Lib Novel Page 175
“But I was promised cake!” Tim looks back and forth between the two of us. “Elsa, why are you wearing Sophia’s clothes?”
“We’re playing a game,” I tell him hastily. “But you can’t tell anybody, or you lose.”
Tim eyes me suspiciously. “What do I get if I win?”
“Chocolate cake.” I look pointedly at Elsa.
“As much chocolate cake as you want,” she promises. “Now, come with me.” Tim happily takes her hand, and they leave through the front door of the bar.
I wait anxiously once they’re gone. Everything is moving too fast. I’ve managed to uncover who Rita’s murderer was, but there are still so many things I can’t figure out. Why did Noah have people waiting outside her cottage? Why was he trying to pin the murder on me? Was I the only person he expected to go there?
If Noah wants me to be his mate, why is he trying to trap me in something so horrifying?
Then again, he was blackmailing Rita, using Elmer’s murder against her. Did Noah plan to blackmail me by pinning her murder on me and then forcing me to mate him? Is that what he was planning? It still doesn’t explain why he wants me as his mate.
And what about Eve? Who is she working for? She had a similar phone to Rita’s. Is she also working for Noah? If Eve is the Silver Wolf and she’s working for Noah, that means she will not help Alex. And if Alex reveals his identity to her, she may betray him.
I am building myself into a panicked state at this point. All of a sudden, somebody puts their hand on my shoulder, and I let out a startled scream. Alex’s other hand immediately clamps over my mouth.
“Stop shouting!” he hisses.
My eyes drink in the sight of him. I remember every single thing I have to tell him, but when I remove his hand from my mouth, the first thing that pops out is, “Were you with Julia this morning?”
Alex stares at me, dumbfounded. “What?”
“Were you with Julia, Alex?” I know I sound ridiculous, but I can’t stop myself.
“Do I look like I have a masochistic streak?” he shoots back. “Why would I be with that woman? Don’t even joke about that!”
I search his eyes, and my own close in relief when I realize he’s telling the truth.
“What happened?” he asks, gaping at me. “What prompted this particular line of questioning?”
“I called your motel room a couple of hours ago. I needed to talk to you urgently. Julia picked up, and she told me she and you had been…getting busy.”
“And you believed her?”
I can hear the hurt in Alex’s voice, and I lower my gaze, ashamed. “No. But in the back of my mind, I was getting mad at you.”
I expect him to have a few sharp words to say to me, but instead, he sighs. “I was out dealing with some matters and making arrangements to leave soon. But I understand why you asked. I’ll earn your trust yet, Sophia.” When I look back up at Alex, he’s smiling at me. “Give it time. There will come a day when you trust me completely.”
“Why aren’t you angry with me?”
“I can’t be angry when your lack of trust in me is my own damn fault.” His thumb caresses my cheek. “To be perfectly honest with you, Sophia, I’m grateful you’re giving me this much of a chance. I’ve wondered what you would do if you had another option. I mean, you do have one, with Noah, but—”
“Don’t mention his name anywhere near me,” I scowl. “He’s why I was calling you this morning. Come on. Let’s go in the office and talk.”
I pull him into Elsa’s office and lock the door behind us. Filling him in on the entire situation, I see the growing shock on his face, especially when I get to the part about Noah telling me to move in with him. The shock is followed by rage.
“That bastard. Is he ordering you to live with him?”
“That seems to be the case,” I reply. “But I won’t do it, Alex. I’m leaving town. I can’t do this anymore. I don’t know why Noah is so desperate to have me, but I do know I need to get out of here. I’m not going to try to convince you to come with me, but if you stay here, you have to be very careful. I’m pretty sure Noah is on to you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Alex snaps. “Of course I’m coming with you. I’ve been thinking about what you just told me Elsa said about the Silver Wolf, and she has a point. But if you’re correct about Eve working with Noah, that means we never had a chance. The fact that both Rita and Eve had the same phone and the conversation you overheard Eve having in the alley make this whole situation rather suspicious. I think you’re right; both of them were working for Noah. And if Alpha Black is arriving tonight, we need to leave before then.”
“It’s strange, though. Noah was insistent that he and I leave for the city tonight. Do you think it’s because he knows his father is coming and he doesn’t want me to cross paths with him?” I ask slowly. “Maybe he knows something that I don’t.”
Alex watches me, and I can see the wheels in his head spinning. “I’m not sure. But Elsa was also desperate to get you out of here before the Alpha arrives. I have a feeling he’s coming with a purpose in mind, and whatever it is, you are at the center of it all. Elsa hasn’t shared much with me. Did she say anything else besides what you just told me?”