Page 32 of Lavender and Lightning

Lex growls at him, and I detect the change in her mulled wine scent, citrus coming forward with spicy arousal following close behind. So she seems just as ready as I am to teach our mouthy sub a lesson in manners.

“Toxicology report came in from the driver who hit Lydia. Originally, the police thought that he’d just been a drunk driver, not paying attention. But the report shows he had nothing in his system. He was stone-cold sober.”

Nowthatsends a cold spike through my heart. "What?" I stammer, too stunned for anything more coherent.

"That's what I said. I even called the coroner who did the autopsy, just to make sure I wasn't reading the report wrong. But there were no mind-altering substances in that driver's system," Lex explains.

"Then there was no reason he couldn't have avoided Lydia. Witnesses confirmed her story. She was going ten miles an hour if she was moving at all," Lucas says, voice distant with thought.

There's a heartbeat of silence and then we all look up at the same time, the same stricken expression on each of our faces as we all have the same horrifying thought.

"He would have been able to avoid her, unless he didn't want to."

"That's... there's no way he could... have…"

Lucas trails off and I swallow the hot rush of anger that floods my system. There would have been no way to pick out Lydia's car from any other older model sedan in Everton, especially in the dark. But if someone tagged her car, say with a tracking device, then it would have been all too easy to be at the right place at the right time.

"We would have to prove that Seth is the one who put the tracker on her car, and also find some sort of link between the driver and Seth. If there even is one," Lex says quickly.

But I can already see the wheels turning behind her eyes. If anyone could make that connection, it’s Alexandra St. Clair. I look at my phone again, hoping to find a message or call from Lydia, even if it’s just to tell me she’s safe, but I come up disappointed. Anger flashes through my chest for a moment, but I push it aside. She’s safe with Mateo. I trust him to take care of her. She’s going to be okay.

I jump slightly as my phone goes off in my hand, but my brow pulls down as I see ‘Jason Anderson’ appear on the screen. I consider not answering, but he may have heard from Lydia. Getting to my feet, I walk the few paces to stand in front of the picture windows overlooking the backyard.

“Hello, Jason,” I answer, shoving the hand not holding my phone into my pocket.

“Listen, I know you’ve probably heard what happened between me and Lydi–”

“Yes, I have. And I hope this conversation isn’t going to end with us on bad terms,” I reply slowly and pointedly.

Jason lets out an irritated huff of a sigh. “I sure hope not, too. I do want to apologize for what I said. I don’t know what she’s told you about how we grew up, but Lydi and me… we weren’t exactly brought up by the most progressive parents. I’ve been working on my own issues, but I know what I said wasn’t right. It’s not how I really think of y’all, and what you do with your life is your business. As long as Lydia doesn’t get hurt, then that’s all that matters to me.”

I have to admit I’m impressed by his honesty and the sincerity of his words, but I don’t let my guard down quite yet.

“I would never intentionally hurt Lydia,” I say firmly, and I know he can detect the emotion in my declaration.

“I know that. You seem like the sort of alpha that I’d hoped she’d find. But it’s my job to take care of my sister, ya know?” he goes on emphatically.

“I know. I have four sisters of my own to look after,” I say with a little chuckle. If they ever heard me talking about “looking after” them, it might be the last thing I ever say. Still wouldn’t stop me from trying, though.

Jason lets out a low whistle. “God bless your mother. But, hey, that’s not why I’m calling. I can’t get a hold of Lydia. Something’s happened and I hope she’s with you so I can talk to her.”

“Unfortunately, she’s not. She went out of town for a long weekend trip with one of my pack mates. I don’t even know where they went,” I tell him, my irritation rising again.

He lets out a colorful curse that makes me blink. I wasn’t expecting this much of a reaction.

“If there’s something going on, I’d have you tell me. We might be able to find a way–”

“Your pack mate, his name is Mateo Hutchenson, right?”

I swallow, my stomach twisting tighter and tighter. “Did Lydia mention him?”

“No. Not by name. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but my mother showed me an article about Lydia and Mateo.”

I whip around to face Lex and Lucas, finding them both staring at me with confusion and a hint of apprehension in their eyes.

“Where did it come from? How long ago did she see it?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly as my mind kicks into overdrive.

“It was some gossip rag. The Everton something,” Jason answers, trailing off in thought.

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