The Frame-Up (The Golden Arrow #1)(73)

Ryan studies my face for a minute, then glances around the room again. He looks back to me, and something odd happens. I realize that Ryan is deciding about whether to say something. Ryan, Lawrence, and I are always honest with one another. How has our relationship gotten to this point? I’m keeping secrets from him, and it looks like he might be keeping a secret of his own. Lelani.

I nearly hit my head with my hand. Of course, Lelani. He wants to talk to Lawrence about her, and he’s not sure how I’ll react because she’s my boss. My shoulders relax.

“It’s okay, Ry. I know what you’ve been keeping from me.”

He looks startled—his eyes fly to my face, and I swear color drains from his cheeks.

I motion my hand forward. Jesus, the guy looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. “About Lelani?”

Ryan still looks like I could knock him over with a feather. The line shuffles ahead, and I grab Ryan’s arm and drag him up with me. “It’s no big secret. I saw you guys leaving for lunch the other day. It’s okay if you’re seeing my boss.”

Instantly Ryan relaxes. He shakes his hands slightly and blinks. “Oh . . . You saw that, did you? Yeah.” He runs his hand down his face, then places it back on the thick leather belt that wraps over his cloak and costume beneath. “We’re seeing each other. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“That’s okay. I know it’s a delicate situation.”

Ryan’s face hasn’t regained all its color yet and still has that hesitant, watchful quality. He leans in closer to me. “Listen, while we’re being honest, I looked into your boyfriend.”

Ryan and his damn hacking.

I make some sort of noncommittal grunt. This shouldn’t surprise me. Ryan and L are protective, but it still violates my privacy. Not to mention what he probably found out. Secrets revealed indeed.

“He’s a cop.”

I square my shoulders; no need to take this lying down. “Yeah, I know. I knew all along. He doesn’t like telling people.” It’s as close to the truth as I can get in this setting. I should have been honest with Ryan from the beginning, saved us all this trouble.

“I can see why. He’s working on that Golden Arrow case.”

Ruh-roh. “Yeah, I guess.” Time for distraction measures. “So what are you going to order? I’m thinking about getting a whiskey sour.”

“MG.” Ryan’s hand isn’t gentle on my arm, and he forces me to face him again. I’m eye-to-cloak with his costume, more specifically the large golden pin in the shape of an arrow that holds his cloak closed. Either Ryan has leveled up in his costume creation, or someone else has been fiddling with my costumes. Lelani. My thought derails when Ryan gives me a small shake. “This is serious. That case is dangerous.”

I sigh. “I know. Ryan . . .” I glance around at the people near us in line. Almost everyone is on their cell phones, no one paying attention to us. “I’ve been helping a little on the case. It’s how I actually met Matteo.” There, closer to the truth without all the bells and whistles.

Ryan moves back a half step, taking me in. “You sure that’s a good idea? The news reporters say that the drug lords are threatening anyone even involved with the case now. That’s you, in case you’re missing my point.” That’s Lawrence; that’s Matteo too. It’s probably even Ryan since he lives with me. I bite my lip so hard, I wince.

The line shuffles forward again, and I glimpse Matteo making his way back toward us. “I can’t stop now, Ry. We’re close to solving the case.”

“But—”

I don’t let Ryan finish. I paste a cheery smile on my face and reach a hand out for Matteo. “Oh good, just in time for a drink.”

Matteo gives me a quizzical look but puts an answering smile on his own face. “How about that martini, then? Shaken not stirred?” He does a James Bond impression, and I like him just a little bit more for how bad it is.

Ryan looks between us, back stiff, face cold and impassive. “She doesn’t like martinis. I think I’ve lost my date. I’ll catch you later, MG.” With a swirl of his cloak, Ryan melts into the crowd on the dance floor.

Matteo openly frowns at Ryan’s back now. “What’s that all about?”

Nothing is going my way tonight. “That was my roommate telling me that he found out I’ve been lying to him about you being a cop.”

“Oh. But how did he—”

“Don’t ask. Ryan has his ways.” I will not get a second best friend arrested while I am still trying to protect the first. “Either way, he’s mad at me, and not you.”

“I’m sorry, MG.” For a moment it’s Matteo looking at me, not Detective Kildaire. “I’ve made things complicated.”

I sigh. “Let’s just catch the bad guy so we can move on, okay?” We step up to the bar, order our drinks, then turn to survey the room. There are so many people to watch, I don’t even know where to start sleuthing.

“I guess we can go talk to Tej. He’s the only other member of the team we haven’t looked into. I can introduce you to all the marketing people.”

We take a quick tour of the room and find Tej at a cocktail table eating Swedish meatballs with his wife. I let Matteo steer the conversation. I feel like I’m recovering from a one-two punch in my life: first, Lawrence has been forced into hiding because of my choices, and now, my other best friend is pissed—for good reason—that I lied to him about my boyfriend. And he doesn’t even know the half of it.