Adverse Possession (The Anna Albertini Files #3) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,77

made it clear that if Bev went after Anna Albertini again, her man would no longer be one of mine or a Lordes club member. He made the decision to either talk some sense into Bev or end things. I couldn’t care less which he decided.”

Pierce sat back. “Why break up with her, then?”

Carbine scratched his chin. “I needed a change, anyway. Bev was a lot of work, and I was done.”

Pierce angled toward Aiden. “I thought you and Albertini broke it off, and you were dating a redhead.”

Aiden crossed his arms. “We did end things, but I still don’t want anybody crashing a truck into her. We had some good times.”

Pierce set his pen down. “I see. You know, a case could be made that you want her back and left her a gift of a dead woman, the woman harassing her, in her office.”

Aiden barely smiled. “I’m more of an emeralds or flowers kind of guy, Pierce.”

Chapter 29

Around nine that evening, I settled onto my sofa with Quint on one side and Tessa on the other after having dished up bowls of ice-cream. The doorbell rang, and Bud hustled from the kitchen to the front door, peering out before straightening. He opened it.

Donna swept inside dressed in cute shorts and a shirt with a bottle of Baileys in her hand. “You didn’t start without the Baileys?”

“Of course not.” Tess grabbed Donna’s bowl off my coffee table. “Here’s yours. Bud won’t join us.”

Donna turned to the already blushing police officer. “You don’t like ice cream?”

His Adams’ apple bobbed. “I like ice cream.” He gently drew her inside and locked the door. “But I’m on duty.”

Donna placed her hand on his arm. “You don’t have to have Bailey’s, but surely you want ice cream.” Her voice was smoother than any treat.

Even though Bud had refused a bowl from me three times, he suddenly looked agreeable. “I guess I could have a small bowl.”

Tess jumped up and hustled to the kitchen to dish him a bowl. She quickly returned to hand it over with a spoon. “There you go.”

Donna sat on the loveseat next to the sofa, and Bud followed after quickly scouting the kitchen with his dark gaze. I wasn’t sure what kind of threat he thought might’ve just entered, but now wasn’t the time to tease him. He took a seat next to her and looked as uncomfortable as a guy could get.

Quint snorted.

I partially turned. “Why do you smell like whiskey?”

He hiccupped.

Donna poured Baileys into her ice cream and handed the bottle to Tessa. “Quintino?”

He grinned. “I might’ve had a few shots with the guys at dinner. Don’t worry. I didn’t drive here. Jolene brought me, and I invited her in, but she declined.”

I accepted the bottle from Tessa and poured generously over my ice cream. “That’s too bad.” I almost choked on the words. Then I poured some over Quint’s bowl.

Tessa laughed. “Bud? Are you sure you don’t want Baileys?”

“I’m sure.” The officer took a spoonful of the ice cream.

He and Donna looked good together, but maybe he was a little, well, dull for my sister. Oh, he was a nice guy, but perhaps his instinct in not asking her out was a good one. Then I caught him watching her out of the corner of his eye, and I changed my mind. He must be shy.

Donna settled back, crossed one leg beneath the other on the sofa, and delicately took a spoonful of Bailey’s enriched ice cream.

My phone buzzed, and I dug it out of my shorts to see it was Aiden. “I have to take this.” I set my bowl on the coffee table and stood to head to my bedroom while ignoring my sisters and my cousin making kissing noises at me while I left. “Hi,” I answered.

“Hi, Angel,” Aiden said. He sounded tired. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m having ice cream with Baileys,” I admitted. “My sisters, Quint, and Bud are all here.” It was too bad that Aiden couldn’t join us.

“Good. Sorry about the body found at your office. I can’t figure out who’s targeting you. Targeting us.” His voice was hoarse with a hint of anger. “I’m interviewing the real Lordes members to see if anybody thought they were doing you or me a favor by taking care of Sasha and Bev. It’s doubtful, but some of these guys are rough and clueless. They might’ve seen a way to rise in the organization? I don’t know. It’s crazy as far as