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)
“Yes, but I also knew she’d forgive me when I told her that you gave me a box of truffles that were actually sprouts covered in chocolate. Sacrilege!”
Casey sighed at him. “Oh, Eli.” His sister was a sucker for all things that contained chocolate, which he knew full well. “Is there no chance of you two easing up on each other?”
Both Eli and Roni snorted.
“That was pretty much what I thought,” said Casey.
Marcus looked at her. “I wish I could say they’ll stop with this shit one day, but I can’t see that happening. It’s been an ongoing war for far too long. Trying to talk them out of doing it or attempting to rationalize their bond only leads to frustration—trust me on that.”
Shaya nodded. “Marcus is right, unfortunately.” She tilted her head. “You look tired, Casey.”
She didn’t look tired, she looked rough as hell. Of course, if her mate hadn’t had a restless sleep that involved a lot of tossing, turning, and nudging, she’d have slept perfectly well. “Eli kept poking me all night. Worst wake-up calls ever.” Realizing what she’d said, Casey winced. It didn’t help matters that her mate didn’t bother to smother a chuckle, even though he knew she was embarrassed. “Anyone want coffee? I’ll make coffee.”
Pulling on her jeans later that day, Casey frowned as she heard … well, she couldn’t really term it someone knocking on the front door of her apartment. It sounded more like two fists were pounding on it. The fuck?
Having fastened her fly, she dragged on her tee and strode out of the bedroom area. Sherryl, she thought, flexing her fists. It had to be fucking Sherryl, didn’t it? So far, the bitch hadn’t done anything else to provoke or annoy her. In fact, the other mink had wisely stayed off her radar. But Casey had known it would only be a matter of time before the bitch resurfaced.
Her mink stood, alert and ready. Adrenaline pumped through both her and Casey, preparing them for the confrontation.
Given that Sherryl had been banned from Craven Pack territory, it was dumb of her to turn up there. Showing up at Casey’s home was even dumber. But then, Sherryl hadn’t been acting smart for a while now.
Reaching the front door, Casey flicked her hair—still wet from her shower—out of her collar and yanked the door open. Her lips parted at the sight she found, and she almost rocked back on her heels. Not Sherryl. Not even close.
Anger and shock unfurled inside Casey, making her palms tingle and her hackles rise. The same emotions blasted through her mink, who coiled with a hiss, prepared to strike.
Just what in the holy hell was he doing here? More, how had he gotten her address?
His tall, lean figure stiff with tension, Ira Frost glared at her through his sharp blue eyes. A muscle in his drawn, stubbly cheek ticked. “Where is she?”
Casey blinked at her father. “Huh?”
“Emily. Where is she?”
Lashing her tail like a whip, her mink hissed again. She wasn’t a fan of Ira’s, and she did not like his harsh tone or grating voice at all. The animal particularly didn’t like him showing up at her home. “How would I know?”
He jabbed a blunt finger at her. “Don’t play games with me, Casey. I’ve looked everywhere, spoken to every one of her friends—none of them have seen her. If she really wanted to hide from me, this would be the place to come.”
“And why would she hide from you?” Casey folded her arms across her chest. “What’s going on?”
“Like you don’t already know.”
“I truly have no idea what’s happening. But I won’t lie and say that I would tell you where she was if she asked me not to. Craven territory is probably the last place she’d ever choose to hide.”
“Which is why she has come to you—she thought I wouldn’t think to look for her here. Well, she was wrong. I’m not as stupid as she seems to think I am.”
“That’s debatable.”
His flushed face hardened. “She’s in there, isn’t she? She’s with you. Emily!” He tried to barge inside, the fucker. Oh, the hell no.
Planting her hand on his chest, Casey shoved him back a step. “No,” she clipped. “You don’t get to come into my apartment. You’re not welcome here. Never will be.” She held up her palm when he tried objecting. “You can piss and moan about it all you want—it’s not like I’m not used to that shit. But you are not getting inside.”
“Because you’re hiding her here.”
“Because you’re an asshole.”
He took an aggressive step toward her, his hands fisted, his jaw hard. And her mink just about lost her mind—hissing, arching her back, baring her teeth, whipping her tail from side to side.
“Careful, Ira. My mink would really like to slash your face again, and I’m pretty sure she’d leave permanent marks this time.”