Free Meow Or Never: BBW SEAL Shifter Surprise Pregnancy Romance (Chicago Catastrophe) by Anya Nowlan, Rory Dale Page A

They’ve been here for a while and have a feel for the operation,” Troy said, picking Dempsy’s little knick-knacks off the edge of the desk and tossing them in the waste basket.
    Culliver’s jaw tightened, but he nodded and stepped out to fetch the men. He was only out for a couple of minutes before returning with the two guys.
    There was no way he was going to use anyone from too close to Dempsy, like Lucky or Grit, but there guys were just distant enough to maybe be the right fit. Reaver and Ace nodded respectfully at Troy as they entered, coming to a stop near the desk. Troy addressed them, hands folded before him. He was beginning to fall right into his new position, as much of a charade as he knew it was.
    “I sent Culliver for you because I think you were underutilized by Dempsy. I think you’ll be valuable assets. Don’t prove me wrong.”
    “We won’t,” Reaver assured him.
    “Alright, let’s get this show on the road.”
    Troy smiled widely at Culliver, just to piss the man off, as Reaver and Ace filed out. He couldn’t deny himself the simple pleasures in life.
    The man didn’t even blink.
    “I can fill you in on supply routes and profits and the like later. Something’s come up. I was getting ready to handle it when you arrived,” Culliver explained pleasantly.
    Troy wasn’t fooled. There was no way Culliver wasn’t seething inside.
    “Okay, tell me?” Troy asked as the door fell shut behind Ace.
    Troy started pulling out random drawers in the desk and rummaging around in them. Culliver’s eyes narrowed as his gaze followed the movement.
    “One of our guys got pulled over in a routine traffic stop. They asked him to pop the trunk and found a knife inside with red residue on it,” Culliver replied.
    “Let me guess, it wasn’t used to cut up red velvet birthday cake?” Troy queried, raising a brow when he got to a drawer full of beef jerky.
    What the…
    “No. If they test it for DNA… Well, some unsolved cases might get solved. A high-profile murder case is the last thing we need right now. We’re in the middle of talks with the Mexicans, trying to increase our influx of product,” Culliver commented.
    Troy mulled it over.
    “Didn’t Dempsy have someone to deal with this kind of stuff?”
    He remembered the man had a couple of lawyers in his back pocket just for these kinds of situations. Violence was a useful tool, but it couldn’t solve everything. Sometimes, you needed to bring in the real villains – the lawyers.
    “We just got someone new. I’ve seen her in court. She’s good,” Culliver answered.
    Troy could have sworn he saw something resembling a smile on the man’s face, even if just for a second.
    Well, look at that. He is capable of emotion after all.
    “Call her in then. We need this to go away.”
    “Sure thing,” Culliver said, already fishing his phone out of his pocket and heading to the door.
    As the door closed, Troy sat back in his chair, feeling smug. This was the fastest anyone had ever been promoted to lieutenant in the Crimson Claws. His lion was practically preening with pride. Not that it would matter in the long run.
    Only gets me closer to where I’m going, Troy mused, kicking his legs on the table and finally taking out his phone to call in what had happened to the big guys upstairs.
    In retrospect, Troy should have known life was getting ready to throw a cold bucket of water on him.
    When things seem to be too good to be true, they usually are anything but that.

Ten

Hailey
    I knew I shouldn’t have come in , Hailey thought as she sprinted to the office bathroom, hand over her mouth.
    She had been feeling off when she first woke, but attributed it to residual effects from that sushi she had for lunch the other day. And the fact she had spent most of the night peeking out her window and checking the locks on all her doors and windows, expecting Culliver to show up at any minute, demanding to take her to Olive Garden to profess his endless