“As soon as this is over, I’ll take Dune off your hands, I promise.” She formed a semblance of a smile, even though she wasn’t feeling it.
“If anything happens to her, it’s on your fucking head. Got it asshole?” Hererra scowled at Scala. Autumn saw his stony profile when he turned his head. “I’m holding you accountable for her welfare.”
“Not a hair on her head will be touched,amici miei. I’ll kill anyone who dares harm her. I swear on my dead parents.”
The two men shared a glance with each other that Autumn couldn’t figure out, but it made her roll her eyes just the same.
“Are you done pissing on each other?” She asked in a droll tone. “This damsel has things she needs to get done.”
Autumn felt exhausted suddenly. The events of the day crashed down around her. She just wanted to pretend this wasn’t her life anymore.
“Whenever you’re ready, Miss Taylor.” Scala’s smooth tone seemed to make her relax by degrees.
Autumn took a good look at him. Other than having a bandage wrapped around his arm and some scratches near his neck, the man appeared calm. He dealt with other problems. Namely, his uncle.
With a nod, Autumn left the two men to give her statement to the fire chief, something she should have done earlier. Worry for Dune had been the overriding factor. And then refereeing between Hererra and Scala…no wonder she was exhausted.
Chapter 7
Nicoleanedagainstthedoorjamb to his kitchen as he watched Autumn talk on the phone. After she finished making her report on the house explosion with the police and fire chief, Nico took her shopping to get clothing for the next couple of weeks.
He made his own purchase for her since they had a meeting with Navarro that night, not that he mentioned it to her just yet. He was planning on telling Autumn before everything went down that morning.
“…Cassie, tell me…” Autumn rubbed one of her temples. Nico watched her profile. Her lips pursed as she stared out the window at his patio. He could see a muscle tic in her jaw. He continued to watch as she took a deep breath and blew it out. “You said someone was there that looked like me? When did they come over… A few days ago?”
One hand rested on Autumn’s hip as the other held the phone in a vice-like grip. “She said she was a family member?” Her tone deepened and became more stilted. “She said she was my cousin…okay…and you let her in…no, I’m not mad, I just…did she walk through the house? She used the bathroom…” Autumn closed her eyes again. “And then today someone came in who said they were an electrician. He was wearing sunglasses and a hat?” Her hand went up and smoothed through her hair. The waves moved around her shoulders. “He said you couldn’t stay…?” Nico watched her shoulders stiffen.
“And you forgot to take Dune with you or even call me…you didn’t…Cassie, this is important!” Autumn’s voice was like a crack of thunder when she yelled at the girl on the other end of the phone. There was silence for a brief pause, then Autumn spoke in that low tone. “Dune’s fine, he got hurt…I know, I’m sorry I yelled, Cassie…It's…I’m fine…I know…yes, I’ll speak to you soon.”
Nico watched as Autumn held the phone against her chest. Her eyes were closed, but her expression didn’t change.
“You need to throw something? Yell? Scream? Hell, you want to hit me?”
Autumn stiffened. She turned toward him with narrowed eyes, “If I wanted to do any of those things, I would have done them already.”
Nico shrugged a shoulder as he moved off the doorjamb and walked to a small bar on one side of the dining table. He took a shot glass, added some amber liquid, and brought it to his lips. He watched her over the rim and threw it back.
Autumn raised an eyebrow, “A little early, isn’t it?”
“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” He motioned to her phone. “I’m assuming that was the cat sitter. Anything you could learn about your house exploding?”
“Like it was combustible?” She spoke in a dry tone. When Nico didn’t answer, she blew out a heavy sigh and shook her head, “Only one thing.”
He took another glass, poured the alcohol before walking, and moved towards Autumn. He held his arm out.
She looked at the offering as if it were poison. “I don’t drink when I’m working.”
Nico looked around them, then back at her, “I don’t see anyone here. No one can tattle.” He peered at her from top to bottom. She wasn’t as dusty as he was, either. “And I’m pretty sure you’re off the clock.” He held the drink out to her again, “Take it.” He forced his lips to curl up. “Please.”
With a glare, Autumn took the glass and grimaced at the first sip, “You drink whiskey for fun?”
He shrugged one of his shoulders, “From time to time.”
Autumn held the shot glass in her hand, then finally took a seat on the couch. She ran her hand through her hair again and sipped one more time. She made a face, then downed the alcohol.
Nico sat in a chair across from her, crossed his ankles, and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, fingers laced beneath his chin. “So tell me what you learned.”
“Something I’d rather not know,” Autumn muttered.
