Page 19 of Shattered Sinner
I shrugged. “Regardless, you’re going to help me with this.”
This time, Easton’s gaze narrowed at me. “What makes you so sure of that?”
If I was being honest with myself, I wasn’t sure. However, I wasn’t about to let him in on that. “Because you want to make it up to me for the deal you struck with Nash.” I leaned in again and lowered my voice. “You also want the opportunity to fuck me again.”
When he didn’t say anything right away, I knew my point had landed well.
“What do you need help with?”
“I need help finding out more information about the disappearance of my best friend. I think someone in the Chevaliers might be involved. Now, whether it’s directly related to the organization, I’m not sure.”
“And you aren’t asking your brother?”
“I mentioned it to him, but I’m also not sure how much he’s at liberty to tell me with him coming into a leadership role at Brentson in mere weeks.”
“I understand that, but I need more information. What exactly happened to Iris? And what do you want me to do?”
“You know, I didn’t even realize you knew her name.”
Easton shrugged. “I know things about you, Bianca. Now answer my questions.”
I told him about the last time I’d seen her, and that she hadn’t been seen since the party at the Chevalier Manor on Westwick University’s campus.
I cleared my throat and continued, “Having someone on the inside with access to the Chevaliers would be helpful for finding out what is going on, if she's alright, and how we can get her back. It has been a couple of weeks now that she's been missing, and we still don't have any leads or information on what happened to her.”
“What do the Chevaliers have to do with this? Are you sure she didn’t leave the party before her disappearance?”
I then told him about how Raven and Nash had seen her leave the main area with Soren Grant. I didn’t know exactly what position he held in the organization, but I knew he was involved because my father had mentioned it in passing a while back.
“We spoke about him at the Cross family gala, right?”
I’d momentarily forgotten that Easton had been there and how annoyed I was that he’d attended with my family.
“Yes, and he lives somewhat close to Westwick. If he was the one who kidnapped her and took her there, then…”
“Why don’t we just go up to his house and ask?”
My eyes widened at his idea. There was no way he’d just said that. “We cannot just go up to his house and ask about Iris. Hell, why not call the police while you’re at it?”
“The last thing I would do is go to the police, especially given how deep I’m in this.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I could see what I can find out about Iris. Not sure how much I’d be told given that I’m not an initiated member yet, but I can see what I can do. Keep in mind, I also need to be careful because crossing the Chevaliers is well…”
He didn’t need to say anything more because I knew what he meant. “Okay, just as long as you’re willing to help.”
“And I get what you offered in return.”
The temperature increased in my body. I wanted to say something slick back, but the prospect of having sex with Easton again had scrambled my brain. I hated that he had this hold over me, but I couldn’t deny the desire I had to have him fuck me again.
“And you don’t mind the fact another man is in talks to propose to me?” There was no way he would still be okay with this arrangement if I had another man’s ring on my finger.
“Nope.”
There is no way he was being serious. “Or that deep down I hate you?” I stood up when it became painfully obvious that it was time for me to go.
I threw my coat on and zipped it up, waiting for Easton to speak again. When I looked up, he was staring at me.
There was something haunted in his stare that I couldn’t exactly name. “Not in the slightest. Hate fucking was how we started up again anyway.”
His words made me feel as if my heart was being tossed in my body. Of course, memories from our times together flashed in my mind. Instead, I turned my attention to the window of the coffee shop and saw that it hadn’t started snowing. I told myself I was going to leave a while ago, and yet I was still here. I packed my bag, all the while ignoring Easton.
