AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Silence.
“Will you punish Kade?” I ask, my voice low. “Because I’m the one—”
“I’ve said what I needed to say to Kade.”
I don’t believe him. Or, I don’twantto believe him. But when I search his expression, I’m not reading any deception or a burning rage toward Kade.
He’s not behaving the way Rylan would.
He could just be better at hiding his cruelty, Saige. Better go before he starts showing it.
His gaze doesn’t move from mine as he lifts his glass and tosses his drink back. “Where will you go?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Somewhere they won’t find me.”
Something in his face shifts. The mask cracks just a little and I almost see the hint of some emotion peek out. Before I can figure out what it is, it’s gone again. “They?”
It takes serious effort but I drag something that feels like a smile to the surface. “It’s nothing. Thanks again for the money.”
I’m turning to leave when his voice stops me. “Who are they?”
“As I said, it’s not—”
“Humor me,” he interrupts. “I mean, you’re going and I imagine you won’t be coming back?”
I shake my head. “No, I won’t be coming back.”
He places his glass on the bar before he turns fully, leaning against it with those powerful arms folded across his chest. “So what does it hurt to tell me whotheyare?”
I hesitate.
He raises an eyebrow. “Unless this was some ploy to get a few dollars from someone who can be a little too trusting?”
My jaw tightens. “You think I was taking advantage of Aden? Using him?”
He doesn’t say a word.
“I wasn’t. He was the one who pushed to help me.”
“The way Kade wrecked the bar tohelpyou?”
A flash of something that feels like rage simmers to life that this guy doesn’t know a thing about me and yet already he’s decided that I’m a gold-digger. Now it’s my turn to face him head-on. “I didn’t ask him to do that.”
“No?” His lip curls with disbelief and… disgust. As if he thinks he’s better than me. It’s an expression I know only too well since I’ve had years of having it aimed my way.
“You shifters…” I struggle to find the words to complete my thought.
“We shifters what?”
I fall silent.
He snorts. “So, what is it? You tried your tricks on a shifter and you learned the hard way that we don’t like being manipulated. Is that why you’re so determined not to tell me why you’re running and what you’re running from?”
I struggle to find my breath.
For a second I think I’m having a fit or I’m choking, but then I realize in a way I am.
On rage.
