Page 87 of Defiant Beta

“For fuck’s sake, that’s it? That’sallyou’re telling me?” Scowling, I push my plate aside, no longer hungry. “I’d get more information out of a monk who’d sworn a vow of silence.”

“I don’t think you understand the meaning of a vow of silence.” Vincent’s expression is blank.

The corners of Levi’s mouth lift in a half-smile. “It’s a?—”

“Please don’t say a long story,” I interrupt, lifting my hand, palm to him to ward off that comment. “Vincent is already…” My voice trails off as Levi wipes all trace of expression from his face. “What?”

“Nothing.” Levi sets his mug down and turns to Vincent. “A word in your office.”

“Is this about me?”

“No,” Vincent denies as they walk out of the kitchen.

I’m off my stool and across the room, pressing my ear against his closed office door the moment it shuts after them.

I miss the first bit, but I definitely catch the next.

“—real name? Are youcrazy?”

Curious.

“I—” Vincent stops suddenly.

The door swings open, and I almost face-plantagainas I stumble forward.

“Sorry, I had a question, but I’ve decided to wait until you’re through with whatever it is you need to discuss,” I lie to the two staring alphas. “Please continue. I’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”

And as I walk away, I feel their stares boring into my back.

The moment I hear the soft snick of a door shutting, I turn. A second later, it starts to open again. I hurry to my stool and sit down, pretending that I wasn’t waiting for another chance to eavesdrop.

Their expressions are impossible to decipher as they walk back into the kitchen.

I’m not hungry, but I pick up my toast and take a bite, eyeing them curiously.

“We’re hunting for a man who killed someone close to us,” Vincent says.

He couldn’t have delivered a more rehearsed speech if he tried.

“Strange place for a killer to hide out,” I say, watching them both closely. Vincent is a closed book. Levi is a little easier to read. From Levi, I’m sensing alarm.

The silence stretches out for a beat too long for it to be anything less than them coming up with a lie on the spot.

“The nature of the crime makes it the ideal place to hide where no one would think to look for them,” Levi eventually says.

I sit back in my seat and chew my toast as I think through everything they’ve told me, which isn’t much.

The nature of the crime…

Hmmm…

I have jam all over my fingers. As I suck them clean, I tell myself the alphas staring at me are disgusted by my behavior because that sure as hell isn’t heat in their gazes.

Alphas only want omegas.

I stroke my chin as I think.

“What are you doing?” Levi asks.

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