[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
his name.
There wasn t shit on TV and it was really beginning to
piss him off. When his phone rang, he set his tumbler down
on an end table and grabbed his phone. He hated how much
disappointment he felt when he saw that it was Valerie, not
Demitri.
Hey, sweetheart, he said, forcing joviality into his voice
that he didn t feel.
His daughter wasn t fooled. Dad? What s wrong?
God, everything, he muttered before he could get his
inebriated brain to control his tongue.
Dad?
Sorry, sweetheart. Just& had a fight with Demitri.
Okay, so that was a lie, but whatever. It wasn t like he could
tell her the truth. He d given his word.
Oh, Dad. I m sorry. I know how much you really liked
him. What happened? Valerie pressed. What was it
about?
Oh, God, he muttered. What the hell could he tell her?
Did the age thing turn out to be a problem? she asked.
No, he scoffed. Like you pointed out. Mentally he s
way older than his age. He already knows what he wants to
be when he grows up. Rolling his eyes, he dropped his
88
Freeing Demitri s Wolf
head against the back cushion of the sofa. I hadn t figured
that out until I was twenty-three.
So, what? You don t agree with his choice of career?
Valerie pressed.
Huffing, Kiernan let his eyelids slide shut. No. He wants
to be a park ranger. He has some park ranger buddies, and
they re helping him figure out what he needs to do to
become one. You know& what classes to take and stuff. He
had to work extra hard not to slur his words, especially as
the goofy smile curved the corners of his lips. They re even
helping him get a summer internship so he can get a leg up.
Okay, Valerie murmured, drawing the word out.
Kiernan could practically hear the concern in her voice.
Well, I can t help if you won t tell me what s up.
I know, sweetheart. I He heaved a sigh. His head
began to swim, so he forced his eyes open and focused on
the floor. He s& he s got some serious family issues.
They re& they re dangerous, he admitted. I don t know
how to explain it without sounding like an insensitive
bastard.
Fucking hell, is that what I am? An insensitive bastard because
I won t accept his differences? Am I just as bigoted as the scientists
that want him caught?
Let me ask you this, Valerie said softly, interrupting his
thoughts. If Demitri was going to die next week, would it
matter about this& whatever these family issues are that you
seem to have a problem with? Or would you still want to
spend every waking moment with him?
I I wish I knew, Kiernan whispered. But he did know.
Now if he could just figure out how to fix what his
insensitive reaction must have surely broken.
89
Charlie Richards
Chapter Ten
emitri carefully spiked his hair, then applied a hint of
D
blush, eye shadow, and lip-gloss. He never wore a lot,
just a dusting, but just putting it on made him feel more like
himself. After the failed kidnapping attempt and his mate s
rejection, Demitri had missed two days of work. He hadn t
wanted to see if Kiernan would stop coming to see him at
lunch.
Returning to work yesterday had been tough, and he d
almost cried when every minute passed one o clock made it
more and more painfully clear that Kiernan wasn t coming.
Sighing, Demitri left the bathroom and headed toward the
front. He was almost to the door, Frankie s spare house key
in hand, when Vince appeared. You need a ride? the
vampire asked.
Um, no, that s okay. It s only a thirty-minute walk. I
don t mind, he said, giving his friend s mate a smile.
Vince grinned. Okay, let me rephrase that. Let me get my
keys and I ll drive you, he said. Demitri couldn t hide his
confused look, and Vince patted him on the shoulder.
Sorry. Declan doesn t want you alone on the street until
your mother and her buddy are found, he explained.
Oh, he mumbled. Okay.
Yesterday, he d just thought Frankie was being nice by
driving him to and from work. His buddy was always nice,
90
Freeing Demitri s Wolf
supportive, helpful, a good wolf shifter. He couldn t ask for
a better friend. Now, Demitri knew there was an alternate
reason, although he probably would have done it even
without their alpha s orders.
