Page 78 of Deception
“Don’t,” she says, leaning against the heavy door. “I get it. I’m the obvious choice to look at first, but that really fucking hurt, Colt.”
“I’m sorry.”
Nodding, she looks at the table. “So, was that what this is? To make sure it wasn’t me? Did I react the way you expected? Did I pass the test?”
“It’s not a test,” TK says. “The truth is, we need your help. We have no idea who it is, and you have a better handle on the old ladies.”
“And some of the members, it seems,” Ky says. “I mean, you knew about Brian and Alex.”
“No one and everyone looks suspicious to us,” Jennings says. “We went around in circles trying to talk it out and find one person.”
She can’t meet any of their gazes because she’s not certain she won’t burst into tears. It’s a lovely side effect of the therapy that she hates with a passion. “What makes you think it’s one of us?”
The pain in Colt’s sigh almost makes her look, but she can’t. Not yet. He runs through the facts they’ve clearly discussed ad nauseam based on the annoyance in his tone. The hiding placesJulian’s aware of that only someone from the inside would be privy to.
“What about Zane?” Lex asks. “Could it be something he’s giving up?”
“Zane isn’t ratting out the club,” VP says with such conviction that it feels like he twists the knife still sticking out of her chest. “My son would never do that.”
Her eyes snap up, this time filled with anger instead of tears. “But your daughter would?”
“Lex—”
“Fuck you, VP. Like, seriously, go fuck yourself.”
“You have more of a reason to fuck us over than Zane does.”
Stepping forward, she slaps her hands on the top of the table and leans forward to look into his hazel eyes. “He got his ass kicked to the curb by this club. That’s more of a reason than I will ever have.”
“Just admit it, Lex. You hate us.”
“No, I hateyou,” she spits and stands back up. “If it were only you getting locked up, yeah, I’d probably be the prime suspect.”
He looks taken aback, but her anger only intensifies. “Is that right?”
“You will never see me the way you see him because I was born with ovaries instead of testicles, but I have done everything for this club. Even if I died saving him, I would still not be good enough for you. You’re angry with me because you blame me for Zane getting kicked out. Your legacy disappeared with him.”
“It was your people who brought it up,” VP says.
“My people? He can never do anything wrong in your eyes, can he?” she asks and crosses her arms over her chest. “He could kill you, and your last breath would be spent defending him.”
“Do you honestly believe Zane would turn against the club like that?” VP shouts and stands up. “Do you?”
Locking eyes with him, Lex keeps her expression deadpan. “Yes. I believe it as much you believe he wasn’t going to kill me in my own front yard.”
“This says a lot about you, Alexis. You have never been able to let grudges go.”
“No, I think this says a lot about you, Nash,” Jennings says. “You know what? It might be better if you go and sit in the main room while we finish this conversation. You’re not helping.”
“Fine,” he says, pushing his seat back and lets it slam against the wall. “Guess you have everyone against me, too. Happy?”
Venom’s up in a flash and slams her father against the wall. “You need to get a reality check real fucking quick before I put you in the goddamn ground. Your son ain’t shit, and I’m starting to see that whole shit about the apple and the tree is pretty fucking true. His bitch ass clearly takes after his daddy.”
“Get off me,” VP says, struggling to shrug him off. “Go feed into her bullshit. I don’t care.”
“That’s fucking obvious,” Colt says. “Let him go, Venom.”
Growling, he does as he’s told, but he glares at the older man. “I get the all clear, and I will be the last face you ever fucking see.”
