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just wondering why your sister would need to hire anyone when her brother owned a construction company and did stuff like this for a living. I don’t mean to pry, but Miss 24 Zena Wynn
    Shannon was real nice to me when I worked for you, and I liked her a lot. I just wondered if you knew what was going on.”
    “No, I didn’t know that she needed help. Thanks for letting me know. You know how independent little sisters can be. Did she say what she wanted done?”
    “She didn’t go into a lot of details. I’m supposed to meet her at her house tomorrow morning around ten. She has a truck scheduled to deliver the supplies she purchased around that time. I know she ordered a lot of studs and drywall, and a couple of steel doors. That’s really all I can tell you.”
    “Tell you what, Kyle. You go ahead and show up. Whatever Shannon offered to pay you, I’ll double it. I’ll meet you at her house, and you can work with me to accomplish whatever it is she’s trying to do. I appreciate you calling me to tell me what was going on. I love my sister, but sometimes she takes this independence thing a little too far, you know what I mean?”
    “Yes, sir, Mr. McFelan. I sure do. I have a baby sister too. Drives me crazy.” They worked out the rest of the details before ending the call. Rory sat with his hands steepled underneath his chin. This was just the excuse he was looking for.

    * * * * *
    Shannon rolled over and stretched. What she wanted was another hour or two of sleep, but one look at the clock assured her that she wouldn’t get it, at least not today. She rolled out of bed on legs that wobbled before getting her equilibrium. Then she made her way into the bathroom, stretching in a yawn as she went.
    There was a strange taste in her mouth. It was probably from the medicine, but it tasted like blood. She wondered if she bit the inside of her mouth while she slept. As for the medicine, it had worked wonders. This was the most rested she’d felt in weeks; even her legs were relaxed. Usually she woke several times during the night, her wolf agitated, never able to determine the cause. Last night it hadn’t happened. She didn’t intend to make the pills a habit, but it was nice knowing she had them to fall back on whenever necessary.
    The delivery truck would be here in about an hour. Certainly enough time to cook breakfast. As she headed into the kitchen, she heard a familiar vehicle in the drive. What did he want?
    She opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Rory exited the blue crew-cab truck he used for business.
    “To what do I owe this pleasure?” She was a little wary, considering all the unfinished business between them.
    He walked up to the porch like he owned the place, sliding his shades on top of his curly red head. He nailed her with a hard look. “If you’re needing help, why didn’t you call me? I’m still your brother, aren’t I?”
    Nikolai’s Wolf
    25
    Oh hell. Kyle had blabbed. “I take it you ran into Kyle.”
    “You could say that, but you’d be wrong. Man called, wanting to know why my sister had to hire help when her brother owned a construction company. Same thing I’d like to know. Any reason why you didn’t call me?”
    Hell, he was pissed. His accent was showing. Come on, Shannon. Think fast. “This is Raven pack business. It doesn’t concern the alpha of the Sparrowhawks.” Maybe that would make him back off.
    “As long as it affects my baby sister, it affects me. I’m here as your big brother. I ask you again, why didn’t you come to me if you needed help?” Because I didn’t know if I could trust you, Shannon thought. Despite their differences, he was blood, and she’d never do or say anything to deliberately hurt him. In the heat of an argument was different. They both tended to be a little loose with the lips when angry. But to deliberately say words she knew would cut? She couldn’t do that. She had to find a reason to give him that wasn’t the full truth. He