Page 195 of Retribution

“Piece of cake,” I say, chuckling as Grant closes the door again from the front seat.

“Slice of pie,” he grins, smoothly driving away. “You’re a minx, Little Nightmare.”

“Let’s go get our girl,” I say happily.

Peace out, Minnesota. It’s been real.

Chapter Forty-One

Two weeks later

Oliver

Isolde is tucked into my side as she naps, and our pack is taking a lazy day. Our house is slowly filling with furniture, and Lucas has been to the office once in the last two weeks.

Everything continues to move well despite Paula no longer working there, and Lucas hasn’t mentioned anything about picking her up from jail. I have a feeling that he is trying to process the betrayal.

None of us are going to force the issue. Paula can rot there a while longer.

Grant is working on construction plans to demolish and donate the furnishings in the main house. We decided that we’re going to extend the driveway and gardens out to Isolde’s house and build an external garage.

Rita’s also having her own house built as well on the property so she can babysit occasionally, and we will be moving between here and the vacation lake house we’re planning to build inMinnesota. We decided that we want somewhere to stay that’s ours so we can visit the packs we’ve become friends with. I want to make lots of memories with Isolde and Leila, and I haven’t taken a vacation in years.

I think I’ll enjoy it more now than I would have if I’d taken it before meeting my pack. I’m finally getting everything and more than I imagined.

Leila is sleeping in our room, and I have her baby monitor beside me in case she wakes up. We’re finally getting longer naps from our sweet girl.

We also made it to the doctor for a check up, and everything is as it should be for her health wise. She’s just a little small for her age. Leila is about five months old, and I’m loving everything about being a parent.

Lucas glares at his phone as it lights up, and I wonder if the day of reckoning is finally coming for Paula.

“Hello?” he answers, hitting the speaker button as soon as he gets a reply. “Paula?—”

“I shouldn’t be here!”she screeches. “I keep your secrets, and now I’m in jail for God only knows what. No one will tell me.”

The silent treatment is apparently wearing on Paula. My lips twitch in amusement as she continues to complain. No one will tell her shit about why she’s been arrested so the records of her jail stay can be easily erased.

“Paula, keeping any secrets I may or may not have is part of your nondisclosure clause in your contract,” Lucas reminds her. “It doesn’t offer you any special privileges. If you thought it would afford you protection from colluding with sex traffickers?—”

“What are you talking about?” Paula whines. “Are you sick? Did you hit your head? I wouldn’t know the first thing about finding a sex trafficker, much less speak to one.”

The gaslighting is adorable. Isolde sighs, shifting against me, making me hold her tighter.

“Everything will become clear soon,” Lucas says cryptically. “I’ll come see you to explain it all.”

Grant’s eyes snap up at this, and his upper lip curls in unhappiness.

“You’re coming?” Paula asks excitedly, pulling Isolde out of her sleep.

I think Paula is exposing herself and the crush that she’s been harboring. As far as I know, Lucas has worked a long time with her, and the bitch caught feelings.

It would explain a lot about why she decided to throw our girl to the wolves. Maybe it was less about money, and more about her jealousy.

“I am,” Lucas says, swallowing hard as he glances at Grant. They’re definitely going to be arguing about this. “I’ll fix it with Grant. Don’t call me again, Paula.”

“I can’t promise that,” she sighs. “I hate it here.”

Lucas hangs up without saying goodbye, shaking his head in disgust.