Page 100 of The Price of Love

It doesn’t.

“I haven’t seen you since the poker run,” Wiz says.

Yes, it’s a fact, but what is she expecting me to say? Is her stare meant to cause me to verbally vomit where I was? Instead, I pivot. “What was the final tally? How much money did we give to the shelter?”

Wiz slams her fist onto her desk, causing me to jump. “Goddamn it, Shadow, I didn’t call you in to talk about how much our fundraiser netted.”

“Yes, President,” I say again, but I don’t ask her reason for summoning me. It might come off too aggressive.

“You had a mission,” she says. “When we talked after the run, you said there wasn’t anything to report. But I have a few more questions.”

I try to keep my shoulders relaxed. “Yes, President.”

“Tell me again about your time with Storm.” Wiz smiles, but it isn’t a pleasant smile.

I study her for just a moment. My earlier report had been brief, so I’m not sure what she’s playing at. “Like I told you, I don’t have anything. I want to apologize again for leaving early.”

“I’m not interested in an apology.”

Okay. She’s cranky tonight. “I wish I could tell you more. I witnessed a couple brief exchanges between Storm and Frost. I suppose there may have been some tension, but since I don’t know either well, I can’t say why. Storm offered no insight into it, and of course, I didn’t push for fear she’d become suspicious.”

“Surely, she said something useful in all the time you were together.”

I couldn’t miss her accusation, but I remain calm. “Nothing about Frost. She told stories about the Thorns.”

“And Aces?” The look of distaste on her face only confirms Storm’s story about the feud between Aces and Wiz.

I look toward the ceiling as if thinking. “Yeah, she mentioned how much she admired Aces. What an amazing woman she was.”

“Cut the crap!” Wiz practically shouts. She pushes the manila envelope toward me. “Care to explain?”

My mouth goes dry as I stare at the envelope.

“Open it!” she orders.

Tentatively, I pick it up, turn it over, and undo the clasp. I yank out several sheets, but I’m afraid to look at them, so I focus on Wiz’s chin.

“Look at them.”

Somehow I keep my hands steady as I flip through the photos. All were taken at the Thorns’ Casino Night. When I finish, I cycle through again. There’s about a dozen. All appear to be during the commotion with Frost. There’s no mistaking me in my skimpy black dress.

“Moonlighting?” Wiz’s voice is full of sarcasm. “I knew you needed money for a lawyer, but I didn’t think you’d go slumming.”

I bite my tongue. Though I’m angry she’s insulting the Thorns, now isn’t the time to defend them. I don’t look at Wiz as I shuffle the pictures. I’m not seeing them, but I need to keep my hands busy.

“You don’t have anything to say?”

A picture is worth a thousand words. “What would you like me to say, President?”

“Explain yourself,” she barks. “What the hell were you doing? What were you thinking?”

“Where’d you get these?” I say, going on the offensive, but I keep my tone neutral.

Wiz leans over and snatches the photos out of my hand. I gasp in surprise but regain my calm. She slams the photos on her desk and stands.

I feel small as she looks down at me, but I remain seated not wanting to appear aggressive.

“Look at me!”