20. Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Daisy

T here have been many times I’ve pissed Turner off, but this is a different level. His cheeks redden, and his rage floods his scent.

“What did you just say?” he asks and takes a threatening step.

“Careful,” I advise, flashing my claws. “Remember, you’re fond of your dick.” I lift my eyebrows at Shawn. “Your finger was painful to grow back. Do you have all the sensation back yet?” He growls and takes a step, but Turner slaps his chest.

“You knew I would be watching the witch bitch’s building,” he guesses. “What was your plan?”

I laugh softly, which angers him more, but being asked the question numerous times today is funny.

“A deal,” I state, and he narrows his eyes. I put my claws away.

“What kind of deal?” he asks.

“Don’t pretend not to know,” I sneer. “What have we been fighting about for years?”

“Your brother,” he spits. “My coin.”

“Ding, ding, ding,” I sing, shaking my finger. “You want the coin, and I want my brother.”

“You’ll give me the coin?” he asks.

“I will.” I turn my back and wander around.

“Where’s the coin?”

“Close. Do you think I would just hand it over without the answers to my questions?” I stop and lean against the counter.

“How can I trust you?” He crosses his arms. “What’s to stop you from not fulfilling your end when I tell you?”

“Are you saying the three of you can’t force me to stay? Just because the rest of the pack couldn’t overpower me doesn’t mean you can’t, right?” I swear their chests puff up.

“You had to have help to take them all,” Turner says.

“Are you saying that because I’m a woman?” I ask dangerously.

“Jesus,” he sighs, rubbing his face. “Fine. Show me the coin first.”

“Do you think I’m that naive? Answer a question,” I demand.

“What?”

“Is he alive?” I struggle to keep a calm expression.

“Yes,” he answers. “Now the coin.”

“Fuck off, Turner. You give me nothing,” I grit out.

“You really want to know everything?”

“Yeah, asshole.”

“I could show you,” he offers casually, knowing how his statement would affect me.

“What do you mean?”

“I know where he is so I could take you to him.”

“What’s the catch?”

“You have to get in a car with me willingly. Once we get there, you have to give me the coin,” he grins, and I don’t trust it.

“Easy as that,” I say. If my mate were a shifter, I would be warier of getting in the car. Shifter senses are enhanced, but we have limits. Willingly riding in an enclosed vehicle will dim our scent to almost nothing.

“No. None of this has been easy. But if you want to know, I’ll show you everything,” he says. “I want my fucking coin.”

“How do I know you aren’t taking me back to the forest to kill me?” I ask.

“Bitch, I wouldn’t kill you until I have the coin,” he snaps.

“So, you are going to kill me after you get it?”

A vein throbs across his forehead. “What do you want?”

“Did you steal me?” I ask, watching his face closely.

“No.”

“So I just wandered into the pack house?” I throw my arms out.

“You were given to me,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Who gave me to you?” I didn’t expect his answer. I thought he kidnapped me.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Who can?” I ask.

“If you come with me, you’ll find out.”

“Were you given Liam, too?”

“Yes.”

“How about you use big boy words and explain how the fuck me and my brother came to be in the pack?” I growl, standing straight. He squints his eyes. “You always were a bitch.”

“It was a side effect of my childhood,” I say dryly.

His lip curls. “Fuck you. Do you think I liked being a surrogate dad?” He stalks closer. “You were a whiny brat. So was Liam. You wouldn’t listen and fought every demand. Your brother was weak and relied on you for everything. He wouldn’t fall in line. I could have made him into something, yet he complained to you if I stepped too close. Your attitude sucked. Even when you gave up and let us put you in chains, you didn’t really give up.” He gets close enough that our boots touch. “Those eyes would drill through my head when we put them around your wrists, filled with fury and hatred. Do you know how many times I thought about killing you?”

“How many?” I whisper, tipping up my chin.

“Just like this,” he growls. “Any normal shifter faced with an angry Alpha would bow, not throw attitude.”

“I’m not a normal shifter,” I say, lifting a shoulder.

“Fuck, get on your knees or do something for information,” he snarls.

“Sorry to say, I only get on my knees if I’m sucking cock.” I cross my arms. “If you take your cock out, well,” I sigh. “You know what will happen.”

“Fuck.” He rakes his hands through his hair and takes a step back. “You know, as much as I hated your strength not to give up, I respected it, too.”

