Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(79)

Shelly shot Catty a glare. It was clear she didn’t want her anywhere near Mike.

Stupid girl. He’d brainwashed the college student into thinking she was the only woman in his life. He was probably trying to coax her into stripping at his club.

“Fine.” Shelly took the keys and slammed the door behind her.

“I don’t know. It’s really late. Don’t you think you should just go on home?” Mrs. Willis frowned as she worried the top of the cane with her finger.

Big Mike pulled out his gun and aimed it at the old woman’s head.

“No.”

Big Mike smiled.

“I mean, no, I don’t think it’s too late for dinner. I’ve not eaten so it’s… fine.” She wasn’t sure how she got the words out or exactly what she said. She just didn’t want Big Mike to hurt her friend.

“Good.” Big Mike holstered his gun and held out his hand. “Let’s get going then.”

“Bye, Mrs. Willis.” Catty gave the old woman a hug and a tear ran down her face. She scrubbed it away with the back of her hand and walked over to Big Mike.

She trembled under the evil of his smile. He placed his hand around her shoulder and walked out the door.

“If you try to run, I will shoot you. Then I’ll drag you back to the club and show you what happens to girls who go against me,” he whispered near her ear.

“I’m not a slave. I can come and go all I want. You don’t control me.” She hissed.

He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her inside the car. Shelly turned around and shot her glare. “Why is she here? You said you wanted to meet my family, Mike. That didn’t include her.”

Big Mike followed her in the back seat and slammed the door. He looked at Shelly and forced a smile. “Sweetheart, I need you to drive back to the Triple X.”

“But…”

“Shelly, if you don’t put your fucking foot on the pedal I’m going to crawl up in the front seat and show you pain you’ve never felt before.” He growled.

Shelly blinked and then pulled out into the street.

“Shelly, I don’t know what he’s told you, but he’s not what he seems. He’s a monster.” Catty blurted out.

“Ha. I can’t believe you, Catty. You are such a whore. I know your type. You aren't satisfied with the man you got, you want more. You and what’s his name, Lucien? He’s plenty of man for any girl but now you want Big Mike too.” She glared at her through the rear view mirror. “Well you know what? He’s mine.”

“He doesn’t care for you, Shelly. He doesn't care for anyone but himself.”

Big Mike brought his hand down across her cheek. Stars splintered before her eyes as she screamed in pain.

Shelly looked over her shoulder, fear creeping across her face. “What are you doing?” Her voice trembled and her wide-eyed stare looked at them.

“Shut up or you’re next.” He glared.

Shelly turned around and put the car in drive.

“You see, I’ve had someone following you for weeks now, Catty. I knew all about your friend Mrs. Willis. I didn’t have a problem with that old bat. But when I got wind of you hanging out with a large biker guy, I knew something was up. It was a stroke of luck when Shelly came into the Triple X wanting a job.”

“Shelly, why would you want to work in a strip club? You’re already in college.” Catty glared at her in the mirror.

“I’m not doing well in my classes.” Shelly looked at her in the rear view mirror. “I’m going to lose my scholarship for next semester. I heard how much money strippers make and hoped to make enough to pay for my tuition.”

“You’ve been taking things from your grandmother, haven’t you. Like the silver tray.”

Shelly’s face heated and she looked away. It was all the confirmation Catty needed.

“He’s never going to let you go back to college if you start stripping for him.” She met Shelley’s gaze. “He won’t ever let you leave the club once you start working there.”

“Shut the hell up.” Big Mike slapped her across her cheek. Stars burst behind her eyes and she buried her face in her arms.

“Anyway, after talking to Shelly, I realized she was Mrs. Willis’s granddaughter. I told her to keep an eye on you for me. She told me all about your friend Lucien and how he made a visit to Mrs. Willis’s house.”

Catty’s heart sank to her toes. Fear pounded in her heart and she tried the door handle. It didn’t budge.

He bent near her ear and whispered. “Would you like to know that the Pack Master of Louisiana doesn’t like Arkansas werewolves, especially Guardians in his state, nosing around?”