“Stop yelling at her like that.” Alvarez did his best to avoid gazing my way, but I could’ve sworn he peeked at my very stiff nipples as they tried their best to get his attention. “This can’t be put off. We have things to discuss.”

“I’m busy!” Hex kicked the vase in front of him. All of the women around me gasped or jumped. “I only have one rule and that’s leave me the fuck alone when I’m creating my art!”

“Calm down, Hex.” Although Alvarez said it in a low voice, he didn’t appear calm either. All of a sudden, rage shadowed his features. In fact, they both seemed ready to go for blows. This wasn’t the Alvarez who had kissed me goodnight or recited poetry to me in his office. This man was tired and pissed at somebody.

What happened to Alvarez since he left me last night to have him so wound up?

“Get out of my studio!” Hex kicked another can.

“This is crazy.” The woman behind me rose and put on her robe. The others followed suit.

“Now look what you’ve done.” Hex pointed to the stage. “You ended my session before it was time. Do I bother you when you’re working?”

“Yes. All of the time with your exploits and ignorant little bouts with art critics.” Alvarez got in front of Hex and towered over him. “Since your session is over, we have time to talk.”

“I’m not talking to you.”

“Oh yes, you are.”

I slipped on my robe and closed it. “Maybe you both should calm down before talking.”

“What the hell do you want to talk about anyway?” Hex set his camera down hard on the desk.

Alvarez gestured to me. “Let’s talk about this outside. Instead of arguing in front of Elle.”

“Oh, now that you’ve ruined my session, you want to decide not only when we talk but where it will be. Fuck you, Al!” Hex left the studio, slamming the door behind him.

“What? Fuck me.” Alvarez stormed that way, opened the door, and rushed after him. “I’ve been up all day dealing with this crap that you’ve created for us! I said don’t invite models here to stay overnight. I said have them come for a short period and then leave, that it would be a hassle and too much for us to handle. What did you say? ‘Oh, I’ll take care of it all, bro.’ Well, that was bullshit because I’m the one dealing with it!”

“No one asked you to deal with it!”

I rushed to put on my slippers and dashed out after them.

“No one asked me to get involved, but there are dead girls on our property. Am I supposed to just sit back and relax?” Alvarez formed his hands into fists.

“No. You’re supposed to leave me alone while I’m doing my art. Have some respect.”

“Respect? You’ve ignored my calls!”

The sunlight hit me as I ran outside. They’d made some good ground and were near the garden where Patricia had lain dead on the ground. Now, the soil had been covered and no evidence existed that there had ever been someone there.

Flipping away his shoes and pulling off his socks, Hex ran to a tree and began to climb it. He latched his hands onto the trunk, jumped up so his feet planted to the sides, and raced up. I would’ve stood back and been impressed by his speed, if not for Alvarez running to him, snatching at his foot, and trying to pull him back down. Terror stabbed through my chest. If they continued, they would hurt each other.

“Get off me!” Hex kicked at Alvarez.

“Get down! You don’t get to run off this time.”

“Alvarez!” I hit his back and got his attention after three hits. “Calm down. You’re going to hurt Hex if you keep on grabbing him like that.”

He glanced over his shoulder at me and let go. “I was trying to stop the idiot from getting all the way up into the tree.”

I shrugged. “Well, it’s too late for that. He’s up there and if you had captured his leg, he might have lost his balance and fallen.”

“Then maybe that would be one less problem,” he muttered.

“You don’t mean that.”

Hex made it to the highest branch he could without breaking it, and then from there he swung his little body to another tree.

Holy cow. He could give Tarzan a run for his money.

“Fine. He’s gone. I’ll deal with Grandma and then return to him.” Alvarez rubbed both of his eyelids and blinked. Little red lines crept along the whites of his eyes. He yawned and slumped against the tree. I took in his clothes. He wore the same outfit from last night, black pants, white linen shirt, and black shoes. Except wrinkles and small stains covered them.

“Have you gotten any sleep?” I asked. “You look exhausted.”

“I am.”

Tags: Kenya Wright Mystery
Source: readsnovelonline.net