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I breathe, pressing my hands to my chest.

“Then you ruin it.”

“Not sorry,” I reply. “Just out of curiosity; why not kill me?”

He shakes his head. “You reminded me of someone.” Now, we are making progress. His thugs are still by the door, not surprised by our conversation. They know what I want to know.

“Who?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does,” I disagree. “Maybe I want to thank the person. I would be dead otherwise.”

“You can’t thank her.”

“Why? Did you scare her off? She ran away from you?”

“She’s dead,” he whispers. “She can’t run from anyone.”

“Should I be sorry?” I send up a prayer to the poor girl. I am sorry, but I have to find the truth.

“Don’t talk about her. She was a good sister and would never talk back like you.” Quinn was correct. “She was pretty and loved me, so don’t fucking talk like that.”

“How did she die?”

He crossed his arms, turning away. “She was weak.”

“Sick?” I ask, but I don’t think so.

“She was the opposite of you. She couldn’t handle the pressure of what we do. She wanted to stay home and play. Aggression scared her, and the thought of stealing was nauseating.” He looks at me. “It doesn’t matter now. She’s gone.”

“You didn’t answer the question,” I say.

“And I won’t.”

Shit. “Who are you working with?”

“Why would you think I was working with someone?” he asks suspiciously.

“You want to take me somewhere? Giving me vague answers. It doesn’t take a lot of thought to figure it out.”

“Your mind was always working. I couldn’t make you believe anything I said.”

“It’s a gift,” I smirk. “Who’s your boss?”

“What makes you think he’s the boss?”

“I’m not dead. He wants me alive,” I guess. Someone has to be pulling his strings. I don’t buy his bullshit. I may remind him of his sister, but he would have gotten rid of the pain in the ass if it was up to him.

“We are partners,” he admits. Turner may think they are partners. “He wants to meet you.”

“Why?”

“He likes your confidence.”

“How does he know anything about me?” I don’t like it. I am creeped out enough; meeting him won’t be fun.

“He’ll explain.”

“I thought you were going to take me to my brother,” I say. My gut is screaming at me to be cautious.

“I will. He will be there.”

Micah won’t like it. “Why is my brother with your boss? Has he been with him the whole time?”

“Something like that.”

“That is not an answer.” I want to hurt him.

“You won’t get more. You have to decide if you want to meet him.”

“Oh, you're going to dangle the carrot, and it will be my fault if I don’t walk into an unknown situation. You could force me. You’ve had a lot of practice doing it.” It would be so easy to take out my knife and plunge it into his chest. He wouldn’t be expecting it. His guard is down, and his thugs wouldn’t get here in time. If I do, how will I know where I came from?

“He wants you to come willingly,” he says, rolling his eyes. “He respects you.”

“He respects me,” I repeat. Who the fuck is this guy?

“Yes or no.”

“What if I say no? You are just going to let me go?”

“Don’t ask stupid questions. I want my coin.”

“Won’t your boss be mad if you kill me now?”

“He’s not my boss,” he snarls. “I don’t give a fuck if you live or die. I want my property, and you are going to give it to me.”

“Does your boss know about the coin?”

He grinds his teeth. “It would be great if you just give it to me.”

“No.” I can’t get sucked into a false sense of security, but for some reason, the man he works for wants me alive. Turner won’t take the chance by killing me. He’s had years to do it, but something besides his sister has stopped him. This mysterious man. He’s the one I need to talk to. He has the answers I want. I hope Micah isn’t close enough to hear our conversation.

“Are you going to come with me?” he asks.

“What’s your boss's name?” Turner closes his eyes.

“Carter,” he sighs. The name Henry mentioned.

“How did you meet him? Is he a shifter?”

“Make a choice,” he demands, and the men at the door move forward.

“When did I have one?” I ask, forcing my body to remain still. “Where’s the car?”

“Out back.”

Great. I turn and walk slowly, leading the way through the store. My shoulders itch for a different reason. The assholes at my back can’t wait to put a knife between them. I’m willingly walking to my death. Turner knew I would come. He was never going to tell me everything.

I expect Micah to be standing outside, but the only thing waiting is a vehicle.

“Stay here,” Turner instructs his men. “If she does have help, take care of them.” They nod and stay in the doorway.

I get into the passenger seat.

Say goodbye to your friends, asshole.