Free Shifter Legends by Kaylee Song Page B

just to talk to me? We could make this quick, and mostly painless.” Grant sounded excited, like he hoped that “Fritzy” would resist.
    Briana wasn’t sure if that was all part of his game, or if it was a genuine part of him, something he actively looked forward to. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to know the truth.
    “Fine, Dixon. I’ll hear you out. But you know it ain’t gonna change nothin’. I got orders from the Boss.”
    What she expected to see was some smarmy, lithe guy who looked like he would be easy to beat to a pulp. That was not who came out of that doorway. He was anything but puny, probably a good 6’5”, all muscle. If she had seen him on the street she would have crossed it, especially if he was looking at her the way he was looking at Grant now. With complete and total malice.
    How in the world did her Mate have the ability to stand up to him? She was an Alpha herself, but just looking at him gave her pause.
    “You and I both know this was going to happen sometime, Fritz. You are on our territory, my boss had to send me down.” Grant wasn’t nearly as imposing as she knew him to be, it was like he was laid back while doing this. What the hell? He is a drug dealer.
    “Gotta say, kind of impressed that I warrant the number two man.” Fritz was cocky alright, his chest puffed out and what little Alpha he had in him going full bore.
    “Ain’t like you would listen to anyone else.” Grant grinned, his smile mischievous. He was up to something.
    “Damn straight.” Fritz gave a chuckle.
    They had a banter that she could not understand. He was selling drugs to the neighborhood, why was her Shifter being friendly to him?
    “Look, you got a couple of choices, Fritz. Pack your shit and go, or stay and get your ass beat.”
    “Can’t do that man. Got orders.”
    “Shove those orders. Go and tell your boss that if he don’t pack up his smack and take it to another town, we are going to have to come down on you. Hard. You know I don’t want to do that, man. I just don’t want you infecting my town with this shit.”
    “I’ll tell ‘im, Dix. But you gotta know that ain’t nothin’ gonna change here.”
    “Oh, it will change. Even if I have to force it.” Grant growled just a little, his cat eyes coming out. Every time she saw those beautiful green eyes she hesitated.
    He was so powerful.
    “Like I said. I’ll tell ‘im.” Fritz backed down, any friendly camaraderie was gone. All that was left was testosterone and a grudge. He spit on the floor in front of Grant, who noticed it just as well as the meaning.
    “Don’t want you selling that shit to anyone, man. We go back, but fuck if I will let you sell it to the kids,” Grant shouted. “Now, Luke.”
    Before she realized what was happening there was a shuffle, a loud crash of glass, and the distinct smell of kerosene before the entire place started to smoke out.
    “Shit, man. You know what we got in here?” Fritz and Grant both started running away from the house, Briana following suit, trying to get as far from it before it blew.
    And it did. It wasn’t like the movies, where you have a giant explosion and no one looks at it. This was smaller, much smaller, but there was a loud boom, contained in the fragile walls of the house before it went up in flames. Briana didn’t know they could travel so fast. Or be so devastating. She swore the entire block came out just to witness the mess.
    It was the exact opportunity that they needed to get away. The four of them used the distraction to hop on their bikes and take off, leaving the mess behind. She didn’t focus on the ride back up to the bar. She didn’t focus on anything. Except the look on the face of the little girl who was playing with her doll right before the house across the street went up in flames.
    That little girl looked right into her soul, and what she saw reflected there was all the violence that was in store for Briana. All the wrong choices.
    She wasn’t