Wolf with Benefits
Page 133
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Princess.
Shut up.
You, came an accusatory voice from the archway, and Jess the wild dog marched in, dragging a clearly mortified Johnny DeSerio with her.
Oh, hello, Jess, Jackie said with a smile. How are you doing?
Dont hello, Jess me.
Realizing this was bad, Toni immediately stepped in. Whats wrong?
Show them, Jess ordered Johnny.
Ma
Show them.
Show us what? Toni gently urged.
I got this email from a . . . He studied the piece of paper he held in his hand. Uh, Donato Mantovani?
Immediately recognizing the name, Tonis mother sat up straight, the bowl of popcorn barely saved from falling to the floor by a quick-handed Miss Tala. What did he say? Jackie demanded. What did he say?
I . . . I dont think its what youre hoping for, Jackie.
Just tell me what he said.
He said, I received the MP3s of your music sent by Signora Jean-Louis for my evaluation, and I can only say that your music did not offend me.
There was nearly a minute of silence before Jackie clapped her hands together and cheered, I knew it! I knew it!
Confused, Jess Ward snapped, What is wrong with you, woman? How can you think this is positive?
Undaunted, Jackie explained, Its incredibly positive.
It is? Johnny asked.
Do you know what he said to me about my music when I had a private audience with him? What was that?
He told me, Cherise interjected, that there was no shame in being a good wife and mother.
Coop, whod walked into the room a few minutes before, offered, He told me that I was nearly tolerable. Sort of.
Wait, Jess cut in. Who is this guy?
The long-time conductor of the Milan Philharmonic, Toni told her.
Grinning, Jackie added, I played with the Milan Philharmonic when I was eight years old. By the time I was ten, I was playing for kings.
I played with the Philharmonic when I was sixteen, Cherise added. And with the London Philharmonic for Her Majesty, about two years after that.
I was nine, Coop said. I had my first record deal the following year.
Wait, wait. Johnny gripped the piece of paper in his hand, his gaze on the floor. So what youre saying is . . . He shook his head. What are you saying?
Jackie stood up. That we need to get you ready. Based on that email, I think wevegot . . . three months?
Maybe, Coop hedged.
Right. Maybe three months before youre playing on stage for an audience in Milan.
Johnny shook his head. Yes, but . . .
Jess faced her adopted son, her smile wide and bright like the sun. Now can I get you that Stradivarius?
God, Ma, no!
Livy was resting against a tree, her eyes closed, her body slowly recovering from the recent poisoning. She loved how tough she was to kill but sometimes the recovery could be a bitch. Especially when vomiting was involved. She hated vomiting.
A cool towel was pressed to her forehead and she opened her eyes expecting to see Toni, but it was that big Russian bear-tiger hybrid crouching in front of her. If she remembered correctly, Toni said his name was Barinov. Vic Barinov . . . maybe.
You all right? he asked.
Im not dead so, ya know . . . win.
He chuckled a little. Very true.
Where is everyone?
The living room I think. Do you want me to get Toni for you?
Please dont. Shes got enough to worry about and by tomorrow, Ill be fine. And I dont need her fussing. I hate fussing.
Yeah. I could tell that about you. He took her hand and pressed her fingers to the wet cloth, silently telling her to hold it in place. While she did, he opened up a can of ginger ale and handed it to her. Dee-Ann was here, but she had to go. She said shed be back later. She wants to talk to you.
Livy sipped the ginger ale. It was wonderfully cold and just what she neededminus the fussing from Toni and her clan. That was the best part. Do you know what she wants?
Im not sure.
Best guess?
Theres someone our organization has been searching for. A full-human hunter. Those in charge want him. Dead or alive. And they probably need you for some breaking and entering.
Oh.
You dont seem surprised.
Its what shifter Kowalskis do. She thought a moment before adding. And Yangs. Her mothers people. We break. We enter. We steal expensive shit.
And mine used to tear houses off their foundations and eat the contents. The human contents. So we all have our pasts. You dont have to be trapped by it.
No. I dont. But I also dont like full-human assholes that use us as prey. That really pisses me off.
Grinningand he had a very nice grinthe hybrid sat down across from her and remarked, Im sensing lots of things piss you off, Livy Kowalski.
