of her perfume settled around us.
“It’s all right,” I finally said as the car began to pick up speed.
“What?” she asked.
“To remember him fondly. Seventeen years is a long time.”
“I’m so tired.”
“I think we forgot about something.”
Again, she looked up. “What did we forget?”
“Your winnings. You won it all. You kicked their asses.”
“I only wanted to win to shove the money in Marion’s face.”
“We’ll add it to your nest egg.”
“Or maybe Araneae can use it for the institute?”
My phone within my suit coat vibrated. Madeline sat up as I pulled it from the interior pocket. The text message was from Sparrow.
CHECK OUT THE ATTACHMENT. FUCKER’S LUCKY HE’S DEAD.
I clicked on the attachment.
“Shit.”
Madeline
I changed into soft pants and a camisole covered by a plush hotel robe as Patrick communicated with Sterling, Mason, and Reid. While I wanted to know what they were talking about and what happened after we left, my mind was back in Chicago, contemplating my future talk with Ruby.
Would she already know?
Damn, if she didn’t, she would soon, the way she kept her face in the tablet she’d been given.
Closing the bedroom door, I found my new phone and taking a deep breath, hit the icon to call Ruby.
After three rings, she answered. Her voice was groggy.
Shit.
What time was it?
“Mom, are you all right?”
“I’m sorry, Ruby, were you sleeping?”
“Yeah, but what is it?” There was a pause. “It’s not Patrick, is it?”
“No, honey. We’re all good, Sterling, Mason, Patrick, and me. We’re fine.”
“You scared me,” she said. “You don’t usually call.”
“Oh, hey, I won.” The excitement was missing from my tone.
“You did?” Ruby’s tone lightened. “That’s great. Why don’t you sound happier?”
“Honey, I called because something happened tonight.”
“What?”
“There was this man I met before. You may have seen his name in the poker circuit, Marion Elliott.”
“Yeah, and Mr. Hillman mentioned him the day he…” Her words trailed away.
I nodded. “Yes, Mr. Hillman and Andros both knew him. Andros never knew about Patrick. It seemed recently that Mr. Elliott was interested in us, you and me, and Andros made a deal.”
“With people? Mom, he can’t do that.”
I scoffed. “You’re right, it shouldn’t be done. None of it worked because Patrick found us. Anyway, there were some bad things about Mr. Elliott that I believe even Andros didn’t know.”
“How bad?”
“Very, and Andros learned about them tonight. It is apparently on many news outlets. I guess I wanted you to hear it from me. Andros took care of Mr. Elliott so he wouldn’t be a threat to us.” I couldn’t tell her the full truth. I worked her entire life to keep her unaware of monsters. I wasn’t going to change now.
“Took care of? Like Patrick took care of Mr. Hillman?”
“Yes, the same way. The problem was that Andros did it in front of many people and also armed guards.”
“Armed…?” Ruby sucked in a breath. “Andros is dead too?”
“He is.” Unexpectedly, tears came to my eyes. “We’re safe now. When we get back to Chicago, we can talk about your school.”
“Andros died saving us?”
That wasn’t completely accurate. “Ruby, he chose to eliminate Mr. Elliott for you. Andros was many things, both bad and good, but you were the one good thing he couldn’t turn bad. You were a light that I don’t think he realized….” I sucked in a ragged breath as fresh tears streamed down my cheeks. “…realized he loved until we were gone.”
“You loved him?”
I knew she couldn’t see me, yet I shook my head. “Not the way two people are supposed to love one another, not like—”
“Patrick?”
“Yes, but it’s okay if you loved him.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I think I do—did.”
My lips curled upward. “That’s a good way to remember him.”
“When are you coming home?”
Home.
The word made me smile.
“I hope in the morning.”
As I spoke, the door to the bedroom opened and Patrick’s handsome face appeared. “Ruby, I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
Sighing, I hung up the phone and laid it on the bed. “I wanted her to hear it from me.”
Patrick nodded. “I am so fucking sick of being the bearer of bad news.”
“What?” I stood. “Is it Sterling or Mason?”
“No, they’re here. Come on out.”
Standing, I slowly moved toward the door, the sense of doom growing with each step. Beyond the doorway were all three men, their expressions solemn as they all looked my direction. “What more is happening?”
“It didn’t happen,” Sterling said. “And only the managers at Boston Club know or saw, but fuck, if Elliott wasn’t dead, I’d