Blinds? She frowned. There were no blinds in her room.
And why was Roxi cooing away with a blue teddy bear in her lap and an uncharacteristically soft expression on her face?
Like an electric jolt it hit her. She’d had the baby! She was a mother and she’d fallen asleep, completely forgetting her own child!
She gasped and began to fight against the covers that cocooned her, needing to get up and check on Caleb.
Her struggles had Roxi looking her way and laughing. “Calm down. The baby is fine. Auntie Roxi has everything under control.”
“Oh.” She peered over into the bassinet and sure enough, Caleb was sleeping. It was a relief and yet uncertainty still filled her. “How could I have fallen asleep like that? What if he’d needed something? What if he was hurt or sick? Oh my gosh, I’m going to be a terrible mother! Roxi, I’m not ready for this!” Her hands were shaking and she clasped them together, the enormity of motherhood hitting her.
“Lulu, you can’t stay awake around the clock for the next eighteen years. You have to sleep. Even I know that.” Roxi looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m being the sensible one here. Talk about role reversal!” She set down the teddy bear and stood up, steering Lou back towards the bed. “You just had a baby. You’re in the hospital and the nurse poked her head in to check a few minutes ago. Chill.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Right. I guess I’m just nervous about doing everything right.”
“You’ll be a great mom, I’m positive of it.”
She hoped Roxi was right. “Have you been here long?” She hitched herself up against the pillows.
“Maybe half an hour. You know, this baby makes the most adorable faces. I’ve been taking videos of him so you wouldn’t miss anything.” Roxi handed over the phone.
“Thanks.” She watched the screen, smiling as Caleb’s face scrunched before settling into a peaceful expression.
“Oh, and Armand texted back. He likes the name Caleb.”
Her head shot up at the news. Armand had texted back! She tried to hide her excitement by scolding Roxi. “You were reading my messages again?”
Roxi shrugged. “I can’t help myself. Besides, I was the one that sent that text so technically—”
“Technically, it’s my phone. I know you were texting for me while I held the baby but it’s still my message.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She flipped to the message thread and read what Armand had said. It wasn’t much and didn’t show any kind of interest. “I wonder why he didn’t add anything else.”
“I guess he’s a man of few words. Guys are like that, aren’t they?”
“I suppose.” She worried her lip. “But Caleb is his son. You’d think he’d have more to say.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to get too involved? Now don’t take this wrong or anything but,” Roxi took a deep breath before continuing. “You sent him packing and then out of the blue, you drop the baby bombshell on him.”
“Correction. You dropped the bombshell by asking Ryne to tell him.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. But the point is, he could be thinking you’re only reaching out to him because of the baby. That you’re wanting his money for child support and not because you care about him.”
“Oh.” She leaned back against the pillows. “I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“And are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Contacting him because of the baby or because you’re interested in him?”
“I…” What was she doing? She wanted Armand to know about the baby, of course, and not because she was looking for support payments. But as for Armand himself, did she want him back in her life? Yes, of course! She’d never really wanted him gone. She missed him but…her thoughts slowed...even if she did, circumstances hadn’t changed. It was still Stump River versus Chicago.
Caleb began to fuss and she eased out of bed to pick him up and feed him. Roxi took a few more pictures and then headed down to the cafeteria for a snack, declaring if Caleb got to eat then she did too.
Lou stroked the baby’s cheek with one finger and sighed. “What’s your momma going to do, Caleb?”
Whatever she did had to be right for all of them, not just the baby or just her or Armand. She didn’t want anyone to end up hurt or resentful but in circumstances like this, was it even possible? The last thing she wanted was to make a decision they’d all live to regret.
Caleb made a snuffling noise and she smiled at him. How could someone so small and adorable be at the centre of something so complicated?
Captain Fielding picked up his cell phone and checked the number that had just called him, rang twice and then hung up. It was a prearranged signal. He pushed his chair back from his desk and proceeded to exit the complex that housed Lycan Link in favour of the expansive grounds that surrounded it. While not completely private, there was less chance of being overheard.
Locating a solitary bench, he sat down and placed the call to the operative who had contacted him.
“You have a report?” There was no time for social niceties to precede the conversation, just straight facts. Neither knew how long they had to talk.
“The Ursa has remained consistent over the past four months. With the exception of disappearing for a while in February there’s nothing to indicate he’s anything but a bartender.”
“What do the locals say about him?”
“He arrived in town about fifteen years ago, bought the bar and has been slowly making improvements. He’s well-liked, always willing to help. The disappearing trick happens at irregular intervals ranging from a few days to a week. The only thing I found of interest is that he doesn’t seem to have any history before coming to Stump River.”
“No history? So he’s hiding something, probably living under an alias. I’ll have to check that out.” He nodded thoughtfully. “Anything else?”
“With regards to the bear? No. But I was at the local pack house. It’s protected by layers of security from the obvious to the subtle. It makes you wonder exactly what they could be hiding.”
