Page 52 of Red Captive
“It’s a long story.” I reverse the SUV, my eyes on the camera on the dash and then on the rearview mirror. As always, one vehicle is up ahead, and another is behind us.
“It sounds like you used to work as a guard and then that you were gone for a while and only recently returned.”
“That’s right.” I flip on the indicator and ease into a lane. There’s still a fair amount of morning traffic.
“You didn’t leave on good terms?”
I snort. “You could say that. I was fired. I’m lucky I escaped serious jail time…or being banished.” I’m lucky I got away with my life. Although, lucky is subjective.
“Four years ago, by any chance? Is that when they let you go?”
I glance her way. Her big, blue eyes are scrutinizing me. There’s no judgment there.
I nod once. “Yep, that’s about right.” I indicate and turn.
“Did it have something to do with this mystery woman you’re always looking for… and a death that happened?”
“A death that was all my fault. It’s not something I want to talk about. Tell me about this contract. What happened in the meeting?” I steer the conversation into safer territory. I’m not dredging up my past. It follows me around like a dark cloud, whether I like it or not. “Tell me all about it. What did they have to say for themselves? Especially the general. What were his excuses about that bastard duke?”
Her shoulders slump. “You mean you didn’t hear any of it? I thought shifters had superior hearing. I was hoping you listened in.”
“We do have better senses than you humans, but they soundproof all of the royal offices. Many of the areas in the palace are soundproof. Bottom line, I couldn’t hear a thing.” I give a one-shouldered shrug, glancing her way. “You’re going to have to fill me in.”
“That’s a pity.” She looks downtrodden, although I’m not sure why.
“What did they say?” I urge after a few seconds have gone by. I’m all ears.
“They started out with an apology,” she says. Then Jen goes over what happened. I get pissed when she tells me how blasé they were about Huntington.
“No harm done. He used those words?” I growl, my hands tightening on the wheel.
“Yep.” She nods, relaying the next part of the conversation.
“A misunderstanding? Holy fucking shit. Their idea of a misunderstanding and my idea of a misunderstanding are two very different things.” Irritation and anger swirl through me.
“Don’t you worry, I set the record straight,” Jen says, throwing me a smile. Her dimples come out. She has one on the left and two on the right. Her eyes dance. She’s fucking beautiful. She’s looking better, a little lighter, somehow.
“Good, because I will refuse to leave you alone with any of them again. I hope you told them that.”
“I did.” I feel her staring at me. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re so cute when you get mad?” Jen teases me like she has in the past. This time, instead of getting irritated, I feel…something else. Something I shouldn’t.
“No! I’m not cute. No flirting. Did you forget that rule? We spoke about this. Now, tell me what happened next.” My voice has gone all growly with irritation. I keep my eyes on the road.
“There he is.” Jen laughs. “I was getting worried you might be getting soft on me. That Mr. Leave-Me-Alone-To-Be-All-Brooding stopped being brooding.”
“Nothing has changed, Jen. You’re still my ward. I’m still—”
She squeals and then gasps, putting her hand over her gaping mouth. Her eyes are wide.
“What?”
“You just called me, Jen. You called me by my first name instead of my last name.Miss Harris,” she says in this voice that’s supposed to be an imitation of me but falls short by a mile. Then she laughs. “It’s going to snow. It’s going to freaking snow.” She looks out the window at the perfectly clear sky above us. “Any second now.”
“Stop being weird, or I’ll go back to calling you Miss Harris.”
“Don’t do that, Mr. Grey.” She winks at me.
I have to hold back a smile. No! I refuse to smile. I won’t. “By the way, that movie sucked. Fifty Shades, it sucked big time.”