Beth leaned forward, her blonde hair slipping from behind her ear. "How well do you know Jamur Hede?"
For a second he looked shocked, and then he laughed, his laughter echoing off the dim walls, rough and loud. He took a drag from his cigarette. "Why you asking about Jamur?"
"We think he might be mixed up in these attacks," Carol said.
"Involved?" Broth snorted smoke out of his nostrils. "That's rich. That’s the guy that’s dating my ex."
He can’t be serious. The world can’t be that small.
"Your ex's new boyfriend is our prime suspect?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. "The one you want me to try my powers on?”
"Yep." He took another swig of his drink. "Ironic, isn't it? But then, I did say the guy was a bastard. Everyone looks at himand sees a certain kind of guy, and they look at me and, well, see someone else, but looks can be deceiving." Broth's hand tightened around the glass, knuckles whitening. "He’s a scammer. A liar," he spat, his eyes narrowing to slits. "That jackass told her I was cheating. Me! Cheating!" He let out a bitter chuckle. "I'd never. I’m a one-woman man."
Beth shifted in her seat, her blue eyes fixed on Broth. "What would it take for you to help the guy?" she asked, voice low but clear.
"Help him?" Broth snorted, slamming his glass down. "Nothing on this earth would make me."
I leaned back, eyeing Broth as his glare cut through the smoky haze of the bar. "You'd really burn before helping Jamur?"
"Rather turn to ash," he growled, the words rumbling deep from his chest.
Carol and I exchanged a glance, the kind that said we believed him. There was no faking that level of spite. This didn’t mean Jamur was off the hook, but it did mean we didn’t think Broth was involved in any of this.
"Okay." I tried to steer the conversation. "What's your take on these attacks then?"
Broth exhaled smoke, his eyes narrowing as he pondered the question. "Someone's doing it on purpose." He tapped ash onto the floor. "Turning people."
"Who would do that?" Carol asked.
"Ask yourselves who benefits from more werewolves." He leaned forward, the scowl etched deeper into his face. "Sure as hell isn'tme or Andrew. Having two werewolves in town is more than enough."
"Thanks for your time, Broth." I scooted out of the booth, and the ladies followed me as he continued to watch us closely.
"Yeah, thanks," Carol echoed, her eyes darting to the door.
Broth grunted, his attention already returning to his drink. "Don't mention it. Just remember what you owe me and remember that I’m not a man to forget a deal."
We made our way out of the dimly lit bar, the conversation pressing on us like the thick smoke that filled the room. As we reached the exit, Carol glanced back at Broth, who was now staring into his glass as if it held the answers to questions we hadn't asked.
"Come on," I murmured, touching her arm gently. We stepped out into the morning light, the cool air a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. We walked in silence, each lost in thoughts of werewolves and hidden motives, until the bar door swung shut behind us with a definitive thud.
SIXTEEN
Emma
It was date night, and a much-needed break from the investigation. After a long day of following up leads and researching, I’d gone home and had a long shower and gotten ready. Daniel and I had climbed into his truck and headed to the restaurant to meet everyone else.
"Are Deva and Marquis officially a couple?” Daniel asked, holding my hand tightly as we drove down the quiet streets of Mystic Hollow.
I took a moment to think. "Deva is the quietest when it comes to her dating life, so I wouldn’t refer to him as her boyfriend unless she does it first. Although, between you and me, she’s completely smitten with him.”
He grinned. "Okay, good to know. Don’t want to put my foot in my mouth. What about Carol and Bryan?”
I laughed. "Carol and Bryan are more than official. The big thing with them is not to stare when they’re all over each other. They’re like high schoolers, although Carol said they’re going to work on keeping their hands off of each other tonight.”
A smile teased the corners of his mouth. "Good for those too. Though, should we try to make them more comfortable by being all over each other instead?”
I smacked his shoulder lightly with my free hand. "Absolutely not!”
