Page 54 of Wild Cub

I just sigh. “Rawlings, as much as I’ve enjoyed this little chat, some of us do work for a living and don’t have time for social calls. Either say what you need to say, or I’m hanging up,” I threaten; I see Reva slinking in to hear the conversation.

“Mm, I can see why he’s so captivated by you. The challenge and the threats. No wonder he tested you in the woods.” Heat rises to my cheeks. Reva mouths “the woods” and I hold up a hand to her. I refuse to explainthatone.

“Past tense, my friend, no longer,” I grit out. “Okay, I’m bored and I’m hanging up.”

“Next Friday.” Two words is all he says.

“What about next Friday, Rawlings?” I ask.

“You’re going on a trip. Birdie told me that sometimes, you need evidence for that drive of yours. We have a lot of information, but we don’t have a solid plan of action.”

Okay, I’ll give him this much: he’s holding up his end of the deal. Maybe thereissome loyalty to people outside of the club.

I don’t jump on his offer. “I work until 5 on Fridays. I’ll be free after.” There’s a snicker at the end of the line, which reminds me of a dragon laughing at their prey.

“Cute you think you have a choice,” he says.

“One condition.”

I can practically hear the eye roll on the other end of the line. “I’ll entertain it, Bjorn.”

I don’t let him get to me. “No Jackson. I told him my dealings are with you and you only.”

“No guarantees.”

I just laugh. “I’ll walk. You can forget the leverage you’d have on territory or solving your little problem.” I grin. They need me just as much as I need them. He grumbles at the end of the phone. Checkmate, Rawlings.

“Stubborn ass woman.”

“Damn right.” I hang up the phone before he has the chance to say anything else. I’m not going to ignore that Jackson is probably still getting reports of my comings and goings, but walking back into my life will take copious amounts of groveling and begging.If you’re even willing to give him a chance.

“Your thoughts are speaking very loudly, boss.” Reva glances at me, knowing that if I don’t answer, Sam will pry too.

“Just a lot of what ifs,” I say as I sit again.

Reva doesn’t let me get away with my pitiful explanation. “Let’s rephrase that. They’re not scenarios because that means you’re entertaining the possibility. Your what ifs are just the spiraling part of you itching to come out.” She shrugs, as if this is normal information for her.

“You been in my therapist’s notes or something?” I kid with her, knowing that would be something my therapist would say.

“I don’t want to talk about your therapist. I want to know about the woods.” Reva wiggles her eyebrows at me.

I shake my head. “Not exactly something I want to relive right now. Are we ready for the shelter visit? I know if we don’t leave now, I’m going to be late.” Reva pops up, getting ready to leave.

I watch her gather her things as I wonder: do I want to forgive him?

Working into the late hours has me stir crazy. Jackson’s attempts to reach out to me have me wondering if I should block him, but his words echo in my mind.I see something I want, and I won’t stop until it’s mine.

His touches still linger, no matter how hard I scrub at my skin. The ghost touches of the last night we spent with each other. The ache on my arm where he wrapped my gunshot wound. I miss the person he was beginning to be before he fucked it up with hatred and hurt.

I have to get my mind off of Jackson. Sam had separated the call records yesterday and found another can of worms. Sam, with her nose of a bloodhound, found that the tiny decreases have gone back an entire year.

What’s more intriguing and concerning is that, when separated out by gender, women have decreased at a higher rate. My questions keep growing and the answers aren’t there. I start to think of seeing Aggie tomorrow at the center, just to run everything by her again. Surely she knows more about what’s going on since the last time we saw each other.

I make my final notes for the night and realize the sun has well set, and darkness has spread across the sky. We have the proof of the trend, but the physical evidence is lacking. Maybe I can’t completely Nancy Drew this, but I’m close.

My cell phone starts to ring unexpectedly. “Aggie, I was literally just thinking about you,” I smile.

“Child, you need to get to Memorial,” she says with haste, having no time to give detail.

---