"You don't think it's safe to come back yet, do you?" she asked sadly.
"I wish I could say it was, but I don't think so," I said. "I'm not sure when it will be, if ever. Is life away from Dusk Bay so bad?"
I was teasing gently, but it was a serious question. She might be better off not coming back at all. Even if we survived this situation, there'd always be another, and another after that. If it wasn't the Crimson Vipers, it might be the Brotherhood of Kings pulling some shit. Or someone else who wanted to rival the Brantley family. Or maybe the Brantley family themselves flexing their muscles. Or…
The list was endless. She might be safer where she was.
"I miss you and I miss working," she said. "It's nice to spend time with my parents, but I'm starting to remember why I moved away. They still think of me as their little girl. If they knew exactly the kind of club I work in, they'd be horrified. Which I still can't get my head around, because it's only nudity and sex. But they're old-fashioned. If they had their way, I'd have nothing in my wardrobe but long skirts and turtlenecks."
I pictured her rolling her eyes.
"I can't imagine you in a turtleneck," I said. The kettle clicked off and I stepped back into the kitchen to pour the hot water.
"Me either," she said with a laugh. "I'd feel like I was being choked, but not in a good way. Although, it would be handy tohide bruises from a hand necklace. Maybe I'll invest in one or two, just in case."
Trust her to think of an advantage to wearing something like that. Maybe that was why they were invented in the first place. They looked cute on a lot of women, but she wasn't one of them; neither was I. Like her, the only things I wanted around my neck was a hand I could trust, or a nice, warm scarf.
"You might need enough for a week if you're covering bruises," I teased. "Does that mean you've met someone?"
"I might have," she said evasively. "It's early yet, but I like them a lot."
"I'm happy for you," I said sincerely. "Are you sure you want to come back here then? They might not want to come with you."
"I think they will," she said. "I know I said it's early, but they care about me a lot already. I think if I return to Dusk Bay, so will they. But I won't make any choices until it's safe. Putting myself at risk is one thing, I won't risk them too."
"It sounds like love to me," I said, again half-teasing.
"It might be. I've never met anyone like them."
I could picture her blushing as she responded. "Awww, that's adorable. I've never heard you talk about anyone like that. Do they have a name?"
"Darcy," she replied. "Don't start singing Sadie and Darcy sitting in a tree."
I laughed. "I wouldn't dare. I'm just happy you're happy. You deserve it." I placed the kettle down and picked up the end of the spoon to stir my coffee.
"You deserve it too," she said. "You sound settled."
"I am settled," I said. "Apart from the threat of violence hanging over us. I have the job of my dreams and six amazing boyfriends. What more could a girl want?"
"Judging by the sound of the spoon, coffee that isn't instant," she teased.
"Ha ha," I replied. "We haven't gotten around to getting a fancy coffee machine yet, okay? You know what I always say, instant coffee is better than murder."
"I've never heard you say that," she said.
"Now you have," I said with a laugh. "Although, most things are better than murder."
I didn't think my brother would agree with me. Frost might not either. Or Atlas. The others, they'd do what they had to.
Although, I wasn't sure if Dallas was capable of taking another life. Killing India was hanging around his neck like the proverbial albatross. Haunting him. Made worse by seeing Sierra killed.
"That depends on the instant coffee," Sadie joked. "Some of it is so bad, I'd have to refute your statement."
She didn't mean that literally. At least, I didn't think she did. We knew most of each other’s secrets, but not all of them. For all I knew, she might secretly be an assassin. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she was.
Except, would she have left Dusk Bay if that was the case? She might have if she was ordered to go. If that was the case, she wouldn't be able to tell me anyway, so I didn't ask. Besides, if she did tell me, she might have to kill me.
Some secrets were better kept secret.
