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“No, I mean I don’t like this. Something isn’t right.”
Taking him more seriously now, I look up at him, tendons flexing in his jaw, eyes pinched with worry. He’s radiating tension and he looks like anything could set him off. Not wanting to see another bear shift indoors, I keep my voice as calm as I can.
“Whatever it is, it’s going to be okay.”
Billy doesn’t answer as we hit the bottom of the stairs and we switch automatically into work mode. Even though this place is new to me, I’ve worked in bars before. I know what needs to be done. Billy moves to the stock room and I head to the supply cupboard, wheeling a mop and bucket into the empty bar.
Billy hands me a glass of water when my stomach grumbles. I need some food, but my stomach is so twisted up over Ethan, I’m not sure I could eat. Taking the glass gratefully, I’m downing the entire thing when the doors open and sunlight streaks across the scarred wooden floor.
And I smell it. Him.
Instantly, even though I shouldn’t, I look his way, staring at him like a rabbit caught in headlights. Ethan lifts his eyes to mine, and swallows. His fingers twitch at his sides and his muscular body stiffens. I pray that he can see in my eyes how sorry I am, that I adore him. From the hard set of his jaw, I’m not sure that he does.
He looks really pissed.
“Leon, thanks for seeing me on such short notice, and at somewhere other than our usual meeting spot.” Lucia’s irritating voice cuts through the air and breaks our moment. Ethan refocuses his attention on her as she slides her arm through his. This is what I wanted. I rejected him so that he could safely get closer to her, but my knees shake and my breathing turns ragged at the sight. It’s not the bond causing my reaction, it’s good old-fashioned jealousy.
Billy moves to my side and nudges my shoulder gently, rousing me from my spiralling thoughts. I’m supposed to be done with Ethan. I can’t keep staring at him.
“Look who I found,” Leon says gleefully, directing the attention of the Anderson Pack contingent to me. Lucia is glamorous, immaculately dressed and perfectly presented, as always. Despite standing in a dive bar, she looks like a model and moves through the place like she’s on a catwalk. Leaving Ethan behind, she crosses to me, eyeing me from head to toe like I’m something she stepped in, stuck on the bottom of her high heels.
“Quite a fall from grace for one of Steel’s warriors. I think Ethan’s right, the fates got this one wrong,” she comments icily, turning her back on me like I’m nothing to be concerned about. Leon is watching both me and Ethan closely, so I roll my eyes but keep my mouth shut.
“Let’s talk privately,” she suggests, moving toward the boardroom. She’s clearly familiar with the layout of the bar. Ethan follows, dutifully holding the door open for her. As she passes, she drags her fingers down the front of his shirt, grazing his chest seductively at the neck. He doesn’t shrink away, or look upset by her touch.
And why would he? I broke our bond. He’s a free man.
“Belle. Get us some drinks,” Leon barks, clearly enjoying this, showing Ethan and Lucia his new slave, and waiting to see what happens.
Billy slips behind the counter. “I’ll get those,” he offers, trying to spare me the torture of having to serve my former mate and his girlfriend, but Leon shoots him a look that says don’t you dare.
“No, it’s okay. I’ve got it. We’re all grown-ups here,” I say, moving toward the bar to grab a tray.
Lucia slides into one of the battered leather chairs and swivels it around to face Leon. Ethan lingers in the doorway, his gaze snagging mine for a split second. His wolf flashes in his eyes, before he growls at me, low and menacing, then finally shuts the door.
Shaking like a leaf, I turn to Billy and stare at him wide-eyed while he grits his teeth, stunned by the obvious display of aggression from Ethan. Was that an act, or does he really hate me now?
41
ETHAN
Shutting the door, my nails scrape lightly against the wood, the flimsy door the only thing preventing me from going to her. I can feel Lucia’s eyes boring into the side of my head, and my fury threatens to burst free.
She knew.
Cruelly, she threw me into this position, trying to set me off-balance so she could try to catch me in a lie. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of showing her how I really feel.
Sitting in the chair next to her, I catch her fingers in mine without looking at her, instead facing Leon, waiting for him to speak. Leon looks even more surprised than Lucia that I’m not making a fuss about finding my mate mopping the floors of a dangerous criminal’s bar.
I’m saving it for Belle. I’m going to spank her ass for putting herself in danger like this.
“Let’s get down to business then.” Leon settles his hand over his thick stomach and narrows his eyes at me, seemingly still reluctant to speak openly in my presence, despite seeing that my bond with Belle is no longer an issue.
“You’ve secured the necessary equipment?” Lucia confirms, crossing her long legs and letting one heel dangle off her toe as her foot bounces. She’s nervous. She might pretend like Leon doesn’t faze her, but she’s scared of this man; judging by Leon’s superior expression, he knows it. He can probably scent it, faint as it must be.
“Of course. It’ll be in place at the agreed time.”
They’re taking in riddles.
