“Because of Piper? Because you don’t think she’d handle it well? Look, I could talk to her. I could make her see—”
“I’m not interested in trying again,” he repeated.
Celeste’s expression soured. “You won’t have time for anyone she doesn’t like? Is that how it is?”
“I don’t have time for anyone who treats my anchor like shit. That includes you. But even if you were sweet as pie to her, I wouldn’t want to get involved with you again. You’re not all that invested in the idea either. You simply don’t like that the stepsister you despise has rights to someone who you once considered yours.” He’d never been ‘hers,’ but she hadn’t seen it that way. “You don’t like how important Piper is to me, and you’re thinking that if you can get back into my bed, you’ll be front and center and she’ll be pushed aside. Can you not see how fucking petty and vindictive that is?”
“You’re twisting everything.”
“No, I’m calling you on your bullshit. Something you’re not used to people doing.” He took a fluid step toward her, his face hard. “Understand something, Celeste. This little hobby you have of doing your best to fuck with Piper’s life—that’s over. She’s under my personal protection now. Anyone who tries hurting her will have to deal with me and my demon. Stepsister or not, that will include you.”
He’d expected a rant, a snarl, an insult. Instead, all the tension drained out of her. Sadness glimmered in her eyes.
“That’s all I wanted from you, you know,” she said. “For you to claim rights to me. For you to class me as directly under your protection. But you just never did.” She opened her mouth to say more but then shook her head and walked away.
He had the distinct feeling she was hoping that he, moved by her apparent despair, would call her back to him. Instead, Levi ascended the stairwell and headed to Knox’s office. It was as sleek and contemporary as it was spacious. The tall glass window overlooked the combat circle where Levi liked to blow off steam occasionally.
Both Tanner and Keenan had claimed the sofa while Larkin relaxed in a cozy armchair. Just like the desk chairs, they were cushioned with Italian leather that was soft as butter.
Seated behind the executive desk, Knox turned away from the hi-tech computer and frowned at Levi. “You all right?”
Grunting, Levi spared the wall-mounted security monitors a quick glance. There was plenty of CCTV footage of the Underground. It was important to keep an eye on their kind, since they didn’t always play nicely. “I’ll be fine when someone informs me that they discovered who targeted Piper,” he said, taking the seat opposite Knox. “Anyone have any news?”
Knox flipped his pen upside down and began idly tapping the papers in front of him with it. “Most of the people on our list of suspects have been interviewed by members of the Force. Only a few don’t have alibis for the time of her attack.”
“Do Jasper and Sefton have alibis?” They were Levi’s main suspects.
Knox nodded. “Their father swore they were with him.”
“He would have said it even if they weren’t.”
“But we can’t prove he lied.”
Larkin shifted in her seat. “Neither Jasper nor Sefton had injuries consistent with the attack that took place at the deli. In fact, no one who was interviewed had any wounds. Which means that either the injuries were healed by the time these people were questioned—which is entirely possible—or none of those people were Piper’s attacker.”
“No one in our lair is down on record as having the ability to conceal their appearance, but that doesn’t mean they can’t,” said Keenan. “Deli Guy may well have been hired by someone.”
“Possibly.” Levi twisted his mouth. “Has Piper’s ex, Kelvin, been interviewed yet?”
“Not yet,” said Knox. “He wasn’t home when our Force members went to see him. They plan to catch him at his tattoo shop today.”
“Leave that with me,” said Levi. “I’ll speak with him.”
Larkin tilted her head. “How’s Piper?”
“Fully healed.”
“Good, though I kind of meant emotionally,” said the harpy. “It’s not every day someone invisible tries to kill you, even in the strange world of demons.”
“She seemed in shock when I saw her at the studio after the attack,” Tanner chipped in.
Levi rubbed his nape. “Piper’s very good at dissociating from whatever’s going on inside her. I saw it over and over when she helped victims relive their attacks. She seems to prefer to process things in the privacy of her own mind.”
“Kind of like you,” said Tanner.
Levi nodded. “Which is why I’d be a hypocrite if I pushed her to share the things that bug her.”
“But you’ll push her anyway,” Larkin accused, a faint smile tugging at her mouth. “Because you’ll hate the thought that she could be hurting or anxious or confused. You’ll want to fix it.”