Page 60 of Tethered Souls
Keeping my composure, wanting more evidence than just my fucking paranoia, I set my glass down on the tray of a passing waitress, then grab a couple Ricks. I toss them at my cousin. “Enjoy the evening, Vinny,” I say deathly calm. “Nights like this...they’re to be remembered.”
He forces his smile up as he pockets the vials, but his hands shake. His face pales. “In that case, I’m going to go find Alexis.”
Refusing to hold my gaze, he hurries off in her direction. I watch him and his girlfriend for a moment, their heads low as they talk, stress emitting from his pores. Will he sneak off and do a runner with her now that he thinks I’m onto him? Or am I just seeing monsters that aren’t there?
“Do you know where Vinny was that night?” I ask the reaper.
He steps up beside me, his lips tight, his eyes dark. “At his office in North Carolina.”
“Any witnesses?”
“His secretary. Alexis. Jason Terry – his second. He was on call with him for most of the night.”
People who know him, who might give their loyalty to him rather than their abomination of a Boss.
“On camera?” I ask.
Khalid nods.
“Get the tape to Talon and see if it’s been messed with.”
he hesitates. “Have you cleared him?”
My body stills. “Have you not?” Although Khalid seemed certain Lincoln was the traitor in the gym, I shouldn’t be surprised he’s been looking into our brothers as well. He is a reaper, and he doesn’t have the luxury of ignoring what will hurt to deal with.
“I haven’t found anything to convict him,” he answers tightly.
So no.
Fuck.
Turning my head, I search the crowd for Lincoln. He’s standing beside his wife, his back to the wall, one hand in his pocket, his eyes darting everywhere. Tension rolls off his shoulders like an approaching storm despite his attempt to look casual. He looks guilty as all hel.
But now so does Vinny, and I trust him more…
My teeth clench. I’m tired of this fucking puzzle. Turning to Khalid, I keep my voice low. “My memories got triggered when I walked through that ward and it hit me in the back in the same place I got stabbed. If I grab Louise” –a healer almost on par with Mother– “will you stab me?”
His eyes sharpen, curses clearly firing off inside his skull. But he doesn’t say no.
Sending chills running down my back, he nods.
Twenty
HER
“Fucking neanderthal,” I mutter as I finally find myself alone. I’ve barely been able to concentrate on those I’ve been meeting and having conversations with because I’ve been distracted by the damn plug up my ass. I’m feeling way too hot with it in there, and every time Varius moves a hand into his pocket, I tense, expecting a vibration. I don’t even know if butt plugs can vibrate, but the potential has me on edge.
And with every passing minute, I’m getting more and more irritated that the bastardhasn’t done it.
Like, is he not thinking about me at all?
You don’t even know if it vibrates, Micha.
I look down at the diamond ring, trying to find comfort in its presence, in its security that I matter. But he didn’t even pick it out himself. Otherwise, he would have said. He hasn’t once looked at me in the hour we’ve been here, and this damn party is filled with better dressed, better behavedwhores.
Now you’re just being an ass, Micha.
Fuck off, conscious. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores. Whores.
