Violet stiffens as Owen grips the handle and twists. Jett and Storm inch closer to the woman.
Kelsey straightens.
“Owen.” Kyle walks past Summer’s eldest brother, acting like he doesn’t see his brutal glare directed his way. The florist is his singular focus. “Violet.”
“Kyle.” She lifts her chin.
“Having a party? It’s a bit late, isn’t it?”
“There was a problem with the flowers.” Summer pulls herself up to her full feisty height. “For the event we’re hosting on Heart Ranch. We were discussing how we were going to fix it.”
Kyle turns toward Summer, his gaze malicious as he rests his hand on his weapon. “I thought you understood not to come back here.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Owen takes a menacing step forward.
Summer signals with her hand for Owen to stay put. “I’ll be gone in a couple of days. As soon as what we came here for is done.”
“Violet’s been carting flowers out there every day. What’s the event?”
“Music video.” Kelsey straightens, giving band manager energy. “L.A. Riot is filming a music video.”
“And you need flowers for that?” He narrows his gaze.
“Black dahlias symbolize betrayal. We’re filming a video for their song “Betray Me”.” She shrugs like it’s obvious and he’s stupid for not knowing.
“That explains why there’s a famous actor with a rap sheet as long as my arm in your store, Violet.”
“It’s not that long,” I whisper in Summer’s ear. “Not as long as my dick anyway.”
She gives a minute shake of her head as she presses back on me.
“We were about to head out,” Owen says.
“I’m going to need another moment or two of your time.” Kyle digs his fingers into his pocket and pulls out an old school memo pad.
Intimidation perhaps. But more likely he hasn’t figured out how to take notes on his phone.
“There was a break-in two streets over. Kurt Helford was hogtied and nearly strangled.” Kyle flips open the notepad and retrieves a pen.
“Oh my God.” Violet, the only one of us who doesn’t have a clue where Summer and the others have been tonight, reacts perfectly. “Is he okay?”
“He’ll be sore and bruised for a few days, but he’s going to make a full recovery.” Kyle depresses the button on the top of his pen until it clicks, the action ridiculously loud.
“Funnily, there was a break-in at the Whitmore place too,” Kyle continues. “Do any of you happen to know anything about either incident?”
“Can’t say we do.” I make eye contact with Owen.
He winks. “We’ve been here a while.”
“Fine. Kurt’s place is a block over. Did any of you notice anything suspicious while you’ve been here?” Kyle turns slowly, pausing on each one of us. “Perhaps you heard something.”
“No,” Owen says.
“He probably likes being choked out,” Summer says. “Are you sure it wasn’t foreplay gone wrong?”
“Of course you would think it’s kinky.” He lowers his voice. “You always did like it rough and dirty.”
Before I can react, she shoves him. “Asshole.”
