Page 2 of Pretty Little Kitty

Six motorcycles rumbled past in the opposite direction, and Kia cursed under his breath as he made eye contact with the lead rider.

It was the same man who’d shot those hyenas point-blank in the factory, the very one who would have ended Kia too if the guy hadn’t caught a whiff of cheetah.

Matias. Alpha of the wolves.

In that fleeting moment when their eyes met, Kia felt his soul being sucked right out of his body. It was as if asteroids were hurtling toward Earth, or the moon was crashing into the sun in a fiery apocalypse.

He tensed as he tried to walk away quickly, but the lead motorcycle executed a sharp U-turn, the rest following in formation like predators closing in.

Matias hadn’t bothered to check for traffic or signal with his hand. The cars around him slammed on their brakes as death closed in.

All six bikes came to a stop in the vacant parking spaces, engines rumbling ominously just ten feet away before the sound faded. Kia hesitated, unsure whether to flee or hide in the nearest shop.

Too late.

Matias swung off his bike with practiced ease, his eyes locking on to Kia’s, unyielding and intense. “I don’t recall giving a cheetah permission to roam my territory.”

“I, uh...” Kia pressed his lips together, cursing his stupidity for not thinking of a plan in case he encountered anyone other than Suero.

Not that he had any idea what to say to Suero either. The whole way there, he hadn’t come up with a decent explanation that didn’t involve his uncle.

“Suero,” he blurted out. “I came to talk to Suero.”

“He’s not the one who grants passage for cheetahs,” Matias replied coolly. That calmness terrified Kia. It was the same composed manner Matias had when he’d shot those hyenas. Deadly. Precise.

So much for keeping Xavier in the dark about my little field trip.

Matias pulled out his phone, giving Kia a look that clearly indicated his displeasure. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the guy had drawn a weapon instead of a phone.

“Get your ass to Carver’s.” Matias’ words were a command, punctuated by the abrupt end of the call.

Don’t panic and spill your life story. Keep your lips sealed.

Kia glanced over his shoulder, noting they had stopped in front of Carver’s Hardware. He was willing to bet Matias had just called Suero.

The alpha perched on his motorcycle, waiting, while his men talked and chuckled. Among them, Kia recognized a familiar face. It was the guy who’d stood next to the lycanthrope that day at the derelict factory.

Their conversation flowed in Spanish, making it impossible for Kia to grasp what they were saying. He understood snippets, but not enough to decipher their words. When he caught their sidelong glances, Kia was positive he was their topic of discussion.

Shifting uneasily, he glanced at the storefronts, finding them suddenly interesting.

The distant growl of an engine drew closer, causing Kia’s heart to race. Turning, he spotted a motorcycle approaching. It was Suero. The sight of him, all lean muscle and fierce demeanor, sent a thrill through Kia.

Yet, he remembered the gentler side of the wolf, the sparkle in Suero’s eyes when he laughed, the tenderness in his voice when he spoke softly to Kia.

Suero maneuvered into a vacant parking spot and killed the engine before dismounting. His expression was casual, curiosity flickering in his dark eyes, until his gaze settled on Kia.

Talk about a visceral reaction. For the briefest moment, his eyes softened, lips parting, then he shut that look down. His gaze slid over Kia, now cold and detached.

Dismissing Kia by turning his back on him, Suero gave Matias his full attention. “Another interrogation?”

Even though Kia couldn’t blame him, the bitterness in Suero’s tone still cut deep. A small part of him had stupidly hoped they could pick up where they’d left off, despite the silence that had destroyed what they’d once shared together.

Matias inclined his head toward Kia. “He says he’s here to see you.”

Suero’s derisive laugh rang out, the sound as sharp and biting as his canines.

Kia’s mouth felt dry, his stomach knotted with regret. He’d done that, wrecking something special that had begun to grow between them.

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