Page 24 of Taming the Beasts (Crooked Point #3)

Friday

Zoey

As I helped the guys clean up the destruction at the bank, I did my best to overhear the voicemail Bennett was leaving one of his contacts in Egypt.

Bennett seemed to believe the coin would work. Or else he wouldn’t have even bothered to reach out. Right?

“Call me back when you get a chance,” Bennett said and ended the call.

I wanted the cure to work for them. I truly did.

But the more that Kebe spoke about it and being a vampire, the less I believed a word out of her mouth.

She was up to something. Even though she flirted with Huxley and a bit with Titan too, it still seemed like she looked down on werecats. So...why was she willing to help them?

And she’d hung around the bank for ages, talking to Huxley about Egyptian architecture. I hadn’t breathed easily until she’d finally left a few minutes ago.

I wasn’t sure what the guys were thinking. Did they believe everything Kebe said? Were they only double checking with Bennett’s contacts because I seemed wary? I swept up some more broken marble pieces.

Titan emerged from the second vault and closed the huge metal door. He’d insisted that they needed the coin back for safe keeping. And I was a little worried that he’d just meant safe keeping from me .

My fingers tightened around the broom. I really needed to talk to Titan privately.

I felt bad for lying about stealing from the vault.

But our last private conversation was seared into my head.

I was worried if we were alone he’d shift.

Otto was supposed to have the least control, but I was pretty sure Titan took the title for that.

I felt awkward standing in the middle of the bank alone.

I was starting to worry that they all hoped I’d leave too.

I kept my head down and finished sweeping.

Not that sweeping was going to help fix this mess.

I leaned the broom against another column and was relieved when Bennett walked over to me.

“My contacts will get back to me as soon as they can.” Bennett gave me a tight smile.

“I’m really sorry about lying about taking the coin. I just wanted to surprise you guys so badly. And then Kebe got in my head and...” I shrugged. “I’m just really sorry.” I’d trusted them with my secret. They’d trusted me with theirs. We’d been on the same page, and I’d messed everything up.

“I don’t like being lied to, Zoey.”

I’d never seen him look so intense before.

It looked like he had more to say, and I didn’t need him to waste his time.

I knew I’d fucked up. I knew he wanted nothing to do with me.

It was all over his face. I thought this was how he’d react to the MyFanatics thing. If only my lies had stopped there.

“I know,” I said. “I really am sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. But I understand.” I cleared my throat.

“Please just be diligent with what you ask your contacts. I still don’t trust Kebe.

I know you guys seem to like her, but please be careful.

And as for this...” I gestured toward the broken column.

“I don’t know how much this costs, but you can just take it out of my account, okay?

” I hated everything that I was saying. I’d only just started dating them.

I couldn’t believe I’d messed it all up so quickly.

I really had just been trying to help. “I guess I’ll see you around town?

” I forced a smiled onto my face and stepped around him to leave.

He grabbed my wrist. “Where are you going?”

“Don’t you want me to leave?”

He shook his head. “Why is your first instinct always to run from us?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again.

“Zoey. No one is asking you to leave. I understand why you lied. I was just letting you know I didn’t like it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.” He reached out and touched the side of my face. “I’ve wanted you since we first moved to Crooked Point. And I have no intention of ever letting you go. I’m just asking you to be honest with me.”

“I will be. No more robberies. Unless we’re doing it together.”

He laughed. “We’re not bringing you on any of our artifact retrieval missions.”

“But I just proved that I can do it.”

“I didn’t say it was because you weren’t capable. I just want to keep you safe. Besides, it appears we already have the artifact we’ve been searching for.”

“I meant what I said. I don’t trust Kebe. All that vampire stuff wasn’t adding up to me. Don’t you think Callum would be able to sense another vampire in his presence?”

“He said he’d never met another vampire before. He really seems to believe her. ”

Right. “But she answered all our questions really weirdly. She seemed to just be going along with whatever we said and why did she want us to use the coin outside? That seemed like a really bad idea. I really want the coin to be the cure. I know how long you’ve been searching for it.

I’m just worried Kebe is up to something shady. ”

“Good, me too.”

“Wait, really?”

