Beneath the Skin (de La Vega Cats)

by Lauren Dane

  She’d known then he was talking about her attack and had looked to Grace, saddened that she’d shared a story Mia had told her.

  “It wasn’t Grace, I’ll tell you that much.” He looked over at Grace where she was packing her things up with Dave. “I don’t know how much you know of the reasons why I retired and Cade took over. But I was dosed with a substance, a poison that led to the degeneration of several muscle groups. I was really bad off for quite some time, and while I’m recovered now, I get tired far more easily and I’ll never, ever have the strength I had before.”

  He paused and she tried to wrestle her emotions back.

  “I was the Supreme Alpha of the United States. No one messed with me because I was absolutely the baddest wolf in the country. That’s not bragging. That’s the truth. And then I wasn’t. I wasn’t and not because I was an old wolf. Which is the natural order of things. It wasn’t time to retire and hand over leadership to the next generation. It was because someone took my future away from me. With malice and intent to kill me. I will never be what I was before. It took me a long time to accept that. I was depressed for months. Poor Carla, I know I was horrible to live with. But she’s no pushover and she kept shoving the truth at me until I finally accepted it. I can’t be what I was before, but I can be something else. I can embrace what I have and live my life to the fullest.”

  He took her hands as she blinked back tears. “You flew today. How long has it been?”

  She swallowed hard. “Five months. I haven’t flown since before I left the air force.”

  “How’d it feel?”

  She recalled that rush of joy when she’d taken off and they’d left the ground. “Marvelous.”

  He grinned. “Yeah. Don’t let what you were before stop you from being the best what you are now. I’m around if you want to talk. I know what it feels like. I’m sorry as hell for what happened to you. I did call to rip a new one in the Pack down there. He should have offered to help. He’s working with the police officer, who I also spoke to, nice boy. They’re going to get some people on the men who nearly killed you.”

  She took the handkerchief he handed her way and dabbed her eyes with it. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. And I mean it. It was a pleasure to meet you. We’ll see you next month. Keep the handkerchief.” He patted her hand. “And say hello to Gibson for me.”

  Grace hadn’t asked what he’d spoken to Mia about, though she was sure she guessed. But she didn’t pry.

  Instead, once they got back home, Grace gave Mia a hug and invited her to lunch the following week.

  Mia had rediscovered a big part of herself that day.

  So she came out of the elevator into the lobby to find Gibson standing there with a gigantic bouquet of roses, and the tears had come back, even as she grinned his way.

  “Happy first day on the job.”

  She took the roses and tiptoed up to kiss him. Because it didn’t matter if anyone saw. He brought her roses, damn it.

  “You’re getting really lucky later.”

  “My evil plan succeeded. Come on.” He put an arm around her. “We have dinner reservations in forty-five minutes.”

  “Roses and food? You’re a miracle to me, Gibson de La Vega.”

  He smiled, kissing her cheek before pivoting them toward the doors.

  “Gibson, hold up!”

  They both turned to see Jack coming toward them, holding a folder. “Some information here for you. Call me later.” He stretched and kissed Mia’s cheek. “Hey you. Thanks for handling the flight today.”

  Gibson’s growl and tightening of his arm around her shoulder surprised them both.

  Jack put his hands up and stepped back. “Just saying hello to Mia.”

  Gibson relaxed. “Sorry.”

  The mark on her back throbbed a little, and he turned to her, surprise on his face.

  “Do you really think he was going to ravish me in the middle of the elevator lobby with your arm around me?”

  He just looked back to Jack. “Thanks for the info. Appreciate it.”

  Jack winked at her and Gibson growled again.

  Jack turned that brilliant surfer-boy smile on Gibson. “Fuck off, Gibson. You mess with Renee and Kendra all the time just to poke at your brothers and me. Get used to it. Your lovely Mia is far too pretty not to want to flirt with.”

  Mia laughed as Gibson hmpfed and led her out to his car.

  “Hey, Dario.” She waved as he got out and handed the keys to Gibson.

  “Hey, Mia. Good flight today?” He opened her door and Gibson snorted, throwing his hands up and then pushing Dario from the way to help Mia up into the SUV.

  She looked around Gibson’s body to Dario. “It really was. It was a good day all around.”

  “Good. See you later.” He turned to speak to Gibson for a few moments until Gibson got in the car with her.

  Shifters were a territorial bunch, she knew. It was instinctual so those moments with growls and glares tended to happen from time to time, even with close friends and family. Generally it was accepted as something that came up and no one got really fashed over it. But they didn’t usually occur unless the Weres were involved in a serious relationship. Which, she supposed, they were.

  “So how was your day?” She breathed in the scent of the roses, smiling. “These are so pretty.”

  “Let’s stop at home first for a moment. I need to make a call and the number is there.”

  “Everything all right?”

  “Today we found out some stuff about the cats who attacked me. Us I suppose. I need to call the Smithville Alpha, the new one.”

  She waited for him to navigate through a busy intersection, not wanting to mess with his concentration.

