“You still haven’t told me why.”
Taking a deep breath, Reba drew herself up and exhaled. “Because…” She swallowed. “She’s Colton’s girlfriend.”
“Colton has agirlfriend?” Every nerve in Jewel’s body went quiet. Utterly still, the kind of motionless waiting her wolf adopted right before bringing down a deer.
“Had. He had a girlfriend. I knew you didn’t know.” Reba sighed again. “And I can tell from your expression that the news shocks you.”
“Yes, it does. But I really don’t want to meet Colton’s former girlfriend. What will that prove?”
“You will.” Reba grabbed her arm. “Come on. She’s waiting in my office. I’ll drive.”
“I don’t know.”
“No more beating around the bush.” Sniffing, Reba wiped away a tear. “Bettina’s all beat-up. She’s been abused, Jewel. Horribly. By Colton. She wants to talk to you. Once you see what he did to her, you’ll see why I’m so upset. You won’t want to have anything else to do with Colton Reynolds, ever.”
Jewel’s past rushed up to meet her. Images of Leo, his big, meaty fist pummeling her stomach, made Jewel wince. Her stomach dropped. “Not Colton.”
“Yes, Colton. I’ve been trying to warn you.”
If Reba had wanted to push a hot button, she’d found one. Despite the scorching sun, Jewel couldn’t move. All she could think wasnot Colton.
Not again. Good Lord, not again.
She’d been in this Bettina’s shoes. No one had believed her either. The one time she’d summoned up enough courage to call the police, the cops had joked around with Leo, saying next time to hit her in places where the bruises didn’t show.
She’d learned her lesson. No matter what he’d done to her after that, Jewel had never called the police again.
She couldn’t even contact the Pack shaman, Luc Harrick, her spiritual leader. She’d been afraid he’d tell Leo. After all, he was one of them, just like the police had been. Despite his supposed vow of silence, when push came to shove, she’d bet he’d cave. They all did.
Pack was Pack. They banded together, took care of their own. Though Jewel was technically one of them, thanks to Leo, she’d become an outsider. Now, on the run, she felt like an outcast also.
“Reba, I still can’t believe Colton’s behind whatever this woman says he did. I’m very, very skeptical.”
Expression grim, Reba nodded, her long earrings swinging wildly. “I was, too, until I heard her story. Jewel, Bettina knew Colton before he moved here. She told me Colton seduced her while he was still married. Between the affair and the abuse, she couldn’t take it. She started using drugs.”
“Have you talked to Colton?”
“I’d planned on talking to him, but Bettina begged me not to. She’s afraid he’ll come after her again.”
Despite the tremor that ripped through her at the memories those words evoked, Jewel crossed her arms. “Talk to him. That woman may be lying.”
“Why would she do that?” Despite the question, Reba looked hopeful.
“Maybe she has a personal vendetta. Maybe she went out with him once and when nothing happened, she couldn’t accept it. Maybe—”
“Jewel, stop. She has a witness. I told you I’ve been seeing a man. He backed her up. He used to be a friend of Colton’s. He swears what Bettina said is true.”
Shaken, Jewel rocked back on her heels. “Who is he? What’s his name?”
“Roy Mansfield. He works in Houston at Channel Four. He’s a very reputable person.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jewel said.
Nodding, Reba led the way. She drove a shiny red Mustang. Jewel climbed in and buckled her seat belt. Neither woman spoke while they navigated the tourist traffic on Main Street. A few minutes later, they turned into the small office complex where Reba ran her business and parked. Jewel had been here once before, when she’d signed her lease.
“Come on.” Jangling her keys, Reba hurried ahead. Skin prickling, Jewel couldn’t help but scent the air. She smelled nothing but exhaust and the hamburger place down the street. Ordinary.
Still, she couldn’t shake the niggling worry in the back of her mind.
