Page 162 of The Echo of Forever

The room was small but well-equipped with a computer terminal, surveillance monitors, and a small arsenal. But most importantly, a golf simulator I had installed after discovering my unexpected talent for the game.

“It was smart,” I said, answering his last question first. “And yes, I found it funny because you aren’t here to save your aunt’s life. You want to see if her business dealings can become yours.”

He gave me innocent eyes for about three seconds before they switched to something a little more calculating. The shift was impressive.

I turned on the golf simulator, and it lit up the room.

“Break it down to me,” I said, handing him a golf club and taking one for myself. “Cite your sources. Oh, and I will be telling your cousin, but lucky for you, I can delay him killing her if it warrants that.”

Maybe even stop it altogether, depending on what Velma was into.But I kept that thought to myself as Tristian beganexplaining everything he’d seen and heard. I listened carefully, filing away details and planning how to approach this with Demetrius.

The kid had good instincts, coming to me first. I didn’t mind looking into his matter, as long as he understood my loyalty would always be to my husband first.

I took him back to the compound myself, not wanting to leave him to his own devices. Solei was coming out of her place as I passed on my way out, and I stopped, rolling my window down as she walked down the driveway.

“Wanna get a massage?”

Solei frowned but stepped closer, clearly intrigued.

“Is that code for let’s go murder someone?” She shook her head, locked her car door, and then got into my car. “Doesn’t matter, I know it’s code for something fun.”

That was one thing I was beginning to appreciate about her. She didn’t need every detail explained, just trusted there was a reason. I wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about her, especially now that I was aware she killed frivolously. And that we had a close relationship before I forgot.

“You ever been here before?” I asked as we entered the spa from the street.

“Don’t really care about being touched by strangers. I do love a good head spa, though. Scalp scrubs are my guilty pleasure.”

I chuckled, giving myself a mental reminder to gift her a few of those.

“Understood. Luckily, we ain’t here to relax.”

Her eyes were full of intrigue, but she didn’t question me further. I watched her scan the lobby after being checked in and hid a smile.

“Here are your key cards…” The desk attendant pressed them into my palm. “The changing rooms are through these doors.”

We were led to a private locker room area that smelled like the inside of Demetrius’s grandmother’s house.

Solei pulled her robe out and glanced at me.

“I’m keeping my gun,” she said quietly, already slipping out of her clothes.

Leaving mine behind had never been an option.

Once changed, our new attendant gestured for us to follow her down a corridor. Having checked the layout before leaving the car, I noticed we were headed in the opposite direction from the massage rooms and hummed.

“What’s first?” Solei asked.

“Special treatment room,” the attendant replied without hesitation. “As requested.”

We continued down the corridor until our guide stopped in front of a frosted glass door labeledSalt Room.

“Fifteen minutes,” she said, waving us in.

The moment we stepped inside, the door closed behind us with an audible click of a lock engaging. The room was dimly lit, with salt-covered walls and floor that glittered under the lighting.

Without a word, Solei and I both reached for the guns strapped to our thighs.

“I wouldn’t,” a voice called out as another door on the opposite side of the room slid open. Destiny LaPorte poked her head through. “We have limited time, and I’d rather not waste it with unnecessary drama.”