Page 49 of Promise of Destruction
Declan Evers.
I knew it was flimsy, but I took it to the same detectives who gave me the side-eye and talked about me like I wasn’t in the room. They’d all but laughed me out of the building for pitching the idea that an upstanding member of the community, with an established charity set up to provide support to the elderly, would be involved in murder. It was a ‘desperate attempt to cast suspicion off yourself’, they said. My meeting with the district attorney was much the same—it wasn’t worth the months ofcalling to try and get an appointment, the hours I spent sitting outside his office waiting for his ‘meetings’ to be over.
Maybe it was desperate, but it was all I had, so I latched onto it.
It’sstillall I have.
The thought that I’m working for my husband’s killer is somehow less terrifying than the thought of whoever did this to us flying under the radar. It’s more comforting to imagine that Declan and I are connected by a blood-soaked thread, that he tried to kill me as some sort of punishment for whatever grievance he had with Vin.
I won’t acknowledge the glaringly obvious fact that if Declan wanted me dead, I would be. He isn’t the sort of man who misses.
I’m still spiraling when the doorbell rings.
I barely even have a chance to open the door before Marissa is shouldering it open wider so that she can step inside before dropping the pizza box balanced precariously on the palm of her hand.
“Come on in,” I tell her drily.
She’s already setting the box on the counter when I turn to see Khan at the door.
“Ren,” His voice drips with sympathy, and I can’t tell if it’s from the last-minute intrusion or just the shambles of my life. Marissa clears that confusion up when she turns to face me with a frown on her glossy lips.
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” I laugh in spite of her sentiment.
Marissa is the friend who tells me the truth, even if it hurts. She always had been, and the fact that she still does in spite of my precarious mental health is a source of strange comfort.
Even though so much in my world has changed since we met and the girl who laughed too loud and drank too much is gone,she is still the same. It makes the NDA I signed with Declan sting that much more.
“Seriously, you need to try those sleeping pills I gave you. And eat a steak, you look anemic.” She surveys the dark circles under my eyes and then blows out a breath.
“God, Rissa. You don’t have to be so cruel.” Khan shakes his head and pulls me into his embrace, squeezing me tight. He gives the most incredible hugs that make you feel like you’re the best part of his day, but I don’t hug him back. I’m too confused by their sudden appearance.
“Who invited you?” Marissa snaps, waving away his response before he even bothers to open his mouth.
“Not me.” I say when Khan steps away. “I didn’t invite either of you.”
“You don’t have to invite us.” Marissa shrugs out of her black leather jacket, throwing it over the back of one of the bar-stools situated at the island. I grab it quickly and fold it before replacing it over the stool. Her eyes narrow on me, judging without words… until she turns to the cabinet and pulls out a plate.
She lifts it up, letting it catch the light. When she looks back at me, her face is incredulous.
“There’sduston your plates, Soren.” Her lips pull into a frown, and she exchanges a glance with Khan.
“I haven’t had time to clean.” I lie.
“Your houseisclean.” She objects, gesturing around the kitchen that opens to the living room. Everything is in its perfect place.
I don’t like clutter—I can’t hear myself think in a messy space—so there’s no dishes in the sink, no appliances left out after use.
“Have you just not been eating?”
“I eat.” I force a laugh, hoping she won’t be able to sense the lack of humor in it. “I’ve been doing take-out a lot, so I don’t have to worry about cleaning up after.”
“Oh,” she nods dramatically. “Of course. You’ve been ordering take out.” She shrugs, turning to Khan. “Mystery solved. Soren’s lost thirty pounds in the last year by ordering take out all the time. We should call Woman’s World and let them know about this amazing new diet.”
I haven’t lost thirty pounds, but that’s Marissa. Dramatic as she is beautiful.
“Oh, hush.” I roll my eyes. “You know the medication made me lose my appetite.”
