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Her body language closes off immediately and her fingers tighten around her glass. “You think I’m dating you as a PR exercise?” She doesn’t look pissed off; instead, intrigued by my blunt assessment of where we stand.
“I’m not saying that’s all of it, but maybe it’s why you expedited moving me here?”
I watch her as she considers my words, giving the slightest of shrugs. Neither confirming nor denying what I’ve said. Everything Lucia does is well thought out; I’m starting to appreciate that now.
“Just because there is some good coming from us being together, it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy having you here.” With a long inhale, she forces herself to relax, and slides her hands across the cushions, her fingers brushing the back of mine. With great effort, I leave my hand where it is and allow her to play her game. The dirty, pack-owned sedan parked near the front door tells me she’s been off pack territory since I left. Liv’s mate would never leave the car in that state if he’d driven her.
I wonder how she’d react if I asked who she visited?
“Did Kim tell you anything else, before you killed her?” Edging closer, Lucia looks up at me. I can’t get a read on her. Is she fishing for information or just genuinely worried about what might happen next. Maybe both. This attack on Grey Ridge will put the Anderson pack firmly back in the firing line if there is any proof tying it to her pack mates.
“Kim was in love with Toby, and, if what she said is true, the feeling was mutual. She was avenging his death in her own fucked-up way.” I shrug, passing it off as the misguided act of a deranged woman.
Lucia bristles at the idea of Toby loving Kim, shoving her perfectly coiffed hair back from her face and preening.
“I doubt that. Toby refused to accept my rejection, remember? He was obsessed with getting back together someday.” She can’t hide how pleased she is about that, and it makes me wonder: was the rejection also just for show?
“I forgot about that,” I lie, “but why would Kim make that up?”
Lucia makes a show of pondering my questions, but her answers are too slick, too polished. This can’t be the first time she’s had this discussion, and, immediately, Alpha Anderson comes to mind. Suddenly, the woman sitting across from me feels like a complete stranger. Is everything an act? Second guessing whether coming here was my great idea to get information from the pack or whether Lucia has orchestrated everything to improve her image has my teeth grinding.
“Maybe she thought it would get her off the hook, that you’d be more sympathetic if you thought Toby had played with her emotions and manipulated her.”
She’s not wrong about that. It’s more understandable than Kim claiming she was only helping Leon so she could get her friend out of trouble. Beth and Kim were best friends as kids. Maybe Beth got mixed up with Leon’s crew and dragged Kim into her mess, but who knows? Until Kim is willing and able to talk, we’re just guessing.
“And what about Carla and Beth? Are they still with the Lennox clan?” My question is delivered casually as I change position, stretching out my legs and letting my knee bump hers as we face each other on the sofa.
“Carla? Last I heard she was still missing. It’s possible she might have gone to Leon’s to find her sister I suppose, especially if Beth is involved somehow. If she did, well, Leon could have done anything with her.” Lucia’s words ring hollow and I can tell she’s lying. She smiles and takes another sip of her drink. “Does this mean you’ll still be my date to the alpha’s conference? I don’t need to go all alone?”
“I won’t leave you on your own,” I promise, and that’s the truth. Until I get to the bottom of their plan, and who’s involved, I’ll be stuck to Lucia like glue.
33
BELLE
Billy stands to the side, using one long arm to push open the red-painted door.
Barely more than a cell, the room is small and rectangular with a bed, a locker, and a narrow wardrobe shoved in one corner. The walls are painted cinder blocks; the sheets, old and worn. I can still hear the steady bass from the bar downstairs, and the slamming of a headboard in the neighbouring room tells me these rooms are not always reserved for overnight guests.
“Thanks,” I mutter, staring at my home for the foreseeable future. Not quite as nice as waking up in my mate’s arms in a warm, soft bed.
“Lock this door at night. Or any time you’re here, to be honest. You shouldn’t have any problems, but there are people back here with sticky fingers. Don’t leave anything lying around.”
Sweeping my hands down my body, I do a little twirl.
“What am I going to leave lying around?” I left everything back in Grey Ridge. It would have looked dodgy if I happened to be arrested with an overnight bag conveniently packed for just such an occasion. Billy frowns and stomps off down the hall, returning with an armload of clothing.
“You’ll blend in better wearing these. They’re Natalie’s – my sister.”
I gratefully accept the messed-up bundle and set the clothes on the bed. “Thank you.”
Since I’ll be here for a while, unless I want to stink, I’ll need these. Leon all but said that I won’t be going anywhere until the job is done, just in case I decide to blab – right before he pocketed my phone and sent me on my merry way.
The moans and slapping sounds get louder and more enthusiastic. Billy and I stand awkwardly, the tiny room feeling downright claustrophobic. Billy’s eye twitches then he pounds on the wall.
“Dave! Shut the fuck up!”
I swear the banging gets harder, probably just to spite Billy.
