Charity Received Read Online Free PDF Page A

bastard messes with my phone one more time…” Zeke flipped open the phone.
    “What?” he barked.
    Charity turned to hide her laughter. She and Zeke had had many a discussion over the past six months regarding his musical choices. Gangsta-rap. Crap Charity just couldn’t get into no matter how much she’d tried. Give her good ol’ Linkin Park any day.
    The smile slid from her face when she recognized Kash’s voice on the other end of his phone. Stepping farther away from Zeke, she hoped the distance would drown out the other male’s cadence. No such damn luck.
    Then what Kash was saying registered. There had been another attack close to the club.
    As Zeke flipped his phone shut, he glanced over at her. “You just got your wish, kid.
    Faith will take over your tables so I can steal your very useful services.” Zeke returned to her side and tweaked her nose. “Put that nose to good work.”
    Charity rubbed her hands together eagerly. “Good. Let’s figure out what’s going on.”
    As they exited the office, Arak was waiting for them.
    “Casanova’s coming?”
    “Watch it, Sasquatch,” Arak retorted with a grin.
    “I’ll show you a sasquatch,” she mumbled, allowing her right hand to form into a wicked set of claws. But before she could swipe them at the other male, Zeke grabbed hold of her wrist.
    “No blood in my baby.”
    Charity rolled her eyes, quite aware Zeke was referring to his ’67 Charger. If he could have had sex with that car, he wouldn’t need a female. Actually, Charity wouldn’t be surprised if Zeke had tried. He adored that damn vehicle. More than he did most people.
    She noticed Arak was staring at her claws, and Charity made them recede before they reentered the club.
    “What?” she asked with a huff, her gaze challenging Arak.
    “She’s a female version of you,” he muttered to Zeke before stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets.
    Zeke smiled at her. “Cool, isn’t it?”
    His comment made her laugh. If only Zeke had been her mate, she might have actually been happy. Unfortunately fate had other plans. And that bitch had it out for her. Seriously.

Chapter Four
     
    A surprise awaited them at the scene of the attack—one that for some reason made Zeke livid. Hope. She was standing about eight feet from the body, a sickly green cast to her face.
    Charity felt Hope’s relief once she noticed her. “I heard the scream,” she whispered as Charity placed an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. “I expected a demon but…all the blood.” Hope shook her head. “I’ve never…demons just…he was human.”
    “Shhh. It’s all right, Hope.” Charity hoped her soothing tone helped to calm her roommate. She understood Hope’s sentiment. Demons just turned to ash when killed. There was little blood, and certainly no body remained. But the carnage didn’t affect her as it did Hope. Animals didn’t view death the same way humans did. It was just another part of life.
    “What the fuck are you doing here? You should be tucked safe at home with the rest of the mortals.”
    Hope instantly stiffened, her spine straightening at Zeke’s harsh words. Hell, he even had Charity flinching. “What are you doing here?” She slid her gaze from him to Charity, then back again. “Together?”
    His hard stare roamed over Hope. Snorting, he gave the impression he found her vastly lacking. “Charity can handle herself.”
    Charity’s wolf preened at the respect she heard in Zeke’s voice even as annoyance filled her. Now was not the time to be refereeing her roommate and best friend. Not while standing over a dead body. Fixing her attention on Arak, she found him standing back, hands thrust in his pockets, warily watching the pair. Obviously their sniping was nothing new to him.
    “She is certainly more mortal than I am,” Hope bit out, sliding out from under Charity’s arm and wrapping her own around her torso.
    “Like hell,” Charity mumbled, not the least amused that Hope was