Page 5 of White Raven
“I’m not sure. I’m pretty positive Decclan, at least, has a phone. I’ll filter through my numbers and see if I saved it. Although, he didn’t say anything about it when Dahlia mentioned John. We were all there.”
“I think they were all a little preoccupied with not going up in flames,” Sarah softly smiled, staring forward. “Why would he wanna hurt me?”
“Maybe he doesn’t. I could be reading that gift wrong…but it sure didn’t seem like a reason to believe that’s not the case.”
She sighed and stared out the window again, palming over the back of his hand and squeezing. He looked over and something warm ached in his chest at the sight of that ring on her finger.
I love you.
A smile tugged at her lips, and she slowly turned her face towards him. Those eyes would be the death of him.
I love you too.
Athan smiled back at her, bringing her knuckles to his mouth and playfully biting them before kissing each one. “I don’t care what his reasons are. You don’t need to worry. Nothing’s gonna happen to you, Sarah.”
“I know,” she smiled, nodding.
They pulled into the parking structure at Rhaena’s building and the car chirped at them as he locked it up, grabbing Sarah’s hand on their way to the entrance. The ride in the elevator was silent. Sarah held the inauspicious gift in her hand and continued to stare at it, even as the doors opened and they started down the hallway. It was habit. He walked straight to the door of his old apartment first, without thinking. They glanced at each other, Sarah snorting at him before moving over to Rhaena’s door instead. He dug out his key and slid it into the knob, but before he could turn it, the door opened and Rhaena stood in the doorway. Her face was flushed, and her hair was—familiar.
“Morning, Rhaena.” Athan couldn’t contain his grin.
“Merry Christmas…assholes.” She rolled her eyes, smiling as she pushed the door farther open and turned to let them inside. “Coffee’s on. Brandon’s in the shower.”
“Is Wren here?” Sarah asked as they walked in.
Rhaena shut the door and followed them into the kitchen. The smell of coffee was strong, and he found himself already looking for a mug. “Jesus, Athan. When did you become such a junkie? You’re almost as bad as she is,” Rhaena pointed at Sarah with a thumb. “Wren isn’t here. Honestly, I haven’t heard from her all morning.”
Sarah’s brows lowered, and she quirked her lips to the side. “That’s not like her. Wren frickin’ loves Christmas.”
“Well, she did just go through a lot,” Athan offered, pouring two mugs before the coffee pot had even made it to half-full. “She got lucky enough not to have to spend her Christmas with—what was her name?”
Sarah snorted, “Peggy.”
“Right. I’d be basking in the peace and quiet too.” Rhaena sniffed near him and Athan backed away a step. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What is that smell?” Rhaena asked, sniffing again.
“Coffee?” Athan raised one of the mugs, handing the other to Sarah, who took it as she snickered at Rhaena.
“No. It’s something else. Something smells…dead.” Their smiles promptly faded and he caught Sarah’s bleak stare right before she dropped her eyes to the box still in her hand. Rhaena’s finger slid out from the baggy sleeve of her sweatshirt. “What is that?”
“See for yourself.” Sarah handed her the gift and Rhaena eyed her carefully before lifting off the lid. She winced back.
“What the hell?” Her face darted back and forth between them, and then back down at the contents of the box. She picked up the little piece of paper and read it. “J.A.?” It must have hit her then. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth dropped open. “Oh, my God.”
“It was left outside the downstairs door last night,” Sarah sighed.
“So…he’s here? In Boston?” Rhaena’s voice was edged with a familiar excitement.
“I have no idea. You know as much as we do.”
“Well, ifhe’snot, then somebody obviously is. And that somebody must know him well enough to deliver his crypticmessages.” Rhaena closed the box and tossed it onto the kitchen table.
“Why do you sound happy?” Sarah asked, raising a brow and sipping from her mug.
“She gets like that whenever she gets a lead. Sometimes she squeals.” Athan smiled into his mug.
Rhaena crossed her arms and gave him a pointed glare. “Andsometimes, when Athan gets a lead, he shuts down emotionally—especially when it pertains to a pretty girl in a hospital.”
