Buttons and Blame (Buttons 5)

“Yes.” He pivoted his body and looked me square in the eye. “You.”

“What about all that mumbo jumbo about not being alone with her?”

“I don’t give a damn anymore. She obviously doesn’t care about her safety. Why the fuck should I care?” He walked past me, his muscled physique looking prominent in his tailored suit. He was about to head back to the winery now that he was finished yelling and breaking our stuff. “Tell me what she says.”

I’d seen Crow and Pearl fight, but not like this. This was bad. “Okay.” If Crow really thought Pearl were in danger, he would do everything he could to keep her safe. So making me talk to her was just the confirmation I’d been wanting to hear—that he did trust me with her. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

* * *

Lars answered the door and gave a slight bow. “Mr. Barsetti, Mr. Barsetti isn’t here right now. I’ll let him know you dropped by.”

“I’m not here for him. I’m here for Pearl.”

Lars continued to block the doorway, not being the polite butler he usually was. He kept one hand on the door and wore a professional smile that wasn’t genuine at all. The only time he seemed to really grin was when he talking to Pearl. “His Grace gave me very specific instructions about Pearl’s company. I’m sure you’re aware…”

Last time I was alone with Pearl, Crow flipped the hell out. “Yeah, I know. He’s had a change of heart.”

“Until I hear it from him, you’ll have to come back another time.”

“Come on, Lars. You can’t be serious right now.”

Lars dropped his smile then shut the door. He even locked it.

Wow, what a backhand. I called Crow, told him about the holdup, and then hung up.

A few minutes later, Lars opened the door again. “Please come in, Mr. Barsetti. May I get you anything?”

I rolled my eyes as I walked inside. “Don’t be all nice to me after you shut the door in my face.”

“Just following orders.” He trailed away with his arms behind his back. “I’ll whip up something to eat. Mrs. Barsetti hasn’t been eating lately. Perhaps you could motivate her.” He walked into the kitchen and disappeared.

I checked the downstairs living room but didn’t find her there. I went to the patio next, knowing she preferred to sit outside on a nice day like this. There she was, sitting in one of the lounge chairs in jeans and a black t-shirt. Sunglasses sat on the bridge of her nose, but they didn’t hide the sadness written all over her face. Even when she was exposed to direct sunlight, she looked as pale as a vampire.

I slowly walked toward her, my hands in the pockets of my jeans. A part of me felt responsible for the entire nightmare. If I hadn’t brought Adelina home, none of this would have happened.

But did that make me regret it? No.

I sat in the lounge chair beside her.

She didn’t turn her head in my direction. Her gaze must have flicked to me behind her black glasses. Otherwise, she should be somewhat startled.

I leaned forward with my elbows resting on my knees. My palms rubbed together, and I stared at the black ring I wore on my left hand. Black with a skull in the center, it symbolized a past I’d never forgotten about.

Pearl didn’t say anything, just as silent as Crow was.

“So…how’s it going?”

No response. She didn’t even move. I wasn’t entirely sure if she was breathing.

“That bad, huh?”

“What do you want, Cane?”

“Just making sure you’re alright.”

“Well, I’m not alright. Now what?” She pulled her glasses off and placed them on the table. The sun was directly overhead and no longer in her eyes. She didn’t wear any makeup, and her eyes looked heavy-lidded and swollen.

I rubbed my palms together then massaged my wrist. “Anything I can do?”

“No.”

“It’ll pass. You know how Crow gets…”

“This time is different.” She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins, pulling herself into a ball.

She was right. It was different.

“He won’t look at me. He won’t speak to me. It’s been days…but it feels like years.”

Pearl always saw the light even when there was only darkness. But now, she looked lost in the shadows. It broke me to see her like this. It even broke me to see Crow so gloomy. It reminded me of the way he used to be before Pearl walked into our lives. He was never really alive, only a corpse with a working brain. “Then why did you do it? What were you thinking?”

“Patronizing me isn’t going to make me feel better.”

“But seriously, what were you thinking? If Tristan keeps slaves, why did you think it was a good idea to confront him?”

“I knew he wouldn’t touch me since I’m Crow’s wife.”