Page 8 of Ever After
I sigh, and my shoulders sag. “Listen, I think he was involved in some shady stuff, but I’m not sure what. Are you able to tell me what you think?”
“Why don’t you tell me what you know, and then I’ll tell you what I know?”
I smirk. He knows I’m not going to fall for that. “No. I don’t trust you’ll tell me anything.”
“And you’re not working the case, so I guess we are at an impasse.”
I sigh and walk into the living room to sit. He doesn’t move from the hallway, but I feel his eyes on me the entire time. “All right, I know where one of his business deals is going to happen, but if your pride is more important than information,” I shrug, “that’s fine.”
He scrubs his hand down the front of his face and groans before finally walking into the living room and sitting on the seat across from me. “Fine, I think he was involved in some shady stuff.”
I roll my eyes. “No shit, like what?”
He narrows his eyes, watching me, trying to decipher my secret. “You seem to be figuring out stuff on your own. What do you think?”
I bite the inside of my cheek and ponder his words.I hope I’m wrong.“Drugs or human trafficking.”
He smiles wide enough to make that damn dimple pop. “I always knew you were a bright girl, Finley. Now, about that location?”
“Well, I wasn’t told exactly when it will be.”
A low growl escapes him. “What do you mean, you weren’t told,exactly?”
“Someone I’m working with wants me to meet him somewhere safe to discuss it tomorrow night. He was jittery; I almost didn’t agree to meet with him but finally did. He looked relieved.” I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one.
“You know, for being smart… you’re not. You aren’t going there alone.” I watch his muscles flex under his snug t-shirt, and I’m suddenly very thirsty. His tension and anger roll off him in waves. “When and where is it?”
“I can’t give you that information. I just want you to know that I’ve got it covered, and as soon as I can give you some more information, I will.”
He smacks his leg and jumps up from his seat. “Damn it, Finley. You aren’t going to be prowling the streets at night, meeting with some crazy person.” His nostrils flare, and his eyes are wild, making them appear much darker blue than normal.
I narrow my eyes, uncurl myself from my seat, and stand directly in front of him. My nose is level with his hard chest. I tilt my head back so I can meet his eyes and poke him hard with my finger. “You listen to me, Grayson. I willnottolerate you yelling at me. You’re the one that needsmyhelp, not the other way around. I’m not the one trying to solve a case. That’s you!” I finish my booming speech by jabbing my finger hard into his chest again and push a harsh breath past my lips.
The veins in his arms have popped, and he looks like he wants to hurt someone. He swats my hand away. “Fine, will you at least let me drive you there, so I know you’ll be safe?” He rolls his neck, and his eyes return to a somewhat normal color.
“Only if you wait in the car and allow me to do my thing. I don’t need him to get spooked because you’re menacing. Let me get this information my way, and then I’ll get it to you.”
“You’re wearing a wire.”
He’s playing with me—testing me. I know that’s not legal, and he can’t ask me to do that. I chuckle and meet his stare. “No.”
Grayson
I don’t remember Finley being this temperamental in high school, and it’s pissing me off. I’m used to people following orders, not pushing back on them.
“There’s no discussion. You’re wearing a wire, and that’s final.” Okay, so it’s not final. It’s not exactly legal if the person she’s meeting with doesn’t know, but I doubt she knows that.
She takes a step closer to me, arms crossed over her chest. “Are you going to strip me down to put it on then? Because I refuse to. This is a session with a patient, not some random stranger. I’ll be treating this session just like any other, and I’m not wearing a wire.”
I smile. The idea of stripping her down is enticing. I know I’d be able to drag a moan from her lush lips with just a brush of my finger. I’m itching to drag my fingers down her delicate flesh, feel every soft curve of her body against mine. This game we’re playing—this push and pull is all foreplay. I’m not sure she even realizes she’s doing it.
She rolls her eyes. “Stop thinking about it, Grayson.”Maybe she does.
I chuckle. “I need to know you’re going to be safe.”
She drops her hands to her sides, scrunching her face in confusion. “Why? You haven’t seen me in years, and we were never friends. Why’s it important to you to keep me safe? I’ve been doing fine on my own without you.”
Because I’ve been following you for the better part of a year, and I don’t want you to end up missing, like Sarah.She’s playing with fire, getting involved in things she shouldn’t be. I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to her because she’s stubborn.