  “I need to go down there. I’m only calling him as a courtesy.”

  “When? When do you plan to go?”

  “As soon as possible. Tomorrow most likely.”

  “I’ll take you.”

  He looked askance and then back to the road as they headed up the street toward his place.

  “What? Max told me he had jobs for me from time to time as well. He said you guys have a jet. And even if you didn’t, I could borrow the one I flew today. We could be there in a few hours. Back that same night if necessary. Or you could fly commercial. Show up hours early, get frisked, not be able to carry on board and then do it all over again, only on their schedule instead of yours. Everyone loves that.”

  He sighed and pulled up to the house.

  “It could be dangerous.” He got out of the car but she waited, knowing he was extra tense. She even let him help her down and got a quick kiss for her troubles.

  “And I’ve been so safe and trouble-free of late. If only I had military training.”

  He groaned, put-upon, and they went into the house. “I don’t want you in danger.”

  “Too fucking bad, Gibson. I already am. I have a skill you need. I’m offering it. I don’t have to be back for four days so I have the time.”

  He held up a hand and dialed the number he’d had on his desk.

  “Bob, it’s Gibson de La Vega.”

  “Yes? What can I do for you, Gibson?”

  “I’m calling to request permission for me and—” he flicked his gaze up to Mia briefly “—four of my cats to enter your territory. I have to question some people who may have some answers I need.”

  “Permission is granted. But would you like my new Bringer to question them on your behalf?”

  “No. Though your offer is appreciated.”

  “All right. Would you like transportation from the airport?”

  “I’ve got that handled, but I would like to take a meal with you tomorrow evening if possible.”

  He eased the discomfort with that and
Mia admired his political skill. He was playing whatever he was doing very close to the vest so the dinner offer would help Bob understand Gibson wasn’t there with angry intentions toward Bob.

  “Of course, yes. I’ll have a dinner planned with me and my wife.”

  Gibson hung up and she left the room to put the roses in a vase and let him call to set up the plane, because she knew he’d give in. It was the best option and he knew it.

  Chapter Eleven

  He took her to Amor, a restaurant she knew from various stories she’d heard about the de La Vegas. It was apparently their favorite restaurant, and Kendra had told Mia it was the place she really first started to fall for Max.

  So it was special that he brought her there. Special that he’d kept his hand on the small of her back as they’d led him to the table.

  “Do you mind if I order for you?”

  Surprised he’d asked, she nodded. “Yes, that’s fine.”

  He spoke to the server as she watched him in the candlelight.

  “You’ll like it. So how was it? Flying again?”

  “I hadn’t expected it to be as wonderful as it turned out to be. I was a little worried that it would be overwhelming or whatever, but it was like I’d never been attacked at all. It was...well, it was good. Templeton sends along his hello.”

  “What’d you think of Templeton?”

  She smiled. “I like him. He’s a funny, flirty guy with a great wife and a pretty awesome outlook on life.” She paused as they brought salads and glasses to go with the wine he’d ordered.

  “Never been nervous to order wine before I met you. I hope you like it.”

  He was being remarkably sweet. “I don’t think I’ve seen you nervous before. It looks a lot like confident on you.” She winked and took a sip. “This is a very good red.”

  “I’m relieved.”

  The server poured them each a glass and left the bottle.

  “He took me aside. As we were leaving. And he shared some of what had happened to him. He was very kind and gave me some very heartfelt and good advice.” She sipped her wine.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She liked that he didn’t push. And he was a pushy guy. But there were times like just then where he got how hard it was for her to talk about it and he let her share as she could. Which made it easier to share the next time.

  “He knows what it means to never again be what you were before. To have to live knowing you’ll never be as strong. To know your life, your future, was stolen by people who don’t deserve to be breathing.”

  He took her hand.

  “Anyway, he just shared that and it felt good to be understood. Sometimes...well, sometimes I know people care and they feel bad, but they can’t know. You’re a powerful male at his prime. You’re strong and fast and respected. You are a badass no one is going to mess with and you’ve earned it. You can listen to me when I’m sad, but you can’t know what it feels like to have your future stolen.” She lifted her gaze to him and held it. “And I don’t want you to. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But it’s lonely sometimes. He made me feel less lonely.”

  “I’m glad you met him then. And I’m sorry you’re lonely. I wish I could make it better.”

  She snorted. For such a tough dude, he could be so very sweet. “You do make it better. Even when you’re bossy and you say dumb guy stuff.” She smiled because it was totally true. And he sat back, keeping her hand for long moments before they both started eating.

  “Sixteen years ago my father ran the jamboree with his brothers. Like his father had done. My uncle Tomas was the Bringer.”

  She remembered some of this vaguely. She knew he’d challenged the old Bringer. But that was what happened. It was part of their culture to have challenges to positions of power. Only the very strongest could lead.

  “My other uncle did the books. He was the other second, like Galen is with Max. He uncovered that Tomas was embezzling jamboree funds. Seventy-four thousand dollars.”

