Page 80 of Savoring Her Snake

“He missed his brothers,” I state.

“He gets why we stayed with our other brother.”

I can feel Hunter’s stare but don’t meet his eyes. I roll my shoulders, fighting my emotions.

“I have to admit, this doesn’t feel right.” It’s more than leaving Juliana. I know she has an army in town and at the house.

“We know they are at the hotel. They checked in last night,” Hunter says.

“They’ve asked about you,” Bane says.

“I realize that,” I hiss. “Fuck, I don’t know.” I have a nagging feeling in my stomach that I got this all wrong.

“In ten minutes, we’ll see,” Hunter muses.

“Yeah.” The three men rented a room close to the fighting ring. They have been asking anyone they come in contact with about me, pretending to be interested in fighting for me. I may not trust many people, but those who do business with me respect me. They know the men don’t have good intentions. “Why would they talk so freely to strangers? If they are trying to hide their identity, send messages to Juliana, why advertise their location?”

“Maybe they want you to come to them?” Bane offers.

“No.” I shake my head. “It’s not right.” I didn’t stop to think. I have been acting on instinct to protect my mate.

“Call the vampires,” Hunter suggests. Ryker and Bash can travel much faster than we can. They went ahead to scout the area. I decided to drive fast. Anyone that stops us, I can bend to my will. Hitting Ryker’s name on the dash, I wait impatiently for the vampire to answer.

“You almost here?” he answers.

“Five minutes.”

“They are in the room. The music is blaring, and one of them just came back with beer.” Ryker doesn’t sound impressed. “Are we sure they are the masterminds?”

“I don’t know anymore.” I hate not being sure. Every aspect of my life has been carefully navigated through.

“Still want us to wait?”

“Almost there.” I end the call and slow the car as I approach the hotel. Parking across the street from it, I grab my cane, and we get out of the car. Ryker and Bash step out of the shadows.

“They aren’t worried,” Bash states.

“The curtain hasn’t moved. They aren’t acting like men on the run.” Ryker saunters across the street, and I step beside him.

“One of them is human,” I inform them.

“He’s friends with two wolves,” Ryker says, and I nod.

I approach the door, and the music continues. Their senses should have tipped them off to the monsters at their door, but I don’t hear any rushed movement. I roll my eyes and kick in the door.

“What the fuck?”

“You’ve been looking for me.” I step inside, and they freeze. Two men are sitting on the bed, and the third is sitting on the floor. The human is eating a burger, licking his fingers as he leans back against the bed. His eyes widen as his fingers pause halfway to his mouth, and his fear stinks.

“Heath,” the wolf on the bed whispers. He stands slowly, grabbing the knife tucked into his belt and holding it tightly in his fist.

“The cane,” the other wolf mutters. He slides off the side of the bed, his eyes fluttering from my cane to the men blocking the door.

“I had nothing to do with it,” the human denies, standing quickly, holding his hands up, the meat falling out of the bun.

“What did you have nothing to do with?” I ask softly.

“Uh…” He looks at his friends, but they don’t spare him a glance.

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