I hear his muffled groan, and can't help but smile.
“You sure?” he asks.
“I’m not the one she has a problem with, Kai,” I reply, running my finger over Ghost’s head and down her back, her tail wrapping around my wrist.
Kai curses and I hear him shuffling around. “Fine, call Ash,” he says, using her preferred name.
“Thanks for your permission,” I respond sarcastically.
“Ha ha ha . . . Look, it’s not my fault–”
“That you can’t keep it in your pants?” I laugh, cutting him off.
Kai growls, “We were casual, and when I found out what she was . . . ” he trails off.
Ashwiyaa is a skin-walker. Her people call them dark witches. Skin-walkers have the ability toshapeshift, disguising themselves as any animal. They’re extremely rare, and Ash, she is exceptionally powerful. It’s a little unnerving, to be honest. Kai completely freaked when he found out the woman he’d been hooking up with when she was in town was a skin-walker, let alone one who’s also an assassin, working for the Kotov mafia family, who runs the west coast. That last detail isn’t common knowledge, but I did some digging when she first showed up in town. I don’t blame Kai for how he acted, but he definitely could have dealt with the situation better.
“It’s alright, Kai. You know I understand. I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Sure, fine,” he mutters.
I feel bad, but I need someone who can go by unnoticed, someone who can be a ghost, and keep tabs on Reaper. If he’s plotting some sort of payback, I need to know. Especially if it has anything to do with Logan. And Ash . . . She’s the best.
We chat a bit more and hang up. I know I need to get some rest, but first I need to contact Ash. Sighing, I type out a quick text.
Salena: Ash.
Salena: Need a favor.
The text bubbles appear instantly, and I don’t have to wait long.
Ash: 8 p.m. Old Mill.
Well, at least she replied.
I have eight hours before I have to open the bar, so I shower and try to take a nap. Too wired to sleep, I grab my phone and keys, and head to the café down on Main Street. Rose is working today. It’ll be nice to see her and apologize face to face for how I acted the other day. I owe my pack an explanation.
“Here, drink this. It’ll help you wake up,” Rose says, passing me a coffee cup.
I smile over the rim, and take a deep inhale of the sweet sugar caramel scented coffee. I love coffee. I love the way it smells. The way it tastes.I can surround myself with the earthy sweetness all day.
“Thanks,” I reply, taking another sip.
I take my cup over to a seat by the window and peer out, watching everyone going about their afternoon. Boulder isn’t huge, but it isn’t small either. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I love the mountains. It doesn’t matter which way you drive out of town, either way you’ll be in the mountains within a few minutes.
Rose plonks down in the chair opposite me, her warm brown eyes taking me in. Rose is a natural beauty with soft brown skin and caramel colored hair that she keeps shoulder length. She always says it looks better short, because it suits the beanies she loves wearing during winter. I have to agree; she is super cute in her beanies. Some people collect books, others crystals or even shoes. But Rose, she collects Beanies.
Rose leans on the table, her voice dropping to a whisper. “So, what’s the plan for Reaper?”
I take another sip of my coffee and put it on the table, my hands cupping the warm cup. “I don’t know yet.”
“You know we have your back, right?”
“I know. Thanks,” I say, taking another sip of my coffee, my nerves rattling around in my chest. My leg is bouncing under the table. My vision trembles, and I blink, trying to dispel the odd feeling.
Rose squints at me. “Are you okay?”
I groan and tap my fingers on the table. “Yeah, just on edge. I’m meeting with Ashwiyaa tonight.”
