Page 148

“Willie, he’s not the kind of man?—”
I cringe at the nickname he chose long ago, trying to stand out from my family. I never liked it, but it made him feel like he had something of his own. Not anymore.
“Willow. There is no Willie and never was. That was me placating your ego. And how dare you judge what kind of man Talon is? Your track record of morality isn’t golden. He’s everything to me.”
He looks stricken but I don’t stop. “I don’t mean to hurt you, but what we had is nothing compared to the dynamics of my and Talon’s relationship. You were right, we were falling apart. Our connection was comfortable and stable. Boring at best. But knowing what true love is and feeling its depths down to my soul is everything. Talon gives me that a million times over because he has my back. When the truth came out, I wasn’t devastated at losing you, Rylee, or eventually my mom. If something happened to Talon, I wouldn’t survive.”
Talon’s mouth comes to my jaw. He skims his lips over my earlobe, causing an all over tremor. “Princess, stop talking unless you want to risk that public indecency charge.”
“You apologized and gave me the answers I needed to hear. Is there something else?” I try to sound confident, which is hard with Talon’s warm breath on my neck.
“There’s more.” Talon straightens, addressing Joseph. “I want you gone, but be sure you hash it all out. Tell Lo why.”
“Why what?”
“Why he kicked your sister to the curb.”
“How do you know anything?” Joseph pales.
“You got another minute before I remove your ass. Don’t waste it asking questions.”
“Talon, what is going on?”
“I should go.” Joseph makes a move, but the ice in Talon’s voice stops him dead.
“Rylee’s arrest got her fired from her job. She’s drowning in debt and maxed out. Bitch couldn’t comprehend living within her means, so she used her fiancé’s information and opened another credit card, charging the max. Creditors are sick of waiting for payments. Joseph here is on the hook for over twenty thousand of that.”
Shock drums through me. “She charged over twenty thousand dollars?”
“That’s only the portion in his name.”
If it’s possible, Joseph pales even more. “How do you know my business? Who the fuck are you?”
“Told you to leave, man. You pushed your limit by coming here today. Apology was a nice touch, even had me believing it. But your motives are fucking transparent. I don’t fall for the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
My mind is spinning in confusion at what the hell Talon is talking about, but at the word Wolf, my head snaps to my front window. I left the blinds cracked this morning because Wolf loves to people-watch. But even more, he loves to see me pull up and goes wild until I get in the door. He’s does the same with Talon.
With the surprise visit from Joseph, I hadn’t realized how quiet it is.
I wrangle free of Talon’s hold and race to my door, punching in the code frantically, messing up until the lock beeps with warning.
“Babe?” Talon takes my hand.
“Wolf, something’s wrong.”
He types in the code and I pound open the door only to still in shock. My house looks like a tornado hit. Sofa cushions, pillows, and blankets are strewn all over the living room. Lamps are turned over, picture frames are smashed, and wall hangings are now laying on the floor.
“This is Talon, get a few units over to Willow’s. Her place has been vandalized—” I barely hear him as I run through my kitchen, slipping on glass searching for Wolf.
He doesn’t answer as I call his name. My bedroom door is shut, which isn’t how I left it. Before I can open it, Talon is there to stop me.
“Wolf!” I scream again with no response.
“Don’t touch the knob, baby. Let me.” He uses his shirt to open the door and my world stops. My precious dog is lying in the middle of my torn apart bed, not moving.
I launch myself to the bed, curling him in my arms and chanting his name. He doesn’t move, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
“Fuck, give him to me, baby.”