CAGED (Mackenzie Grey #2) by Karina Espinosa Read Free Book Online Page A

it?”
    “See what?” I asked frustrated. “That she’s an annoying little girl with no manners? Yeah, I caught on.”
    “No, Ace, she’s a mini you.”
    I was taken aback. “Excuse me?” I placed a hand over my chest in mock horror. “That kid is nothing like me!”
    Roman shook his head. “She is exactly like you,” he leaned forward and whispered. “Right down to the rebellious part that prefers to be a lone-wolf than conform.” He pushed off the door frame and walked over to Emma. She smiled brightly at him as he extended his hand in introduction to her. That conniving little person…she was going to be trouble.
    “Do you need to use the bathroom?” I yelled to her. That bouncing leg was driving me nuts.
    “I don’t use public bathrooms!” she screamed. What the fuck?
    “Well aren’t you a bundle of rainbows and sunshine,” I mumbled.
    I went in the break room and grabbed a roll of Ritz crackers that I had started eating last night and another bottle of water for Emma. She was giggling at Roman and I had to swallow the urge to growl. How come she was sweet with him and not with me? I was pretty darn lovable.
    “Alright Kid, eat up because we have to go,” I said as I dropped her snacks on her lap.
    “Go where?” she asked.
    “Mojave Desert.”
    Roman’s eyes snapped to me. “You’re taking her to the Desert Wolves?”
    I nodded.
    “So soon?”
    “Yes, Roman,” I huffed. “I can’t take care of her, and she’s better off with the Pack anyways.”
    His hazel eyes narrowed as he grabbed me and pulled me to the side, out of Emma’s ear shot.
    “Isn’t that a bit hypocritical of you? You know she’s not better off with them.”
    “What do you expect me to do?” I whispered. “You want her to shack up with us, and we become all domesticated and shit?”
    He blanched, as I expected. “Of course not.”
    “Then what other options do we have?”
    “All I’m saying—”
    “I know what you’re saying, Rome, but we don’t have any other choice. I’m sorry,” I said as I pushed past him. Emma was munching loudly on the crackers, crumbs decorating her face and shirt. “Ready, Kid?”
    She pouted. “Can I stay with you? Pretty please?” she pleaded. Her glassy eyes were almost my undoing. The last thing I wanted was for her to lose all that attitude and independence by joining the Pack. But when puberty hit and if she were alone on the streets, she could hurt someone. She needed to be taught the right way, unlike me.
    “Sorry, but you can’t stay with me. I’m not an adult,” I admitted. I still had a lot of growing up to do before I could take on the responsibility of caring for a child. I squatted in front of her. “But I promise that the wolves will take you in and love you. Just don’t ever lose that spunk,” I winked.
    “My mom told me I was different from the Lunas.”
    I smiled. “You’re definitely something, Kid, but that’s what makes you special. You’re going to kick-ass as a Luna, you hear?”
    She cracked a smile and nodded.
    “Good. Now get your stuff and let’s go. It’s going to be a long drive.”
     
    ***
     
    The drive to Mojave Desert was always a pain for me. It was too long for me to sit still, and I dreaded meeting with the Desert Wolves every time. Even though I shifted with them on full moons, I wasn’t part of their Pack, so I was considered an outsider. But with all that, I appreciated La Loba and everything she was doing for me. Because of her, I survived my Vision Quest. That day was forever ingrained into the forefront of my mind and I get chills thinking about it. I spent the day in a sweat lodge with La Loba guiding me through the ritual. When it was over, I was puking, about to pass out from heat stroke, and kept mumbling a riddle I had been gifted with—my vision. To this day, I still had no idea what it meant, and didn’t care to figure it out.
    Roman pulled over on the side of the road nearest the encampment. I slid out of the