Page 64 of Black Bird

“I’m not the one that needs to get anything out of my system, Stratford. She leftyou. Contrary to what you might believe, I’m not the reason for that. So, before you get off trying to blame someone else, maybe you should start talking about all the events leading up to what happened.”

Brent clenched his jaw and his teeth ground soundly. “None of this shit would have happened if she hadn’t gone to that fucking club. A club, I understand, you frequent. So, try again.”

Kane huffed a laugh. “My being at that club has nothing to do with the reason your father is after her … and using his own fucking son to do it.” He straightened in his chair. “Tell me I’m wrong. Idareyou. Northwood might be a lot nicer than me about it, but she isn’t here. And, so we’re clear, she’s onto your shit too.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m leaving,” Brent said, standing.

“You walk out that door and I’ll find as many ways as I can to lock your preppy little ass up. You’re a lawyer. I’m sure you’ve helped put some men away. You know what they’ll do to someone like you in prison. I’ll be all too happy to make sure you get some special treatment if you don’t tell me the fucking truth. Furthermore, if you actually care about Sarah, then why aren’t you doing all you can tohelpher?”

“I’d like a lawyer of my own. And the next time we talk, maybe you won’t be so unprofessional.”

“Well, that’s fair …Brent. You’re entitled to that if that’s the way you wanna play it. The fact that you want a lawyer says enough to me about your part in whatever this shit is. But just so you’re aware, I had to stop at a crime scene before I saw you at the bar last night. Not that you deserve any of this information, but I’ll level with you. Somebody dropped a body on the other side of the city and staged it to look just like her. Same clothes, same hair … hacked her face. If I find out that you or your father is involved in any of this … then a lawyer won’t save either fucking one of you. And if what I just said doesn’t bother you, then that means two things. One, you never loved that girl a day in your fucking life. And two, you’re just as guilty.” Kane didn’t balk a bit in the harshness of his stare. “You’ll forgive me for having little time for professionalism.”

Brent lowered himself back into his chair, trying his best to ignore all the onlooking police officers and the captain who peered through his blinds at them. He sighed deeply. “So, that’s why you were unusually pissed when you got there?”

“You got a better reason?”

Brent shook his head slowly. “I’ll tell you everything I know. But we do it in an interrogation room. And I want written documentation that I’m in no way responsible for his actions. Agreed?”

“I’ll run it by Cap. You move from this chair, and you’re gonna wish you hadn’t. You’ve just said enough to incriminate yourself already.”

“I know that, detective. Do what you gotta do.”

Rhaena was still exhausted after several hours of deep sleep, but the cabin wasn’t home. She wanted her own bed … the comfort of her own shower, her own blankets. While everything at the cabin was technically hers, it didn’t have that familiar warmth that made her feel safe. The cabin also didn’t have the one friend she had that understood her. She needed that too. She was still weak, and her arms sluggish as she practically dragged her duffle bag through the elevator doors and down the hall to her apartment door. She fumbled around and cursed as she realized she’d left Athan her house key. She jiggled the doorknob … it wasn’t locked. Her brows drew together, and she opened the door, the smell of coffee hitting her as soon as she stepped inside.

The door closed loudly behind her, and an impressive string of curses rang out from around the corner of the kitchen doorway as Sarah startled, dropping a broom she’d had in her hands. “Holy shit!” Sarah grasped at her chest. “Rhaena … I’m sorry, I—you scared the shit out of me.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t expect anyone to be here.” Rhaena smirked. “What the hell are you doing?” She nodded toward the broom Sarah had picked up from the floor.

“I—I was cleaning.”

“Why?”

“Well, I figured it was the least I could do … and …”

“And?”

Sarah ran a hand through her hair and blew out a long breath. “And I can’t think of anything else to do to keep my mind off shit other than drink. Athan’s apartment is like …clean.”

Rhaena snorted. “That’s not untrue.” She dropped her bag onto the kitchen table.

“He said you told him we could hang around; I really only came because he doesn’t have coffee.”

“I’m buying that bitch a coffee maker.”

Both of them giggled, but Rhaena could tell that Sarah was really on edge. She also noticed she was wearing Athan’s clothes. It must have been obvious what she was thinking. Sarah made a face.

“Nothing happened … I didn’t have anything other than—”

“A vampire outfit?” Rhaena laughed.

“Oh my God, he told you …”

“I may have heard about it.” Rhaena quirked a brow, smiling and trudging past her to grab a mug.

“I’m mortified.” Sarah palmed her face, propping the broom against the table and sinking into one of the chairs.

“I mean … I’m kind of proud. That was one way to get his attention.” She laughed.

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