Crossing to his attacker, his foot hit a loose piece of gravel and he stumbled. He shook his head to clear the fog. That hit to the jaw had rattled his brain. But still he forged ahead. The need to see his attacker pulsed inside him. Was this personal, or merely chance?
Two random attacks in so short a time seemed unlikely, three if he counted the attack on Ryan. Not impossible. But even though Max never discounted the impossible—after all, if someone had told him last year he’d be happily mated to a sassy, bossy wolf, he would have told them they were crazy—it was hard to discount these strikes as random.
The man behind the mask had an eye already swelling from Max’s one hit. His lids were closed as if in slumber. Max studied his features, noting the mole above his left eye and the messy five o’clock shadow covering his jaw and mouth. No recognition sparked within him. Still, intuition wouldn’t let the matter rest. Something wasn’t right. What was a mugger doing haunting Upper East Side? Why attack a seemingly strong man, especially when a woman who couldn’t control her dog had passed by moments before?
The whole thing felt…wrong.
Searching for any sign of movement, Max reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. As much as he’d like to deal with this himself, he knew he needed to contact the police. The man was human, not shifter. Not something he could cover up. He’d pass it off as a typical mugging and leave it at that.
“Sir, remain on the line. Officers are on their way to your location.”
Only the need to keep the attacker in sight kept him from closing his eyes as the adrenaline crash assailed him. Tiredness crept behind his eyes, but he forced himself to remain alert despite the impulse to lean against the opposite wall.
He placed the phone on speaker and closed the phone function, sending a quick group text to Tyler, Colin, and Ryan.
Second and fifty-second. Come now.
At least he knew exactly where he was, and he wasn’t too far from the apartment complex. Five blocks. Who would’ve figured this would happen so close to home? Unless his suspicions were correct and there was more happening than appeared on the surface. The man had pulled a knife on him and had looked prepared to use it.
Again, suspicion crept into his mind. This all felt too convenient. If someone were after him, an accidental death would be the smartest way to accomplish it. An outright attack would raise too much suspicion. His family wouldn’t rest until the perpetrator was found. But an accident would close the case before it opened.
Sirens sounded in the distance, coming closer. Moments later, two officers called out to him from the front of the alley. Finally allowing him to take his eyes away from the assailant, Max called back, holding up his hands as he crossed to the officers. He’d seen it done on detective shows and it seemed appropriate. Show them you meant no harm and they wouldn’t shoot you accidentally.
One of the officers pulled out cuffs and moved into the alley while the other pulled him aside and started asking him questions. Max pointed out the knife, relating his story while the officer took notes on his notepad.
Rapid footsteps behind him made him turn. He raised a hand in greeting and warning towards his family. More sirens drew closer.
Max rubbed his forehead where a headache brewed under the surface. What a clusterfuck. All he wanted to do was head home. To take solace by sinking into Laurie’s embrace. But no. Not only had he missed the dinner he’d promised to be home for, now he had to answer endless questions and be poked and prodded by the paramedics that had shown up. Hell, by the time he finally did get home, Laurie might just lay him out herself.
“What the hell happened?” Colin asked once he’d finished making a report and signed the Against Medical Advice form the paramedic had given him after he refused to be transferred to a hospital. The last thing he needed was the questions that would raise. He needed to seem unruffled and unhurt if there were enemies in the leap.
“Mugging. Maybe. I don’t know.” Max rubbed his hands wearily over his face. It had already been a long day, and some of those kicks still hurt.
“What do you mean maybe?” Tyler asked.
Max looked at him, then moved his gaze to Ryan. He hadn’t told either Tyler or Colin about Ryan’s concerns. He’d ordered a guard on his brother at all times, but hadn’t let on that the real target might be him. They knew about the shooting, of course, but Max had played it off as wrong place, wrong time. He wasn’t sure he could do the same this time. Knew he shouldn’t even if he could. Instinct screamed at him. Something wasn’t right, and as his advisers, they should know. He needed their help.
“After Ryan was attacked, he warned me that someone might be after me.”
Both sets of eyes turned to Ryan.
“How would you know that?”
“I don’t remember that night except in bits and pieces, but every time I try to remember more, I get this panicked need to make sure Max is okay. All emotions, but…” He tapered off, rubbing his temple.
Colin reached out and gripped Ryan’s shoulder in comfort. As shifters, they understood acting on instinct.
Max sighed. What a mess.
“Why haven’t you mentioned this before?” A fair amount of anger bled into Tyler’s tone. Accusation shone from his eyes.
“Until I had something solid to go on—” he started, only to be cut off by Colin.
“You were shot at!”
The emotion in Colin’s voice brought Max up short. Fear, yes, but resentment and frustration as well.
“Happenstance. At least I thought so at the time.” He glanced back to see the police dragging his cuffed assailant out of the alley.
“How can we protect you when you don’t share with us?”
Max breathed a sigh of relief, hearing some of the anger had dissipated from Tyler’s tone. He glanced at Colin, but the other man still looked furious.
“I’m sorry.”
Colin glanced at him in surprise.
