Chapter 72
Chapter Seventy-Two
~Harlow~
I awake to the sound of one of their phones ringing loudly.
I have a wicked hangover, and the room's bright lights burn my eyes as I squint up at the ceiling. My eyes widen, and I sit up abruptly, half in a panic that I’ll find myself locked in the Den.
Relief washes over me when I find myself back at the hotel.
"Yeah, we know. We are on our way," I hear Rhen tell presumably Thane. Raidon comes out of the bathroom, trying to fix his tie.
"Here," I tell him, tossing my legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the nausea that bubbles in my empty stomach and has me wanting to run to the bathroom.
Raidon wanders over to me, yanking the tie off, and I stand on my tippy toes to quickly fix it for him while his hands move to my hips.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Fine," I tell him, though my neck stings. Tears try to brim at the memory of the woman’s scent all over them and then seeing her. I know it is foolish with what I am planning to do on Friday, yet all the same it still hurts.
Thane has made it clear he doesn't want me, and he has overall rank when it comes to decisions in the pack.
I know it. They know it. Waiting for him to come around is foolish.
He won't even give me the time of day to explain. And as much as they claim to be on my side, I can still feel that they don’t believe me.
I feel their distrust of me, so it is pointless.
"We'll be back tonight; don't leave the hotel, please," Raidon whispers before pressing his lips to my forehead. He steps away, grabbing his phone from the charger and wallet off the small stand by the door. Rhen quickly pecks my cheek before rushing out the door.
"Where is Leon?"
"Leon left early. He’s struggling with his bloodlust," Raidon tells me. Why didn't he feed on me, then? Is he angry about last night?
"He could have fed," I begin to say.
"I have to go; we’re late," Raidon says before rushing out and leaving me staring at the door.
It takes all of two seconds after they leave for that empty feeling in my stomach to change to a rising feeling in my throat, and I run for the bathroom to throw up.
I am still puking when I hear the hotel phone start ringing.
I groan, wiping my mouth on the hand towel before retrieving it and moving back toward the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth.
"Hello," I all but groan into the phone.
"Thank goodness, can you fill in for Tammy today? She can't come in," Bree says, not sounding the slightest bit sick.
Thane never paid me for the few weeks of work I did, and I am desperate for cash. I hate living off them, yet at the moment, that can't be helped. I know they will pitch a fit if they find out I am working back at Talon's though.
"Yes, but you will have to pay for the cab. And I need to shower first," I tell her.
"Deal, thank you. You’re really saving my ass," she says.
I chuckle, shaking my head before hanging up and turning the shower on. I still feel like shit even after I hop out and rummage around for anything half decent to wear, even though I will borrow one of the uniforms when I get there. I doubt my baggy sweats and hoodie will earn me much in tips.
Climbing in the cab, I find Bree had in fact, called and paid ahead, which saves me having to run in and raid the register to pay for the fare. I wonder where the money in my bra from yesterday went, when I remember I left it at Bree's house.
When I climb out of the cab at the strip club, I glance around and tug my hood up over my head. I am usually not here this late. I hate the idea that I might be seen in case it gets back to Thane and my mates.
Most mornings, people are too distracted with their commute. Afternoons are the same, that or parents doing school runs. Yet at this hour, it is mainly shoppers taking their sweet ass time as they leisurely walk around, taking everything in.
Yet after last night, and catching a glimpse of the morning paper by the lobby doors, I know that my face is a lot more recognizable than it used to be.
I’m splashed across every paper, and the scene we caused is the talk of the city this morning, so I am kind of thankful for the masks we always wear.
Well, those of us who want our identity kept secret, anyway.
Moving toward the doors, I hear someone clear their throat as I grip the door handle. My eyes move to the side when I see Alpha Jake step out from the alley on the side of the strip joint. My heart rate quickens at seeing the man responsible for killing my sister.
"Harlow," he says, stepping closer, and I yank the door open.
"Harlow, wait, just hear me out. It isn't what you think. I want to help you," Alpha Jake says, and I scoff. His actions say otherwise.
"Help me? You killed my sister."
"No, I didn't. Zara is the reason I am here," he tells me.
Does he think I am an idiot? I know he killed her. I know exactly how she died.
"Bullshit," I snarl.
"I can explain. I had to say that. I—"
I step inside, ignoring him. It makes me nervous that he is here after seeing him in the office the other week.
Why is he still in town? A shiver runs up my spine.
I’m not worried about him snitching about me working at Talon’s because then he would have to admit that he went looking for me.
So I force him from my mind, and I head back to the staff area so I can change.
When I come out, I find him sitting at the bar, and my stomach drops.