“Can you breach it?”
“It’s not my area of expertise but there’s almost always a weak point in a system if you look hard enough.”
Fielding stroked his lip, considering work-arounds for the situation. “Send me anything you know about the security and I’ll see what I can come up with. In the meantime, what about the hacker?”
“I didn’t have enough time to look at his computer system, but he seems your typical computer nerd; smart, quiet, the kind that isn’t noticed.”
“Which is exactly the kind of profile that raises red flags.”
“Agreed. I sense a restlessness about him, too. He could do something with those codes just for the thrill of it.”
“Hmph. The codes have all been changed. However, if he did it once he could do it again.”
“Right.”
“In your opinion, should we bring him in?”
“Perhaps. I’m going to do some more checking. If he’s as good as he seems to be, and he’s not crossed any lines, we want him on our side.”
“Right. Acting too soon could push him in the wrong direction.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ve already laid the groundwork for easing myself out of the community. My story is the winters are too difficult, I’m done licking my wounds, blah, blah, blah… No one will be suspicious.”
“Good. I might need you to check out the hacker further but if you feel your cover is going to be compromised, get out. We don’t have a lot of operatives like you.”
“Pack-raised humans are rare.”
“True.” He noticed a group of Enforcers approaching. “I have to go. Let me know if there are any new developments. If not, I’ll expect you back here in under a month.” Ending the call, he stood up and addressed the approaching group with a nod. “Men.”
“Sir.�
� Their posture immediately straightened.
“Lunch break?” He glanced at his watch.
“Just finishing, sir.”
“Good. I’ll be stopping by your unit later today for an inspection.”
“Yes, sir.”
He held back a chuckle at the look that passed between them before they hurried on their way. No doubt they were cursing the fact they’d chosen to walk down this particular path. Enforcers hated inspections about as much as he enjoyed doing them.
Shoving his phone back in his pocket, he returned to his office.
Jenna put her phone away and stared out the open window. The house she’d rented was on a small lake, and from where she stood she could hear the water lapping along the shore line. It was a peaceful sound, relaxing and soothing, helping her unwind. When she was in town, she always felt on guard though she was sure it didn’t show. Having been raised in a pack since an infant, she was as adept at controlling her emotions and reactions as she was at reading them in others.
It was a useful skill in the business world and to the higher ups at Lycan Link as well. That’s why they’d recruited her for a new undercover unit. It was still considered top secret, their training taking place away from headquarters, and, when not on a case, they went about their daily lives in the human world. It was only for select cases they were deployed. Cases like this where another human in the mix wouldn’t be noticed or suspected of spying.
Sometimes she felt guilty, gaining someone’s trust just to snoop on them but it was for the greater good, for the security of all Lycans. Lycans had been good to her. When her mother had married a Lycan, she and her sister had been accepted, raised as part of the pack. Giving back in this way seemed little enough in her mind.
And she wasn’t hurting anyone. In fact, she’d like to think she’d helped the town with her presence. She really was good at marketing and Stump River certainly needed some sprucing up. It had great potential as a summer getaway destination for those wanting a back-to-nature experience. Hopefully some of the locals would act on her ideas once she was gone.
She’d miss the little town. Everyone had been friendly and Armand, if she hadn’t been investigating him, could have captured her heart; kind, patient, considerate and not hard on the eyes. He’d said he would miss her when she was gone and a small part of her hoped so. She wondered if the woman who had captured his heart appreciated him or not.
Chapter 32
Armand yawned and stretched, his bed creaking as he rolled over and sat up. The room was dim, early dawn light struggling to creep through the blinds he’d closed the night before. Still half asleep, he ambled over and raised them, then cranked the window open letting the still cool morning air into the room. It chilled his flesh and he shivered, but it helped dissipate the cobwebs of sleep that still entangled his brain.
Yawning again, he scratched his chest then pulled on a pair of jeans before heading downstairs to make a cup of tea. While waiting for the water to boil, he finger-combed his hair back from his face and dug an elastic out of his pocket to hold it back before finding a mug, honey and the cream. He performed the routine on autopilot just as he did every morning, slowly waking with each act he performed. Once the tea was ready, he went out the back door, cup in hand and sat down on an old wooden chair. Propping his bare feet on an old log that served as a foot stool, he took a sip of the restoring brew and sighed.
He loved mornings; the scent of a new day filling his lungs, the sounds of nature drifting through the air. In the distance a cardinal was chirping and, if he listened carefully, he could hear the frogs in the muddy slough near the edge of the forest. It would be at least half an hour before a car travelled the road in front of the Broken Antler. Ruth and Al would be the first ones making their way to the diner and a short time later Ryne’s truck would trundle by as he headed to the auto shop. The town would slowly awaken, filling with trusted friends and neighbours.
