Page 31 of Deceiver

He needs to know that he didn’t get it because he’s good, or deserving, he got it because he’s a liar and a cheat.

That will niggle away at him, and he’ll forever know he wasn’t worthy of the chance.

Cruel? Probably.

But so is risking my life.

That’s one less thing on my to do list.

Little by little, I’m finding my answers.

Little by little, I’m getting closer to the truth.

Gone is the weak, broken girl who was left in shambles after that article was released.

Instead, I’m bringing myself back, and all my passion and determination will help me rise to the top.

I’m going to get to the bottom of this, no matter who I have to stomp down to do so.

Starting with Bill Whart ...

7

“One of the boys returned,” I say, standing in front of Western a few days later.

His eyes scan over me, almost raking my body, which sparks a fire inside that I’m finding harder and harder to control. I swore to myself that what I did now would only be about the foster kids moving forward, but being around him again is making that very hard. That thought makes me feel weak, because he isn’t exactly treating me like an angel, but my stupid brain seems to be unable to comprehend that and still wants me to jump his bones any chance I can.

“I heard,” he murmurs, his eyes empty of any kind of emotion, like this news doesn’t seem to bother him at all. “What did Bill ask you to find out?”

Bill made his first request: he wants me to find out how the club is involved in the entire situation. He’s convinced they have a hand in it, and it’s causing him and his “boss” problems. I find it hard to believe the club would be involved in taking and selling children, but he is adamant they are, and he wants to know how. I’m not certain I want that answer, but, for now, I don’t have much of a choice.

“He wants to know how you’re involved in the foster kids going missing. He is convinced the club has something to do with it, and he wants to know how.”

Western’s eyes flash and his face tightens in a way that’s a little unnerving because it means that perhaps, there is the smallest possibility that Bill is right, and they do have something to do with it. Surely not, surely after everything Western went through as a young man he wouldn’t have a hand in this. He watched Braithe’s life so cruelly taken from him. There is no way he could watch other innocent kids go through the same thing.

“What information, exactly, is he asking you to return?” Western grinds out.