Wild Flower

y's

ht of the encounter hit me like a freight train. My pulse sti

did my mother have a photograph of him, standi

at my cheeks, but it did little to clear my head. Elliot's reaction replayed in my mind, the flicker

t was buried deep, and it was clear

uldn't s

, I had no idea

oment to think. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and

s subtle at first, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck.

ured by the shadows of the dimly lit room. But his eyes...

ing to focus on my tea. But wh

skipped

imagin

bell above it jingled. I froze a

t Gra

they landed on the painting leaning against the table

tening on the cup. "Stalking me now?" I

oolly, striding toward me. "You're the

nvitation. The tension crackled between us, but beneath his s

ou here?"

w. "I could ask yo

ity. You're t

"Right. Because the world rev

e bait. Instead, his eyes flicked to the pa

are?" I s

se. "Who was your mother, really?

ver mentioned you. She died when I was fifteen, and all I have left ar

shifted in his expressio

that was a lifetime ago. She was... different. Artistic. Wild. S

ke a punch to the g

when I was younger. But she vanished, like sm

her, then maybe he was the key to underst

d between you

d. "That's none

connected to

door burst open. The man from earlier, the one who had been watching

aid, his voice cold

. "Who

ashing it briefly. "Detective Marcu

Elliot demanded, ris

eason to believe you're in possession of stolen property, Miss H

ridiculous. I don't know anythi

g down to the station for

ession like granite. "She's not goi

idn't realize Elliot Grayson was in

," Elliot said firmly

tween us, his smirk fading. "Fi

moved faster, grabbing his wrist.

the entire café silent a

Cain said, releasing me with

ght of the situatio

just happened

the door. "You've been pulled into someth

d confusion swirling in

grim. "We found out the truth.