Page 16 of In You
"No worries," he replies in a flippant tone. "What sheshouldhave done was come into the foyer to greet you, but," he takes a mouthwatering rack of lamb out of the bottom oven and places it on a wooden trivet on the island, "she's been out of sorts with how long her hand is taking to heal."
"Yikes. That sounds like no fun at all. How long has it been broken?"
"She's been in a cast for about two months, or so. So she's not really talkative lately."
"Ah, understandable." I nod. "Yeah, I've broken a hand or two,andmy nose. I didn't talk to anyone either." I grin at Joseph who laughs quietly as I step towards Calvin, reaching towards the discard potholders on the counter. "Here, let me help with that."
Calvin throws me a grateful look but shakes his head as he digs in a drawer, producing a long serrated knife and a tined serving fork that he places alongside the lamb. "No need, I'll bring it into the dining room. Let's eat so we can get started on our game." He arches a brow. "You two promised me a good time, and I'm anxious to win some money."
"Lose," I correct him with a shit eating grin, leaning forward and clapping him on the shoulder. "You mean you're anxious tolosesome money."
More like lose his life, but he'll find that out soon enough.
He grunts, picking the lamb back up and jerking his head towards the same door the beautiful woman disappeared through. "Her name is Camilla, by the way."
I nod, taking the lead and pushing the door open so he can go through first.
My heart damn near stops as my eyes lock with hers, and I can't help the shiver that rolls up my spine at the sight of her big brown eyes. They're near dead, almost lifeless. Even so, she's quite ethereal in her melancholy state. She looks like she should be in an oil painting in a museum, depicted with diamonds dripping from her ears and pearls hanging from her throat. So exquisite and elegant is her demeanor, that even that clunky cast and sling doesn't dim her aura.
She's pouring a glass of water at a table set for three, which means she won't be joining us. I don't let the disappointment fester, because I'm not here for her. I'm here forhim.The pedophile.
And once I find Cunty, she'll be dead too.
"Camilla, say hello. This is Lance," Calvin nods to me as I settle in a hard backed chair, "and this is Joseph."
"Hi, thank you for coming to dinner," she says in a sweet voice that takes me aback. "I hope you enjoy it."
I pick up the water, and tilt it towards her as if in a toast, taking a drink. "Hello, it's good to meet you.Thank you for making dinner."
She blinks rather blankly at me as Joseph mumbles something back, but a sudden flash draws my eyes back towards Calvin, focusing tightly on the butcher knife that he's currently sliding into the rack of lamb. I wonder if she's drugged.
"Joe, have you heard from Michael or Aaron today?" Calvin asks, cutting his eyes to Joseph while he slices.
I tense at the mention of two of the men I'd murdered last night, but I just take a sip of my water, acting interested in their conversation.
My eyes slide back to Camilla, noticing she's also tense. She stands next to Calvin like a dutiful housewife, her eyes wide and tight on his every movement, looking at the rack of lamb like it might jump out and bite her. That weird, oppressive feeling comes back, and I watch entranced as he gets the first rib free. She sucks in a quick breath, and her eyes dilate, fixated on the lamb.
Hiseyes freeze on the piece of meat as it falls over, and then ever so slowly he turns his face to look at Camilla in obvious displeasure.
Her face visibly balks, and it's my second clue that something is really wrong with their dynamic.
They stare at each other for barely half a second, but it's enough to validate my suspicions that Camilla is a victim, so I take back my comment about her dying. I won't kill her. I glance down at the meat, seeing it's slightly more overcooked than how lamb is normally served.
I clear my throat.
"You know, not to be a dick or anything, but that's kinda…" I trail off, forcing a sheepish look on my face. "Can I have that end piece? I like my meat well done, and the deeper you cut into that, the pinker it's going to get. I'm afraid if I see a lot of blood on my plate it might make me physically ill. So that piece is perfect." I smile. "Lucky me."
Calvin turns surprised eyes towards me, but he quickly masks it with a nod. "Sure thing, Lance." He finishes cutting off the sections, and then hands Camilla the fork. "Here, make their plates while I get the whiskey."
She averts her eyes from his, taking the long fork in her delicate hand. As he walks across the room to the sideboard, shebegins to plate his first. I watch carefully as her fingers tremble as she attempts to do this one handed. He's a dick for forcing her to do anything for us when she's the one with a broken arm, but I keep my mouth shut because I don't want to lay it on too thick after throwing her a bone regarding the temperature of the meat.
He comes back to the table with three crystal tumblers gripped in one hand, and a decanter of whiskey in the other. He puts it in the center of the table and then sits without a thank you to her for serving him, and as chance would have it, she comes to my side next, making my plate.
Joseph makes small talk and I half-listen, rubbing my thumb against my lips as she reaches repeatedly past me, taking about three times as long as normal because her broken arm is slowing her down.
My nose scrunches as I get a whiff of her scent, and pity runs through me.
No matter how clean she looks, how her skin may gleam, or even how beautiful her hair might be in its updo, I'm not fooled in the slightest. My nose knows better. She stinks.
