Blood of my Enemy
Page 5
“Really?” Riley asked.
“If she doesn’t show soon or call or something, I have to get them involved to help look for her.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “Call the local cops. Try to file missing persons on her.”
Riley considered the request. “You do that, and it will tip Damien off.”
“I know, but she isn’t leaving me many choices here.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make sure you girls don’t end up on the streets.” He looked over at her. “She really should have called. I’d have taken care of you both.”
The email from Richard O’Hare flashed in his mind, and he wanted to make sure Riley stayed safely out of his reach.
“Go on.”
“Thank you for showing up.”
“I’ll always show up.”
Riley opened the passenger door before looking back at him. “Why didn’t you come for her? Hell, why didn’t you stop him?”
“I didn’t come because it kept her alive. And I did stop him.” He cleared his throat. “I stopped him from killing her that night.”
This wasn’t like her. Not the Juliette he remembered. She had made a lot of juvenile choices over the years, but she never disappeared without a word. Ever.
He waited until Riley went inside before leaving to find the closest bank. He had enough cash on him to cover the back rent he saw they owed on the eviction notice. Now he just needed cash to leave for them to take care of the bills he knew were piling up. If he thought for a second he could convince Juliette to come home, he’d do it, but he knew better.
It didn’t take much charm to get the bank teller to give him the cash he needed. A couple of phone calls to confirm information, and he walked out with enough to ease his own mind. Once they found Juliette, and he made sure she took the money, he’d have a bank account set up for them with whatever they needed.
When he got back to their apartment, he went upstairs to the apartment the landlord had disappeared into. He knocked once and waited.
It opened, and the man eyed him. “Building’s full.”
Lucien cocked his brow before softening with a humorless smirk.
“Well, lucky for me then.” He handed him an envelope. “Apartment downstairs, two young ladies. You posted an eviction notice on their door. They’re paid up.”
The man thumbed through the cash. “Good. Two months behind. This is the second time.” Lucien clenched his jaw. “Don’t need that kind of hassle. They have ‘til the end of the week.”
The hell they did. Lucien adjusted his cuffs.
“That’s enough money to cover the back rent and the next couple months.” He stepped closer. “So, from where I’m standing, that means they are all paid up and no longer in your debt. Isn’t that right?”
“O-of course.” The man paled and nodded. “They’re all paid up.”
“And I shouldn’t leave here with any concerns for their well-being, that right, too?”
“No, sir.”
Lucien stepped back with a smile. “Great, you have a good day.”
The door slammed in his face, and he smirked. Good, a little fear never hurt anyone. He went for the stairs as a beat-up car pulled up in front of the apartment. Slipping into the shadow, pressing against the wall, he watched.
It was her.
He could just see her profile through the windshield. Relief washed over him followed by annoyed frustration. Where the hell had she been? If she could drive, then she could pick up a damned phone.
She got out of the car, and he got his first good look of her. Looking both tired and spent. Eyes heavy with something he didn’t understand. Guilt maybe? Shame?
She shut the driver door and froze.
Shit.
He pressed closer to the wall as she lifted her eyes up to where he was. Damned girl still had it in her to sense him. Her stare lingered for a moment before she finally went inside.
He knew what he was about to walk into. A shit storm between these women and he wasn’t up for being the diplomat today.
Halted at the door, he listened as their voices drifted back into the apartment before slipping inside. For a moment, he thought about leaving the money on the counter and letting Riley deal with her.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve taken care of it.” Juliette’s voice hit him deep down in his core.
How exactly has she taken care of it? Lucien moved towards their voices. Now he needed an explanation.
“Taken care of it? What have you been doing to take care of it?” Riley laughed, but she didn’t sound amused. Good, neither was he. “No, you know what, I can take a guess at what you’ve been doing. The better question is how long have you been whoring yourself out to pay our bills?”
The accusation burned through him.
“It’s none of your business what I’ve been doing as long as the bills get paid!”
He’d heard enough. She’d had every opportunity to call him. To ask for help, knowing damn well he’d have given it to her without question.
“Are you kidding?” Riley’s voice trailed off with hurt.
He moved into the doorway behind Riley. “And me? Is it my business?”
The color drained from her face with eyes wide as she took him in. If Damien ever had anything right about her, it was those eyes. They really were like a rare galaxy. Purple with flecks of turquoise swirling in them.
She visibly swallowed, and he caught a glimpse of the bloody carnage at the side of her neck. Her dark curls barely hid the deep bite embedded in her flesh. Inflamed, angry red and still oozing blood. The scent of wolf venom lingered in the air.
Narrowing his stare on her with an intensity he knew she’d recognize, he moved around Riley and stopped between them with his arms crossed. He knew exactly what she had done and where she’d been. It downright pissed him off. She would answer for it. Right here. Right now. And be lucky if Damien didn’t find out because there would be nothing he could do to stop his lovesick brother from coming after her.
She sucked in a breath. Eyes glassy with tears.
“Lucien…”
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Blood of Night
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