Page 139 of Roaring Flames

She doesn’t answer as she pulls to a stop in front of my brother’s pack.

Ethan and Emery both turn pale, and Reid looks away, as if it pains him to stare at Izzy for too long. Even Desiree appears upset, her mouth opening and closing as she struggles to find the words to explain herself.

Only Ashton, the apathetic asshole, doesn’t react to Izzy’s presence.

“Izzy, it’s not what it looks like,” Desiree says, stepping between the men. “My father wanted the guys to escort me to the?—”

An evil smirk curls up Izzy’s lips as she focuses on the twins, ignoring Desiree completely. “Remember about the bet we made back at the arcade?”

If I thought the twins were pale before, that’s nothing compared to how they look now.

“Izzy, no…” Ethan breathes in horror.

Emery begins to shake his head from side to side rapidly.

Izzy’s smile only grows, blossoming until it’s a full-fledged grin.

Ethereal…and dangerous.

“We made a bet, and you lost. I’m cashing in on my prize.”

“What bet did you make?” I ask Izzy, bemused.

“Oh, you’ll see.” Izzy turns to face me, and with the sunlight reflecting off her hair and a wicked grin on her face, I’ve never thought she looked more beautiful.

But in a scary type of way.

I shouldn’t be as hard as I am right now, considering the circumstances, but god help me, I am.

“Motherfucker.” Emery kicks at a rock on the ground and then takes off to…who the fuck knows where.

Ethan stares at Izzy like a kicked puppy. “Do we really have to do this here?”

“You’re the one who assured me it’ll grow back.”

Grow back?

What the fuck?

“But…” Ethan sighs, clenches his jaw, and then nods once, fierce determination settling over his face. “All right. We deserve this.”

Ethan takes off after his brother, and I watch them go with no small amount of confusion and a tiny bit of trepidation.

Desiree takes anotherstep forward. “Izzy, I promise this isn’t what it looks like?—”

“Oh, I know.” Izzy turns to face the other girl completely. “Emery told me about the deal his pack made with your father.”

Desiree’s eyebrows shoot up. “He told you about what Ethan did?”

“No, but I suspect Ethan will tell me on his own time.” Izzy pauses and then asks softly, “Can we talk?”

Desiree nods. “Yeah. I think that would be a good idea.”

Fifty-One

IZZY

“God, these are the best ribs of my life. I would marry the fuck out of them if I could.” I moan as I use a napkin to wipe away some more sauce from my lips.

---