But before any of that happened, he savoured the solitude while surveying the small square of land that could be loosely termed his backyard. It wasn’t much; a few clumps of wild flowers that had seeded themselves around the foundation of the building, a weathered wooden fence that delineated where the parking lot ended and his space began. It was sufficient for him though, with enough room for his vegetable garden, and that was all that mattered.
The seeds he’d sown over a week ago were starting to sprout, tiny seedlings pushing up through the soil, promising a bountiful harvest in exchange for watering and weeding over the summer. Robins hopped between the rows looking for dew worms while in the far corner a rabbit was munching on a dandelion.
“That’s fine for now, but once the lettuce is up, you’re not allowed in.”
His words rumbled through the tranquil scene and the rabbit sat up with a start, ears twitching and nose wiggling before it scampered away. He made a mental note to bury the fencing deeper so the critters stayed out.
He finished his tea and was about to head inside when he heard a vehicle pulling into the parking lot. A few seconds later, there was the sound of a door slamming and footsteps crossing the gravel.
“’Morning!” Ryne appeared, the wooden gate creaking as he pushed it open.
“Good morning, my friend. I’m surprised to see you in town this early.”
“Yep. I’m off to an early start. The men in the pack had a bake-off last night and we have cookies coming out our ears. Melody and Olivia have me delivering them this morning before they eat them all themselves.” He handed over a container.
“Give them my thanks.” He opened the lid and sniffed appreciatively. “Who was the winner of the event?”
Ryne followed him inside. “Me.”
“Vraiment? What did you make?” He chuckled at the mental image that came to mind.
“I called them kitchen-sink cookies. I grabbed every ingredient I could think of and dumped them all in together. Chocolate chips, pecans, cherries, coconut…you name it.”
“Are there any in here?” He examined the contents of the container again.
“Sorry. They went pretty fast. Half the pack is suffering from a sugar hangover this morning.”
He smiled as he listened to Ryne relate the story. The pack was like an extended family and often had impromptu events like bake-offs and picnics, hikes or game nights. Bears were not pack animals but there was a wistfulness inside him as he considered how nice it would be to have a family.
Setting the container down, he automatically checked his phone where it sat on the counter. A smile formed on his lips. “There’s a message from Lucy.”
Since the baby’s birth, she had maintained contact, sending him images of the child and notes about his progress. She’d also included a few personal comments directed to him, asking how he was, relating simple events in her life. He was proceeding cautiously but it felt like they were slowly reconnecting.
What that connection meant he wasn’t sure. Was it because he was the father of her child? Was she hoping for more money? A cynical person might assume so, however he’d already put paperwork in place that had support payments being deposited in her account to cover her expenses.
In his heart, he hoped she was reaching out because she missed him, yet he hardly dared entertain that thought. Could he handle a long-distance relationship with her? Seeing her for a weekend now and then would be like scraps when you hungered for a feast. And then there was Caleb who was half shifter and would need guidance when his inner animal awoke, especially given that his mother had no knowledge of it.
“And no doubt another picture of Caleb.” Ryne nodded tolerantly towards the phone. As the only ones who knew of the child, he and Melody were being shown each image and told every bit of news.
“Of course.” Paternal pride had him turning the phone so Ryne could see it.
“He’s growing fast.”
“She says he’s gained half a pound.” He turned to view the image again.
“When are you going to take a tr
ip to Chicago to see him?”
He looked up from his examination of the picture. “I’ve not been invited yet.”
“Maybe you should just go.” Ryne leaned against the counter in his usual negligent pose.
“I’ve thought of it.”
“But…?”
“I’m still considering the pros and cons. My relationship with Lucy is complicated, as they now say.” With one last look at the image, he set the phone down.
Ryne snorted. “If it were me, I’d haul my ass there, throw her over my shoulder and drag her home.”
“Is that what you did with Melody?”
“Not exactly.”
He chuckled softly before sobering and shaking his head. “Lucy would not be pleased with that tactic. A few years ago, it might’ve worked but she’s changed. She’s more independent now, wanting certain things from her life. I don’t know if I fit into them.”
“Could you make yourself fit?”
“Perhaps.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I’d have to leave Stump River and move to the city.”
“And your bear wouldn’t like that.”
“I wouldn’t either. Yet, for one’s mate and cub you do things you wouldn’t normally do, correct?”
Ryne considered the question and then nodded. “Yeah.”
He sighed. “I need to make a decision soon.”
“Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” Ryne pushed off from the counter.
“I will, my friend. I will.”
Ryne left to finish delivering cookies. Armand rinsed his cup and set it in the dishwasher then wiped the counter and cleaned the stove. The kitchen was large, being used to make burgers, fries and various simple dishes for the bar during business hours. He spent time each morning prepping it for the day, making sure it met health unit standards.
If he went to Chicago, what would he do with himself? Ashton had the King’s Plate in hand—he had merely supplied some of the backing—so he wasn’t needed there. He could open a new bar but the idea held little appeal.
Veil of Lies Page 33