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"Who are you ?"

The ru?"

"What’s with the tone?" Because she didn’t like it at all His easygoing charone, and the dark predatory streak that he hid seemed to take over

"Answer the question, Frankie"

"And just ould you think it had a da to do with me" He went nose to nose with her and whispered, "I don’t share"

She narrowed her eyes "I’m not yours to share"

"You will be"

Frankie really wished those words pissed her off Instead the possessive stately Her wolf liked it "Is that a fact?"

"It is" He cupped her chin "When I’m sure that you’re ready, I’ll co his voice, he coaxed, "TellI need time to look them up, find their address, and beat the shit out of the Really, time is of the essence here"

She wouldn’t smile, Frankie promised herself She wouldn’t But she did "My uncle I’ my uncle And I would prefer it if you didn’t beat hilint receded from his eyes

"There Was that so hard?" Trick brushed his mouth over hers "Don’t worry; your uncle’s safe from me" Unless the human hurt her in any way, that was Trick wouldn’t tolerate that Releasing her, he stepped back "Come on, time to eat"

Back inside the caves, Trick escorted her to the kitchen and seated her beside hi table Frankie noticed that he didn’t look happy when Dominic sat opposite her, and he even tossed the blond enforcer a warning look that made hilanced around the table People were talking, laughing, teasing, and--in the case of Dexter--stuffing food in their pockets Frankie hadn’t grown up in a house full of laughter Meal tiht conversation, but no funny stories oraround the pack ell, odd Not bad odd, but different The way they all lived together, ate together, held different roles, constantly touched each otherMaybe it should have been off-putting, since it was so unfamiliar, but she liked it At the sa on the outskirts of a secret club, having a peek of ent on inside, but only being an observer Not that they ignored her or anything No, they included her in their conversations and told her things about themselves--particularly Jaime, who also shared some funny stories from their childhood

One such story made Frankie’s head jerk back "I would never eat a beetle"

"You didn’t eat it, but you did chew it So did I Then we both spat the irlfriend at the time"

Dante winced "Yeah, I remember that She screamed like a banshee" His eyes dropped to the oversize, odd-looking ginger cat that suddenly sprang onto his ht back--like they were engaged in some kind of dominance battle Then the cat hissed, and Dante snapped his teeth

Jaime cuddled the cat close to her "Popeye, leave him alone Frankie, this is Hunk"

Frankie’s brows lifted "Really? He’scute" Lie

"So, Frankie," began Do forward "What time do you have to be back in heaven?"

"Oh, for God’s sake," Lydia burst out "No, Doe of innocence "What?"

"Don’t mind Dominic," Taryn told Frankie "He says cheesy lines to just about everyone"

"I mean it, Dominic," Lydia said sternly "Leave her alone"