Free Fever Claim (The Sigma Menace) by Marie Johnston

those images more than the memory of the two men she ripped apart early this morning. The guys were convenient and it wasn’t until it was almost permanently too late that she sensed any danger from them. Up until that point, it’d been raging hormones and sexual need, and the temporary fulfillment that would only last days to weeks. She should feel torn up about those men, wonder if they had family. She killed , but remorse remained an unattainable emotion. Her intuition screamed that if she hadn’t destroyed them, they would’ve kept hunting women. Despite her lack of regret, she wasn’t ready to pat herself on the back. She didn’t just kill them, she’d decimated them.
    Kaitlyn switched her disturbing train of thought from translating the images and possible memories from her past and inexplicable killing instincts to dwelling on her guilt about Cassie. She started dragging her to Pale Moonlight to check the place out after she heard about The Den from one of her martial arts clients. It had taken several visits before she mustered up the courage to actually participate in Den festivities. But she’d taken to ditching Cassie to leave with a candidate to help her release. It was unlike her. Not being known for being traditionally responsible as a grown young lady, she’d never taken chances with her body and well-being. Having a good time, dancing on bars? Yes. The occasional police call to get bailed out when she couldn’t flirt her way out of public intoxication? Yes, but that was totally unjustified since it was a street dance. But driving off with unknown men, not just for a quick lay, but to hunker down somewhere and get it on for hours. Every time she ditched Cassie, she didn’t end up with her clothes off and that somehow helped her feel less guilty. Cassie wised up and started bringing Grant when Kaitlyn asked her to the club.
    Kaitlyn couldn’t help the groan when Grant came to mind. He was a good guy. Anyone would be lucky to pair up with that one. He was good-looking and he tolerated Kaitlyn and her behavior around Cassie. He was just so nice . And that was the problem. Kaitlyn wanted more than nice for Cassie. She needed someone who’d bring her out of the safe, comfy life she’d built for herself. Her predictable, quiet, uneventful life. They used to stay up all night talking about what they’d do once they turned eighteen, had a diploma, and were free to go anywhere and do anything. Kaitlyn was still trying to figure out what anywhere and anything was, but it sure didn’t include settling down and working Monday through Friday, nine-to-five. Her foster sister might have thought that was what she desired most in life, but Kaitlyn knew it was wrong for both of them.
    To help stave off her conscience when her life started to jumble up into hot mess, Kaitlyn threw herself into her maid of honor duties for the upcoming nuptials. It wasn’t enough to payback her friendship and now it was all for nothing. When Cassie called her last night, upset and in disbelief that Grant called everything off, Kaitlyn played the part of sympathetic friend and talked her out of the house to go to the club.
    Then she hung up and danced around.
    But yet again, even before walking into the club last night, the urge got to be too much. Tyson had a fast car, a friend, and privacy. Entering the world of shitty BFF again, she dreaded leaving Cassie. Until she saw how the bartender looked at her. She knew her friend was oblivious to Jace’s interest. Kaitlyn had been to Pale Moonlight enough to know that while the staff may not overtly fraternize, they kept any sexual escapades with their clientele on the downlow, heavily utilized The Den and only chose any who were also looking for quick, forgettable hookups.
    But not Jace. Kaitlyn noticed him only because he looked through anyone at the club. He watched for empty glasses to refill, customers needing service, and trouble brewing. He didn’t watch the bountiful breasts