Page 147 of Enthrall Shadows
“We’re both absolutely fine,” I replied.
“How’s Lotte?” asked Shay, handing me a bottle of water.
I accepted it gladly and took a gulp. “She’s good.”
“Hungry?” asked Cameron. “We can get you a meal.”
“No, thank you.” I looked at Shay. “How’s Dex?”
“Great. Completely spoiled now. I’ll have Rue drop him off later. Get some rest first.”
“How did it go?” asked Cameron.
“Mission accomplished.” I sat back. “Who sent Lotte?”
They swapped glances.
Cameron spoke up. “She wanted to go with you. And I permitted it.”
I bristled at his arrogance. Though it was good to hear Lotte had wanted to be with me for this.
“Where’s your ruck?” asked Shay. “I heard that Lotte lost hers. She updated me.”
“I left it behind on purpose.”
Shay held my gaze.
We’d both been in the kinds of situations where we’d learned to follow our intuition. But clearly my having to use a ruse didn’t sound good.
Cameron’s jaw flexed. “How’s Reese?”
“She’s well.” I shook my head. “But she has an agenda.”
“She knew we were searching for her?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Her excuse?”
“Believing she could change the world with her activist work. Leaving behind a life she didn’t want, the life her father wanted for her. There’s more to it, though.”
Her comment about my family’s disapproval had hurt the most—as though I would have had no sway.
“How did she seem?” asked Cameron.
“Older, but the same in many ways.”
“Was her daughter with her?” asked Shay.
“No.”
“The reason she’s surfaced?” My brother’s voice held a quiet fury.
“She wants financial support to stop a company from building in the preserve.”
“That’s a surprise,” Cameron said sarcastically.
“It’s a beautiful place,” I admitted. “I’ve invited her to L.A. I’ll deliver my decision in person.”
