Page 65 of Unbound

“Hey.” I blink my eyes open. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he says immediately.

Then he tilts his head. Even he knows that answer isn’t convincing. “But I just heard back from my connection at the prison.”

I sit up.

“Larissa had a visitor last night.”

“If it was Vivian, I swear to God…”

Xavier shakes his head.

“Not Vivian.”

I wait.

“Marco Russo.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

“It’s not entirely abnormal,” Xavier tells me. “And it’s not the first time they’ve visited her. She just hasn’t had any visitors recently.”

“What do you think that means?” I ask.

Mabel scoots over so Xavier can sit beside me on the couch. I immediately loop my arm through his, feeling calmer the second his cool skin presses against mine.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “Marco could simply be visiting her. Or he could be planning something.” He pauses. “All of Larissa’s phone calls are monitored, and I can get copies if you want. But considering how you were raised, I assume they know better than to say anything outright that could be recorded. I’m hoping if they’re using some kind of code, you or your brothers can crack it.”

“Yes,” I say. “We probably could.” I look up at him. “I know you have connections, but the Order does too. Do you think there’s any chance they could’ve arranged to meet privately?”

“It’s possible.” I hate that he’s being rational and honest. I don’t actually want him to lie to me. But right now, I kind of want him to lie to me.

“I’ll have someone look into it,” he adds.

“Thanks.”

I rest my head against his shoulder.

“We’re meeting with the wolves tonight,” he tells me. “The pack from Raleigh is here.”

I lift my head. “Do you want me there?” Secretly, I’m hoping the answer is no.

“I need you to make an appearance,” Xavier says. “A strategic one.”

I groan.

“There was a direct attack on you today. If I keep you hidden away at home, it makes us look scared.”

“We are scared,” Mabel says, nodding emphatically. “They could’ve shot and killed Wren.”

“Exactly,” Xavier replies. I understand what he means. If Xavier doesn’t respond soon, he risks looking weak. Or worse, like we actually had something to do with the Reaper deaths and the ritual.

But if he reacts too aggressively, the wolves could pull back even further.

“What time is the meeting?” I ask.