Seconds later, Vince reappeared and led the way out the
door. Off we go then, the vampire said. Once they d
settled in Vince s SUV, he glanced at him and asked, How
are you holding up?
Demitri shrugged. Okay, I guess. I try not to think about
it, he admitted.
If he doesn t come around, you know we ll help coerce
him, right? Vince grinned, showing off his fangs, and
winked. That s what friends are for.
Rolling his eyes, Demitri shook his head. I don t actually
want him coerced.
Vince nodded, his voice more subdued. I know. He
pulled into the restaurant parking lot and stopped near the
door. What time do you get off?
Nine tonight, he said. At least he didn t have a lunch
shift again and wouldn t be watching for Kiernan every
second. He d only come in for dinner that one time. At least,
as far as Demitri knew.
Vince nodded. See you then.
Demitri headed inside and greeted Jessica at the hostess
stand. Hey, Demitri, she said, smiling. You re looking so
much better. Glad you stayed home and didn t spread it
around. So was that one of your boyfriends? I m counting
three in the past week. I bet you had hotties waiting on you
hand and foot, she teased, winking.
Trying not to blush, Demitri mumbled, No, he s just a
friend, and hurried past. Jessica s soft, musical laughter
followed him as he hurried down the hall to the employee
area. Demitri knew Jessica was acting floor manager and
didn t usually hang out up front. But since she did know
91
Charlie Richards
every position of the restaurant, if someone called in, she d
help pick up the slack. He absently wondered who was out.
He grabbed his apron off the hook, hung up his jacket
it d be chilly later and clipped his nametag to his shirt.
After taking a fortifying breath, Demitri pasted a smile on
his face and got to work.
Wiping down the surface of a table, Demitri glanced at
the clock, fifteen minutes to closing. That was good. He was
ready to be done. Maybe he could talk Frankie and his
brother into taking him for a run. That d be nice, feeling the
earth beneath his paws. He normally had tracking lessons
with Nick on Sundays, but he d been too depressed to go. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
his name.
There wasn t shit on TV and it was really beginning to
piss him off. When his phone rang, he set his tumbler down
on an end table and grabbed his phone. He hated how much
disappointment he felt when he saw that it was Valerie, not
Demitri.
Hey, sweetheart, he said, forcing joviality into his voice
that he didn t feel.
His daughter wasn t fooled. Dad? What s wrong?
God, everything, he muttered before he could get his
inebriated brain to control his tongue.
Dad?
Sorry, sweetheart. Just& had a fight with Demitri.
Okay, so that was a lie, but whatever. It wasn t like he could
tell her the truth. He d given his word.
Oh, Dad. I m sorry. I know how much you really liked
him. What happened? Valerie pressed. What was it
about?
Oh, God, he muttered. What the hell could he tell her?
Did the age thing turn out to be a problem? she asked.
No, he scoffed. Like you pointed out. Mentally he s
way older than his age. He already knows what he wants to
be when he grows up. Rolling his eyes, he dropped his
88
Freeing Demitri s Wolf
head against the back cushion of the sofa. I hadn t figured
that out until I was twenty-three.
So, what? You don t agree with his choice of career?
Valerie pressed.
Huffing, Kiernan let his eyelids slide shut. No. He wants
to be a park ranger. He has some park ranger buddies, and
they re helping him figure out what he needs to do to
become one. You know& what classes to take and stuff. He
had to work extra hard not to slur his words, especially as
the goofy smile curved the corners of his lips. They re even
helping him get a summer internship so he can get a leg up.
Okay, Valerie murmured, drawing the word out.
Kiernan could practically hear the concern in her voice.
Well, I can t help if you won t tell me what s up.
I know, sweetheart. I He heaved a sigh. His head
began to swim, so he forced his eyes open and focused on
the floor. He s& he s got some serious family issues.
They re& they re dangerous, he admitted. I don t know
how to explain it without sounding like an insensitive
bastard.
