Page 12 of Trick's Elite

Trick

When he stepped out on the porch, Trick took a deep breath and let it out slowly, attempting to calm his irritation. He knew their situation wasn’t conventional by any means, but he was fucking trying. He really wished she would. Hell, he felt like he had gone out of his way to make sure she had everything she needed.

Stomping down the stairs, he berated himself for buying the fucking ice cream. When he picked it up at the store, he hoped it would show her that he was the same guy she spent time with a couple months before. Instead, her reaction reminded him that she may be his mate, but they were enemies. She was the hunter, and he was the hunted.

Trick had let his guard down and forgot for a while that she was his prisoner for a good reason. Was he trying for no damn reason? Would they spend the rest of their lives questioning each other’s motives? That wasn’t how he wanted to spend his life, but what choice did he have? If he let her walk away, he would be miserable. There could be another mate out there for him, but he had known shifters who never found their mates. He didn’t want to be one of those old men who never knew love and watched everyone around him live a happy life while he went home to an empty house every night.

Swallowing his irritation and depression about the situation, he slid into the driver’s seat of the van and pulled his phone from his pocket. He called his sister-in-law, Diamond, and put the phone to his ear.

“Hello? Trick?” Diamond’s sweet voice came from the phone. She was Rock’s Ol’ Lady. Rock wasn’t biologically or legally his brother, but he spent most of his life at Trick’s house growing up, so they claimed him. By extension, they also claimed Diamond and the four kids they had together. Trick loved all of them with everything he had.

“Hey, Sis. I need some advice.”

“Okay. How can I help?”

Trick opened his mouth to answer her, but he heard Rock’s voice in the background. “What does Trick need help with? Is he okay?” Then Rock’s voice got louder, and Trick realized it was because his brother had taken the phone from his woman when he asked, “Trick? Brother, you good?”

“As good as I can be. We still hate each other. I just need Diamond’s advice on something.”

The line was quiet for a moment, then Rock spoke again. “On what?”

“Seriously, Rock, I need to talk to Diamond.”

“Give me the phone,” he heard his sister-in-law practically growl, as he also heard Rock cuss under his breath. “Sorry, Trick. Your brother is an ass.”

Trick chuckled as he started the van and headed down the drive. “Yeah, but you love him like that.”

“It’s the life I chose,” she said on a sigh. “Anyway, what can I help you with?”

“She just informed me that it’s almost time for her period. I’m heading to the store for supplies, but she didn’t want to help by giving me an idea of what to get.”

He heard the smile in her voice when she guessed, “She’s making you work for it.”

“Seems like we’re both stuck in that gear.”

“Well, I can’t make her not be a hunter, Trick, but I can give you a standard go-to list for a woman on her period. Every woman is different, but I’ll get you set with at least the basics. I’ll text it to you. Do you need visuals, too, or just the names?”

“Use your judgment on that,” he replied, silently hoping she sent pictures. He wasn’t embarrassed to be in the feminine products aisle, but he didn’t want to get the wrong thing and have Stella pay the price. One way or another, they needed to break through the wall of distrust.

Her voice lowered when she replied, “I’ll send visuals. And Trick?”

“Yeah?”

“Just keep being you. She’ll come around. I just hope she’s worth your heart.”

Trick had to swallow down the lump of emotion that lodged in his throat at her words. “Thanks, Sis. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Now, stay safe. And check in with me. If you need anything else, I’m here.”

“Will do. Now, go give my nieces and nephews hugs from me.”

“On it,” she said through another smile, and Trick could picture her face glowing with it. “Bye.”

“Bye,” he replied and ended the call.

Fuck,he wanted a relationship like Rock had with Diamond. It was all-in and strong. They were madly in love with each other, and it was obvious to everyone around them. He wanted that with Stella.

As he turned onto the main road, Trick thought about how to shift them to a new path. Something had to give.

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