Page 22 of Promising Her Forever

I open it up again and feel the sides. I find a flap in one side and open it. A lighter and a single bullet falls out. Fuck me. I hear Riley gasp and Oliver swears.

Fionn: Hey Sal, I’m not going to come in today. Riley got a weird package and I don’t want to leave her. But I need to get you the package

Salvatore: What kind of package? I can come by and pick it up so we can trace it

Fionn: That would be great. I don’t want to say what it is. You’ll see when you get here

Salvatore: Do I need to make this official?

Fionn: Maybe. I’ll leave that up to you when you see it

Salvatore: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes

Fionn: Thank you

“Salvatore’s coming to get this,” I say to them as I grab a napkin and pick up the lighter and bullet, throwing them back in the box. I’m convinced this is Playboy and I’m going to make sure he fucking pays for threatening my Riley.

Riley

What the fuck is happening? I can’t stop my body from shaking, Fionn comes over to me and holds me. I bury my face in his chest and hold onto him. What if Playboy hurts Fionn? I couldn’t live with that.

“Don’t worry, baby. You’re safe,” he whispers to me as he tightens his arms around me.

We get some customers as we wait for Salvatore to get to the shop. Keeping a smile plastered on my face is getting harder and harder. I know that I won’t get answers when Salvatore gets here. And I also know that Playboy is not stable. But is he really crazy enough to send me a lighter and a bullet? A fucking bullet. Who does that?

Finally, Salvatore comes in, and Daphne offers to make his coffee while Fionn and I go into my office to show him the box.

“I’m going to need your prints in case we have to go to court. That way we can say it’s not yours,” he says to me.

“Okay. Should I come down to the station?”

“Yeah, that would be easier.”

“I’ll ask Daphne if she can take care of the shop so I can come down now.”

“Thanks. I don’t want to wait to process all this stuff. I’ll meet you both at the station.”

I leave to go and talk to Daphne.

“Of course I got this. Let’s get this bastard,” Daphne says as she hugs me. “I love you.”

I hug her tight. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well it’s a good thing you’re stuck with me, then.” She chuckles.

Fionn, Oliver and I head to the sheriff’s station.

“I’ll get my guys started processing the box and what’s inside. It’ll take a few days to get the results for fingerprints. We’ll try to trace the bullet too,” Salvatore says as he hands the box to one of his deputies. “And I’m guessing you don’t want to start just yet?”

“If I can wait a week, that would be great. I just need to be with Riley,” Fionn says as Salvatore nods.

“You’re position will be here waiting for you. I would be doing the same thing.”

“I appreciate that. Do you think it’s Playboy?”

“I do.” He nods.

Fionn sighs as a woman comes to join us. I remember her from the barbecue, but I can’t remember her name. I think she can see the confusion on my face.