Page 48 of Cursed Touch
Joel chuckled. “We are superior,” he teased.
All teasing vanished as Carter took in the boutique. Nearly every display was damaged, and items he had seen only days ago were gone.
“Did she say how much was taken?” Carter asked, jamming his hands into his pockets.
“Nah, but we helped her remove what was left. I’ve been cleaning up ever since,” he said, nodding toward the full trash bags in the corner.
“Thanks, I really appreciate your help on this.” He ran a hand over his jaw. “You didn’t happen to catch anything since the cops don’t seem to have much faith in finding the culprit, did you?”
“Whoever is behind this is human.”
“Did she call her insurance?”
Joel nodded. “Yeah, she was on the phone for a bit with them before Peter got her out of here. He was pretty riled up with the state of things in here, so I told him I’d help clean up so she didn’t have to. You’ve got a nice mate,” he muttered, his words barely above a whisper.
“Have you found—” Carter said before thinking it was probably better not to ask about the man’s mate.
“Have I found what? My mate?”
Carter raised a hand. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
Joel shook his head. “It’s all right. No, I haven’t met mine. A lot of us never do.”
Carters brows pinched in confusion. “But if you don’t… Doesn’t that mean…” He tried to wrap his mind around the possibility.
Joel shrugged. “Yeah, no sex… It will also shorten my lifespan if I don’t meet my mate.”
Not wanting to bring the man any more pain, Carter nodded toward a glassless display. “Help me carry this out to the back?”
With Joel’s help, they cleared out the broken items, then he made a few calls—including Serena, who pointed him to a wholesale supplier he could order from over the phone. New reinforced doors were put in. He took a risk and picked new display cases, but he wanted to take care of her. She did not need to worry about her store on top of the fact some demon or other thing was looking for her. It took a bit of a miracle, but her new things would arrive by the next day. After some finagling with the alarm company he used, he was also able to set up the install for the following day.
He hoped she did not fight him, because he could not help the urge to keep her safe and make things better.
Joel nodded slowly. “I’m impressed. I’ll get some of the guys here in the morning, and we’ll help move the new stuff in.”
Carter grinned, proud of himself for the feat. “Thanks, man. Honestly, thanks for everything. I could not have cleaned this out by myself, and you had most of it done. I’m willing to pay you guys for the—”
Joel raised a hand, and his face no longer held the easy-going expression from before. “Don’t insult us. This is the right thing to do, and we like helping. Plus, we both know you’d have called in reinforcements.”
He chuckled at the thought of all his brothers swinging in to help. “Thanks, man.” Carter twisted his wrist and stared at the time with wide eyes. “Well, shit, I think it’s time we get going.”
Chapter 23
Vanessa rolled her neck before pushing to her feet and stretching. She had been sitting for hours, crafting new items to replace the ones some scumbag had taken. Normally she found the process relaxing and liberating, but not today.
She turned toward the large man taking up most of Carter’s couch. “Why again are you babysitting me?” she asked and moved to the fridge.
“I’m not getting paid, so I’m definitely not a babysitter,” Peter called without bothering to look at her.
“Whatever… Look, I’m fine here. Carter told me how to use the alarm, and only his family and your pack know I’m here,” she told him as she poured a glass of water.
“My pack doesn’t know. Only a few of us do. Now will you shush? I need to hear this,” he said, leaning toward the TV.
She laughed. “I never would have guessed you liked soap operas.”
Peter shushed her and focused on the man and woman arguing on the screen.
Vanessa carried her glass to the table and tucked one leg under her bottom as she sat. She checked her phone for any messages first but found none. There was nothing from Carter, and she mentally chided herself for being disappointed.
