Geek Chic

by Lesli Richardson

  Literally.

  Behind Nami’s back, Dewi opened her hands toward him, a silent question. He just smiled more broadly and shrugged, leaning against the wall and looking extremely amused.

  He damn near looked smug.

  Dewi realized Nami wasn’t going to end the hug until she was damn well ready to end it, so Dewi gave in and went back to gently patting the woman’s back.

  “You saved my family,” Nami said. “I love you so, so much. You have no idea.”

  “It’s okay, Nami. That’s what family does. That’s what the pack does. We take care of each other. You’re part of the pack now, and even though your family can’t know about the wolf stuff, they’re part of the pack because you’re part of the pack.”

  After a few minutes, Nami still hadn’t let go. “Look, Beck,” Dewi said, sounding a little squished now. “She’s still hugging me.”

  Beck snorted as Ken burst into laughter. “Let it happen, Dewi,” Beck said. “Just let it happen. She’ll be done in a minute.”

  * * * *

  Understandably, Lu’ana, Reggie, and Da’von had a lot of questions that only Badger’s Prime powers had kept at bay. Dewi took Malyah outside onto the lanai, alone, to talk with her.

  Seated at the table, Dewi faced her, taking Malyah’s hands in hers and gently squeezing as she offered the shaken woman a smile. “How are you feeling, Malyah?”

  “I’m…confused. I don’t understand what happened.”

  Dewi noted the bruise on Malyah’s cheek was darkening, deepening. “Here’s what happened, sweetie. You were getting ready for work this morning, and you were in a hurry. Big hurry. You spilled your coffee on the kitchen floor, and when you went to clean it up, you slipped in it and hit your head on the kitchen counter. Knocked you clean out for a couple of hours. You woke up on the floor. When you realized how long you’d been unconscious, you got scared and called your sister. She came and picked you up, and we got you in to see our family doctor.”

  Dewi reached up with one hand and gently turned Malyah’s chin to get a better look at the bruise. “He said you’re lucky you didn’t fracture your cheekbone, and he doesn’t want you driving for a couple of days until you’re feeling better. So you’re going to spend the weekend here at our house, with Nami. We’ll call your work in a few minutes and we’ll talk to them for you, explain what happened. And our doctor can get you a note, if you need to.”

  She made a mental note to herself to call their private doctor and have him come by later that afternoon. He was also a shifter and part of their pack. He’d write Malyah a note to match her story and injuries. Dewi didn’t want the girl to lose her job over this.

  And if she did, well, Dewi would just have to go talk to Malyah’s boss for her.

  In person.

  “So, you tell me happened today,” Dewi said. Malyah repeated the story back to Dewi. When she finished, Dewi thought about it for a moment. “That asshole Jarome Drexler, he called you a couple of times over the past few days. Every time he did, you told him to leave you alone, and you hung up on him. We all had an intervention with your brother last week, and he agreed not to have contact with Jarome, either. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “So tell me one more time what happened today.” This time, Malyah’s voice held more confidence, and a little touch of self-deprecation.

  “I’m so clumsy,” Malyah said. “I’m always bumping into stuff, or tripping. Nami tells me to slow down, that I rush around too much.” She laughed as she touched the bruise. “I guess she’ll get to say see I told you so now. I can’t believe I knocked myself out.”

  Dewi smiled, relaxing. Malyah’s mind had completely accepted the revised edition of events. And Dewi decided to add one more little touch. “You’ll never have any nightmares about bad guys kidnapping you, either,” Dewi said. “Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Dewi helped her up. “Why don’t we go inside, and we’ll talk to everyone about what happened today.”

  Malyah smiled. “Sounds good.” She stopped, but didn’t let go of Dewi’s hand. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.” Dewi wondered if it’d be a loose end she’d missed, even though she knew the implanted memory was very strong.

  “Does Beck really love Nami?”

