Page 37 of Dark Wolf Soul
At the exit, Grey stops long enough to tell his friend, “Clean this up, and come by when you’re done.”
“And your dad?”
Grey frowns. “What if I said it’s none of his business.”
The guy shrugs. “Then it’s not.”
Grey nods. “See you soon.”
“You got it, boss.”
“Don’t call me that.” Grey snaps.
The guy smirks then turns and disappears back inside.
Still scowling, Grey unlocks the car and opens the back passenger door. Ushering Claire in first, I slide in behind her.
Grey closes the door behind us, but I don’t speak. Not even when he climbs in behind the wheel and turns the car on, blasting the heat and aiming the vents at Claire shivering beside me. I can’t bring myself to acknowledge his gentlemanly gesture. There’s nothing gentle about him, no matter how much he pretends. He’s a killer and a kidnapper and a mafia prince. I can’t let myself forget that ever again. Even if he just chose to save me rather than throw me to the wolves.
14
LEXI
Claire doesn’t speak on the ride back into the city. I hold her hand in mine, noting how cold she is, but even then, she doesn’t say a word. I bite my lip, debating whether to press her for answers, but my mind is too busy demanding answers of my own. Rather than replay the scene in that warehouse, I focus on the fact that these men are capable of shifting into wolves. And, if Grey’s claims about me are true, so am I. It’s terrifying to think about, but I can’t help wishing for it anyway. If I were a wolf, I could fight my way free. But it’s not like I can ask my captor for answers when giving them would mean giving me the upper hand.
Grey pulls to the curb out front of a fancy high-rise apartment building, not unlike his own.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Meeting a friend.” Grey’s eyes flick to Claire in the rearview. “Someone who can help her get home.”
“Home?” I shake my head. “She needs a hospital.”
His gaze snaps to mine. “That’s not how it’s done.”
“Well, where I’m from, when a girl’s attacked, she deserves—”
“What?” he snaps, eyes shooting daggers at me. “Justice? Isn’t that what she just got?”
I hesitate. “Medical attention,” I say, my tone icy.
“She’ll have what she needs,” he says cryptically, and I follow the direction of his glance through the window where a figure peels off from the shadows and approaches the car.
I tense as the figure bends and opens Claire’s car door. A woman, not much older than me, with riotous red hair peers in at us. She tosses Grey a shirt that he quickly pulls on. Then she looks at us in the backseat.
Beside me, Claire grabs my arm with her free hand, clinging tightly.
“What—” I begin, alarmed.
“Relax. This is Mia. She’s going to help.” He turns back to look at Claire pressed against his backseat. “Mia is Reyes’ daughter. She’s part of my squad, and she’s going to keep you safe,” he tells her. “Okay?”
Mia doesn’t say a word as she waits with the door held open. She flicks a curious glance at me but otherwise seems as if this whole thing is just another Tuesday night. Maybe for her, it is.
My earlier resolve to see this girl to the hospital is slipping away. Something about the smooth transition he’s offering tells me this isn’t the first late-night rescue he’s made in this city, and the idea of it throws me off balance. Suddenly, he’s not the evil I’m fighting against.
Just like he’s not the one to blame for what happened at the warehouse.
Before I can think of a reason to stop her, Claire whispers, “Okay,” and slides out of the car to join Mia on the sidewalk. She looks over her shoulder at me and says, “Thanks.”
