Page 41 of Demon Rejected

“What?"

Ziggy promised me that as soon as my training evolved enough, I’ll get a chance to work in the field.

“Eat up first. Then we go for a ride and talk."

I did as he told me, then whispered to Cello that I’d stop by later tonight at her place and have something to tell her. Ziggy and I left HQ on his bike. My body stopped protesting. I even learned to ride that damn thing all by myself. It still was not my favorite mode of transportation, but who was I to complain. My friendship with Ziggy put me high up in the food chain. We left the city and arrived at a lovely, somewhat secluded property--Ziggy’s place. I was there before, and I started to feel at home.

Ziggy led the way, took two beers out of the fridge, and sat on the back porch.

Kicking my feet up, I took a swig from the bottle. I don’t particularly like beer, but Ziggy has only filtered coffee, and I hate that shit.

“Scarlett, I was able to get you on a mission with my team, if you want to. I want to brief you first. If you think it’s a bit too close for comfort, let me know, I won’t hold it against you if you back down."

“You’re killing me. Talk already."

Ziggy frowned, his eyebrows creased. He was still handsome, a bear of a man, all muscles with the sexiest laugh.

“You need to work as a stripper."

“What?" The beer almost left through my nostrils. I choked and started to cough. “A stripper? You do know what that is, right?"

He hit me softly on my back. I wiped my mouth in my sleeve and looked at him with crazy eyes. His green eyes sparkled with delight.

“I’m hunting a dangerous guy. He’s not only involved in human trafficking, he’s also into shifter trafficking. I think he was part of the H clinic before Matt burned it down."

Hearing the name Matt made my stomach hurt. My poor wolf started to howl in pain after her lost mate. I could feel the burn, the liquid lava that filled my scars each time I thought of Matt.

“They got Matt. I was at his place. He’s gone, and the young guy he was training was dead. Matt would have never left the kid to fare for itself."

I had to take a long deep breath. “Is Matt dead, too?"

“No, I don’t think so. I searched the entire area. I think they want information from Matt."

“What can Matt tell them? He’s just a trainer for young shifters?”

“You don’t know, huh?"

“Know what, that he can be an ass, yeah, I know that."

Ziggy pushed his hair back from his forehead, the locks of dark chocolate brown and auburn shining under the soft spring sun. “Scarlett, I hate asking you this because it’s none of my business, but the situation changed. Is Matt your fated mate?"

I bit my lips. Hot tears started to stream out, and I felt that I couldn’t control my pain. As if I was relieving that horrible day when Matt rejected me again and again. I nodded. Ziggy wrapped his strong arms around me, and I lost myself in his scent. His hair smelled like mint. I unlocked the secret of his herbal shampoo a while ago. My breath hitched and my soul felt like cracking.

“I hate making you suffer. You know that."

I mumbled something that I couldn’t understand.

His hands moved on my back and he pushed me gently away. Ziggy pulled an elegant handkerchief out of his pocket. It was silk and soft and smelled like him. I started wiping away my tears.

“I’d gladly beat the fuck out of Matt myself for making you suffer, but I can’t let his old ass get tortured and killed. Did he reject you?"

I nodded.

“Oh dear. Stupid fuck."

“Tell me about the mission," I said, trying to push my heartache away with another swig from the bottle.

“The guy who runs things owns a strip club hangs out there most of the time. He’s human, so he can’t feel you. You’re a new face, and I know that he has a weak spot for redheads. I need you to get close to him and find out whatever you can. Do you think that you are up to it?"