Page 151 of Pretty Thing

We stare at one another, and I don’t want to believe Kris, but in this moment—the look he’s giving me—I can see it. I feel the steely wrath barely contained beneath the surface of his calm demeanor. Felix is…deadly.

He turns and gives me his full attention. “Eden…I will die before I let anything happen to you.”

His hand curls into a fist, jaw set like he’s ready to take on the whole world right this moment.

And now that I can see it…part of me loves that he will protect me at all costs.

But to what extent? Do I even really want to know?

Then he smirks and the tension breaks.

“I doubt we need to worry about this. Whatever Kyle was into…it won’t touch us.”

He finishes making the sandwiches and holds one out for me. I’m suddenly not very hungry, but I take a bite.

Felix tilts his head as he inspects me. The bread scratches on the way down my throat as I swallow.

“Eden, please stop worrying about this. We don’t do or sell drugs. Why would whoever killed Kyle come for us? Makes no sense.”

“Yeah…I guess you’re right.”

“What’s with all the questions?”

“I’m just trying to make sense of this, I guess. I’m worried about Kris. I love her. Kris and I grew up like sisters. It will break my heart if the person, or persons, who murdered Kyle go after her. You know?”

Felix stares at the floor and nods.

“Yeah, I can see that. Well, hopefully she keeps her nose out of whatever it was that got Kyle killed.” He glances at the time. “I have to get going, but how about we do steak for dinner? A proper date and something to take your mind off all the dark stuff.”

Felix walks over and kisses the top of my head. Despite all my doubts, I want to lean into him and hold him.

“I love you,” he whispers, and before I can summon my voice, he walks away.

Felix’s responses to my questions are reasonable. For every question, he came back with a logical, comforting answer.

So why don’t I feel better?

He has told me over and over that he will do anything to protect me, and I believe him.

Was Kyle dangerous? Is Kris?

Or is Kris right, and Felix is the danger?

Jumping up, I tiptoe to the door and open it just a crack. No sound or sight of him. He’ll be in the shop for at least an hour, maybe longer. That gives me some time to look for answers.

I can’t bury my head in the sand. If Felix killed Kyle, surely there will be something linking him to it. Best case, I find nothing, and I can tell Kris I’m done listening to her conspiracy theories. Worst case, I find something that paints Felix as a villain.

I don’t even want to contemplate that scenario.

Starting with the easy stuff, I open drawers and cupboards and look behind pictures.

Then I freeze. Shit.

Felix is smart, and if he’s hiding something from me, it won’t be anywhere mundane.

The locked door in the closet.

Adrenaline races through my body as I walk into the bedroom and push all the clothes aside so I can see the secret door clearly. The lock requires a key.