Wolf with Benefits
Page 69
Rickys grin was huge. Well, all right then.
This isnt about you, hillbilly. Livy looked down at Toni. You need to calm down. You cant go around killing your relatives. Even when they deserve it. As you know, Ive tried and it just didnt work out well for me. Those ankle bracelets they use to monitor your movements are really not comfortable.
That horrible bitch is using my baby brother to scam people.
Who? Ricky asked.
Livy smirked. Delilah.
The blonde?
Yeah, Livy replied. And what really bothers you, Livy said to Toni, isnt that its just one of your siblings, but that its Freddy.
Because Freddys the only one she could scam into doing this. Kyle and Oriana wont go near her. Zia and Zoe cry whenever shes around. Troy could do it and probably would, but hes such a ballbuster, hed want hard cash from counting cards. And hed never believe that orphans story.
Hands in the front pockets of his jeans, Ricky asked, Isnt Troy, like . . . nine?
Your point? Livy asked.
And not to be indelicate, but . . . arent yall kind of rich?
Kind of rich? Toni pushed Livy off her and dragged herself up until she was sitting. My mother could buy the property were currently sitting in outright . . . and in cash. But my sister likes to scam people for money. Do you know why?
Just another bored rich girl?
I wish. The twins are bored little rich girls. I can handle bored little rich girls.
But sociopaths . . . Livy muttered.
Now come on, Ricky said. I took psychology in college
You went to college? Livy asked, which got her a punch in the ribs from Toni. Ow! It was just a goddamn question.
and yall shouldnt be bantering around words like sociopath when youre talking about a family member.
Believe what you want. Toni swung her legs over the edge of the bed so that she and Livy were sitting right next to each other. Toni thought a minute and decided what she had to do.
Ive made my decision. I obviously cant go on this trip. I cant go.
Thats when Livy slammed Toni to the floor and pinned her therebecause the woman simply didnt know the meaning of the word subtle.
Ricky grabbed the small but surprisingly strong and vicious female off of Toni.
Tell her, Livy ordered him once hed gotten her off Toni. Tell her that she is going.
How can I go now? Toni shot back. At first I thought I just needed to deal with the schedule issue, which is challenge enough. But now . . . after what Ive found out about Delilah?
Excuses! Livy accused, pointing a damning finger at Toni. Youre using bullshit excuses to get out of this. Becauseyoure scared.
Theyre bears! Of course Im scared!
Not of the bears, you idiot. Livy swung her arms until Ricky was forced to drop her. Then she re-adjusted her T-shirt and denim mini-skirt. Youre scared of change. Youre scared of taking this chance and going out on your own.
They need me.
Because youve made them helpless. Which, Id like to remind you, is not your job. Your job as the eldest jackal sibling is to prepare them for life on their own.
But what about Delilah? Toni demanded. Shes a problem all on her own.
Isnt that something your parents should be concerned with? Ricky asked.
My parents are in denial. Im not.
Ill watch out for Freddy, Livy said.
I cant ask you to
Ill watch out for Freddy, so just suck-it-the-fuck-up already.
Dont curse at me, whore!
Birthing cow!
All right! Ricky cut in before he was hurt trying to stop these two females from getting into a claw match. Thats it! He focused on Toni. The bottom line is, if you dont take this trip, I can assure you that Cella Malone is going to fire your ass, no matter whose cousin you are.
I dont care, Toni said, her voice firm. Let her fire me. Im not leaving. At least not until we get things . . . organized.
Organized?
Right. Once I get their schedules organized, everything will be fine. Thatll just take me a couple of days. Cella wont mind that, Im sure.
Toni walked out, leaving Ricky and Livy standing there, gazing at the open door.
Will that Cella Malone chick mind that? Livy asked him.
She sure will.
Then we have to take away her excuses.
Ricky shrugged. I may have an idea. He pulled out his phone. But my baby brother wont like it.
Your baby brother? Was that the other wolf who was in the office with us?
Yep.
Then I dont give a shit he wont like it.
Ricky laughed and began making calls.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Paul stepped out of the cab and held his hand out so that Jackie could grab it. He helped her out and then held his hand out for Irene. She, as always, completely ignored it, and got out on her own. He didnt take that personally, though. He never had. It was one of the main reasons theyd gotten along so well. Paul never took anything Irene did personally. She was so brutally direct and unwaveringly honest, it didnt make sense to get all worked up when she said things like, Id prefer you not touch me or Are you staring at me because you have a question or because youre planning to kill me at your earliest convenience?
