Page 39 of Ferocity

“Still kick your ass,” she said, slurring her words.

“I’d put money on it.” Timothy laid in front of her, while Edward was beside him, and Dave lay on the other side of Kenny.

“Second it,” Dave said.

She laughed. “You’re all assholes. Let me sleep.”

“As you wish, princess.”

Chapter Nine

“Oh, there you are,” Maisie said, coming into the breakroom. “I've been looking all over for you.”

If she had been, she'd have found Scarlett in her office, still trying to reconcile the books—which, not for nothing, would never be fixed. “I've been in my office all morning.”

It'd been two days since the guys bedded her and each one kept in contact with her either through text message or phone. Kenny and Edward spent their lunch with her while Timothy and Dave had dinner with her at night.

“Oh, right,” Maisie said, trying to smile. “Your office. Anyway, I thought I would let you know, I am taking a small trip. There is a juvenile lion in need of rehabilitation in Indiana. Some jackass used the cat as a sideshow attraction for his used car lot. Pathetic people.”

“Maisie, we don't have the room,” Scarlett said.

“We have forty acres plus.” Her sister motioned to the area surrounding them. “If we can’t house big cats in need, what's the point of being open?”

“Fine, let me rephrase it,” Scarlett said, squaring her shoulders. “Since we have another litter of cubs coming and the budgets have been cut, there isn't enough food or money to care for another lion you won't neuter.”

Rage crackled through Maisie's brown eyes. “What did you say to me?”

“I said, no more, Maisie. No more taking in animals I know you're going to breed and sell.” Scarlett crossed her arms. Her heart hammered and her breath came in soft pants. She trembled from head to toe, nervous about what could happen next, but she'd also been proud of herself for finally standing up to her sister.

“No.” Maisie shook her head. “I didn't ask your opinion, Scarlett.” Her sister snapped off the end of Scarlett's name as though she'd bitten her. “I'm telling you what I am doing. You don't have a say here anymore.” A triumphant smile finally filled Maisie's features. “While I am gone, you will be moved out of this building. You are no longer welcome here.”

Scarlett bit her tongue. No longer welcome there? Since she'd been ten, she hadn't felt welcome there, yet she stayed. She endured and now her sister wanted to lord over her, after everything Scarlett found out, hell no. “Fine.”

Maisie narrowed her eyes. “I thought you'd put up a fight for your precious lions and tigers.”

She snorted. “Then you don't know me at all.” More had rested on the tip of her tongue, but it wasn't worth it. She grabbed her cup of coffee off the counter beside the coffeemaker and headed back to her office. In a way, Maisie's announcement had lifted a weight off of Scarlett's shoulders, but also added it back on times a thousand. If she left like her sister wanted, the animals in their reserve would die, or worse, be sold off to the highest bidder.

“When I get back, you're done here, Scarlett,” her sister screamed.

“Yeah, heard you the first time.” Scarlett continued on her way and when she entered her office, she closed the door behind her, letting out a breath.

“Want to tell me what that was about?” Kenny asked, starling her.

Scarlett jumped spilling some of her coffee onto her hand. “Damn it. I'm going to start tying bells around all of your necks.”

Closing the distance between them, Kenny laughed. “Might be fun and kinky.” He took the cup from her then placed it on her desk. “Want to tell me what happened?”

“I'm sure you heard some of it,” she said, drying her handoff.

“I did, but I want to hear it from you.”

She sighed, dropping into her chair. “It's all bullshit, Kenny. You and I both know it. I should take her up on her offer and walk away.”

“What did she say?”

Scarlett gave him a droll stare. “She's bringing in a juvenile lion and in the same breath is throwing me out when she returns.”

“Good,” he replied. “Then she doesn't suspect a thing.”

---