Page 132 of Fly's Path

“It’s better not to ask questions that you don’t want to know the answer to.” Greer shakes her head. “And trust me, you don’t want to know the answer to that question.”

“Are we sure they just didn’t come up with something to get out of attending the party?” Savie’s needles click at a rapid pace. “Bram is having fun. But it’s pretty clear that some of them aren’t. Like your man, Dahlia.”

“Maverick is having fun. He just doesn’t quite get games yet. But he’s having fun.”

Is she saying that to make herself believe or make us? “Fly didn’t want to go. This isn’t him hiding from the game.”

“True. He wouldn’t need to leave, just drag you into the grotto or the conservatory.” Fiona grins at me.

A blush steals up my face. “You all know about that?”

“Half of us saw you.” Dylan reaches over to the end table for what looks like a cup of coffee.

That would have been a good thing to get.

“We shared that information with the group. So this is serious, isn’t it?” Dahlia asks.

“As serious as it can get when I’m leaving in a week.”

“You could stay a while longer. My guest room is always open.” Dahlia nabs a strawberry off one of the half-dozen trays scattered around the room.

“Or you could stay in my guest room.” Greer offers. “You’d be closer to him.”

“Rogue and I have a spare room too. And we’re just down the block from Fly’s place.”

Like I want to intrude at the newlyweds’ place.

“There’s always an extra room or three at Max’s place. Or you could stay in my old apartment. It’s just sitting there, empty. Though Dash has been known to make it known that we’re a little slow with his meals on occasion. My apartment would be quieter.”

“Wait. Say that again…” Dylan glares at Fiona. “What do you mean, Max’s place? Aren’t you two living together?”

Fiona glances down. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the idea that he picked me. That Massimo Vincenti fell in love with a woman like me.”

Her words speak to my soul in a way that no one else would probably understand.

“And yet he’s the one that won in this deal, finding an amazing woman like you.” Mindy reaches for a chocolate truffle.

“Only people who really cared about me would think a former prostitute was a catch.”

Fiona was a prostitute?

“You’re so making me mad right now. If one of the girls from Willow Street said that, you’d be all up in their face right now.” Dylan glares at her. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”

Fiona bursts into tears. “Because I love him so much, and today he might die.”

“No one is dying tonight.” Dahlia reaches for another strawberry. “Maverick went, and he assured me this is going to be a nice, simple night. It might take a while with some logistics,but no one was going to be in any real danger. Why do these strawberries taste so good? I think I could eat a million of them.”

“You want something good? Try a truffle.” Mindy stands up and moves the tray toward Dahlia.

She takes one, pops it in her mouth, and melts along with the sweet treat. “Winnie’s caterer rocks.”

“Where is Winnie? Shouldn’t she be in on this little secret meeting?” Greer sets her head down on the back of the couch.

“Why? She doesn’t have a guy out there. She’s probably sleeping so that she can enjoy the party tomorrow.” Mindy settles back down on the couch. “That’s where I’d be right now if Maddox wasn’t out there, doing stupid man things.” She glares. “I need to solve this puzzle and win the game.”

“We could work on it right now,” Dylan suggests. “It could be like a clandestine meeting of the minds.”

“That sounds like fun.” Dahlia grabs another strawberry and a truffle, then proceeds to try to fit both in her mouth like it’s some sort of math problem that must be calculated to ensure world peace. “Though we need to play along for the rest of the day. I really want Maverick to get involved. So far, his way of looking for clues is to walk up, glare at a person, and ask if they did it.” She bursts out laughing.