Page 41 of Taken By Raider Kings
Julia gave a theatrically contemptuous little laugh.“We’re scavengers, honey.”His sister took a giant bite of cheeseburger, and Zach suppressed the desire to snap at her.“We pick up the bits and leavings.How do you think we live?Nothing’sfree.”
Brenn signaled the harried waitress and asked for another side of fries.The bleached blonde looked about to protest until Brenn gave her puppy-dog eyes, and the woman visibly melted.Sophie’s quick, roving glance didn’t miss the exchange; she hurriedly took a sip of Diet Coke.Zach tried not to hit her with his elbow, but it was close quarters with all of them crowded into the diner’s biggest booth.
It was good to feel a shaman in the Family again, good to see Eric stop twitching and Brenn open up a little bit, the ice and moonlight smell calming both younger brothers.Julia was on her best behavior, making girl talk and acting world-weary.The only thing missing was Kyle’s quick grin and sharp good humor.
Ky would’ve liked this woman.The thought was a hurtful jab.
She won’t see a hunting run for a while.Let’s be happy about that.“Enough.”He decided to stop trying to give her some space, and leaned a little closer.“We don’t just fleece, Sophie.We do leatherworking, Julia’s a fair seamstress too, and I’ve fixed cars before.We’re jacks-of-all-trades.”
“Oh.”Sophie nibbled at a French fry.“Like Romani, maybe?That’s the right word, I think.”
Djombrani are different, and there’s no love lost between us and the Rom.“Kind of.And now that you’re with us, we can settle down and get real jobs.”He almost smiled when she shifted her weight, nearly tipping herself into Julia’s lap, and settled back down next to him, her arm brushing his elbow.Her hip bumped against his as well; the flush that went through him was pleasant and frustrating in equal measure.She just smelled too good, and he was finding out that he liked her.
Every once in a while she would stop, look over the top of those steel-rimmed glasses, and take a deep breath as if readjusting the world.Each time, the ice and moonlight intensified, a powerfully soothing pulse spreading through them all.
When she did that, he wondered what it would be like to taste her breath.As it was, he got a drenching wave of scent whenever she moved—healthy, brunette spice with that silver thread ofshamanrunning through.
It was enough to drive a man crazy.Especially with one of those curvy little hips touching him.And when she picked up her turkey sandwich, her elbow brushed his again and she granted a quick glance of apology.
Jesus.He was actuallysweating.Not much, but enough to drive home the fact that she smelled too good to be left wandering around alone.She’d already blooded him, so that was all right—not that he thought Eric would try to muscle in, and Brenn was far too submissive for her.She needed someone who could bully her into taking care of herself, someone who?—
Wait a second.Bullying her around is the worst thing to do.He listened with half an ear as Julia chattered, Sophie’s soft interested responses like music.Slow and easy, Zach.
He almost wished Ky was around to give him some advice.Women liked Kyle—it was the little-boy smile added to the stubble when he wore his rough face.
Zach’s hands tensed.There was that, too—vengeance for Kyle.A way for them to all avenge their brother, their alpha, one of their own.
Theupirwere working in concert, had killed his brother, and were after his mate.
Never mind that she didn’t know she was his.Yet.
He turned it over inside his head for the rest of the meal, watching the restaurant and keeping vague track of the conversation.Eric paid and tipped the waitress, Julia dragged Sophie off to the ladies’, and Brenn took one last, long pull at his milkshake.
“You’re awful quiet,” Brenn observed.His face hadn’t lost its baby look yet, smooth-cheeked and with only a suggestion of the strong jaw he’d eventually develop.The paleness beginning over his left temple marked him as young, too.
Zach could remember the kid in diapers, with an infectious, sunny smile.“Thinking.”
“About Kyle.”Brenn nodded.“Julia thinks it’s her fault.”
It was.But it wasn’t—if I hadn’t let Kyle take the alpha, he might still be alive.Goddammit.“Upirare nobody’s fault.They’re just carrion.”
“I know.Butshedoesn’t.”Brenn slid for the edge of the booth.“I like the shaman.She’s nice.”
And she’s got no choice, she admitted it herself.“She’s seen reason, I guess.”
“Or something.”Brenn grinned, and was gone before Zach could ask him what the hellthatmeant.
Zach made his way to the front counter, eyeing the newspapers in their little metal hutches.He was contemplating getting a toothpick when something snagged his attention.
What the hell?
MILLIONAIRE’S ESTRANGED EX-WIFE DEAD IN FIRE,the headlines screamed, in thick black ink.ARSON SUSPECTED.
Right under the headline, next to a block of dense text, was a spotty black-and-white picture of a younger Sophie, smiling broadly, probably a wedding picture since a small white forehead-band held a veil to her head.Obviously cropped out of a larger photo.
Huh.He dug in his pocket for quarters, found none, and took a quick look around.Nobody watching—the place was packed for dinner, waitresses hopping to and fro, the counter unattended.There was a clatter from the kitchen, one of the cooks cursing in a mumble as steam hissed.
Zach curled his fingers around the top of the door, gave a quick downward yank.A poppingzing!lost under all the other noise, and it burst open pretty as you please.He grabbed a paper and shoved it closed.
