Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
She made me vulnerable in so many ways. I’m wracked by the fear of losing her, of her being harmed by my enemies. But most of all, I’m just vulnerable to receiving her love.
If her love declarations during sex are real. I notice she hasn’t said she loves me except when in the throes of an orgasm.
I need to know that what she feels is real because if it is–nothing will ever be the same.
Madi
Brick rolls us onto our sides, his arms tightly wrapped around me, our bodies still connected intimately.
“Thank you,” he breathes against my neck.
“I love you,” I repeat.
Brick relaxes.
It’s true. All this time, I was holding back, trying to defend myself against love. I was afraid of getting hurt by Brick. Except newsflash–he’s already hurt me. He probably will again. That is the nature of loving someone. It isn’t always butterflies and sex on a beach.
It’s time to admit I’m all-in with Brick.
But we can’t go on as we are. I’m not going to stay Brick’s dirty little secret. So he’ll need to figure that out if he wants to keep me. But that conversation can wait until later. Right now, I have questions.
“Were those wolves from the Adalwulf pack?”
“Yes.” Brick holds me closer, as if one of them might barge in and snatch me away right now.
“Why did they have demon eyes?”
Brick growls. “Witchery. My father discovered that Odin drugs his enforcers to make them big, vicious, and stupid. The side effects are the red eyes.”
“Oh. Crazy.”
He eases back, so he can see my face. “Tell me what happened. They came to the island?”
“Yes.” I gasp and sit up. “Your mom! They nearly killed her. She fought to protect me.”
Brick stiffens. “My mom was there?”
“Yes.” I hold his gaze. “I sent for her. I needed to understand your world.”
He stabs his fingers through his hair. “That explains how they found you.”
“It wasn’t because she told them. She defended me. Brick–they were going to cut off her head with a machete!”
Some of the color drains from Brick’s face. “What?”
“That’s what I’m telling you. She was going to die to protect me. Ariadne showed us to the safe room, but your mom stayed out to fight. The only reason they got to me is because I opened the door–against her wishes–to keep them from killing her.”
Brick’s chest dips, like that news hit like a blow. “You’re sure she’s alive?”
I blink. God, I hope so. “They left her when I came out. She was badly hurt but still breathing.”
Brick rolls out of the bed. I rise, still hobbling, but my ankle feels like I only wrenched it. The pain isn’t as bad as it would be if it were sprained. Brick yanks the bedspread off and wraps it around me. He opens the door and pads out, naked. “What’s happening?” he demands.
“We have Sully on a video conference. We found clothes for both of you.” Jake offers him a pile of neatly folded clothing.
Brick ignores the clothing, so I stay at his side in my bedspread cloak. We find the kitchen where Billy, Jake and Vance huddle around a laptop, speaking to Sully on a bulky black laptop. “My mom was on the island.” He approaches the screen, and everyone falls away.
Sully bows his head. “Yes, Alpha. She’s with a shifter healer in Corfu. Forteen broken bones in her body, including four ribs.”
I cringe into Brick’s side. Jake cusses softly. That could be fatal for a human, and even with shifter healing speeding, it sounds painful.
Tears spear my eyes. “Will she be okay?”
“Yes,” Sully answers. “But it may take a few weeks for her to fully recover.”
“What happened?” Brick growls.
“The island is now on lockdown, secure. But we were hit hard. They blocked all internet and satellite signals before their attack. They somehow got a hold of our “all clear” code, and sent it a few minutes late. That alerted us that something was wrong, but by then, it was too late.”
“And the rest of the pack?”
“No reports of attack anywhere else, only the island or your location. But there, Odin didn’t hold anything back.” He bows his head lower. “I failed you, Alpha. I swore on my life I’d keep your holdings safe, and now it is forfeit.” He angles his head, showing his throat.
I hold my breath. Brick wouldn’t punish Sully for this, would he?
Brick glares at the screen, his fists clench. Everyone else is frozen for a long moment, waiting for him to speak.
“No.” Brick’s shoulders slump. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Billy cuts in quickly, “No one could’ve guessed that Odin would’ve–”
“The fault was mine. I never should’ve left my mate.”
The wolves in the room jolt as if electrocuted. They stare at Brick.
Brick’s head is bowed. His powerful body is naked but beaten-down, like a warrior who lost a battle.