His smile was a little strained. “Your friends are here. They’ve been allocated the two cabins that border this one. Think you can give them directions when you’re done here?”
“Of course.”
With a nod Hugh returned to the Chevy he’d parked beside an SUV the wolves had rented. The Beta drove off, leaving a cloud of dirt in his wake. One by one the Phoenix wolves filed inside the cabin and into the den.
Dante squeezed her shoulder and clapped Tao on the back. “How are you both doing?”
“We’ve been better,” said Tao. “How’s everyone?”
“Other than anxious for you and Riley, they’re good.”
Jaime wrapped her arms around Riley. “I have to say, I’d like to smack the shit out of whoever tried to shoot you.” Pulling back, she held Riley’s eyes as she asked, “You’re okay?”
“I’m okay,” replied Riley. “I appreciate you coming.”
Makenna hugged her. “Of course we came. The sooner we get you home and away from here, the better.”
“Which, I guess, means figuring out who’s trigger happy and then taking care of the situation,” said Dante, sinking into the sofa.
Makenna raised a finger. “Coffee first.”
“I have one, thanks,” Riley told her. “I left it on the breakfast bar, though.”
“I’ll bring it in with me.” Makenna made her way into the kitchen, and—after inclining his head in greeting at both Riley and Tao—Ryan trailed after his mate.
Taking a turn around the den, Jaime said, “This place is cute. Are the other cabins the same?”
Riley shrugged. “Pretty much, yeah.”
Dante pulled Jaime onto his lap. “How’s your friend, Riley?”
“Weak, but recovering,” she replied, joining them on the sofa.
Jaime’s brows knitted together. “The flock doesn’t have a healer?”
“Nope. My Uncle Max has enough healing skills to accelerate the process.”
“Fortunately for Lucy, Max was there when she was shot,” said Tao, perching himself on the arm of the sofa so that he was beside her.
Moments later Ryan hauled two dining chairs into the den for him and his mate while Makenna carried a tray of coffees. Once everyone was settled, cups in hand, Makenna said, “Now tell us exactly what’s been happening—leave nothing out.”
Riley and Tao told them everything, from the recent shootings and the confrontations she’d had with Cynthia and Shirley to even the small matter of someone’s ripping Tao’s clothes to shreds.
“It’s possible that someone is finishing what Wade started by shooting the people who should have been at the party that night,” said Tao. “But it occurred to me that it’s equally possible that someone’s trying to hurt Riley by hurting the people who are important to her. The bullet that hit Ethan could truly have been intended for him.”
“Another theory is that someone feels that Riley and Lucy let Wade down by not pulling him out of his depression, and now they’re punishing them,” said Dante.
Riley considered that for a moment. “Maybe. We were his closest friends. That would make Shirley the likeliest suspect, but I have to admit that my anger at her could be blinding me a little. I mean, I can’t really imagine her crouched somewhere in the mountains with a rifle. Plus whoever did it has done a good job of evading the Beta and enforcers. Shirley doesn’t strike me as the type who’d know how to cover her tracks so well.”
Makenna tilted her head. “Is there anyone else who would feel that you and Lucy let Wade down?”
“Only his father,” replied Riley. “But he died a long time ago. Wade didn’t have any friends other than me and Lucy.”
“What about the parents of the kids that Wade shot?” asked Jaime. “Do you think the shooter could be one of them, wanting you dead because they resent that you’re alive?”
“None of them seem to feel that way anymore,” said Tao.
“Okay, so let’s go back to the theory that someone could be finishing the job Wade started,” said Dante. “Who should have been there that night?”
“Me, Lucy, Cynthia, Sawyer, and Duncan.”
Ryan looked at Riley. “Do you have personal issues with any of them?”
“You could say that.” Riley told them about her history with Cynthia. “She’s also currently dating—although, honestly, ‘dating’ might be a strong word for it—my ex. Sawyer’s next in line to be Beta, and Cynthia’s always wanted to be Beta.”
“So she could see you as a threat,” said Jaime.
“If Riley still wanted Sawyer, she would be a threat.” Tao was certain of it. “The guy still wants her—even his raven is possessive of her. I think Cynthia’s the type of person who would do what she had to do to ensure she wasn’t knocked off the power ladder.”
“But I’m not sure she’s someone who’d shoot her own sister,” said Riley. “She might not have much time for Lucy or even particularly like her, but she’s still her sister.”
Dante scraped his hand over his jaw. “I don’t know . . . Just because someone’s your sibling doesn’t mean they care for you. Some people just aren’t capable of caring for anyone.”
Knowing that Dante would be thinking of his own brother, Tao nodded. “That’s true.”
“Tell me about Sawyer and Duncan,” said Dante.
Riley took a sip of her coffee. “Sawyer is ambitious, highly dominant, and isn’t rattled by much. Duncan’s very dominant, but he keeps to himself and doesn’t like leaving his territory. Oh, and he’s got personal history with Cynthia. She actually dated him the longest out of all the guys she slept with, and I think she even cares for him a little. She just cares for power more.”
Jaime fiddled with her earring. “Have you ever had any problems with Duncan?”
Riley shook her head. “None whatsoever.”
“This Sawyer guy,” began Makenna, “how long were you and he together?”
Thinking back, Riley said, “Not very long. A few months.”
“Who dumped who?” asked Jaime.
“I ended it,” replied Riley. “But not in a bitchy way.”
Dante drummed his fingers on Jaime’s thigh. “How did he react?”
“About as well as any dominant male reacts to being dumped—it’s a bruise to the ego. But we didn’t have a major fight or anything.” In fact, Riley had gotten the impression he didn’t care all that much.
“That doesn’t mean he wasn’t pissed,” said Ryan, scratching at his palm.
Makenna smiled and touched his arm. “Ooh, you’re going to get money soon.”
Ryan scowled at his mate. “What?”
“If the palm of your right hand itches, it means you’ll get money soon.”
Ryan stared at her. “Tell me you don’t truly believe that.”
She waved a hand. “Fine, be pessimistic.”
“I’m not being pessimistic, I’m being realistic. Try it sometime.”
Makenna huffed. “I don’t know why you insist on thinking there’s no substance in superstitions. I told Riley not to go traveling on a Friday because it brings misfortune, but she didn’t heed the warning and look what happened.”