Page 67 of Silos and Sabotage

“Thank you, son.” Creston reappeared with a tray bearing three more servings of the decadent chocolate custard. He motioned for Avery’s bodyguards to come indulge themselves.

They shot questioning looks at Avery, and she waved them forward. “Help yourself. You’ve more than earned it this evening.” Despite her urging for them to sit, they ate while standing up and continuing their vigil over her.

Her stomach finally unknotted enough to sample Creston Bolander’s masterpiece. “Oh, wow!” She took a second bite. “I may have to call a truce between us, Creston.”

He looked pleased. “The truce is already in place. You just needed to get some long-overdue things off your chest.”

“I did.” Her eyes grew damp again. “I’ve been so angry with you for so long...and for all the wrong reasons, it seems.”

“Please don’t.” Creston reached over to cover her hand with his. “I’m more than ready to let bygones be bygones. Besides, you’re family now.”

“Look at us.” She let out a sobbing chuckle. “It’s so lonely at the top that even arch enemies find comfort in each other’s presence.”

He patted her hand before letting it go. “I believe the word I used was family.”

“And family helps family,” Raleigh added. “Which is why I’m officially joining forces with the rest of you.”

“Really?” Though the thought of working with him made butterflies dance in her stomach, she couldn’t resist taking another bite of her crème brûlée.

Creston watched her, looking ready to burst a button off his dress shirt.

“Oh, come on!” Raleigh sounded mildly exasperated. “Both you and my niece showed up tonight with a pair of bodyguards apiece. Plus, everyone at this table is actively hunting for Mick’s killer. There’s no way I’m going to stand on the sidelines while you take all the fire. I’d like to propose an alliance.”

The moment he said the wordpropose, a memory slammed into her —one of Mick taking a knee in front of her with a diamond ring in hand. The memory was so potent that all she could do was nod breathlessly.

“Are you alright?” Raleigh snatched up her water glass so quickly that he nearly spilled it. He held it to her lips. “Here. Drink this.”

She sipped, allowing him to continue holding her glass until the dizziness faded. Then she shakily took it from him, brushing his fingers by accident during the handoff.

Awareness shivered through her. “It’s so nice working through some of our differences this evening, yet so hard.” She set the glass down.

“How so?” Raleigh looked so worried that she gave him the most honest answer she could.

“Being here with the two of you.” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You both look so much like Mick that it makes my heart ache. It hurts, but it also makes him feel like he’s not so far away.” She blinked rapidly, willing herself not to cry again. “If that makes me sound crazy...”

“We feel the same way.” Creston reached for her hand. “Why else do you think we want you and Ella in our lives?”

Why else, indeed? Avery darted a quick glance at Raleigh and found him watching her with an unguarded look. A look she’d never seen him wear before —one full of longing and vulnerability.

Creston must have intercepted it, too, because he abruptly straightened. “So help me, Raleigh, quit looking at her like that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, sir.” Raleigh crinkled his eyes at her.

His father looked perplexed. “You swore to me you got over her a long time ago.”

“I lied,” Raleigh said simply.

“Then you’d better keep lying to the rest of the world,” Creston warned, “because after what Avery told you this evening?—”

“You were eavesdropping?” Raleigh shot his father a how-could-you look.

“In my defense, you were breaking crystal and bellowing at the top of your lungs,” Creston grumbled.

Raleigh raised his eyebrows. “The kitchen is two rooms away.”

“Fine. I turned up the intercom speakers,” his father confessed with a sly look. “All the way up.”

“Dad.” Raleigh pinched the bridge of his nose.

---