Fucking hell, is that what I am? An insensitive bastard because
I won t accept his differences? Am I just as bigoted as the scientists
that want him caught?
Let me ask you this, Valerie said softly, interrupting his
thoughts. If Demitri was going to die next week, would it
matter about this& whatever these family issues are that you
seem to have a problem with? Or would you still want to
spend every waking moment with him?
I I wish I knew, Kiernan whispered. But he did know.
Now if he could just figure out how to fix what his
insensitive reaction must have surely broken.
89
Charlie Richards
Chapter Ten
emitri carefully spiked his hair, then applied a hint of
D
blush, eye shadow, and lip-gloss. He never wore a lot,
just a dusting, but just putting it on made him feel more like
himself. After the failed kidnapping attempt and his mate s
rejection, Demitri had missed two days of work. He hadn t
wanted to see if Kiernan would stop coming to see him at
lunch.
Returning to work yesterday had been tough, and he d
almost cried when every minute passed one o clock made it
more and more painfully clear that Kiernan wasn t coming.
Sighing, Demitri left the bathroom and headed toward the
front. He was almost to the door, Frankie s spare house key
in hand, when Vince appeared. You need a ride? the
vampire asked.
Um, no, that s okay. It s only a thirty-minute walk. I
don t mind, he said, giving his friend s mate a smile.
Vince grinned. Okay, let me rephrase that. Let me get my
keys and I ll drive you, he said. Demitri couldn t hide his
confused look, and Vince patted him on the shoulder.
Sorry. Declan doesn t want you alone on the street until
your mother and her buddy are found, he explained.
Oh, he mumbled. Okay.
Yesterday, he d just thought Frankie was being nice by
driving him to and from work. His buddy was always nice,
90
Freeing Demitri s Wolf
supportive, helpful, a good wolf shifter. He couldn t ask for
a better friend. Now, Demitri knew there was an alternate
reason, although he probably would have done it even
without their alpha s orders.
Seconds later, Vince reappeared and led the way out the
door. Off we go then, the vampire said. Once they d
settled in Vince s SUV, he glanced at him and asked, How
are you holding up?
Demitri shrugged. Okay, I guess. I try not to think about
it, he admitted.
If he doesn t come around, you know we ll help coerce
him, right? Vince grinned, showing off his fangs, and
winked. That s what friends are for.
Rolling his eyes, Demitri shook his head. I don t actually
want him coerced.
Vince nodded, his voice more subdued. I know. He
pulled into the restaurant parking lot and stopped near the
door. What time do you get off?
Nine tonight, he said. At least he didn t have a lunch
shift again and wouldn t be watching for Kiernan every
second. He d only come in for dinner that one time. At least,
as far as Demitri knew.
Vince nodded. See you then.
Demitri headed inside and greeted Jessica at the hostess
stand. Hey, Demitri, she said, smiling. You re looking so
much better. Glad you stayed home and didn t spread it
around. So was that one of your boyfriends? I m counting
three in the past week. I bet you had hotties waiting on you
hand and foot, she teased, winking.
Trying not to blush, Demitri mumbled, No, he s just a
friend, and hurried past. Jessica s soft, musical laughter
followed him as he hurried down the hall to the employee
area. Demitri knew Jessica was acting floor manager and
didn t usually hang out up front. But since she did know
91
Charlie Richards
every position of the restaurant, if someone called in, she d
help pick up the slack. He absently wondered who was out.
He grabbed his apron off the hook, hung up his jacket
it d be chilly later and clipped his nametag to his shirt.
After taking a fortifying breath, Demitri pasted a smile on
his face and got to work.
Wiping down the surface of a table, Demitri glanced at
the clock, fifteen minutes to closing. That was good. He was
ready to be done. Maybe he could talk Frankie and his
brother into taking him for a run. That d be nice, feeling the
earth beneath his paws. He normally had tracking lessons
with Nick on Sundays, but he d been too depressed to go. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]