Page 21 of House of Wolves

I step out of the black dress. “Then I make him fall in love with me and find out where those girls are.”

A knock comes from the other side of the house. “Are you expecting anyone?” Cameron says, his voice coated with alarm.

“Brick’s picking me up here,” I shout, glancing at my watch. “But he’s not supposed to be here for another thirty minutes.” I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to get ready and return home. I sent an email this morning to tell him to pick me up at my brother's. He responded just as quickly as he did two days before and confirmed the time. I really needed to get his number. Conversing through email feels like I’m dating a personification of corporate America.

“I’ll check.” I listen as Cameron jumps to the floor and walks toward the front door. Seconds later, he yells, “It’s him.”

I pop my head out of the closet. “What a dick! Who shows up early? I’m not ready.”

Red struggles to sit up as I exit the closet, pulling the green dress overhead. “We know he’s a dick. Brick the dick. Ha. That’s funny. Besides, you look great. You’re fine.”

Cameron enters the room again when the dress is halfway down my ass. “Get out!” I yell. “Stall him.”

He turns his back to me but remains in the doorway. “I want to hear what you both are talking about. I feel left out. Besides, I don’t want to hang out with Brick. I’m not good at faking things.”

I straighten my dress, examining myself in the mirror. “Don’t you want to go stare him down? Act all alpha male protecting your little sister.”

“No.”

“Why? You seemed to love doing that with Kilo.”

“Oh, I want to hear what happened with Kilo,” Red says with a giddy cadence.

“That’s different…”

Brick knocks again, louder this time.

Red sighs. “Oh, Cameron, go get the door.”

“Fine.” He shuts the bedroom door behind him.

I lean over, dabbing on a sheer lip gloss before straightening my dress and tucking and untucking my hair behind my ears.

“Why do you seem so nervous?” Red whispers. The males' low voices seep through the doorway's cracks.

I shoot her a dumbfounded look from the mirror's reflection before turning to her. “I’m about to go on a date with a potential Hunter and plant fake information to incriminate him. Besides, he’s some sort of powerful creature that none of us know about. Of course, I’m going to be nervous.”

Red shrugs. “So. Defeating Hunters is the kind of stuff you live for. You’ve been waiting for your chance to bring them down at the paper, and now the council is giving you a chance to actually kick some ass.” She squints an eye at me. “Do youlikehim?”

“No!” I whisper-scream much too quickly. “I definitely don’t like him.”

“Carmen! Are you ready?” Cameron yells, clearly uncomfortable.

I turn, giving myself another examination before walking toward the door and slipping on my black strappy heels. “Good luck!” Red calls before pulling her comforter over her head. I enter the living room to find Brick seated on an armchair by the front door, Cameron pouring a scotch into a chilled highball glass.

His eyes catch mine, his pupils dilating, but then he turns his head and takes a big gulp of his drink. He’s wearing a white button-down, the top two buttons undone, revealing a peek of his tanned and broad chest. He spreads his legs wide, his tight gray pants barely leaving anything to the imagination. Damn, he looks good. He usually looks like such a fucking dork, but his hair is even styled differently, less in place, and pushed back.

My eyes wander longer than they should. I shake my head, riding the distracting thoughts from my mind. Why would he dress differently for our date? Is he doing what I’m doing? Trying to impress me to get more information out of me? It’s the only thing that makes sense. I steel my expression, a slight shake of my chin. “You’re early.” I should try to be charming, but it’s just not me. He’ll catch on if I don’t give him shit, especially if it’s something that’s so clearly annoying.

He shrugs, a mischievous sparkle in his eye. “It’s better than being late.”

“Not really.” I cross my arms.

Cameron picks up a glass on the coffee table, walking toward me with the crystal decanter. “Here, why don’t you take a drink before you go?” He widens his eyes and clenches his lips. Clearly, a signal to stop acting like a bitch, or I’m going to blow the mission.

I take a shallow breath. “No, thank you,” I say through a forced smile.

“You sure?” Cameron tries again, pushing the glasses closer to me.

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