Page 74 of Tempest’s Torment

"An hour."

I look back at Lilah. "She won't like it."

I hear his chuckle. "No, but she'll understand."

I sigh deeply. "I'll be there in twenty." I end the call and move to the coffee machine. I need a damn coffee.

I hear her before I see her, her bare feet padding along the wooden floor.

I turn from the coffee machine just as she appears in the doorway, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She looks at the sofa and then at me. "I fell asleep."

I nod. "You did."

Her eyes are wide, as though she can’t believe she slept on me. "What time is it?"

"Just after seven."

Her eyes widen. "I slept that long?"

I nod. "You needed it."

A small smile appears before she notices the look on my face. "What is it?"

I set my mug on the counter. "Rogue found Webb's office."

The smile disappears. "Oh."

"He wants me to go to Petals."

Her shoulders tense immediately. "I'm coming."

"No."

She frowns. "No?"

"Ghost's already arranged cover."

Her lips purse together. "Cover?"

"Sniper's bringing Natalia over, and Jinx is coming with them."

She looks away for a second, but I see the hurt in her eyes. "You don't want me there?"

"I don't want you anywhere near this."

She’s quiet for a moment but then asks. "What did they find?"

"Receipts."

"For what?"

"Flowers. They were for lilies." She goes completely still, and the color drains from her face. "Lilah?"

She doesn't answer straight away. "I saw him once at Lucy's grave." Her voice is quiet. "I'd gone to see her before I left Connecticut." She swallows. "He was already there."

I feel my jaw tighten.

"He'd left lilies." She looks down at her hands. "Lucy hated them." A humorless laugh slips out. "She used to say they smelled like funeral homes." She shakes her head. "I remember looking at them and thinking... he knew."