Christ, did he want to.

“Fine. But you promised.”

Sissy squealed and pulled open the door. The fact that the car was unlocked, even in this barn, was a testament to the safety of this little town. It was run by predators, however. So steal at your own risk.

The engine turned over, and like a well-fed puma, it purred to life. Mitch squirmed a bit in the seat.

“Whatever you’re doing over there…stop it.”

“Can’t help it.” Mitch reached over to the radio Sissy had put in. It had a cassette player, and Mitch smiled, remembering his own. “Let’s see what tunes our lovely Sissy used to listen to back in the day.” He turned it on and after a few bars, looked at her. “Sissy…honestly.”

“What? This is my ‘get out of town’ tunes.”

“Led Zeppelin’s ‘Ramble On’?”

“And Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’ and Golden Earring’s ‘Radar Love.’ If it was about driving away or leaving, it was on this cassette. So sit back and enjoy the Sissy experience.”

“There’s so much to mock there, I’ll just leave it alone.”

Slowly, she pulled out of the barn, and Sammy Ray’s kids stood on the porch with their mother, chanting, “Clyde, Clyde, Clyde,” over and over again.

“Remember what you promised me, Sissy Mae Smith.”

She sighed. “I remember, you big wussy.”

The way she drove? Damn right he was a wuss.

Francine Lewis looked up from her accounting paperwork, scowling as her younger sister came rushing through her office door. She didn’t have a lot of time in the day to manage the money side of their business, and any interruptions annoyed her. When they closed their pie shop at the end of the day, Francine didn’t want to worry about anything. Instead, she liked to go home to her mate and relax, maybe hunt something down.

“What is it, Janette?”

“The old woman has been at Sissy again.”

Francine’s hand paused over the adding machine. “When?”

“Two nights ago.”

“And?”

“You know Sissy. She put ’em off, but I don’t like it.” Janette dropped in the chair across from her sister’s desk. “If Janie comes back and finds out—”

“Okay. Stop. This is Sissy we’re talking about. She’s not stupid, and let’s face it, she’s got that big cat to care for.”

“She offers all them Smiths power. And Sissy likes power.”

“She’s just like her momma when it comes to that. But Sissy likes power she has full control over.” Francine pushed her hair out of her face, annoyed it was in her eyes. “No, I don’t think we have anything to worry about. She knows to stay away fromthem.”

“I hope you’re right.”

So did Francine. They couldn’t afford to lose Sissy to that bitch on the hill. They’d never get her back if that ever happened. And no one really knew the extent that woman would go to obtain and keep her power. And she’d go further than most.

“I trust Sissy. She’s crazy, but she won’t do anything that will make her stay here forever.”

Janette snorted a laugh. “You got a point there.”

Chapter 11

Sissy tooled Mitch around town for a good two hours, showing him her high school, where she and her crew of junior She-wolves used to hang out when they weren’t picking on the weaker Omegas. Even where she’d been arrested the first time.

“And see that tree over there?” she asked him, pointing at the giant oak off the main road.

“Yeah.”

“I fucked under that tree.” She nodded at the memory. “It was nice.”

“And thank you for that visual.”

What Mitch didn’t know was she couldn’t remember having this much fun before with a man when sex wasn’t involved. Most guys bored her right quick, and on more than one occasion, she’d looked at Ronnie and said, “I think those lion females have the right idea. Fuckin’ and protection only. Not sure what else good they’re for.” Then she’d go back to hanging out with her She-wolves who, even when they annoyed the living hell out of her, she found vastly entertaining.

But she simply liked having Mitch around. He made her laugh…and not just at him either.

“I don’t know why I’m bothering asking but…you hungry?”

“I thought you’d never ask. I’m starving.”

“Shocking.” She thought a moment. “There’s a steak house near the edge of town. It gets a mixed clientele, but the food is really good.”

“Good enough.”

“And since your kind comes in now and again,” she said, pulling up to a light, “they should have enough to feed your bottomless pit of a stomach.”

Sitting at the light, the sound of an engine revving beside them had Sissy leaning over Mitch to look through the window. Immediately, she grinned.

“Roll down the window.”

Mitch did, his mouth open in shock.

“What are y’all doin’ here? I thought we were gonna wait—”

“Trust me. We had to come. But we can catch up later.” Ronnie Lee grinned from the comfort of her ’71 yellow Barracuda, glancing up at the light and back at Sissy.

Now Sissy grinned as the pair stared at each other.

“Don’t even think it,” Brendon Shaw warned his mate. “I mean it, Ronnie Lee.”