His hand is trained on the bell, biceps bulging under his plain black T-shirt. He has dark spots under his eyes and a deep frown between his eyebrows. Is he not sleeping well? He always does that when he has too much work, which is always. He needs an incentive to rest, and I’d found many mutually beneficial ones that worked wonders.
I want to jump him as soon as I see him, no matter what happened between us the last time we were together. No matter how, he still hadn’t apologized for everything.
My heartbeat picks up, my body getting warm in anticipation. We stand there staring at each other until a throat clears behind me, making both of us jump.
“You.” Nicholas points behind me. I turn to look at Samstanding there with a smirk on his face. “I need to talk to you,” he growls.
I block his view of Sam. At least, I try my best to. Can’t help it if the guy is a giant. But he’s not reaching Sam, not without going through me first.
“It’s okay, El. I was expecting him.”
I frown at Sam while Nicholas stands motionless. Right, I’m blocking the door. He doesn’t want to accidentally touch me. No, I can’t think about that right now. “Are you sure?” I ask Sam.
He nods. So, I step aside and let Nicholas in. He doesn’t look at me as he passes, keeping his eyes down. It takes a second to sink in that he isn’t here to see me. Of course, he isn’t. This visit is about his case. It was always about his case.
I lean back against the door, closing my eyes to give my heart time to calm the fuck down. Ugh, this would all be so much easier if I were planning to kill the werewolf I was trying not to show my feelings to. This. This is impossible.
Taking a deep breath, I follow them in. Whatever was left of my heart slowly breaks with each step.
“Wait, you said you were expecting him?” I ask Sam as he flops down on the couch.
Nicholas sits in a chair. I stare down at Sam.
“Did I? I don’t remember that.”
Nicholas raises his eyebrows at him. “You definitely did. Why were you expecting me? Because you’re guilty?” He gives me a pointed look.
I ignore him. “Sam?”
“Because I know you were following me,” Sam says hesitantly.
“You were following him? I asked you—Fuck, you know what, I don’t even care anymore. You obviously don’t care either.” I swallow the overwhelming feelings trying to make their way out. I won’t give him the satisfaction.
“Elliot, I—”
“Don’t want to hear it,” I say, taking a seat next to Sam. This is clearly an interrogation, and it should be clear whichside of the table I’m on.
Nicholas gives me a pleading look, which I don’t understand. Does it even matter? Then he turns to Sam, narrowing his eyes. “Wait, how did you know I was following you?”
HowdidSam know that? Nicholas followed me around for months without me ever realizing it. Sam isn’t even good at fieldwork.
“Because I’m smart?”
We both stare at him in disbelief.
Sam sighs. “Fine. I have a tracker on your car.” He raises his palms defensively before Nicholas can say anything. “I only placed it because I care about you, okay? That’s what I do. I’m weird.”
I nod. “He is weird.”
“Or a criminal mastermind?” Nicholas says.
Sam points at him. “That too.”
“So, you admit it? You continued killing werewolves after Elliot retired?”
Sam frowns in confusion. “What? Is that why you were following me? Fuck, Nick. Of course, not. That’s so stupid.”
Nicholas frowns too, then shakes his head. “Why should I believe you? You don’t have any alibis for the murders, and you were meeting the only known son of a very well-known criminal.”
