The Revenge by Tijan

“Her trial is for kidnapping and murder. Why isn’t she on house arrest or wearing an ankle bracelet?”

“Because she made bail claiming she wasn’t a flight risk because of her children.”

I started wondering who we’d find coming to meet her. “You think it’s Drew Bonham again?”

Matt tensed. “No. That dickhead is on house arrest.”

“Why’d Quinn get out of it and he didn’t?”

“Because she’s a bigger profile and she’s got money. Peter’s. Better lawyers can do a lot against the law.”

“Bonham’s got money, too.”

“Not anymore. He’s fighting a nasty divorce. Quinn didn’t fight her divorce. She settled fast, so it looks good for her defense.” Matt shrugged, but there was a heated look in his eyes, and not a good heated look.

We had a perfect view of people coming in and out of the hotel. They had to walk past us for the elevators, but we were slouched down in order to not attract their immediate attention. I was hoping we were far enough in the back of the bar so no one would see us even if they took a second look. If they came into the bar, our shtick was up.

The hotel doors swooshed open.

A wave of cold air swept through the lobby, and I was ready for it, knowing it’d hit us in a second. The sounds of the city came in. Cars honking. A guy was yelling outside. We saw the front desk attendant nod at someone going through … It was her!

“What the hell?” Matt was scowling, and he shot up in his seat.

He leaned forward, peering closer, and then he was out from the table.

“Wha—Wait!”

My heart was pounding.

This wasn’t the plan. Team Batt needed to have rules and guidelines and protocols so that we didn’t ruin the entire reason we were staking this lobby out in the first place. Like seeing our target and storming right up to them.

And then I got a good look at who was waiting for the elevator.

I ground to a halt.

Not Matt. Matt kept right on going, and the doors opened just as she looked over.

Blood drained from her face, but Matt grabbed her arm and stepped into the elevator with her. “Bailey!”

I pitched forward as the doors closed.

I thought it was Quinn. Same face.

It wasn’t her. It was worse.

Payton.

Maybe my first read on her was the correct one? She had been lurking, lurking and waiting, and what? She was here to report back to her sister about us?

Everything happened so fast that even the guards hadn’t gotten to us.

Matt had Payton cornered, and he was right in her face. “Is Quinn already in the room?”

“How did you…” Her eyes went from him to me, and back to him. “What? Yes. She’s up there.”

“How?”

“She—uh—” She was blinking, trying to think. “A back entrance, because of the press.”

“The million-dollar question…” He leaned down into her, getting in her face. She flinched. “Why the fuck are you here?”

Another eye dart from me to him. Her lips thinned, parting. “It’s not what you guys are thinking.”

“You don’t know what we’re thinking.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“That I’m here as her spy or something.”

Oh.

I uncrossed my arms.

Then, maybe.

She kept on, her voice rising, insistent. “She thinks I’m on her side, but I’m not. Honest to God. I love those children. Seraphina and Cyclone. It’s like they’re mine…” Her voice shook. “I meant what I said at dinner. I condemn my sister. She called earlier, in tears.”

She was lying.

“She told me what you said to her in the court building, and she asked me to see her. She thinks I’ll help get her back in her children’s good graces, and Peter’s.”

She was so lying.

There’d been no call. I had that data going to my own phone, so I saw that Quinn had placed calls in the last two hours, but none to Payton. The only correspondence had been the text, and once we got back to the house, I wanted to check the texting history between the two.

I had a feeling those would be enlightening.

Matt eased back. He wasn’t saying anything.

She kept looking between the two of us, and she must’ve mistaken our silence as believing her, because she started breathing easier. She spoke calmer, and a laugh hitched in her throat. She pressed a hand there. “You guys scared me. Where did you come from? How did you…” Her voice trailed off.

She was thinking.

We were surprised it was her meeting her sister.

We knew Quinn was here.

She looked at the elevator panel. Matt had been the one who pushed the floor number.

If she didn’t say another word, Matt would’ve led her right up to the room.

She swallowed, and her voice got suddenly quieter. “You bugged her phone.”

I took note that it wasn’t a question.

“How long?” Her voice was hoarse now.

I didn’t say a word, but damn it, this wasn’t good.

And then, even quieter, her head lowered, she said, “I won’t tell her. I’m not here to help her. Honest to God, I’m not.”

I ground out, “I don’t like you anymore.”