Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Not since before I split from Sherryl. Last time I spoke to Emily on the phone, she told me that she was engaged to Theo Marsden.”
The son of their father’s close friend, Casey remembered. Theo was also a university lecturer and, unlike other lecturers she’d met in the past, unbelievably boring.
“She said the wedding would take place this year,” said Miles. “It’s pure shit to think that my sister could be married by now … and I’ll have missed it. Not that Dad would have let me into the church anyway.” He forced a smile, his eyes darting from her to Eli. “So, where did you meet?”
“We met at The Den, a fight club for shifters,” said Eli.
“I remember you once told me about it,” Miles said to her. “Not surprised you’d gravitate to a place like that.”
She shrugged. “I like to keep my skills sharp. People are always too careful when they spar.”
Eli drummed his fingers on her thigh. “She wiped the floor with a fox, and I knew I had to have her. I followed her outside, and that was when I saw her talking to Ignacio Rodriguez.”
Casey gritted her teeth. She’d told Eli before they entered the rehab center that she wanted to keep the conversation light and easy—no stressful topics, no mention of Ignacio or any of the crap going on in her life. He’d only nodded. She should have known he wouldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“Ignacio?” echoed Miles, straightening in his seat, clearly alarmed. “I told him to stop hounding you, Casey.”
“You can’t be all that surprised that he ignored you,” said Eli, his voice empty of the anger she could sense bubbling inside him. “You knew he’d go to her for the cash if you didn’t pay him—don’t pretend differently.”
“But I did pay him. I even paid the fucking interest he adds on, because I didn’t want him going near Casey again.” Miles looked her up and down. “Did he hurt you?”
She quickly shook her head. “No—”
“He whipped out a blade,” Eli cut in. “Thankfully, she wrestled it from him and put it to his throat.”
Casey rounded on him, eyes wide. “Eli, would you please exercise your right to remain silent? And I mean now.”
Ignoring that, Eli went on, “I paid the debt you owed Ignacio. But I need to be clear on something, Miles: It won’t be something I’ll do again. I made that very clear to him, too. I want him out of Casey’s life, not nipping at her heels every now and then, looking for cash. I don’t think you want that for her either. I know she doesn’t want it for you.”
She hissed out a breath. “Eli.”
“No,” Miles said to her. “He’s right to defend you. Protect you. I’m glad you have that. But I swear to you both, I paid him. There’ve been times when I haven’t, sure, but that was in the past.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I have tried to get clean, Casey. I’ve tried it so many times. But the cleaner I got, the more I could feel the loose connection I had to her.
“It’s not as strong now. Not as intense. And the depression … it doesn’t have that same hold on me that it once did. I wish I could tell you that I’m going to be fine, that I’ll stay clean. I can’t promise you that. I can only promise that I’ll give it my best shot.”
She licked her lips. “That’s all I can ask.”
“This is the best place for you,” Eli told him. “Not just because of your addiction, but because you’ll be in danger out there. Ignacio will be looking for you. So far, he obviously hasn’t thought to look for you at rehab centers. Maybe that will give you added motivation to stay where you are and see this through to the end.”
“I want to see this through,” said Miles. “But I won’t lie to Casey about whether I will. I won’t give her false assurances.”
Eli inclined his head. “If you won’t do it for you, do it for the female that’s somewhere out there, waiting for you to find and claim her.”
Miles’ smile was somewhat bitter and self-depreciating. “My true mate would be better off without a latent, pack-less shifter who comes with my kind of baggage. She’d be ashamed if she could see me now.”
“You’re an unofficial member of the Craven Pack, so you’re not exactly a lone shifter,” Eli pointed out. “Unless you can tell me that you’d turn away from your mate simply because she’s latent, I can’t imagine that she’d do the same to you. As for her being ashamed of you? I doubt she would be, because she’ll understand you in a way that no one else ever can. She’ll never judge or reject you. She’ll accept every part of you—even your flaws and whatever baggage you bring. So do her proud, put her first, and get your shit together for her sake.”