Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 08 - Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

tell you he can be a bit arrogant. I was going to let you find that out on your own, but figured I’d be nice this once.”
Arrogance was annoying. Ryder tried not to scowl. “If that’s the case, and he’s a jackass, I’m going to try not to drown him in the bathtub or run over him with one of the ATVs , but I can’t promise I’ll have that much restraint.”
Nathan had one of his eyebrows winging up in that snooty arch he did so well. “Would you seriously injure or try to injure the brother of the European Alpha Anax? Do you have no concern about the trouble that might cause?”
“Of course I do.” He was going to quit screwing up so much, he was. “I was only joking. Do you know when I’ll be introduced to him?”
“Just making sure you didn’t mean it. Maarten isn’t a bad guy, he’s just a prick sometimes.” Nathan snickered. “He’s not the brightest crayon in the box or whatever, but he is a tough dude. Had to be to survive his brother’s coup and not bend to the usurper’s demands.”
Ryder didn’t ask. Whatever Maarten’s story was, either Maarten could tell him, or not. He was hoping for the latter. Some people just didn’t sound like the kind of people you’d get along with, and from what Nathan was saying, that was definitely him and Maarten.
“Was that all you needed, to check up on me?” Ryder asked, eager to get a move on. He was suddenly unable to stand the idea of being in his rooms any longer.
Nathan shook his head. “Nope. Marcus wants to talk to you.”
Ryder cringed inwardly at his lack of manners. “How is he doing?”
“Like he’s never been hurt,” Nathan replied. “There’s a reason he is who he is, and add in the treatment Shania gave him—” Nathan snapped his mouth shut and turned away sharply. He might have been short, but the man could damn near sprint without it appearing he was doing more than walking.
Ryder shut his door and took off after Nathan. What had Nathan shut up on? Oh yeah. That pill I saw Shania give Marcus. “What was that stuff Shania gave Marcus?” he asked as he caught up to Nathan.
Nathan pressed his lips into a thin line and shook his head. Ryder didn’t argue. He was less likely to get an answer from Nathan than he was from Marcus. Remembering the other shifters Drake had been captured with, Ryder made a mental note to ask Marcus what was going to happen to them. Surely not all of them had followed Drake willingly.
Marcus was waiting in his office, looking like he hadn’t been at death’s door only a few days ago. Other than a slight pallor to his complexion, the man appeared to be as healthy as ever.
“Have a seat, Ryder.”
Ryder sat directly across from Marcus in a comfortable chair. He thought that was a sign of Marcus’ confidence, and maybe compassion, that he didn’t stoop to using shitty chairs for whomever he was speaking to. No short chairs, either, so that Marcus was towering over them. Even Marcus’ desk was just a plain wooden one, nothing fancy. Marcus was secure enough in his power not to need props. Ryder wanted to be just like him.
Nathan walked around to stand beside Marcus. They made an attractive couple. It was no wonder his mind had tried to go there.
Marcus leant back and caught Nathan by a belt loop. With a tug, he had Nathan cursing and sprawled haphazardly on his lap. Nathan grumbled and glared as he sat up, but Ryder wasn’t fooled. The man was right where he wanted to be.
“Nathan told me about the conversation he had with you.”
Which one? Well, he supposed it had to be the one about Ryder’s behaviour, not the chat they’d just had a few minutes ago. Ryder waited, wondering if Marcus wanted a reply.
When the silence stretched out past a minute, Ryder said, “Okay? I really wasn’t trying to cause a problem, I was kind of—” Damn it, he didn’t want to admit it, but Marcus was releasing a steady wave of power that was making Ryder’s wolf uncomfortable.
“I was worried. It seemed like