This isnt about you, hillbilly. Livy looked down at Toni. You need to calm down. You cant go around killing your relatives. Even when they deserve it. As you know, Ive tried and it just didnt work out well for me. Those ankle bracelets they use to monitor your movements are really not comfortable.
That horrible bitch is using my baby brother to scam people.
Who? Ricky asked.
Livy smirked. Delilah.
The blonde?
Yeah, Livy replied. And what really bothers you, Livy said to Toni, isnt that its just one of your siblings, but that its Freddy.
Because Freddys the only one she could scam into doing this. Kyle and Oriana wont go near her. Zia and Zoe cry whenever shes around. Troy could do it and probably would, but hes such a ballbuster, hed want hard cash from counting cards. And hed never believe that orphans story.
Hands in the front pockets of his jeans, Ricky asked, Isnt Troy, like . . . nine?
Your point? Livy asked.
And not to be indelicate, but . . . arent yall kind of rich?
Kind of rich? Toni pushed Livy off her and dragged herself up until she was sitting. My mother could buy the property were currently sitting in outright . . . and in cash. But my sister likes to scam people for money. Do you know why?
Just another bored rich girl?
I wish. The twins are bored little rich girls. I can handle bored little rich girls.
But sociopaths . . . Livy muttered.
Now come on, Ricky said. I took psychology in college
You went to college? Livy asked, which got her a punch in the ribs from Toni. Ow! It was just a goddamn question.
and yall shouldnt be bantering around words like sociopath when youre talking about a family member.
Believe what you want. Toni swung her legs over the edge of the bed so that she and Livy were sitting right next to each other. Toni thought a minute and decided what she had to do.
Ive made my decision. I obviously cant go on this trip. I cant go.
Thats when Livy slammed Toni to the floor and pinned her therebecause the woman simply didnt know the meaning of the word subtle.
Ricky grabbed the small but surprisingly strong and vicious female off of Toni.
Tell her, Livy ordered him once hed gotten her off Toni. Tell her that she is going.
How can I go now? Toni shot back. At first I thought I just needed to deal with the schedule issue, which is challenge enough. But now . . . after what Ive found out about Delilah?
Excuses! Livy accused, pointing a damning finger at Toni. Youre using bullshit excuses to get out of this. Becauseyoure scared.
Theyre bears! Of course Im scared!
Not of the bears, you idiot. Livy swung her arms until Ricky was forced to drop her. Then she re-adjusted her T-shirt and denim mini-skirt. Youre scared of change. Youre scared of taking this chance and going out on your own.
They need me.
Because youve made them helpless. Which, Id like to remind you, is not your job. Your job as the eldest jackal sibling is to prepare them for life on their own.
But what about Delilah? Toni demanded. Shes a problem all on her own.
Isnt that something your parents should be concerned with? Ricky asked.
My parents are in denial. Im not.
Ill watch out for Freddy, Livy said.
I cant ask you to
Ill watch out for Freddy, so just suck-it-the-fuck-up already.
Dont curse at me, whore!
Birthing cow!
All right! Ricky cut in before he was hurt trying to stop these two females from getting into a claw match. Thats it! He focused on Toni. The bottom line is, if you dont take this trip, I can assure you that Cella Malone is going to fire your ass, no matter whose cousin you are.
I dont care, Toni said, her voice firm. Let her fire me. Im not leaving. At least not until we get things . . . organized.
Organized?
Right. Once I get their schedules organized, everything will be fine. Thatll just take me a couple of days. Cella wont mind that, Im sure.
Toni walked out, leaving Ricky and Livy standing there, gazing at the open door.
Will that Cella Malone chick mind that? Livy asked him.
She sure will.
Then we have to take away her excuses.
Ricky shrugged. I may have an idea. He pulled out his phone. But my baby brother wont like it.
Your baby brother? Was that the other wolf who was in the office with us?
Yep.
Then I dont give a shit he wont like it.
Ricky laughed and began making calls.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Paul stepped out of the cab and held his hand out so that Jackie could grab it. He helped her out and then held his hand out for Irene. She, as always, completely ignored it, and got out on her own. He didnt take that personally, though. He never had. It was one of the main reasons theyd gotten along so well. Paul never took anything Irene did personally. She was so brutally direct and unwaveringly honest, it didnt make sense to get all worked up when she said things like, Id prefer you not touch me or Are you staring at me because you have a question or because youre planning to kill me at your earliest convenience?
