“It counts,” I breathe into her ear, before turning back to Josh. “Tragen was a hitman,” I tell them both.
Josh nods. “Yeah, Logan said he was being paid by the capo. Or rather, those loyal to the capo. Piper is the last descendantof the Moretti family, and they wanted to use her as someone others could rally around. They’ve been growing stronger over the past few years, and lately, they’ve gotten more reckless. They’ve been taking advantage of the whole Angel situation and Damien’s distraction. Logan says he’s glad they’re defeated, for the moment at least, because he doesn’t want Damien to know. He said it like he thought Damien didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to deal with it right now. But I got the feeling they’ve fallen out, and he’s worried their friendship wouldn’t be able to protect Piper anymore. If the mafia gains more ground, Damien might not hesitate again to kill her, since as their main rallying symbol, she’s a big threat to Devil.”
He takes a deep breath after his speech, and bites down on a forkful of steak. Then, between chews, he explains, almost apologetically, “Logan and I had a lot of time to talk, with you and Piper out cold for so much of the trip. I’m just repeating what he said.”
I frown, deep in thought. The idea that Piper could still be in danger has me hugging her more tightly than ever. Though the threat of the two opposing factions of the mafia seems to have died down for the moment, I realize it’s probably temporary. And now, Devil once more represents danger. A pang of nerves twists in my stomach. Damien Wells may have spared Piper before out of loyalty for Logan, and because he didn’t take the mafia too seriously. Now, if Josh is right, and Damien finds out, well… it feels impossible to go against the most powerful man in the state.
“Do you have any other unchecked items?” asks Piper carefully, as if she’s trying to suss out my state of mind. “On your to-do list, I mean.”
Yes. One more.
“No,” I lie. “Well, nothing that can’t wait.”
It’s surprisingly easy to bury once more the mystery of thatpaper with her name on it, and kiss her instead.
Chapter 28
Piper
The next few weeks pass in a haze of happiness. Everything horrible that had happened to me lately seems to have grown distant. The only thing that’s real right now is Quill, and though it feels impossible, it really does seem like he’s cast aside his to-do list and decided to remain with me. At first, I kept getting nervous about the idea that this was temporary. But with every passing day, I forget that our time in Oregon must come to an end sometime. I find myself wondering if this will be our life for good from now on. I wish it could be.
Occasionally, my mind does turn inward, my heart heavy with memories of my parents. I never even did any of the things you’re supposed to do when a parent dies. Plan the funeral, invite relatives and friends, get closure. I’m secretly glad that the suspicious nature of their deaths delayed all that. When Jones died, it only delayed things further. Their bodies have been stuck at the county morgue this whole time. Logan told me after bringing me here that he was going to take care of it. I’m grateful for that, and realizing it makes me feel guilty. What kind of a daughter doesn’t want to attend her own parents’ funeral?
I guess a part of me is still in denial. I don’t want closure. I wantthem.
I’m very aware that everything that has happened since their deaths has prevented me from actually getting closure. I never even had time to sit with my own feelings.
And now that we’re in Oregon, I want to imagine that I’m healing, and part of me is. But part of me is also just happily indenial, because right now, Astley feels very far away. It’s like I’m stuck in a tiny, perfect bubble of happiness, and the minute it bursts, everything will come rushing back.
“These mushrooms are poisonous. You can tell by the white gills. Also when there’s any red on them. That’s another surefire sign. But you really shouldn’t eat them regardless, if you’re not sure.”
“Wasn’t planning to.”
I tune back into Josh’s long explanations and Quill’s dry responses. In spite of all the healthy outdoor activities Logan told me we could enjoy around here, Quill and I have been spending most of our time indoors, engaging in a… different kind of activity.
Josh, meanwhile, has been going on long explorations of the surrounding forest, and when I have time to think about it, which isn’t all that often, I feel a pang of guilt, hoping he’s going out because he wants to and not because he doesn’t feel welcome in the house.
Today, though, Josh suggested we join him on a hike, and while the prospect didn’t exactly thrill me, I did want to spend some time with him. Quill’s first reaction was to refuse, but he ended up giving in when I told him I was going with Josh regardless of what he wanted to do. He really wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t letting me out of his sight, and I can’t say I mind it.
Now, Josh is busy giving us a detailed explanation of every single inch of vegetation we pass.
“How do you know all this?” I ask as we follow him down a path through a small clearing.
“My mom.” He shrugs. “She’s obsessed with plants.”
I smile, remembering the massive Bonzai tree we’d given the Devil receptionist. “I wish I could meet your mom.”
“She’s nice. You’d like her.”
I don’t even need to glance at Quill to know he’s scowling. He’ssopossessive.
Again, I secretly don’t mind.
But what with feeling less anxious about our relationship with each passing day, I’m finding once more the part of me that used to love to tease him, just because I knew what would invariably follow.
“I bet I’d like your whole family. You have a little sister too, don’t you?”
“Yep. Zoey. She’s a handful. And Dad’s awesome, too, and so is my big brother. I love them, but they’re probably not too happy with me right now. Logan has them believing I decided on a whim to go stay with friends in Florida. I would never do that. We’re super close.”