Bennett laughed. “Why do you think I called the guys I know in Egypt? And why do you think Titan just locked the coin up again in the vault? We’re not using something we don’t know anything about. Especially something a vampire told us about. I don’t trust a word out of your new friend’s mouth.”

“Oh thank God. And she’s not my friend.” I was starting to think we were enemies. She was trying to steal at least one of my boyfriends.

Bennett laughed. “I don’t trust just anyone, Zoey. That’s why it hurt when you lied to me. And when you told Kebe our secret.”

“She overheard...” the semantics didn’t matter. I nodded. “I really am sorry about all of it.”

“I know.” He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against my forehead.

It was the most comforting feeling in the world.

“Now, what is this about you just being on vacation from MyFanatics?”

“It’s a permanent vacation, I promise. I didn’t record a goodbye video because I was hoping Kebe would just take over the whole thing for me. And that’s what she said when she went live. That I was on vacation. But I don’t have any intention of going back on. Well, except to talk to King.”

“Not happening,” Bennett said.

“But he’s the reason I know about the coin. It would be a good idea to double check everything with him...”

“Not happening,” Bennett repeated.

I slowly nodded my head. “Okay. I won’t do that.

” Honestly, I wasn’t sure how much it would help anyway.

I liked to think I knew King pretty well.

But what did I really know about him other than the fact that I presumed he was rich?

Bennett’s contacts that he trusted would be the best sources of information.

“Thank you,” Bennett said. “Now about your other clients.”

“Crap, right. I’ll let them know I’m no longer running my fitness business right now.”

Bennett just stared at me.

“Oh, right now, right now? Okay.” I pulled out my phone.

Bennett watched as I texted my clients one by one letting them know all my future sessions were cancelled.

“I know you said all was forgiven,” I said. “But it kind of seems like you don’t trust me anymore since you watched me do all that.”

“I watched you do all that so I didn’t have to worry about losing control over it. I hate the idea of anyone else’s hands on you.”

“Except for your friends.” My heart felt funny in my chest. I’d kind of asked Otto, Huxley, and Ace about this already.

If they’d still want to share me if they didn’t have to.

Huxley and Ace were definitely on board.

I wasn’t so sure about Otto. And the way Bennett was talking, it seemed like maybe he’d want his own girlfriend too. Someone all to himself.

“Right,” he finally said. “Except for my friends.”

That hadn’t been very reassuring. “I like our private time together too though. And I guess I still owe you that private session.” I was trying my best to lighten the mood. And show him that sharing me didn’t have to mean always sharing. I was excited to be with just him too.

“How about tonight?” he said with a smile.

“I’d like that.”

“It’s a date.”

I smiled up at him.

“We really need to reopen the bank. But we’ll be home for dinner. What do you want us to pick up?”

“Nothing,” I said. “I’ve got dinner covered.”

“Are you sure?”

“You better get used to me taking care of you guys. I’ve suddenly found myself unemployed with nothing to do but pamper you.”

“I don’t hate the sound of that.”

I laughed. “See you later.”

He gave me a quick kiss.

I went to wave to the twins and Otto but they were deep in discussion behind the counter. And Titan was nowhere to be seen.

Hopefully they were all on the same page with Bennett and were wary of the cure. As soon as I stepped out of the bank, I pulled out my phone and called Emma.

She answered after one ring. “Hey. We need to talk. ”

Well that sounded ominous. But yeah, we had a lot to talk about. “Agreed. Where are you? Could you meet me at the market on Main Street?”

“Are you out of phallic produce or something?”

I laughed. “No, but the guys have nothing in their fridge that’s edible. And I want to make them dinner.”

“I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I just need to wash out my paint brush.”

“See you soon,” I said. I loved that Emma and Callum were fixing up that old house together. It really was perfect for them.

I walked into the market and went straight toward the carrots. I shook my head. It was going to be strange not only buying phallic shaped produce. I was having fun walking down the aisle getting not perfectly penis-shaped produce when Emma showed up. I picked up one banana.

“I thought you gave that up?” Emma laughed.

“I have. But Bennett wants a private session tonight.” I put the banana in my basket. “I’m really hoping you wanted to talk because you don’t trust a thing out of Kebe’s lying mouth.”

