Free When Lightning Strikes by Sedona Venez Page B

us.”
    I looked at them incredulously. “Wait. You’re using us as bait.”
    Aunt Ava pulled my hair playfully. “We’re all bait, Light.”
    Storm rolled her eyes. “You know what happens to bait? It eventually gets eaten.”
    Mom and Aunt Ava’s face tightened.
    “That’s what’s we’re counting on,” Mom remarked.
    “Give your enemies enough rope and they’ll hang themselves. And when they do, we’ll finish them off for good.” Aunt Ava finished.
    Mom headed straight for me, grabbing my face. She kissed my cheek. “Be safe, okay?” she whispered. “Please don’t do anything to get yourself in trouble, okay?”
    I rubbed my head. If they thought I was going to sit around waiting for the Shadows to get me, they had another thing coming. “I’m not making any promises. Love you.” We hugged each other again before she and Aunt Ava exited.
    Storm grabbed me and hugged me hard. I hugged her back, kissing her on the cheek. We both were emotional. This isn’t how we wanted this to go. We grew up together, went to college together, worked together, and traveled all over the world together. And at twenty-three years of existence, we had more money than either of us could spend. But money couldn’t buy love or happiness. It was time. Time for us to forge our own way. She had Knox now and I wanted her to be happy. She fucking deserved it. And there was no doubt in my mind that Knox would make sure she would never want for anything… love, affection, protection, and happiness. He was truly a fucking good guy.
    “I love you,” Storm whispered.
    “I love you too.”
    Storm pulled back with a hint of worry in her eyes. I squeezed her arm reassuringly. She was used to fixing my problems, and up until now, I was quite happy to allow her to. But things had changed. The situation had changed. I was changing. I wasn’t sure whether it was for better or worse.
    “We’ll talk every night. I’ll be waiting to hear all of the scandalous things you’ve done to the Alpha,” Storm teased.
    I gave her a devilish grin. “Oh, you can count on that shit. Project ‘make Wolfie’s life a living hell’ starts as soon as I walk out of this damn office.”
    “Give him hell.” She pinched my cheek. She looked over her shoulder at Knox, who was leaning against the wall, talking to Ryker. “I gotta go.” She gave me a small smile. I returned it.
    I stood there for a minute. Never feeling as alone as I felt right then, I watched Storm exit the office into the arms of Knox. I smiled. They were so in love. I was content to bask in the warmth of their new love, when the Alpha from hell turned around and scowled at me.
    “Are you coming or what?” he snapped.
    I sighed heavily before marching toward him. “Would it kill you to say something polite for once?”
    He growled.
    I reached up and tapped his cheek… hard. “Good thing I’ll be staying with you for a long time. It will give me plenty of time to teach you some manners… Lightning style.” I grinned. “Now come along, Wolfie. Time’s a wasting.” I sauntered away with an extra pep in my step when I heard his teeth grinding.
    Yup… let the games begin.
     
     

 
     
     
     
    I T WAS WISHFUL THINKING THAT the Neanderthal who I now called Ryker would say at least one word to me on the ride over to Alfero headquarters. It would have made the ride less boring. But no, Ryker spent the whole ride alternating between texting and talking on his phone. Shit! The man never stopped working. There were non-stop calls about his pack, from the Other Council, to putting out fires within his company. No wonder he was so uptight.
    I sighed with relief when we pulled up to his headquarters. The driver opened the door and Ryker whisked me into the building. Bones, one of his enforcers, was standing in the lobby, flirting with the receptionist. He turned around, his lips curled into an easy smile as he maintained eye contact. “Well, if it isn’t Lightning Credence.”
    I