Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"I need to speak to you," Gabriel said.

"Yep, we all need to talk. Liv's update was kinda succinct. Can we do that someplace that's a little warmer? I could also really use a drink, too."

"Right," I said. "Let me do that. You and Gabriel can talk upstairs."

"Sure..." Ricky said. "Or we could talk in the parlor, while you pour the menfolk their drink."

"I'd rather speak in private," Gabriel said.

"Ah, let me guess. It's about Liv."

Gabriel went still.

Ricky glanced at me. "It's one of those conversations where Gabriel and I discuss how worried we are for your safety, which we know better than to say in front of you because it makes us sound like overprotective cavemen." He opened the door. "Let's talk in the parlor. Riding in December is not warm. I'm going to get a fire--"

He stopped in the parlor doorway. That's when I saw the champagne glasses, the tangle of blankets and scattered pillows. And the clothing. My shirt and jeans. Gabriel's trousers. My bra. My panties. His boxers.

"Okay, then," Ricky said. "Well..." He turned to Gabriel. "I guess I know what you were going to talk to me about."

"I'm sor--"

"No, it's fine. I said it was fine, right? Told you both it was absolutely fine. So it is." He shoved his hands in his pockets, still staring at the discarded clothing. "Yep, just fine."

I pulled the parlor door shut. "The last time we spoke, Gabriel and I hadn't--"

"No, I get it. There was nothing to tell six hours ago. And now there is."

"I'll get you a beer. We do have things we need to talk about. I could really use your help getting answers from Ioan, especially about the sluagh. I think he might have--"

"Actually, you know what? I'm going to skip the drink. It's been a long day. Long flight, too. I should have just driven out in the morning. I'll get some sleep, come back in the morning, and we can talk."

He didn't give us time to respond. Just turned on his heel and walked out the front door. Lloergan gave a sharp bark of alarm and raced to the door. I put my hand on the knob, but Gabriel laid his on mine, and when I looked over, he shook his head and then nodded at the hound. Open the door and Lloergan would take off after him, and I wasn't even sure Ricky would notice.

"Distract her, please," I said. "I'll go out the back--"

The roar of the Harley's motor cut me short. I hurried into the parlor, but before I could get to the window, tires squealed as the bike tore off.

--

I stood at the parlor window, listening until I couldn't hear the motorcycle, until I was sure it was gone, sure Ricky was gone. Lloergan whined beside me. I laid my hand on her head.

"I'm sorry, girl. We'll take you home as soon as we can. He's just...busy."

She lumbered off to lie by the fireplace. I turned to Gabriel, standing behind me.

"It wasn't ever going to work, was it?" I didn't wait for an answer, just thumped down on the sofa. "We were fooling ourselves. Thinking we were better than them, smarter than them. Bullshit. The truth is that it can't work. Someone's going to get hurt."

Gabriel lowered himself beside me. "Not just someone. Everyone."

"But mostly him."

"Yes, mostly him."

Tears welled. "He doesn't deserve it. He did absolutely nothing wrong."

Silence stretched through long minutes. Then Gabriel said, his voice low, "If you realize you've made a mistake, I'm not going to pretend I'm fine with that. But I would understand. This was the only way for you to know."

"The only mistake I made was in thinking we might be able to work past it. And now..."