“I should have shared.” Maybe. Regardless, he needed his cousins on his side. Because the more he put pieces together in his mind, the less these attacks seemed random. There were only so many times you could add two and two and get five before you realized things weren’t adding up.
“Yes, you should have.” Colin fumed. Tyler reached out and patted his brother on the shoulder. Max recognized the gesture as the cats inside them craving the comfort of touch. What startled him was seeing it come from Tyler. His stoic cousin rarely sought comfort or touch anymore.
“You think tonight was the second attempt?” Ryan asked, drawing his attention away.
Max hesitated. If he was wrong, he’d be making a big deal out of nothing. But if he was right and he didn’t act, things would be a lot worse. Ryan had already gotten hit in the crosshairs, who next? Colin or Tyler? Or maybe Leah or Amy? Laurie?
The terror at the thought of Laurie hurt, or worse, almost dragged him to his knees. The need to protect beat a steady tempo through his veins. He would kill anyone who dared to threaten his loved ones.
“I’m not sure, but my gut says yes.”
All three men remained silent, waiting for instructions. Putting guards on everyone would raise red flags. He wanted this fucker to strike again. It was the only way to catch him.
“For now, we keep this quiet. We wait, but we watch. We protect Laurie, Leah, and Amy at all costs, without letting them know. We don’t need them trying to help and getting hurt. Next time this asshole slips up, let’s turn the game around on him and bury him.”
Three heads nodded in agreement.
*****
“You’re late,” Laurie accused as soon as the doors started to open. She stood in the arch between the entry and the kitchen, arms crossed, trying to look intimidating. But the excitement bubbling inside her wouldn’t let her hold the pose for long. “But I’m too happy to be mad. It’s a girl!”
She threw herself into Max’s arms and heard a small grunt of pain. Immediately, she pulled away, leaving only her hands clutching h
is shoulders to keep him still as he tried to turn away.
“A girl, huh? Are you happy, Aunt Laurie?” he asked, knowing she’d been anxiously waiting news of Samantha and Jason’s child for the past week.
Of course she was happy. Thrilled. But she pushed it away, and focused on the pain lining his eyes and mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
“We should celebrate, don’t you think?” He tried to turn away, but Laurie pulled him back.
Annoyance spiked inside her. Always hiding things. But she knew the scent of pain and injury. Damn him. Why wouldn’t he lean on her even a little?
Fine. If he wouldn’t tell her, she’d just have to find out on her own. She examined his face as she reached for the hem of his shirt. He touched her hands to stop her, but she brushed them aside and pulled the shirt out of his pants. A fresh bruise darkened his jaw, and the way he’d grunted, she’d guess there were more on his chest.
He tried to retreat, but Laurie fisted her hands in his shirt. “Stay still,” she all but growled.
Surprise lit his eyes, but he obeyed her command. She’d never been this angry with him before. Mad, sure. But this… She could feel it churning inside her, burning away any happiness in her new niece. What was he hiding from her? And why?
She gasped as she pulled up his shirt and revealed the purple mottled flesh underneath. Gently, she ran her hands over the marks. An ache rose in her throat at the knowledge of the pain he’d suffered. She glanced up and saw the distress in his gaze, and the pain he still tried to hide. He hadn’t wanted her to know about this. But why?
“I take it your meeting with the lions didn’t go well?” she joked, trying to ease some of the tension clouding the air, all the while stroking the bond in her mind to comfort in the only way she could.
Anything to ease the suffering of the man she loved. And she did love him. The knowledge slid into her, making her realize what had been living inside for a while now. She loved him.
When it had happened, she wasn’t sure, but there it was, pounding through her veins with every beat of her heart.
She found herself pulled out of her thoughts and into his arms. She started to struggle, sure the close embrace would only hurt him further, but gave up after he hissed in pain at her effort. His scent surrounded her. Earthy. Male. She put her arms around him and clung, burying her face in his shoulder. Not knowing how to protect him was killing her.
“Would you tell me what happened?”
She felt him stiffen, and her heart sank. If he felt the same as she did, he would tell her. If he loved her, even a little, he would trust her. That he still turned away, still sought an escape, told her clearer than words that he didn’t return her love. A pain, sharp and steely, struck her heart. She absorbed the sting, focusing on it until it was a dull ache. Now wasn’t the time. Later, she could be hurt. Maybe even throw a small tantrum. Protecting Max had to take priority.
“Max?” she prompted, hating herself for pushing him as much as she hated him for forcing her to do so.
“I was mugged.”
She pulled away and searched his face for lies. He was holding something back. She knew it in her bones. But pushing more would get her nowhere if he was determined to keep her in the dark.
“Are you okay?” Because he didn’t look it. The bruises were bad, but those would heal. What concerned her was the despair on his face. Even the smile he gave her seemed duller than usual.
“Nothing serious, my thunder storm.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“Okay.” Nothing about the situation was okay, but if he needed to distance himself, she’d support him in any way she could. She just hoped it was the mugging, and not her, he tried to distance himself from. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
Sadness tinged her smile, but she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the table, pulling him into the chair where his place was still set.
“I’ll warm it up. Wine?”
“Please.”
