Page 28 of Provocation
‘I know you Novelles have your fingers in a lot of illegal pies and I’m here to tell you that I will bring you, John, and your stepbrothers to justice. They’re going to rot in jail and you will be put back in a facility where you?—’
The door swings open behind me, cutting off his words.
‘Detective Black.’
I turn around, recognizing Shade’s voice. My body almost sags in relief.
‘I see you’ve met my stepsister. But you must not have known who you were talking to. I know you’d never try to coerce answers out of a Novelle, or even try to talk to a member of my family without our lawyers present.’
‘Of course not, Jack. I was just making sure your sister was okay. She seemed a little lost out there.’
Jack’s unblinking eyes don’t leave Black. ‘Thanks for making sure she was safe. It’s a little late for you, isn’t it, Detective? Let me make sure you get to the door okay. It’s really busy tonight. I’d hate for someone to accidentallypunch you right in the face…or something.’
The detective gives Jack a humorless smile. ‘What about your sister?’
‘Mav?’
I realize Mav is just behind Shade. ‘Come on, Tulip,’ he murmurs, not even looking at Black.
He leads me out of the storeroom and back toward the cellar. The crowds part for him like he’s a biblical figure and I press myself against him. When we get to the way to the basement door, though, we go past it and toward some steps that lead upward. I climb them behind him and find myself in a gray office with some leather couches and a sleek, black desk.
‘Are you okay?’ Mav asks when the door is closed, and the sounds of the club are muted.
I throw my arms around him tightly, catching him by surprise.
‘Tulip?’ he murmurs worriedly.
‘I’m okay,’ I breathe. ‘Who was that?’
‘A detective who’s been trying to make shit difficult at the club for us. I’m sorry. I should have been watching.’
I hear the door open and the room is filled with a cacophony of sound from the club for a second before being softened again when it closes. Mav doesn’t move so I know it’s one of the guys.
‘Does he know about Envy?’ I ask, my voice muffled by Mav’s chest.
‘No,’ Shade says, his hand kneading the back of my neck. ‘Where were you?’
‘Grabbing a high box for Sandy,’ Mav answers. ‘Fucker must have been waiting for his chance to strike.’
Shade sighs. ‘Eyes on her all the time.’
I feel Mav nod. ‘What did he say to you?’
I lean into Mav, pressing my head against his chest and breathing in the scent of neroli.
‘A lot in the space of a few seconds,’ I whisper. ‘It’s been a long day. Can we sit?’
I’m scooped into Mav’s arms before I’ve even finished speaking and he sits on the couch with me nestled into his chest, breathing him in. Neither of them speak and I’m grateful for the silence. It gives me time to organize my thoughts. I listen to the subdued noises of the club for a few minutes and let Mav’s scent relax me, but I’m conscious that I need to go downstairs to check on the lab soon.
I hear the door open and close again. I wonder if Shade has left, but I suddenly smell something that cuts through Mav’s floral vibes and makes my stomach rumble.
Blake speaks, sounding concerned. ‘Are you okay, Daisy?’
‘Yes,’ I say on a sigh. ‘Detective Black insinuated that my dad’s death was no accident and that the Novelles are criminals. He said he’s going to put you all in jail and me in an institution.’
The silence hasn’t changed, but it’s suddenly charged and palpable.
‘He what?’ Blake snarls.
