Page 47 of Captive Audience

“Okay. Good,” she said as if she didn’t trust that I’d agreed to her request.

“And if you must wander dangerous streets to ask people questions, you won’t do it without me.”

She went still, and her eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place. “It was you. You followed me to Kensington and killed that guy, didn’t you?” One hand covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”

“You’re lucky I was there. Lorenzo Tate isn’t someone you want to meet in a dark alley.”

“Neither are you, apparently.” She shook her head. “How long have you been stalking me?”

“I found your podcast about a year ago. The rest is history.”

“Maybe to you, but this is breaking news for me. I had a tech wiz hide my identity. How’d you find me?”

“You have a hacker. I have a hacker. Guess mine’s better than yours.”

“So you follow me places? Killed Lorenzo Tate? Why?”

“Is it so bloody terrible that I don’t want you to get hurt?”

She lowered her chin. “My safety isn’t your concern.”

But it is, Wildfire. Your safety is very much my concern.

I gritted my molars and bit back my response for fear of sounding unstable. Because if anything happened to Asha, I’d feel it as profoundly as any of the others I’d lost. Whatever my fascination had started as, it’d grown teeth. It’d burrowed into my chest and rooted there, refusing to let go.

“Sierra Witkowski,” Asha said suddenly. “Do you know what happened to her?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“But you have connections on the street. Someone must know something.”

“Maybe. I don’t make it my business to ask questions about runaways.”

Neither of us spoke for a time. I checked a few emails while Asha sat deep in thought, probably questioning every decision that had landed her here, until she straightened in her seat.

“That’s what I want.”

I arched a brow.

“You owe me. For manipulating me into this job, for forcing me to marry you, for sending me to fucking jail.” She aimed that hard stare at me again. “I’ll find your Soul Collector if you help find Sierra. Promise me that, and I’ll come willingly. Refuse, and I’ll resist you every step of the way.”

I exhaled long and slow. “It’d be much easier if you’d just accept cash like every other person in this city.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t?”

Because I know you, love. Better than you realize.

I gave her a look that dared her to challenge me.

“Fine.” Asha sighed. “I don’t want your blood money.”

I nodded. “I’ll help you find Sierra, but only because I choose to. You’re in no position to make demands of me.”

“Just the way you like it, right?”

“Aye. You’re catching on.”

Her mouth flattened into a line. She hated this, but the flicker in her eyes told me she was in. Willing or otherwise, it didn’t matter. I had Asha. Hook, line, and sinker.