“Why not?” I demanded, their vehement reactions catching me off guard.
They exchanged grim expressions. Josh rubbed his forehead as he stood up. “With families like ours, we handle our business discreetly. We don’t involve the authorities unless necessary.”
Though I knew my best friend’s family conducted their dealings in the underworld, Gabriela’s family also participating was news to me. But I didn’t argue, choosing to ask instead, “What do you propose?”
Josh crossed his arms over his chest, surveying the state of her apartment. “I’m going to have a crew come over within the hour. They’ll try to find fingerprints and then clean up. I’ll also take a look at the security tapes to see who entered and left the building in the timeframe that you were gone, Gabby.” Joshpulled out his phone, took a picture of the quote painted on the wall, and typed a text on his phone. Afterwards, he glanced at Gabriela. “Do you have a gun or knife I can use?”
His question didn’t faze her. “Knives are in the kitchen. My gun is in the console table’s top drawer.”
Gabriela wasn’t kidding when she said her daddy was a ranger—which was a half truth if he was in the same circle as the Remingtons—or that she knew how to wield a gun. I supposed it was a given for a mob princess.
“I’m going to give your place a quick search, though I suspect whoever is responsible for this mess is already gone. But I just want to verify that there are no other surprises left for you.” Josh opened the drawer and yanked out the gun, checking the chamber for bullets. “We’ll figure out who did this. Don’t worry, Gabby.”
“Thank you,” she said in a small, resigned voice, a far cry from the sassy, confident girl I conversed with last night.
“Why don’t you come with me while Josh does his thing?” I offered, getting up and extending a hand towards her. “I’m right across from you.”
Gabriela’s throat worked with a swallow. “Really?”
“Yeah, I just moved in today.”
My best friend conveniently managed to disappear down the hallway as soon as I said that. Josh knew I had a crush on her, knew she lived here, and knew this was the opening I needed. I wasn’t even annoyed that he orchestrated this entire thing and kept me in the dark so I’d be taken by surprise.
“Oh.” She attempted a weak smile as her slender fingers slid over mine and grasped firmly. Her soft skin against my slightly callused one felt perfect. “This isn’t how I usually welcome my neighbours.”
I lifted her off the ground. “How do you usually welcome your neighbours?”
“With my charming personality, a baked good, or a house plant.”
“I’d say you’ve nailed the charming part,” I teased. “Though I wouldn’t be opposed to a baked good or a house plant.”
I wouldn’t be opposed to anything from you, baby.
Gabriela stared at me like I was an enigma. My face grew warm. Was that the wrong thing to say?
Her cat meowed between us and I was grateful for the distraction. “What’s its name?”
“Her name is Luna.”
Luna eyed me curiously, her head nestled against Gabriela’s shoulder. I softly dragged my fingers down her back in a slow caress. “Hi, Luna.”
She purred, closing her eyes and enjoying my touch. I basked in the satisfaction of Luna not hissing at me the way she did Josh. It was a small win in my book.
“C’mon.” I tipped my head towards her door. “Let’s go.”
Still holding her cat, Gabriela followed me out. We had just a few minutes before Josh showed back up to mine and I wanted to milk every second alone with her.
Once we crossed my threshold, her eyes roved over my apartment, registering the cream walls, dark wood flooring, massive navy blue sofa in the living room, the glass-topped dining table, the brass-accented chandelier with low-hanging light bulbs that my older sister insisted I get to help bring my home’s ‘aesthetic’ together.
“You have a beautiful place, Hunter.”
“Thank you.” It pleased me that she liked it. I led her to the kitchen. “Do you want some water?”
“I do.”
I pulled out one of the stools for her, waiting until she was seated by the kitchen island before going over to the sink and filling up a glass of water. If I had food in the fridge, I’d make hersomething to eat. Wanting to make conversation and distract her from what occurred back at hers, I said, “I still need to add some finishing touches to my place. Maybe a painting for my dining room wall or a bookshelf in my living room. What do you think?”
When she remained quiet, I got worried and peeked over my shoulder. Her expression was forlorn as she gazed at the granite counter. “Gabby?”
