Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

I’m not causing any problems here. No, sir, no problems at all.

“Then it’s settled. Kevin will draw up whatever paperwork you need and we will meet here Tuesday morning at eight sharp, where you three will sign it. Sam will you read Quinn in?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Go.” Sal dismissed us with a wave of his hand and Alex gave me a fake nasty look.

I followed him out.

Chapter 20

“WHAT THE HELL, SAM? If I had volunteered you for a job you’d have been pissed. Why’d you do it to me?”

“In the spirit of complete and total honesty, I did it because I need your help and this is a big one. You don’t want AWFA gaining foothold in government offices, do you? Besides you love me and they know where I live. I need my oldest and dearest friend’s help”

Alex sighed, “You’ve got me there. Let’s get you back to your house and assess what we can do to tighten your security.”

“Thanks, Al.”

“Yeah, what are old friends for, if not to rescue you in times of distress?”

“Bitch, please. As if I haven’t saved your ass before. Remember the coke dealer in Miami that was carving up those poor saps who owed him too much? He would have totally gone all Scarface on your ass if I hadn’t come in and saved you.”

“Saved me? As I recall, I decked said dealer and had him in handcuffs less than two seconds after you came in.”

“As I recall, said dealer had a fucking Beretta nine mil against your forehead when I diverted his attention by coming in.”

“Details.” Alex winked at me.

“Let’s go. I’ll drive,” I said, grinning.

“What’ve you got, a VW Bug? No, I’ve got it, you drive an SUV. No, wait, a minivan!”

“You’ll see.”

We walked out of the building and into the lot. My baby sat gleaming under a light, where’d I’d left her before all the carnage. I always park under a light; us chicks can’t be too careful in this world. I hit the unlock button on my key fob. Yeah, I’d added some after-market goodies to my girl. What’s the point of having a cherry car if you don’t have a state of the art sound system and remote start? Birmingham winters get cold sometimes.

“That’s your car?”

“How long have you known me?”

“True. I shouldn’t be surprised at this point. Sweet ride you’ve got there.”

“Yes, yes she is.”

“Who did the resto?”

“I did, along with Quinn and his brother.”

“You dating one of them?”

“What?” His question threw me.

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Not really, why?”

“Would you like to go out to dinner sometime?”

“I, um, I don’t know, Al. It might be weird.” This wasn’t completely unexpected.

We’d fooled around a few times in college. Nothing ever came of it; we always stopped ourselves before it got too hot and heavy.

“Fair enough. Will you let me know when you do, no rush.”

“Um, okay.”

“So, do you want me to make sure your car is secure as well?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never allowed anyone else to touch my baby.” I stroked her dashboard.

“You’re slightly insane. You know that?”

“I do, but tell me this car isn’t worth being slightly insane over.”

“I can’t. You know you don’t have to have an emergency to call me, Sam.”

“I know. I can call you Sam anytime I want. Come on, you know me, Al, I’m not good at keeping in touch because time flies away from me.”

“I understand that. I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” More than I’d thought possible.

“Did you hear about McRory’s Tavern?”

“No, what happened?”

“Old man McRory sold it to his youngest who turned it into some weird sort of fish joint.”

The drive to my place was spent catching up with each other and talking about our old hangouts. I really had missed Alex. He’d been the one who helped me through training. He gave me pep talks when things seemed overwhelming, and sat and listened when I bitched about some misogynistic thing I’d overheard from one of our classmates.

He knew my past and knew me before my jaguar.

The truth was that I hadn’t called him because it was difficult for me. How do I talk to the guy who remembered me as a sweet human? When I became a shifter I went through a period of finding myself again. It was painful and difficult, and the Sam I uncovered was not the same girl who started Quantico with Alex. I was more self-assured and at ease in my skin. I was quicker to speak up than I had been.

In many ways I felt that the new me just wasn’t the same person he’d known and, for the longest time, I thought he wouldn’t like the me I was becoming. I wasn’t the same mousy kid that he’d known. I was a predator now. In fact, I was a fearsome bunny chewing brute. I was afraid that if he saw me he wouldn’t like what I’d become, and he was such a dear friend I wanted to keep some happy memories with him, so I left him where it was safe—in my past, until today.

“This really is a sweet ride. You said you rebuilt her yourself?”

“Me, Quinn, and Chad, Quinn’s brother.”

“That’s really cool. You guys did a beautiful job.”

“Thanks. I’m proud of her.”

“You should be. You know something, you’ve really changed.”

Oh, boy, here it comes. The old glad-we’re-friends speech. Why is it that guys find women who can handle themselves so intimidating?

“Yup. I told you about becoming a shifter. It’s really made an impact on me. Not just physically. I’m more confident, freer, and happier even. I do what I want, when I want. I speak up when I want to and I haven’t been on a bad date since because I have been able to refuse all cupid attempts from well-meaning friends.”

“I’m glad to hear you’re happier. I know life hasn’t been kind to you. It’s really good to see you happy. So, tell me about these cupid attempts.