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I was about to tell them to take their suspicion and shove it up their asses when Cortland narrowed his eyes even more and said, “You’re one of the boys Rosalind used to run with, aren’t you?”
A jab of ice cut through my stomach. “Rosalind?” I repeated as if I didn’t recognize the name, but I wasn’t sure I’d managed to stop my expression from twitching.
“Rosalind Hallowell,” Cortland said, slow and dark. “Or Rose, if you prefer. When was the last time you saw your old ‘friend’?”
My heart had started to thud. He’d only just recognized me. He didn’t know a thing. I kept my tone as even as I could. “Rose? I haven’t seen her in ages. They all moved off somewhere years ago. What does she have to do with anything?”
That last question might have come out a little too aggressive. Cortland shifted a step closer. And his witch accomplice came with him. It was even harder not to eye her hands, wondering if she was going to cast some spell with them now. ButIwasn’t supposed to know anything about witches.
“Why don’t you tell us what she has to do with this?” Cortland said.
“You know, this is getting a little too weird for me,” I said. “I told you everything I know. Unless you’re some kind of cops and you can show me your badges, I’m out of this conversation.”
I moved to cut across the lawn toward the driveway, and Cortland caught me by the elbow, jerking me to a stop. I flinched and spun to face him again.
“Look here, you little piece of trash,” Cortland said, his voice dropping lower. “We’ve got more questions, and you’re going to answer them.”
Every part of my body bristled at the insult. Who the hell was he to call me trash? My shoulders tensed, my hands balled into fists.
And Cortland? He fuckinglaughed.
“Do you think I’m going to be intimidated by some pathetic punk like you? I could flatten you in an instant.”
Him? Not a chance. The urge to tell him exactly what I thought of him and what he’d done to Rose rushed through me. Let’s see who felt so high and mighty when he realized I knew exactly what kind of scum he was.
I inhaled sharply—and a triumphant gleam flashed in Cortland’s eyes. My throat closed up.
This was a fucking game to him. He was trying to rile me up so I’d say something stupid.
I almost had.
No. No way. I drew in another breath, unclenching my hands. I wasn’t going to screw anything else up for Rose. Calm and careful, that was what she said she needed. So that was what I’d be for her.
I could be so much better than this asshole thought I was.
“I just want to get home and relax,” I said, shaking my head. “I have no idea who you are or why you think you can talk to me like that, and I sure as hell don’t feel like talking more. I’m sorry I briefly touched your phone. Maybe don’t leave it lying on the sidewalk if you’re going to get so worked up about things like that?”
I yanked my arm out of Cortland’s grasp. He reached for me again, and I pulled my own phone out of the back of my jeans.
“Do I have to call the actual cops?” I looked from him to his witchy friend and back. “Leave me alone. I have no idea what happened to your phone or what Rose Hallowell is up to these days, and frankly, I don’t give a shit either. After what her family did to my mom, I hope I never see that bitch again.”
Talking about Rose that way made me wince inwardly, but I was pretty sure it was what sold Cortland. His lips twisted as he backed up.
“Watch your mouth,” he said, as if what I’d said about Rose was any worse than what he’d said about me. “And don’t mess with things that aren’t yours.”
They walked away, Cortland muttering to his companion. My bluff had worked. I held my posture straight as I strode over to my apartment’s door, but as soon as I’d shut that behind me, my shoulders sagged.
Damn. Maybe Rose had been right about the phone too. I wouldn’t have taken it if I’d known he’d come chasing after me like that.
She needed to know he’d been sniffing around here. Maybe he’d try to trip her up somehow too.
I sent her a quick text—We need to talk.—and poked around in my fridge for an early dinner. I didn’t have much of an appetite now, but the thought of trying to veg out in front of a movie was no longer appealing.
I’d given up on the fridge and was debating between ordering for pizza or Chinese when my phone’s text alert went off.
What’s wrong?Rose had answered.
Is it safe to go into details over the phone?I wrote back.
