Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 268

James isn’t happy, but he also doesn’t have a better idea.

So I finally convince him later that evening to drive me to the

luxury hotel where I know Ryker has been staying.

We don’t say much to each other during the long drive.

I can tell James wants to convince me not to do this, while I

want to ask about Jessica.

However, I know that puts James in an awkward position, she

his sister, after all. It wouldn’t be fair to expect him to not respect her privacy or whatever.

So we sit there in strained silence with the weight of all the things we’re not saying hanging between us.

Instead of using the valet service at the front of the hotel, James insists on parking the car himself nearby, which leaves us about half a block away to walk.

As we’re approaching the hotel, a woman steps out through the revolving doors and gets into the back of a black town–car waiting for her.

I stop dead in my tracks as I realize it’s Karolina.

What the hell is she doing here?

It can’t be a coincidence that she’s just stepped out of the same hotel where Ryker is staying.

Although, the hotel does have a high–end bar and restaurant, so I suppose it’s possible she was just meeting someone and it

nothing to do with the fact that Ryker is staying

telling me this

here, and I wonder if it’s

and the Council and the

I’m now

going to get to the bottom of

I march into the hotel

penthouse suite where Ryker is staying.

security, and it makes me wonder about the kind of life he lives where he can’t even stay at

the outside of the room.

approach, one of them speaks into a wire attached to his jacket.

arrive at the door, they simply nod and let us in, since apparently Ryker has let them know he’ll see us.

the penthouse has a spectacular view over the city and out

is standing by the bar to one side

that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Can I get either of you

refusal, and takes up a stance near the inside of the door.

have whatever you’re drinking,” I tell

cross the room.

has fine taste, I see,” Ryker teases, before pouring a measure of expensive bourbon into

as he brings the drink over to

to admit, I’m surprised to see you, given everything that’s going

ignoring the sharp pang in my chest I get whenever anyone

his head, expression sobering. “I’m

good man. He didn’t

Especially not at the hands of a Council that’s clearly forgotten the Old Ways.”

condolences, then take a sip of the bourbon.

drinker, but I find the bourbon has a pleasant smoothness with

down.