Page 60 of Perfect Order
I want to ask him who is covering her for those long minutes as she glides over the red carpet. The urge is so strong, it causes my hands to shake, but I can’t. I have to focus on my principal and his safety. With that in mind, I tune back in to Mitch. “We’ll have an extra team in LA, so when Beckett’s in residence, we can arrange for some time off.”
His lips twitch. “Have you shared this with the team yet?”
“Do I look insane? I’ll set the schedule, and then I’ll announce it.”
“Smart man. Any special plans?”
I’m about to give him an immediate no, that I likely won’t take any time off at all, but what comes out of my mouth is “I don’t know.”
“Well, if you need to work around someone’s schedule, let me know.” My brows raise in question. He just shrugs, causing me to ask, “Are you feeling okay?”
He opens and closes his mouth before huffing. “Ask me that at another time. I’ll let you know. Are we good for now?”
“We are.”
“What’s the worst date you’ve ever had?”I ask her later that night.
I could pick out any of the ones Kylie sent me on,comes her immediate response. Leanne begins telling me all about how Kylie created one dating profile for the two of them. She’d then screen the guys on it bygoing out with them to vet them first. But only to check them out, you see. She was just making certain they were good enough for me. I’d have no clue. Then on the second date, they’d all look at me strangely like why don’t you remember where we went or what we said? Or if we even kissed.The facepalm emoji follows that litany.
“Oh, come on. You’re twins. You’re not supposed to do that to each other.”And immediately, I want to punch myself for not taking more care with my words. Here we are trying to find clues as to who or what may have led to her sister being killed and I refer to her in the first person. “Such an ass, McCullough.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Kane. It’s next to impossible for me to believe she’s gone as well.” Her voice comes through the computer, causing me to roll my chair back and knock into the L-shape of Keene’s desk. It’s dark, raspy. Familiar, yet it sends chills up my spine in ways her twin’s never did. It’s unique like the woman herself, despite the fact she had a mirror image for her entire life.
And between us, despite our online banter, falls an awkward silence. Just like a real first date, I recognize with startling clarity. My shoulders shake, trying to suppress my mirth at the image of two computers facing each other over a candlelit table in a dimly lit restaurant. “Well, if I knew my faux pas could cause this kind of drop-in, I’d have done it long ago.”
“I don’t know. You don’t give the impression of a man who likes to make mistakes,” she observes.
“That’s because I’ve made more than my fair share.”
She hums in the back of her throat, and everything inside me clenches in awareness. The fiery lick traveling up my spine is welcome. Deep down, I knew it. The moment our visions clashed a few years prior wasn’t mere chance; it was a beginning. It wasn’t our time then, and maybe now isn’t all that better, but I know who she is.
And this time, I’ll find her again.
New York, N.Y.The Erzulie you’ll see on stage at the Grammys has changed, yes. She’s still the starry-eyed dreamer, but she’s been dealt a harsh blow of reality, which I hope you all consider. Her voice will reflect all of that and more. I refuse to answer what she will be singing.
— Wildcard Media Representative, Paula Stone, during a press call about the upcoming Grammys
“Hey, Dad.”
“Leanne.” He doesn’t say anything more, and for long minutes, neither do I.
Finally, I break the awkward silence. “How have you been?” Then I mentally kick myself in the ass. How the hell is my father supposed to be other than a complete wreck?
His answer pretty much confirms that. “Surviving.”
I open my mouth to let him know I feel the same when he bites out, “You seem to have slid into your sister’s shoes without much trouble.”
“Dad, no. It’s not like that,” I begin. But he doesn’t let me get any further.
“It appears to be just like that, Leanne. Your mother wonders if that’s the real reason you made Kylie look like such an angel over the years—so you could just move from your life to hers.”
“You don’t mean this.” My voice is barely a whisper. I feel a trickle of wetness down my cheek, and I impatiently wipe it away. “You don’t understand…”
“I understand everything! It isn’t Kylie getting on stage in a few weeks to sing at the Grammys—that’s you! Do you think your sister would do that to you?” he yells.
“I think Lee would do anything…” I start.
He hangs up before I can finish telling him, “Anything to find out who killed me. Who destroyed our family. And that’s what I’m doing, Daddy. Even if it makes you and Mom hate me.”