  That halted Dewi in her tracks. “Beck loves her in a way I’ve never seen him love anyone else before.” It was a refreshing change to be able to give the unvarnished, unaltered truth about something for once that afternoon. “He would die for your sister, or any of you all, since she loves you. I’m not just saying that as his friend, either. I’m the first person who would bust his ass if I thought he was playing someone.”

  Malyah leaned in and dropped her voice. “Ever since she met him, she seems happy for the first time that I can honestly remember. I don’t want her to get her heart broken.”

  Dewi draped an arm around the girl and led her toward the sliders. “I can guarantee you on my own life that Beck will never break Nami’s heart.”

  * * * *

  Before Dewi and Badger had the family talk, Dewi pulled Nami aside and told her what Malyah’s story would be. “Now, my question is, I know you said you didn’t want to know what happened, but do you want me to plant a new memory in you, too?”

  “Why are you asking me if you can do it?”

  “Because you’re Beck’s mate. I won’t alter your memory without clearing it with you first.”

  She considered it. “Is Jarome dead?”

  “No. But he won’t enjoy living for the rest of his life. Especially behind bars.” Before they’d left the Publix, Dewi had Beck use one of the men’s phones to call 911 and report shots fired at the Ybor address. Then they removed the batteries from the phones, wiped all the prints off them, and crushed them under their boots in the Publix parking lot. Gathering up the pieces in one of the trash bags, they stopped at a McDonald’s on their way back to the Interstate and tossed the phone remnants in a parking lot garbage can there.

  If Jarome had managed to make it out of the crack shack before the cops arrived, he had a stronger constitution than Dewi imagined. What she suspected happened was that Tampa PD responded, arrested his ass, and he was currently the subject of snickering nurses and ER doctors making dick jokes and swapping stupid criminal stories while they sewed up whatever was left of his scrotum.

  He’d likely spend the rest of his life peeing sitting down.

  Dewi was fine with that.

  “Just give me a few details then,” Nami said.

  Dewi gave her the bare minimum about what had happened, omitting the part about her making Sparky murder the other two, and that when she’d left the crack shack, Jarome was alive, although not very well.

  Nami didn’t ask the fates of the other three guys.

  “So, do you want to remember that? Or, in case cops end up tracking something back to you, do you want to have plausible deniability?”

  Nami considered it. “I want to remember. If I’m too numb about it, that might seem weird even if they can’t shake me.”

  “Fair enough. Let’s go back in there and fix it with your family.”

  Between Dewi, Badger, Malyah’s own words, and the appearance of Dr. Collins—thanks to an emergency call to him by Badger earlier, already anticipating needing him—Nami’s siblings were quickly smiling and gently teasing their sister about her “self-inflicted” injuries.

  And everyone was looking forward to the barbecue on the lanai, followed by the pool party.

  Badger had even thought to make sure Lu’ana had grabbed suits for her, her husband, and the baby, too.

  Dewi pre-empted Beck’s thunder, though, before they sat down to eat. “Beck, I think there was something you wanted to announce tonight, too, right? Hence the reason we’re all here in the first place?”

  He shot her a dark glare, but nodded. “Yes.” Taking Nami’s left hand in his, he pulled a ring from his pocket, something Dewi hadn’t even realized he’d alread
y purchased. “Namiyah Drexler, will you marry me?”

  She burst into squealing, happy tears, and said yes.

  Ken sidled up to Dewi’s side as the siblings were too busy congratulating the couple. “And that’s not too soon to get engaged at alllll,” he muttered to Dewi, slipping his arms around her waist as he kissed her neck.

  Dewi snorted. “We fudged the timeframe a little in their memories. They think Beck and Nami have been dating a couple of months.”

  “Still, I’m happy for them.”

  “Me, too.” And she was. There wasn’t the slightest bit of jealousy in her. And as she pulled her mate’s arms more tightly around her, she glanced over at Badger, who watched the proceedings with a slightly wistful pang in his one blue eye.

  Late that evening, after Lu’ana and Reggie offered to take Da’von home and Nami finally agreed to let him stay at the apartment by himself, they all said their good-byes and then watched as they headed down the driveway.

