“The Rogues are plotting something now.”
“You are correct. How do you plan to act?”
“I still believe in what my father wanted.” Rome sat back in the chair and sighed. “Mostly.” This new revelation wasn’t what he’d expected. He hadn’t figured out how he was going to deal with it yet.
“All the Faction Leaders seem to feel the same. Some sort of judicial system is in order.”
Rome nodded. “I’ve got notes on that, suggestions for who should head up the Stateside Assembly.”
“I think it should be you.”
“Nah, not planning to nominate myself,” Rome said. He stood, moving to his bookshelf where he had his law books.
“You will lead them better than anyone else, Mr. Roman.”
“Not what I want to do with my future.”
“Sometimes your future chooses you.”
Rome didn’t even want to ask what that meant. He wanted to check in with Ezra to make sure Kalina was safe. He hadn’t seen her since yesterday when he’d stopped by her place. The emotions roiling through him when he’d been around her then had baffled him, made him feel like some distance might be necessary. Today he’d been closed up with his father’s journals, trying to make sense of the betrayal he felt. But now she was on his mind. Truth be told, she’d never been far from it.
“You should go to her.” Baxter’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“What?”
“The female who has haunted you for so long. You should not stay away from her. Trouble is brewing in that direction, too.”
Baxter seemed to know everything. If Rome wasn’t absolutely sure the man was human, he’d think he was some kind of tribal Seer or something. He always knew things before they happened, prophesying about the shifters as if he were one, or he’d been born in the forest himself. But that was not the case. From all Rome knew of the man, he’d always been in his father’s employ; the where and why he didn’t know, and never bothered to ask.
“I have that under control.”
Baxter chuckled. “Then you are not as smart as I thought. You cannot control her until you understand everything and then—” He shrugged. “Control still may not be easy.”
And that was supposed to mean what exactly? Rome was about to ask, his face probably showing the confusion he felt, but from the desk his cell phone rang, vibrating over the smooth cherrywood, effectively ending this conversation with Baxter.
Chapter 13
When was the last time she’d been to a cookout?
Checking her reflection in the full-length mirror behind her closet door, Kalina sighed. “Never.”
She figured she looked okay in black capris and a gray T-shirt that could have been a size bigger if she cared anything about shopping, which she did not. Strappy sandals with a low heel completed her casual attire. She ran her fingers through her hair to give it an extra spike. It was growing out, so her two-toned tresses hung a little longer on the top than usual, but a trip to the beauty salon was another thing that wasn’t on her agenda. Her short haircut was not for stylish reasons, but practical ones—she didn’t like to do hair any more than she liked to shop. Maybe because growing up she didn’t have the money to get into either habit. It would make sense that once she became a working adult she’d readily do all the things she’d been deprived of when she was young. Instead, Kalina shied away from them all. Especially the socializing part.
Today, however, was going to be different.
Last night she’d lain in her bed thinking of her life, of things she could possibly want in the future but would never have if she kept on the track she was on. She loved her job, wanted to excel at it more than anything else, but suddenly she realized that work might not be enough. It could have been the way Mel talked about her husband or her kids. Or maybe it was the invite to today’s family function that kicked her mind into overdrive. Or maybe it was the way Rome kissed her, the way he looked at her like she was possibly the only woman in the world.
Now, that was a crock if ever she’d heard one. There was no happily ever after in her future; her life was what it was. Right?
Moving to the bed, she picked up her cell phone and grabbed the clutch purse she’d pulled out of the back of her closet to drop it in. It chirped, signaling that she had a text. Then she saw it was from Ferrell.
Need an update. Soon.
God, did he ever stop? It was Sunday afternoon, and the last thing she wanted to think about was how she didn’t have enough information to convict Rome Reynolds.
Kalina ignored the message and the urge to spend the day trying like hell to find something on a man she was attracted to.
Forty-five minutes later she pulled up in front of a red-brick duplex with black shutters. She parked her car and just sat there. All the way over she’d been motivated and encouraged, listening to her favorite R&B station as she drove. Now that she was actually here, nervousness set in. Or was it anxiousness? Either way, her heart was beating a little faster than it should have been. Stepping out of the car, she inhaled the humid air. She should have started walking toward the house, instead she stopped, stood perfectly still, and waited.
Kalina wasn’t sure what she was waiting for but there was something, somewhere; she could feel it. She just needed to wait for it to …
A car whizzed by and she turned quickly, her hand going to her clutch as if her gun were there. It wasn’t. She’d convinced herself that today was about pleasure and not work. There was one in the glove compartment of her car, but she didn’t have anything on her person.
Her gaze scanned up and down the street, but her body didn’t move. Another car went by, this person obviously taking the thirty-five mph speed limit seriously. It was a regular car, a Toyota she thought as it passed her. She memorized the license plate and noted a driver and a front passenger. Ridiculous information, but it stuck in her mind regardless.
There was a snapping sound from behind and once again she jumped. Somebody stepped on something, and it broke. But when she turned there was no one there.
“Dammit!”
Taking a breath to steady herself, she swore she was losing her mind. Well, that would have to take place tomorrow. The nuthouse, where she was undoubtedly headed, could hold her bed one more day. She’d been invited to a cookout and dammit, she was going!
With sure steps she walked up the short walkway and took the steps one by one, all the while feeling the hairs at the back of her neck prickle. The air was still, yet something brushed along her skin. Lifting her hand to ring the doorbell, she looked back only once, to see nothing but parked cars, the street, normalcy. Shaking her head, Kalina turned just in time to see Mel pull the door open and smile at her.
“You made it! I’m so happy you came.” Melanie was already reaching her long arms out to grasp Kalina in a hug.
They’d just seen each other at work two days ago and they hadn’t even been acquainted that long. This type of reunion should have been reserved for a somewhat closer relationship.
Kalina hugged her back, letting the connection sink in. Then again, it didn’t, not really. They were both women, yet it still felt like they were opposites.
Stepping inside the wood-paneled foyer gave Kalina a chance to shake the feeling of being watched or followed, or whatever had her jumping at shadows.
“I have such a surprise for you. Well, it’s not a surprise for me, I actually think it’s a cool idea. That’s why I thought of it. But Pete’s like, ‘Don’t interfere,’ blah, blah, blah. But I’m like, ‘I know what I’m doing.’ So how are you? You look great. Wish I could look sexy in simply pants and a shirt.”