Free CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) by Karina Espinosa Page B

his ass for breaking his promise to me.
    Amy and I took a cab back into the city, and the silence between us awakened my ADD. I couldn’t sit still, much less keep quiet.
    “Are you going to ignore me the whole ride home?” I asked as the taxi driver made a sharp turn.
    “It isn’t your home anymore, Mackenzie,” she said as she looked out the window.
    “Ouch,” I cringed. “Right in the feels.”
    “I don’t care,” she mumbled as she nibbled on her lip ring.
    I shifted my body so my back was to the car door and I was facing her. “Listen Amy, I know I messed up, but I thought it was for your own good. I didn’t want you to be involved and be put in harm’s way. I realize now that it was pointless because you’re all up in the Pack, but whatever. The point is, I messed up and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappear,” I gasped for air. The verbal diarrhea was a hazard of mine. “Amy?”
    She whirled around, her eyes blazing with fury. “You can’t just dictate everything, Mackenzie! And you also can’t come back and expect everything to be normal again!”
    “I didn’t say that I expected anything!”
    “Well good, because saying sorry isn’t going to cut it. Not this time,” she huffed and crossed her arms.
    I scooted a little closer to her. “I missed ya, Amy,” I grinned. I was itching to pull her into a huge bear hug, but I knew she needed her space.
    Her gaze turned to me and I could see her inner struggle—she was trying to stay mad at me—I hoped to break her resolve.
    “I didn’t watch the latest season of House of Cards because I couldn’t watch it without you,” I pouted and I could see her eyes soften.
    “Damn it, Mackenzie Grey! I missed your ass too!” she exclaimed and pulled me into her little tattooed arms.
    “Yes! I knew it!” I said and hugged her back just as fiercely.
    “You’re such an asshole, you couldn’t even give me a day to be pissed. I deserve at least a day!”
    “I know, Aims, but I don’t have a day. Sebastian has to take me to the Estate tomorrow morning. I don’t know what Charles is going to do, so I want us to at least be on good terms,” I said.
    The taxi pulled to a stop in front of our apartment building. While Amy paid the cab driver, I got out and scanned the neighborhood. It all looked the same, nothing had changed. I saw the bodega down the street that was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Mejia. Our quiet and sparse apartment was perfect for us when I was moon-bound. I remembered many nights of having to rush home and lock myself up in my cage because the wolf had a hold on me during every full moon. Those were some tough times—but I’ve learned to shift at will and am no longer bound to the moon—to the Change.
    “Welcome home, Kenz.”
     
    ***
     
    Our apartment was the same, except for the occasional men’s clothing littered around. Was the bastard sleeping here? My eyebrows scrunched inward, but I kept the inquisition to myself, not wanting to start another argument with Amy.
    “What have you been up to?” I asked. “You know, post-graduation and all.” I walked around the living room, running my hands over the familiar red brick walls. This was home.
    “Not much. I mainly do remote IT work so I can work from home. It pays the bills.” Amy shrugged off her coat and hung it up by the door. “Are you going to tell me why you’re back?” she asked as she went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. She knew me so well.
    “Of course I am!” I said. “I have to fill my bestie in with my master plan for world domination!” I did my evil laugh with my fists planted at my hips.
    “Alrighty then, I’m all ears, Wolfey.”
    I hopped on the kitchen counter and got comfortable. “I can’t run forever, Amy,” I started. “A few weeks ago I found this little eleven-year-old Luna. Her mother was a Succubus and the father was dead—killed because he was a lone-wolf.”
    Amy sucked in a breath.
    “Yeah…the werewolf gene is