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“Can you make any sense out of this with the info she gave us about Theo meeting the Russians?” Victoria asked me.

“Either Theo’s lying or it’s not something that makes sense, Bunny.” I replied.

Tiffany snorted on the other end of the phone. “Bunny, that’s cute. But no, Theo isn’t lying about the case. That shit is public record; I don’t need to be a hacker to google a court case and confirm what Theo said.” She paused as the sound of background voices came over the phone. “Look, all I know is what Theo and Google told me, and that he wants to set up a meeting with Tory. He’s probably banking on your curiosity and crazy intense sense of justice to get you to the meet.”

“When and where?” Victoria asked immediately.

“No, Bunny. We need to discuss this with the others before we make any decisions about meeting Theo.” I interjected.

She narrowed her eyes at me with a scowl. “If Theo was the fucking problem he wouldn’t have gone to Tiffany to reach out. Candy didn’t exactly seem the type to keep names to herself if it got her what she wanted, and Tiffany being a god damned gangster would have come up if Theo was the boogeyman here. Candy would have told him.”

“I’m not saying we aren’t going to take the meeting, Bunny. I’m saying we need to discuss it as a group. We need to think about the possibility that he is just pretending not to know about Tiffany’s involvement with the Golden Devils. You have to admit it’s weird as hell that he told her as much as he did about your father’s Bratva case. He could have just said your dad was in some trouble and he wanted to meet so you could discuss it. That’s all I would have said evenifI thought Tiffany was just a dumbass ditz.”

“Hey!” Tiffany sounded offended on the other end of the call before taking a breath. “He’s right though, Tory. He didn’t have any reason to tell me that stuff.”

“I thought you wanted to be my friend again, Tiff. You’re supposed to side with me on this shit.” Victoria snapped.

“Iamon your side, babe. The side that keeps your ass alive.” Tiffany retorted. “If you weren’t too trusting for your own damned good, you would have figured me out the second I got myself into the mess with Helen. If you’d questioned me even a little, I’d have cracked in a second. We wouldn’t beherebecause you would have known and I’d have made sure you had the tools to keep yourself safe long before your harem of horny horsemen arrived on the scene. No offense, baldie, still love your cooking babes.”

“Well, if we don’t end up having to take you out too, I’m happy to do a brunch when all of this is over.” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Yaasss, bitch. We need brunch and mimosas.” Tiffany cheered. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Talk to your harem about this meeting. Seriously, Tory. Don’t just up and run off to meet Theo. If they decide it’s worth the risk, you can call Theo for the deets.”

“That sounds like Bitch Barbie,” Leighton called as he strolled into the room. “Are we friends with her again?”

“Yes,” Tiffany said.

“No.” Victoria snarked at the same moment. “She’s not agreeing with me so fuck that bitch.”

“Aaaanyway, love you too bitch. Crazy Eyes, Baldie, Az-hole if you’re there too. Seriously, gotta run. Tootles!” Tiffany’s voice pitched high on the last word before the call disconnected.

“Ok, but for real, are we friends with her again?” Leighton asked, his brows dipped in confusion as he looked at Victoria for an answer.

“Maybe? I don’t know. I’m still so fucking mad at her, but it was nice to just talk to my friend for a little while.”

“About that…” I turned and motioned for everyone to move to the dining table and take a seat. “Theo wants a meeting with Victoria.”

When Victoria sat, I turned her chair and knelt to push the leg of her pants up above her knee. I gave them a quick recap of the phone call as I inspected her knee, finding it swollen and with the same discoloring on her cheek and jaw.

“What’s wrong?” Az said, leaning over as he took his seat, Leighton mimicking his motion from the other side of the table.

“She’s got a limp, and bruising I don’t remember seeing before so I wanted to check her out.” I said, testing her range of motion and pressing gently on the swelling.

“It’s about the right time frame for bruises to really start showing up after her and Leighton’s hunt,” Az replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before turning to Leighton. “You didn’t mention her taking a tumble or anything to injure the knee, though.”

“Because she didn’t. Not when she was with me at least.” Leighton replied, his eyes narrowed on Victoria as if he could pluck out all her secrets that way.

“Well…” She dragged out the word, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “I mean, between Az and Craig, theJackals weren’t the only people who’ve been man-handling me recently. So…"

“I feel left out. This is so unfair.” Leighton whined, tilting his head back dramatically. “I want to man-handle you,Ma Petit. I deserve it after today. I was agood boyandfelt feelings.” His eyes widened dramatically. “Feelings, Ma Petit!”

“Leighton… you do realize that when you’re protective, or angry, or happily getting on everyone’s nerves, that thosearefeelings, right?” I said, rolling my eyes with a grin.

“Myeyes leaked, Craig! Stop trying to steal my damned thunder!” Leighton raised his voice, pointing his finger at me.

“See, that right there, that’s anemotion.” Az chuckling.

“Fucking traitors!” Leighton yelled, moving around the table and scooping Victoria up and over his shoulder before I could stop him. “Let’s show these assholes how theyshouldhave responded to my emotional growth,Ma Petit!”