Tasting

400–My Diamonds

+ 2 =

Nora:

“Answer me!” he yelled from the other side, and that’s when I lost it.

“Don’t f*cking raise your voice at me, Brody. I am not your slave!” I shouted back, and he went silent. “I didn’t call to listen to you yelling at me. And I certainly didn’t call to inform you of my whereabouts all day. I‘ m sure that little spy you sent with me has already filled you in. Did you forget that *you* sent me here for this mission? So how dare you question me? Of course, I spent the day with the brothers— one by one. I’m on a mission here, do you hear me?”

I didn’t know what had come over me. I had never lost my temper like that, especially when I knew they had leverage over me.

“Nora! I wasn’t trying to shame or scold you. It’s just… I felt a little jealous,” his tone softened, but my heart was still pounding hard in my

chest.

“I don’t care if you’re jealous

whatever,” I snapped, taking a deep breath

and stretching my back, staring up at the sky.

Ꮕ

“How are my… angels?” I asked, gulping hard

“They’re fine. I’m taking good care of them. Nora, I’ll send you their videos through Clara’s phone. Please don’t be upset with me for raising my voice. You have no idea how worried I’ve been since you left-

I didn’t have time to listen to him ramble.

”

He was being paid for this, after all. He had been the one to ask me to

leave and come here. I’d noticed that Brody was good

through words, but when it came to actions, he always fell short.

“Anyway, take care of them and keep them away from Janet. I swear if she –“I turned around mid–sentence, only to come face to face with none other than Ryker, watching me with deep eyes and a frown creasing his forehead.

“What happened?” Brody asked from the other side of the line.

“Umm… take care of my jewelry. I love my diamonds. If Janet wants more, buy her new ones, but don’t let her use mine,” I laughed, trying to make it sound like a joke, but I was just scrambling to cover things up.

Ryker’s posture relaxed, his muscles easing as he tilted his head, sliding his hands into the pockets of his long coat.

“Huh? Is someone with you? Is it Nash?” Brody asked, assuming the owner of the phone had come to listen in on the conversation.

“No! Anyway… Janet will understand I don’t share my jewelry,” I said, remembering how I had made it seem like sharing Brody with her wasn’t à big deal. I’d even said I was at peace with her and liked her.

“Bye!” I hung up before Brody could say anything else, then stretched my hand out toward Ryker to give him the phone back.

“Give it to Nash,” I said aloud when Ryker didn’t bother to pull his hands from his pockets.

He remained silently staring at me, his gaze probing. Then he stepped closer, making me instinctively step back.

I never expected to react this way again. As he moved in closer, I continued backing away until he was just an inch from me. He hunched over, his face inches from mine, and whispered, “You don’t share your

400–My Diamonds

288 Vouchers

jewelry, but you’re okay sharing your mate? Brody must not mean much to you.”

The taunting tone he used to catch me in the lie about being okay with Brody’s second mate was downright creepy.

“I’m going inside. I need to take care of Daphne. If you’re not busy, you should join the team. We need all hands on deck,” I said, averting my gaze and taking a step back, pretending not to realize I’d been caught.

“Huh! Why did you tell Brody about your wolf?” he questioned, making it clear he wasn’t going to let me off that easily.

“Because he’s my mate, and he told me it was fine to transition, that no one would judge me,” I shrugged.

Ryker kept staring at me for a moment before letting out a small scoff. “Right! And then he did the exact opposite and used your wolf. Since when did you become so naïve?” His comment lacked any sarcasm this time, but calling me an idiot definitely hit a nerve.

“I thought you always saw me as a dumb bitch-” I snapped back, using a word I’d become a bit too familiar with lately. The moment it slipped out, Ryker yanked his hands out of his pockets and snatched the phone from

1. me.

“Don’t ever call yourself that,” he warned, turning on his heel and heading e warned, turning on his heel and heading back into the mansion.

At least I managed to escape the awkward conversation.