Page 19 of Colton’s Mate

Rohene stared at Callie with those damn pools of hell she called eyes until the hair started to stand up on the back of Callie’s neck. “So you are saying you will not return his belongings to his family?”

Callie said, “I think there’s a couple of random boxes in the shed. Stuff I didn’t burn. You can have those if you want.”

Rohene had gone still, and her voice was like an arctic wind. “You have burned things that did not belong to you?”

Callie wasn’t even going there with her. “Do you want what’s left or not?”

The crow woman gave a jerky nod. Her lips remained in a thin line as she accompanied Callie to the shed in the corner of the yard. Callie unlocked the door and indicated two cardboard boxes stacked among the lawn maintenance equipment. “There they are.”

Rohene looked at her, eyebrows raised, and waited for Callie to pick them up and carry them for her. Callie looked blandly back at her. “Go ahead, grab ‘em,” she said cheerfully. “They’re all yours.”

Cruella de Crow snapped her fingers, and her bodyguard in turn gestured to one of the minions from the car. He came and got the boxes, and stowed them in the car.

“Well, this has been fun,” Callie said. “Sorry you have to go. You should stop in for tea someday.”

Rohene ignored her, heading for the car. Somehow, she managed to walk over the uneven ground in the dark in stiletto heels without stumbling or wobbling.

It was an interesting superpower, but not one Callie really aspired to.

Before the chief minion handed her back into the limo, Rohene turned back and impaled Callie with the hell gaze.

“I wish to tell you that if there is anything of value you have held back, we will know. And we will take steps to have our property restored to us.”

Well, there was the money Caleb had stashed away. Lots and lots of money. But that was Callie’s, seeing as he’d left it in her bank account.

Callie said, “Hope you have a good lawyer.”

“I do not settle my difficulties with lawyers.”

“I’m sure you don’t.” Callie held her hand up as if to wave, her two-inch lynx claws manifesting, and smiled her best feral smile. “Make sure you don’t let anyone catch you on the ground, though. There are a lot of stray kitties around here, and they love to pounce on birdies and tear their wings off. It’s a character flaw.”

Rohene gazed at her another long moment, and then got in the car. The minions got in too, and the limo rolled off.

Callie watched it until the lights disappeared, and then went back in the house, checked all the locks, and made herself a pitcher of margaritas.

That crow was scary as fuck. And whatever she was looking for, Callie hoped she’d convinced Rohene she didn’t have it.

Chapter 8

Callie was in the middle of another Friday night rush at the Silver Armadillo Bar & Grill when the Wild Blood Crew walked in.

Brandon and Kitty headed for the bar, Jason behind them. No sign of Colt and Remy.

Callie couldn’t help a little jolt of disappointment. Which was silly—she could see Colt whenever she wanted. All she had to do was go over to the Wild Blood territory.

But she’d kind of hoped he’d come in sometime this week. She felt bad about the way she’d talked to him the other day, at the construction site. He’d just been trying to help.

But it was Friday night and he probably had a date—and considering what happened the last time he brought one here, she guessed she didn’t blame him for going somewhere else.

“Hey!” Kitty said when she saw Callie, her smile lighting up her face. She gave Callie a hug. “You’re here!”

Jason’s face did not light up. He gave Callie a reproachful look, muttered, “I’m going to go play pool,” and walked away.

Okay then. Not friends.

Callie said to Kitty, “Of course I’m here. I work here.” She spread her arms to show Kitty her Silver Armadillo Bar & Grill uniform: denim short-shorts—which she’d made even shorter and sexier because no one could tell her she couldn’t—topped off by a cute armadillo t-shirt and dorky apron.

Kitty looked at her, assessing. “Shorts: A+. Shirt: totes adorable. Apron: fashion fail.”