Page 50 of Wolf Cursed
“You’re late for work, Dev.” Kai’s expression was tight. It gave away nothing. Although, the rage rolling off him was unmistakable.
“Relax, dude. I’m just—”
“You only have one more strike with Joey before you’re fired,” Kai said. “I suggest you get the hell over there.”
“Such a fucking buzzkill, man.” Devon sauntered for the door. His friends followed. “Poker at Bo’s tonight,” he added over his shoulder.
“See you there,” Kai said flatly.
He didn’t move until Devon and his friends had gotten on their bikes and rode off. Even then, he returned to the garage without so much as a glance at me.
“Thanks,” I said sarcastically into the silence when he was gone.
An hour later, Idrissa texted again, asking about dinner plans. I held off, unsure about how much I could trust her. Between Kai and Vorack, there was no way she wouldn’t notice something was up. And I just wasn’t used to sharing my secrets with people. Besides, she and Isaac had kept a lot from me too.
Trust was hard-earned and easily lost, in my experience.
Still, getting out of here for a few hours sounded way too tempting. And Oscar had made it clear the only way I could do that was with the twins as my babysitters.
Unless I left town, of course. And maybe that was the smartest move, given what I knew about this town. Better the danger I didn’t know than the threat I did.
It wasn’t until closing time that I remembered Kai’s little declaration from last night. Suddenly, Vorack was forgotten, and I found myself marching over to where Oscar stood cleaning up his tools.
“Is it true?” I asked.
“Is what true?”
“I can’t leave town because of what I know?”
He shot a glance toward where Kai was cleaning up at the other end of the garage, too busy to notice us. I rolled my eyes. Oscar was on his own for this one.
“It’s what’s best,” Oscar said, looking back down at his tools. “For now.”
“What’s bestfor you,” I said. He started to respond, and I cut him off. “Who do I talk to about this?”
“What?”
“Who do I talk to? Who’s in charge of your pack or whatever? The alpha, I guess.”
He frowned. “No alpha. Just… talk to Kai.”
“Kai’s in charge of the pack?”
His words from last night returned. About how the wolves had been waiting on him and Oscar to show up.
“Not exactly. But—”
“Then, I’ll pass.”
He shut his toolbox and shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’m going to finish up some paperwork, and then I’ll head upstairs and give you a hand with dinner.”
I scowled as he walked off.
Across the garage, Kai looked over briefly then headed for the exit. I watched him go, my heart hammering in my chest. Was I being a chickenshit about facing him after that blazing kiss last night? Yes. Was I going to stubbornly outlast him in this game of silent treatment we were both apparently playing? Also, yes.
Maybe I could get Idrissa to spill some things to me now that I knew about the wolves. I dialed her but got her voice mail. Same with Isaac. Dammit.
I blew out a breath and flicked off the lights. With nothing else left to do, I headed for the apartment, finally admitting my defeat, if only silently.
