without a word, he grabs hold of my waist and picks me up, depositing me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.

“Lincoln,” I groan, feeling my face heat at the position while he makes the last few steps to his car.

“No.”

“But—”

“Also, no.”

“Lincoln—”

“Seraphina.” He sighs. I hear the car unlock and the sound of the door opening before he flips me right side up and places me in the car. “You disappeared for fifteen minutes, and when I saw you next, you looked two seconds away from a fucking heart attack without giving me an explanation. Then, we get outside, and the crypt-fucking-keeper is lurking in the shadows with some spy message for the sergeant working this case. So when I tell you, ‘No,’ I mean that, right now, I don’t have the mental capacity to put into words what I’m thinking, and I need two goddamn minutes to reassure myself that you’re okay before I lose my ever-loving shit. Okay?”

I swallow, nodding up at him. “Okay.”

“Good.” He pushes the door closed and rounds the hood of the car. My eyes track his movements as he slides behind the wheel and starts his engine. I stay silent until we’re on the highway.

“Is it safe now?”

“It’s always safe, ciern. But I needed a minute. What happened in the library?”

“Chris was there.”

“Fuck,” he yells, filling the car with the echo of his anger. “Did he see you?”

“No.” I shake my head, recalling the conversation I overheard. “The guy who waited for us outside of the library—his name is Ajax—it was almost like he made sure Chris didn’t see me.” The effort he took to make sure I wasn’t seen, coupled with his message for Sergeant Maroaka, has my mind spinning. “But he spoke about the fire. He said someone named Guts had something to do with it. Where are we going?”

“The precinct. Call your parents and your brother to let them know we’re going.” He holds out his phone. Grabbing the device, I follow his instructions and dial my mom’s number. It rings once before she answers.

“Deborah Gregori.” Her no-nonsense greeting warms me, giving me a sense of normalcy.

“Mom? It’s me.”

“Oh, thank God. Where are you? Our flight just landed. Are you on the way to the house? Wait there until we get home. Did—”

“Mom,” I interrupt. “We’re going to the precinct to speak with Sergeant Maroaka.”

She’s silent for a beat before she responds, “We’ll meet you there. Do not go in without us or your brother. And you do not speak to anyone until your father and I get there, do you understand?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Good. We’ll be there in thirty minutes. And Sera?”

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