That was a load of horseshit. I never let Sylvia pay despite our many arguments. No, it wasn't a date, but my mother raised me to never let a lady pay for a meal when I was fully capable of affording it.
"All right, fess up." Sylvia barely waited until we got a block away from the building before she spun around and spoke. "What didn't you want to tell me inside?"
I shoved my hands in my pockets and hunched my shoulders. "The deputy director is taking over the Dunkin case."
Sylvia blinked. And blinked again. "Lex's death? How did that become a federal case?"
I shook my head. "Not that one. My case."
Another two blinks. "But why?"
I'm glad I wasn't the only one confused by this new development. "I don't have a clue. When Mason escaped WITSEC, they wanted me to close the case. Said it was a waste of resources. Suddenly it's important enough for the deputy director to take over? It doesn't make any sense."
Sylvia nibbled on her lip. "Yeah, I don't like it."
I sighed. "Let's grab something to eat. Standing out in the open like this feels weird."
I had that tingling sensation that someone was watching me, and the longer we stood there, the more intense it got. I tried casually looking around, but I couldn't see anything. It was a busy time of the day in Nashville. The sidewalks were filled with people. Literally dozens of people were moving past us every few seconds, and yet it felt like someone specifically was there just for me.
I learned long ago to trust my instincts, and right now, they were telling me to get inside. Somewhere safe. And like hell was I going to give someone the opportunity to take me out. I had a lot of shit left to do in my life. Including taking down the Dunkin family. Screw what the deputy director said. It was my case, and I was going to see it through. Everything would be fine.
Actually, that was going to be my new mantra.
It's fine. Everything's fine.
Famous last words.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ANITA
"Morning, fuckwit." I threw a bucket of ice-cold water on Mason. "I trust that you slept well."
Mason shook his head and sputtered as water dribbled down his face. "Why wouldn't I have with such hospitable conditions?"
He had the nerve to joke while he was tied up to a chair with a swollen face, a stab wound in his leg, and nothing to eat or drink since we picked him up outside the prison.
"You think this is funny?" I grabbed a chunk of his hair and yanked his head back so he was forced to look at me through his swollen eye.
"Not at all. If Nova were alive, she would be so disappointed in you."
I was squeezing his throat before my mind caught up to the fact that I had moved. "Don't you dare speak her name after what you did."
Mason attempted to shake his head. "I loved Nova. I could never hurt her," he squeaked.
"Bullshit!" I screamed in his face. "If you loved her, you would've stayed away knowing what your family was capable of. Her death is on your hands. Now tell me where her body is."
I was losing control. Seven years’ worth of rage was bubbling over, and if I didn't calm myself down, I would kill Mason before I could get my answers.
"I've told you I don't know. She left me. I woke up to a note saying she loved me, and she was sorry, but she couldn't stay."
I stumbled back. It was the first time I was hearing about this. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"And admit you were right? That Nova finally realized I wasn't good enough for her? No, thanks."
I didn't know what to do with that information. "What about your family?"
Mason attempted to chuckle. I say attempted because it sounded more like a pathetic whine. "Trust me, if they hurt her, they would've sent her body back to me in pieces. They enjoyed taunting me and knew how much I loved her. If my brother or father killed Nova, the world would've known."
