Page 40 of Resolve
“I won’t let that happen again, and I’m so sorry that it did. We all cared about Harvey.”
“I know,” she chokes out. “I could see how much he meant to you guys at the funeral. He would have loved it.” More tears fall, but she doesn’t bother to catch them as she twists her hands in her lap. “I never knew... I just thought...” She closes her eyes and takes a breath. “I’m so happy he had this place.” Alice grabs a pillow and buries her face in it. “So, what’s next?” Her muffled voice asks through the pillow. “Is this girls’ night over?”
Portia cocks her head, her finger to her lips. “Do you want it to be?”
Alice withdraws from the pillow, scrubbing her face dry with her shirt. “No, I don’t think so. But I don’t want to sit around and talk anymore.”
“Want to meet some of the Guild?” I suggest.
“Ooh! I do!” Portia exclaims and claps.
“It’s not too late?”
I bark out a short laugh. “There’s almost always someone up. But no, it’s not too late. I’m sure most of the members are hanging out in the Hall still. I can show you around a bit, and you can consider my offer of joining after you see it and meet some people.”
She doesn’t say anything to that, which I take as a positive sign. If she still hated the idea of joining or helping us, she would have said something. Alice doesn’t seem like the kind of person to keep her negative opinions to herself. It’s when she’s not angry that she seems less sure of herself and more timid. As if being shown simple kindness is foreign to her, and she doesn’t know what to say or do anymore.
Jackson and Dane are already standing expectantly in the living room. Alice stops short in the doorway when she sees the guys. “Don’t tell me they’re coming too.”
Dane rolls his eyes. “Why? Because we’re men? Don’t tell me you’re young enough to still believe in cooties.”
“What the hell are cooties?”
He shakes his head. “Not knowing is even worse.”
“You’re not making any sense!”
Sighing, I head to the exit while they bicker. The only reason I don’t put a stop to it is because Dane’s getting her to talk to him, even if it is by poking at her temper. It takes her attention away from Jack, who looms in the corner of the elevator like a specter of death. Portia is wiggling beside me in her excitement to see more of the Guild.
As soon as we step out of the elevator, Jackson leaves.
“The hallway to the left is offices and storage rooms. Up ahead is what we call the Guild Hall, which has a bar and access to the kitchen behind it.” I point as we approach the Hall, and the echoof conversation grows louder. Dane casually slows, shifting himself to walk behind us as I give Portia and Alice the two-second tour of this floor.
We’re officially in the Hall when the ceiling opens three stories above us to wide wooden beams. Tables and members fill the space with rowdy games and conversation.
“Son of a sea biscuit,” Portia breathes with wonder. “Are we in the same building?”
“REGGIE!”
I huff a laugh at Gabriel. He waves both arms over his head to get my attention as if the out-of-place top hat on his head didn’t already grab my focus.
Alice and Portia ignore it, assuming he’s shouting for someone else. “Come on.” I urge them to follow me when I go to him.
Alice looks at me. “Wait, you’re Reggie? Why—”
Dane chuckles behind us. “It’s easier not to ask that question when it comes to Gabe.”
Gabriel hangs over the back of his chair. “Are you here to play with me?” A glance at the table shows one of the card games we play—one that I still don’t have much luck with.
“Sorry, not tonight.”
He pushes himself up in a rush when he sees the two new faces. “Oh! Who are these lovely ladies?” Gabe hops to his feet and bows. “Gabriel, at your service. Are these new Guild members?”
“This is Portia and Alice... my half-sister. She’s one of Harvey’s invisible siblings.”
The discussion at the table stops abruptly.
“What is she doing here?” Reid demands, standing from a table over. Tinsley’s up and by his side in a blink, tugging on his arm as hestalks over.
