Page 81 of Knot All That Glitters: Part 2

“Do I look altruistic to you?” She shakes her head. “I’m not doing this out of the goodness of my heart, Haven. Or guilt. That’s not who I am.”

“What do you want?” Hale asks, getting right to the point. “You want money? We have plenty of that.”

She shakes her head. “No, I want the club.”

I frown, not understanding, and apparently the Calloway’s don’t understand either. “Don’t you own half of it?” Jude asks, sounding as confused as I feel.

“I do. But I want all of it. I don’t want to be partners with a pig of a man who more often than not thinks I can’t make a business decision because I have a pussy. My late husband left me his half, now I want all of it.”

The four of them glance at each other. “You want us to buy his half and give it to you?” Tic asks finally.

She waves her hand. “No, that won’t work. I’ve tried that and he refuses to sell. He told me I’d have to pull his shares from his cold, dead fingers.”

Her phrasing isn’t lost on us. Not by a long shot.

“You want us to kill him?” Creed growls low and dangerous. I don’t think he’s totally opposed to the idea, more that he doesn’t like the idea of me knowing he’s not totally opposed to the idea.

Belinda pushes to her feet and smooths her hands over her hips, getting rid of the nonexistent wrinkles in her tight pencil skirt. “I didn’t say that, now did I? But I’m sure you’ll be able to convince him…somehow. And,” she pins me with a severe look. “I want your guarantee that you will not seek revenge for my part in your mother’s death.”

I want to laugh and tell her no fucking way. Want to rip into her for not doing more, but just like before, it won’t help anything, it won’t bring my mother back. We need her to help us. The Calloway pack hasn’t said as much, but I know they aren’t confident that why have enough to truly ruin Frederick Bell.

With Belinda’s help, we might just get there. If she’s fast about it, we could have this finished by the end of the week. I could be free in days.

“Fine,” I say, ignoring the growls of the pack around me. Belinda does too. “I promise won’t go after you for my mother’s kidnapping, imprisonment or death.”

She hesitates, like she’s turning over my phrasing and trying to find fault with it. “I trust that you’ll keep your dogs on a tight leash, then?”

I give her a sickly sweet smile. “The tightest.” I push to a stand and motion toward the front door, eager to get her out of this house and away from me. “I’ll walk you out, shall I?”

She tips her head in acknowledgement and precedes me to the door, where she pauses, turning to look at me over her shoulder, before she swivels to face me entirely.

I stand there wanting to push her out the door, but it feels like she has something else to say, so I just wait.

Belinda stares at me hard for a moment, her face impassive before she sighs and rolls her eyes. “Lord knows why, but I feel compelled to tell you that the Calloway pack has been members of the club for at least five years. During that time, they’ve sampled our product many, many times.”

Fuck. I don’t want to hear this. Why would she think I do? My mouth waters unpleasantly as my stomach sinks and my gaze drops, focusing on the tips of her shoes. She tsks and hooks a knuckle under my chin to lift it until I’m looking at her again. “A few months ago, they stopped sampling.”

My eyes widen in surprise. And her lips twitch like she’s glad I understand. “They would still come in, still go through the motions of hiring a girl or two, but they never, everutilizedthem.”

I wince at her use of the word utilize, like the girls in her employ are a tool. And maybe to her they are.

I don’t think I like Belinda very much, but I suppose I’m grateful she’s told me about my mother and she’s agreed to help with my father.

Her thumb strokes over my chin. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but that was around the time they started whatever this is with you, is it not?”

I swallow thickly and nod but can’t give it a voice. “Well, my girls were disappointed. But I can’t say I am. I’m glad to know they recognize a good thing when they see it.” Again I keep my mouth shut, because… well, she doesn’t know the entire story. The way they used me.

They didn’t need to have sex with Belinda’s girls because I was so damn willing to spread my legs for them, eager even.

She leans down and smacks a kiss on my cheek, no doubt leaving a red mark from her lipstick. “I really must dash. I’ll be in touch if I find anything useful.”

I stare after her, not sure what to make of everything she’s told me.

My brain is too full.

My heart hurts for what happened to my mother. For what happened to Janie. For this pack. For myself.

Sighing, I turn to find all four of the Calloway alphas standing on the threshold of the living room. Not one of them looks happy with me. It doesn’t take long for Jude to tell me why.

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