Rossy was scrambling, trying to pull out his cell phone. I watched in horror, visions of tan skin, golden hair, and dark green eyes flashing in my mind. Once the phone was against his ear, he pulled out his pocket watch. “Margo, go out, make their usuals, and then go home.”
I stepped up to him. “Rossy, clue me in. What are Grayson’s guys doing here?” I urged.
Had Hayes told them about us?
Was he in trouble?
Was I in trouble?
“Carrie invited them over for dinner or something. I don’t know, but please get out there,” he ordered, holding the door open for me.
Oh, fuck.
The house party was tonight.
Chapter Four
Hayes
Istared at my phone as my front door closed behind me. The Red Snake group chat, Jake’s worst idea yet, was currently blowing up because I’d decided to skip out on the dinner Carrie had invited us all to.
Ash: Carrie has something to ask everyone.
Jake: Hayes, get your ass to Astoria.
Dominic: I don’t know why you wanted to skip out. Carrie is making chicken alfredo lasagna.
Ash: What’s the status of the garlic bread?
Jake: Why are you asking us? We’re all still at Rossy’s.
My gut twisted, my eyes lingering on that word. Rossy’s Bookstore was a staple in Astoria, and everyone knew why—the coffee. According to Rossy himself, the reason the majority of the fishermen even step into the bookstore is because of the genius barista behind the espresso counter. I couldn’t lie; the coffee from Rossy’s was the best I’d ever had.
Just like her.
The memory of her nails against my scalp hit me, and suddenly, all I could smell was jasmine, the taste of cherries on my tongue. It had been two weeks since that night, and I thought today was going to be the first day I could make it without thinking about her. I managed to bury myself in work, taking meetings with new clients while Ash coordinated the next mission for me. I was ready to get out of this state, to get my mind and body away from her. What I needed was an international hunt. Since starting Red Snake Investigations, we’d only had to go international twice, and though it added complications for us, I would take anything right now.
I threw my wallet and keys onto the entryway table, a low growl of frustration manifesting from deep in my chest. “I need to be rid of her.”
My phone chimed again, and I knew looking at it would only piss me off, but the Red Snake chat couldn’t go unanswered. It was a rule we’d set long ago.
I didn’t break rules.
Grinding my teeth, I lifted my phone again as I walked into my living room.
Dominic: I’m not at Rossy’s.
My head ticked to the side. “Where the fuck?” I muttered, my fingers moving across the screen.
Me: Where the hell are you then?
Dominic: Took a walk. Where are you?
Jake: He’s still in Portland. Shower and get on the road.
Grayson: Carrie wants everyone to be at our place by seven.
Lifting my arm, I looked at my watch. It was just after four thirty. A heavy sigh left me then, and I looked up to the ceiling. Carrie was a good woman, down to her bones. The best thing that ever happened to Grayson was being hired by Jeremy Jones to find her. Before Carrie, Grayson was lost, moving through life like a ghost. Now, he was happy—healed. Carrie was his light and he was her darkness. They balanced each other out in a way that I ached to have one day. But as the years went on, that goal slowly morphed into a delusional dream.