Read Online Patrick's Heart by Stacey Espino - Free Book Online Page B

me.”
    “Who? Your boyfriend?” Peter scoffed. “He thinks I’m your brother. If he shows up, I’ll make sure he never bothers us again.”
    Now she wasn’t sure if she wanted Matthew to show up and save the day or not. She didn’t want him hurt, and Peter was just unbalanced enough to become dangerously violent. Cassidy tried to remember what was public knowledge at the office. She was certain she’d mentioned looking for her brother, Scott, on more than one occasion. When she got her inheritance, it was hard not to spread her joy that she was moving up in her life. Peter must have taken in all her information to use against her—but why?
    “Why are you doing this to me?”
    He stepped closer, but she had nowhere to go with the stone wall behind her. “You’ll understand soon enough. We’re made for each other, Cassidy. You’re the only woman to ever rouse such an interest in me. I knew you had to be the one from the first day you started work.”
    “That’s not my problem. You can’t force someone to love you, Peter.”
    “If you can love that oversized brute, you can learn to love me.” He lunged forward and grabbed her shirt so she couldn’t escape. Cassidy instinctively screamed, all her life-and-death experiences coming back to haunt her. Why couldn’t she just live happily ever after without every nutbar in the country trying to ruin things for her?
    She struggled for all she was worth. Even though Peter wasn’t a big man, he was strong and wiry. She continued to scream until a sound more terrifying than her predicament brought her to silence. The deep, low growl of a predator was unmistakable. Before she could spot the beast, Peter twisted her around, his forearm around her throat. He was using her as a human shield to protect himself from the lone wolf. Its lips were pulled back off its lethal fangs, and its ears were back. But was it her red wolf or a feral beast capable of tearing her to shreds?
    “Back!” Peter shouted, kicking dirt at the wolf. “Get!”
    Cassidy whimpered when he tightened his hold around her neck. The sound acted as a catalyst for the wolf to act. It sprung forward, avoiding her and sinking its fangs into Peter’s thigh. She knew enough to get out of the danger zone while the attention was off of her. She crawled away after being tossed down, only getting to her feet once at a safe distance. The wolf was attacking, and Peter was screaming out for help. As much as she loathed him right now, she couldn’t stand to see anyone suffer so greatly.
    “Patrick!” she dared to call out. It was a gamble. If the red wolf wasn’t her Viking, then she was shit out of luck by bringing attention to herself.
    The animal recognized the name. It turned its head and looked directly at her. Those eyes. Cassidy knew in a moment that it was the wolf she’d met before—once by the river and then in the forest after Patrick shifted forms.
    The distraction gave Peter enough time to scramble away, disappearing into the dark interior of the forest. The red wolf huffed and tossed its head. Its chest was still heaving, ears back. As it gradually approached her, its threatening posture eased, bringing down her nerves. It settled on the ground a few feet away, watching her, waiting.
    “You’re Patrick?” She was talking to a wolf. It was wrong on so many levels, but this was the life she’d chosen.
    There was no response.
    “Thank you for saving me. That jerk worked at my call center in the city. He’s a few screws loose. Well, maybe a lot of screws loose.” It felt better to talk than remain silent. The awkward tension grew the longer the wolf stared at her with those intelligent eyes. Was he going to shift again? She couldn’t even say with one hundred percent certainty that the wolf was indeed Patrick. Where the fuck was Matthew?
    Suddenly, the wolf’s ear pricked up. It rose to its feet, its attention focused on the path leading to her house. Two other wild wolves emerged into