Adverse Possession (The Anna Albertini Files #3) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,79
the article. Yep. It was pretty bad. Jolene had drawn intelligent connections between Sasha, Bev, the Lordes and me. Thank goodness she didn’t know about the ATF involvement. She would’ve run with that story and helped Barensky get away, no matter who got hurt afterward.
Quint’s brown eyes were softer than the dog’s. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Even though Jolene had taken some license in quoting an unnamed source, she’d also done her homework and gotten all of the facts. “She would’ve found all of this out anyway.” I reached out and punched his arm. “You’re forgiven.” I could never stay mad at Quint.
Quint’s phone blared and he looked down at the screen. His expression made my stomach ache. It was so angry. And a little wounded. “Excuse me,” he said, lifting the phone to his ear and walking toward my bedroom, where he firmly shut the door.
Tessa poured more Baileys on my now melting ice-cream. “Look at the bright side. Not one of us is Jolene O’Sullivan.” She smiled and leaned over to pour more into Donna’s bowl. “Jolene hasn’t met the tornado of Quintino Albertini when family has been hurt. Yep. I’m mighty glad I’m not on the other side of that phone call.”
Her words cheered me immensely. I sat and took my bowl. “I wish we could listen.”
“No,” Donna said. “Not me. I never mind missing a display of Albertini temper.” She winked at Bud. “Not that I have a temper because I don’t.”
Tessa snorted and then caught herself. “That’s right. You don’t have a temper.”
I nodded solemnly. Oh, Donna had a temper and it was ice cold and devastating. “Nope. No temper.”
Bud smiled, finally looking relaxed next to her. “I can see that. You do seem to be the calm one in the family.” He caught himself and looked at Tessa and then at me. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Tessa said cheerfully. “I wish we all were as calm as Donna.”
Calmly deadly, that was. I again nodded. “Yeah, me too. She’s a haven in a turbulent storm.”
“Enough,” Donna said, sitting back. “Let’s talk about anything but me. Like why dead bodies keep showing up around you, Anna. What is going on?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But at least Bud is here to keep me safe. We do appreciate it, Bud.”
Donna turned a full wattage smile on the poor guy. “We do. It means the world that you’re protecting Anna.”
Bud blinked. Just blinked. Yeah, Donna in full Italian feminine mode was like looking into the sun. With her black hair and mysterious eyes, I’d always thought she was beautiful. Her intelligence and kind heart only made her even more stunning.
“I’m married,” Bud burst out.
Ice cream went down the wrong tube in my throat and I coughed wildly, bending over. He was married? Tessa pounded me on the back until I stopped. Tears flowed down my face as I struggled to breathe. “You’re married?” I croaked.
He set the ice cream bowl on the table. “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m married. When I asked about your sister before, we were separated, and we were working toward a divorce. There were papers and everything. Then Sheila called last week and wasn’t sure she wanted a divorce. I don’t know. I’m confused, but I am married.”
It was the most words I’d heard Bud speak at once in the entire time I’d known him.
Donna patted his arm. “Relax, Bud. It’s all good.” She reached for his bowl and handed it to him. “So. Tell us all about it.” Curiosity now glimmered in her eyes.
Quint exited my bedroom and stalked toward the sofa to retake his place. “I am very sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I leaned over for his bowl, which was still half full. “You’re not done.”
He took the bowl. “Oh, I’m done. Jolene and I are no longer seeing each other.”
I chucked him with my shoulder. “What a crappy night.”
“Amen to that,” he said grimly. “Pass the Baileys, would you?”
“Sure.” Tessa handed him the liqueur. “We might need a bigger bottle.”
Chapter 30
The crime scene tape was gone, and the blood in my office cleaned up when I arrived on Wednesday morning. I made a mental note to thank Detective Pierce for that. Bud took residence in the empty office that had briefly been inhabited by Kurt, and both Pauley and Oliver seemed happy to be back at work. Clark had a breakfast meeting, and I hoped it wasn’t an interview for a job with another firm—one with health insurance and no dead bodies.