Page 147 of Black Bird

“I don’t really see how that’s any of your business.” Jenkins narrowed his eyes at her.

“It’s my business where it concerns the case I’m assigned to.”

Jenkins huffed a laugh. “Yeah, well … her only involvement in your case was doing her job. You’re not gonna find anything to pin on her the way you smeared dirt on her partner.”

“You sure about that? My understanding is that she and her partner were also romantically involved for a time. I’m not saying I blame her.” She turned her coffee up again. “But aren’t you a bit curious about that?”

“I know what you’re doing, Agent Foster. It’s not gonna work. Your tactics are surprisingly predictable. Everybody knows Kane and Northwood were fucking. Other than being close, that’s all it ever was. She’s been honest with me about that, and again, it’s none of your business. So, if there’s nothing else …” He turned away and started to walk toward his car.

“They’re both hiding something, detective!” Foster called out from behind him. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I’m gonna find out what it is, and if you get tangled up in whatever they’re going down for, then don’t ever say I didn’t warn you.” She pointed at him with her cup and winked. “Have a pleasant day off.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Hmm …” Foster tightened her mouth. “Interesting.”

Jenkins continued forward, jerking his door open and sliding inside. Foster raised her cup in farewell, smiling as he drove off.

It had been a long-ass day. Rhaena hadn’t seemed as bad off as she’d been last month, but today was a different story. Sarah and Wren had moved the animals into the living room, near the fireplace, both of them secured in their cages. Athan was helping Rhaena battle her way out of her clothes, while she sweat profusely and heaved heavy breaths. The sun would set in about twenty minutes, and he could already see her eyes flickering with the beast inside that was itching to break out.

“Lock me in,” Rhaena heaved as a long stream of saliva hung from her bottom lip. It was bad. The chill in the bedroom almost caused steam to cloud over her blistering-hot skin. Deep growls started working their way up from her throat and she lowered her naked body into the small closet while he started chaining her up.

“You told him you’d call, Rhaena.” Athan tried not to look her in the eye while he worked, knowing damn well she’d give some excuse to break her promise to Jenkins.

“I can’t let him hear this,” she huffed, tugging at the first chain he’d finished. “It’ll never be something he’ll get used to, Athan. Fuck, I’m not even used to it, and how many times have we fucking done this?” Hervoice cracked, and the last couple words were a jerk on the chain in frustration and something that sounded an awful lot like fear.

“What did you keep telling me when I was torn about telling Sarah the truth?”

Rhaena stilled, breathing heavily and focused on his face. Sarah stepped quietly into the doorway, holding the burner phone. “I can’t.” Tears started to stream down her face, mixing with the sweat trickling down from her head. “What if he leaves?”

“I think the words you used were:‘the fact that you were willing to be that vulnerable will stick with her.’You remember that?” Athan asked, testing the second chain. Sarah stood silent. Her face was taut with pity.

“It was a lot more than that … that stuck. If someone loves you—really loves you—they love the flaws just as much as everything else. Jenkins already knows what you are. Half the battle is already won, Rhaena,” Sarah’s voice was smooth and soothing. “If you told him you would … you should. If you don’t, he’ll worry himself sick.”

“I’ve done this thousands of times without him.” Rhaena’s back arched and she squeezed her eyes shut with pain as her sharp breaths continued and sweat poured down her chest.

“You hadn’t started dating him yet.” Athan secured the last chain and tested it, continuing to kneel in front of her. “This isn’t fair to him. It’s not fair to you, either. You need him just as much, and you know it.”

“You’re running out of time, Rhae.” Wren crept up behind Sarah, who extended the phone in her hand. Rhaena looked at them both for a moment, and then returned her focus to him, jerking her head toward the phone.

“Call him.”

Sarah didn’t waste a second. She dialed the number and turned on the speaker. Jenkins answered on the first ring.

“Rhaena!”

“Brandon, I—I don’t have long.” Rhaena grunted and paused, her body shining in the lamplight from the bedroom as the sun began to disappear entirely. “I told you I’d call.”

“Babe, you sound awful. Please let me come up. Please …”

“No!” She broke into a cry, shaking under the chains. They clinked against each other, and she sobbed. “Please don’t. I can’t let you see me this way.”

“It can’t be any crazier than the way you look in the morning.”

Rhaena scoffed, and spit flew from her mouth onto the floor. She smiled through the racking of her body and closed her eyes. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Your friends will probably think that too with what I’m about to say.”

Athan glanced at Sarah and Wren, all of them looking at the phone in Sarah’s extended hand. Rhaena breathed raggedly. “And what’s that, dare I ask?”

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