Page 117 of Truthfinder’s Promise

“Well, after you left,” Jace continued, “Marietta Jordan submitted a petition to have the vacant lot off Decatur turned into a community garden. She quoted an outlandishly large number for funding and clearly expected it to be approved.”

Meredith frowned. “Don’t we have a community garden two blocks from that lot?”

“Yes, which is exactly what Siren told her when she denied the request. Three guesses who started the other community garden.”

“Tabitha Jordan?” Marietta and her sister feuded over anything that could be feuded over.

Jace nodded. “Marietta wasn’t happy and accused Siren of not wanting to help those in need.”

“Siren then accused Marietta of attempting to manipulate Council funds to win a pissing contest with Tabitha—she’d gotten about an hour of sleep the night before. Anyway, Marietta took offense to that and suggested that maybe Siren had gotten too comfortable in her nice house behind her fancy gates and didn’t interact with her constituents enough to be in touch with the needs of the common people.

“Siren took it personally and so, yeah, basically everyone she has ever met and more that she hasn’t have been in and out all week. She broke them all up into themed categories. Tonight is security teams night.”

Ah. That explained why Valkyrie was standing in a group of people, speaking actual words and not looking like she wanted to kill anyone. Really, the only time she didn’t look like she wanted to kill someone was when she was discussing the finer points of ways to kill people.

“What’s Christmas Eve night?” Meredith asked warily. Siren had informed her that the other shindig nights were optional, but she and Jensen and Natalie were expected to be here on Christmas Eve, or else.

“Family night.” Siren’s tired voice came from behind Meredith as she trudged up to the grill. “The only people allowed in my home that day are the people I give all the fucks about.” Her eyes lit on Jace’s empty arms. “Where is Ethan?”

“Aunt Ella took him.”

Siren’s shoulders relaxed as Jace pulled her into his side. “Oh good. That’s good.” She stumbled over the last word as a yawn split her face. “Random kicked me out of the kitchen. I almost poured sugar in the chili and he called me a menace to society.”

“He was just looking for an excuse to kick you out. He thinks every kitchen belongs to him.”

“Some advice?” Jensen offered. “Someone you trust is currently in possession of your kid. Go inside and sleep for fifteen minutes.”

“But there are people here.”

“Uh-huh. Lots and lots of people. The more people at a party, the less important the host. Random has the kitchen, we’ve got things handled out here. Go.”

Wisely, Siren and Jace didn’t require any more coaxing.

“You know,” Meredith said, “you’re pretty good at this whole sage advice thing.”

“If you tell me it’s because I’m old, you’ll regret it later.”

“Oh, I don’t know, the last time I called you old, it worked out pretty well for me.”

He let out a frustrated breath. “Remind me why we’re hanging around so many people, in public, where I can’t rip your clothes off?”

“Because we are being good friends?”

“Right. That.”

A man approached. Meredith recognized him in that vague way that meant she’d seen him before, but she couldn’t place him. “Mr. King? Could I speak with you for a moment? I was hoping to get your opinion on how the integration is going. Just a quote or two.”

Ah, that’s right, he was a reporter for the Aspect Times. Jensen’s face took on that patient, polite expression she expected Natalie had seen often growing up. She could tell he’d hoped not to be approached in any official capacity tonight, but wouldn’t risk bad publicity by saying no. “Of course.” He handed Meredith the spatula. “I’m afraid you’ll have to take over here, darlin’.”

Take over what? Jensen had diligently flipped the burgers, but he certainly hadn’t taken them off after two minutes like Random had ordered, and they’d now developed a crispy black exterior crust. She suspected Jensen had been deeply offended by the non-meat nature of them and “forgotten” the instructions.

Meredith turned the grill off, dutifully transferred the burnt patties onto a plate, and carried it inside. Between people approaching either her or Jensen, she hardly saw him for the next two hours, and the evening started to feel a lot more like work than fun.

She had just escaped around the corner of the house to steal a few minutes of solitude when she heard footsteps approaching. Rapidly.

Jensen came around the corner at a jog, grabbed her hand and dragged her with him.

“What are you doing?”