Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
He finished fastening his clothes, shaking his head again.
“I want to unite them all, not take them out,” he murmured, making sure I was ready before walking us toward the cars. “I’ll tell Kingsley what happened, and he’ll pass it on to the right people. I’m sure someone will check in with this guy or what remains of his pack. Word will spread. Hopefully, today’s actions will be enough to ward off any other attacks until I have a chance to meet with prominent leaders. Obviously people need to see for themselves the power we’ve amassed and what we’re hoping to do.”
“Unite everyone?”
“Yes. I’ll work on the shifters, and you’ll continue to work on the gargoyles.”
“We might need to send Gerard a car.”
“It could help.” He held the door for me and then handed me in.
“How would they have taken the pack, though?” I asked, trying to make sense of the thwarted attack. He started the car and pulled onto the road. “They still would have needed to get through Broken Sue. Then Kace. And all the other people who report to you. The pack wouldn’t just honor that alpha’s claim because he killed you, would they?”
“That alpha was incredibly ignorant.” Austin gripped the wheel, driving too quickly. “He wouldn’t have gotten through Brochan, no. Not a chance. Probably not even Kace, you’re right. Our territory would’ve ripped them apart if they’d tried to take it. They assumed we were soft because we didn’t kill them for trespassing sooner.” He shook his head. “Idiots.”
I put my hand on his thigh. “We’ll bring everyone together, you’ll see.”
My phone rang and I glanced down at the screen.
“What is it?” Austin asked, catching the way I’d frozen in place.
“The ex. He’s calling.”
THIRTEEN
Jessie
Austin glanced over at me but didn’t say anything.
I tapped the screen.
“Hey Matt, what’s up?” I asked in a breezy tone.
“Jacinta, hello,” came the familiar voice, always so formal. Once I’d thought him authoritative. Boy had that changed since meeting all manner of magical people, my mate and his family especially. “Do you have a second?”
“Uh…yeah. We’re just driving.”
He was quiet for a moment. “We?”
His tone annoyed me, like I was still his wife and had mentioned a guy friend. He’d never wanted me to be friends with men, even the dads from school who were happily married. Hell, he’d gotten weird when I went out with single female friends. Then, eventually, when I went out without him at all.
“What’s up?” I asked again.
“It’s been a while,” he replied. “How have you been?”
Before I could answer, he kept talking.
“Jimmy said you looked well. You have a new job, is that right? A keeper of a house or something?”
Crap. I needed to come up with a job title to explain my sudden windfall to the people in my old life. Winning the lottery? A secret lottery no one knew about…
“I own the house now and manage its crew,” I replied. “I’m doing really well, actually.”
“You live in a small town somewhere…in the foothills, is that correct? Kind of a backwoods sort of place?”
I gritted my teeth with the condescension. “O’Briens, in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. It’s an up-and-coming town, but it’s still small. And how about you? I heard you bought a new place?”
“Shortly after we parted ways, yes. In Culver City.”
That was a part of Los Angeles that was trendy for young professionals or young families. I had no idea what he’d be doing there, given his dislike of young people and things they deemed trendy. Unless he planned on having more kids. His fiancé was ten years younger, so he might be gearing up to do it all again.
Thankfully, this call reminded me of one very important thing—I did not actually care. Not even a little. My freakout from before had clearly been a case of temporary insanity. I wished this guy well and was happy to have moved on.
“Great,” I replied. “Jimmy mentioned he was coming for the holidays, did he tell you?”
“He did. We’re still trying to work out his schedule.”
That meant that Jimmy had something in mind that Matt didn’t agree with, likely spending the majority of his time with me.
“Well, keep me updated so I know what to expect.”
“Sure. Listen, Jacinta…” He cleared his throat as Austin parked in front of our house.
Our house.
His and mine.
I smiled and looked over at him, seeing that he was watching me. I reached out for his hand, threading our fingers together.
“I wanted you to hear this from me directly,” Matt said. “I’ve asked Camila to marry me.”
He paused expectantly.
“Congratulations,” I said, accidentally sounding a little bored.
“Thank you, yes. I want to make sure everything between you and me is amicable. Camila has some concerns. The right thing to do would be for you to come to my mother’s Christmas party, as usual, and also attend our wedding so you can show your support of our joining families and our union. You need to put her at ease. With that in mind—”