“She’s the one that encouraged me to leave.”
Sofia’s small smile had a bitter twist. “She loved you.”
“She loved you too.”
The bitterness disappeared. “Oh, I know.” Sofia was quiet. Then in a soft voice, she said, “It was easier, you know, when Yaya was here.”
“What was easier?” Cass asked cautiously.
Sofia waved a hand in the air. “Dealing with everything—Mother, the wedding, all of it. Now, though, without Yaya to referee, I don’t know…” She shook her head. When she looked up, the poorly hidden signs of strain were back tenfold. “Everything’s a fight, Cass, and I’m tired. Russ is no help. Something’s going on at work, and Dad keeps looping him into these late-night meetings, which means it’s just me dealing with Mother’s edicts for the wedding. Without Yaya stepping in, things are only going to get worse.”
Guilt seared through Cass. As much as she wanted to offer to help with the wedding plans, there was no way Sofia would take her up on it. Not when putting Rhea and her oldest daughter in the same room was akin to lighting the fuse on unstable dynamite.
“What about Russ’s parents? Are they helping?” Cass asked.
“He lost them years ago, and he says he just wants to know when to show up. He’s leaving it all up to me and Mother.”
In an effort not to share her opinion that maybe Russ needed to think about Sofia instead of kissing up to his soon-to-be in-laws, Cass bit her tongue.
Sofia rubbed her forehead as tears welled in her eyes. “I miss her, damn it,” she muttered.
Cass didn’t know if she meant Yaya or Thena or both.
A tear rolled down Sofia’s cheek. She wiped at it viciously. “I hate this.”
Unable to stand by while her sister was in so much pain, Cass gathered the younger woman into her arms and held her tight. “It sucks.”
Sofia dropped her head to Cass’s shoulder as a shudder worked through her body. “It sucks hard, Cassie.”
Hearing her childhood nickname in a choked sob just about broke Cass’s heart, but she powered through. “I know, Sofie, but we’ll get through this. We always do.”
It was the wrong thing to say. Sofia stiffened and pulled back. “Yeah, I guess.” Her words were stilted, and she avoided Cass’s gaze as she turned back to the sink to erase the evidence of her tears and focused on her reflection. “The warning. What was it?”
Cass looked at the mirror to find Sofia watching her, her face composed. Her eyes held a grimness that hadn’t been there before, and Cass knew Sofia’s question was a test. One she couldn’t afford to fail.
“Rotten fruit and spiderwebs.”
Sofia’s eyes narrowed. “Death and ties.”
“Or lies and influence,” Cass countered.
Sofia’s “Hmm” didn’t convey much. She straightened as she balled up the damp paper towel. “How long are you staying in Vegas?”
Cass fought a wince. “A few days, at least. Longer if I need to.”
Sofia nodded as if that confirmed something. “We should probably head back.” She turned, tossed her used paper towels in the trash, and headed for the door. “Russ has to get back to the office.”
Cass caught Sofia’s arm, stopping her. “Are we okay?”
Her spine straight, her body rigid, Sofia was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know,” she said in a barely there voice before pulling out of Cass’s grip to open the door and walk away.
Chapter 10
Grayson
The headache that had flirted with Grayson at the Broken Hen had gone into full-on stalker mode by the time he released the security wards and led an unusually subdued Cass into his condo. He tossed his keys onto the counter and headed to the couch, where he collapsed with a relieved groan. He laid his head back, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You okay?” Cass asked, the first words she had uttered since saying goodbye to Sofia and Russ.
