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I walked inside, leaving the door open behind me. She wouldn’t have been waiting for me so publicly if she were here to kill me. No, she would’ve sent more of her goons.
I was straightening up in the kitchen when she finally walked in a few minutes later, shutting the door behind her. She made her way over to where I was, stopping and leaning on the doorjamb. She said nothing for a few seconds, just looking me over. “I’m surprised you’re willing to be alone with me, considering what you did.”
“I’m surprised you’re willing to be alone with me, considering what you think I did,” I said, twisting her words. It wasn’t exactly the playing-dumb tactic I’d been advised to do, but I was getting a little tired of that act, especially with her. She had tried to kill me, after all. Tolerating her presence was hard enough without having to play dumb.
“So you’re admitting it?” she asked.
“Admit? I didn’t hear myself confess to anything.”
“At least you’re dropping the naïve act.”
I turned and smiled. Oh, the naiveté was long gone. That was for sure.
“Did you come for something?” I asked.
She smiled as she walked closer, but notthatclose. She wouldn’t come within reach of me. She might be here to try to scare me, but she was shaken as well. We both knew the truth. I’d killed them, but she couldn’t figure out how. If she had, she’d be much more frightened. It keptmeup at nights, and I’d done it.
“So, what did you do? You’re too weak to have accomplished it on your own.” She looked me up and down again, as if emphasizing her point. “You must have had help.”
“You so sure about that?”
I could see a flash of terror in her eyes. She almost took a step back but caught herself at the last moment. It was nice to put a little fear into her for a change.
“I will find out what you did, and when I do, it won’t matter if you’re the guide, or God. Nothing will save you.” Her voice grew harsher as she spoke, suppressed rage trying to claw its way to the surface.
This threat had been weeks in coming. The only surprise was that it had taken this long.
I took a seat at the kitchen table, propping my feet up on the other chair and leaning back. “I’m not too worried about that, but take your best shot.”
I grabbed the bag of nuts on the table and ate a few, making it clear how little I cared about her threat.
I could almost hear her teeth grinding together. “Oh, I will.” She turned and left.
“I’m not sure that was the brightest,” Jaysa said, appearing at the other side of the table.
“What? Giving it back a bit? I’m sick of taking it and not saying a word.” The rage had welled up so thick when Groza walked in that I wasn’t sure I could’ve stopped myself.
“That’s not going to help.”
“Nothing I say is going to change anything now, so why worry about it?” We both knew I’d killed her men. That, on top of Duncan wanting me, had finished off any chance of peace. I could act like a simpering fool for the rest of my life and she’d still kill me the second she could fifty years from now.
“If she turns this pack against you, you’re dead.”
“She’ll do it either way, whether I tell her to go screw or cower. I’m getting a little sick of being on my knees.”
I walked into my bedroom, shutting the door, and for once Jaysa took the hint.
Chapter Sixteen
Kicks strolled over,two cups in his hands. Every single person at the gathering watched him, clearing a path for him. He had a presence that might be stronger than Groza or Duncan’s, from the look of it.
He held out one of the mugs with a mischievous grin. “Spiked cider?”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t much of a drinker, especially in this crowd. It was safer to keep my bearings while I was swimming with sharks. I hadn’t heard anything about the two goons missing yet, but that didn’t mean much. No one would’ve come to me with that news anyway.
Kicks leaned closer and whispered, “A move might provide a nice change of scene, considering the climate around here.”
Duncan was watching us from the other side of the clearing, his expression as sour as a bucket of lemons. As uncomfortable as the attention was, there was also something sweet about being on the other end of things for a change. Everyone assumed something was going on with Kicks and me. Guess Duncan didn’t like being on the other end any more than I had.
