Page 47 of Defy

Karina Mehta had watched me approach from behind Sophia. She wanted me to hear bits of their conversation, especially her last question. From my research into her background, she viewed Sophia as a close friend and would go to bat for her. Based on the conversation I overheard, she was privy to information about Sophia that Sophia rarely shared with others.

“Very true. Discussion at events like this stir chatter at other functions. It’s a game.”

“I don’t care for games.”

“You’re with Sophia now. Playing the game is essential to her world.” She smirked and then winked at Sophia, who furrowed her brow.

“Sophia and I understand what’s required of the other, especially the games.”

“Good to know. Let me know how you enjoy the piece you purchased from me.” Karina leaned toward Sophia, whispered something in her ear, and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

Karina inclined her head in my direction as a goodbye. Then she moved toward her entourage, who waited on the side for her.

“You have fascinating friends.”

“I do. Karina believes I’m innocent.”

“You are.”

“I am,” Sophia nodded, keeping her dark eyes focused on me.

Then I continued, “But I still have questions about that night. I need to know where you went.”

“Why? I wasn’t involved in Keith’s murder. All we have to do is prove the evidence against me is circumstantial.”

“I want no doubt in anyone’s mind of your innocence. This means we need an airtight alibi of your whereabouts for that night.”

“It’s not important.”

“The hell it isn’t.”

“Didn’t you learn anything during your perusal of the crowd?”

“I learned plenty, but the information I want needs to come directly from you.”

“Let it go, Damon.”

“No.” A prickle of something burned at the back of my mind. “Were you with someone? Is that the secret? We weren’t together then. You left me, and I’d made it abundantly clear we had no future.”

But the thought of any man having even a millisecond of her time gave me the urge to destroy the motherfucker, tear him limb from limb.

Pushing down the rage, I allowed the rational side of my mind to come forward. Even if Sophia was seeing someone else, I’d get him to back her alibi, and once the cops cleared her charges, I’d take care of the fucker.

“You can’t be serious.” The disbelief in her onyx gaze calmed the turmoil lingering inside me.

“If not another man, then who were you with that night? I need something to prove your location during the times leading up to Randolph’s murder and the hours after. A closed circuit feed from somewhere, a convenience store, a coffee shop, or a restaurant would do.”

“Are you saying you can accept seeing a video of me going into another man’s building and possibly doing something we’ve done if it proves my innocence?”

I clenched my jaw. “All I want is to show the evidence against you is bullshit. I’ll deal with it no matter how the information comes.”

She had to know this tactic she was using couldn’t hide the fact she wanted to evade answering the question. And that it worked pissed me off.

She stepped toward me as emotions whirred in her nearly black eyes. “You confuse me.”

“Welcome to the club,” I muttered.

“This jealousy, this possessiveness over me, makes no sense. Why did you keep pushing me away if you wanted me.”

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