Page 18 of Bearing Secrets
She pulled out the card, turning it over. “Kirell.”
“Right, Kirell. Did he give you a last name? Did you tell me that last night?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.” The name was right there on the card in front of her. “Kirell Ursa.”
“WHAT?!” Loren nearly jumped her. “Did you say KirellUrsa?”
The strength of that reaction had Natalia doubting what she’d said, but it was plain as day on the card. “Ursa.” She spelled it out. “Is that a big deal?”
“Are you kidding me? You don’t recognize the name?”
Shaking her head, she tried to get her friend to explain. “Why is this a big deal?”
“Oh, my goodness. Right. You’re not from here, I always forget that. Okay, well rumor has it that Plymouth Falls was founded by three families. Canis. Drakos. And Ursa.”
“So, it’s an old family?” She didn’t see how this was poignant.
“Yes. Very old. Old blood. Old money. Power. They still live here, in some mansion on the outskirts. Nobody has ever seen the place, but they know the name, Nat. The Ursa are very reclusive. They operate in their own circles, but show up here in town every so often, and everyone in power fawns all over them. If he really is one of the Ursa, youneedto call him and take him up on his offer.”
By this point, Loren was pleading with her to do it. Natalia still wasn’t sure. The story her friend told her was a wild one, but now that she was sober, the entire idea of a fake marriage was wearing on her even more.
“I don’t know.”
“Oh, come on. It would be socool. You’d probably see some stuff nobody else in this town has ever seen or experienced. Most people never even talk to one of the three families, let alone get to be fake married to one!”
“You’re serious,” Natalia said heavily.
“Dead serious! You should stop thinking this over and call him already. Right now.” Loren snatched the card from Natalia’s hand and started tapping at her own phone.
Natalia was getting nervous. “What are you doing?”
“Here.” Loren tossed her phone over. It was calling the number on the card.
Scrambling for it, she grabbed the phone and quickly hit the red end-call button. “Are you nuts?”
“Areyou?” Loren pointed at the phone in her lap and then crossed her arms. “Call the number already.”
“I’m not sure…”
“Yes, you are, you’re just stalling. Dial the number already.”
“I hate it when you call me out,” she said, unhappy about being so transparent.
“Stop being a wuss, and I won’t have to.” Loren stuck out her tongue, then gestured with her chin at the phone again.
“Okay, okay.” Grabbing it, Natalia redialed the number and held the phone to her ear.
It rang three times, then a deep, throaty voice spoke, one that sounded familiar despite the lack of pounding music nearby. “Hello.”
“Hi, Kirell? This is Natalia. Um. Natalia Kristoff?”
There was nothing but silence.
“From Para. The bar. We spoke last night. You gave me your card?”
Falling silent, she waited, not wanting to make more of a fool of herself than she already had. Of course, he knew who it was.
“I remember,” Kirell responded at last, speaking through a low chuckle.