Shut up.
You, came an accusatory voice from the archway, and Jess the wild dog marched in, dragging a clearly mortified Johnny DeSerio with her.
Oh, hello, Jess, Jackie said with a smile. How are you doing?
Dont hello, Jess me.
Realizing this was bad, Toni immediately stepped in. Whats wrong?
Show them, Jess ordered Johnny.
Ma
Show them.
Show us what? Toni gently urged.
I got this email from a . . . He studied the piece of paper he held in his hand. Uh, Donato Mantovani?
Immediately recognizing the name, Tonis mother sat up straight, the bowl of popcorn barely saved from falling to the floor by a quick-handed Miss Tala. What did he say? Jackie demanded. What did he say?
I . . . I dont think its what youre hoping for, Jackie.
Just tell me what he said.
He said, I received the MP3s of your music sent by Signora Jean-Louis for my evaluation, and I can only say that your music did not offend me.
There was nearly a minute of silence before Jackie clapped her hands together and cheered, I knew it! I knew it!
Confused, Jess Ward snapped, What is wrong with you, woman? How can you think this is positive?
Undaunted, Jackie explained, Its incredibly positive.
It is? Johnny asked.
Do you know what he said to me about my music when I had a private audience with him? What was that?
He told me, Cherise interjected, that there was no shame in being a good wife and mother.
Coop, whod walked into the room a few minutes before, offered, He told me that I was nearly tolerable. Sort of.
Wait, Jess cut in. Who is this guy?
The long-time conductor of the Milan Philharmonic, Toni told her.
Grinning, Jackie added, I played with the Milan Philharmonic when I was eight years old. By the time I was ten, I was playing for kings.
I played with the Philharmonic when I was sixteen, Cherise added. And with the London Philharmonic for Her Majesty, about two years after that.
I was nine, Coop said. I had my first record deal the following year.
Wait, wait. Johnny gripped the piece of paper in his hand, his gaze on the floor. So what youre saying is . . . He shook his head. What are you saying?
Jackie stood up. That we need to get you ready. Based on that email, I think wevegot . . . three months?
Maybe, Coop hedged.
Right. Maybe three months before youre playing on stage for an audience in Milan.
Johnny shook his head. Yes, but . . .
Jess faced her adopted son, her smile wide and bright like the sun. Now can I get you that Stradivarius?
God, Ma, no!
Livy was resting against a tree, her eyes closed, her body slowly recovering from the recent poisoning. She loved how tough she was to kill but sometimes the recovery could be a bitch. Especially when vomiting was involved. She hated vomiting.
A cool towel was pressed to her forehead and she opened her eyes expecting to see Toni, but it was that big Russian bear-tiger hybrid crouching in front of her. If she remembered correctly, Toni said his name was Barinov. Vic Barinov . . . maybe.
You all right? he asked.
Im not dead so, ya know . . . win.
He chuckled a little. Very true.
Where is everyone?
The living room I think. Do you want me to get Toni for you?
Please dont. Shes got enough to worry about and by tomorrow, Ill be fine. And I dont need her fussing. I hate fussing.
Yeah. I could tell that about you. He took her hand and pressed her fingers to the wet cloth, silently telling her to hold it in place. While she did, he opened up a can of ginger ale and handed it to her. Dee-Ann was here, but she had to go. She said shed be back later. She wants to talk to you.
Livy sipped the ginger ale. It was wonderfully cold and just what she neededminus the fussing from Toni and her clan. That was the best part. Do you know what she wants?
Im not sure.
Best guess?
Theres someone our organization has been searching for. A full-human hunter. Those in charge want him. Dead or alive. And they probably need you for some breaking and entering.
Oh.
You dont seem surprised.
Its what shifter Kowalskis do. She thought a moment before adding. And Yangs. Her mothers people. We break. We enter. We steal expensive shit.
And mine used to tear houses off their foundations and eat the contents. The human contents. So we all have our pasts. You dont have to be trapped by it.
No. I dont. But I also dont like full-human assholes that use us as prey. That really pisses me off.
Grinningand he had a very nice grinthe hybrid sat down across from her and remarked, Im sensing lots of things piss you off, Livy Kowalski.
