Free A Wolf's Heart (Harlequin Nocturne) by Vivi Anna Page A

Kellen had been the one who had tried to save him. The vampire had saved Sophie and hundreds more, as well.
He wished someone would save him right about now, because he had a feeling he was heading for one giant disaster.

Chapter 11
     
G abriel pressed the button on the intercom at the gate to Elise’s home and spoke into the built-in microphone. “Inspector Gabriel Bellmonte.”
“ID, please,” the male guard said.
Gabriel slid out his wallet, opened it to his badge and put it up to the small camera. After a few seconds, the gate started to open.
He drove the rented Mercedes through the gate and parked in the loop at the front door. He figured Elise would appreciate a luxury car instead of the older sedan he used for work. The door opened before he even got out of the vehicle. Lily stood there waiting for him. She smiled when he approached.
“Elise will be ready in a moment.”
Gabriel followed her into the house. She led him to the main sitting room. “Would you like something to drink?”
He shook his head. “No, but I would like to ask you a few more questions, if that would be okay?”
She eyed him sidelong. “I guess, if you think it would help Elise’s case.”
“I understand Inspector Serrano called you.”
“Hmm, I don’t think so.”
“She said she left a message for you to call her.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t get a message.”
“There were four sets of prints on the letter, Lily. Why didn’t you tell me that Reginald Alcott also touched it before we arrived?”
“I guess I forgot.” She folded her hands in front of her. He wondered if it was to stop the little shake he saw in them. “There was a lot of stuff going on at the time—it’s easy to forget some details.”
“That’s true.” He was glad to have his suspicions confirmed. He didn’t think the director was their letter writer. “Is there anything else you are forgetting to divulge?”
“No.” Her voice went up an octave. He heard the slight infliction in its timbre. She was definitely hiding something.
“I know there’s something, Lily. You may not think it has anything to do with Elise’s situation, but you could be wrong. I know how much you care for her, and I know you wouldn’t want to be keeping the one piece of information that could break this case.”
Angry now, her cheeks flared pink. “I resent the implication that I would ever do anything to harm Elise. I have been nothing but cooperative with you and have answered all your damn questions. I have nothing further to say to you.”
But before she could escape from the sitting room, Elise filled the doorway. “It’s okay, Lily, you can tell him.”
Lily stopped in her tracks, frowning. “Excuse me? I don’t have anything to tell.”
Elise moved farther into the room, her gaze on Lily. Gabriel could see a sorrow in her eyes. “It’s all right, Lily. I know. You don’t have to keep it secret any longer.”
Tears started to trickle down Lily’s cheeks. “Elise, please, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When Elise reached the witch, she placed her hand on her wet cheek. “I know about you and Diego, Lily. I’ve known for some time now.”
Lily’s head dipped and the tears fell unhindered, dotting the ivory rug at her feet. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. Elise gathered the girl in her arms and hugged her close. She patted her back and made small soothing noises to her.
Gabriel felt extremely uncomfortable watching this unfold. He knew Lily had been hiding something, but he hadn’t thought an affair with Diego Martinez was what she was holding back. He hadn’t even considered it. And he wasn’t sure if the affair had anything to do with Elise’s case or not. He was at a loss for words.
“Um, maybe I should wait in the car.”
Elise looked at him over Lily’s shoulder and shook her head. She pulled back and rubbed her thumbs over Lily’s cheeks brushing away the tears. “It’s all right, ma belle. ”
“You’re not going to fire