Page 30 of Trick's Elite

The calls he took only when she wasn’t in earshot had her gut tingling. Her instincts were screaming at her that she was right not to trust him. They were saying that he was playing her. The last several weeks had been nothing but a dream he was selling that she bought hook, line, and sinker.

As she watched him pace, talk, and smile, the hurt she felt was shoved down by anger. It grew and grew until she was damn near choking on it.

As far as shifters were concerned, she could admit that they weren’t monsters… at least not all of them, and not for that reason. Once she really examined what she was told and compared it to what she had witnessed with her own eyes, she was able to admit that much.

That didn’t mean the Howlers weren’t monsters, though, and it sure as hell didn’t mean that shifters couldn’t be dangerous. She had let her guard down with Trick and believed what he told her about having feelings for her, and where did that get her? Sitting on the bed in the cabin, watching him have a conversation with an unknown person, knowing damn well he’s not going to fill her in. He was keeping shit from her. So much for all that trust he said he was giving her.

Returning her gaze to the novel in her hands, she didn’t see even one word on the page. Her mind was swirling with what she needed to do, mainly start rebuilding that wall around her heart.

Trick

As Trick strolled back and forth along the front porch of the cabin, he listened to Little Bug go on and on about the little boy who kissed her cheek on the playground and how her brothers told him that they would beat him up if he ever did it again.

“That’s against the rules, Uncle T.”

“You’re right, Bug,” he said and tried to keep his amusement to himself.

“You should tell them not to do that.”

That was one thing he wasn’t going to do. He didn’t like the idea of some kid thinking it was okay to put his lips anywhere near any of his nieces. Did that make him a misogynistic asshole? Probably. Did he care? Not one fucking bit.

“Should I?” He grinned.

“Yes. It’s against the rules to fight. You said rules were important.”

“Rules are important.” Unless some little twerp thinks he’s going to kiss you, then fuck the rules.

“So, you’ll talk to them?”

“Sure, Bug, but brothers are supposed to protect their sisters… just like if some girl was doing something they didn’t say was okay, I would expect you to protect your brothers.”

“Me?” She was quiet for a bit, then she said, “I would protect them.”

“Good. That’s what family is all about.”

They chatted some more about school and the other kids before Trick told her he had to get going.

“Okay, but when are you gonna be home? I miss you, and I want to get ice cream. Dad takes me, but he doesn’t let me get double sprinkles like you do.”

Trick chuckled to himself. Rock would kick his ass if he knew how many things he fed to his nieces and nephews that Rock had said they couldn’t have. He was Uncle T. It was his job to spoil them. “Soon as I can, Bug, but I’ll have Uncle Brute bring you for ice cream, and you can video call me. I’ll eat ice cream with you that way.”

She sighed. “‘Kay. Will you tell him to let me have double sprinkles?”

“Yup, and extra whipped cream, too.”

“Yay!”

His heart swelled with love for his niece at the joy in her voice. “Okay, Bug. I need to go. Tell the others I love them. Love you.”

“Love you back. Bye!”

“Bye.” He ended the call and opened his text string with Brute.

TRICK: You need to take Mia for ice cream, and don’t be tight ass. Get Bug double sprinkles and extra whipped cream.

The reply came in pretty quickly.

BRUTE: I’m never a tight ass when it comes to my princesses, and you damn well know it.

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