Page 280 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 14

When release day finally arrived, Bailey didn’t trust he’d actually be let out. He wouldn’t believe it until he was standing on the other side of the fence. All of his things were handed back to him, including Kass’s wallet, and marked off the list. He was able to put on his clothes but found that his jeans and shirt were too tight. He’d spent too much time at the gym.

Then he signed some papers, and he was done. Free…

Except for having to meet with his parole officer next week, but he was never going back inside.

The first thing he saw was his grandmother standing near the gate, waiting. She didn’t drive, which meant she had one of the men with her. He cast his gaze about the carpark until he saw Gold Watch in the car. She had some nerve. She hadn’t visited, not once. No phone call, no letter, and now she expected him to go with her and fall into line?

Anger bubbled beneath his skin and his arms broke out in blotches. He wanted to be able to turn away like she was dead to him, but couldn’t. There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but he didn’t know where to start.

And every word would be a waste of his breath, anyway. She wouldn’t listen.

Gran smiled like she was happy to see him and took a step toward him.

Bailey drew in a breath and turned away. She had abandoned him; he should feel no guilt in doing the same.

He felt Kass nearby and hoped it wasn’t his imagination.

Kass got out of a nice SUV and they met in the middle of the carpark, one meter between them. Could he fling himself into Kass’s arms—he’d imagined doing that so many times, but now the moment was here he wasn’t sure of the ground he was standing on.

Bailey scuffed his worn-out runner on the asphalt. “I wasn’t sure you’d be here.”

“Where else would I be?” Kass closed the distance and pulled Bailey close. His delight rippled through Bailey, and he wanted to purr.

Bailey leaned into him and inhaled Kass’s scent, listened to his heartbeat and didn’t want to move. They’d never had the chance to be together. But he was real and here, and not a figment of magic and desire. He tilted his head and claimed Kass’s lips. There was no world jolting spark this time. There didn’t need to be. Kass kissed him like they didn’t need to ever breathe again.

“What are you doing?”

Bailey drew back and turned at the sound of Gran’s voice. “Leaving.”

“You don’t need him. He’s bad for you. Come home before you get in more trouble.”

“Is that another threat?” Kass’s hand slid around his, their fingers lacing together like they’d done it a thousand times before. “Tell your friends that if they set me up again, I will tell the cops everything. The only reason I didn’t this time is because they threatened to kill you. I saved you, but you didn’t do the same for me. You were quite happy to damn me for life.” He nodded toward the waiting car. “I’m done.”

“But we’re family.” Her face crumpled.

“So why didn’t you act like it?”

“I was protecting you from people like him.” She jerked her chin at Kass. “People who will use you.”

“We have company. We need to go.” Kass tugged on his hand.

Bailey noticed four other people now in the carpark. Two of them were shifters. And Gold Watch was leaning on his car. “There're cameras everywhere, you don’t want to make a scene.”

“Cameras are good for evidence, not a good deterrent.” Kass took a few steps toward his car, and Bailey followed.

The others had moved closer, knives glinted in their hands.

Gold Watch put his hand on the back of Gran’s neck and a blade at her side. “Bailey, Kassidy, get in my car and no one gets hurt.”

Bailey’s heart lurched. But if he saved her, he was damning himself and Kass. “They want your magic.”

“Yeah, and they aren’t getting it.” Kass released his hand.

“Got a plan?”

“Beyond getting in the car and running, no. You?”

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