Between the Bear's Sheets (Wylde Brothers 2)

The night was closing in, and she could see it was time for her to take Luke home. He was far too drunk to even speak in full sentences, and that broke her heart all over again.

“I should probably take Luke back to my hotel, since the wedding is off.”

That had Ford’s eyebrows lifting and him glancing back at her brother. “Man, she did a number on him, too.” It wasn’t a question. She went to grab Luke’s arm, but Ford shook his head and took a step closer. “Let me get him, baby. Here, pay the tab.” He handed her a wad of cash and leaned down to give her a long, drugging kiss.

“I’m good. I’m good.” Her brother stood but wobbled slightly. His words were slurred, and she had a moment of regret for letting him get the way he was, but then she heard the voice that sounded like nails on a chalkboard, and her anger went to nuclear levels. Turning around, she came face-to-face with Mina. For a moment, all she saw was a red haze, but she reined in her temper and took a deep breath.

Mina looked behind Talia’s shoulder, and her eyes widened. There was a shot of lust that came from her, and Talia knew it was because she was looking right at Ford. That had her inner fox rising to the surface. “I figured you’d be slumming it at one of the only two bars in town. I thought we could work out whatever it is you think is wrong, Luke, but apparently you’d rather get drunk.” The way Mina looked at Talia and curled her lip in disgust led Talia to believe she would have liked to say more on the subject. For whatever reason, she kept her mouth shut.

“Listen, I don’t think now is a good time to talk about anything, especially since Luke explained pretty clearly that things between the two of you are over.” Talia said it as nicely as possible.

“You’ve never wanted your brother and me to be together.” Mina gave her a onceover, the distaste on her face evident. “I don’t need to be an animal to smell the jealousy all over you, Talia. It isn’t my fault you got stuck with the less than favorable genes.” Mina crossed her arms under her chest, successfully popping the huge mounds up and in everyone’s face.

Mina looked at Ford, who was now standing behind Talia, and then back at her. Realization dawned on the human, and her eyes narrowed.

“Are you kidding me, Ford? This is what you’ve moved on to?”

This fucking bitch. Talia stiffened at the condescending tone. A glance over her shoulder showed Luke had taken a step forward. He wobbled slightly and braced his hand on the table to hold himself up.

“You are way out of line, Mina, and showing exactly how tacky and tasteless you really are.” Ford’s voice was loud and deep enough that the whole bar could hear, and this was verified when everything and everyone became utterly quiet.

“I told you it was over, Mina. I don’t care who gets pissed at it.” Luke stood to his full six-foot-two height and was surprisingly steady despite his glossed-over eyes and less than clear speech. “I shouldn’t have let it get as far as it did, and I’m sorry about that, but you said things that can’t be taken back, did things I will never forget, and have disrespected far too many people I care about. I’m not going to get into this with you again, especially with a crowd, but just know I can’t do this anymore.”

“Luke, we can discuss this later tonight back at my family’s estate.”

“No, Mina.” He shook his head. “Talia, I’ll meet you back in the car.” Mina tried to stop him, but whatever look he gave her had her snapping her mouth closed and grinding her teeth.

“This is all your fault.” Mina rounded back at Talia and bared her teeth like she had an animal inside her. “For the past two years, you never liked me, and, honey, the feeling is mutual.” Mina curled her lip. “It’s not my fault your social status is less than dog shit.”

Ford took a step forward and growled low in his throat, but Talia had had enough of this bitch. “No, Ford.” She curled her hands into fists, and right when Mina smiled in the way that always made Talia feel like she was the gum on the bottom of Mina’s heel, she reared her arm back and clocked the bitch right in the side of the face.

Mina gasped and stumbled back, covering her cheek with a hand. Her mouth opened and closed, but before she could mouth off once again, Talia said, “Say something else, bitch, because I can do this all night with you.”