  Nami draped an arm around her little sister’s shoulders. “Will it shock you if I spend the night in Beck’s room?”

  Malyah snorted. “No. Sis, we’re not kids, and you’re an adult. He makes you happy. Go, be happy. I’m going to turn on the TV and go to bed after I get a shower. My head hurts a little.”

  Dr. Collins had also brought a prescription for Malyah, after Badger had given him a quick heads-up about what had really happened. The anti-anxiety meds would help Malyah sleep and recover over the next few days. After dinner, he’d given Malyah “another” exam in his portable hospital on wheels, including an x-ray to confirm she didn’t have a concussion, although he only revealed that to Dewi and the others. They wanted Malyah and the rest of Nami’s family to believe the girl had one to easily explain her confusion.

  Once Malyah was upstairs and settled in for the night, the others gathered in the kitchen to talk.

  Nami looked exhausted as she rested her head against Beck’s chest. “This has been…a crazy, crazy-ass day.”

  Beck kissed the top of her head. “You know, I’ve got room at my house for Da’von and Malyah. I’ll get him a car, get you a new car, and—”

  She turned and swatted his chest. “No. I don’t want him spoiled.”

  “Well, we know Jarome won’t be a problem for him anymore. And I think it’s safe to say our talk with Da’von the other night regarding staying on the straight and narrow worked.”

  Nami let out a sigh. “Are you using logic on me?”

  “Who, me?” But Beck smiled.

  Dewi looked on, amused. “Nami, if you want to quit your job, you can. We can get you a job doing pack business. Administrative stuff, helping Ken out, if you want.”

  “No, I want to work a couple more years and get my retirement. And I still want to help Lara out in the dress shop. I love it there. When I finally retire, that’s what I want to do, be able to help her out full-time.”

  They all fell silent. Badger finally broke the quiet. “Ye all right, Dewi? Settled in and all after…what happened?”

  “We got meat into her,” Beck said.

  “Good.”

  “What does that mean?” Nami asked.

  “Don’t ask,” Beck, Ken, Martin, and Badger said in unison.

  Nami nodded. “Alrighty, then. I won’t.”

  After Martin bid everyone good night, and the rest of them headed upstairs, where they parted ways and split up to go to their respective bedrooms, Dewi and Ken took a shower. The dip in the pool had helped Dewi rinse off the funk from that afternoon, but now she wanted a long, hot soak.

  And then to collapse in Ken’s arms.

  Not even sexytime. She just wanted to sleep.

  As he held her, stroking her back, he nuzzled the top of her head. “Did they pay?” he asked.

  She didn’t need clarification. “Yep. In spades.”

  “I know they deserved it, but I’m guessing that drug deal gone bad I saw mentioned on TV tonight when I was checking the news was somehow related to what happened today?”

  “Oh, it made the news?”

  He snorted. She thought it was so cute when he did that. “Uh, yeah. A guy shoots his own balls off, especially a criminal, it sort of tends to make the news.”

  “Good. They putting him in jail?”

  “Parole violation, in addition to new charges stemming from the shit-ton of drugs, and the weapons, that they found in the house. They also say they’re still sorting out the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the other three men.”

  “Ah. That means they don’t believe him and think he’s somehow responsible for all three of them. Good.”

  Ken pressed another kiss to the top of her head. “You want to talk about it?”

  Images flashed through her mind of what had happened in the Ybor crack shack. The events remained clear in memory, but had already lessened in impact to her, like watching an old black and white news reel. Whenever she had to do something like that, she immediately filed it away in her personal archives. Not something she wanted kept close to the surface. Not something she wanted to revisit on a regular basis.

  But always there.

  “Not really,” she admitted. “Dished out some Karma.”

  “Did you shoot him in the balls?”

