Page 45 of Bitter Spirits

“But…?” Rory prompted.

“But she refused to back off, and now she’s back in that narcissistic asshole’s crosshairs.” And it’s my fault, gods dammit. Unexpected guilt socked him in the gut, leaving him winded. It didn’t matter that Isa wouldn’t have stopped digging into Leo’s death. Locke could have made her, right? He muttered a curse and rubbed a hand over his face.

“I know that look,” Zev said.

Locke dropped his hands to look to his friend. “What look?”

Zev motioned to his face. “That one.” He folded his arms as he leaned a hip against the counter. “I don’t know Isa well, but she doesn’t strike me as the shrinking-violet type.”

Rory’s snort had Locke switching his glare to her. “What?” he snapped.

She pressed her lips together and shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Nothing.” When he continued to glare at her, she added, “Honestly, I didn’t say a word, Locke.”

“Your face did.”

Emotions washed through Rory’s eyes, too fast to follow. She looked at Zev, brows raised. He tilted his head and shook it.

The entire silent conversation took a matter of moments, then she turned back to Locke. “All right, I’m going to be brutally honest here because I like Isa and I like you, but I know you and can only guess about her.”

He did not like where this was headed.

“I don’t know her history, but chances are she grew up like I did—no family, no real support, only herself to rely on. Which means trust and loyalty are not given—they’re earned, and not easily. My guess is only Cass and Des have managed to win that prize, but everyone else?” Rory shook her head. “They have to prove themselves. Prove that they won’t eventually turn and stab her in the back.”

He really didn’t like how uncomfortable this made him feel. “I’m not going to fuck her over.”

“No, not intentionally,” Rory said. “But can you admit you might?”

Isa’s words from the previous night settled like a stone in his gut: “I think if it comes down to a question of Family priorities, the Family wins.”

Didn’t I already choose Family needs over hers when I pushed her to use her magic to question Leo, and again when I took her to the Den?

Rory kept going, mercilessly driving her point home. “I’ve met your parents. They adore you, and for the most part, you’ve always known who you were and what your place was. Which is why when you commit to someone or something, your loyalty is incorruptible. That’s a hell of a thing, and for someone like me or Isa, it’ll never happen. At least, that’s what we believe. We’ve grown up being told we’re less than, that no one values us because we have nothing of value to offer. Or that our only value is what we can give someone else. That constant doubt, it’s corrosive, and when someone finally dares to tell us we are worth the risk, it scares the shit out of us because if we let them in, all it will take is one perceived rejection or betrayal to destroy what we managed to salvage. So when someone like you, who enjoys the chase, decides to run us down, as thrilling as it is initially, the reality is we’re all about self-protection, which means we’ll fight tooth and nail to keep you out.”

Aching and angry at himself and the whole fucked-up situation, he snapped, “So I should just walk away? Wouldn’t that just reinforce all the twisted shit she believes?”

“Is that really an option?” Zev asked.

“No.” Locke didn’t even have to think about it.

“Okay, then,” Rory said. “So, say she lets you catch her. What happens next?”

“I don’t know, but I want a chance to find out.”

“She might not give it to you.”

“Then I’ll have to earn it.”

“I hope you get that chance.”

So did he. “I’m not sure I like you right now, Rory.”

“That’s okay. I still like you.” On the counter, her phone vibrated. She picked it up and checked the screen. “Shit, I’ve got to go.” She turned to Zev, gave him a quick kiss, then told him she’d text him later. She gave Locke a finger wave, then she was running out the door.

In the quiet that followed her exit, Zev asked, “Want some advice from someone who’s been there?”

Emotions churning, Locke managed a short nod.

“Be patient,” Zev said.