Part 12 (1/2)
Caitlyn stood and helped me clear the dishes from the table. I still had no clue what I was supposed to say to her. Awkwardness flowed between us, and it needed to stop.
Luke helped us carry plates, then sat them down in the kitchen and walked away. He barely looked at me, and I hated that it had come to that.
”I can stay at the Bellagio if it's too weird,” she said as she ran the dishes under the hot water.
”No. That's not necessary. Seriously. We just have to get to know each other, that's all,” I said.
”True. So, tell me about yourself. Your childhood. Our parents. I want to know everything. How you ended up in Vegas. Everything.”
I couldn't blame her. I would want to know too.
”Okay. Vegas. I had a job interview with a large firm and completely bombed it for being one minute late. It would have jump-started my career, but sometimes life throws curveb.a.l.l.s. Honestly, I feel like I was meant to be here all along. The city seemed to call to me, so after I sold the house, I banked on the interview and moved here. My turn. What do you do? How did you find me? How long have you known that you were adopted?”
Finnley walked in, placed a few cups on the counter, and gave me a smile before he walked out of the kitchen.
”I'm an interior decorator and hobby photographer. My parents told me I was adopted when I turned eighteen. It crushed me because so many people told me how I looked like my mother, but to find out she wasn't my birth mother . . . I couldn't believe it. I was hurt. I was angry. But then I got over it and thanked them for loving me like I really was their child. It was a hard year. They didn't know anything about my parents, other than they were young and were from Texas. I had some friends help research everything. We tracked down the hospital that I was born at, as well as one of the nurses who happened to still work there. Thankfully, she had a memory like an elephant. I learned their names, and it crushed me to hear they had died before I could meet them. I had searched for so long and wished I had worked harder. It took me eight years to solve the mystery. I had almost given up, but then I realized I had to know. I was almost obsessed about it.”
I placed plates in the dishwasher. I tried to put myself in Caitlyn's place and realized that I couldn't. It was too hard for me to imagine, and I would have done exactly the same thing: kept searching.
”When I found out I had a sister, I seriously broke down because I wanted a sibling all my life. It was like all of my wishes had come true, and now you're here, standing beside me, and it makes me so emotional,” she said.
My eyes watered and for a second I thought I would cry, but I swallowed it back. ”I always wished for a sibling too, especially after Mom and Dad pa.s.sed away. I hated them for not trying harder for another baby, and it's like they keep sending little miracles to me.” I choked up and didn't think I could finish.
Caitlyn wiped her hands on the towel and hugged me. We stood in the kitchen and cried. This is what it was like to have someone and even though we weren't close, we were all we had, as far as blood family.
”I'm so happy I found you,” Caitlyn said. When we pulled away, she started laughing.
I laughed and watched as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
”How long have you been madly in love with Finnley?”
”Months, though it feels like years. I used to take those stupid little relations.h.i.+p quizzes and would read my horoscope in the back of women's magazines. I remember wis.h.i.+ng I would find someone who could turn my world upside down and make me feel all those little tingles that women spoke about in the articles. And now that I've got it, it all makes sense. I couldn't live without him,” I said.
”So the guy with the black eyes is Finnley's younger brother?”
”I am,” Luke said. He was holding chicken in his hand and sat it in the refrigerator.
A pink hue hit Caitlyn's cheeks and I smiled.
”How old are you?” Caitlyn asked.
”Twenty-seven, and you?”
”Twenty-six,” she said.
”Who gave you that black eye?” Caitlyn was blunt, straight to the point, and I loved it.
”My brother punched me in the face for a mistake,” he said, glancing over at me, then back at Caitlyn.
”Oh. You must have deserved it, then. Finnley seems like a nice guy.”
Luke burst into laughter, and I started laughing as well. She looked confused. Finnley walked into the kitchen and leaned against the door. I glanced over at him, at the t-s.h.i.+rt that hugged his muscles, then down lower.
”Are we laughing at my expense?” Finnley asked. A smile touched his lips. I loved how he didn't hold grudges. G.o.d, I loved him.
I walked to Finn and wrapped my arms around his waist. He kissed my forehead and wrapped his arms around my neck. Finnley laced his fingers with mine and walked me to the dining room. I hated to leave Caitlyn and Luke alone, but they seemed to be getting along fine.
”Abbot called me. Baxtor found Jesse. He has an insider working with her, and she's planning to make her move in exactly three days, but we should be ready for her at any point. We all know how she loses it and randomly does things without planning. Apparently, she's livid. She wants us all dead.”
Two knocks pounded against the door, and I heard a car speeding off. Finnley rushed to the door. When he opened it, the taillights were already fading in the distance. I followed behind him, and on the ground lay an envelope. He bent over and picked it up and slowly ripped the side open. I placed my hand on top of his and squeezed.
”Should we wait for Abbot?”
”We can't. But I'll need to call him.”
He tilted the envelope, and a letter slipped out the side and drifted to the floor. Luke and Caitlyn walked in, laughing about something, and when they noticed something was wrong, they followed in behind us. Finnley opened the letter and read. With a strong fist, he crushed the letter in his strong hand then pulled out his phone and walked away. Luke and Caitlyn glanced at me, and I hurried to follow Finnley up the stairs.
”You're scaring me.” I closed the door behind me. Finnley continued to speak with Abbot on his phone and handed me the letter. I smoothed out the paper and held it with shaky hands.
YOU'LL ALL BE DEAD WITHIN THE WEEK.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS WHILE YOU CAN.
I HOPE YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE, FINNLEY.
YOU DUG THE GRAVE, AND NOW YOU, JENNIFER, AND LUKETON WILL LAY IN IT.
I'M ALWAYS WATCHING. I'M ALWAYS AROUND.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH YOU TAKE YOUR LAST BREATH.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH YOU ALL BLEED OUT.
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD AND ONLY A MEMORY.
SOON.
I dropped the letter on the ground. A tremor coursed through my body, and it was all because the physical fear that overcame me. Finnley ended the call and pulled me close to his chest.
”Abbot is sending ten guys to watch over the house. We will be safe through the night. I've got to inform Caitlyn and Luke of what is happening. They will both need to stay here.”
I nodded, and he left me in the middle of our bedroom to drown in my worry.
This wouldn't end until someone was dead.