The Mane Event
Page 90

Using the tips of her fingers, she turned Brendons head a bit so she could look at his neck. She grimaced, sucking the air in between her teeth. Lord, boy. You really need to learn how to pull back when its your own kin.
Mitchs eyes narrowed dangerously. And who are you exactly?
Be nice, Brendon growled, his hands clenching into fists.
Dont start that shit again. She stepped back. Look, Im right downstairs. Why dont I
No. You stay here. Brendon grabbed his brothers worn leather biker jacket and yanked him toward the door. Dont leave. Ill be back.
Where the hell are we going? Mitch demanded.
Im getting you a room and youre staying the night. And dont even think about giving me any shit about this.
Pulling open the door, he shoved Mitch through it and toward the elevator. He glanced back at the She-wolf. Ill be back in a little while. Make yourself at home, but promise me you wont leave.
She opened her mouth to argue, he could see it on her face, so he added, Promise me or Ill start kicking his ass again, right here.
His brother turned away from the elevator and snarled, You wish
Shut up. Brendon snapped at his brother while staring at her. Promise me.
Exasperated, she rolled her eyes. All right. All right. For the sake of family harmony, Ill stay. But not like for twelve hours or something. My Pack might notice if Im gone that long.
Dont worry. Ill be back. He started to close the door, but he stepped back and looked at her. One other thing.
Yeah?
What is your name?
She looked torn between being amused, embarrassed, and appalled.
Rhonda Lee Reed. Everybody calls me Ronnie Lee or Ronnie.
Anybody ever call you Ron?
Not and live to tell about it.
Brendon grinned. Yup. He liked her.
All right, Ronnie Lee. Make yourself at home and Ill be back in a bit.
Yeah. Yeah. But you better have TV, she mumbled as he closed his front door.
He walked over to his brother and the elevator doors slid open. Grabbing the younger man by the back of the neck, he threw him inside. And thats for trying to rip my throat out, you little shit.
How she could initially miss the fifty-inch, flat-screen plasma TV attached to Shaws wall, she had no idea. Then again, his tongue down her throat and his hands on her tits might have had something to do with it.
Settling down onto the mans butter-soft leather couch and picking up hisgargantuan remote to start flipping channels, Ronnie shook her head. He hadnt even known her name. She almost fucked a man who didnt even know her name. Lord, she hadnt done something that trashy in a very long time.
So then why wasnt she running for the exit instead of sitting on a lions couch, reprogramming his inadequately programmed remote?
Becausebecause she liked him. Stupid idiot that she was, she liked a cat. She liked a male who would never want more from her than a quick, anonymous fuck so he could tell his friends he did a She-wolf.
Even as she thought it, though, she realized that didnt seem Shaws way. He could have anyone he wanted. Human or shifter. Any breed. But he wanted her. He made that clear in front of Bobby Rays room. She just couldnt figure out if this was a mistake or not.
Then again, as long as she kept it simple, maybe it wouldnt be. Maybe they could have a fun, meaningless fling. Lord knew it wouldnt be her first.
Of course, if it was all so damn easy, why had her stomach tied itself into knots?
She should go. She should write a little note telling the cat thanks but no thanks. She should. Really.
Ronnie kept thinking that, too, even as she stretched her legs out on his couch and smiled when she realized shed had the good fortune to catch some CSI reruns.
Brendon scrubbed his face and leaned back, staring at his brother. After three hours and two enormous sandwiches from the kitchenhe knew the kid hadnt had a decent meal recentlyhe still didnt know a damn thing.
At least tell me why you showed up in my apartment after all this time.
Mitch paused for a moment, truly contemplating his answer. Brendon knew that expression. Knew Mitch would only tell him enough truth to get Brendon off his back. Hed done it enough times before. Eventually, Mitch shrugged and took another bite. Marissa left a message on my voice mail, he grumbled around a mouthful of food.
She did?
Yeah. And she was way pissed. She blames me for this, doesnt she?
Dont worry about her. So you came here to check on me?
Mitch rolled his eyes. If that helps you sleep better, bruh.
Its nice to know you care.
The middle finger salute given, Mitch went back to his steak sandwich. So who did it?
Doogan brothers. For a split second Brendon saw surprise register on his baby brothers face before he quickly masked it. The kid had a talent for that.
They killed Petrov before Christmas, Brendon continued. Shot him in the back of the head.
They used guns? Mitch made a sound of disgust. Tacky.