Wild Heart (Viper's Heart Duet Book 2) by Beth Ehemann Page A

starting off the season so strong. Stronger than we ever had.
    And now . . . I was no longer part of the team.
     
    “Are you okay?” a familiar voice asked from the doorway, but not the familiar voice I wanted to hear.
    I spun around in my chair and glared at Kat so hard my eyes were physically strained. “Why the fuck are you here?”
    Her head jerked back in surprise. “I was assigned here, Viper. This is my job.”
    “It was your job. You’re quitting . . . today,” I hissed.
    She shook her head vehemently. “No, I’m not. I love my job, and I really like Gam. I’m not going anywhere.”
    I bolted from my chair, ignoring the pain that spread from my knee like a lightning bolt, and took an intimidating step close to her. “Did you pick this job on purpose?”
    “No,” she barked incredulously, her jet-black hair falling around her face. “I can’t believe you’d even think that.”
    I leaned to my left and stole a quick glance at the front door to make sure no one was coming before I turned back to her. “Well, it’s pretty fucking coincidental that of all the jobs you could be sent to, you wind up at my grandmother’s house, don’t ya think?”
    “I’m sorry. Perhaps you’re remembering our past a little different than I am. You never even introduced me to one single family member, so how was I supposed to know she was your grandmother?”
    “Gee, I don’t know . . . the last name Finkle didn’t ring a fucking bell?”
    She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, cocking a hip to the side. “When I was assigned, they told me what the case was and where it was. I didn’t learn her name until the morning I was supposed to start. What was I supposed to do?”
    “Quit!” I growled. “There was an easy fix. You march into whoever’s office and say, ‘Nope, sorry.’”
    “I can’t do that or I’d risk losing my job!” she snarled.
    “I don’t give a shit about your job!”
    “I’m not surprised. You never really gave a shit about anything,” she said in a cold tone. “I’d be surprised if you even really give a shit about that woman out there.”
    My jaw clenched and I curled my hands into fists as I lunged forward and glared down at her. “You know nothing about that woman out there, and if I ever hear you say one single thing about her, your job won’t be the only thing you lose!”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Did you just threaten me?”
    I lowered my voice to a calm but intimidating tone. “Call it whatever you want, but I promise you . . . quitting this job is the best decision you’ll ever make.”
    Before she could respond, I stepped to my right and limped through the front door.
     
    “All right, time to go.” I clapped my hands loudly as I hobbled across the porch and picked up my crutches.
    Michelle stopped talking to Gam mid-sentence and looked at me with bulging eyes. “What?”
    “Yeah, you just got here,” Gam added.
    “I know, but I have stuff to do. I’ll come back tomorrow, okay?” I bent down and kissed the top of her head again.
    “Wait. You’re serious?” Michelle asked, setting her drink on the table.
    “Very. Get the kids together. I’ll wait in the car.” I turned and limped slowly down the steps as the front door creaked open. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
    “Viper!” Gam called after me, but I didn’t look back as I got in the car and stared straight ahead. I was so close to snapping already and seeing Kat on the front porch again might just push me over the edge.
     

 
     

     
    We were a couple miles from Gam’s house and Viper was still breathing heavy, more agitated than I’d ever seen him.
    “You wanna talk about it?” I asked, hoping he didn’t blow up at my question.
    He took a long, slow breath in and let it all out. “That was Dr. Jennings on the phone.”
    Oh crap.
    “And?” I asked anxiously, quickly looking from the road to him and back again.
    “And I have a torn ACL that needs to be