Page 43 of Stolen Temptation

It’s been many years since a woman managed that.

Despite that sweet expression, she’s a pro at dodging my questions, especially when they’re about her relationship with Leo.

However, I can confirm she’s true to her word.

After I answered her low-stakes queries, she began to answer some of mine.

She seemed to relax even more once the food I ordered up for her arrived. I’ve never seen a woman attack a breakfast spread like that, but those pancakes and eggs didn’t stand achance.

If I’m going to get anything more meaningful out of her, I need to change tactics, but I’m stuck. My interrogation skills only get bloody and painful from here on out. And I’ve already given her my word that no harm will come to her while she’s with us, provided she behaves. And even if I did feel comfortable physically forcing the truth out of a woman, I don’t have the stomach for it withher.

Just seeing her blood under my fingernails caused me to crash the van. Although that suicidal deer helped too.

Interrogation, as I’m used to it, is off the table. At least for me.

The problem is, I’m not sure that will remain the case for Shane or Finn. In the past, I’d be certain of Finn, too, but with all the pressure lately, I’m not sure what he’d do.

Since the thought of someone harming her—even one of my best friends—fills me with instant rage, I need to engage in a different strategy. One that will gain me answers before Finn or Shane loses patience and decides to twist the screws.

The extent of my relationships with women in recent years involves a couple drinks at a club or bar before heading back to a hotel room to get dirty between the sheets. Good thing a recent long-term girlfriend isn’t a requirement for understanding how to apply charm.

And unless I figure out how to extract info from her quickly, Finn may very well chop my dick off and serve it to me on a platter.

Fuck.If she would just tell me why she was at the auction, I could puzzle out the rest.

Between the two of us, Darren and I obtained bodycam footage of just about everyone in attendance.

We’re already running facial recognition to connect the dots between Leo and his allies—past, present, and future.

If Kiara attended the auction as someone’s guest—though that’s doubtful—learning that person’s identity would help fill in the missing blanks.

But she only offers silence.

“It’s obvious you didn’t want to be there.”

“What gave it away?” she deadpans. “The fact that I ran into you while trying to flee the scene and all but begged for your help?”

“To be fair, I think you actuallydidbeg for my help.” I offset the statement with a smile to let her know I’m joking and lean back, deciding to shift tactics. “How do you prefer to spend a Friday night?”

A spark flares in Kiara’s eyes.

“Out late reading,” she shares.

Kiara likes to spend her Friday nights reading in the city? That…is not what I was expecting to hear. For one, reading is a solitary pursuit, and Kiara seems like the type of woman who’d have lots of friends.

Wouldn’t she rather spend time with them? Head to a dance club or a movie or dinner at a nice restaurant?

At least she didn’t say she liked hanging out with Leo.

My fingers curl. I shake that last thought away before it can destroy my mood. “Any place in particular you like to go?”

“Yes…my favorite bookstore in the city.”

“Why’s it your favorite?”

Warmth glows in her eyes, and her expression grows animated. The combination flattens my lungs. She’s always pretty, but lit up like this? The woman steals my breath.

“Well, it’s an indie bookstore to start, because duh. The shelves are tall and mazelike in spots, and the tallest ones have those ladders like in the Beast’s library. Plus, the owner scattered comfortable and colorful loveseats and chairs all throughout the store, so shoppers can curl up and start reading. The place always smells like cinnamon, too, and they have a huge selection of romances.”