Boxed Set: Traitorous Heart Volumes 1-6 (The Traitorous Heart Series) by Breena Wilde Page B

another time.”
    She smiled sadly. “’Kay.”
    Cage let out a heavy breath. “Brian?”
    “He’s a guy I met at The Attic the other night.. We’ve been seeing each other a couple of weeks.”
    “But you knew him in high school?”
    “Yeah, I knew him and Reid in high school.”
    “And this guy, Griffin?” Cage glanced at me when he said his name. I forced myself to keep a straight face, but swallowed hard. I didn’t know how to answer the question. I felt more in the dark than ever.
    Birdy answered. “I also knew him in high school. We hung in the same circle of friends.”
    “And he and Griffin were at The Attic the other night.” Cage took a roll of Wint-O-Green lifesavers from his suit pocket and popped one in his mouth. He offered one to me, but I shook my head.
    “Yes, and Reid,” Birdy said.
    Cage shook his head. “Anyone else?”
    “I was there too,” I chimed in.
    “Fuck,” Cage whispered, scratching out something on his pad. “This is going to take a while and it might be better if you weren’t here for the rest of it.”
    “No, don’t send Katie away. I-I need her.”
    Cage shook his head. “Right now you need me.” He scowled. “I’m the one who’s handling your case, unless you’d rather Dandelion here instead.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his features contorted like he’d just swallowed something nasty.
    “I think she’d do an excellent—”
    I shook my head. She needed someone other than me. I’d just graduated.
    “Why did my father send you?” Birdy asked, changing the subject.
    “He figured he was too close to the case, but I’ll be going over everything with him.”
    “Always the professional,” she spat.
    “Exactly,” Cage agreed. “He wants you free as soon as possible and so do I, but the evidence doesn’t help.” He shot another lethal glare my direction. “So I need you to stop worrying about those on this side of the glass.” He slammed his open hand against his yellow pad of paper. Birdy and I jumped. “And start thinking about yourself.”
    “Fine. Yeah, okay. But Katie has to stay, too.”
    Cage’s jaw flexed as he ground his teeth together. “Fine. Continue.”
    “I told Brian I was going to Reid’s. I didn’t realize he knew where Reid lived.” She shook her head. “He was leaning over Reid. A gun on the floor beside him and Reid. There was blood everywhere. I asked Brian what he’d done.” She let out a ragged breath before continuing. “He said he’d found Reid, that he hadn’t touched him. There was a pillow over Reid’s head. Without thinking, I knelt beside Reid and moved the pillow.” Her mouth opened like she was going to say more or let out a scream but nothing came.
    Cage’s eyes softened. “Go on.”
    “There was a hole between his eyes. They were open. Staring blankly at nothing.” She covered her face with her hands and kept talking, her words muffled but understandable. “Brian came over and hugged me. He asked if I’d done it. I told him no. He said we needed to call the police. He pulled out his phone and dialed. I didn’t move, just stared at Reid while Brian spoke. When he hung up, I noticed some of Reid’s blood was touching my knees.” She let out a sob. “His blood was on me.” She looked up, her eyes in my direction, but she didn’t see me. Her eyes were haunted, faraway, as she remembered.
    I wanted to reach out and hug Birdy. There was horror on her face. Terror. Her fear permeated the glass and hit me hard.
    “Birdy, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.
    Cage glanced over. “I know this is hard, but I need as many details as you can remember.”
    “I jumped up, my only thought was to get his blood off me. I ran to the kitchen, took a towel, and tried to rub it off, but some got on my hands.” Birdy shook as the sobs racked her body. “It wouldn’t come off.” She crossed her hands over her chest and rocked back and forth. “The next thing I remember is that the police are there and