Page 87 of New Blood

“Why don’t you get changed, and I’ll settle the bill. Is it just this one item?”

She nodded.

“Alright.”

He turned to the shop owner. Feeling that he had to make it up to the woman for disturbing the peace in the store, he asked, “In what other colors does this negligee come?”

“In addition to the pink? Black, white, and red.”

“Good. We’ll take one in each color.”

He pulled his wallet from his pocket.

The woman instantly looked appeased.

“This way, sir,” she said and headed to the register.

46

Danielle wanted to shake her head. She was in the car with Jude, heading back to the Gallagher estate. He’d told her about his suspicion that Violet had been the one who’d tampered with the brakes of her car and caused the accident in order to get rid of her. She didn’t want to believe it. Violet had always been kind to her, not like Eve who’d often treated her with contempt. But she had to admit that Jude’s reasoning was sound. Violet had motive, means, and opportunity. How could she have been so wrong about what Violet was capable of? And how could Violet have hidden her true feelings so easily that she hadn’t even suspected her?

“Violet of all people,” she murmured to herself.

Jude put his hand on hers and squeezed it, taking his eyes off the traffic for a second. “I’m afraid so.”

“What will happen to her now?”

“I’ll inform the Werewolf Alliance. They’ll deal with her.”

Danielle swallowed hard. She knew what that meant. Violet would have to face a tribunal and most likely would be treated the same way as her father. This would have serious consequences. Flora would never forgive them for getting her daughter exiled. And Jude’s plan to unite the pack under his leadership? It would never work. They would all rebel.

“I’ve never been so scared as when I realized that you’d left with Violet,” Jude said into the silence. “I can’t lose you.”

She slid her hand onto his thigh. “You won’t. I’m here, and I’m safe.”

A few minutes later, they arrived at the estate. Jude parked the car in the driveway next to the Land Rover, and they got out. He waited for her at the foot of the stairs and took her hand as they walked to the front door. It wasn’t closed. She could already hear the heated voices coming from the foyer.

Half the Gallagher household was assembled, although neither Eve nor Priscilla nor Heath was among them. Several of Jude’s men stood shoulder to shoulder with Austin, who was gripping Violet’s upper arm.

Violet was crying. “I didn’t do anything! They’re wrong. I didn’t hurt Danielle. Mom, you have to help me.”

Flora lashed a glare at Jude and Danielle. “How dare you accuse my daughter? She’s innocent!”

Spencer, who stood next to his mother, added, “It’s an outrage! You have no proof of Violet doing anything wrong!” Then he glared at her. “Is that your way of thanking us for taking you in when you had nothing?”

Danielle opened her mouth to respond to the unfair accusation, but Jude was faster.

“We have sufficient evidence,” Jude said.

“All circumstantial,” Flora piped up. “Violet is a gentle soul. She would never hurt anyone. She’s not capable of that.”

“She was seen leaving her room at 5 am and then seen leaving the garage at 7 am by two different people.” Jude looked straight at Violet. “Tell me what you were doing in the garage.”

“Nothing, I… I…” Violet stuttered, while another sob tore from her. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Admit it!” Jude demanded. “You cut the brake line on Danielle’s car.”

“No!” Violet cried out, then looked straight at her. “Danielle, please. You know me; you know I would never hurt you. I was always good to you.”