Jeffreys’ mother’s maiden name. She was sure of it. She fought to stay calm, her breathing coming in short gasps, and a moan creeping from her throat. Her stomach churned and she felt bile rising within her throat. Standing up, she stumbled to the kitchen sink, shakily reaching for a glass. Fumbling with the cold water tap, she turned it on, pouring herself a glass of water. Lifting it to her lips, she gulped it down quickly. Gripping the side of the bench, she fought off the waves of nausea threatening to overcome her as the same thought ricocheted through her time and time again. Not only were both Angel and Carolyn Mathers’ throats cut, but they’d also been killed within days from each other. This time she knew it wasn’t a coincidence.
Chapter Ten
Gena paced outside Starbucks agitatedly. Glancing at her watch, she rolled her eyes in annoyance. Taking an empty seat outside, she wrapped her hands tightly around her Caffé Americano , resisting the urge to light up a cigarette. She was trying to quit, after constant nagging from Ben. Tapping her fingers against her jeans, she bounced her leg up and down impatiently, resisting the urge to look at the time again.
Stephanie was late as usual. In all the years she’d known her she’d never known her to be early to anything, unless it was to do with her work. Hell, she was even late to her own wedding, Gena reminisced with a bittersweet smile, recalling how frantic Dominic had been. He’d been so sure Stephanie was going to change her mind. She’d shown up two hours late; completely unaware of the emotional chaos she’d caused, so caught up in a story she’d lost track of the time.
“Is that smile for me?” A voice intruded her thoughts, as a shadow fell over her. Her smile disappearing, she lifted her coffee to her lips, taking a sip. Observing the woman in front of her, she scowled in annoyance.
“I guess that’s a no then,” Stephanie said, sinking gracefully into the seat opposite Gena.
Gena ran her eyes over Stephanie, taking in the neatly pulled back ponytail, the tight white singlet top, skin-tight black denim jeans and knee-high boots. She smiled grimly at the lack of makeup save for a hint of lip gloss. It never failed to amaze her how young and fresh faced Stephanie could look.
“Do I pass inspection?” Stephanie asked, breaking through her reverie.
“You’re late.” She said, frowning.
“I was at the gym and lost track of time,” Stephanie said apologetically.“You know I lose track of time when I’m running.”
Gena rolled her eyes emphatically. “You’re never on time for anything. Hell, I’m pretty sure you’d be late to your own funeral if you could get away with it.” Her frown deepened. “Don’t tell me you ran here?”
Stephanie shook her head. “Of course I didn’t, I came straight from Body Maxx .”
“ Body Maxx ?” Gena asked, raising an eyebrow at the name of one of L.A’s exclusive gyms. “I see you still have expensive tastes. Does your husband know this?” she asked dryly.
“Gena, you didn’t arrange this little get together just to lecture me on my spending habits. What do you want?” Stephanie asked bluntly, refusing to let Gena bait her.
She wasn’t sure why Gena had called her. They hadn’t spoken since Dominic’s funeral. Too many angry words had been spoken between them. Too many truths aired. Even now, the words Gena had flung at her still stung deeply.
***
“Did you ever love Dominic, Stephanie?” Gena asked furiously, glaring at the woman in front of her.
Stephanie continued to stare blankly out the window, ignoring her friend. She refused to let Gena bait her today, of all days.
Gena grabbed her arm, spinning Stephanie around to face her. “Dominic loved you with everything he had. Right up until the day he died, he still loved you. But you used him. He was nothing more than a plaything, one you discarded once you were bored. To make matters worse, you
Chapter Ten
Gena paced outside Starbucks agitatedly. Glancing at her watch, she rolled her eyes in annoyance. Taking an empty seat outside, she wrapped her hands tightly around her Caffé Americano , resisting the urge to light up a cigarette. She was trying to quit, after constant nagging from Ben. Tapping her fingers against her jeans, she bounced her leg up and down impatiently, resisting the urge to look at the time again.
Stephanie was late as usual. In all the years she’d known her she’d never known her to be early to anything, unless it was to do with her work. Hell, she was even late to her own wedding, Gena reminisced with a bittersweet smile, recalling how frantic Dominic had been. He’d been so sure Stephanie was going to change her mind. She’d shown up two hours late; completely unaware of the emotional chaos she’d caused, so caught up in a story she’d lost track of the time.
“Is that smile for me?” A voice intruded her thoughts, as a shadow fell over her. Her smile disappearing, she lifted her coffee to her lips, taking a sip. Observing the woman in front of her, she scowled in annoyance.
“I guess that’s a no then,” Stephanie said, sinking gracefully into the seat opposite Gena.
Gena ran her eyes over Stephanie, taking in the neatly pulled back ponytail, the tight white singlet top, skin-tight black denim jeans and knee-high boots. She smiled grimly at the lack of makeup save for a hint of lip gloss. It never failed to amaze her how young and fresh faced Stephanie could look.
“Do I pass inspection?” Stephanie asked, breaking through her reverie.
“You’re late.” She said, frowning.
“I was at the gym and lost track of time,” Stephanie said apologetically.“You know I lose track of time when I’m running.”
Gena rolled her eyes emphatically. “You’re never on time for anything. Hell, I’m pretty sure you’d be late to your own funeral if you could get away with it.” Her frown deepened. “Don’t tell me you ran here?”
Stephanie shook her head. “Of course I didn’t, I came straight from Body Maxx .”
“ Body Maxx ?” Gena asked, raising an eyebrow at the name of one of L.A’s exclusive gyms. “I see you still have expensive tastes. Does your husband know this?” she asked dryly.
“Gena, you didn’t arrange this little get together just to lecture me on my spending habits. What do you want?” Stephanie asked bluntly, refusing to let Gena bait her.
She wasn’t sure why Gena had called her. They hadn’t spoken since Dominic’s funeral. Too many angry words had been spoken between them. Too many truths aired. Even now, the words Gena had flung at her still stung deeply.
***
“Did you ever love Dominic, Stephanie?” Gena asked furiously, glaring at the woman in front of her.
Stephanie continued to stare blankly out the window, ignoring her friend. She refused to let Gena bait her today, of all days.
Gena grabbed her arm, spinning Stephanie around to face her. “Dominic loved you with everything he had. Right up until the day he died, he still loved you. But you used him. He was nothing more than a plaything, one you discarded once you were bored. To make matters worse, you
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