“I’m fine. Just shookup.”
Matt’s lips were pinched. “We told you to stay away from Aidan Michaels, but you didn’t listen.” He shook his head. “I don’t get you, Ness. I thought I did. I thought I had you all figured out. I thought you were some shy, sweet girl trying to act all tough to fit into the pack, but I don’t think you’re shy. And I don’t think you’re trying to fit into thepack.”
I swallowed, twining my fingers together in my lap. Like Matt, I was no longer sure I knew who I was and what I wasdoing.
“Why did you go see the Pines, Ness? And please don’t tell me it was for money, because we’ll all pitch in and give you the amount you need. You’d have to ask, but we’d do it.” He touched my knee lightly, and I flinched. “Asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s not a flaweither.”
My eyes went hot. With shame. But also withgratitude.
How I wished I could unburden myself, but if I told Matt my reasons for visiting the Pines, I’d be inking my deathsentence.
“It was a job,” I lied, and then I repeated the words I’d heard Mom yell at Evelyn, “I don’t want charity. ” That was true at least. Like my mother, I had my pride. She’d worn it throughout her life like armor, and it had earned her the respect ofmany.
Matt loosed a rough sigh. “And what were you doing at Aidan Michaels’shouse?”
This time, I told him the truth. How I’d hoped to understand why he’d killed my father. How I’d planned on entrapping him with a recordedconfession.
Mattsnorted.
“What?”
“Aidan Michaels is the biggest benefactor of the Boulder PD. He’s got every officer crawling around this town in his pocket. If I can give you some advice—which I hope you’ll actually listen to this time—don’t…ever…go to the police. Some people in the department are aware of our existence, and they share Aidan’s view—that we’re abominations. If they weren’t scared shitless of what we would do to their families if they waged an attack, they’d have tried to eliminate us a long timeago.”
Lucas came out of the bedroom, and we both looked up at him expectantly. “The good doctor needs alcohol.” He swiped a bottle of tequila from the rollaway bar tucked in the corner of the living room. I must’ve frowned, because Lucas added, “To disinfect the wound. We’re not celebrating…yet.” He flicked his gaze to Matt, then vanished back inside the darkbedroom.
“How did they know I was there?” My voice was as quiet as the cold air murmuring through the vent in theceiling.
“Aidan is enemy number one of the pack. We’ve breached his security system, so we have eyes on him at all times. My brother, Cole, is a tech prodigy. He’s constantly monitoring the dude. When he noticed you there, he called me. Liam and Lucas were with me. Liam…he flipped.” Matt scratched a spot behind his ear. “He said you got real upset earlier over Heath’s decision not to seek retribution. Anyway, he was sure Aidan was going to kill you, or do…worse things toyou.”
Guilt ravaged me. But then the conversation I’d had with Aidan played in mymind.
“Aidan shot my father because he thought it was Heath. Could Aidan…couldhehave killed Liam’s father?” I sounded so patheticallyhopeful.
Matt stared long and hard atme.
“Like I said, Cole monitors him,” Matt said slowly. “Aidan was inside his house allnight.”
“Maybe he got someone else to do it forhim?”
“Maybe.”
That little word buoyed me more than Julian’ssupport.
Lucas padded back out into the living room. He wasn’t smiling, but his mouth was softer. “The wound’s closing up. He’shealing.”
Air whooshed out of Matt’s lungs. “ThankGod.”
“I’d thank Greg, not God.” Lucas’s voice pinged around the glass walls enclosing the living room. “I need to go debrief thepack.”
His relief was making him jumpy and borderline giddy. I half expected him to hug Matt and pound him on the back, but Lucas did neither. He just asked his friend for aride.
As though remembering I was there, Matt offered to drop me back at the inn. I rose just as Greg came out of the bedroom, wiping his hands on a steel-gray towel that reminded me of the one Liam had tied around his waist the nighthe—
“He’s asking for you, Ness,” Gregsaid.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Isuckedin air so harshly I coughed. “He wants to seeme?”
