Page 15 of StoryTeller's Tale

Sitting back, he folds his arms over his chest. “Speak. But only if it’s not going to be anything about the Dominators.”

I clamp my mouth shut.

He stares at me for a moment. “Fuck, ST. I’ve just heard the Alpha’s heading our way. I can’t afford to have trouble or draw their attention. Can it wait until after his visit? He’s only, hopefully, going to be here a few days.”

Wiping my hand over my face, I disillusion him of his hope. “Chaz, I’m fuckin’ sorry, Bro. But no, it can’t wait.”

His cheeks puff as he sucks in air, then hollow as he blows it out. “Hit me with it.”

Sitting up straighter, I clasp my hands between my legs. “I was travelling through New Mexico. Hungry, thirsty, both me and my bike needed a top off—”

“Fuck, I’ve no time to hear one of your stories. Just give me the punchline, Brother.”

Frowning, my oratory brought to a halt, I try to focus on the important bits. “I found a book in a rest stop. It was autographed by the author. I didn’t realise the significance at first.”

“Significance?” He cocks an eyebrow.

“Long story short, it wasn’t dropped by accident. Evidence points to the owner, a woman named Sheri Secord, having been taken by the Dominators. It happened two days back—saw them clearly on the CCTV footage Legend dug up. I want to get her back.”

Chaz raises his hand. “Hold on. You’ve lost me. Who’s this Sheri to you?”

“See, she’s the owner of the book I picked up—”

He waves his hand. “Got that bit. But how long have you known her? What’s she to you? Some chick you fucked?”

My brows drawn down. “I’ve never met her.”

His eyes widen and he snorts. His head moves sharply side to side, then he repeats the action. Finally, he wiggles a finger into his ear. “Sorry, for a moment there I thought you said you didn’t know the bitch at all.”

I know her choice in books, but nothing more than that. I feel my cheeks redden as I admit, “You heard right.”

He drums his fingers on the desk. “Let me get this clear. A woman’s gone missing, and you’ve got evidence she’s been taken by the Dominators, so we can suspect what her future looks like. But you don’t know her and haven’t a clue whether she’s worth saving. Yet, you’re proposing we go to war to get her back?”

Put so starkly like that, it does seem ridiculous.

“I don’t ask you for much, Chaz.”

He gives another snort. “And this isn’t much?” He sits forward, placing his elbows on the desk and clasping his hands. His blazing blue eyes stare into mine. “This isn’t like you, ST. Any other brother, and I’d dismiss it out of hand. But what’s the bitch done that’s got you so invested in her?”

What can I do but respond lamely. “I took her book.”

“You took her book.” His eyes widen incredulously. In disbelief, he asks, “Is it any good?”

I shrug. “So far it is. I haven’t finished it yet.”

He harrumphs. “Well, I suggest you go finish it. Maybe take a bit of time to think through what an ask this is. It’s not as if we can walk up to the Dominators and ask them for the woman back.”

It isn’t. Such a request is just as likely to get her killed as a way of making a point to us.

He waves to the door and growls, “Get out of here, ST.”

CHAPTERFIVE

SHERI

BEFORE…

Agatha snorts. “I can’t believe you’re really going to do this.”

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