Page 57 of Thief of Night
“We don’t understand everything that happened,” Madison said, putting her hand on Brooks’s arm.
“I understand that it happened to Carver,” Brooks said. “Not you, Addy. You weren’t locked up in the basement and tortured.”
“A toast,” interrupted Topher, clearing his throat and speaking fast to cut off the brewing argument. “To friends who you never have to forgive, because we’ll never give you a reason.”
Charlie lifted her glass to that, clinking it against the others. Topher had feelings for Adeline, that much was obvious. It was less clear whether she was aware of his affection, or returned it.
If Charlie had to wager, though, she’d lay money that Adeline knew. He wasn’t that subtle. Which meant she was avoiding the moment when she would have to reject him.
Then they launched into a conversation about socialites in New York and someone who was doing a gallery show. Someone else was getting their whole trust. A third person was buying a house in Italy—basically abandoned, with bad plumbing—which this person thought they could restore.
“Can you imagine Zoe out in the country, growing rosemary and cabbages?” At that, they all laughed.
“Oh, I think this is their weed empire. Always jumping on an idea right after the market is saturated.” They laughed again.
Charlie, with nothing to contribute, just kept drinking her bourbon. And when it was gone, she got another. And another. After a while, her tongue began to feel numb and everything got a lot more amusing.
“So, Remy, you’re officially still dead right now, is that right?” Topher asked.
“No, the lawyers took care of it,” Adeline said.
“Back from the beyond.” Red saluted with his glass and Madison and Brooks raised their glasses too.
“And you were living withherthe whole while?” Topher turned his gaze toward Charlie. The condescension in his voice was subtle enough that Charlie could pretend she was imagining it.
But she’d had what felt like thirty-seven bourbons, so instead she gave Topher an enormous, lascivious grin. “He stilliswith me.”
“You’re a nice girl, taking him in like that,” said Brooks. “He mustn’t have been in the best shape.”
Charlie put her hand on Red’s arm. She could feel the strain of muscles under his skin. “He kept a lot of secrets,” she said, feeling proud that even though her tongue felt numb, she wasn’t yet slurring her words. “From everyone, I guess. I’m glad it wasn’t just me.”
Adeline frowned.
“I’m trying to lie less,” Red said easily. “In my undeath.”
They laughed at that.
Topher was still focused on deviling Charlie. “Once Remy inherits his fortune, he can pay you back for whatever you did for him.”
Charlie felt her cheeks flush at the insult, not just that she’d want to be paid for her services, but that she was a problem for him to throw money at.
“He’s the best investment you’ll ever make,” said Madison, laughing as though she’d made a clever joke.
“He doesn’t owe me anything.” Instead of making her wild, the alcohol seemed to have made Charlie alarmingly sincere. That needed to be remedied. Putting her finger in the air, she signaled for yet one more double bourbon.
Adeline gave her a pitying look.
“On the contrary,” said Red. “I owe you a great deal. I may owe you my life.” He didn’t sound happy about it.
“Well,” said Brooks, “I wouldn’t mind you being in my debt, Carver, that’s all I’m saying. Once you get your money, you will have to come to the city. Get a pied-à-terre. We can make you forget the last few years in short order. In fact, I’m heading out to Aspen in a week. You should join us. Surely Addy can advance you the cash.”
“No ID yet,” Red said. “Dead men don’t go through airport security.”
Madison laughed. “You know the security when you’re flying private is half-assed at best. I’ve definitely seen some walking corpses get through customs.”
They all laughed again.
Salt had a private plane. Red must have flown on one lots of times. Charlie wasn’t even sure why she cared, but it bothered her that she’d never even thought of it before. Never even imagined it. He’d never mentioned it either.
