Page 9 of Ever After

“I don’t want anything to happen to you. If I’m right—and I usually am—the people you’re dealing with are sick bastards. They’ll stop at nothing to keep it business as usual, and they don’t mess around. Plus, you’ve got a real pretty face and a beautiful body. That’s always good for business.”

Her eyes widen a fraction, but she doesn’t offer a response. My words hang thick in the air between the two of us.

“You can come and sit in the car. I’m not wearing a wire, though.”

“Fine, but if you aren’t out in thirty minutes, I am coming in to get you.” We shake on it, and I smile. “So, where are we going tomorrow night? I’m driving us there.”

“Why? Don’t like being driven around by a girl?” Sarcasm drips from her words.

Seriously,was she always this bold?I’m liking this side of her, but she needs to learn when to listen and not fight. If this meeting goes south, I’m sure someone would beat this side out of her. I don’t want to think of a world where Finley is broken.

“If I need to get us out of there fast, I want to be in control ofmycar. You’re meeting some random person someplace, in Chicago, at night. Those odds really don’t make me feel better about the situation.”

She throws her hands up in defeat. “Fine, you can drive. I’m meeting him in Lincoln Park at a bar. He said he knows the owner, and it would be safe to talk there.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind, Finley? Lincoln Park by yourself, at night? You might as well have a neon sign around your neck, saying ‘take me’.”

“I’ve never been there, but I looked the place up. It looks okay. It’s not in a completely shady part of town. I’ll be fine. I always keep Mace with me anyway.”

I throw my hands up. I want to shake this damn girl until she gets it through her skull. “You’re insane. You know that?” My voice raises a few decibels. I push air out of my nose and run my hands through my hair. I feel like a caged bull waiting for the gate to rise as I pace around her living room.

She walks to the front door and opens it, pointing into the hallway. “Get out, Grayson. You’re not going to talk to me like that in my home. I’m not insane, and I’ll be fine.”

I stand in front of her and peer down into her gray eyes. I see the fire behind them—the challenge to say or do more. I don’t. I know when to call it. And if I do or say anything else now, she’ll go without me.

“I’ll be here to pick you up at seven tomorrow. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I walk out and hear her mutter something, but I can’t make it out. The door closes behind me with a soft click, and I urge my legs to keep moving away from her.She smelled so good I wanted to dig my hand through her hair and bury my face in her neck.I can still smell her on my skin and clothes; it gives me a special kind of high. I text Amelia on my way out, letting her know what Finley told me.

I spot her car across from mine. I want to put a tracker on it, just in case. It’s small enough she won’t notice. I reach forward to place it on her car and feel another one already in place.

Fuck!My fingers fly over the keys on my phone as I type a message as fast as I can. This just became more dangerous, and she has no clue.

Me:Finley has a tail. Just found a tracker on her car. No idea how long it’s been there.

Amelia:Shit. Guess we have another person we need to keep an eye on. Don’t let her go to that meeting alone.

Me:Wasn’t planning on it.

I place my tracker behind her right tire and debate whether or not I want to tell her what I’ve uncovered. I don’t think she’ll listen to me right now. The less she knows, the safer she is. I get into my car and head home. I hope she doesn’t do anything stupid—like go without me. Finley is too independent. She wants to do everything by herself, and it’s going to get her in trouble one of these days.

Chapter Five

Finley

I know I can be pig-headed, but there isno wayGrayson’s coming with me. I’m more than capable of getting this information on my own, and Miles is my patient. This is just a session. It’s six-thirty, and I need to get out of here before Grayson arrives. I look around the parking lot, double checking he isn’t around. I run to my car, get in, and lock the doors right away.Whew!My heart is pounding in my ears, and my palms are sweaty.

I opted for jeans and a blouse with a flat pair of shoes. I wanted to be comfortable, but still professional looking. I have no idea where I’m going to kill some time before this meeting, so I just drive around, taking in the sites. Grayson has been calling and texting me non-stop since about six-fifty, and I ignore all his messages. I’m sure each one is him yelling at me for disobeying.I wonder what my punishment would be if we were dating.

It’s now seven forty-five, and I’m parked outsideSofia’s Tavern. I keep watch of patrons entering and leaving the bar, watching for Miles. He still hasn’t arrived. I decide to bite the bullet and wait for him inside. He told me he knows the owner, so I’ll give my name to someone working there. I’m sure they’ll direct me to where I have to go.

I get out and look left and right to cross the street. A strong hand wraps around my arm, just above my elbow. I turn, prepared to scream and claw at my attacker, and notice it’s Grayson who has a death grip on me. His eyes are dark and menacing. His chest rises and falls rapidly like he’s just run here, and his entire body is tense. He looks scary like this, and I know he could hurt me if he wanted to, but he keeps his touch gentle.

“What the hell, Grayson?” I yank my arm out of his grip and rub the tender skin, which is turning red from the force he held me with.

“I’ve been calling and texting you for the past hour. We were supposed to come heretogether. Ever think of common courtesy to let me know you’re not dead?” he spits out. The storm rages inside him, and I take a small step back, needing the distance.

“Excuse you. I told you I would get you the information you need. How the hell did you find me anyway? I never told you where we were meeting.”