  Gibson hated to tell this story, but how could he not? How could he hold back when she’d just given him that bit of herself? He’d have been a coward. And he was no coward.

  “So my father confronted him and he denied it. Worse, he started to undermine my father and through that, the entire jamboree. He accused my father of trying to push Tomas and his family out. They were about a third of the jamboree so that was a big deal. Tomas was very charming. He had a lot of friends, and a rift was formed because at first my father didn’t want to air the story about the embezzlement. Tomas was his younger brother. He didn’t want to hurt him. And he didn’t want to drag the rest of the jamboree into what he felt was a family matter.

  “But after a while he had to because it was tearing the jamboree apart. Then Tomas started talking about challenging my father and that could not happen. My father would have beaten him, but it would have broken him. So I did it. A call had been made and there was a gathering of the entire governing council. I stood up and challenged him for the position. And instead of choosing first-blood, he chose a challenge to the death.”

  Gibson remembered the look on his father’s face when Gibson called a challenge. Proud, most certainly. But he was torn. Sad. And pissed off because Gibson hadn’t discussed it with him first.

  Gibson hadn’t because he’d known his father would have tried to protect him and ordered him not to do it.

  But when Tomas had been so boastful and said he didn’t want to bother with anything but to the death, Cesar’s jaw had hardened, his gaze narrowing. Gibson knew now, as an older man, that his father had to let go of his brother at that very moment. In front of the whole jamboree.

  She watched him with those big brown eyes. Never judging.

  The server brought their steaks along with several sides and they ate for a while in silence before he continued.

  “I can’t understand. Why didn’t he choose first-blood?”

  A first-blood would have been a challenge that ended when the first person hit the floor and stayed there a certain amount of time. It could have ended that way.

  “Pride, I believe. He was at his prime. My age now.” Gibson snorted. “He was cocky and strong and powerful, and he wanted me dead. He’d stolen from our family and our cats, and he wanted to destroy my father and kill me. And I wasn’t going to allow it, even though I didn’t want to kill him. He was my uncle and, despite what he’d done, I loved him. He taught me a lot of what I know. I was one of his top men.

  “And I won. I didn’t just win but I won handily.” It had been the shortest challenge in jamboree history. He’d had his uncle’s blood on his hands and he’d hated it. But he’d done it. He hadn’t wanted his uncle to suffer, even though he’d been such an ass. He hadn’t wanted his father to suffer because Tomas was his brother, no matter what he’d done. Like Carlos was...had been his brother.

  And because of how quick it went and because he’d done it fast and clean, no playing, no teasing, it had solidified his support in the jamboree immediately.

  “You were meant to be Bringer, Gibson. If you hadn’t been, you wouldn’t have won so fast and so completely.”

  His uncle hadn’t even landed a single blow, though he’d tried. He’d underestimated Gibson all while overestimating himself. And it had been his undoing.

  But the other cats had taken it as fate that he was meant to be Bringer. Tomas’s wife had left that night with their children. Some of his other cousins had gone with them as well. It had taken two years for things to feel right again and he still missed his uncle from time to time.

  “It was, as they say, what it was. I’ve done my level best to hold the spot with honor and strength. To do right by my cats and my family. We haven’t always been able to do what was right or best. We hurt your family. My brother Carlos and one of my cousins bet
rayed us all and nearly got Renee and Kendra killed.” He hated that so much. Hated that Carlos had done so much damage. Hated that he’d had to play a part in his final sentence, with his father at his side.

  And part of Gibson hated that despite all the shitty things his brother had done, he still loved Carlos.

  “You can’t take responsibility for what other people do, Gibson. Only what you do.”

  “For all I know, Carlos could have helped those fuckers nearly kill you. My brother might have been the person who stole your future.”

  “It doesn’t matter. His worst crime was what you had to do because of him. I hate him for that. His betrayal didn’t just end at what he did to Kendra.”

  Of all the things he’d expected from her, that was not it. She continued to surprise him with how perceptive she was. How giving she could be, especially with him. He’d never really spoken of that night he’d interrogated Carlos with their father at his side. Of the final sentence. He and his father had shared that grief, but they hadn’t spoken of it since then.

  But he couldn’t get drawn into that memory just then. He had other things to say. “I told you that because I think Bertram Simmons is really Tomas’s son, Alberto.”

  Her eyes widened. “Get out!”

  “I don’t know for sure. But I was going over the footage and through the pictures we had from all our sources for the millionth time when my father came by to see Max. He paused while I was looking and he said something like, that boy looks a little like Serafina. That was my aunt. And I realized he did. Not very much like Tomas, but he had my aunt’s eyes. He’s the right age. The timelines are pretty close. Remember I said it looked like they didn’t really have a past until about fifteen years ago? I could totally be wrong, but I want to go down there and see for myself. I want to go into their houses to scent. I want to speak to the remaining members of the Bringer’s team and those around Bertram. I need to know.”

  She exhaled. “So you think this could be about them wanting revenge for you killing their dad? Fifteen years is a long time to wait.”