Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
The cats lounged, relaxed but alert, each in their carriers. Silently judging me.
“I can’t believe I’m letting cats look at me like I’m an idiot.” Their identical, familiar looks of exasperation burned into my stomach. “If you want pup cups on the way to wherever we’re going, you better stop giving me the evil eye.” I swear, Lucifer snorted at me. Sounded like a sneeze, but I knew he actually snorted.
I snagged my keys, locking the door on my way out to meet Carrie. The loud rumble of motorcycles heralded the group’s arrival. Just like Carrie’d said, a big blue Bronco pulled up to the curb. Carrie wasn’t driving, though. Hawk, Carrie’s very overprotective man, sat behind the wheel. He got out before Carrie, but she rounded the front of the vehicle and headed straight to me.
My neighbors glared from their windows, handkerchiefs pressed to their faces. The stench had followed me outside, clinging to my clothes and hair like an invisible, putrid cloud. In fact, there seemed to be a cloud just kinda… hanging out. Surrounding the building in a noxious blue/green haze.
“You smell like death warmed over,” Carrie said without a hint of judgment. Just a statement of fact. With a really big grin on her face.
I laughed nervously. “Yeah, turns out mixing wolfsbane and fermented beet juice creates something worse than tear gas.” I tugged at my burnt orange sweater, which now sported several green stains. “I’m so sorry about this. Thank you for coming.”
Carrie waved me off. “Not another word about it. Shit happens. And sometimes it’s in the form of a really foul witches’ brew.” Her smile was infectious as she slid her arm through mine. Despite the fact her eyes had to be watering, Carrie took everything in stride. She didn’t act like I smelled like roadkill, only guided me back inside the building to my apartment. If she distracted me, I wouldn’t concentrate on the men she brought with her.
“I don’t know why you brought so many people.” I didn’t want them seeing how little I had. Carrie was the least judgmental person I knew, and even she was going to blink at the small amount I had to take with me.
“We’re moving you completely out of here, Ellie.” Carrie gave me a firm look. “You should have taken me up on my offer months ago when you told me about this jackass raising the rent on you with no notice.”
“I can take care of myself.” I winced. “Usually.”
“Sure you can.” Carrie held back so I could unlock and open the door. “But sometimes, you just need to kick back with the girls and regroup.”
I stared at Carrie for a long moment until my lips spread in a slow smile. “I like that.”
“Thought you might. Come on. Let’s get your stuff and go take a medical-grade shower.”
“I’m not sure even that will get the stench outta my hair.”
“Where’s all your shit?” Carrie looked around at the three cat carriers, the single suitcase, my computer bag, and a giant tub of cat food and cat toys. And the portable cat tree. Oh. And one small tote with all my Halloween decorations.
I waved my hand at the small pile. “Right there.”
Carrie approached and knelt down to peer at the little demons. “Three black cats. Are they for protection?”
“They’re my babies,” I said, sticking my fingers through Salem’s carrier door to stroke his head. “This is Salem, that’s Lucifer, and the drama queen in the corner is Binx.” Lucifer hissed in response, as if offended by my accurate character assessment.
“They’re beautiful,” Carrie said, wiggling her fingers at Lucifer, who seemed to soften at her attention. Traitor.
Heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs, and two massive men appeared in my doorway. Both wore leather cuts with the Kiss of Death MC patches prominently displayed.
“Damn, girl. What’d you do? Summon a demon and have it shit itself to death?” I wasn’t sure which guy spoke because they were standing side by side and they both had pulled their shirts over their nose.
“Knuckles!” Carrie scolded, but she couldn’t help laughing.
“Something like that,” I admitted. “Sorry about the smell.”
The other guy had to be Hawk. He surveyed my meager pile of belongings, his eyebrows rising slightly. “This all you got?”
I nodded, feeling heat creep into my cheeks. “Yeah. I travel light.”
“Uh-huh.” Hawk and Knuckles exchanged a look before Knuckles continued. “All right. Let’s get your things loaded up. I’ve got some straps to secure the pet carriers for the ride. Also got you one of the big suites so your cats got room to move around.”
“Please don’t go to any more trouble than necessary.” I looked from Knuckles to Carrie and back. “You can’t know how much I appreciate you taking me in on such short notice. I’m willing to work to earn my keep while I’m there.”