Butcher & Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy, #1)

Through text messages, Rowan gloats about winning the first round of the competition. Rowan and Sloane talk most days, and Sloane enjoys it. She was disturbed by Rowan’s raw rage as he killed Francis, but she also regards him as a “knight” because she senses that he was angry at Francis for targeting Sloane. Sloane has taken Francis’s cat, Winston, to live with her.

Sloane and Lark watch Constantine and chat. Lark, who is a musician, has been on tour for a while but is now back in town. Sloane feels bad for considering leaving after Rowan killed Francis, but Lark reminds her that she did not actually leave. Lark is proud of Sloane for making a new friend. Lark suggests Sloane pursue Rowan as a boyfriend, but Sloane demurs. Lark can tell Sloane is afraid of intimacy, but she reminds Sloane that she deserves happiness, love, acceptance, and to be seen.

Three months later, Sloane makes an impromptu visit to Boston to see Rowan, although she does not notify him that she is coming. She goes to his restaurant, gets seated at a table, and considers running away, but a server comes to take her order, so she stays.