nothing to do with his unfaithfulness?
“ Caesar, I’m grateful for all you’ve done. Really, I am. I just need to get out of the apartment for a while. The walls feel as if they’re closing in.” After a moment, he accepted her answer with a curt nod. Still there was a certain wariness in the depths of his dark eyes.
For so long, Caesar had been the closest thing to family she and Jeremy had. Part of her still loved him in some twisted way.
But s he no longer trusted him.
“ Alright. As you wish. You’ll call if you need anything?”
“Of course.” He turn ed away. Acting on an impulse she couldn’t begin to explain, Jordan reached for his hand. “Caesar.” It was at times like this that she could almost convince herself he was still the knight in shining armor she’d once seen in him. Pain squeezed at her heart. Maybe Detective Donovan had been mistaken. Surely this gentle, caring man standing before her now couldn’t be responsible for Jeremy’s death as the detective seemed to imply.
“It ’s okay.” His smile took some of the chill from those dark eyes. “I’ll stop by the office for a bit. There’s a new shipment of diamonds coming in this afternoon. I know Ruggerio can handle it without me, but…”
“You love inspecting the gems. I know.” She answered for him. “Go. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
Still he hesitated. In the hours following her brother’s death, Caesar made sure she was never alone. Almost as if he didn’t trust her not to run. Or maybe he was just afraid of what she might uncover if left on her own. She hadn’t dared try to call Riley although she was desperate to hear his voice. Have him reassure her she hadn’t imagined him or what happened between them.
Caesar had i nsisted on checking in with the detectives working Jeremy’s case and been told by Detective Burbeck that the investigation was still on-going. He couldn’t comment on any of the details other than someone would be in touch soon.
Since that time, the silence in the apartment became unbearable and Jordan’s doubts had been limited to as far as her imagination could take them. She knew, if she didn’t get away from Caesar for a little while, she’d tip her hand. And if he knew what she suspected, would she end up in the same position as Jeremy?
Once she was certain Caesar had gone into the office as he’d indication, she grabbed her purse, making sure her cell phone was inside then left the apartment.
Caesar d idn’t approve of her walking alone in the city. Not a native New Yorker himself, he didn’t understand the pleasure of strolling the streets. He’d be furious with her for taking a cab. But now more than ever she needed to feel the city’s heartbeat, interact with fellow New Yorkers, absorb its energy. The city could be brutal at times, but it could also be healing.
The warmth of a late fall afternoon assaulted her with senses with an array of flavors. The street vendors peddling their wares of hot dogs and soft pretzels. The heat of the city, rising up from concrete and asphalt. The dozens of passer-bys bathed in a kaleidoscope of perfumes and colognes.
In the past , this had been one of Jordan’s favorite times in New York. Now, the beauty and color of the changing leaves would forever remain marred by the death of her brother.
The small apartment she and Jeremy shared was some ten blocks away from Caesar’s modern brownstone and light years away in social standing.
Jordan took her time, wanting to make sure Caesar hadn’t changed his mind and followed her.
She forced herself to wait until she was safely inside the apartment before trying to reach Riley.
Within the space of a few hours, her life as she knew it had been reduced to a series of insignificant, forced actions. Sleep. Get dressed. Eat. Finding out the truth was the most important thing in her life. Nothing mattered more than learning who was responsible for taking Jeremy’s life.
She unlocked the
“ Caesar, I’m grateful for all you’ve done. Really, I am. I just need to get out of the apartment for a while. The walls feel as if they’re closing in.” After a moment, he accepted her answer with a curt nod. Still there was a certain wariness in the depths of his dark eyes.
For so long, Caesar had been the closest thing to family she and Jeremy had. Part of her still loved him in some twisted way.
But s he no longer trusted him.
“ Alright. As you wish. You’ll call if you need anything?”
“Of course.” He turn ed away. Acting on an impulse she couldn’t begin to explain, Jordan reached for his hand. “Caesar.” It was at times like this that she could almost convince herself he was still the knight in shining armor she’d once seen in him. Pain squeezed at her heart. Maybe Detective Donovan had been mistaken. Surely this gentle, caring man standing before her now couldn’t be responsible for Jeremy’s death as the detective seemed to imply.
“It ’s okay.” His smile took some of the chill from those dark eyes. “I’ll stop by the office for a bit. There’s a new shipment of diamonds coming in this afternoon. I know Ruggerio can handle it without me, but…”
“You love inspecting the gems. I know.” She answered for him. “Go. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
Still he hesitated. In the hours following her brother’s death, Caesar made sure she was never alone. Almost as if he didn’t trust her not to run. Or maybe he was just afraid of what she might uncover if left on her own. She hadn’t dared try to call Riley although she was desperate to hear his voice. Have him reassure her she hadn’t imagined him or what happened between them.
Caesar had i nsisted on checking in with the detectives working Jeremy’s case and been told by Detective Burbeck that the investigation was still on-going. He couldn’t comment on any of the details other than someone would be in touch soon.
Since that time, the silence in the apartment became unbearable and Jordan’s doubts had been limited to as far as her imagination could take them. She knew, if she didn’t get away from Caesar for a little while, she’d tip her hand. And if he knew what she suspected, would she end up in the same position as Jeremy?
Once she was certain Caesar had gone into the office as he’d indication, she grabbed her purse, making sure her cell phone was inside then left the apartment.
Caesar d idn’t approve of her walking alone in the city. Not a native New Yorker himself, he didn’t understand the pleasure of strolling the streets. He’d be furious with her for taking a cab. But now more than ever she needed to feel the city’s heartbeat, interact with fellow New Yorkers, absorb its energy. The city could be brutal at times, but it could also be healing.
The warmth of a late fall afternoon assaulted her with senses with an array of flavors. The street vendors peddling their wares of hot dogs and soft pretzels. The heat of the city, rising up from concrete and asphalt. The dozens of passer-bys bathed in a kaleidoscope of perfumes and colognes.
In the past , this had been one of Jordan’s favorite times in New York. Now, the beauty and color of the changing leaves would forever remain marred by the death of her brother.
The small apartment she and Jeremy shared was some ten blocks away from Caesar’s modern brownstone and light years away in social standing.
Jordan took her time, wanting to make sure Caesar hadn’t changed his mind and followed her.
She forced herself to wait until she was safely inside the apartment before trying to reach Riley.
Within the space of a few hours, her life as she knew it had been reduced to a series of insignificant, forced actions. Sleep. Get dressed. Eat. Finding out the truth was the most important thing in her life. Nothing mattered more than learning who was responsible for taking Jeremy’s life.
She unlocked the
Similar Books