She leaned down and kissed his cheek. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. But she could see and feel the pain he tried to hide. Once he felt better, she’d go after him full throttle. Right now, she’d give him the comfort he needed.
“Let’s book your flight tonight.”
Laurie paused with her hand poised over the microwave buttons. “Flight?” Where were they going?
“Didn’t you want to visit your family once Samantha had the baby? You can fly out tomorrow.”
The microwave hummed to life as Laurie thought of her reply. Yes, she had wanted to visit the baby, but the timing seemed off. Why did it feel like he was trying to get rid of her?
“It can wait. She’s still in the hospital.”
“Don’t be silly. You have to go when she’s still in the hospital. You don’t want to miss the baby’s first days.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” she asked bluntly. Subtlety had never been her strong suit.
“Of course not.” Max looked startled. “Come here.”
Laurie crossed to his extended hand and was pulled into his lap.
“I know how hard this transition has been on you. How close you and your family are. You want to be with them. I can make that happen for you. There is no reason for you not to go and spent a few weeks with them.”
“A few weeks?” So long? She’d thought she could go for a long weekend, a week at most. And why did it sound like she was going alone? She’d expected Max would go with her. Just the thought of being away from him for that much time hurt her heart.
“Or longer, if you’d like.”
Longer? Once again, the realization that he didn’t love her struck a fatal blow to her heart. It seemed he had no problem sending her away for weeks on end. Or longer. She’d thought they’d been building something solid here. Even though he didn’t rely on her, she’d thought he had come to care for her. Had she been totally off base? Was he, in fact, looking forward to their time apart?
She searched the bond for some clue. A sliver of emotion crept through to her. Sadness. Aching. But also relief. Relief?
Another strike to her chest, this time hitting her pride as well. Maybe things hadn’t been going as smoothly as she’d thought. Apparently he looked forward to her time away. She absorbed the ache, as she had the others, not letting herself focus on it for long. Some time apart might do them both good.
“Sure. Let’s book it tonight.”
But the excitement for the trip had soured. Instead, her chest felt heavy. Why did it feel like she was being sent away?
*****
Staring at his computer screen, Max grimaced at the cramping in his stomach. Running the leap was never easy, but it seemed more volatile than normal. He swore they were giving him ulcers.
Then again, his anxiety might be linked to Laurie leaving. Upstairs, he could hear her moving around as she packed for her evening flight. Three weeks without her. He already felt the pain of her absence, but at least she would be safe. Three weeks would hopefully be enough time for them to find his enemies. And if she were in Colorado, away from it all, she couldn’t be hurt. No one would get her there, especially surrounded by her brothers. They would protect her in his stead.
The burn in his stomach crept upward. Great, heartburn. As if his heart wasn’t in enough pain already. Reaching for his coffee, he took a big swig to try and push the acid down. Fighting acid with acid, why not?
Another cramp struck his stomach, forcing him to double over. Crap. This couldn’t be stress, or heartburn. Something was seriously wrong. The fire spread through his body, cramping muscles along the way. His arms and legs felt heavy. Weighed down. The room began to spin, blurring around the edges.
He reached for his phone and knocked it over the edge of his desk. Shit, shit, shit. His body dragged him down when he tried to stand, sandbags weighing his limbs. He stumbled over the legs of his chair, falling flat and knocking the chair over with him. Would Laurie have heard from upstairs? Would she
come? He dragged himself toward the phone, the door, somewhere.
“Laurie,” he croaked out. Not the shout he’d hoped for. He tried again, but the pounding in his temples grew worse. He laid his head on the cool wood floor and closed his eyes. Just for a minute. Just to get his bearings. It would pass and then he would be able to call for help.
Any minute now, it would pass.
Something cold and wet touched his cheek. He cracked open an eye and saw Kitty standing over him. She whined, rubbing her nose over his ear and neck.
“Help,” he whispered, knowing it was useless. She wasn’t Lassie. Wouldn’t know how to get help. Stupid dog.
The bark reverberated through his head like a gunshot. He groaned, curling into a ball. The least she could do was let him rest in peace. He just needed to sleep this off. He’d be fine in a minute. Maybe two.
Her feet ticked on the floor as she ran from the room, still barking her head off. After a moment, running footfalls sounded outside his office door.
“Max? Max!”
Honeysuckle and citrus surrounded him. A cool hand touched his cheek. He smiled despite the pain. Struggling, he reached out and touched her knee where she kneeled beside him.
Her hand stroked his head. Her lips, soft as a butterfly, brushed his forehead.
“I need your help…”
Max closed his eyes and let her voice float over him. Her words drifted in and out of focus.
“I don’t know…sick or something.”
A smile curved his lips. God, he loved her. She didn’t hesitate. Didn’t whimper or whine. He wasn’t sure who was on the other end, but she’d immediately called for help. Knowing Laurie, whoever it was would know what to do.
“…bad.”
He felt her lift his head, then rest it on something soft and warm. Her scent filled his nose, drowning out the smell of burning he hadn’t realized had been present.
“It’s okay, Max. Help is on the way. Hang in there.”
Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters) Page 16