Page 70 of Her Wolf

Victor’s eyes fixed on her. “So you’re both capo.” It wasn’t a question, but she nodded anyway.

She licked her lips, but again Neo spoke before she could.

“My father promised you a shipment of heroin,” he said. “But the poppy fields were destroyed last week. I’m not sure when we’ll have another shipment ready, but it could be a few months.”

Cora pressed her lips closed. What the hell else was there to say?

The air stirred, sending a waft of fragrance to her. Finn was standing right behind her. His presence cast an aura of strength over her.

She sat forward, crossing her legs. This drew all five the men’s gazes. Victor and Cesar even had the audacity to give her a lingering once-over before focusing on her face again.

She’d been planning on using ‘we’ and ‘our’ to include Neo in everything she said. But after the stunt he’d just pulled insinuating she was nothing but his arm candy, that would not fly anymore.

“I understand you have commitments on your end,” she said. Shockingly, her voice came out steady and calm. Light, even. As if she was talking about the change in season. “Which is why I will endeavor to replace your shipment within the week.”

And then, just as she’d felt Finn’s reassuring presence, she felt a wave of tension flowing over her from him.

No, this hadn’t been part of the plan. But if she didn’t show these men—whoever the hell they thought they were—that she was in control, then she’d never be in control.

It was a man’s world, and she was a girl, looking the part in her costume and face paint.

She regretted everything now. This party, this location. She’d have had more control if she’d worn modest clothes, no make up, perhaps her hair up in a tail.

Well fuck that.

“A week, you say?” Victor turned an ambivalent smile to her. He had unremarkable features, but a tattoo kept peeking from the front of his button-up shirt where the first two buttons had been undone. A quick glance toward Owen showed that he also had a tattoo on his chest. Hidden, but what were the chances it was different to Victor’s?

“You’re not part of ECV, are you?” Cora asked, shifting her eyes from Victor to Owen. Owen—apparently a mute—didn’t even acknowledge the question.

Victor’s smile grew. It was too wide now, like he was laughing in his head and could barely control his mirth. “I see you picked a smart one,” he said, glancing at Neo. “Unlucky you.”

“Neo didn’t pick me,” Cora said, enunciating every word with care. It made her think of the way Javier had spoken, but maybe that’s what she needed now.

She rose to her feet, hoping the extra height would give her some advantage.

It did; all five the men looked unhappy with having to crane their heads back to look at her.

“Sit down,” Neo said from beside her. Fingers brushed her wrist, but she twisted her hand away before he could get a grip.

The door opened. She didn’t turn to it, but she knew it was Bailey coming inside.

Where was Lars?

She couldn’t think on that—she wouldn’t allow herself to. She had to focus on the here and now.

“One week,” she said, staring straight at Victor.

If he wasn’t part of their cartel, then he would be the hardest to control. And he seemed to be the alpha between the two.

But then she caught the slightest hesitation from Victor. It was nothing more than a shift of his feet, but it was as if he was waiting for something.

Beside him, Owen held his hands casually in his lap. His thumbs had been pressed together to form a steeple, but now he lay them side by side.

“Javier already took our money.” Victor sat forward in his chair, but didn’t stand. “Our shipment should have been delivered today.” Victor cocked his head at her. “We’re not leaving here without it.”

“Do you want your money back?” Cora asked, but not of Victor…she turned her head a fraction and directed the question straight to Owen.

If it surprised him, he didn’t show it. In fact, he could have been a robot in a human suit for the amount of emotion he displayed.

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