Stories by Kiera Dellacroix

by Dellacroix, Kiera

  "Did you miss me?"

  "Of course. Is your job over?"

  "Yes, it is."

  She contemplated my answer in silence.

  "I've got something for you."

  Her eyes lit up. "Really?"

  "Yep," I said, reaching into my jacket to produce a piece of paper.

  She looked at it confusedly. "An address?"

  "Yes."

  "I don't get it. What would I find here?"

  "Angelo Sirico. You have a meeting with him tomorrow at noon."

  She stared at me with an unreadable expression.

  "Joey will stand with you. You can bring as many of your people as you like. It's over. Angie is willing to discuss a truce and surprisingly, a possible merger."

  She chewed on her lip uncertainly. "Will you be there?"

  "Yes, Sabrina."

  She brought a hand up to her mouth and stifled a quick sob. "How long have you known?"

  "Not very long."

  "You mad at me for not telling you?"

  "No, but you can tell me some things now."

  She nodded, wiping at her eyes.

  "Gus knew all along, didn't he?"

  "Yes."

  "Did he have that dinner party because you wanted to know if you'd be recognized?"

  "They were all people who had seen me, might have seen me, or had claimed to have seen me."

  "Did you send your boogeyman after me because you read the files I have lying around in my house?"

  "You needed to know I had nothing to do with it. He would never have hurt you."

  "You could've rid yourself of Sirico years ago. Why didn't you?"

  "That's not the way I do things."

  "That's what I'd hoped you say."

  "I'm sorry, Maddie."

  "When would you have told me?"

  "I was going to wait until you found who you were looking for."

  "I see."

  She studied the ground in front of her uncomfortably. "I didn't lie to you, Maddie. I meant what I said."

  "Did you?"

  Her eyes rose to meet mine. "Yes, I did. Very much."

  I grunted and took her hand. "Will you do me a favor?"

  "Name it."

  "I'm having dinner over at Joey's tonight. I'd like you to be there."

  "Okay. Is that the favor?"

  "Not quite," I said, clearing my throat. "I'd like you to come not as my lover, but as my girlfriend… as my partner."

  She beamed, preparing to speak, but I held up a hand to stop her.

  "Shut up, this is my moment," I said, giving her a stern look. "I spoke to Woody. Gus left me the house and if you think you could live in an old neighborhood with an ex-pilot, ex-cop, and ex-private detective, I'd like very much for it to be our house."

  She started to bounce excitedly.

  I smiled. "I love you too, Sabrina."

  I found myself on my back, giggling as she plastered kisses all over my face. I returned them happily, waiting until she subsided before speaking again.

  "Will you do me another favor?"

  "Anything you want, Maddie," she purred into my neck.

  "Lose the contacts, you don't need them anymore and I want to see your eyes."

  She sat up straddling me and removed her glasses. Laboring gently, she quickly produced a pair of very pale blue eyes. Joey had been right; they could appear almost white.

  "What do you think?" she asked a little nervously.

  "I think you're gorgeous."

  She fell on top of me and snuggled up close. I sighed contentedly, wrapping my arms around her.

  "Brina?"

  "Hmmm?"

  "Tell me about my mother."

  END