Page 89 of The Blue Rose
My eyes narrow, anger and suspicion darkening my face.Is he fucking stalking me?
He holds his hands up defensively. “I’m not stalking you. Shit. Well,I am, but I needed to talk to you, and I had no idea when you’d do another showing at the market.”
Oh, fuck this.I already have a serial killer in my life; I don’t need a stalker, too. Granted, Aster is probably a stalker, but I love him. I don’t even know this guy. I stand, but he grabs my hand, stopping me.
“Please hear me out,” he begs, "It's about Tyler.”
Tyler? The guy Aster killed? How does he know him, and why does he want to talk about him with me?His words have me freezing, turning around to look at him, and I examine his face this time.Fuck.
“He’s my brother. Meeting you at the market wasn’t an accident. I knew you’d be there, and I just wanted to know what happened to him. Or if you knew anything” He lets go of my arm after I sit back down, hanging his head and looking absolutely defeated. “I know Tyler went on a date with you the night he went missing. I told the cops. They showed me the footage of your boyfriend pushing him down, and, after meeting him myself, I have a feeling he has something to do with his disappearance.”
My leg starts to shake, and I sip my drink watching him, listening to him.He thinks Aster did something.My leg stills.He can’t find out.He led the police to me and Aster, and he found my Instagram to find me and confront me. As much as I want to be mad, I can’t. It's his family, and he just wants answers.
Answers he will never get.
“He texted me that night about what happened, saying he was going to his ex's house for comfort.” He adds quotations and an eye roll at comfort.
“Okay, so he went and saw his ex, then she was the last person to see him, not me or my boyfriend.” Since his ex was the last person to see him, the police probably questioned her as well. I can turn this around and get Aster out of this mess, making everyone think the crazy ex did it.
He tries to grab my hands, but I cradle my glass with both hands, restricting him from touching me. He clears his throat, and looks away. “Yes, but she would never hurt him. She loves him; shealwayscomforts him.”
I lean back and shrug my shoulders. “Sounds like she got jealous and reacted without thinking. You can do things you don’t mean or remember.”
His fist slam on the table, startling me. “You’re not listening to me!”
Lena rushes over, concern and anger on her face. “Sir, I need to ask you to leave; you can’t act like that here,” she says in a stern voice.
He brushes her off, leveling his eyes with mine. “I know your boyfriend did something to him. Call it a brother's intuition or a sixth sense, but I’m going to find out. When I do, you’ll be sorry.”
“Sir!” Lena demands, “If you don’t leave, I will call the police.”
He stands up, eyes never leaving mine. “I’m going.” He walks to the door and stops, refusing to look over his shoulder. “Mark my words, Serena, I will find out the truth.”
A breath I didn’t even realize I was holding breaks free when the door shuts behind him, and Lena wraps her arms around me. “Are you okay? What was that all about?”
“Nothing; I’m fine, I-” I start to panic, grabbing my phone and drink, as I get up. “I have to go.”
I leave Lena standing there confused and worried. I feel bad, but I need to protect Aster. He’s the most important person to me, and I won’t let anyone ruin what we have.
I rush after Bradley, determination in my steps. “Bradley, wait!” I yell.
He stops and turns around, “What?” he snaps.
How did he get so far?After all that running, I’m out of breath, and I place my hands on my knees as I gasp. “I believe you.”
His hardened face softens. “You do?”
“Yes, but we have to talk in private. Aster has eyes everywhere, and if he knows we’re talking, he might hurt you.” I lie, knowing full well Aster won’t be the one hurting him.
“Okay, where should we talk?”
I look around, checking for cameras.Can’t leave any evidence, Can’t let anyone know I was the last to see him.
“I need you to go to a couple stores and talk to people.” He eyes me suspiciously. I hold my hand up, glancing over my shoulder like I’m scared. “It’s so Aster can’t track you; he could be on his way at this very moment.” His back straightens and he glances nervously around. “After an hour, once you’re sure no one is watching or following you, meet me in the alley behind Louie’s bookstore. You know where that is?” He nods, fear clouding his eyes. “Good. Don’t tell a soul where you’re going. He probably already has your phone bugged, so leave it in a store bathroom and I’ll do the same with mine.”
He gives me a hug and, to keep up the act, I hug him back, making sure everyone in the coffee shop and surrounding stores sees there is no bad blood. Can’t have anyone assuming I had anything to do with his disappearance when the cops come asking questions later. “Thank you, Serena,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver, causing bile to crawl up my throat.
I pull apart. “Now go. Remember to ditch your phone and meet me in an hour; we will get justice for Tyler.” He smiles and leaves. I watch him until he wanders into a store, hoping he listens to what I say and doesn’t tell anyone;if he does my plan would be ruined, and I’ll be the cause of Aster's demise.I won’t let that happen.
