“Perfect,” I echo, forcing a smile. I wonder if she hears the strain in my voice if she can tell that every muscle in my body is locked tight, holding in the urge to grab her by the throat and demand the truth.

Aubrey settles back onto the blanket, looking pleased as she takes another sip of her tea. “It’s nice, isn’t it? All of us together, celebrating Gabriel. It’s exactly what he would have wanted.”

The words are a knife in my gut.

Gabriel. My uncle. The man who was more of a father to me than the one she murdered. He trusted her. Loved her. And she’s sitting here, toasting to his memory like she didn’t put him in the ground.

My fingers curl into fists, nails biting into my palm.

“Yeah,” I say carefully, my voice even. “Exactly what he would have wanted.”

Selene shifts slightly, adjusting her position on the blanket so she’s facing Aubrey more directly. “It’s impressive how you put all this together,” she says, gesturing to the spread of food, the flowers, the carefully arranged decorations. Her tone is light, almost conversational, but there’s a subtle edge to it. “It must’ve taken a lot of time and planning.”

Aubrey waves a hand dismissively, though her smile widens at the compliment. “Oh, not at all. It’s second nature by now. My Gabriel deserved the very best, and I always made sure he got it.”

“I bet you did,” Mo chimes in, her tone playful but her words razor-sharp. “I mean, you’ve got a real knack for… making things happen, don’t you?”

Aubrey tilts her head slightly, her smile faltering just a fraction. “Well, I like to think so. My Gabriel always said I had a way of pulling off the impossible.”

“Like that time you got him out of that business deal that was going south,” Selene adds, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Theo told me about it once. You must’ve been under so much pressure, but you handled it perfectly.”

Aubrey’s expression brightens again, her pride clearly swelling. “Oh, that was nothing. Gabriel was too trusting sometimes, and I couldn’t stand the thought of anyone taking advantage of him. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve always believed in doing whatever it takes to keep us safe.”

My chest tightens at her words, the double meaning not lost on me. I keep my voice steady as I jump in. “You’ve always been the problem solver, haven’t you? It’s almost scary how good you are at it.”

Aubrey laughs lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, someone has to be. I’ve learned that if you want things done right, you have to take matters into your own hands.”

Selene leans forward slightly, her elbows resting on her knees. “And sometimes,” she says softly, “that means making difficult choices. Doesn’t it?”