Chapter 7 - PANCAKES WITH THE MOST FEARED MAN IN CHICAGO
The diner was small.
Old-fashioned.
And completely unimpressed by Elias Kincaid.
A waitress named Marlene approached their booth.
“Coffee?”
Elias nodded.
Avery smiled.
“And pancakes.”
Marlene looked at Elias.
“You too, handsome?”
He blinked.
Avery nearly choked on her water.
Elias smiled.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Marlene nodded.
“Good. You look like you need feeding.”
She walked away.
Avery burst out laughing.
Elias looked at her.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
They ate pancakes beneath fluorescent lights.
No crystal chandeliers.
No armed men standing beside the table.
No expensive suits.
Just breakfast.
Avery told Elias about growing up in Ravenswood.
Her mother working two jobs.
June's obsession with old books.
The summer Avery spent cleaning hotel rooms to pay tuition.
Elias listened.
Then told her about his father.
The way Michael Kincaid taught him to sail.
The old freight terminal.
The night of the fire.
Avery watched his expression change.
“You miss him.”
Elias nodded.
“Every day.”
She reached across the table.
Then hesitated.
Elias noticed.
“It's okay.”
Avery gently touched his hand.
For a moment, he stared at her fingers.
Then turned his palm upward.
And held her hand.
When they left the diner, Elias looked at her.
“Thank you.”
“For pancakes?”
“For reminding me there's a world outside my office.”
Avery smiled.
“You're welcome.”
Then her phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
A man's voice spoke.
“Tell Kincaid the past should stay buried.”
Avery went cold.
The voice continued.
“Or your sister joins his father.”
The call ended.
Avery stared at the screen.
Elias immediately noticed.
“What happened?”
She looked at him.
Then whispered, “They threatened June.”
May you like
His expression changed.
And the warmth of breakfast disappeared.
