Rille (Tribes, Book 2)

Chapter 19

Sneaking out of the penthouse hadn't been her most brilliant move, but Brielle wasn't known for her good ideas. She was more the act-now-ask-forgiveness-later type. And, boy, would she be asking for forgiveness if something went wrong.

There were reasons that Brielle hesitated at the door of the restaurant in which Lou had asked to meet. Most of them had to do with her injuries aching. Definitely not the fact that she didn't have a good feeling about meeting up with Lou, no matter what he wanted to discuss. His attitude during their breakup had been enough to break Brielle's trust in him.

Maybe she should have brought Preston with her. But she wanted to handle this on her own.

Talking had never hurt anyone, and this was a public space. Lou wouldn't try anything. At the least he would think twice about it.

His hesitance would be enough to give Brielle time to escape. If need be. Gosh, she was becoming a pessimist. Lou wouldn't hurt her again, not after what he had done in their apartment.

Suck it up and have the final conversation. Get closure. Brielle squared her shoulders, stretched her neck, and pushed through the doors.

The restaurant was nice, but not nearly as nice as that upscale place that Preston had taken her to for breakfast. In comparison, this restaurant only got a seven out of ten stars for presentation. Sure, the tables were covered with linens and the atmosphere was quiet and reserved, but it didn't have that same je ne sais quoi that Preston's choice had conveyed.

Great. She was turning into a simp for her husband. Defending him when he wasn't even in the room and didn't need defending. This whole lunch was going to end so well, she could feel it.

"Bri!" Lou shuffled over from some dark corner nearby. His fingers wrapped around her wrist. "This way. I got us a private room so we can talk better."

"Don't touch. Just talk." Brielle jerked out of his hold.

She had a possessive shifter at home and she didn't need Lou to make things worse. That, and the mention of a private room shocked her to her core. Lou hadn't sprung for anything more expensive than Texas Roadhouse in all the time she had known him. So, what had possessed him?

Sadly, Brielle's curiosity got the better of her. "Let's get this over with."

"It's this way." This time, Lou motioned with his hands instead of trying to drag her along. Progress.

Brielle, though she had often thought that Lou wouldn't hurt a fly, now walked like she was wary of him. After all, he had tried to strangle her. She wouldn't chance that he would attempt it a second time.

Indeed, there was a whole private banquet room empty and waiting for them. Lou had really opened his wallet for this. That alone was enough to put Brielle on full guard.

"What do you want from me?" Brielle asked, leaving no time for pleasantries or conversation.

"Let's eat first." Lou reached out for her arm, but stopped when she shied away. "I ordered your favorites."

"Do you even know my favorites?"

Brielle had done a lot of looking back over all the interactions between her and Lou, and she had found a lot of red flags that she had been overlooking. Like how she always catered to Lou's taste and never asked for anything she wanted. How Lou guilted her into believing that it was selfish to ask for something she liked. 

That strangulation act had really opened up her eyes to Lou's true character.

Lou had never been passive. He had been sneaky. And to think she had actually liked him. The very thought made her want to gag.