Amanda's Wolves(97)

“How did you find that out?” Joyce asked.

“I saw him in the lobby the first day I interviewed, either by design or accident. And then I saw him yesterday when I went for my second interview. He warned me against taking the job.” She bit her lower lip and groaned. “And I didn’t tell Logan or Sawyer.”

“Why not?” Mary asked.

Joyce giggled. “Because they’re stifling her with their overprotective nature.” She looked back at Amanda. “I can’t blame you, but you need to let them know.”

“I also called Trace. He’s going to make sure the deputies keep an eye on the more prominent members of that congregation.”

“Do you think they would actually try to hurt me?” Amanda asked.

Joyce nodded. “Unfortunately, it’s possible. They weren’t subtle last year when Laurie mated. But there’s a restraining order against them. It obviously doesn’t extend to you, but they’d be idiots to step out of line right now.”

“That’s probably why they have a nineteen-year-old kid doing their dirty work. The best they can do is use him to warn you against the job and take their kids out of my school. If they start snooping around in anything illegal, some people will end up in jail,” Mary added. “Nevertheless, the sheriff is sending someone over to speak to Pastor Edmund and put the fear of God in him.” She used air quotes as she said fear of God.

Amanda laughed. “Good one.”

Mary stood. “I have to get back. I just wanted you to know all that. You’re okay?”

“I’m great.” Amanda stood and walked her sister to the door. “And don’t worry about the job. I’ll be fine. I don’t start until Monday. Maybe someone will get to the bottom of things before then.”

“Hopefully.” Mary gave Amanda another quick hug and waved at Joyce. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Mary.”

“What do you think?” Amanda asked after she shut the door.

Joyce sighed. “Well, I don’t have the same level of sensitivity as my mother Mimi or either of my daughters, Melinda and Laurie, but I don’t get a strong sense that these church people are a serious threat. I could be wrong. Don’t hold me to that, but my gut tells me they’re blowing hot air.”

“I like your gut.” Amanda grinned as she lowered herself back into her chair. A bunch of old people surely weren’t going to start shooting at her or something. And the kid was already sorrowful and shaking for his role.

Amanda checked the church off in her mind as a viable threat.

»»•««

Edmund leaned over his desk and set his elbows on the glossy wood surface. His wife and Florence filed in after Rachel Hanson fled his office almost in tears.

“Did Rachel make herself clear?” Ada asked as she took a seat.

Edmund smirked. “Not quite. It seems Mary Williams is a stubborn woman.”

Florence flinched. “Does that woman value her business? All we have to do is start making phone calls, and we’ll have half her clients pulling out within days.”

“And what do you propose to tell all these families to get them to blindly follow you?” Edmund asked.

Florence smiled. “That her sister has come to town with the intent to upset our entire way of life by desegregating our children and forcing them to attend the same schools with those Indians.”

“That might work,” Ada agreed.

Edmund thought for a moment. “It might. But I think we need to take a firmer immediate stance. I’m going to make a few calls and see what I can come up with.” He had an idea, and he turned toward his wife. “Ada, get Caleb Parker in here. I’ll have the boy follow Amanda again and see where she goes and who she’s with. Maybe we need to address this issue directly with Amanda—force her to see reason.”

Ada jumped up. “I’ll find him.”





Chapter Twenty-Nine


“You are one smokin’ hot lay. You know that, right?” Pete muttered as he nibbled along Veronica’s bottom lip and then across her cheek to her ear.

She giggled beneath him and squirmed. “You aren’t so bad yourself, Sandhouse. You got enough stamina for another round?”

He lifted his face off her pillow and glanced at the clock. “No. Dammit.” He groaned as he hauled his body off her sweet frame and sat on the edge of the bed. For a human, she could give him a run for his money. Corbin really missed out when he gave up this hot piece of ass for a white man and a mixed woman. Fool.

Veronica wasn’t a shifter, but she was at least Native. And she could suck cock like nobody he’d ever met.