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The bastard.
“You probably want to sit down,” River quips, motioning towards the leather couch. “This will take longer than a couple of minutes.”
Jason stares at both of us and shifts in his designer sneakers. “I have a meeting,” he says, the lie obvious. “I was just about to leave.”
I raise my eyebrows. “How interesting, considering you’re in the middle of a game,” I nod my head towards the television. “And you don’t have a place of employment.”
He looks like he wants to argue with us but decides against it. “I work from home,” he bites out. “I’m a stock trader.”
I already knew that, of course.
“Yeah, and you do really well for yourself,” River quips, motioning to the living area. “Unless this is Mommy and Daddy’s money?” He slams his coffee cup down on the wet bar next to him.
We have to rein it in. We can’t be this unprofessional. I give River a warning look as Jason stiffens and shoots daggers at River. “Look, what do you want to know?” Jason snaps. “I told you; I haven’t seen Skylar in a long time. So, whatever is going on with her?—”
“She’s missing,” I interrupt him, unable to hear him insinuate that Skylar has done something wrong. “And we just want to ask you some questions.”
He stills. “She’s missing?” he asks. “What do you mean?”
River rolls his eyes and crosses his arms. “It means she’s not here. It means she disappeared.”
“Oh. Well, sit down I guess,” Jason says uncomfortably, heading toward the couch. It’s split into an L shape and is large enough to seat at least eight people comfortably. I sit on the furthest end of it so I’m able to face him at an angle.
“What do you want to know?” Jason asks, sitting ramrod straight. His hands are on his knees, and he bites his lip. He’s nervous.
I’m ninety-nine percent sure he has nothing to do with Skylar’s disappearance, but he’s exhibiting signs of guilt.
Maybe it’s for the way he treated Skylar.
“Tell us about your relationship,” River says as he takes the cushion adjacent to mine. His poker face is back, and he keeps his voice monotone, even though I sense he’s moments away from losing his shit.
I shouldn’t have taken him here. This was a bad idea.
“We, ah, dated for like…five years,” he says, scratching at his chin. “But it didn’t work out,” he adds quickly.
“And why was that?” I inquire, leaning forward.
A selfish part of me wants to know exactly what happened.
What he did to make her so unsure of herself, to make her worry that she’s burdening us with her presence.
Jason scoffs. “Really?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “You want the truth?”
“That’s why we’re here,” I say, giving him a grim smile.
“She was too…much,” he says, scoffing.
River lets out a low growl next to me.
I’m willing to change the subject, but River interrupts before I can. “Too much how?” he asks, his voice laced with venom.
His reaction startles Jason, and I can sense his unease as he clears his throat. “Too emotional. Too demanding. Just too overbearing.”
Anger flares in me, but we have to keep it professional.
So, I hold my tongue and nod. “And no pack, correct? Just you?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t think a pack could handle her.”
