“You are definitely better looking than him.”
“I appreciate the observation.”
“You always had quick hands with a knife. I barely saw you move. Your mate is in awe. I don’t think anyone else noticed,” he mentions lightly.
“That’s good, because that’s what I was worried about.” I wish I could take something for my pounding head, but human medication does not affect shifters. My legs and arms are stiff, and the pain is starting to travel.
“Most people would be,” he quips.
“We’ve established, I’m not most people.”
“So cranky,” he says, and I roll my eyes, wishing he could see. “Go answer the door,” he orders.
“Why?” I sit straight and frown when there is a knock.
“You need food. The room service menu is nice. I ordered you a huge steak.”
I shake my head and stand. “Hold on.”
“Yeah.”
I leave the phone on the bed and move to the door. Whoever delivered it is gone, and a cart is over the threshold. I roll it inside and place it at the end of the mattress, and resume my seat.
“You're always a considerate asshole.” I lift the lid from the plate and take in the wonderful aroma of meat. “Thank you.”
“You need to be healthy for your mate,” he says.
“It will help.” I cut into the steak. “What do you got?” I take a bite and close my eyes.
“Charlie Bensen. Age thirty-six. He works in an office. It looks boring as hell, but it pays decently. He has three speeding tickets, which he paid off. A woman he worked with complained to the boss about him. She claims he had wandering hands. The higher-ups didn’t believe her, dicks. She quit shortly after.”
I open my eyes.
“Fucker,” I mumble, scooping up the potatoes.
“He dates. A lot. No relationship longer than the third date.”
“Probably because he’s a shit person.” I lick the spoon.
“Probably.” He takes a breath, pauses, and then hums.
“What?”
“He may have some skeletons in his closet.”
“The kind that warrants death?” I finish the last bite of steak.
“Perhaps. A woman he dated disappeared. Nothing could tie him to it. I’ll have to dig some more.”
“Do it. I need sleep. Rylee is alone, and it’s fucking with me.” I drink some water, and the sustenance eases the time spent bent over the toilet.
“Don’t worry. Her building is secure. The snake made sure of it.”
“How do you know everything?”
“Skills, my friend.”
“Since you do,” I say, pushing away the cart. “Is there anything I need to know or worry about?”
