Harper patted Devon’s arm. “See, the hound’s okay. It’s fine. The track-people allow the orb-throwing because they like that the race is—”
“Pretty much anyone’s race, yeah, it makes it more exciting,” finished Devon. “But I don’t have to like it.”
She almost jerked back when a ball of hellfire hit Tanner’s rear leg so hard that it was a sheer miracle the leg didn’t crumple beneath it. Even more amazing was that the hound put on a burst of speed, its paws thundering along the dirt track … and bolted into first place.
The whole room exploded into applause as it crossed the finish line.
Devon literally jumped up and down. “It won! The crazy fucking canine won!”
Most of the spectators outside cheered and bounced on their feet. Others roared in annoyance, crumpling their tickets.
Smiling so hard her face hurt, Devon put her hand to her chest and let out a relieved sigh. “Okay, this is just far too intense for me. I don’t think I’ll be coming again.”
Harper snorted. “You always say that, but you always come back.”
Totally true.
It wasn’t long before Tanner joined them in the private box. He made a beeline for Devon, even as he accepted congratulatory nods and back-pats from the others. “Hey, kitten. Did you miss me?”
“You mean when I was hurling balls of hellfire at you? Yeah, missed every time.” She went easily into his arms. “How’s your head?”
“All right.”
“And your leg? It looked like those orbs hit you pretty hard.”
“I’m fine.” He pressed a long, lingering kiss to her mouth. “You hungry? I need something to eat, I’m starving.”
“Tanner, you have a visitor,” Levi called out, his voice carefully neutral.
Devon turned toward the open door … and stiffened at the sight of Eleanor standing there.
Tanner growled. “The fuck?”
Eleanor raised her hands in a gesture of peace. “I’m here to apologize.”
“Apologize for what exactly?” he clipped, crossing to the doorway with Devon at his side.
“For pushing you both so hard,” Eleanor replied. “I genuinely hadn’t thought anything serious would happen between the two of you. If I had, I wouldn’t have—”
“Wrecked Devon’s apartment?”
Eleanor gave him a somewhat haughty look. “I’m not so petty as to anonymously vandalize a woman’s home merely because she stands in the way of something I want. I did, however, see the extent of the damage.” Her gaze slid to Devon. “I went to your building that day, intending to talk with you. I’d considered making you a generous financial offer if you’d back away from Tanner at least temporarily.” She slanted him a quick look when a guttural growl rumbled out of him.
“Then what?” prompted Devon.
Eleanor’s eyes sliced back to her. “The front door was open when I arrived, and I noticed that the lock was busted. I walked in and saw the mess. I also have an idea of who caused it. That’s the main reason why I’m here. I don’t want you for an enemy, Tanner. I’m hoping that giving you this information will ease any hard feelings between us.”
He lifted his chin slightly. “What information?”
“As I was walking up the stairwell toward Devon’s floor, I saw somebody coming down. They were coming fast, looking somewhat frazzled.”
“Who?”
*
Clenching his phone tightly, Tanner paced the VIP box as he relayed Eleanor’s information to Jolene. Devon leaned against the wall, staring off into the distance, looking deep in thought.
“What was Eleanor’s excuse for not coming to you sooner about this?” Jolene asked.
“She said she hadn’t considered that Reena could be responsible for the ransacked apartment because she hadn’t known there was any connection between Reena and Devon,” said Tanner. “But when she heard from someone earlier today that Finn Moseley was Devon’s father and that her relationship with Reena was rumored to be a very rocky one, it made Eleanor wonder if the sentinel could be responsible.”
Jolene hummed. “She may be right. You will be interested to know that I found Ryder Flanagan. Sadly, he’s dead, so there’s nothing he can tell us. Someone slit his throat from ear to ear. I found no connection between him and Sheridan, but I did find one between Reena and Sheridan. Turns out he’s a cousin of Reena’s ex-partner.”
Tanner ground his teeth. “Finn failed to mention that.” The guy had failed to pass on a lot of info. But then, they weren’t always totally upfront with him either.
“It’s possible that he didn’t know,” said Jolene. “If he did, I imagine he kept it to himself for fear that we’d point the finger at Reena. He won’t want to believe that one of his children could have anything to do with this. And who could blame him for that?”
Tanner twisted his mouth. “I think we need to have a long conversation with Reena.”
“I agree, but she’s a sentinel. She’s strong and well-protected. We can’t just pluck her off the streets the way we did Lockwood. Unfortunately.”
“I heard from a member of my Force that she frequents the Underground sports bar near the mall,” said Tanner. “I’ll give the owner a call. If Reena’s there, we can go have a friendly chat with her.”
*
Nose wrinkling at the feel of the sticky hardwood floor clinging to the soles of her shoes, Devon followed Tanner further into the dim sports bar while Jolene took up the rear, passing crowded tables and a long bar lined with wooden stools. The scents of yeasty beer, cigarette smoke, and greasy food tainted the air. Waitresses zigzagged around tables, carrying trays, while one was poking at a patron who seemed to have passed out.
The bar was dingier than most, boasting scarred wooden tables, waning neon signs, old-looking pinball machines, and lots of empty glasses that had yet to be collected. The mirrored wall behind the bar reflected the sports paraphernalia that hung crookedly on the wall opposite.
Most patrons were facing the TV, avidly watching the football game and yelling at the screen. Others sat talking and laughing and glugging down beer.
The sounds of a table being upended and glass breaking were soon followed by the bartender yelling for a server to intervene. Honestly, it wasn’t a place she’d expected to find Reena, who’d always seemed too hoity-toity to even consider entering a dingy sports bar.
As the neared the rear of the space, there was the sound of a ball smacking into another, so it was no surprise to see a row of pool tables. It was, however, a surprise to see Reena hanging near one of them with her fellow sentinels, twirling a pool cue. She was also holding the neck of a beer bottle between two fingers. Hmm, no colorful foo-foo cocktail for Reena.
There appeared to be some playful shit-talking going on, but Reena wasn’t part of it. She was merely listening, a half-smile fixed on her face, seeming more relaxed than Devon had ever seen her. Huh.
As if she felt the weight of someone’s gaze, Reena looked their way. And tensed, smile fading. With a put-out sigh, she set her bottle on the high table beside her and leaned her cue against the wall. She murmured something to one of the guys who was munching on a hot wing. He only nodded, and then she headed toward Devon, Tanner, and Jolene.