Something About Harry(98)

Guido’s breath shuddered in and out. He hunkered closer to Darnell. “I don’t know who these people she was talking about are, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Especially . . .”

“What did she say, Guido!” Samuel demanded.

He looked to Darnell, his eyes round with fear spawned from terror.

“S’okay. I got yer back. Ain’t nobody gonna hurt you.”

Guido looked up at the council, his face ashen. “She said she’d kill them all: the kids, her friend, and this guy who didn’t love her . . .”

More chaos ensued as everyone processed Guido’s words. Pack members jumped from their seats—words of outrage flew in jumbled clusters of voices.

To threaten someone’s life without fear for your own was a serious werewolf offense; to threaten the lives of innocent children—heinous and forbidden under any circumstance. That she’d done this over a lover was just like Guido had said, quacky flakes. The shock and astonishment rippling through the crowd mirrored Mara’s scattered thoughts. Her blood raced through her veins, ice cold with fear.

He’d said she’d kill the children? Mimi and Fletcher . . .

Her heart began a whole new kind of crashing, almost fighting its way out of her chest. But then she remembered they were safe with Arch. It was then Mara thanked whoever was in charge that Harry’s children were with Archibald.

“Silence!” Samuel roared to the out-of-control crowd as guards raced up and down the aisle, warning everyone to be seated.

When silence once again prevailed, Davis looked to Guido, flattened to Darnell’s large frame. “Who is this woman you accuse of such a heinous crime, Guido?” Davis asked, his face tight with anticipation, his eyes icy ships of ire in his head.

Guido gulped. “Look, it’s not like she came in and said, ‘Hey, I’m so-and-so, and I’m a bag full o’ nuts who wants a guy who doesn’t even know I like him, let alone want to have his kids, and I’ll kill anyone that gets in my way to do it.’ Be real here. People don’t leave their names with me. Scratch that. I didn’t want to know her name. I can only tell you what she looked like. I mean, aside from crazy. Because I just wanna remind you again, she’s nuts.”

“You can identify this woman?” Griffin asked, his eyes piercing Guido’s.

“Yep. I dunno who she thought she was foolin’ with that weird disguise she had on. Her wig was crooked the whole time she was wearing a hole in my floor.” He held his hand up. “Now let’s be clear. I’m not sayin’ I want to identify her, see? Not without the cover of some protective glass and maybe a Glock, her bein’ fifty shades of lunatic, but I will because if I don’t, and someone gets hurt, I won’t be able to live with myself.”

“We’ll see to your protection. I promise you,” council member Samuel assured. “Can you describe her for the council, please?”

Mara held her breath, gripping the chains dangling from her hands until they cut into her fingers. Oh, God. She knew. She didn’t want to know, but she knew. It was why the women of OOPS had lined the exit to the courtroom.

Guido looked to Darnell, his face once more riddled with fear.

Darnell just nodded his assurance while Nina yelped from behind them, “Do it, dude!”

“I . . .” He cleared his throat. “I don’t have to describe her. I can point her out. She’s here.”

“In this courtroom?” Griffin asked in outrage, rising from his seat, his gnarled hands planted on the surface of the high desk.

Guido nodded with a wince. “Yep. She’s right over there.”

As Mara’s gaze swung to follow Guido’s finger, her stomach screaming out in protest, the blood in her veins rushing in her ears, her heart stopped.

And she had one brief thought when it did.

As smart as she was, how was it she was always wrong when it came to a good whodunit?


* * *


LEAH jumped up from the row she sat in with Astrid and Ying, moving to the side of the courthouse where the room was lined with windows. Her eyes were wide, just like Guido had described them, wild and glazed.

In her hand there was a shiny gun, rock steady and aimed directly at Mara. “Nobody move or I’ll kill her—hear me?” she screamed. “I’ve got silver bullets in this, and I’ll shoot anyone who breathes the wrong way!”

Everyone ducked for cover, falling to the ground and scrambling under the wooden pews, crawling across the floor to make themselves as small as possible.

Everyone but Mara and Harry. As the room filled with panic-laden heavy breathing and the scent of sweat, Mara refused to back down. She sat straight and tall, glaring at Leah. God, how could she have kept something like this hidden for so long?