RedKnife (Skin Walkers Book 2) by Susan Bliler Read Free Book Online Page A

“Look, I will get into StoneCrow, and then we’ll all be satisfied.  My connection just needs a little more time is all.  Be patient, and we’ll all get what we want.”
    StoneCrow?   No!   RedKnife’s eyes flashed dangerously as he turned to the empty road where Cindy had disappeared.  Fuck!   She was trying to help this low-life infiltrate StoneCrow, and that couldn’t be allowed.  He contacted Monroe through the mist, the Skin Walker’s telepathic means of communication, relaying what he’d seen and heard.  Thankfully, Monroe didn’t ask why he’d been tailing Cindy in the first place, but as expected, he ordered RedKnife to stay on her and await orders.  Damn!  He should’ve stuck to his secluded mountainside.
    ***
    Driving back to her apartment, Cindy fought angry tears.  “What an ungrateful prick!”  She spoke aloud, squeezing her steering wheel in a death grip before her anger finally burned itself out and she visibly deflated.  She was tired.  No, tired didn’t cut it.  She was wore the hell out, and the last thing she needed was a run in with her sorry-ass brother.
    God, what had she done?  This wasn’t how things were supposed to be.  This wasn’t what she had intended when she’d vowed to her dying mother to take care of her brother.  “How did I let things get this far?”  She shook her head dejectedly as shame seared her, her mind going to StoneCrow and its inhabitants.  They’d been nothing but good to her, and worse, she knew they were hiding something there.  Something that she was certain she wanted no part of, and something that could get her fool brother killed if she couldn’t redirect his ill intentions.  And maybe herself as well.
    “FUUUUUUCK!” She screamed at the dark road ahead of her, angry tears flooding her eyes.  She liked StoneCrow, she liked the people there, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt any of them.  That was why she’d decided she wouldn’t.  No matter what Cody thought, she’d never give him any Intel on StoneCrow Estates, and if her plan worked as she hoped, she would never need to.

Chapter 8
    RedKnife waited impatiently for Cindy to return to her apartment.  He’d beaten her home and let himself in before quickly shifting back to dog form.
    The front door slammed open and he trotted out to greet Cindy as she slammed the door closed equally as hard before lifting her head to pin him with weary, red-rimmed eyes.
    “Oh, Hoax.”  She rushed to him, and for a second he bristled, unsure of her intentions.
    When she dropped to her knees and threw her arms around him to sob into his fur, he felt both worried and protective.  Neither of which was the appropriate response to being hugged by a traitor.  Swallowing hard, RedKnife attempted to harden his heart and steel himself against the pity he felt for this small woman.
    “I don’t know what to do,” she whimpered.  “I’m so fucking tired of this.”  She rocked back on her heels and released him to swipe at her tear-stained cheeks before falling back and sprawling on the floor with her arms and legs spread wide as she frowned up at the ceiling, drawing in steadying breaths.  “I hate my life.”  She turned her head to him.  “I wish I was a dog.”  She rolled to her side to stare at him, leaning her head against her upraised palm.  “We could run away, and all we’d have to worry about is each other….and food!”  She rolled to her back again.  “I like food.”  She sighed again.  “I miss food.”
    Miss food?   Suddenly, he remembered peeking into her fridge as she’d been preparing dinner.  Aside from the measly ingredients she’d pulled out for her meal, it didn’t house much else, and that didn’t make sense.
    He turned his head, eyeing her apartment as if seeing it for the first time.  It was…a dive.  Everything looked old and worn out.  None of the furniture matched; hell, the two chairs at the miniscule table didn’t even match