  “Nope. Made him do it himself.” She looked up at him. “I’ll have to call Peyton tomorrow and let him know what happened. He might not be happy I took it that far, but I don’t care. None of them were innocent. Two of them were repeat rapists, and the other was going to become one. Jarome was going to let them rape her. He wanted to ruin Da’von’s life, use him for financial gain. No way was I going to let him off.”

  “Good.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?” she asked. “That I went that far?”

  He shrugged. “Considering on our first date and mating, you yanked me out of a restaurant booth, hauled me into the ladies’ room, had your way with me, then shot a guy, I’d say my perspective since meeting you has been…adjusted.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Now with the day’s events behind them, and Malyah safe, Beck finally had time to think about everything that had happened. Locking their bedroom door, Beck turned to Nami and pulled her into his arms.

  “Shit,” he muttered.

  “What now?”

  He sighed in aggravation. “I still don’t have any condoms.”

  Nami giggled, which blossomed into a full-blown belly laugh with her mouth pressed against his shirt in an attempt to muffle the sound.

  “I’m glad you’re so amused by this.”

  She smiled up at him. “Considering what’s happened today, the fact that a lack of a condom is our worst problem at this exact moment amuses the ever-lovin’ hell out of me.”

  She reached for the door and unlocked it.

  “Where are you going?”

  An exasperated sigh escaped her. “Well, grab your car keys, honey. We have a rubber run to make.”

  He smiled. “Really?”

  “Uh, yeah, really. Let’s go.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they were at a nearby Walmart that was open all night. Beck felt pleased that Nami kept a tight grip on his arm as they headed toward the display.

  “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had to buy condoms?” she whispered to him.

  He smiled. “Maybe one day it won’t be a concern. FYI, I’m clean, and wolves don’t get STDs anyway. I’m assuming, based on what you’ve told me about your history, that you know you’re clean too, right?”

  “Yeah, well, I have a feeling we’ll be spending a lot of money on these things until I can get myself on the Pill.”

  They reached the condom display. “Or…not.” He stared down at her.

  “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about kids.”

  She froze, but she didn’t let go of his arm. “You remember the part where I said I’m thirty-eight, right? And while you look damn good for your age, you’re almost fi
fty. I don’t think either of us need a baby now.”

  He felt her heart racing, like that wasn’t exactly the full truth.

  Gathering her hands in his, he held them against his chest. “Sweetheart, wolves live a long time. Badger is three hundred and ten.”

  Her eyes widened, shocked. “What?” she whispered.

  He smiled. “And human mates, especially if they’re with an Alpha, usually have an extended lifetime as well. Don’t be shocked if you notice the clock seeming to roll back a little, biologically speaking.”

  He watched her throat work as she swallowed, apparently trying to digest that revelation.

  Leaning in, he whispered, “Ken used to have horrible vision. Wore glasses since he was a kid. The morning after he mated with Dewi, he had perfect vision again.”

  “Shut your mouth.”

  “Seriously. Ken and Dewi don’t have the worry we do, because a female wolf shifter, a full-blooded one, can tell when she’s fertile and avoid those times of the month if she doesn’t want to get pregnant. I don’t know how that works in reverse, if I’ll get to a point where I can tell where you are in your cycle or not. But I’m going to put it out there that if you wanted to have a baby, that would be something I would love.”

  “I think we should have had that conversation before I decided.”

  * * * *

  Holy. Hell.

  She didn’t know if she wanted to have a baby. In a way, she’d had one. Well, raised one, anyways. And toddlers and teenagers.

  But if that was something Beck really wanted…

  He kissed her hands. “Honey, that is not a deal-breaker. If you decide no, then no it is. I’m just so happy to have you in my life that, trust me, it doesn’t matter.”

  “You say that now. What if it matters years from now?”

  “It won’t. Because you are who matters to me.”

  “I can’t promise you a baby.”

  “I’m good with that. Really.”

  “But…”

  He smiled down at her. She had a hard time thinking clearly and forming words when his blue eyes seemed to absorb the very core of her being. “You are mine,” he whispered. “That’s what matters.”