Page 53 of Wolf's Endgame

Reaching up, I brushed the hair off Cannon’s face. “Tell me everything.”

Cannon let me down, and realizing I wasn’t letting go of him completely, he wrapped his arm around me. “Introductions first?” He looked at Lottie, who had remained silent the whole time, her back against the wall as she watched us all.

“Oh shit, Lottie.” I gaped at her. “Um, this is my brother, Kris.” He nodded in greeting. “Royce. He’s usually more cheerful, but harmless.” Royce growled under his breath, and Lottie’s eyes widened. “He’s harmless to you!” I corrected. “And this is…” I turned my face up to look at Cannon, who was watching me, and when I reached up to touch his face, he leaned into my palm. Our eyes locked, my pulse racing, and I marveled that he was in front of me.

“This is your fella,” Lottie deadpanned. “I’m Lottie.”

Cannon looked away from me, and I saw the question.

“Vance lied. Lottie and Maggie are fine. He didn’t kill them like he said,” I told the males in the room. “They found me earlier.” I saw Cannon and Kris exchange a look, and I wasn’t sure what it meant. “What? What was that look?”

“It’s not safe for you here,” Kris told me. “We need to move.”

“I can be trusted,” Lottie told them, understanding the look far quicker than I did. She walked back to the counter. “Zia has explained a little of what she is.” I felt Cannon’s arm tighten on my waist. “I may not have known her as long as you all have, but I’d give my life for this girl. Almost did last time,” she added. “I trust her, you should trust me.”

“Lottie, you said it wasn’t… He hurt you?”

Her eyes gentled when she saw my concern. “I’m fine.” She scowled at Kris. “No harm will ever come to your sister through me, and I don’t like the implication it would.”

“Ma’am.” Kris had the grace to look abashed at the reprimand. “But we’re exposed here, and we need to be gone.”

Lottie looked at me, and I was already turning to Cannon. “Can we take Lottie?” His reaction was a slight widening of his eyes. “Please, Cannon. If they come back…”

“No.” Cannon pressed a kiss to my forehead to soften the blow. “Do you have family you can visit?” he asked Lottie.

“No.”

“See!” I seized on it. “No one will miss her.”

“Geez, thanks, Zia.”

“Shh,” I scolded her over my shoulder.

“Kez,” Kris muttered, and I could hear his warning.

“She knows I’m a shifter.” This time, Cannon’s eyes narrowed. “She knew before today, saw me last time. Never mentioned it to anyone.” I prayed to the Goddess that Lottie wouldn’t mention Maggie. “Please, I need to know she’s safe.”

“I’ll make this easy for you all,” Lottie said as she poured herself another whiskey. “This is my home. I run a business here, and I have no intention of leaving it.”

“But—”

She took a drink as she watched me. “You come visit me. You are always welcome, but I belong here.” She gestured at the man beside me. “You belong where he is. It’s the twenty-first century; technology will allow us to keep in touch. I know you have phones,” she added with a slight smile. “I think you need to go with your family.”

“I think that would be best,” Cannon said to her softly.

“But—”

“Shh.” Cannon pulled me into his body tighter. “We need to move.”

“But…” I felt lost again. “I can’t lose anyone else.” I knew I was crying again.

“You haven’t lost anyone,” Royce reminded me gruffly. “Your friend here is fine, Cannon is fine.”

“I still thought I’d lost them,” I snapped at him. “My grief was real. My loss was real.” Staring at my hands, I shook my head. “I don’t want to go through that again. I can’t go through that again,” I added, looking at Cannon. “I broke.”

“I’m here,” he told me, and the way he was looking at me had me turning into his body again, feeling comfort when his arms wrapped around me.

Sooner than I was ready, we were in the Jeep Royce had driven to get them here, and Lottie’s place was behind us. I was in the back with my brother, Royce was driving, and Cannon, being the biggest, was in the passenger seat.

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