Her Reluctant Bear: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

flying in for Renee’s bachelorette party, but that once Dalia took ill, she decided to skip the party and sleep. “I drove home a little after one, and as I neared my place, a gunshot sounded. Seconds later, a man wearing a mask rushed out of my house.”
    “Did you notice anything distinctive about him?” Dalton asked, showing little emotion. He was, however, paying close attention to everything she said. Surprisingly, his attitude was comforting.
    “He was a shifter, but he moved rather stiffly. At the time, I estimated him to be about fifty. As I followed him with my gaze, I was able to see the first three letters of his California license plate, but I didn’t tell the cops that fact for obvious reasons.”
    “What were those letters?” Kalan asked as he slipped a pen and paper from his shirt pocket.
    “RJC. The best I could tell, he was driving a maroon sedan. Sorry, I didn’t see the model. My head was spinning.” Dalton nodded while Kalan jotted down the information. “Here’s the odd thing. I think I know who he is.”
    Kalan’s pen stopped. “You said he wore a mask.”
    She inhaled, not really wanting to go through the horror of her father’s death again, but for Dalia, she had to. Starting with when she was six, she detailed what she remembered about that night. “As you know, my being a shifter means I can remember a person’s scent. When I smelled him again at the police department that morning, my heart jammed in my throat.”
    Dalton held up a hand. “Wait a minute. You’re saying the man who murdered Dad was at the LAPD?”
    “Yes. And he’s a detective.”
    His brows pinched. “Are you sure?”
    She couldn’t blame him for asking. She’d asked herself the same thing a hundred times. “He had the same crescent-shaped scar on his jaw.”
    Dalton sat up straighter. “Do you think he knows you recognized him?”
    At least her brother believed her. “I didn’t give any indication that I knew anything. I make a living keeping my expression blank.”
    Kalan tossed down his pad. “I’m going to disagree that he doesn’t know. Think about it. You see him at say noon and your friend is murdered that night. Can you even be sure he didn’t think it was you? You said her back was to the door.”
    Acid burned in her throat, but she wasn’t ready to believe that was true. “I can’t be sure of anything, but Dalia and I have the same colored hair and are about the same size. She was in the guest room.”
    “He may not have realized that.”
    “True.”
    “You’re positive it was the same man who killed your father?” Kalan was demanding in his questions but kind at the same time.
    A tight band squeezed her chest. “Yes. So maybe he did recognize me.” She guzzled half of her drink, and the smooth wine instantly helped calm her.
    “You really haven’t changed all that much since you were six,” Dalton said.
    Yes, she had. As Jillian was about to say she didn’t look anything like her six-year old self, a horrible idea occurred to her. “Shit. Maybe he’s kept tabs on me. If a six-year old were my only witness to murder, I’d want to know what she was up to.” Her chest constricted, making it hard to breathe.
    Her brother moved next to her on the sofa and clasped her hand. “Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”
    “I can’t stay here forever. I have a job. I’m here because I just couldn’t bring myself to remain in Los Angeles in case that creep came after me.”
    “You were right to come here,” Dalton said.
    Kalan leaned forward. “Did you use your credit card to pay for your airline tickets and your car rental?”
    Anger and dread collided. “Yes. It was after two in the morning. It wasn’t like I could go to a bank and withdraw cash.” She came off sounding too defensive. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
    “No problem. You’ve been through a lot, but I had to ask. If this man’s a cop, he might trace your whereabouts.”
    Her fingers weakened, and she