Page 59 of Bad Blood Wolf

She sounded so happy now. Brody’s face cleared, and he smiled at her, though there was deep sadness in his eyes. “Hey, Ma. Merry Christmas.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

“My goodness!” she said, a shade of confusion passing over her face again. “It can’t be Christmas Day already!”

“Nah, but it’s almost Christmas Eve. I brought you some treats, and we’re going to celebrate. And I brought a present.”

Her hands went to her mouth. “Oh, Brody, you shouldn’t have spent your money on me.”

Jasmin felt tears sting her eyes. This was why Brody had needed so much money, why he fought so often. Not just the drugs, but the rent on this place, food, salary for Yolanda. For some reason, he didn’t want anyone to be able to trace any of that back to him.

But why?

Jasmin knew she shouldn’t be watching this. She should just knock on the door, but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to. It seemed like such a private moment, seeing Brody with his mom. And yet she drank it in, being able to watch him like this, to see a side of him no one else saw.

Yolanda brought in a plate of pastries and little cookies, and Brody served them to his mother while he entertained her with stories about his friends in the Nashville pack, most of which Jasmin was sure were made up.

But they made Adele happy.

Afterwards, she opened her gift, her fingers lingering on the lacy gold ribbon, the pretty wrapping, the elegant tissue paper in the box. The present was a gorgeous silk scarf, all printed with peacock feathers. Brody wrapped it around his mother’s neck and found a mirror so she could admire herself in it. Then he stood behind her and brushed her hair, singing softly along with the Christmas songs while she just closed her eyes and smiled.

Jasmin’s heart broke all over again.

After a while, his mother opened her eyes and touched her scarf. “So pretty,” she said. “But why did you bring me a present? It’s not my birthday.”

“It’s Christmas, Ma,” Brody said, just as if he hadn’t already said it.

“My goodness!” she said. “It can’t be Christmas Day already!”

“No, Ma,” Brody said. “But it’s almost Christmas Eve.”

Jasmin melted into the darkness, tears stinging her eyes.

Brody shut the door of the trailer and leaned against it, closing his eyes and letting out a great sigh. He knew it made his mother happy when he was here—at least, it did when she recognized him.

But seeing her like this just made him depressed.

The old medicine would bring back her memories for a short time, but she always slipped away into her own mind before long.

This new stuff was supposed to repair the damage. If it did, there was a chance he could find out who exactly was after his mother—and how to get her out of their sights for good.

But as long as she was in danger from someone unknown, he had to keep her here. And there had to be no link back to him—no link to anyone either of them had ever known. And now, with Bastian and his cronies having seen Monster Wolf, he couldn’t go back to the Nashville pack.

What he really should do was disappear, and take Adele with him. But without access to the drugs… Shit. Every way he turned, it all fell apart.

After a few minutes he hauled himself upright and started down the porch steps. It was almost fucking Christmas Eve, and he didn’t know where to go.

Or what to do tomorrow, or the next day. He wanted to be with Jasmin so badly, it was a constant ache in his chest. The thought of spending Christmas without her made him want to drink himself into oblivion.

So when he saw her sitting cross-legged on the hood of his car, he thought for a minute he was hallucinating.

Shock warred with hope in his heart. She’d come after him. Again.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Waiting for you.”

“How did you find me?” He glanced around. This place was supposed to be a secret from everyone. If she could find it…