Oh my God. He’d probably seen the video clip. Maybe not him because he didn’t watch music videos, but maybe someone at the station had. He’d seen how successful I was, how people were responding. That was how he’d found me. He’d been putting me down for years, and now he wanted in on it? He wanted the money. The fucking money.
“You said I wasn’t good enough yet. I guess you were wrong about me.”
He stepped, so he was right in front of me. I didn’t back down but tipped my chin back, so I could meet his gaze. He wasn’t anywhere near the size of Boone. In fact, he looked downright scrawny in comparison. But he was still a few inches taller than me, and I knew how nasty he was.
“You’re going to get your whore ass in the car, and we’re getting the hell out of this podunk town.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I was proud that my voice didn’t quaver.
“You are,” he snapped.
I ducked and weaved to get around him, but he grabbed my hair and tugged me back.
I cried out at the pain in my scalp, whirling to shove him.
Then he backhanded me, the sound echoing off the walls of the small room. I put my hand to my cheek. His wedding ring had cut my cheek, and I dabbed at the trickling blood. When I turned my head back to look him in the eye, I saw the gun.
It was his service pistol. He wasn’t on duty. He wasn’t even in the same state as where he was a police officer.
“Let’s go, Summer,” he snapped. In all the time we’d been married, I’d never seen him like this before. “I’ve had enough of you acting out. Make a scene, and I’ll shoot someone. It’ll be your fault.”
I was reeling from his presence. From what he had planned. From the strike. My brain ran through quick calculations. I knew from Boone’s story that Cody could take a bullet and survive, but I didn’t know how many patrons out there were shifters. Maybe none. If he shot them or me, we’d die.
Even if Cody could hear me scream over the music, I couldn’t risk signaling for help. Not with Marty in this kind of mood with his weapon drawn.
He grabbed my wrist and threw open the storeroom door, tugged me down the hall to the back emergency exit. I slapped my hand on the wall to keep from falling before we went out into the back of the parking lot. And a snowstorm.
25
BOONE
* * *
I had fun with Ace and Roy and the guys from Wolf Ranch. I hadn’t been on a snowmobile in years. But I could only go so long with hanging with them before I told them I had to get to my mate.
Fortunately, they didn’t say anything other than giving me a wave or a slap on the back before I headed down the mountain.
I’d thought since I’d claimed Summer that my need for her would lessen. That now that she carried my mark, my scent embedded in her, my dick wouldn’t guide my every action. I’d be sane.
I was so fucking wrong. My dick wanted me to get to Summer now. To grab her hand and lead her back into the storeroom and fuck her. Last time, I’d only eaten her pussy in that small space. This time, I’d bend her over and take her from behind and–
“Fuck,” I groaned and drove faster. Or at least as fast as I could go with the snow falling the way it was.
I was thankful that she’d agreed to have Cody pick her up from her little apartment at Rand and Natalie’s on his way into the bar instead of her driving in this. I needed to get her that better car. A raised SUV with a shit ton of weight. Four-wheel drive. All the safety bells and whistles.
Until then, I’d happily be her chauffeur.
When I entered Cody’s, I went to the bar and greeted my friend. Glanced around. “Busy night.” I unzipped my coat and looked for Summer.
“Sure is.” Cody reached across the bar to shake my hand. “Happy for you.”
He knew I’d claimed Summer. Any shifter wouldn’t be able to miss it.
“Thanks.” I scanned the room. “Where’s Summer?”
He grabbed two empty glasses. “She was getting some rags for me from the storeroom.”
The storeroom. Fuck, yes. My dick got hard just thinking about taking her in there as I wanted.
