AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The address that we’re at screams privilege. Three lifted trucks, each shiny and looking brand new, sit in the sprawling driveway, and the garage door is dark tinted glass. The house is dark grey with white trim in a modern style, surrounded by overcomplicated landscaping of abstract shaped hedges.
“It’s definitely ostentatious,” I comment, shutting the driver’s side door of my car. River and I agreed to carpool to Jason Silver’s house after I decided it would be a good idea to make sure we both left at the same time.
I don’t trust River to be alone with Skylar’s ex-boyfriend.
“You’re such a nerd,” River mutters. “Ostentatious. Use fucking normal words, man.”
But he doesn’t have his usual bite. I have a feeling he was finally able to get some sleep at Skylar’s place. And the coffee in his hands probably helps, too.
“Fine,” I sigh as we head up the driveway. “It looks like an asshole owns this place.”
“Better,” River concedes as he rings the doorbell, which has a camera attached to it.
Instead of a normal ding, it plays an electronic, lyric-less hook from a ten-year-old pop song.
I share a look with River.
This is the guy Skylar was dating?
When the massive double doors finally open, a plain-looking Alpha with shaggy blonde hair and a scraggly beard greets us. “Hey,” he says slowly, his eyes narrowing. “Can I help you?” he asks in a condescending tone.
River’s right.
This guy is a prick.
And I’m not just saying that because of Skylar.
His scent is vomit-inducing. It’s musty with an undertone of damp, rotten earth.
“Jason Silver?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah?”
“We’re with the Alpha Private Bureau,” I say, my tone low. “We’d like to ask you some questions about Skylar Bloom.”
At the mention of her name, he curls his lip. “You’re with the who?” he asks, looking at me unimpressed.
River growls. “The Alpha Bureau,” he snaps. “We’re private investigators that have a contract with the government.”
Jason scoffs. “Well, I’ve never heard of you,” he says. “And I haven’t talked to Skylar in more than a year. Whatever she’s done is not my problem.”
Something inside me snaps.
The gall of this man to think we’re here because Skylar committed a crime. The arrogant, condescending, privileged?—
“Listen, asshole,” River hisses before I can speak, taking a step forward. He’s taller than Jason, and it’s rewarding to see the Alpha flinch. “We can come in now and ask some questions, or we can come back with a warrant. Your choice.”
He’s bluffing, but thankfully Jason doesn’t notice. The threat makes him stiffen, and he swallows and swings open the door to allow us in.
And holy fuck, do I hate him.
This is the man that made Skylar pay for everything, yet the sound system and ridiculously large television in his front room alone are enough to pay for a year’s worth of weekly restaurant outings. Three video game systems sit on one of the shelves of the massive entertainment system.
We clearly interrupted a game, judging by the paused screen.
He’s a man child with expensive toys. It doesn’t take a detective to discern that.
“Okay, well…” Jason shrugs as we stop in his front room. “What did she do?”
