Page 41 of Harder Betrayal
“Now, work your magic and find out what I need to know.”
“What are you looking for?”
His eyes shifted to the men across the room. “There’s another dealer in my territory, and I want to know exactly who it is. Based on my intel, a big drop is supposed to happen soon. I suspect this meeting they’re having is to discuss conditions, to ensure I don’t find out about it.”
“Well…don’t they recognize you?”
He gave a slight shake of his head. “I only show my face to those who’ve earned it.”
I studied the guys across the room before I looked at him again.
“I’ll be here the whole time.”
I forced myself to my feet and crossed the room—getting down to business.
* * *
By the time we left the club and stepped onto the sidewalk, it was four in the morning.
I was dead tired.
The SUV pulled up and stopped at the curb.
I’d told Bartholomew everything I knew, and he was right. That was exactly what the men were talking about. I’d flirted, acted like I was just there for free drinks, and the guys spilled everything like I wasn’t a threat in the least. Naturally, one of the guys tried to take me home, but I pretended to puke in the bathroom.
We got into the back seat and headed for my apartment.
Bartholomew was wide awake, his straight back against the seat, his fingers rubbing against his bottom lip as he thought to himself. Every time lights flashed by outside the window, the brightness reflected in his espresso eyes.
My eyes kept closing, and I would drift off for a second or two. At some point, I slid down into my seat, leaning against the car door with my face to the glass. I fell asleep and was jerked awake when the SUV came to a stop.
Bartholomew took my hand and guided me to the ground so I wouldn’t slip in my heels.
I blinked a couple times, my front door slowly coming into view. “I’m exhausted…”
Once I had my balance, Bartholomew released me and walked beside me to the front door. He grabbed my clutch then fished inside until he found the keys. As I leaned against the wall and rubbed the corner of my eye, he got the front door unlocked then waited for me to walk inside.
I made it into my apartment and felt the heat smother me instantly. I turned around to face Bartholomew, to say goodnight, to exchange pleasantries at the end of our…whatever it was.
But he was already gone. The back door shut, and the SUV took off.
15
CAULDRON
I pulled the car over to the curb and killed the engine.
The clock on the dash said 3:38 a.m.
It was dark and cold, with no people and no cars to be seen.
As always, I couldn’t sleep, which had become the norm these days. I didn’t want to waste hours lying in bed, so I did my workouts in the middle of the night. Once I showered afterward, it helped me get back to sleep.
But not tonight.
Parked across the street, I rolled down my window and looked at the two-story apartment. The windows on either side were pitch black, but her windows still had a glow between the curtains.
She couldn’t sleep either.