Page 91 of Gluttony
“It will never happen between us, Peta.”
“Why? Because I’m a lowly assistant?”
“Because I’m with someone.”
“Since when? Last week? I’ve known you all year. I know how you like your coffee, I know that you hate anchovies in your Caesar salad. I know—”
He held his palm up, stopping her. “That’s enough. Bailey is the love of my life.” That’s why it hurt so much to be lied to.
Peta’s jaw clicked shut.
“If you come near me, or her again, I’m reporting you to the police, and the studio.”
And then he left.
* * *
Tony searchedfor Bailey on the street, but she was gone. He arrived back at the restaurant the same time as Liza.
Dressed in her brown detective jacket, and with her badge on her hip, she’d come straight from work.
His sister took one look at his face and stopped, just before they opened the door to Heaven.
“You got that cat-got-your-dick face,” she said. “Girl troubles?”
He rubbed his brow. He should be used to no privacy by now. With a glance across the road at Nightingale Securities, Tony clenched his jaw and went inside Heaven.
“Stalker issues,” he said, because Liza wouldn’t stop staring.
“You want me to make some calls?” she said.
“Not yet.”
Coming back to the private dining room, Tony held the door open and let Liza in first. The boardroom sized table inside had been expanded as their family had. Once, it only had a place for the nine of them, now it fit up to twenty. His parents were there, at the head. Parker and Griffin were there, as was Evan. Sloan chatted with Wyatt about something to do with her folded origami napkin in her hands. A single empty sitting sat at the other head of the table. Daisy’s place.
“Good,” Parker said, standing up. “You’re here. Close the door.”
Tony secured the door and then sat down. The quicker he got this over with, the better.
Parker pointed a remote at the wall. A projected image came up.
“This is Wayne Bosch’s wife. Notice anything?”
She was pretty. Tall. Dark eyes, wavy hair and brown skin. Plum pouty lips. Good makeup. What else was Tony meant to be looking for here? Apparently he was the only one in the room missing the point.
He lifted his shoulders.
Parker clicked the remote, and another image popped up next to the woman. Bailey.
“They could be sisters,” he said. “I don’t understand. Why show me this?”
Parker folded his arms. “Did you say the creature went for Bailey first, both times? Up the top and below in the sewer?”
Warmth drained from his body. “You think it was a case of mistaken identity?”
“Daisy said this creature absorbed the man, right?”
“I guess.”
