Page 88 of The Predator
Jordyn huffed. “I still don’t see why you’re upset with us. Our uncle is a hunter. You know that. So he’s buying a weapon.”
Tripp clicked the remote again.
I knitted my brows. Noah was talking to Lester outside of Intech as though they were old friends. “When was that taken?” My aunt thought Noah was missing or had been kidnapped by Roman.
Tripp settled his stance at the edge of the table. “This was the day Jordyn interviewed with Intech. Sawyer was able to hack into the cameras around the company.”
“Any sign of Rianne?” I held my breath. Maybe she was in Boston but then joined Noah in Chicago.
Tripp shook his head hard. “None.”
Sam’s eyes flashed silver as he focused on Jordyn. “Are you plotting with Noah and Rianne to kill me or any of us here? Was your interview a hoax? Is your interest in working with us just a ploy to throw us off track? Are you their mole?” His voice grew deeper on each question.
I understood his anger. I could even jump on board with how suspicious it looked that Jordyn had trekked off to Chicago, given the pictures up on screen. But he had no right to unleash his browbeating fury on Jordyn. She was the one person who would never betray me.
I fisted my hands in my lap. “What gives you the right to bully her? And what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Not only that, but I trust her.”
Sam’s fangs descended as if in slow motion.
I rolled my eyes and popped up like a jack-in-the-box. “Puh-lease, vampire. Fangs don’t scare me.”
He marched closer to me. “Need I remind you that Rianne tried to hurt you? Almost killed you. And didn’t you trust her too?”
I bared my teeth. “Jordyn isn’t Rianne.”
“Answer the questions, Jordyn,” Tripp prompted in an even tone. At least he was keeping his composure together, although I didn’t doubt he could snap at any moment.
Jordyn clasped her hands together as she fixated on the low pile carpet.
It felt like a bag of nails was poking my stomach. “Jordyn, say something.”
She cleared her throat. “I promise, Layla. I don’t know what’s going on.” Her voice was soft but shaky, and she still hadn’t looked at me. “I’m not a mole.”
My pulse pounded in my ears as I sat back down. I knew my sister. She was holding something back. Otherwise, she would be standing up for herself.
“Your elevated heartbeat says differently,” Tripp said.
“I can feel your fear,” Sam added.
She shuddered. “You do because I know what this looks like. I promise I’m not involved with Noah and Rianne. The reason my pulse is racing is because I’m trying to figure out what the fuck is going on. I declined the job this morning. Something felt off to me. After my interview, I spent some time with the man in charge of security, Fred Emery. He gave me the creeps, from the way he leered at me to how much he knew about me. I was about to tell you, sis, when they came in.”
Sam flinched slightly. “Jordyn, you said Fred Emery?”
I jerked my attention to Sam. “Do you know him?”
“No,” he said, then eyed Tripp. “But I think Roman does. Ben mentioned he’d heard Roman talking to a guy named Fred.”
Whether it was Sam mentioning the wordtalkingor not that triggered my memory, I suddenly recalled Lester chatting with his friend at the Deer and Elk. “You know, Lester mentioned your name when he was at the Deer and Elk, Sam.”
Tripp and Sam jerked back.
“And I just told you that Lester was talking to Noah,” Jordyn added then waved her hand at the screen. “You’ve got pictures of them together. Maybe Noah is driving the ship. Maybe he’s working out a deal with Lester to profit off you, Sam.”
“By killing me?” Sam asked. “That doesn’t make sense. I’m usually wanted alive.”
“Maybe Roman doesn’t need you alive anymore. Maybe he has a contract on your head,” I said.
Tripp scrubbed a hand along his jaw. “Possible. But we haven’t found Roman mixed up with either of these companies.”
