Page 42 of Knot Their Princess

Her lips purse. “Cordelia was an orphan. Betas are usually left behind when they enter the system.” She sighs. “I knew her from school. Back then, orphan kids went to public school instead of being isolated.”

“What was she like?”

“Abrasive, controlling. A loner, really. A couple of girls tried to be friends with her, but it never worked out. I think I lasted the longest, mostly due to morbid curiosity.” A huff. “I wanted to know why she was the way she was. But my mother told me that the orphanage she lived at was a horror show, and that was probably why she was rotten.”

“What was it called? The orphanage.”

“Lucy’s House. It was an all-girls orphanage in South L.A. It’s gone now, though. I think they demolished it about thirty years ago.”

“You kept in touch with Cordelia after school?”

“Yes.” She sounds somewhat disgusted by this confession. “She’s abhorrent, there’s no doubt, but she always seems to find a way to keep people around she can still squeeze some use out of.”

“What did she use you for?” I ask.

“Money, of course. My mother was a young widow of a financier. My father killed himself before I was a year old. Got in with the wrong people. But he secured my mother’s and my futures. But my mother passed when I was right out of high school, attending college up north. That’s about when Cordelia started calling again. Quite a coincidence, hm?” A bitter sigh. “Stopped coming around once I lost it all.”

“Did you help her buy the club?” Cade falters. “Before that, I mean.”

She scoffs theatrically. “I would never.” After a beat of silence, she leans in closer across the table. “She murdered the original owner.”

That has my brow rising high.

“How do you know?”

“She told me. And I believe her implicitly. I don’t recall the man’s name, but he was a Beta. She seduced him and killed him. I don’t know if the ownership was transferred before or after, but I do know that no one has found that poor sod’s body.”

“You got all of that?”

Cade nods, pocketing his phone after Ms. Stevens’ exit, following an envelope transfer. Our meeting was brief, but we all know much more than we were able to find out for ourselves.

“I have a lot to go on now, and a good idea of where to start.”

“Let us know how we can help.”

“Yeah, mate. Don’t take this on all alone. You know how you are.”

This time, when the door’s bell jingles, my head shoots up, eyes trained on the door, like some ancient instinct overtakes me.

I knew she was here before her scent gently travels, overwhelming my senses.

Sin. Our Omega.

She’s smiling kindly, arm linked with the same male Omega we’ve seen her with before. This time, there’s a different guard with them.

I don’t know if he’s there to protect them or to keep them from running away, but I’d guess more of the latter than the former.

When her bright eyes snap to me, her expression changes immediately. The fear I see there threatens to tear my heart from my chest.

Our Omega should be filled with joy to see us. To be near us. Not want to run and hide away.

We need to get her out of that club as soon as possible.

Chapter Seventeen

Sin

“Thank you so much, Mistress. You’ve made my month.”