The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(32)

I didn’t realize I’d used my hand to conceal the nearly invisible punctures until Goose informed me. “You and Gabriel have issues. I get that. But it’s time for you to put on your big girl panties and grow up. Take your own advice for a change.”

Another first—a weird one, too. “You did not just say big girl panties.”

The air was so thick with tension it weighed everything down, exerting an invisible pressure on my shoulders and chest. “I’m not sure what’s going on between you, Gabriel, and Paine, but you’re going to have to come to terms with it, accept it, and stop pretending. Pretending means you’re only going halfway, and halfway will get you killed. Come to terms with things, sort them out, and do what you have to.”

The walls were coming down around me. There was no safe place to hide when a person was backed into a corner. “You’re sure I have no other choice?”

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise. You might think I’m being extreme, but the truth is I’m doing the last thing I can for you as a friend. If you care about any of us—if you love any of us—hand the knife over. Don’t waste any more time. The gesture is coming late, but it might be enough. Take the risk and find out.”

“I’ll get the knife and bring it to Marius tonight.”

Victoria might kill me, but she was a problem I could deal with later, and there were other options available. Having Goose show up like this, unkempt and frantic, terrified me. He wasn’t a liar; it wasn’t his style. He came to me as a warning, to give me an opportunity to do the right thing. I didn’t want to give Marius the dagger, but I would if it meant protecting myself and those around me.

“Swear it. Give me your word.”

I wanted to skirt past Goose’s gaze, but I couldn’t. There was so much desperation staring back at me, so much fear. He was never like this. Never, ever. It was like learning your beloved family pet was now a rabid canine—Old Yeller of the human variety.

“I swear.” Just to be a smartass, I made an X across my chest and smiled. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

My gesture of good will didn’t amuse him. He didn’t even crack a grin. “Don’t say that, Rhiannon.”

“Why not?”

He sighed, came to me, and cupped my arms—gently this time. “You don’t have to hope.” He squeezed but the gesture wasn’t soothing. It was firm, and came along with a sound and deafening observation. “Death is already knocking at your door.”

I wanted to please Goose, but enough was enough. If I allowed terror to control me, my attempt to do the right thing was doomed to fail. I crumbled under the stress, thinking only of myself and survival. It was an instinct I’d learned, one that would never fully go away.


“Your visits are always such a pleasure,” I said and stepped back, forcing him to release me. “It’s a wonder I don’t have you over more often.”


“Why did you leave so early this morning? You know how important it was to show Marius your loyalty to the family.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, running my palms up and down the area Goose had touched. “I’m taking a new self-defense class, and I had errands to run. Marius’s arrival might make you clear off your schedule, but I have a personal life.”

“You’ve never had a personal life,” he grumbled and lowered his head. “All it is for you is work, trouble, and more work.”

“Speaking of that.” I waited until he actually looked at me before I pressed on. “What do you know about the murdered girls near the club? Have you heard anything?”

“I can’t say that I have. Why?” Thank God, he finally seemed to be in control of himself. There were tension lines around his mouth, but he wasn’t screaming, and he wasn’t acting crazy.

“I checked things out and—”

“You checked things out?” His face went from normal to blood red. “You mean to tell me that you can’t spare enough time for something important, but you have the time to investigate dead strippers?”

Anger stirred, heat rising from my chest. They weren’t just strippers; they were women with family, friends, and people who cared about them. People who were—probably at that very moment—mourning them. Not to mention they were also dead and deserved some amount of respect. For a second I considered sharing my plans to use their murderer as my sacrifice to Marigold, but I decided to keep it to myself.

“You’re already walking a fine f*cking line with me,” I said. “I’m warning you.”

The urge to cross over and get in his face was strong, but I fought it. If Goose kept pushing my buttons, this would end badly. The poor bastard’s nose had mended, but it wouldn’t take much to break it again. Not in my present state. Yes, I’d f*cked up, but he was saying things that got under my skin in the worst way.

“Your threats don’t scare me. What’s the worst that can happen?” He moved closer, such a dipshit thing to do. “We fight? You show me how proficient you are at kicking some ass? Then what? I walk out the door and you’re left in the same place. Stubborn, alone, and dumbly waiting for whatever comes your way.”

He’s here to help you, I reminded myself. Keep your temper in check. Without repeating that one sentence in my mind, I would have lost it. Goose was a friend, but even friendships had limits.