Page 50 of Outrun The Devil

“But not alone.” Her eyes met his.

“No, not alone. Nathan's a good man and a good detective, and I think you know what else he is.”

She nodded. “I do.” Olivia had yet to confront him about it but all the signs were there. And she couldn't deny that dream she had the other night. Chewing on her cheek, Olivia knew what she had to do.

No more pushing people away.

Leaving Captain Colson's office, Olivia's resolve ignited like wildfire within her. She refused to evade the confrontation any longer. Nathan's hidden supernatural nature beckoned for answers, urging her to cast aside the hollow pretense of independence. The truth resonated deeply within her core – she needed a partner.

Stepping out of the Phoenix Station, an ominous shiver slithered down Olivia's spine. Unveiling her guarded heart to anyone had always been a distant notion, but entrusting herself to someone who could be both her shield and her peril? It was a treacherous leap into uncharted territory.

Chapter Eighteen

Olivia stood in front of Nathan’s door. In truth, she didn’t know if this was the right move but she had to tell someone about Xavier looking in her head. And she didn’t think it was safe to tell her daughter. The more she could keep her out of this, the better.

Nathan looked surprised when he opened the door.

“Got any bourbon?” she asked as she pushed inside. Not giving him much of a choice, she came into his home because she didn’t know where else to go.

“Sure. Come right on in,” he said sarcastically.

“You owe me at least that much,” she pointed out as she took in his home. Keeping a secret from her the way he did. But she kept secrets too.

Regardless of if it was his personal life or not, they could have used his insight for the case. But now all she could think about was who was he protecting.

The thought was shoved away. Hating to admit it but Olivia thought she knew Nathan well enough that if he knew who the murderer truly was, he’d bring them to justice. She couldn’t trust much anymore but she could trust that.

Nathan lead the way to his living room and gestured to the couch before he poured out two bourbons.

Seated on the couch, she couldn’t help but watch him and how every muscle in his body moved. The shirt fit just the right way so that there was no wondering about the wall of muscle that led beneath it. How much of that was because he was a werewolf and how much of that was because of his lifestyle?

He handed her the glass and for a moment she was quiet. Staring at the blank TV, she contemplated what to even say to him. Anger still boiled from the betrayal but he was still who she came running to the moment she needed something lately.

She inhaled deeply.

"First, I need an answer to something," Olivia's gaze locked onto him, a determined intensity that seemed to anchor him in place. The questions she sought answers to were a weight upon her shoulders, and she was resolute in her pursuit of truth.

"You and Rachel," she continued, her voice unwavering, "I saw the two of you arguing, and it was about me." Her ears had caught more than just her name in that heated exchange, but she held back that detail. The strategy was clear in her mind - the less she disclosed, the more she might glean from him about the topic at hand.

“Rachel and I are old friends from childhood. Whatever you think you heard…”

“Don’t try to lie to me. I know you are a werewolf.” Olivia held his gaze, daring him to deny it.

Olivia scoffed and took a drink, the brown liquid burning its way down.

“So what were you two arguing about?” Olivia asked unwilling to let this go.

“Rachel is trouble.”

She could have told him that but Olivia wanted something she didn’t already know. She wanted answers.

“Olivia…” Nathan’s voice was soft, pleading. “I should have told you when you realized what our killer is.”

She shook her head, Nathan wasn’t answering the question but there were other answers she wanted as well. Which answers did she want more? This was too exhausting. And the onset of a headache prodded at her temples.

“I get why you didn’t. You didn’t want me to question your loyalty.” Forgiveness wasn’t going to be given freely but she could at least recognize why he kept it from her.

“It’s more than that, though. Yes, that was the main reason. And I should have trusted that you’d have my back regardless.” It was true, though. Olivia didn’t like having a partner, but they were too deep into this for her not to have his back. Even if they weren’t knee-deep in this, she still would have had his back. She’d never leave one of her own out to dry despite how she felt on the topic of a partner.