Wretched (Never After Series)(7)

Blowing out a heavy breath, I stand up, the wood chair legs scratching against the ugly parquet floor, and I stride toward her. “That’s a disgusting habit.”

She stares up at me, her lips twitching into a ghost of a smile. “Yeah, well… I’ve had worse.”

Scowling, I lightly slap her hand from her mouth.

She lets out a soft chuckle, spinning back around to keep stirring the pasta. “Lighten up, Nick. If we can’t joke about the past, we’ll never move on. Besides, the humor helps me.”

“Humor’s supposed to be funny.”

“Not my problem you’ve got bad taste.”

I move fast, reaching out to grab her and draw her into me, locking her neck beneath my arm and rubbing my fist on the top of her head.

She screeches, bringing the wooden spoon up to smack at my arm. “Let me go, asshole!”

Amusement warms my chest and spreads through my limbs as I release her, smiling as she curses and straightens her hair. Glaring at me, she walks to the small pantry on the left wall and reaches up on her tiptoes to grab a jar before moving back to the pot.

The lighthearted air twists and turns with every second of silence until it starts to press down on my chest.

“Will you be able to come by still?” she asks.

Something lodges in my throat and I swallow around the lump. “I don’t know.”

She nods her head and turns back to the stove, mixing in the tomato sauce. I stay silent, not knowing what else to say, and hoping she’ll be okay while I’m gone.





“I want a lawyer.”

Zeke O’Connor’s voice is gruff and low; raspy as he spits the words across the metal table in the small interrogation room.

“Sure.” I grin, leaning back in my chair until the front two legs tilt off the ground. “But we’re just a couple of guys having a conversation, yeah?”

His golden eyes narrow.

“Unless…” I sigh, running a hand through my hair, feeling the slight waves bounce back into place after I do. “Nah, never mind.”

His jaw clenches.

“God, don’t start that shit, Woodsworth,” Seth groans from beside me. “You know I can’t stand it when you ‘never mind’ like a woman.”

I point a finger in Seth’s direction. “You’re a sexist fuck. And I’m just trying not to scare the guy.” I toss my hand haphazardly in Zeke’s direction, noting the way he sits forward slightly in his chair, as if he’s listening to our conversation without wanting to admit it.

Zeke’s leg jitters so fast it shakes the foundation of the table. “I don’t wanna be a fuckin’ rat, man.”

“Well…” I blow out a breath, grabbing my leather jacket off the back of the chair as I stand up. “It’s either us or jail.”

“Yeah,” he grumbles, running his hand over the bright-auburn bun on his head.

“You could always take your chances,” Seth pipes in. “I’m sure your dad’s got connections, right?”

Zeke’s eyes grow dark, his fingers tap, tap, tapping against the tabletop.

“Oh.” Seth smacks his head. “That’s right, I forgot. My bad, man.”

“Forgot what?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.

Seth presses his lips together as he glances at Zeke before turning his attention to me. “His dad died in prison.”

I nod, bringing up my hand to rub at my chin. “That’s right.” I turn to look at Zeke. “What was it? Stabbed forty-seven times and found hanging in the showers?”

His chin quivers, his large hands curling into fists.

I whistle, shrugging my jacket on my arms. “Hope they don’t hold a grudge.”

“Fine,” he spits. “I’m in… I—but you gotta understand. If this gets out, if this shit goes bad? They’ll kill me.”

“Then don’t fuck it up.” I rest my knuckles on the tabletop and meet Zeke’s golden gaze. “Now tell me about Dorothy Westerly.”





4





EVELINE





“Want some?” Zeke asks, dropping in the chair across from me, the stench of his fried chicken and gravy swirling in the air.

I scrunch my nose, glancing up from my small black notebook, shaking my head.

He laughs. “I forgot you were doing that whole vegan thing.”

“It’s not a thing,” I snap.

“Then what is it?” His auburn brow arches as he shovels half the chicken leg into his mouth.

“It’s me not wanting to have a hand in the slaughter of animals just for temporary enjoyment. It’s selfish.”

He chuckles again, smacking his lips dramatically and groaning as he takes his next bite.

Rolling my eyes, I glance back to the paper and focus on the words, tipping my pen in the corner of my mouth and nibbling on the hard plastic. Disgust crawls up my throat as I bring the ink down and draw harsh lines through the letters until my hand stings from the pressure, and everything I’ve written is scratched out and obsolete.

Absolute shit.

“Yum, what smells so good?” Dorothy’s voice soars through the air. It’s light and airy, and it grates against my ears, the same way it does every time she speaks. I look up through my lashes, tracking her as she walks into the kitchen and smiles wide as she steps up next to Zeke.