Prickly Business Read Online Free PDF Page A

recalled Victor’s words: “This ain’t Kmart, kid. We don’t do layaway.” As if Avery would ever be caught dead in some big box store that sold everything from bulk packages of underwear to power tools and goldfish. He preferred boutique shopping. His three-hundred-dollar Dior Wayfarer sunglasses and thirteen-hundred-dollar John Lobb boots could attest to that. So maybe those boots and sunglasses were part of what had drained a good chunk of his allowance from last month. That was beside the point. He’d promised to have the money to Victor ASAP. Apparently two weeks was pushing his luck.
    “I’ll have the money at the end of the month,” Avery said when Josiah stood there staring at him.
    Josiah straightened and stalked forward. “Vic told you we don’t do payment plans, hoggie. He wants his money now.”
    Avery swallowed and took an unconscious step back as Josiah loomed over him. He forced himself to still and lifted his chin, bringing his haughtiest mask down over his face. He was Avery Babineaux, of the Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish Babineauxs. His family had roots extending to Great Britain and France. He would not be intimidated by some lowlife werewolf thug. “Do you know who you’re talking to? I’m good for the money, believe me.”
    Josiah arched a thick dark eyebrow and laughed, standing so close Avery both heard and felt the vibration against his chest. “You are? Or your daddy is? Rich little Louisiana twink, all alone up here in the Northwest. How long would it take them to notice you were missing? One week? Two? Or maybe they don’t even think about you.”
    Heat crawled up Avery’s neck into his cheeks, fury and embarrassment entwined as the words struck too close to home. Aside from the deposit that went into his account every month, he had the rarest contact with his parents. Several times during the last few years, he’d been forced to call them, usually when he was in some sort of financial bind like this one. Every month he got a ten thousand-dollar allowance to cover his rent and expenses. Giving it all to Victor would leave him dead-broke for four weeks. At best he could part with half, maybe two thirds if he starved himself and skimped on everything until the next deposit. But no more.
    “Maybe we’ll dump you in Forest Park,” Josiah murmured. “Plenty of places to hide you there.”
    Avery’s bravado faltered. “I-I can give him half by the end of the month, I swear.”
    Josiah snagged one of his wrists in a meaty fist and crowded even closer. “You’ll have it all for him next Friday.”
    “But I can’t—”
    Josiah squeezed until Avery’s bones ground together. “One week,” he said in a menacing whisper. He snapped his teeth and growled in Avery’s sensitive ear. “Got it, hoggie?”
    Avery only just kept himself from shuddering. Somehow he managed a quick, jerky nod. “Y-Yeah. Got it.”
    He tried to pull away, but Josiah’s grip tightened until something in Avery’s wrist cracked, sending a white-hot streak of agony into his palm and up his arm. He cried out, blinking rapidly to fend off the reflexive tears that flooded his eyes.
    “A reminder.” Josiah released him with a shove, sending Avery stumbling back against the tile wall. “One week, kid.” He turned and left the room.
    Only once he no longer sensed Josiah or Rory did Avery allow himself to sink to the piss-stained floor, cradling his forearm to his stomach. Fear and adrenaline had left him woozy, and the beginnings of a headache throbbed in his temples. Already his wrist was swelling, dark bruises forming beneath the skin. Even the slightest movement came with a bolt of excruciating pain.
    He had to get out of there before Jaden spotted him and got close enough to see his injury. Jaden would never let him leave without an explanation.
    Groaning, Avery hefted himself to his feet. What the hell had he been thinking, getting involved with these sorts of wolves? What would his mama say? No, he