Lost in Time (Blue Bloods 6)

“Why? Does he own the club?” Oliver asked.

“Better. He’s the consigliere,” the waitress said.

“He’s a mobster?” Oliver looked confused.

“Sort of. He’s Helda’s right-hand man. How about that,”

Mimi said, leaning back in the booth and taking a moment to assess the situation. No wonder the underworld had put up such a tough fight during their journey. Helda would not want to lose her closest adviser just because Mimi wanted her boy-friend back.

“Huh. Well, it’s good to have friends in high places, right?” Oliver asked, with a nervous smile.

Mimi did not answer. She had found Kingsley, but it appeared that Helda had been telling the truth. Kingsley was far from lost, and had no ambition to be found.

TWENTY-FOUR

The Bride Wore Orange

“Youlookbeautiful,”Charlessaid,findingAllegrastanding before her dressing room mirror, getting ready for the evening.

She turned around and smiled as she finished putting on her earrings. “You remember these?” she asked. “You gave them to me in Rome.”

“I do.” He nodded. “They were from Greek artisans; they cost me a fortune.”

“Thank goodness Cordelia didn’t auction them off. I was worried I wouldn’t find anything after she did her spring-cleaning.” Allegra carefully removed a necklace from her jewelry box. It was a Carnelian necklace, from Egypt. “Help me with this one?”

Charles carefully laid it on her neck and clicked the lock into place. He kissed the back of her neck tenderly.

“Now, go on with you. Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Allegra smiled, even though she was far from superstitious, as this was only one of innumerable bond-ings they had shared since the beginning of time, after all. She felt lighter—and for the first time since Florence, she did not doubt herself. She looked forward to moving on with her life, to their life together, as well as to the party that would immediately follow the ceremony.

The Coven was gathered at the Temple of Dendur, and soon she would make her way to the altar and say the words that would bind her to her twin in this lifetime.

She had dressed in a way to remind everyone of their storied history, with the Roman earrings, the Egyptian necklace, a dress made of silk and linen cut close to the body. Hattie had woven lavender into her hair so that Allegra wore it just as she had at their bonding in Rome. She did not wear a white dress, but donned a gown of a ravishing orange hue, just as she had on the Nile. Bright and happy and festive. Then there was the veil, a curtain of silk that would cover her head.

As was the custom, Charles would travel to the bonding on his own, with his attendants, and Allegra would arrive a few minutes after. They would meet in front of the temple steps at sunset.

She was almost ready when there was a knock on her bedroom door. “There’s someone downstairs for you. Says he’s an old friend of yours,” Hattie said, sounding a bit skeptical.

“Who is it?”

“He wouldn’t say. I told Julius not to let him in. I don’t want you to be late.”

“This really isn’t a good time,” Allegra said. “Can’t you get rid of him?”

“We’ve tried, but he won’t budge. maybe it’s best if you do the shooing.”

Allegra walked carefully down the stairs in her jeweled slippers and walked out the front door to find Ben Chase idling by the stoop, with Julius, their driver, keeping a watchful eye on him.

“Hey,” she said, tapping him on the shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey. Sorry is this a bad time …?” He looked at her dress and veil. “Costume party?”

“No, it’s…” She could not tell him what she was wearing.

Of course he didn’t know. It was her bonding gown, but Red Bloods wore white to their weddings. “What are you doing here?”

He stuck his hands in his coat pocket and cocked his head to the park. “Wanna take a walk with me?”

“Right now?” Allegra looked at her watch. She was supposed to be en route to the met right now.