“I don’t.”

Thank God. “That was sus as hell, right? She just kept agreeing with stuff. Like the disappearing thing actually being because she’s fast.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t just me that thought so. I was worried I thought she was suspicious just because I’m jealous of her relationship with Callum.”

“I’m annoyed with her about Callum and Huxley too.

But that has nothing to do with the fact that she was lying through her teeth.

I’m glad we’re all on the same page. Bennett agrees with us too, so I assume the rest of my boyfriends do too.

I’m glad we’re putting a pin in this for a bit. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“We’re not all on the same page,” Emma said.

“What?”

“Well, you and I are. And Bennett and his friends. But...Callum isn’t.”

“Did he not hear anything Kebe said? For all we know she’s currently feasting on a body at my house right now,” I hissed. “Only drinking animal blood my ass.”

Emma shuddered. “I know. But he thinks Kebe is telling the truth about all of it.”

“Ugh. Men.”

“He wants to use the coin. And I’m so worried about what’s going to happen.”

“We have to delay him,” I said. “At least for as long as it takes for Bennett to hear back from an actual expert on Egyptian relics. Or at least until I talk to King.” I shook my head. “Scratch that. I promised Bennett I wouldn’t talk to King anymore. But...” I stared at Emma.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Maybe you can pop on my MyFanatics and talk to him?”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

“Callum would lose his freaking mind.”

I sighed. “All our boyfriends are so possessive. It’s hot when it’s not annoying.

I’d ask Kebe to do it, but I wouldn’t trust what she relayed back to us.

We’re just going to have to rely on Bennett’s contacts.

Do you think you could delay Callum wanting to use the coin for at least a few more days? ”

“About that.”

“You don’t think you can?” This was bad. Really, really bad. I made a beeline for the dessert display. I needed chocolate. “What a disaster. Wait. I have the best idea. Kebe didn’t seem like she wanted to wait. Maybe we can just get her to use the cure for herself first. As a test.”

Emma laughed. “As much as I’d love that, I don’t think Callum will agree.”

“Does he want to use it tonight or something?”

“No. He wants to use it next weekend.”

I dropped the container of brownies I’d picked up. “Well that’s great news! Why did you freak me out like that? That gives us plenty of time to do more research to make sure it’s safe.”

“Sorry, I was trying to subtly change the subject.”

“What on earth is more important than talking about this right now?”

“Hm.” Emma picked up a cake on display. “Do you think they make wedding cakes?”

Was she about to turn into a bridezilla? “I think it’s more important to pick out your dress first. The cake can wait.” And we could focus on all of that later. They weren’t planning on getting married until the spring.

She placed the cake down. “Then we should probably go dress shopping. Today.”

“Emma, this really isn’t the time to be thinking about your wedding. This is urgent.”

“My wedding has kind of become urgent too.”

“What?”

“Callum wants to move it up. To next weekend. Before he takes the cure.”

“WHAT?! ”

Emma laughed.

“Emma, that isn’t enough time to plan a wedding! Fuck, we really do need to order a cake right now. Are you being serious?”

She nodded. “Just in case something bad happens when Callum takes the cure. So I’ll always get to be his wife. Even if he’s no longer here.” Tears started welling in the corners of her eyes.

“Oh, Emma.” I pulled her into a hug. “We’re not going to let anything bad happen to him.”

“He’s already convinced to take it though.” She sniffed.

“Then we’re going to make sure it’s safe. All while planning a wedding in one week. Totally doable.” I hope.

Emma pulled back and quickly wiped beneath her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Does that mean I’m your maid of honor?” I smiled.

“Oh my God, yes. I should have led with that. Zoey, will you be my maid of honor?”

“Absolutely. Let’s go order this cake. How many people are coming to the wedding?”

“We haven’t really talked about that,” Emma said.

“Well where are you going to hold the ceremony and reception?”

“Um...”

“It’s fine. We’ll figure it out.” My maid of honor duties were going to be a good distraction to my pestering thoughts.

I didn’t trust Kebe. One bit. But one of my main other worries about the cure was that the guys would no longer want to share me.

I just needed a little more time to show them how perfect this arrangement was. Starting with tonight.