Under the Stars

My little girl’s face is against my neck, and I step inside, leaving the two of them on the front porch discussing everything from how I proposed to me insisting on a diamond and failing. For now.

Roland is inside, sitting at the upright piano, tapping out notes and then scribbling on a sheet of paper in front of him. “Find anything useful?”

“Not much at the theater, but Terrence connected us with Eddie.”

“That idiot stagehand who followed Vanessa around like a puppy?” Roland shivers. “God, Vanessa was the worst. Remember how she tried to talk all the songs instead of singing them?”

I remember fighting off her naked body on the catwalk those few nights Lara was recovering. “He tampered with the pulley system—he broke the mechanism the night Lara fell.”

Roland’s fists slam on the piano keys, and he’s on his feet, eyes flashing. “Where is that bastard?”

I hold up my hand, turning it so he can see the slight swelling. “I left him at Terrence’s place with a broken nose and possibly a few missing teeth.”

His jaw is clenched, and any doubts I ever had about this guy are gone. “He’ll have more than that if I see him.”

“He would’ve had more than that if Terrence hadn’t been there.” Moving Jilly to my other arm, I start for the kitchen to wash the blood off my hand. “He had some intel, though. It seems Landry was loading files onto the dark web.”

Roland has followed me, and when I turn on the water, he takes the baby. “I’m not familiar with that.”

The water stings the cuts on my knuckles, and I hiss. “I’m no expert myself, but I know someone who is.”

He waits, and I rinse the soap off my hands, turning over my idea in my mind. It has to work, and I have to go alone. I don’t like having Lara around these people, but I especially don’t like having Jillian where I can’t keep my eye on her, away from people I trust to protect her.

“Are you going to tell me or keep me in suspense?”

“Oh, sorry,” I glance up to meet Roland’s impatient glare. “Molly. She’s an expert. I have to go back to Seattle, only I don’t want to take—”

“You are going to take me.” Stepping back, I see Lara has joined us in the kitchen.

“Lara.” My shoulders drop, and I grab the towel, stepping over to her. “I don’t want Jillian there. It’s too dangerous.”

“So Jillian stays with me,” Roland says. “It’s how we’d planned it the first time.”

“You’re going to Seattle again?” Evie’s voice is a playful whine, but Lara’s eyes are fixed on mine. She’s not backing down.

“Looks like we both are,” I say.

“Go ahead and book our tickets,” she says. “We can leave in the morning.”

You reach for me, and I disappear.

My heart is what you long to share…

Lara’s voice unfolds like rich caramel through the darkened club. Roland’s hands on the piano keys are the perfect accompaniment, smooth and flowing, point and counterpoint, and the rapt crowd listens, hanging on every word, every note.

She’s dressed in a floor-length, dark green silk dress. It has spaghetti straps, and almost looks like a negligée. Her long hair falls in shiny waves down her back, and one side is pinned up with a butterfly barrette that sparkles in the light. I’d only been a bit miffed when she told me it was a gift from Freddie.

Roland said I was being an idiot, so I let it go.

Now I sit at one of the small wooden tables, mesmerized by her performance as always. Evie and Armand are at the table with me, and Jillian has gone from bouncing on my arm to being cradled in Evie’s as she takes her bottle. She’s perfectly relaxed and seems to be falling asleep to the gorgeous strains of her mother’s voice.

“She’s so good,” Evie whispers. “I think she’s better than when we were in the show together.”

“I can’t tell.” My eyes are fixed on my beautiful fiancée. “I’ve always been in love with her voice.”

“Her voice, and other things.” I glance at Evie, and she grins. “She said you’re looking for Landry?”

Sitting forward, I give her my full attention. Those words are the only thing able to distract me from Lara.