Force of Nature Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4) by Kathi S. Barton

would take it now even if it meant certain death for her. She rolled to her side and looked up at him. He looked even more furious with her now than he had before. She lay back down without speaking.
    Another knock at her door made her sit up, but she didn’t leave the sleeper. Austin’s brother sat in the other seat. She lay back down on the bed without speaking to either of them. They, however, had plenty to say.
    “She’s not going on the run. She is finally being smart for once,” Austin said. CJ wanted to hit him, but decided he’d be pissed enough when she drove off. She had to smile at that thought.
    “Austin, has anyone ever told you you’re a prick? Besides me, I mean. Christ, the woman is right there.” CJ thought she might like this brother. She listened to him when he continued. “You should really learn to say please and thank you.”
    “She had already decided to not go, so what would be the point? I’m taking her home, and we’ll get our differences settled and this mate thing complete. She’ll whelp soon, and everything will be normal again.” CJ snorted and Austin turned to her. “You have something to add?”
    The knock at the door prevented her from answering. She sat up again when Isaac yelled for her. “Kid? You in here?”
    “Yeah. You need me again?” She moved to the doorway from the sleeping compartment and then out the door on Dallas’s side. She heard him chuckle and a growl. She didn’t even bother looking at either man. She purposely shut the door when she got out and walked away with Isaac.
    “So,” he said in a low voice. “You have an alpha as a mate. Good for you. I hear that Austin is a good guy.”
    She wanted to scream. “Then you mate with him. He doesn’t want me anyway.” She fell in step with him as they moved across the lot toward the other detective. “He only wants me because I can ‘whelp,’ or some other shit.”
    Isaac did a little stutter step then continued on. He looked at her oddly, but didn’t comment on what she’d said. She knew he would, but right now he seemed to be mulling things over.
    “Miss Webber, I’m going to have to insist that you take this load for us. There are millions of—” She cut Leo off.
    “I’m going. I’ll take it. Just tell me what I need to do and I can get going. I only have a few days to get across the country and I need to get going. Oh, and you’re paying for the gas. I do this on my terms and not—”
    “I told you no. You’re not going anywhere.” She closed her eyes at Austin’s loud voice. “You are going home with me, CJ, and that’s final.”
    “Miss Webber, you really need to take this. We could take your truck from you, but I’d rather not. It’s been established that you are the driver. Now, I’ve set it up with Isaac to be your second driver. And he’ll—”
    The deep feral growl had all three of them turning. Austin was looking at Isaac as if he was going to hurt him. CJ stepped in front of her friend and felt his arms on her shoulders the next instant.
    “CJ, don’t. You’ll only make him madder if you try and protect me,” Isaac whispered near her ear. “Step away from me and I’ll settle this with your mate.”
    “He’s not my fucking mate,” she shouted. “Christ, I wish you people would stop calling me that. I. Am. Not. His. Mate. I’m going alone or with you. I’m so fucking sick of this.” She turned back to her truck and started stalking toward it. If one person said the word “mate” to her again, she was going to kill them all. She got into the rig just as Austin came up beside it. She hit the locks and started the thing up before she realized Dallas still sat in the passenger seat.
    “You going to California with me? If not, then get the hell out.” She was doing a quick check of all the stuff she needed when he spoke.
    “I’m not going, but thanks for asking.” He didn’t move, but stared at his brother. “This isn’t the way to handle him. You’re