Page 20 of Pretty Little Kitty

“We can have Luca take a look at it,” Miguel suggested to Suero. “He’s a damn good mechanic. He’ll even tow it at no cost.”

“Free?” Jared snapped his head around, his eyes lighting up with a sudden spark of enthusiasm as he grinned broadly at Miguel. “Now you’re singing my tune.”

The tune playing in Jared’s head probably had a circus theme to it.

Miguel turned slightly, angling his body so the scarred side of his face was hidden from Jared’s view. “I’ll make the call. You two hop in the truck.”

A year ago Miguel had laid down his motorcycle, leaving one side of his body scarred by road rash. Suero didn’t think it looked too severe, but he wasn’t the one bearing them.

“With the hyena?” Jared looked at the pickup Cesar had driven closer, the sun glinting off the polished surface.

“He’s in the truck bed.” Miguel started walking. “Let’s get moving.”

Jared quickly followed, glancing around nervously as though an army of hyenas would charge from the woods.

Kia looked up at Suero. “I’m sorry I made such a mess of today. If I hadn’t shown up, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Jared’s car and those hyenas aren’t your fault, gatito. Hurry before Miguel leaves without you. I’ll follow closely behind.”

He needed to figure out how to help Kia get out of the mess with his uncle. If it was in Suero’s powers, he would’ve snuck Kia and Jared at least to the outskirts of their town. He wasn’t trying to get either man in trouble, but as of right now, his hands were tied.

Chapter Six

Kia didn’t really know what to expect heading into a den of wolves. Jared looked just as freaked out as they both sat in the back seat of the pickup truck, heading in the opposite direction from where they needed to go.

As they drove through Blackthorn, Kia couldn’t even bring himself to look out the window. Instead, he ran countless scenarios in his mind of how his uncle might react to his reckless actions. None of them good.

Xavier was a pretty nice guy who cared deeply for both Kia and Jared, when he wasn’t tightening the leash. But Kia had never done something—he cut off the thought, knowing he had just done something dangerous not too long ago.

Like his harebrained plan of infiltrating a hyena pack, claiming he hated his coalition and wanted nothing to do with them. Those words had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and it didn’t take long after his foolish decision to realize he’d been in way over his head.

Kia lifted his gaze as they slowed, his attention drawn to a gleaming row of motorcycles in perfect formation in front of a brick building. On the side of the structure, near the top, was a bold, black-and-white sign that read “Sin & Steel” in elegant script.

His nerves began to fray. At least on the ride there, Miguel had played some country music at a soothing volume while he talked with Cesar in Spanish. Kia had tried to catch snippets of their conversation, but they’d spoken in such hushed and swift tones that he’d eventually given up.

They pulled into the parking lot beside the building, and even with the windows rolled up, the pulsating beat of the music inside the tavern spilled out through the open doorway.

As they circled around to the rear of the building, Jared shot him a glance, eyebrows raised slightly, silently mouthing, “We’re going to die.”

“If that’s their intention, wouldn’t they have done it back on that deserted road?” Kia whispered back, trying to be the voice of reason.

“Think about it!” Jared glanced toward the front seats before lowering his voice. “They whisked us away, and soon my car will be towed. The wolves have basically hit the delete button on us. Now is the perfect time to bump us off. Who else knows where we are except them? Evidence? Gone.” Jared made a small explosion sound with his mouth, adding an exaggerated flick of his fingers.

Kia gaped at him. “I’m already on edge. Could you not make it worse?” he hissed under his breath.

Just because Suero had claimed Kia in front of the pack members didn’t mean they would roll out the welcome mat for two cheetah shifters.

Wolves weren’t exactly known for their hospitality and afternoon tea parties.

Miguel stopped the truck and shifted it into Park before turning off the engine. Despite the bright sunlight, the rear of the building was shrouded in shadows.

Miguel and Cesar sat in silence, their conversation abruptly ending.

Jared looked over at Kia, his eyes slightly too wide. “Told you,” he whispered.

In the stillness, Kia could hear his cousin’s shallow breathing as if amplified by a megaphone.

Why were they just sitting there? Even though Jared’s conspiracy theory stemmed from fear, Kia began to wonder if there might be some truth to it.

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