Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair. “Look, Wrage, it just sort of happened. I’m sorry if it’s awkward as hell for you.”
But Wrage didn’t seem angry. I couldn’t quite place what it was that streamlined through his chiseled features. “What’s awkward is this isn’t the first time I’ve walked in on my brother having sex.”
“Really?” I laughed, wincing sarcastically. “That really sucks for you.”
“Look,” Wrage raised his voice, clearly wanting to shift the dynamic between us. “I don’t actually care if you’re fucking my brother or if he’s fucking you or both or whatever. Can you just…not do it when I’m twenty feet away?”
That was fair. Honestly, Wrage was reacting way better than I would have expected after finding me balls deep in his sibling.
I gave him a nod and a weak smile. “Yeah, totally. I’m sorry again.”
“Thank you,” Wrage huffed. “Now, can I go over this data? Preferably not in the room where you just finished plowing my brother?”
The data that Wrage wanted to go over sounded important enough. At least judging from the onslaught of words he offered as we made our way out of my office. Something about there being certain sightings of “unusual people” in a certain area of town that heaved a sizable petrylle population, but there was only one petrylle on my mind in that moment.
It was insanely fucking hot that I’d just had sex with Wrex during work, during my lunch break, while everyone in the office was mere feet away. I wanted to bask in the post-Wrex post-orgasm bliss, but I really needed to do more than just pretend that I was listening to Wrage.
“Can we show you what information was collected in the board room?”
“Of course,” I nodded as we made our way from out of my office, Maxim’s desk coming into full view as we kept our pace. “Maybe we’ll find another connection to deliver to the detective.”
“Hey boss,” Maxim pipped, garnering my attention enough to end my haste to the board room, Wrage following suit. “Quick question if you don’t mind.”
“Sure,” I smiled. “What’s up?”
“I have to call Stacy about whatever the hell she asked me to pick up on the way home from work, but I can’t remember what it is.” Maxim gave me his handsome smirk paired with apologetic eyes. “And I forgot my phone at home this morning.”
Giving him a playful smile, I plucked my cell phone out of my pants pocket and handed it over. I already had Stacy’s number from the many times we’d double dated in the past, so he wouldn’t have much trouble finding her number. “Just remind me before you leave for the day that you have it while I go over this stuff with them.”
“Will do.” Maxim smiled again. “Thanks, boss!”
I smiled one last time at Maxim and turned to Wrage as we continued our tiny trek to the boardroom. “Alright, what’s this data all about?”
Chapter 20
“Let me lead,but feel free to use the information you gathered to pose questions.”
I nodded at Detective Hudson Rowe as he found us a parking space outside the residence of the latest petrylle to be taken. Francyn, Zxe, and Ozmo also mirrored the nod from the backseat. This was going to be our first official interrogation of a family member directly tied to one of the missing petrylle, thanks to the research the team had concocted and showed me right after my romp with Wrex. Up until now, the board had been fielding questions from the local area, the local petrylle, and people outside the area in which the victims had last been seen. Now, we were about to interrogate the family and my stress levels were sky high.
Honestly, I was just glad that Wrage hadn’t been part of the investigation team. He’d discovered that I’d been having sex with his brother the day before and he’d been avoiding talking to me since. Which I guessed I should have anticipated, but it didn’t make it any less awkward to skirt. I knew time would eliminate the weirdness, and I just wanted to shed it so I could appropriately focus on the task at hand.
Getting out of the car, I breathed in the crisp morning air, a chilling bite surrounding me as I absently pulled my navy trench coat tighter. It would keep me warm for the time being, but in typical Virginian weather, I’d be more comfortable in shorts by the afternoon.
As the five of us approached a quaint little standalone home in a beautiful cul-de-sac, I tried to picture petrylle getting kidnapped within a community like this. It didn’t seem likely, but then again, it never did when bad things happened in seemingly nice neighborhoods.
Hudson knocked on the door, the rest of us waiting and holding our coats close to us as our breath was visible in the air. Soon enough, a lovely petrylle woman with dark raven hair answered the door. Her eyes were a brilliant grey, almost giving off a sheen to it that I’d never seen in a petrylle before.
She looked over us with caution and fear. Her nostrils flared like an accordion in unskilled hands. “Can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Pomini?” Hudson barked with a gentleness I’d hadn’t known him capable of.
“I’m Pomini,” she nodded. “Is this about Prescel?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The detective gave us a sweeping gesture. “I’m here with ORBIT who are looking into the petrylle disappearances.”
“ORBIT, yes!” Pomini beamed, clasping her hands together across her chest. “I heard about it on the news. Oh please, come in, come in.”
We piled into the quaint home, finding ourselves being led to a sizable living room with enough seating for everyone. I recalled Wrex mentioning that petrylle tended to have big families. Just the mention of Wrex in my mind was enough to turn my thoughts down naughty corridors, but I shooed them away and put work back on the front burner.
