Read White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel) for Free Online

wind wrapped her bare legs. She saw that the other deputy remained at the rear of her car, and he had his gun in his hand.
    “Mind telling me where you were going?” Alvarez asked her.
    “I don’t know, really,” Addie said, her voice shaking. “Anywhere.”
    “Your car was seen heading out of town after the trouble at your diner,” he went on. “You were a witness.”
    Not a question. A statement. He knew she’d been there. But then, if he’d talked to Bo, Bo would have told him she’d been working her shift tonight.
    “Yes,” she said, her mouth dry.
    Alvarez was watching her with a calm, steady look, but she read the suspicion behind his eyes.
    “Wait,” she said. “You think I had something to do with it? I didn’t. I was scared out of my mind.”
    “I can imagine,” Alvarez said, continuing with the calm tone. “I’m going to ask you now why you were driving downthis highway instead of going home. You’re not obligated to tell me, but I’m going to ask. Seems a kind of strange thing to do.”
    He wanted her to confirm his suspicions, that she was involved somehow, that she knew all about who had done the shooting and why. His eyes and tone of voice encouraged her to.
    Addie thought of Robbie’s too-serious gray eyes as he looked after the smaller cubs. She also remembered the way Robbie had momentarily let down his guard when he’d seen Kendrick, to run to him and cling to his legs.
    No way was she giving up those kids to the cops. Not their fault their father had been hunted, not their fault he’d killed a guy with a sword. Kendrick had been defending them against men who’d tried to shoot them all dead.
    If she gave up Kendrick, the cubs would be taken. To where and what would happen to them, she didn’t know. She was equally certain that Kendrick could take care of them now, wherever they’d gone.
    “I was just so scared,” Addie said. Her voice quavered—not a lie. “I don’t know where I was going. Driving around to clear my head.”
    Alvarez pinned her with his dark stare then grudgingly gave her a nod. “Understandable. But I need to ask you to—”
    He broke off sharply. Addie went ice-cold as she realized he was staring at her pocket, which was bulging with the money roll Kendrick had handed her.
    “Ms. Price,” Alvarez said, voice sharp. “I’m going to ask you now to empty your pockets. Again, you don’t have to comply, but I’m going to ask.”
    Addie heaved a sigh. If she didn’t do what he wanted, he could arrest her or at least take her in for questioning, advising she call a lawyer. Not that Addie had one.
    She drew a breath, reached into her pocket, and took out the bills. “It’s mine. A friend gave it to me.”
    There was no law against carrying around a lot of money. But an underpaid waitress racing down an empty highway with thousands of dollars in her pocket after the diner where she worked had just been shot up didn’t look good.
    Alvarez stared hard at the money. Then he looked back at Addie, anger in his eyes.
    “Ms. Price, I’d like you to come to the sheriff’s department with me. There are few questions you need to answer.”
    No telling her she had a choice this time. Sighing, Addie nodded. At least they didn’t cuff her before they put her into the back of the sheriff’s car and drove away.
    *   *   *
    “D ad,” Zane asked Kendrick in their motel room well south of the I-10. “Is Addie going to be our new mom?”
    Kendrick glanced down at his youngest son, barely four years old now. Kendrick’s heart constricted. Zane had the look of Eileen, Kendrick’s mate, who’d passed bringing this lad in. The eyes that looked up at him, thought they held the green of the white tiger, were hers.
    Kendrick shook his head but kept his voice gentle. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing Addison anymore, son.”
    Zane’s eyes filled with distress. “But I like Addie. She gives me pie.”
    “I know.” Kendrick’s voice was harder than he