Page 87 of Pretty Lethal
Wilder fake gasps. “How scandalous.”
I roll my eyes, hitting him lightly with the back of my hand. “Do you think it means anything?”
He frowns at the photograph as Kai takes it from my hand for a closer inspection before shrugging. “I’ve no idea. It could just be a random hook-up.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I murmur, even though something doesn’t sit quite right. “But what if it’s not?”
Kai’s brows furrow as he thinks. “We know the Elite know who you are—to Wilder, at least. He could have been using Carrie to gather information about you.”
Wilder lifts his gaze to scan my face. “What do you know about Carrie?”
“Not much. She’s an English professor at Ridgeway. Probably in her mid-forties. She’s worked there her whole career. The night of the party, she said she saw an old acquaintance, then when I went to the bathroom, I caught her and Robbie in the office.”
“Did either of them see you?” Hawk interjects.
I shake my head. “No. I left before they could.”
“I can look into Carrie, see if there’s anything there,” Kai offers, setting the photograph back in its place. I give him a grateful smile before the four of us are startled by the clearing of a throat.
“Sir Edward Samuel Gregory will be with you momentarily.”
As the house manager turns and strides away, I give Wilder awhat the helllook as Kai scoffs and Hawk mumbles, “Jeez,” under his breath.
“Yeah, I know,” Wilder grumbles. “Make sure to kill me if I ever get that self-involved.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Hawk says with a predatory grin as he claps Wilder on the shoulder. “We will.”
The loud tap of a cane against the hard floors announces the elderly Mr. Clearwater before he shuffles into the room. I’m surprised once again as I take in his less-than-perfect appearance. His hair is disheveled and his clothing is wrinkled, giving the impression that he got dressed in a hurry.
I glance at Wilder out of the corner of my eye, noting that he’s just as taken aback by his grandfather’s appearance.
“Wilder, my boy. I didn’t know we were meeting today.” Edward’s attention shifts to me, Hawk, and Kai, his lips thinning. “And you brought uninvited guests.” He makes it sound like Wilder brought a cage of rats or unruly children with him.
“Uhh, yeah. These are my friends, Hawk and Kai, and this is my girlfriend, Emilia.”
I blush beneath him calling me his girlfriend. I still can’t get used to that word or how hearing it makes me feel hot all over.
His grandfather’s eyes snap to me, and he ambles closer. The wrinkles around his mouth and eyes deepen as I undergo his scrutiny. “Emilia… What is your last name?”
I glance briefly at Wilder before answering. “Harrison.”
“Never heard of any Harrison,” he grunts dismissively.
Uhhh. What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“Are your family Elites?”
“Ehh, no.”
With a displeased shake of his head, I’m dismissed as Edward rounds on his grandson. “Wilder, boy. Are you not aware of the rules? She is not suitable for you.”
If Wilder’s gaze could kill, his grandfather would be dead on the spot.
“Good thing I’m not an Elite anymore, then,” he half-snarls in response.
“What are you going on about?”
“I’m done with all that shit. That’s why I’m here. To tell you to leave me and my family alone.”
