~YULIA
“I feel violated,” I said with a cold shudder.
I was outside with Jamal who had a pissed look plastered on his face.
“I wish I had followed you sooner, that would never have happened.” His voice was tight with anger.
I did not understand why he was so angry. Did he care that much about me?
“It’s okay, cheer up. No permanent harm was done.” I attempted to brighten up the atmosphere.
A little smile tugged at his lips- but it was only for a moment. He turned to me, his face all serious and I got lost in the way the night breeze blew at his hair.
“I am going to ask you some uncomfortable questions,” he suddenly said. “It has to do with your mother. If you want my help, you will have to talk to me about her, including things that are personal to you.”
I swallowed, nervous of the things I would have to feel when I had to talk about my mother.
Then I nodded. “If it will help find the people who took her away from me, then I won’t mind a little discomfort.”
“Are you aware of any one who would want to hurt your mother?”
I shook my head puzzled. “I can not think of anyone. Mom was friendly with everyone that knew her, all she did was make wedding cakes.”
“How did you find out about her death?”
“I was in school when our family lawyer told me,” I said, recalling how happy I was that day with Lana gossiping in class. I had never expected that day to turn unexpectedly dark.
“What is your lawyer’s name?”
“Rogers,” I said. “Is he a suspect?”
“Everyone is a suspect.”
I knew that Mr. Rogers would not hurt a fly because he had been the most worried about me even when mom was still alive.
Before Jamal could ask more questions, I smelt Him before his voice reached me and it made my wolf dance with a strange feeling.
“I have been looking everywhere for you, I told you to be careful,” Issa said as he walked towards me.
His eyes grew wild and angry when he laid eyes on Jamal.
“What are you telling her?” He shot at poor Jamal as suspicion consumed his eyes and tone.
“I do not see how that is any of your business,” Jamal answered fearlessly.
“She is my niece, Detective Khan, I do not want you putting her in unnecessary danger than she already is,” Issa replied.
Jamal corked his brows at him. “So you admit that she is in danger.”
I liked the way Jamal could easily bait Issa. I enjoyed the way he was able to rile up this asshole of a Lycan.
“She is related to a high profile, Lycan,” Issa replied. “So, automatically, she is a target.”
I rolled my eyes. The more Issa spoke, the more full of himself he sounded. I could literally feel the tension between the two.
I understood why Issa did not like Jamal. It was because Jamal’s job gave him the perk of not answering to anyone and it pissed Issa off. His need to be in control of anything and anyone was weird to me or maybe it was a Lycan thing.
Issa turned to me. “So you open your mouth and talk to just anyone the moment I take my eyes off you?” He scolded.
I corked my brows at him as anger sliced through my mind. “I am not a baby, Issa. I have the freedom of opening my mouth to whomever I want!”
“Well, not the likes of him,” Issa shot back before squeezing his face at Jamal as if he had tasted something bad.
“What are you hiding, Issa?” Jamal demanded openly. “Her mother was killed and you seem hellbent on not letting her know the truth.”
“It’s a family matter,” Issa replied. “Something you are not familiar with.”
Jamal smiled. “I see what this is about.”
I felt as if I had been left behind in the dark because they were beginning to say things that left me confused.
So I turned to Jamal. “What is he talking about?”
“Lycan Issa thinks I am less of a werewolf because I forswore my pack.” A cold smile played on Jamal’s face as he kept his eyes provocatively on Issa.
“I will never understand a werewolf who would willingly leave his people behind to be a cop,” Issa said with disgust.
“And I will never understand an uncle who refuses to seek justice for the mother of his niece,” Jamal shit back. “I guess we are both complicated men.”
Issa chuckled darkly. “Trust me, Khan, you have no idea what complicated means in my world.”
“Okay, boys, enough,” I scolded, tired of the macho talk.
“I think it’s time for you to go, Detective Khan. I believe you have some case files to open,” Issa stated.
“Good night, Yulia. We will continue our discussion another time.” He bowed slightly to me like a gentleman would do to a Lady. “Call if you remember anything.”
I nodded at him as I gave him a small smile in return.
“She will not be calling you, I will make sure of that.” The venom in Issa’s tone was very evident.
Jamal Khan walked out of the compound proudly without another word, disappearing into the cold night.
That was when I turned to Issa. “What is your fucking problem?”
“You are going to have to be more specific, Yulia. I have a lot of problems. Which one are you referring to?” He answered coldly.
“What is your problem with me finding my mother’s killers?” I asked with a sarcastic tone.
“I have someone working on that as we speak. You do not need to involve an outsider.” His response was curt and tighter than mine.
I narrowed my eyes at him as a possibility suddenly popped up in my head and I blurted it right out.
“Are you jealous?”
Something flashed in Issa’s green eyes for a split second before it disappeared again like it never existed.
“If you are saying I am doing this because I am jealous of Jamal, you are wrong.” Yet his eyes darkened. “I am doing this because I am worried about you. There are consequences to what you are doing, Yulia.”
“You talk like you know what is going on,” I retorted. “And yet, you refuse to tell me anything. What are you hiding?”
“You sound just like him,” He replied, referring to Jamal. “Look, Yulia, I am going to get you the closure you need regarding Marianna but Jamal is not to be involved.”
Before I could reply, my phone rang out. I retrieved it to see that it was a picture from Lana.
When I opened it, all the blood and motion in my body froze and my hands began to tremble violently as my eyes grew wide with shock.
Because staring back at me, was a terrified Lana, tied to a chair in her room and gagged with duct tape so she would forget about screaming for help.
That was when my entire world stopped and lost its meaning…