“No,” I smiled, staring at my phone, before tapping out words to Daph:I need to talk to you!
“You miss her, don’t you?” she questioned, placing her back against the purple flower Daphne had etched into the wallpaper. She hated the pattern and often tried to peel it off whenever I wasn’t looking. It hung over Lyla’s head.
“What are you talking about?”
“Daphne and your sudden obsession with your phone.”
“Don’t,” I growled. “Keep her name out of your goddamn mouth. She is none of your business.”
“Well,” she bit the bottom of her lip. “I would love to, but Threx spent an hour this morning breaking half the cabinets in the kitchen until Jessie stepped in to stop him. I guess no one knows how to put the dishes away, and that somehow makes me less of a queen.”
“Lyla, your role here is to manage the women and the state of the clubhouse, not my men. I know it’s patriarchal bullshit, but I gave you the job description before you accepted, and you chose this,” I said, throwing on a black shirt and a pair of sweatpants. “Also, I would advise you to keep your mouth shut about Daphne around Threx until she returns. Maybe even after. You are not just playing with fire when it comes to him. You’re igniting the damn apocalypse.”
“Yeah,” she dismissed the warning. “But isn’t Daphne a woman?” she took a drag from the cigarette now perched between her fingers. “Inmyclubhouse? Per the job description.”
I stared at her for a moment, blinking through the low light to get a better look at her face. Was that a threat? Lyla drew a breath but didn’t flinch, even when the world became quiet.
Shit.
“You worked the night of the naked party, right?” I cocked my head to the side, walking to my desk and tossing open a drawer.
“Yes. I always work your parties,” Lyla huffed. “Why?”
I rummaged around for the nine-millimeter I kept loaded, drumming my fingers along its spine.
“Did you see me there?” I asked, staring at the doorway, then back at her.
Daphne: I think Lyla might be in danger
“You mean before we left together?” she paused, and I nodded, throwing a look at my bedroom door. So that is why Daphne was not responding; she was talking to Threx. “Yes. You were everywhere that night. Why?” she asked again, pressing the nicotine between her lips.
“No reason. I just remembered something,” I bit the side of my cheek and pivoted, stalking toward the bed in a determined stride.
My eyes raked over her usual glass of water, chewing gum, and pack of smokes… before I found her cell.
“What are you doing?” She questioned when I buried it in my pocket.
“Nothing,” I flashed a grin, lunging for the door and swinging it open. “Routine checks.”
“I need my phone, Wolfe,” she called after me, but I ignored her. Threx was already halfway down the stairs, palming a weapon that sat heavy in his hoodie. I met his eyes in a wordless conversation.
He had been acting off since the night of the club party, and while I understood most of it had to do with the departure of his very fucking soul, I still could not make out why he suddenly became fidgety. Threx was never the type to run his zipper up and down, click a pen, or fiddle with a damn fortune cookie that he kept with him at all times. There was an underlying anxiety that did not point to our favorite person, at least not in the way I was used to.
Daphne: WOLFE!
“She is all capsing now,” I said, throwing the phone at Threx and shutting the door behind me. He caught it with one hand and eyed the text.
“Did she do it? And don’t fucking lie to me,” he asked, and I sighed. I had already put a hit out on Lyla. Why would he assume I’d protect her?
“Probably,” I admitted. “But I’ll have Jessie check for deletions and anything that may have been sent the night of the party or the morning after. It still could be Rinley.”
“If that is what you think, then why are you carrying?” He eyed the gun I did not realize I was holding while images of Daphne’s wallpaper flowers unfolded at the corners of my mind.
“You understand that if your queen turned on us, it’s not only going to be very messy but also break club loyalty across all tiers. No one will trust you after this.”
A familiar ache bubbled into my throat, and I struggled not to laugh. It was the same feeling I got whenever I stared too long into a flame, wanting the burn on my skin.
“Not if they don’t know.” I yawned, punching a response to Daphne. “It would be in her best interest if they didn’t.”