The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods 4)

"I'm glad to hear that," Bliss said gently.

The Force twins were finally going to be bonded, and she could imagine how much that had to hurt. Mimi had even asked Bliss to be one of her bondsmaids, which was unexpected since they hardly spoke to each other anymore. Bliss had said yes to be polite.

"And you? I... I'm sorry we never got to talk about what happened to Dylan. I can only imagine how terrible..." Schuyler's voice trailed off and her eyes grew bright. "I'm really sorry I haven't been there for you. I didn't want you to be alone after that, but we didn't have much of a choice."

"It's okay. I'm all right. I really missed you guys. It's been... kind of crazy for me...." she said. Inside Bliss's head a familiar voice said, Tell her I say hello, which made Bliss smile. "Anyway, sometimes I feel like he's still with me."

"He'll always be with you," Schuyler said, grasping for Bliss's hand and squeezing it.

Bliss leaned over so they could speak more intimately. She could feel the darkness coming, a sensation not unlike reaching the precipice of a roller coaster. Hanging over the abyss, right before the drop.

"Listen, Sky, I need to tell you something. There's something wrong with me. I can't talk about it too much, or whatever is wrong with me will put you in a lot of danger. But I'm taking this class... Ancient Civilizations... and I was reading about Rome... and I started to remember some stuff... stuff that happened before, and I think it might-" she was going to say, "might be happening again," but she never had a chance because Schuyler's iPhone began to ring.

"Hold on. God, I'm so sorry. Bliss, I have to take it. It's my mother's hospital," Schuyler said, checking the number. She put the phone to her ear. "Hello? Yes, this is Schuyler Van Alen.... What? Sorry? Yes... yes of course... I'll come right now."

"What's going on?" asked Bliss.

"It's - it's my mother. She's awake! She's asking for me. Bliss, I'm sorry, I have to go!"

Allegra? Allegra's awake? Wait'schuyler! Let me come with you?" But it was too late. Her friend had gone so fast it was as if she had disappeared into thin air.

ER 47

Mimi

Coordinating a bonding was easier than Mimi expected. Especially since the whole package, st. John's Cathedral, the Met reception, the Boys Choir of Harlem, the Peter Duchin Orchestra, and a dozen other details, had all been decided upon a year ago. It was simply a matter of securing a new date and rehiring vendors, most of whom were more than happy to take her security deposit once again. The bonding was set for mid-October, the earliest date that worked for everyone.

But Mimi wasn't thinking of her upcoming bonding as she sat in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental hotel, waiting for Kingsley Martin to arrive that evening. It was the farthest thing from her mind, almost as if the whole bonding scenario were simply a role she would step into at the right moment, like a glass slipper that had to fit. But until then, she could do as she pleased.

The Repository aide who had unearthed the tape recorder that was able to play the tapes from Charles's study had advised her to go easy on it; it was the only one they had left. He couldn't even let her take it out of the building.

"Venators don't like to upgrade," he'd grumbled, handing her the bulky black object. "We've given them the attachments for their phones, but they still use their old junk to turn stuff in. Someone gave us a report on parchment the other day. In longhand. You know how hard that is to read? Let alone retype?"

Mimi had murmured sympathies, and then found an empty cubicle and some headphones. She started to listen.

She had spent almost the entire night at the Repository, leaving only so she wouldn't miss her first class.

When Kingsley finally walked in, she wondered why it was that almost every time she was with him, she had been awake for more than twenty four hours.

As he sauntered over, Mimi noticed how everyone at the bar turned to gape at him. Talk about using the glamour.

"You're late," she said, tapping at her watch.

"No, you're just early." Kingsley smiled and slid in next to her on the banquette.

She inched away from him. "Aren't you staying at this hotel? You don't even have an excuse. I've been waiting for over an hour for you."

And Mimi Force did not wait for anyone. It was a new and frustrating experience. She'd read the looks of pity from the cocktail waitress.

Kingsley yawned. "I know you're not here to talk about my inability to master time management. So what's up?"

"Order first," Mimi snarled, as the waitress glided up to their table. Mimi noticed the girl was already making eyes at Kingsley.

"Macallan. Straight. And whatever the lady desires," Kingsley said, winking at Mimi.

"I'll have a dirty martini," Mimi said.

"And I'll have to see your ID," the waitress said with a fake smile.