There it was again. Dangerous. Kovu said it like he meant to shield her, but the opposite was true. It was a veiled threat. Don't ask too many questions. Don't probe too deep, don't push me too far, or else, or else, or else.
Or else your mummy will hire an assassin to shoot me in the head? June thought to herself, half-sarcastic. Though at this point, she was starting to gather enough puzzle pieces to get a sense of the picture, even if Kovu left plenty of holes.
June was good at filling in those holes, though. Immediately, her brain whirred to life, like a computer rebooting. People in Swynlake who had wronged his family? It had to be someone who had lived her a while. People who had power and influence-- more power and influence than Kovu appeared to have with his designer suits and expensive watches. If Kovu was here on some weird revenge mission, then she'd find additional clues by tracking his footprints. Where did he go? Who did he talk to?
She quickly ruled out Pride U; the Robinsons could have something to do with it, but if so, he'd be lurking around the STEM buildings, heading the Robotics Club rather than Chess Club. If he wanted revenge on the von Drakes, he would have let her die in the crash.... or he'd be trying to get close to her on purpose, just shoving her away. The Bonfamilles? Trying to get a Adelaide through the play? That didn't add up. Besides, the Bonfamilles had more political power and influence in France, not Swynlake. Isaac Morey was the mayor, but that political influence was brand new unless the Morey Mill was a front for something else. And if his family was after the Ambrosius family, then why not concentrate on London?
It had to be InterPride. Kovu was working at InterPride.
June didn't say any of this outloud. There was no point in asking Kovu if her suspicions were correct. He'd tell her not to ask, say that he was only protecting her--even if June didn't feel very protected at all. In fact, the closer she got, the more she felt like she walking on tightrope, string-thin. One wrong move, and she'd tip over. What would she break next?
Her blood rushed in her veins, crackling with adrenaline.
"Right. I'm very distracting," said June coolly, ignoring her own quickening heartbeat. She licked her lips and studied Kovu's face. After a beat, she asked, "So. You're...in the mob or something. Got it. What did you tell your family about the accident then? I'm assuming you lied."
