“It’s possible.” I had a feeling Adriana knew more than she was letting on. If Darren had been planning something, was it with her in mind?
Mila leaned closer, pressing her forehead briefly to my shoulder. The cost of truth sat heavy between us. We were moving toward it anyway.
I drove her home and kept my hand in hers the entire way, because the one thing I refused to lose was already sitting beside me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
MILA
The house carried the hush of early morning, the scent of Edwardo’s cologne, the coffee pot gurgling in the background, sunlight stretching thin across the counter. It should have felt ordinary. It didn’t. Everything in our home had been wired tight since last Friday, every sound too loud, every pause too loaded.
Mom’s comment I’d overheard about Darren kept bothering me, and I had a plan to do something about it. I just needed to find out when I could.
“Morning.” I flashed a breezy smile to Mom and Edwardo as I rounded the landing and entered the kitchen, making a beeline for the coffee.
Mom sat at the table, already dressed, eyes catching everything even this early. Edwardo leaned back in his chair, scrolling through his phone with that too-casual posture that meant he was paying attention to everything.
I poured coffee, inhaling the bitter steam. “What’s on the agenda today?” I asked, leaning a hip against the counter, as though I didn’t care about the answer.
Mom’s gaze flicked to me—quick, assessing. “Nothing major. We need groceries.”
Edwardo shoved his phone into his pocket. “Might meet Dominick there if he’s around.”
Edwardo’s stepbrother. Good, the more people who didn’t have eyes on the house, the better. I took a slow sip, letting the silence stretch just enough. “That it?”
“For now,” Mom said lightly, but there was a thread under it. “Why are you asking?”
I shrugged. “Just curious, and you know… trying to show an interest in what you’re doing since you’ve been taking vacation to avoid Dunn Industries.” I air-quoted vacation. I really didn’t want her going back there anyway. But I also needed to throw her off the scent of my questions.
I had to force myself to wait to text Luke until I was out of sight.
Mom gave a small hum of acknowledgment, then reached for her mug. “Actually, we should go early, Ed. It won’t be as busy.”
Of course. Control the environment. Fewer eyes. Fewer risks.
Edwardo didn’t hesitate. “Good plan.”
I hid my smile behind another sip of coffee. Perfect.
Mom stood, grabbed her mug and Ed’s, then set them in the sink.
I set my mug down and grabbed a piece of toast, taking a bite as I straightened. “I’m heading out early.”
Mom’s eyes snapped back to me. “It’s a little early for school. You don’t usually leave yet.” She grabbed her purse from the counter then paused, waiting for my response.
Excellent. They were leaving soon. Window secured.
I shrugged, chewing. “I’m meeting Luke. I want to catch him after morning skate before school.”
Not a lie. Just not the whole truth.
Edwardo’s jaw tensed slightly, subtle but there. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
Mom studied me a second longer than necessary. Then she gave a small nod. “Text me when you get there.”
“Sure. And can you get some strawberries?” Another bite of toast. I grabbed my bag off the chair, already moving toward the door before either of them could add anything else.
