Page 33

Dante

I’ve been idling for the last hour, sitting in the parking lot as I try to find the right words to throw at Harley. And now with Ronan’s text about a goddamn hit list, I have absolutely no idea what direction to steer this investigation in. I liked it better when all of this shit was simple.

I stumble in through the main doors, heading toward Harley’s office, trying to keep a blank expression on my face. We haven’t said shit to each other since I kicked him out of Selene’s house so whatever is about to happen is going to be awkward.

I’m not ready for the genuine smile Harley flashes at me as I enter, the man waving for me to sit in the chair across from his desk. He’s got a beautiful black eye and a split lip from our scuffle but he wears it like a badge of honor rather than a notice not to fuck up again. “Mom called. Said she’d love to have dinner tonight.”

I glare at him, resentment coiling in my chest. Harley’s always taken to my mother like she’s his, something that’s always been a bit strange to me. “That’s great. If my mother wants dinner, she can text me herself.” Harley just shrugs, leaning back in his chair like he doesn’t have anything to atone for. “I get that you’ve got a lot of bullshit going on, but if you ever treat Selene like that again, I’m going to make it hurt.”

“Yeah, I called to apologize but I think her phone’s off.”

A sharp bitter laugh falls from me. “No, she’s just not answering you. You barged into her house and then your drunken ass interrogated her, you dipshit.”

“But she knows something and I just… when did you and her become a thing?”

I know I shouldn’t, but the smug tilt of his mouth, the way he thinks he’s got her figured out makes my blood boil. I need to wipe that look off his face and knock him down a peg or two. Leaning forward, I meet his gaze, letting one of my more deadly smiles spill over my lips. “I’ve known her since we were kids. I was surprised when she ended up here, but things just kinda rekindled.”

“Even when we were dating?”

“Nope, she pushed me to the side but ran right back after she left you. Look, this is about how you fucked up. Don’t do it again.” I told him yesterday that it doesn’t matter who I stick my dick in or frankly who sticks their dick in me and I meant it. “Now, tell me about Philip Smission. You said he’s dead but that the kill was weird.”

Harley looks like he wants to argue, but he sighs and changes the conversation. “Yeah, he was left on a park bench with the words ‘I’m sorry’ written in blood on the wood. Not a typical kill for The Reaper, but it’s definitely their work.”

A body on a bench with a scrawled apology? That’s not her. It’s too quiet, a sinking feeling in my gut that whoever is after her has already gotten into her head. “Anything else?”

“We got a letter. It’s with the forensics team, but essentially, the guy who left the body on Monday wants to play with The Reaper.”

“Did he give himself some awful name, too?”

Harley shakes his head, his shoulders deflating in defeat. “No, he’s just an unknown. That’s why I’ve been allowed to officially extend you an offer as a consultant on this case. We can’t afford any more bodies. The press already has wind that Philip’s dead. This is going to send people into a frenzy so I need a profiler who knows his shit. Which is you.”

I think I hesitate a little too long with the way Harley’s face scrunches up.

“Just promise me that if Selene knows something, you bring it to me.”

“What do you think she knows, Harley? Be so fucking for real, right now.”

He shifts uncomfortably in his chair, his gaze darting around his office before falling back on me. “I don’t know. I just know that something doesn’t add up.”

“Well, you’ve got that meeting with her on Monday. Ask then. Make your deductions and then move on. She’s not your enemy, Harley.” I stand and head to the entrance of his office. “Let me think on your offer. It’s been fun not having to play by the rules. Filling out an actual contract, regardless of who it helps, isn’t really part of my plan.” Those words don’t make him happy but I don’t care.

He’s testing me. If I take him up on the offer, he’ll believe that I don’t know anything, I’ll also have unfettered access to everything that comes across his desk. And if I don’t…