“Hi.” I wave, they probably can’t see me, but I do it anyway. My shoulders slump in relief at seeing both of them. I don’t know why but I feellike crying, not because I’m sad, except something is making me feel a weepy.
“How was work?” Ares leans his head to the left, appearing to stare right at me.
“It was okay, Ollie and Milo stayed with me.”
“She caught Maggie and Gus going at it in the kitchen.” I glare over at Ollie.
“They were not going at it.” I roll my eyes. “Not yet.”
“Come on. I’m still eating,” Milo complains.
“Well…” That’s all Ares says, I think he’s actually at a loss for words. I know it shocked me too.
Changing the subject, I ask, “Where are you guys? How did today go? Are you coming home soon?” Dante leans back and I catch sight of the room behind him. He must be on the computer the same way we called Rosa a few weeks ago.
Ares dips past the frame a few times, moving around the room behind the sofa. “We’re in our hotel.” He glances away from the camera. “Wedon’t have much time, but Iwanted to see you before we went to dinner.”
“We,” I hear Ares call. “We wanted to see you.” His voice grows louder, like he’s getting closer to the computer, before his face fills the screen.
“What time is it there?”
“Sixthirty,” Dante answers.
“So, you’re not coming home tonight then.” I try not to sound like I’m pouting but fail.
Ares lets out a long sigh. “No, we have a dinner meeting in about thirty minutes, actually.”
“Withwho?” I almost drop the phone on the counter while trying to rearrange my hold. “Damn it.”
“Edith Whitmore,” Ares tells me, while unbuttoning the sleeve of his shirt and rolling the cuffs up his forearms. It’s a practiced move, one he does so often he doesn’t even bother looking while he’s doing it. He snaps out his arms once it’s complete and shifts his shoulders. The line of his jaw is tight, along with the seam of his lips.
I glance over at Dante, who’s now visible since Ares is leaning back into the curve of the sofa. Other than the disheveled hair, Dante looks like his usual self—well, like he looks when we’re at school, anyway. Closed off and a little untouchable.
“Why a dinner meeting?”
Dante spares a quick glance in his brother’s direction, then answers, “Because Edith is looking for more than a business opportunity.”
My mouth falls open a little at his announcement. “What?” I look between them. “What kind of opportunity?”
Ares snorts out a breath, making his nostrils flare. “It’s not what you’re thinking.” Ares turns, giving Dante a discouraging glare. “She’s looking to make herself an ally, abusinessally,” Ares stresses, but Dante pulls a face that makes it seem like he disagrees.
Disregarding him completely, Ares focuses back on me. “With a little cajoling I’m hoping she will prove herselfuseful.”
My eyes narrow, as do my thoughts, what kind of persuading is he planning to use? Before I can ask that exact question, Ollie leans his head close to mine. “Anything on the Leon front?” I hadn’t even realized he’d gotten up from his seat.
“Too soon to ask any of those questions. That would be the fastest way to shut them up.”
“How is Edith related to Leon?” Milo questions next, placing his dish into the sink.
“Cousin,” Ares replies, looking down at his now exposed watch. “Wedon’t have much time left before we need to head out.”
In an effort to get closer to them I pull the phone nearer. “Will you call again when you get home?”
“If it’s not too late, I don’t want to wake you up if you’re already sleeping.”
“Even if I was, I’d rather you wake me. Dante?” I pull him into the conversation hoping he’ll be easier to convince.
“Believe me, I want to get out of there as soon as possible, so I hope it won’t be too late,” he answers noncommittally.
