Taking Nicole (Vegas Mates Series)(#4) Read Online Free Page A

heart. She understood family loyalty. It’s what made her agree to come with him without a fight to begin with. She couldn’t fault him for being loyal to his family. He didn’t have a pack—he only had a sister. He had been alone for so long, forced to do whatever her grandparents asked, just so they wouldn’t kill his sister. God, what kind of monsters are they?
    “Not the friendly kind. Be careful.”
    Aaron descended the stairs and she followed only a step behind. Something within her said meeting Carlotta and Reginald Antipas would be easier if the big leopard was at her side.
    They crossed the pavement and Aaron dropped to a knee in front of her grandmother.  
    “Mistress, I have returned with your granddaughter, as promised.”
    What the hell? Did we just regress to the Middle Ages?
    “Your grandparents are part of the lower Council. Everything here has a lot more ritual and formality,” her wolf answered calmly.  
    Nicole glared at her grandfather and then her grandmother. She didn’t take after either of them. They both had dark hair, dark olive skin, and honey brown eyes. She and Samantha looked more like their father—blonde, fair-skinned, with blue eyes. The twins had the looks of the Antipas side of the family.
    “You never disappoint me, Mr. Katsaros.”
    Nicole shuddered at the icy sound of her grandmother’s voice.  
    “Nicole. It’s so good to finally have you home.”
    Irritation flamed. “This is not my home! I was forced here against my will. You two are by definition the worst grandparents ever!”
    “Yeah, don’t hold back. Tell them how you really feel. Watch them lock you up with his sister.”
    Fuck it.
    “You already did,” her wolf growled.
    Carlotta smiled at her mate and Nicole’s grandfather spoke for the first time. “You have your mother’s temper, Nicole. That’s good. It means you will have her determination, too. You will be a good mate to one of the men who will succeed in taking over your father’s lower Council seat.”
    “I don’t care about the Council or whether or not I’ll be mated to someone on it!” She sucked in another breath to continue her rant, but jerked when her grandfather invaded her personal space and clamped his hand down on her shoulder.  
    He squeezed a tender spot and she bit back a yelp of pain. “You will behave, little girl, or I will make you wish you had. Do we have an understanding?”
    Her lip trembled and her eyes watered. She refused to cry in front of him, even though his fingers were causing excruciating pain. Her head began nodding of its own accord and she shuddered through a breath as he released her.
    “Good.” He backed up a step and opened the limo door for Carlotta.  
    Her grandmother hadn’t even blinked at the threatening display, but Aaron struggled where he knelt to remain still. She could only feel the tension because of the thin bond that’d already formed between them.  
    “Mr. Katsaros, come. Since you have handled her competently up to this point, you will continue as Nicole’s bodyguard until the ceremony.”
    “Yes, sir.” Aaron moved fluidly from his kneeling position to Nicole’s side, grabbed her arm, and shoved her toward the limo. He ignored her huff and literally picked her up and put her inside the vehicle. Then he climbed in and sat next to her. His thigh brushing against hers was enough to momentarily sidetrack her brain from its destructive path.
    “You know, dear. You are a valuable woman. The magick of two royal bloodlines flows through your veins. You and your two younger sisters are the last heirs of the Demakis royal line.”
    “What about Uncle Phillip?”
    “His children, if he ever has any, will never be recognized by the Council. He’s made it quite clear that he defected from our authority. Your aunt and uncle will be taken care of in due time. Don’t worry yourself about them.”
    “You mean the way mom took care of Dad and Uncle Stefan?”
    “Nicole,” Aaron growled