Primal Pursuit - Page 154

If anything, there’s a strange sense of relief in me that someone else knows what happened with Uncle Frank. Even if it’s the man who killed my parents.

Do I still want him dead? Yes. No. Maybe. But there’s a strong sense in me that my bloodlust might have shifted. I think it’s Davian’s anger, his rage, his murderous intent I can hear in his tone whenever he speaks of my aunt and uncle. It’s seeping into me. Infecting me. But right now, I think I want them dead more than Davian.

I don’t know. I’ll deal with it after I get the rest of what I need.

I keep my expression neutral, but it’s not lost on me that Davian looks at me in a way that tells me he knows exactly what’s inside my head.

“Here.”

Alexius hands Davian an iPad.

“Thanks—” Davian shoots me a knowing look “—Alexius.”

Bastard reads me like an open book. And now I know Alexius is the one on the left.

Davian starts reading whatever’s on the screen, and I breathe an inner sigh of relief he’s no longer looking into my soul. I try to bury all revenge plans for Davian, whether I carry them out or not, down deep, where they can’t get me into trouble.

Davian might not care what I want to do to him, but I suspect these men might.

Alexius’s gaze shifts to me and my heart beats faster with fear, different than any kind of fear that Davian’s ever set off in me. They’re both as dangerous, but Alexius has that superiority, that authority about him that makes you want to go on your knees and worship him before he smites you down.

“The necklace?” Alexius asks.

Davian pulls the ugly thing I stole out of his pocket and hands it over. “Here.”

“Where did you get this?” Alexius asks me, and I suddenly have the urge to shrink into myself because, fuck me, this guy’s scary. And beautiful. But mostly scary.

My eyes dart to Davian. He glances up, but his gaze is flat.

“I…um. I stole it. From my aunt.”

“Why?”

Davian steps in. “Because her uncle is a fucking piece of shit, and the aunt’s not that far off. Your mom never had this, did she?”

I frown, shaking my head. “Nothing I sold was Mom’s. There were a number of gaudy pieces. This is the last one.”

“When did you sell the previous one?” Alexius casts adark look at Davian. “And you keep out of this fucking answer.”

“That was all you needed to know.” He hands back the iPad, and there’s a very small upturn in Alexius’ lips at Davian’s don’t-give-a-shit who you are attitude.

It disappears when he looks at me. “I asked you a question, Poppy. I expect an answer.”

“A few months ago. I needed the money.” I wipe slightly sweaty hands on my thighs. “But this one I was trying to hold on to.”

“Why?”

I look at him, nonplussed. “Security? I’m not rich, and this is worth something. I just thought if I held on to the most expensive one it would be like money in the bank. I— Oh, God.” I suck in a breath. “Is it yours? I didn’t know. How?—”

“This ugly piece of shit? No. I have taste, and so does my wife. But it is worth a fortune, much more than you can imagine, I assure you.”

“So, this is what you need?” Davian nods at the iPad.

Alexius’ crystal blue eyes turn deadly. “I want them wiped out. Take him out, get the paperwork I need, and it’ll be set. We’ll watch Poppy.”

“Alexius, you know I trust you. But respectfully, not on your fucking life. She comes with me.”

Alexius frowns. “Davian?—”