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)
“That’s not her problem,” said Eli.
“True, but it means I have no option other than to—”
Eli growled. “You stay. Away. From Casey.”
The other cats fidgeted, uneasy. Ignacio, however, sat utterly still.
Dahlia spoke, “Let’s all remain calm. Eli, it is understandable that you would insist that Ignacio keep his distance from your mate. And we appreciate that you’d pay this debt for her brother. But you must see that the situation isn’t quite as simple as we’d all like it to be. Casey put a knife to my mate’s throat. You really expect that to go unpunished?”
Oh, apparently Dahlia felt that she should avenge Ignacio for the sake of appearances. What a fucking joke. If she thought they were kidding anyone that their mating was anything other than a façade, they were wrong. “You want to take my mate on? By all means, challenge her to a duel. See how that works out for you.”
Dahlia gave him a somewhat condescending smile. “I’m an Alpha female, Eli.”
“But not a born alpha, and you’re nowhere near as strong as she is. You don’t believe me? Ask your mate. He knows the truth. He knows you wouldn’t stand a chance against her.” He looked at Ignacio, daring him to deny it. The cougar didn’t, which earned him a hiss from his mate.
Eli tipped his chin at the envelope. “Take it, Ignacio. I wasn’t kidding—that’s the last payment you’ll get. Casey’s done cleaning up Miles’ messes for him.”
Drumming his fingers on the circular, metal table, the cougar tilted his head. “Is that her decision … or yours? I’ve known Casey for a while now. I know how protective she is of her brother. I know there’s very little she wouldn’t do for him. If she wants to continue being Miles’ savior, there isn’t a single thing you will be able to do about it. That female is far too strong for anyone to ever govern her.” He sounded as though he respected that.
“She’s agreed with me that this is the best cause of action for all concerned.”
“Even knowing that if she doesn’t pay his debts in future, Miles will pay them in blood?”
“I’ve got an easy solution for you: Don’t give him any drugs.”
The cougar inclined his head slightly. “Yes, I suppose that is the simplest solution.”
“This isn’t just about her brother’s debt,” Dahlia cut in, a bite to her tone. “She has to answer for what she did.”
Eli glared at her. “Are you going to make her answer for it? Because I can tell you now that there’ll only be one outcome—she’ll take you down so effortlessly that she’ll weaken your stand with your pride. I can’t imagine why you’d want that.”
The female pressed her lips together, her cheeks flushing.
Eli sliced his gaze back to Ignacio. “We’re done here. You have your money—take it and go. Forget about Casey. I don’t think I have to tell you what I’ll do to you if you go after my mate. I have no limits when it comes to her. None. I don’t care who you are, how many people you have at your back, or how well protected you think you are. If you go near Casey again, I will find you, Ignacio, and I will kill you. Don’t doubt that.”
Ignacio’s mouth curved into a mocking smile. “How could I, when you’ve made yourself so perfectly clear?” He pushed away from the table, and his mate and cats followed suit. “Congratulations on your mating, Eli. Do be sure to tell Casey that I wish you both the best.”
Dahlia gave the Mercury Alphas a hard, insincere smile. “Thank you for meeting with us.”
Once the Rotunda cats were out of hearing range, Bracken spoke, “I wouldn’t say Ignacio fears you, Eli, but he knows you’d kick his ass. And he won’t be interested in letting that happen. Having said that, I can’t say for sure that he’ll keep his distance from Casey. He weirdly doesn’t seem to want to.”
Nick twisted his mouth. “He doesn’t believe that you and Casey are truly mated, so he won’t expect you to be as fiercely protective of her as you are. That means he might still go after her.”
Eli had had the same thought. “I don’t think I’ll have to kill him, though.”
“Why not?” asked Shaya.
“Because if he ever went at my mate, she’d kill him herself.”
Standing in her team’s locker room, Casey ground her teeth as she read the text message she’d received from Miles’ friend, Fjord: No idea where your bro is. Sorry Case x
The two males had been best friends since they were toddlers. Fjord stupidly felt guilty that he couldn’t “save” Miles from himself. But she understood … because that same senseless guilt nipped at her. Ugh.
She placed her phone in her locker, regretting that it didn’t have a door she could slam shut. The lockers ran along the perimeter of an oval space that gave the room a “huddle” feel. The team logo was dramatically displayed on the ceiling. There were also tribute lockers to honor past players.