Page 41 of Bonita Brynne
“You can tell me what it is. I’m Raymond.”
“I have no name.”
I screwed up my face. “Everybody has a name.”
“Not me.”
She had a different accent. Maybe she didn’t understand my question. “What does the old guy call you?”
Shaking her head, she looked away. Her dress was black with a white apron. Her hair was slicked back and in a bun, like Valerie wore for her ballet class.
I had a bad feeling about her.
Not that she was bad, but somethingbadhad happened to her.
“How old are you?”
She lilted her head down. “Seventeen.”
“Shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Eat your food and don’t provoke them.” She cleaned everything quickly and hurried to the door.
“Is that why you’re missing a finger? Because you provoked them?”
“Be quiet!”
“Will I see you again?” So far, she’d been the only nice person in this place.
“Probably,” she snapped and knocked on the door. When it opened, she darted out.
I took another bite of my sandwich and twisted off the cap of the bottle of water she’d brought. I looked forward to seeing her the next time.
If she was there against her will like me, the Knights would rescue her. I’d make sure of it.
13
Storm
“Work your magic.” I put the flip phone on Grizzly’s desk and went to my chair at the head of the wooden conference table. The bottle of bourbon called to me. The invitation was exactly what I needed after watching the fuckin’ recording of Dorian.
“Prez?”
“Watch the video. Maybe you’ll see something that might help us find Raymond.”
No reply, just the rhythmic sound of Grizzly typing on his keyboard. The biker bear had gotten a haircut last week. I hardly recognized him. He didn’t let Libby chop it off, just clean up the wild mop he called hair. Not sure what had gotten into him, but I didn’t like the new look.
Whatever. It wasn’t my place to judge a man’s appearance. Frankly, I didn’t give two fucks. Why was I thinking about meaningless shit when Raymond’s life balanced on a knife-edge?
Because Grizz hasn’t been himself since Toby left.
Fuck, now isn’t the time to figure out what’s bothering Grizz.
As if I didn’t already know…
“Can I come in?” My Angel’s voice stopped me from taking the bottle of booze and pouring the amber liquid into my glass.
“You better.” I patted my lap for her to take her place.