A Kitty in the Lion's Den by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page A

him? Could he allow her into his life even if he wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything else? He might see her as a gift in his life, and one he sure as hell didn’t deserve, but that didn’t mean he could be the mate she deserved.
    He took the last turn that took him onto his street and pulled his truck into the driveway of the garage. She sat up straighter and looked around. “I thought you were taking me to your home?” He shut off the car and turned his upper body toward her.
    “This is my house.” He pointed to the one bedroom apartment over the garage. “I own the mechanic shop, too.” She looked out the windshield at the apartment. “Come on. I don’t want to be out in the open with you.” He climbed out, and surprisingly she was out of the truck and right by his side only moments later. It would have been humorous if the situation wasn’t so tense right now. She followed close on his heels. He unlocked the front door and held it open for her. The lights were off, but he wasn’t about to turn them on. He knew they hadn’t been followed, and had been keeping a diligent watch the entire two hour drive back to his place. But it was late, and turning on the lights would only draw unwanted attention.
    “You live here?” She covered her nose, and for the first time in longer than he could even remember, he smiled. It might have just been a tilt at the corner of his mouth, but it was one nonetheless.
    “Kind of stinks, yeah?” She snapped her eyes up to his and dropped her hand instantly.
    “I’m sorry. That was unbelievably rude.”
    He waved off her apology. “You don’t need to be sorry. I’m pretty immune to the smell of grease and exhaust now, but I know it can be pretty intense to the ones not used to it. It doesn’t smell upstairs, though. Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.” He led her through the short, narrow hallway and opened the door that would take them upstairs. Once they ascended the stairs and he opened the thick metal door that blocked off his apartment from the rest of the garage, he moved to the side so she could step inside. He shut the door behind them and bolted it. The door had enough locks to ensure if someone was talented enough to get through it, it would take them a hell of a long time, and they would need to be pretty fucking experienced with locks. She eyed the door but didn’t otherwise say anything about it. He led her into the living room, and only then did he turn on the lights. When he bought the garage and then built the apartment above it, Maverick had done extensive work on it. The windows were bulletproof and mirrored so that he could see out, but no one could see in. He had two escape routes built into the floor plan. There was one in his office, under his desk. That led to an underground tunnel that ran under and parallel to the property. The exit came out inside the oversized shed in the back property. The upstairs had one that was hidden in the bedroom closet, and he had built a staircase behind the wall that led underground and met the other escape tunnel to the shed. Even though he had given up a life of murder, that didn’t mean he could relax. And tonight was a prime example of how shit could turn upside down in the blink of an eye.
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    Kettah stayed by the door that had so many locks and latches on it she didn’t think anything shy of a bomb could get through it. It was thick and brushed metal, and made her feel very safe, but it also frightened her. The fact Maverick needed something so impermeable scared the shit out of her.
    “Do you want anything to eat or drink? I have water,” he started walking toward the kitchen and stopped when he got there. He ran his hand over the back of his neck and then looked over at her. “Or I have beer. Yeah, that’s all I got.” She couldn’t help but offer him a smile. “I might have some bread and lunchmeat, but I don’t eat in much.” It was a nice gesture, even if he seemed