Page 50 of Little Wing
“Well?” I asked again as the man continued staring at me with his fangs bared. From here I could tell that one of them was cracked.
“Luca,” he snarled. “Now you. Why is my sister’s scent all over you?”
“She’s my partner.”
Even Quinn’s mouth formed a small “O” before she applauded behind Luca.
Apparently, the confidence in my voice did nothing, because Luca’s sneer only grew wider. He brushed a stray hair out of his face and stepped toward me. Every ounce of his energy was seeking to intimidate. His grin was wicked and suddenly all those descriptions in the articles about his crimes were frighteningly believable.
“Oh really? Your partner. So, she told you everything about herself?” He asked, taking another step closer. “You know everything about her? Who she is? What she’s done?”
With my fists clenched, I shook my head and scoffed. Luca might have looked fucking psychotic, but it didn’t make his face less desperate for a punch.
“She didn’t kill those women, Luca. You’re the abuser here.” I nodded toward the door behind him. “Look, I’m not going to have you slander her name here. Now get the fuck out, or I’m going to turn you in where they will waste no time in tearing you apart.”
“Okay,” Luca chuckled darkly. “But you know that if they get me, then they’ll string her up, too.”
“She’s innocent,” I growled.
“Is she, though?” Luca wagged his finger at me, like he could tell me something that would shift my feelings for Lotus. “Has she told you about Wesley?”
Okay, I admit that did throw me off.
The tightness in my chest was becoming more difficult to ignore. I always knew there was so much more to Lotus, but every passing moment was painting her more and more like the enigma I first saw her as. She was the flower hiding her truth behind petals that I wished could be plucked away. How many more petals would I have to watch fall before I finally understood her completely? How much more truth would emerge?
“Another surprise then?” Luca snickered and stuck his hand in the pocket of his green jacket. “Don’t forget, I’m not afraid of you, asshole. I see your fists all clenched like you’d actually do anything. None of us are innocent.” He turned on his heel and pointed at me and then over at Quinn. “If I find out you’re keeping her from me, I have no problem destroying your fucking life.”
Quinn stepped out from behind the counter and pointed her manicured nail at the door behind Luca. His gaze didn’t break from mine, but he nodded and stepped backwards until he pivoted and walked out of Little Wing. The air around us shifted. The heaviness that we felt just moments ago moved out of the space, likely with the man who would continue his search for Lotus until he’d find her.
“What a psychotic little man,” Quinn declared, walking over to place her hand on my shoulder. “Hey, do you want me to call this in, or do I need to wait until you connect with her?”
Both Mateo and Quinn knew that I couldn’t get ahold of Lotus or her friends. After seeing Luca, at least I knew she wasn’t with him. If she was avoiding him, then there was still a chance that everything she told me was true. Yes, there were many things she clearly left out, likethe fact that her brother was alive and certifiably insane. Knowing that alone, I had to try harder to find her. Even if just to keep him away from her.
I nodded. “Yeah, let me try again and if he comes back, let me know. I don’t want him in here anymore.” As I said that, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed the number I had called countless times over the last week.
One ring.
Two rings.
Three rings.
“Hello, you’ve reached Lotus Evans. I’m not available at the moment, but please leave a message with your name and number and I’ll do my best to return your call as soon as possible.”
“Lotus, it’s me.” I stepped back into the hall and leaned against the wall. “I know you’re hearing these. I need to see you.” After hanging up, I ran my hand through my hair, letting my fingers tangle in my curls. Everything felt flipped upside down. I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing, but I knew that I wouldn’t give up on finding her. Whether any of this was true or not, I felt I deserved to hear it from her lips and not some fucking psycho.
“Quinn, I’m heading out early. Let Mattie know.”
My conflicted frustrations took me straight from Little Wing to The Royal Nomad where the music was already boisterous for a weekday. I didn’t need to check my phone to know who I would find serving drinks on the other side of the bar.
I took a seat and watched as Kait worked on mixing drinks and pouring pints for her patrons. Despite keeping her focus on her orders, I knew she noticed me from the corner of her eye.
“I’ll be right with you,” she announced, as if I was any other person.
I pulled a bill from my pocket and held it out between two fingers. “AB negative on the rocks. Thanks.”
Kait reached to pluck the bill from my fingers, but I held on tightly. This forced her eyes to mine. Hers were a dark brown, but I could still see her pupils darting back and forth. “This is for a few minutes of your time, too. Right now.”
She swallowed hard and her heartbeat drummed in my ears. Yet even sensing this part of her, she kept her expression stoic. After she poured my drink, Kait asked another one of her coworkers to cover the bar.
