“Priscilla, if we’re going to find out who Celine really was and what she was doing, we’re going to need to bend a few rules. If we don’t, the bureau will just claim it was a random act of violence,” said River.
“We have reason to believe that if River hadn’t asked you to join him for coffee and dinner, he might have been accused of her murder or worse, been an additional target,” said Angel. Priscilla stared at him, swallowing hard, tears filling her eyes.
“I see,” she whispered. “It all makes sense now. You needed me for an alibi.”
“No!” yelled each man. River held up a hand to them.
“No. Absolutely not. I had no clue something was going to happen to her. How would I have known that? I invited you because I wanted to. But with you there, with me, it ruined the plans for whoever did kill our unknown.”
“Sorry,” she said shaking her head. “You’re right. You couldn’t have known we’d find her dead. I’m sorry. I guess the night is catching up with me.”
“There’s a bedroom at the back of the plane along with a shower. Feel free to freshen up. There are sweats in the drawers, various sizes available. Why don’t you go lie down? I’ll wake you when we arrive,” said River.
She nodded, standing as the men stood like gentlemen with her. Priscilla grinned at them, shaking her head.
“I’m not sure I’ll get used to this any time soon,” she smiled. “Thank you. Especially you, River. Thank you for being there with me tonight.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek, hugging her as she turned and walked toward the back, closing the door.
“She’s amazing,” smiled Patrick at his son. “Beautiful.”
“Very beautiful,” said Wes. Angel nodded at them all.
“And very much in danger.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Priscilla rolled over and felt the cold, empty sheet beside her. It was dark outside but she knew it was morning. Then she heard the thunder and a streak of lightening sailed across the window. She listened for the rain and heard it, loud and clear, on a tin roof.
“A tin roof?” she whispered.
Sitting up quickly, rubbing her eyes, she looked around the large bedroom. There was a long dresser against one wall and a smaller one on the wall beneath the window. There were two nightstands with beautiful lamps.
Standing, she realized how cold it was. Dressed in the sweatsuit she donned on the plane after her shower, she grabbed the blanket at the end of the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Opening a door to her right, she walked into a beautiful, custom bathroom.
“Wow,” she whispered.
She relieved herself, gave her face a good scrub with a high-end, designer cleanser that she recognized, and then quickly found the brush in her bag and combed her hair, pulling it on top of her head.
Opening the bedroom door, she heard low voices, including several women. It was like a gut punch to hear that. What did you expect?
“Good morning,” smiled a gorgeous female. She had curves in all the right places and her billowing auburn hair made Priscilla envious.
“Good morning,” she said quietly. “You must be River’s mother.” The room chuckled and Mary smiled at the woman.
“Oh, sweetie. You just became my favorite person in the whole wide world. I’m his great-grandmother,” smiled Mary. “Former bureau, so we have a lot in common.”
“Wow. I’ve been saying that a lot lately. Okay, so if you’re his great-grandmother, then you must be his grandmother,” she said pointing at Virginia.
“Well done,” she grinned.
“And then, uh, God I hope I get this right. You must be his mother,” she said pointing to Margo.
“That’s me,” laughed Margo. “Let me introduce you to the others. This is Sadie and Ramey, River’s aunts. Then we have Mattie and Jak, Abe and Lyra, Brix and Daphne. There are another three-hundred or so people here but that’s all we could fit in the cottage.”
“I’ll never remember all those names,” said Priscilla. “Do I smell coffee?”
