River Wolf(81)
“Samantha?” That was her name, right? “You’re Luc’s sister.” One of them.
The woman inclined her head, then folded her arms. She didn’t offer any apology for scaring the crap out of her. “That’s me. You’re Colby, the girl who brought Luc home then dumped him for the guy with more power.”
Colby blinked. What the… “I’m sorry, what?”
“You heard me. You go to all the trouble of dragging my wounded brother back here, then dump him the first moment Brett Dalton beckons. I can’t blame you. Brett’s hot and Luc’s a dumbass sometimes. But I’ll tell you right now, Luc knows loyalty in a way Brett has long forgotten.”
Retrieving her fallen SUNY folder, Colby tried to wrap her mind around the venom dripping every word. “Okay, why do I feel like I just stepped into an episode of Days of Our Lives?”
The joke had zero effect on Samantha’s narrowed eyes or unfriendly expression. “Look, you seemed like a nice girl. So I’m going to do you the favor no one else will dare. I can do it because I’m leaving.”
Somehow, she didn’t think whatever Samantha had to say bore anything remotely resembling a favor. Not even by a stretch. Sheltered childhood aside, Colby hadn’t been born yesterday. “Well, don’t let the door kick you in the ass on the way out.”
The other woman blinked. “Excuse me?”
Colby held up one finger. “I don’t know you.” She added a second finger. “Being Luc’s sister doesn’t give you the right to be a bitch to me.” Then a final third finger. “I don’t want any favors. So, don’t let the door kick you in the ass on your way out.”
In a flash, Samantha straightened and charged across the distance separating them. She was tall, like Luc, and trim, but Colby dealt with recalcitrant patients all the time. Big didn’t mean better. Standing her ground, she locked gazes with the other woman.
“Are you seriously trying to stare me down? What, are we twelve?” Shouldn’t Samantha have outgrown the high school bullshit by now? Colby certainly had. Luc didn’t intimidate her with all his snarling, she sure as hell wasn’t going to take it from his blonde bimbo of a sister.
“You can fuck him all you like. He isn’t here to protect you.” The snarl in her voice came from deeper within, almost animalistic in nature, and her blue eyes went yellow-gold.
What the… No way it was a trick of the light. A memory tore loose inside her mind. Luc’s eyes flashing yellow in the room when he was angry. The glimpse of gold shimmering across Brett’s eyes the night before, how his black eyes seemed to absorb all the firelight.
The two wolves racing from the woods—then returning only to be a nude man followed by a wolf.
She blinked slowly. The déjà vu crawling over her couldn’t be ignored. Another acid flashback? Samantha grabbed her arm and Colby twisted, slammed her elbow down on the soft skin over the other woman’s joint. The elbow was one of the toughest bones in the body. Samantha’s hand spasmed open, releasing her and Colby slugged her.
Blood spurted from the other woman’s lip. The copper scent burned her nostrils. She hadn’t aimed for her nose because she just wanted her to let go. Samantha shook her head and charged forward. Shoving a chair into her path, Colby darted away. The crash of woman slamming into the wicker, then hit the stone pavement, which ended with a deeper snarl on her part.
Lunging to her feet, Samantha’s wild expression took on one of icy intent. For the first time, fear slithered down Colby’s spine. This wasn’t a chick fight. The chick was batshit crazy.
“Stop.” Luc’s voice cut through the insanity, and Samantha growled. “Sam, don’t fuck with me.”
The man in question wobbled toward the stone steps. Limping—freaking walking—on his right leg while his left remained in a splint.
“She’s part of the problem. And so is he. I asked you to come home to fix this and take him out and instead you bring her and…” The words washed over her and didn’t make any sense. Colby’s knuckles hurt and she couldn’t look away from Luc inching forward. Every step had to be an agony.
How the hell was he walking? Broken arm. Broken ribs. Skull fracture. Two broken legs. Six days before he’d lost consciousness and he hadn’t been able to move without someone carrying him or a wheelchair.
“Sam,” Luc repeated her name, his gaze locked on his sister as he continued toward her. Despite the limping and the obvious strain, there was a deadly intent to his stride. “Back. Down. Now.” Every word punched the other woman and her fists lowered, then finally her shoulders.