Claws by Kassanna Read Free Book Online Page A

floor. Drea didn’t return to her human state but Salt did. He dropped to his knees and gathered her mother up into his arms. Sounds similar to strangled growls came from his direction. Sasha wasn’t sure if he’d killed her mom or if she was simply unconscious but she didn’t stick around to find out. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she rose and fled the house. She never went back. Hell, she wouldn’t even go through the state of Florida.
    Sasha spent the rest of her teenage years homeless, skipping from town to town until she finally landed in Volkshire. She snorted. Colin took one look at her sitting on the curb, leaning against a column in front of the general store and told her she needed a bath. Her response was to growl at him. She damn near pissed her threadbare pants when he snarled back. Then he did something amazing and got in her face. She could still remember his words verbatim…
    “Life is hard, kitty. Get your ass up and fight. I’ll give you exactly sixty seconds to get in my car. You’re coming home with me. You need to get cleaned up. I’m sure one of my boys can train and use you on one of their teams.” Colin had stepped back to give her room. “This is your one chance, little cat. Things may not have gone the way you wanted them too. I’m offering you the chance to take back your power.”
    If looks could kill, she was fairly sure at the time hers would have cut to the bone. She took a glance at him and spat out the words. “I’m nobody’s whore.”
    “If I wanted a woman, I’d have no problem obtaining one. You’re way too young to handle me. But I am always looking for fighters, people I believe I can train and trust. At least until you piss me off and trust me little bit when I tell you, you’re moving down that road fast.” He crossed his arms. “You need a home and I need a guard. Take the offer and stop trying to bite the hand that will feed you. I’ll even throw in a slice of cake.”
    That last sentence had thrown her. “What the hell does cake have to do with anything?”
    “Things always look sweeter after a good dessert. Now come on and meet my boys.”
    Her instincts told her to go and she followed them. It was probably the best decision she ever made. True to his words she was trained, honing her skills, becoming one of the best sentinels he had. Part of his son, Boris’s, elite team, she opted for the dangerous posts, jumping into them with a zeal as if she had a death wish. Battle worn, scarred, and tired she finally stepped back from the team and asked for the easy contracts to protect the rich and lazy.
    This was supposed to be one of those easy jobs. She scrubbed her face with her hands and glanced over at Etienne. “Sorry, what were you saying?”
    Etienne sighed as if repeating himself was a chore. “I said when I love, I love hard leaving no doubt in your mind or body how cherished you are.” He stepped into her personal space and traced a digit around the collar of her shirt before continuing. “And when I hate, folks die. I see no reason to make others suffer the stupidity of one.” He dropped his hand and shrugged, leaving her wondering exactly what else he’d said while she was reminiscing. Damn gator.
     

     
    Court pushed the clothing aside, listening to the hangers scratch the metal rod. He dug through the heavy sweaters and other winter outfits stacked neatly on the back shelf. His hands grazed a smooth surface and he pulled the square box from the back of his closet. Wiping the nonexistent dust off the side, he hastily crossed the room leaving the bi-fold door opens. Softly he placed the shoe box with his handwritten scribble across the top on the bed. Excitement skidded along his spine. He’d been looking for a reason to open this box, reverently prayed that the day would come when he’d get the opportunity to use the object he’d tucked away under the guise of shoes.
    He lifted the lid and exhaled. The Judge, a handgun capable