“This is no time for playing games, Mary Beth,” I snap. “You’ve made some serious allegations, and now you need to explain to us how you came by that information.”
She rolls her eyes and twirls a finger in her hair. “Always so serious.”
“Enough, Mary Beth,” Cole commands. His voice is stern, and she immediately straightens her spine, sensing the seriousness of the conversation that she can’t flirt and talk her way out of this. “You mentioned that you and Lena were old friends who confided in each other and helped each other out. I know that’s a bunch of bullshit. You don’t help anyone unless there’s something in it for you. What did you mean by that? When did you first meet Lena?”
“Three years ago, when Rex brought her to the clubhouse, the Iron Vultures’ Prez tried to rape her but our white knight very conveniently saved her. So romantic,” she says with a sneer.
“And what about since she left?” I ask, thinking the way she talks about Lena sounds anything but friendly.
“I haven’t seen her until tonight.”
“Then how can you call her an old friend?” Cole asks.
I interject. “Or say that she confided in you? I was there the one time you met, and she did no such thing.”
“That wasn’t the only time we met while she was here. The night she left, after you rushed off and left her alone, we spoke.”
My interest is piqued. Is Mary Beth the reason Lena left all those years ago? “What did you say to her?”
She shoots me a sharp glance. “Nothing, just friendly girl talk.”
“What about?” Cole presses. “If this is the one time you properly spoke ever, it must have been some conversation for you to make these claims now.”
Mary Beth looks at me again, this time more nervously. “She told me she wanted to leave and that she felt like she couldn’t because she had no money. I felt sorry for her, so I loaned her some cash. I didn’t think she’d leave without a goodbye.”
“Oh sure, you’re a regular do-gooder, giving her cash out of the kindness of your heart,” I say sarcastically.
“Did she say why she wanted to leave?” Cole asks, his voice calm and controlled.
Mary Beth shakes her head.
“Bullshit!” I explode. “What the fuck did you tell her? We both know you wanted her gone, so what lies did you tell her to make her leave?”
“Rex…” Mary Beth reaches out a hand to me, pleading.
I step away and try to take deep breaths before speaking through gritted teeth. “What did you do?”
“She wasn’t right for you. She was a stupid girl, a teenager for fuck’s sake! You need a real woman, one who’s loyal to you and the Soaring Eagles. I was doing you a favor by getting rid of her, and look what happened? She ran back straight into Zeke’s arms.”
“What did you do?” Cole presses.
“I told her Rex was married. That he had a wife and a baby.”
“What the fuck?” I roar. I clench my fists at my side to control my temper. I’ve never hit a woman, and I never will, but fuck, I want to punch something right now. Mary Beth has always been jealous and manipulative, trying to scare away any woman I show interest in, but I didn’t think she’d stoop this low.
“It wasn’t a complete lie, you could have that… with me… She needed to know you were spoken for. Clearly, she’s over it; she’s with Cole now. We can be together,” she says pathetically.
“How many times have I made it clear I don’t want you. Not now. Not ever,” I snarl. I can’t even bear to look at her in case I lose my temper.
She starts to cry. “I’m sorry, Rex.”
“So what’s this shit you’re spouting about Lena being Zeke’s old lady? Are you just trying to get rid of Lena again?” Cole interjects.
“No—”
“How would you know this unless you’re involved with the Iron Vultures yourself?”
“I… I—I just know she is, that’s all. It’s too much of a coincidence!”
