Cataclysm by C.L. Parker Read Free Book Online

Dominic’s aggressive suitor a smug look.
    Dominic nuzzled Kerrigan’s ear. “Yours, remember?”
    He had never slept with Amber because he had known she was a local, but it had never stopped her from trying. Apparently she still hadn’t given up the hope that he might change his mind—which he had absolutely no intention of doing. He was drunk, but not that drunk. Plus, he had everything he ever wanted in the woman who was sitting in his lap and staking her claim.
    “Oh shit, Kerr! Don’t zap her!” Tyson yelled as he ran over to where they were with his hands raised in a defensive position.
    Kerrigan’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open, aghast. The thought had never even crossed her mind. Her gift was supposed to be used for good, not revenge on someone who got a little too close for comfort to her boyfriend. She was insulted that Tyson would jump to that conclusion, not to mention that he made that kind of announcement in a public place.
    “Tyson, I had no intention of—”
    “Um, guys?” Olivia looked down at her watch with a flustered look on her face. “I think it’s time to go.”
    Dominic looked down at his own watch and noticed it was ten minutes until midnight. “Fuck!”
    Kerrigan hopped down out of his lap, neither noticing nor caring that Amber had melted into the crowd and disappeared. Her only thought was of getting Dominic home before he transformed. Colton still didn’t know what he was, and she was going to do everything she could to get him out of sight before the clock struck twelve.
    That was the problem with keeping secrets. It was like a life preserver in the middle of a sea of uncertainty. You held onto it tight, afraid to let it go, and then a huge wave you didn’t expect comes crashing down and yanks it out from underneath you. That’s when you find yourself sucked into a riptide, struggling to keep your head above water, reaching for that secret and trying to hold on to it as if your life depends on it because somewhere in the back of your mind, it does. When all you had to do in the first place was let it go and swim toward the shore of truth.
    “What’s the big hurry?” Colton asked. While the rest of their party flew down the stairs, he and Gabe were busy trying to hold each other up. It was a wonder they didn’t both fall over the wooden railing and break their necks, but they managed to make it down safely.
    “Um, I’m not feeling very well,” Kerrigan called over her shoulder. It wasn’t a complete lie.
    When they made it to the cars, Colton stopped and crossed his arms over his chest in defiance. “Well, can’t the rest of us just stay here and meet you back at the house later?”
    Talon covered for them. “Sorry, bro, but Tyson and I have to open up the hut in the morning, and that’s just not cool when we’ve got a hangover and no sleep.”
    “Me and Livi have to be at work early, too,” Sydney added.
    “Y’all work?” Gabe asked, taken aback.
    “Duh. How do you think we pay the bills?”
    “We’re realtors,” Olivia told him matter-of-factly.
    “Shutthefuckup...” Gabe was completely missing the point as to why they needed to get home so quickly.
    Colton ignored them and uncrossed his arms sloppily. “Fine, but I want it to go on record that you all suck.”
    “Just get in the fucking car, Colt!” Dominic shut the car door without waiting for a response. “Dammit! I should’ve known something like this would happen.” He fisted his hair and pulled hard.
    Kerrigan already had the engine started and backed out onto the street. “Calm down, Dom. We’re going to get you home. Besides, he’s too drunk to notice anything anyway.”
    “That’s not the point.”
    “No, the point is that you need to tell him the truth.”
    She wasn’t being sarcastic or even mean. She was stating fact, and he knew she was right. He had put it off for far too long, but he would fix it. No more holding out, waiting for some sort of miracle that wasn’t