Lib Novel Page 165
She gives me a dark look. “Do I look like I was born yesterday? Sophia hates violence. The only reason she would be there is if she were taking part in it.” Elsa grabs two more bottles and pours some from each into the glasses. Then, suddenly, her head shoots up. “Don’t tell me. The documents you just brought in here…?”
I end up telling her what happened overnight, and by the end of it, she has downed both her drink and mine. Her eyes are furious and her cheeks flushed. “That dimwit. I keep telling her to keep a low profile, and she goes and does this!”
I’m starting to feel sorry for Sophia, although I kind of agree with Elsa.
“So, those documents are evidence. I should destroy them.”
“It would be better if you just gave them back to me—”
“Absolutely not!” she roars at me. “Given how careless you are? Don’t go blabbing this story to any other people! You moron. I’m going to go burn them right now. Stay here.”
She storms back to her office, leaving me feeling regretful. I was sure Elsa knew what Sophia was up to. The two of them are incredibly close, and the older woman is always watching out for her protégée.
Wondering what to do next, I reach over the bar and grab a bottle of tequila. I’ve taken three shots by the time Elsa returns. “It’s done. So, what is happening between you and Sophia?”
I don’t dare ask her whether the documents have turned into ash or not. But my nose can smell the charred scent of paper burning.
“I’m taking her home with me.” I look Elsa in the eyes. “I haven’t been a good mate to her, and she deserves the best.”
“Yes, she does.” The affection in Elsa’s voice cannot be hidden by the anger. “She’s a good person. She reminds me so much of her mother.”
“You know her mother?” I ask sharply.
“Forget I said anything.” Elsa glares at the bottle of vodka before her, then sighs. “I knew her mother a long time ago. But I’m glad to hear both you and Sophia are seeing things clearly now. You should disappear before tonight. With Sophia.”
“Why?” I ask warily.
“The pack Alpha is coming tonight. Too many deaths. And trust me, you don’t want Sophia anywhere near him.”
The darkness in Elsa’s voice makes me tense.
What does the Alpha want with Sophia?
Chapter 31
Sophia Hope
As the hot water pours over my head, I rinse the shampoo out of my hair, deep in thought. I passed out pretty quickly after talking to Alex last night. I was extremely tired and groggy. I’m starting to wonder whether Mathew laced my drink with something. After I took that shot with him in his office, my whole body felt weird.
“You just don’t learn, do you, Sophia? Stop taking drinks from people!”
Cursing my own stupidity, I step out of the shower and turn off the water. Wrapping the towel around myself, I leave the bathroom. Alex is nowhere in sight, but he must’ve brought me here last night. Since he’s gone now, I have a chance to sit down on the bed and think over our conversation.
I don’t understand.
I should be happy. I am happy. But there is also a growing fear within me. And then, his reasoning…It sounded more like his people gave him permission to be with me than anything else. But he did say that he had decided to step down from the Alpha position.
Why would he do that for me?
I twist my fingers together, looking down at the floor.
Why am I constantly questioning myself? This is what I wanted, isn’t it? For somebody to choose me for me. That is what Alex has done.
So, why do I feel so uncertain, so unsure of myself?
Because it doesn’t feel real. It doesn’t feel like any of this is actually happening. What if he’s deceiving me?
I wish I weren’t this paranoid and suspicious. It would be so easy if I could just believe what he says and go with it, but experience has taught me that things come at a price. And Alex’s desire to be with me, it’s not going to be simple, is it? What if he’s just saying the things he thinks I need to hear, just to make me happy? Maybe he really does want something from me.