“Not Rory,” Laura Jane said, still managing to keep her voice sweet and sultry. “I’m talking about Ricky Lee.”

“Oh. Yeah. He’s in Russia.” He took a big bite of his sandwich, chewed a bit, then added, “I’m sure it had nothing to do with you, though.”

Laura Jane cleared her throat and wiped away the bit of cheesesteak that had hit her cheek. Lord, he was rude. Rude!

The She-wolf tried again, moving closer to him on the bench, making sure to lean in so he could see down her top. Nope. No bra there. Although one was sorely needed.

“You know, Reece Lee, I’ve been hearing such good things about you on the hockey team.”

“Really? Because most say I’m just a big ol’ battering ram. ‘No technique,’ I hear a lot. No style. All abuse.”

“That’s kind of sexy.”

“Really? My momma says it’s sad that she’ll end up taking care of me when I become brain damaged.”

Reece could see Laura Jane’s patience beginning to wane, but she was on a mission, so she’d hold it back if she could. He wondered what she was up to. Was she really so desperate that she thought getting between the Reed Boys was a good idea? Or, more important, even possible?

The title “Reed Boys” was not given out lightly to just any Reed males. Siblings had to earn it and then keep it, and they kept it with loyalty. Reece might torment his brother on a daily, sometimes even an hourly, basis, but that didn’t mean he’d ever screw a woman Ricky was interested in.

What Laura Jane didn’t realize was that Reece could fuck her on this bench, in front of God and everybody, and he was positive Ricky Lee wouldn’t give a damn. He wouldn’t have given a damn two weeks ago, but he especially wouldn’t give a damn now. Not with that little She-jackal in his sights. He knew what had Ricky fascinated, too. It was probably that hair. All wild and curly, it always looked like Toni had just rolled out of bed after a great night of sex. There were few men who could resist that sort of thing.

Still, Reece did want to know what Laura Jane was planning. As it was, she’d effectively wound up his sister. So much so that Ronnie Lee had actually called back to Tennessee to complain. Ronnie Lee did not call back to Tennessee for much. Even when she got pregnant, it was Reece who told their daddy, who told their momma, who called Ronnie Lee to yell at her about not calling home herself. See? That’s how families were supposed to work. In a nice, complete circle of annoyance.

“You know, Reece,” Laura Jane softly suggested, her boob now brushing his arm. “Why don’t you and I go somewhere and talk. I’m worried about Ricky Lee. I swear I didn’t come here to cause him any problems.”

To be honest, Reece would rather throw himself off amountain, but to find out what this self-centered little twat was up to—

“Hey,” a low voice snapped at him. “Hillbilly. Are you coming or not? I’ve been waiting for you.”

Reece looked up at the tiny female who smelled like nothing he could remember scenting before. She wasn’t a hybrid, but she wasn’t any breed or species he’d been around. And she wouldn’t tell him what she was. So what was she? It was driving him nuts!

“You have?”

“I’m taking your picture. Remember?”

“You’re the photographer, huh?” Reece shrugged. “Okay, uh . . .”

“Livy.” She motioned with her head. “Come on.”

Reece began to stand, but Laura Jane gripped his arm with surprisingly strong hands. “Excuse you,” the one-time debutante practically barked at Livy. “But we were talking.”

“And we have an appointment, so fuck off.”

Laura Jane slowly stood. “Are you really coming at me?”

“Lady, I’m trying to be nice to you. But I wouldn’t push your luck with me.”

“You? Tiny little hybrid freak? What are you going to do?”

“Morally reprehensible things that most good people would be appalled by.”

The She-wolf gawked at Livy, unused to not only the flat tone but the weirdly phrased threat.

Laura Jane looked at Reece, but all he could do was shrug. What did she expect from him?

Disgusted by his lack of reaction, Laura Jane glowered down at Livy. “Get out of my sight, freak,” she ordered.

Reece didn’t know Livy well, but something told him it wasn’t the words that had upset her, but the shove Laura Jane added to those words, her hands harshly pushing at the smaller woman’s shoulders. Because that’s when the butterfly knife was expertly flicked open and sliced across Laura Jane’s arm.

Shocked—shifters fought shifters only with fangs and claws; never weapons—Laura Jane stumbled back from Livy. The pint-size female slashed the blade again, this time cutting across Laura Jane’s chest. Reece saw blood from both wounds.

The blade was flicked closed and slipped into the back pocket of Livy’s jeans, and then she pulled back one hand, claws out, and slapped Laura Jane across the face and neck. Livy kicked the She-wolf to the ground and landed on top of her, her hands slapping Laura Jane over and over again until the She-wolf was out cold and covered in her own blood.

Livy got up, cracked her neck, and walked over to Reece. He stared at her, wondering whether she was about to slap him around. But she grabbed the other half of his cheesesteak and began eating.

“So are we going to do this or what?” she calmly asked.