Honesty Read Online Free PDF Page A

ignored the question. “You don’t strike me as a killer. I imagine you must have killed with a gun.”
    Taylor tensed. “Why do you think that?”
    “A gun is a weapon for a coward.”
    Gritting her teeth, she handed him the skewer. His eyes remained on hers as he took a bite, unaffected by how hot it was. She took a moment to consider her response, grabbing another skewer and another slice of venison.
    With her back to him, she asked, “When was the last time you were at the mercy of someone stronger than you?”
    “This man, he tried to harm you?” he asked, sounding more curious than concerned.
    “I’m not a maniac,” she said, turning the meat. “I don’t go around killing people for no reason.”
    “And your human authorities w ill prosecute you regardless?”
    “Seems so.”
    After it had happened, Taylor had driven his car away from the scene, ditching it on the outskirts of the nearest town. Still in shock, she’d walked in a daze for hours until she came to a small park. There, she’d climbed inside a wooden jungle gym and fallen asleep.
    When she awoke the next morning, the murder was already in the newspapers. She could have gone to the police then, explained the circumstances, and maybe received some leniency, but she doubted any amount of explaining would have saved her from prison.
    “It’s burning,” Hale said.
    Taylor blinked and then realized he was referring to the meat. She pulled the skewer back, examining the meat. One side had begun to blacken.
    “Sorry,” she said, actually feeling a bit bad. She held it out to him.
    “Do you love my brother?” he asked, taking the skewer. He bit off a piece, chewing it with a distasteful look on his face.
    Taylor took the unused skewer and staked another piece of meat.
    “We just met,” she said, holding the meat over the flames.
    “So you don’t, then?”
    She could feel his gaze burning a hole into her back.
    “I like him.”
    “Good,” he said, sounding pleased. “I wouldn’t have believed you if you said you loved him.”
    Taylor turned the meat and didn’t respond. She wasn’t the type of woman who believed the L word was something sacred, but she’d been burned too many times to go throwing it around willy-nilly.
    “He’s leaving because of you,” Hale said.
    Handing him the skewer, she met his gaze and said, “I told him that’s not what I want.”
    Hale leaned back in his seat, visibly relaxing as Taylor skewered another piece of meat.
    “Alder always was the stubborn one,” he said.
    She couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “It’s the truth. I can always be convinced with a punch or two to the face, but it’s impossible to get Alder to do anything he doesn’t want to.”
    Taylor held the meat over the fire, angling her body so that she could smile at Hale. “Speaking of which, I can’t believe how quickly your nose healed.”
    Aside from some faint bruising, it was impossible to tell that Alder had broken Hale’s nose the night before. She remembered that Lark’s black eye had healed as well. Was it a shifter thing?
    “We heal quickly,” he explained, confirming her suspicions. “You’re burning it again.”
    “Oh, crud,” she said, pulling the skewer back. This one was practically crispy. She cast him an apologetic look.
    Hale gestured for her to come to him. “Bring it here.”
    “Sorry,” she mumbled, handing him the skewer. She moved to stake another, but Hale held up a hand.
    “No, sit,” he said, motioning to the flat rock beside his chair. Taylor reluctantly complied.
    She watched Hale examine the burnt meat before setting it aside and turning to look at her. With his chin resting on his hand and his eyes heavy-lidded, he seemed calm and placid. He almost looked like his brother, but she didn’t trust it.
    “What do you eat?” he asked.
    Taylor scratched her chin. “Hm… Tofu, peanut butter, protein shakes—”
    “What do you eat that I could