Trying to catch my breath, one thing was clear: to keep those public records locked up, the previous owner had to be incredibly powerful. More than any of my mom’s dumbass friends would have been.
And something happened there that warranted to be hidden.
Which was even more reason to hunt for the answers I needed.
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As I triedto steady my racing mind, I couldn’t stop myself from asking more questions.
Why would those files be missing? It had to just be records of renovations, owners, and police incidents. Nothing I’d experienced there could have warranted locking up those records… it was just some rich asshole's house.
But who is powerful enough to seal it?
Just as I felt my chest steadying, the DA’s office doors swung open as Dom locked eyes with me. Even from a few yards away, I could feel her suspicions.
It wasn’t until they were all back in the hallway that Dom put her hand on the collar of my sweater. “Where did you go, Viper.”
“No where.” I spit back. The heat of her grip spread through my sweater. I should’ve slapped her hand away but instead, I wanted to stay under her grip. It was embarrassing really, that I’d want to be anywhere near someone as cruel as Dom.
Jaw tensed, Dom leaned closer. “I know when you’re lying to me, Kiera. Tell me the truth.”
I snapped back at her. “I sat my ass right here. What proof do you even have? Just some dumb ass instinct that confirms how much you already despise me?”
“Fucking brat.” Dom hissed as she released my collar.
Somewhere deep down, I knew I would pay for a comment like that. I wasn’t sure how yet, I was already steeped in her ire. But I knew a day would come where she’d punish me for my insolence.
Besides, she was right. And I was lying.
Spencer helped me off the bench. “You okay, Bunny?”
“Yep.” Flashing her an enthused smile, I refused to let Dom have the last laugh. The more I acted like I had something to be sorry for, the more suspicious she’d find me. “How was the meeting?”
Leo shrugged. “Fine, Princess. Love a good talking to.”
My eyebrows raised,the comment only further confusing me about what we were doing here. “Oh, really? What’d the District Attorney have to say?”
“Stop yapping.” Dom whipped her head over her shoulder as she walked down the hallway. “We have work at the shop.”
Under my breath, I groaned my annoyance. “Thought I was supposed to be one of you now.”
Turning on her heels, too quickly for my body to come to a stop and sending me tumbling into Dom’s broad chest, she towered over me with a familiar snarl. “You’ll never be one of us, not if I have anything to do with it.”
She kept moving, leaving me in her dark shadow.
Spencer put a hand on my back, her deep brown eyes warming my cold heart. “Don’t listen to her. If The Oracle wants it, we’ll make it happen. Okay?”
Nodding, I kept walking. But the truth was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of all of this. It was messy and seemed more and more illegal by the day. Despite my hesitations, I knew onething to be true: I wouldn’t be safe in the real world without them. Gabe was still looking for me — the incessant calls from my mother a clear indicator — and his ire would only be growing by the day.
Once we reached the elevators, Dom let a devious scowl take over her face. “You want to be part of this? Then it’s time to stop freeloading and get to work.”
She wasn’t just talking about working on cars. Looking into her blue flame eyes, I knew there was a higher price to pay. And Dom was going to make sure I cashed in.
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