“Anyway, if you find me a pair, slide them under my door, will ya?” Lucas said, starting down the hallway, humming some chirpy tune. Before turning the corner, he called out, “Hey, August, you should stop by Tracy’s. There’s a certain waitress who’s going to freak the fuck out when she learns you’resingle.”
The muscles in August’s back bunchedup.
“I have to go check on”—I swallowed—“on the laundry. Thanks for all yourhelp.”
And with that, I hurried away from the supply closet, feeling my navel throb as the distance between August and me grew andgrew.
5
Istayedin the laundry room a long time, sorting through dirty sheets and towels, and also through my emotions. After three loads of washing and drying, and two hours’ worth of ironing, only the inn sheets were neat. My insides were still a completemess.
I wanted to drop everything and head to the gym to punch my way to a clearer mind, but there was still too much that needed to be done before I could clock out. I returned upstairs to check on Isobel, praying I wouldn’t run into anyoneelse.
“Everything okay up here?” I asked August’smom.
“Everything’s great, sweetie. We got a couple reservations for the weekend and a birthday dinner on Friday for a party of twenty. I checked in with Evelyn and placed a grocery order, and I was just now updating the wine list. Oh, and someone left a hotel bike out front. I found it when I greeted some new arrivals. I didn’t know where to put it, so I wheeled it inside the office.” She gestured behind her while clicking through an excel spreadsheet—I supposed, the inn’s winelist.
When I entered the office, my body went as stiff and cold as a block of marble. A nametag tied around the handlebar flapped in the cool air blasting from the revolving fan in the corner. Spit jamming up my throat, I snagged the tag and popped it off its string, hoping beyond hope Isobel had tiedit.
In dark marker was written:So you can stop byagain.
A chill crawled up my already icyspine.
“Did you see who dropped it off?” I asked, hoping my voice didn’t betray mynerves.
“No. I just found it at the bottom of thedriveway.”
Had Aidan delivered it? Considering the injuries Lucas had inflicted to the bastard’s neck the night he’d shot Liam, I doubted the hunter was strolling around Boulder, transporting bikes. He’d probably had his driver bring itover.
I crumpled the tag and tossed it into thebin.
Like hell I would pay the creep avisit.
I guided the bike out the inn doors and down the driveway toward the stockroom where Lucy and Jeb stowed the hiking gear, kayaks, fishing poles, and other paraphernalia they made available toguests.
As I walked back up, I squinted down the driveway into the bright sunlight, looking for Aidan’s chauffeured limo, but if it had been here, it was longgone.
Meeting at eight tonight at the inn to discuss Everest Clark’s fate. Every pack memberconvened.
Liam’s voice was so sharp and clear I swiveled my head, expecting to see him, but not a soul stood next to me. After I got over the shock of hearing him, I focused on what he’d just said:Everest Clark’s fate. My pulse picked up, thumping against my eardrums. I peeked at the first floor. Behind one of the windows lay my uncle. Had he heard Liam’s call too, or had Liam excludedhim?
I went back inside the inn, grabbed the master key, then climbed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I knocked before entering my uncle’sroom.
“Jeb?” I called out. When I saw the comforter shake and heard a muted sniffle, I hurried to hisside.
“Liam will . . . he will . . .killmy son.” Jeb’s voice was as thick as the syrup I’d ladled over his pancakes. “My onlychild.”
So he had heard Liam. “He saiddiscuss.Maybe—”
“You don’t know the ways of the pack, Ness. You’ve been part of it for what? Twenty-four hours? Wolves have nomercy.”
I bristled from his condescending tone. “I may not know as much as you do, Jeb, but they didn’t avenge my father’s death. Maybe they won’t killEverest.”
“He strangled Heath and left him floating in his pool. You think Liam will forgive my son? Oh, dear girl, you have so much tolearn. . . ”
I pressed my lips together. Even though my urge to walk out was strong, I stifled it. “Can I get you anything, Jeb?” I askedstiffly.
Without glancing away from the Flatirons beyond his bay window, he whispered, “Why did he have to go and kill him? Did you ask him to doit?”
