The Alpha Men's Secret Club 4: Intrigue: A Shockingly Hot BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Read Online Free Page B

bigger than either of you can handle. Teddy Mitchell’s death is all over the news. The papers made mention of a recently disgraced Professor who has been hauled up for questioning. You have been questioned by the police too, and they want to question your further.”
    “It’s just that I happened to be there at the party,” Kate squeaked. “They’re probably questioning all the guests.”
    “What does this tell you, Kate?”
    Kate kept silent. No, she really didn’t know the answer to that. That she shouldn’t go to shifter parties thrown by billionaires? Or that she shouldn’t take part in raves?
    Ms. Buckley went on, “ You messed up, Kate. You got involved with someone who was messed up, and now he’s getting you into all sorts of trouble a young woman like yourself shouldn’t be getting into. I hope, for the sake of your future and your parents that the NYPD lets you go soon.”
    “I’m not detained,” Kate protested.
    “If you keep on like this, it’s only a matter of time. When this is over, come back to college and leave that man behind. If you don’t, he will be the cause of your downfall. Mark my words.”
    Kate knew that what Ms. Buckley was saying was true , as much as she didn’t want to believe it.
    But she loved Rust so much! She couldn’t live without him. Even now when he was away from her, she felt the ache of their separation as keenly as an organ had been cut from her. So he had dumped her. So he had told her it was all over between them. Over something as basic as self-control!
    She put down the phone. She didn’t believe for one instant that Rust would ever hurt her. Not physically. Not intentionally.
    The hotel phone rang, making her jump.
    Rust!
    She quickly picked it up.
    “Rust?”
    “Ms. Penney?” It was a woman’s voice. “I’m Detective Geraldine Brickford. I’m downstairs at the hotel lobby. May I come up?”
     
    *
     
    “What’s this about?” Kate said nervously as she let Geraldine Brickford into her suite. Geraldine was accompanied by a young man who carried a black briefcase.
    “This is my associate, Daryl Hastings. We need to take a swab from your inner cheek, Ms. Penney.”
    “What for?” Kate knew enough from TV that inner cheek swabs were usually for DNA.
    “We need a DNA sample, and a buccal . . . or inner cheek . . . smear would do the trick,” said Daryl Hastings.
    “Have you found something at the crime scene?”
    Geraldine and her associate exchanged glances.
    “Yes,” Geraldine said. “But we can’t give you that information right now.”
    Kate had no choice but to sit down, open her mouth like a good little girl and let Daryl take a tissue swab of her inner cheek. The whole thing was swift and relatively painless.
    “Thank you,” Geraldine said. “We will be in touch. Don’t leave town.”
    “What about Rust?” Kate said, rising from the couch in the living area.
    “We have taken his DNA too.” Geraldine smiled brightly. “We will be in touch . . . shortly.”

9
     
    Rust stared out of the window of his parents’ house. It was ironic that he was staying here – back with them – when they hadn’t even gotten along for years. But they were the only ones he could trust himself to be with. If he broke out in any way, they would know how to handle him.
    He found himself thinking of Kate again for the seven hundredth time since he left her. He couldn’t help himself. He was obsessed with her. When she was not in sight, he found himself thinking of her smell, her taste, her touch, the sweet texture of her lips upon his.
    He g roaned. Was this the man or the beast which was making him feel this way? He couldn’t tell which was which anymore.
    He heard footsteps behind him. He didn’t turn. He knew who it was.
    Connor stood at the doorway of Rust’s old bedroom.
    “You know what you have to do, son,” he said.
    “Yes.” If only it wasn’t so painful. He didn’t mind physical pain. It was . . . the other.
    “Are you ready