so blind, Finley,” Maddox teases, but doesn’t elaborate on that. I want to know what he means, but I also don’t want to open a can of worms regarding Carrick’s feelings, or lack thereof.
So I change the subject, “Speaking of your annoying, arrogant, controlling brother… any idea where he is today?”
“Rome,” Maddox replies casually, and I almost stumble over my own feet because I’m so shocked.
“He went to Rome?” I ask in astonishment. “Why? When? Is he coming back?”
“To answer you in order,” he drawls as we come to a crosswalk and have to wait for the light to change. “Yes. I imagine he has a lead. He went late last night. Of course he’s coming back, and I imagine your next question will be, when, to which I’d answer probably sometime today.”
For a moment, that doesn’t make sense to me because I know people can’t get on a plane from Seattle, fly there overnight, and be back the very next day. Not if they had business there.
Then it hit me… he didn’t fly.
He bent distance.
A flash of jealousy hits me that I can’t do that. Oh, the places I’d travel to. Paris to have croissants for breakfast, Japan for a sushi lunch, and Brazil for their world-renowned beef for dinner.
It’s moot to pine over such things as I’m human and bending distance would kill my fragile body.
It’s probably my biggest fear when it comes to defending myself against Kymaris should she come after me again. All she’d have to do is bend distance to reach me, grab me, and pull me back through the distortion. She could head straight to a cemetery and toss my dead body right into a grave.
That’s exactly how simple it would be for her to kill me, and I’d never be able to defend against it. Despite not necessarily liking the idea of having a bodyguard such as Maddox with me, it’s as safe as I can hope to be against Kymaris right now.
We turn on the next block, and I see One Bean ahead.
Or what is left of it. As we get closer, I can see all of the brick is still intact but covered in soot. The window we crashed through has been boarded up.
Mr. Hostein is waiting for us and we make quick introductions, although he already knows Maddox. This isn’t surprising to me since Mr. Hostein is a light daemon—who, under his glamour, is clearly a member of the lower caste. He’s homely looking and would be considered an average-looking human if it weren’t for the nose that was larger than what would be considered normal and hooked like a beak.
Regardless, he’s pleasant, diligent, and ready to get started. He sweeps his hand to indicate I should precede them in, warning me to watch the debris on the floor.
I step into One Bean—my home away from home—and I don’t let myself get overwhelmed with emotion over how bad it looks. Everything is completely destroyed, and nothing can be salvaged. The smell of char and must from the water used to put the fire out is nauseating.
“We’re going to have to gut the interior,” Mr. Hostein advises as I look around. “So if you had any desire to change the layout, now would be the time to consider it. Mr. Byrne said you have free rein and budget to do what you want.”
Change the layout?
Free rein and budget?
I had considered changing things a time or two, but I knew I could never afford it. The counter and registers are dead ahead as people walk in, and, when it’s crowded, the line has to go out the door. I’d often thought of moving it to the adjacent wall, which would also open up some more seating.
I start to get excited as I wonder what else I can do, like increasing the partial upper-floor space.
But then I go still, realizing Carrick giving me unlimited funds to reopen my business and enhance those dreams might be his way of alleviating his guilt or even appeasing me. Perhaps he thinks he can buy my happiness since he can’t give me what I really want.
Clearing my throat, I decide not to take more than what my pride can tolerate. “Um… I think I’ll just keep things the same.”
Mr. Hostein shrugs. “Suit yourself. But if you change your mind, you have a few weeks as it will take that long for demolition.”
I nod, smiling easily, but no way in hell am I taking more from Carrick. I’m