Page 39

CHAPTER 39

WOLF

I laugh, and it’s not that I’m trying to insult her, but it’s just not true. If I was running the power to the mountain, she’d have a lot more than one damn light. She’s insane, and I shake my head in denial rather than saying it out loud because that’s gotten me shot before.

“No, can’t say I’m guilty of that one.”

“Oh no?” she huffs in outrage, pulling a piece of paper out of her pocket. “You're going to lie to me when I have the proof right here?”

She opens it and lays it flat before handing it to me. The expression on her face is like she’s really got me this time. I’m extra annoyed, given my father did the same thing to me twenty minutes ago. My brow furrows as I take it from her and quickly read over the lines, seeing that it’s just an astronomical electricity bill.

“What the hell is this, Muffin? What does this prove exactly?”

She pushes out her chin. “Actually read it instead of playing stupid.” She’s so cute when she’s sassy. It makes me want to smack her ass and kill people in front of her just to keep her on her toes.

“Bold of you to assume monsters can read,” I say.

She snorts a laugh, and even if it is a mocking one, it’s so rare I can’t help but enjoy it.

“You’re right. Should I read it to you?” she asks as she tips her head to the side.

“You’ll be reading the tag on your jeans when I pull your pants down and spank your ass.”

A brilliant picture fills my mind, and she blushes a sweet pink. I’d spank her a few shades darker than that if she liked it as much as I do. Despite all that, I do look again, actually reading it this time. There isn’t a name on the bill, but that’s definitely my address. I’m not even sure what this is about or where she got it. She risked coming here for this? What was she looking for?

“I’m stumped, Muffin. Seems like you got yourself a real mystery on your hands.” Impressive, given I thought I knew all there was to know about her and this mountain. I plan to ask my father about it as soon as possible, but like I said, he’s not a great businessman, and this seems above him.

“Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you,” she says.

“You think I’m a clever Wolf?” I raise an eyebrow at her.

“No, I don’t, and you’re certainly not an innocent one either.” Her chin tips up as she pouts, and I can tell she thinks I’m lying to her, and I’m not.

“That may be true, but in this case, I have no idea where this came from,” I insist as I hand it back to her. It’s her mystery to solve, not mine.

“Then who is it?”

“Again, I’m really too young to have been responsible for wiring the mountain. You really do hold a high regard for the child version of me. Running power lines, murdering, I was a prodigy.”

She’s blushing so hard she’s throwing heat.

“If it’s not you, then who is it?” she asks, starting to get angry now. “I write checks, and who the hell is cashing them? I know there’s something nasty going on out here! There’s a reason no one came for Porter!” She’s close to screaming now, and I need to keep her quiet, but I’ve got a more pressing question.

“Who the fuck is Porter?” I seethe.

Her face turns nearly blood red. “The cop you killed, Wolf! You put an arrow through his brain.”

“Oh right,” I say.

“Oh right?” she asks. “I think I should shoot you!”

“I said keep your voice down,” I threaten in a much lower volume, giving her a cue as to how I would like her to speak.

She ignores it entirely, talking just as loud with a sneer on her top lip. “You said because he’ll hear me. Who is he ? Is he the one charging the residents of Grimm Groves because it’s not the damn power company, Wolf!”

It’s my turn to harden my jaw. Not only do I not know, but I wouldn’t tell her anything even if I could. Information is need to know only, and there’s nearly nothing about me that my Muffin needs to know.

“I have no idea,” I say. “Frankly, I don’t know why it even matters! Who cares who supplies the power?”

Her eyes widen, her mouth opens, and I realize I’ve struck a nerve.

“No, you wouldn’t understand, would you? We are all alone out here. The cops don’t help us, the government doesn’t fund our school, the mail comes once a damn month, and we don’t have a real post office. No one cares about what happens to us out here.

“But someone is bringing power out here and charging us for it. What happens to this mountain and these people has to matter to someone other than me because someone is making money! I’m at the end of my fucking rope, and you don’t get why it’s important? You don’t get why I need the fucking truth?!”

I’m sick to my stomach because my family’s greed has done all of this to her. Part of me wants to apologize. Admit what I’ve done and tell her what’s really hiding out on her property. I want to tell her that she doesn’t have a single concern in the world if it weren’t for my family, but like usual, I don’t do what I should.

“I don’t know if he is that person, Red, but I promise you don’t want to meet him. You don’t want him to find you in his house.”

She swallows, which means some part of her trusts I’m telling the truth. She knows she’s in danger, but that doesn’t motivate her to protect herself. Nothing does that.

“Who is it? Because this is the very first time I’ve ever seen you act afraid of anyone.”

She stares into my eyes, and the way she challenges me brings every intense conflicting emotion I have to the surface. If the world were fair, I would just melt into her, and that would be the end of it.

“I'm not afraid of him, but you should be, and for good reason. Now, keep your voice down.”

Her expression changes as she makes a decision.

“You know what? I think you better keep me happy, or I’m going to scream because I’m not afraid of whoever you’re trying to keep me away from.”

“He’ll fucking kill you,” I repeat, not believing she’s stupid enough to threaten me when her life is on the line.

“Sure, I bet that’s true. I’ll still do it.”

I take two steps forward, hands gripping her shirt as I pull her closer.

“Why the fuck would you? Are you suicidal now?”

“No, I’m just starting to think you stand to lose a lot more than I do. I’ve got nothing left, and you’re still afraid of something.”

“I’m not afraid of dying.” She’s a fool to think I am when she’s taken so many shots at me.

“Then maybe you’re afraid to lose me.” The suggestion is insane, and I can’t believe she’s bold enough to say it out loud.

“What makes you think I care?” I demand, but I know it was that damn bath. Being soft with her was incredible, but look if it’s not the consequences of my own actions in the shape of her attitude.

She laughs softly. “I know you don’t care about me , Wolf, but you sure care about your game. I don’t know why exactly, but I’m at the center of it.”

“You want to know why?” I ask, sure that I can take the power back in this situation and knock her off balance.

“Tell me who he is, or I’m going to scream loud enough to be sure he hears me.”

My teeth clamp like a vise, but I answer, “My father, and if you don’t shut the hell up, he’s going to kill you like he did your parents because you’re the center of his game too.”

My lips slam shut, and I know I’ve said far too much.