Page 52 of Bad Blood Wolf

Chapter 18

It was a perfect day, Jasmin thought.

The crew played in the snow most of the afternoon, then came inside and cooked dinner. Lissa was talking about how Christmas Eve was tomorrow, and everybody had to get their presents under the tree, and if they didn’t fucking have their shopping done they better get the hell on it.

Brody was sweet and attentive and… well… boyfriendy. He did exactly what he’d threatened—sneaked food off her plate at dinner, kissed her under the mistletoe, took silly selfies of the two of them and used an app to make them look like photo booth photos.

She was surprised how good it felt. She felt her heart opening up, hope growing inside her. Maybe Tristan would be able to help Brody. Maybe he’d tell her whatever he was holding back. Maybe someday, if things worked out, they’d even talk about more—about him joining the crew.

It was a nice dream—until it shattered.

Brody had disappeared, saying he had a super-secret Christmas present in the car for her, and he had to do something to it in the bedroom before he could put it under the tree.

She didn’t realize at first how long he’d been gone.

When she finally went down to the bedroom to look for him, he wasn’t there. There was just a flat square box lying in the middle of the bed, wrapped in fancy red and gold paper, tied with fat gold cloth ribbon done up in a giant bow. Just the wrapping was beautiful, and Jasmin ached to hold it, to run her fingers over it and admire it before slowly opening it up.

She knew she should wait for Christmas—or at least for Brody—but she was overcome with curiosity. Glancing around, she slid the ribbon off and opened the box.

It was a painting. Bright colors, with two stylized hands cupped around a heart with outspread wings. Across the bottom, in curly script, was painted, Untamed Heart.

It was beautiful. Until she saw the note.

Dear Jasmin,

I’m sorry. I don’t know that there’s really anything I can say except that.

This has been the best few days of my life, even counting almost dying last night. That’s what you’ve done for me.

I can’t bring my problems down on you, and I can’t bring them down on the crew. The best thing I can do for you is to just go.

Thank Flynn for everything he tried to do for me. Be well, Demazon, and be badass.

I love you, love you, love you.

Brody

Jasmin sat on the edge of the bed, numb, staring at the piece of paper Brody had used to tear out her heart. Her body trembled with the effort of not going after him, not begging him to come back.

Her mother had done that so many times, running out the door, calling after her father as he strode off. He always let her catch him, that triumphant look in his eyes, and made her grovel and apologize and beg forgiveness, before allowing her to serve him again.

The thought of it made her feel nauseated, but the thought of Brody walking off into the night, hurting, made her feel like her chest was being squeezed in a vise.

She couldn’t breathe.

She dashed for the back door and flung it open, breathing the frosty fresh air, but she still couldn’t force it into her lungs.

She could feel a tidal wave of emotions racing toward her like a tsunami racing toward an ocean island. In the distance, she heard the sound of Brody’s car engine, driving away.

With a wild, feral howl, her jaguar burst out of her skin, crying their pain into the night, knowing that the best thing in their lives had just walked away, and not knowing how to make him come back without losing everything.

Brody’s heart was ripped in two. Half of it was lying in the guest room at the Bad Blood compound, and half if it was bleeding out right here and now, as he drove away.

He rounded a curve on the bumpy dirt road, hoping there weren’t any major potholes hiding under the snow, trying to stay in the tracks Xander and Sloan had made when they brought the car in. He almost didn’t see the giant cat until it was too late.

He slammed on the brakes, fishtailing the car.

Jasmin.