Page 18 of Adored By the Wolf
“But you should also have a copy of all the transactions,” I pointed out.
“Lillian does it all the time, so it was no big deal. She said she’d make a copy and send the paperwork directly to Dad.”
“Lira!”
“What? Don’t look at me like that. You know I hate paperwork.”
She looked visibly confused, and I shook my head in annoyance. “You’re supposed to get the paperwork from the gallery owner. Mom and Dad don’t like dealing with paperwork either. They are going to be so mad that it got sent to them.”
“They can just set it aside, and I’ll do it later.”
“Which you’ll never do.”
She looked at me with doe eyes. “Can you do it for me?”
I rolled my eyes, knowing that was coming. “You are so annoying!”
“Thanks, big sis!” Lira said, coming over to give me a hug.
“I’m younger by a minute!”
“But you always take care of me like a big sister should. I love you.”
But the words didn’t make me forgive her this time. There was an awareness I would forever be under Lira’s thumb if she kept pulling these stunts. Anger welled and I lashed out. “I’m not taking care of you anymore, Lira! I shouldn’t have even been here this week as it was my time off! I should have been on the beach, soaking up the sun and enjoying some bubble gum books.”
“Bubble gum books?”
My mouth dropped open. “Is that all you got out of what I just said?”
“But, bubble gum books? What are you talking about?”
“Ahh!” I pulled at my hair and walked away from Lira. Grabbing my purse off the side table, I exited my apartment and headed to the elevator. I needed to calm down before calling Lillian. She didn’t need to know how Lira drove me crazy.
Before the elevator doors closed, I saw Lira poke her head out of my apartment door and heard her call out again, “But what in the world are bubble gum books?”
Jacob
Bruno came backthe next morning. He looked worse than before he ran away.
“Did a tree fall on you while you were running around?” I asked him.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
That response gave me pause. “Hey, what’s going on?” I put my hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged my hand off and continued into the kitchen, where he proceeded to dig through the fridge.
“Bruno, either you tell me what’s going on or I’ll go find Luc and Brandon, and we will all corner you until you cave.”
That got his attention, and he stood up straight to look me in the eyes. There was a storm going on inside of him, and I was going to dig out whatever was bothering him, no matter if he liked it or not.
“You really want to know what’s going on with me?”
“Yes! You’re my brother and best friend. We never keep stuff from each other.”
He swallowed. “Even if it affects your mate?”
A deep sense of foreboding coursed through me, and my wolf came front and center, ready to pounce at the threat to my mate. Clenching my hands, I willed him to calm down and promised to let him out as soon as I was done with Bruno.