Page 7 of Born Wicked
Roman curses. Loudly.
“Well, I suppose youarethe reason he’s gone missing,” Sigrid says with one raised eyebrow. “He lost his mind over you and had to run before any of us could kill him.”
“He might still be alive, but not for long,” Mason says. His expression hardens, and I know he’s thinking of Elena.
“Your PI hasn’t found any clues yet?” I ask. None of us has sat at the table, and I don’t see that happening today.
Mason shakes his head. “Nothing yet.”
“You said the police think you killed him,” Roman states. He looks up at me from beneath black eyelashes, his blue eyes burning with intensity. “They came and talked to you?”
“Just one woman, singular,” I correct. I fold my arms over my chest. “Did you know Chicago has a new Superintendent of Police?”
“Jerry is gone?” Roman asks, his brows furrowing.
I shrug. “I don’t know, but this woman showed up in my office. She introduced herself as Teresa Day.”
“You should confirm this,” Jon says, looking at Roman. “There’s a chance she’s lying and faking it.”
Roman nods and immediately starts texting on his phone. He has a whole team at his disposal.
“And if she is legit?” Mason asks.
“She started asking questions about where Sebastian went,” I continue. “Apparently, someone has reported him as missing. She didn’t like hearing we’d broken up. It’s known it ended ugly and that I’m now in charge of his hospital.”
“I can see how you would look guilty,” Sigrid admits.
“Me too,” I say with an annoyed, heavy sigh.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Roman says darkly. “If this woman is who she says she is, we’ll deal with this. We’ll get your name cleared.”
“She seemed out for blood,” Jon tells. “I don’t know that this is going to be simple.”
Roman’s phone dings, and he looks at the screen. “That’s Brianna. Teresa Day is indeed the new Superintendent of Police.”
“Do you know any good lawyers?” I ask, my eyes meeting Mason’s. “I’m afraid lawyering up will make me look guilty, but I think this woman would love nothing more than to see me trap myself with my own words.”
“Of course,” Mason says. “Sylvano Mordici has worked for my father for half a century. He’s a wolf. I’ll give him a call and have him stop by the hospital tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” I say. I nod, feeling everything I have to take care of piling up. I didn’t give Sebastian enough credit. He was balancing so much, and somehow, he also made time for our relationship. I have to handle all the other stuff, thank the dark I don’t have anyone to worry about feeling neglected. And now I have this, too.
“Are you okay, my dear?” Sigrid asks. She steps in front of me, gently placing her hands on my upper arms. “You have much on your plate. What may I help you with?”
Emotion jumps into my eyes, completely unexpected. My throat feels tight, but a breathy, huff of a laugh escapes my lips. I hold myself tighter. “Nothing,” I say, and thankfully my voice doesn’t shake. “You all have so much you’re dealing with, too. I just have to be a big girl and buck up.”
My eyes slide over to meet Roman’s. And I don’t know how to read them. There will always be a darkness in his eyes. The man doesn’t know who he was before he Resurrected. He doesn’t want to know. But it’s put a river of anger in the man. It’s put a spark that can ignite into an inferno. I thought I hated him, thought he was an evil asshole when I first came to Chicago.
But now everything between us is different. Roman is the keeper of every one of my secrets. And I hold his greatest one.
Things are different now.
And I see that right there in his eyes.
“I’m going to be okay,” I say, both to them and myself.
“I know you will be,” Roman says quietly, his tone gentle.
My eyes flick to Mason’s when he clears his throat. There’s something different in his eyes now, too. Something questioning. Studying.