Dangerously Attracted [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Cara Adams

  Some of the guards chattered constantly as they patrolled. Maelor tended to be silent and that suited Dakota as well. She didn’t have the acute wolf hearing of the men. Late at night little sounds carried on the still air, so if there were people anywhere she was more likely to hear them if she wasn’t holding up her end of a conversation.

  All the cleaning crews had finished and gone home already. Sometimes one or more of them didn’t finish until after midnight, but tonight they’d evidently had trouble-free shifts and they were gone. All the stores were locked up nice and tightly and the restaurants were in the process of closing down, the patrons mostly gone already and the staff leaving now as their cleanup was completed.

  They stopped and spoke to Taliesin, the manager of the cinema, who was waiting for his last few staff to finish up so he could lock up the theater for the night. Everything was very quiet, safe, normal. Dakota thought it was going to be a rather boring night. But she had plenty to think about. Two delicious men who wanted her to move in with them.

  As she and Maelor walked from level to level, checking all the storefronts and doors, remembering to look up along the roof line as well as down into any cubbyholes, and behind the huge potted plants scattered around the mall, Dakota’s body worked on autopilot as she thought about living with Lewis and Andreas. Logically, she was most unlikely ever to find two men who suited her as well as they did, let alone another two men who even wanted her. She was a very ordinary woman, not especially beautiful, and with no great wealth or intelligence to attract people to her either. Normal, she supposed she was. But happy to be ordinary and normal. Happy to have a job that suited her and that she enjoyed. Content to be sharing an apartment with other women who were her good friends. And very interested in spending time with and getting to know her two wolves better.

  So why was she balking at moving in with them permanently? Was it her own version of a trial marriage? Yes, in a way. She needed to spend more time with them to prove to herself they were the men she thought they were. And to demonstrate to herself that she was ready for commitment. Andreas worked very long hours and her hours, being shift work, were constantly changing. Both those things would put a strain on any relationship, not just on a ménage between two wolves and a human. She really did need to carve herself some space to be certain they were who they seemed to be.

  Or was she just making up excuses? They’d never shown the least sign of deceit, either of them. Perhaps she was just commitment shy and blaming the men for her own failings. Well, it’d take a few months before Lewis’s house was built, and then only a few months after that the weather would be getting too cold for them to be outside on the roof anyway. Within four or five months she should have made a decision and that was more than enough time for anyone to make up their mind.

  Halfway though their shift Maelor said, “It’s time for a break. Let’s get some coffee.”

  The mall didn’t have a break room as such, but the wolves on late night security duty tended to use the “Mothers and Babies” room on the fourth level which had free instant tea and coffee.

  “Sure. It’s not the world’s greatest coffee, but at almost four in the morning, who cares?” said Dakota.

  All the restrooms were in the northeast corner of the mall, tucked against the outside wall. Dakota followed Maelor up the moving walkway, which was switched off so they had to walk up it, from the second level, where they were, to the fourth.

  They’d almost reached the top of the walkway when there was a faint clanging noise from outside the building. Dakota stopped and held her breath trying to hear better, but Maelor turned around so fast he nearly knocked into her, and raced down the walkway. She ran after him knowing as a wolf his hearing was better than hers, and agreeing with the general direction he was heading in.

  Maelor ran all the way down to the lowest level and then the full length of the mall to the southern parking lot exit. Dakota was fit but she was a human female, so he was well ahead of her when he came to the doors and stopped, looking outside, before he swiped it open. By this time Dakota had caught up to him and followed him outside, staying clear of his body and to the left, so if anyone was shooting they wouldn’t hit them both. Her left hand was in her pocket holding her cell phone, ready to make a call if needed.

  The area around the doorway looked exactly the same as normal, and Maelor swiped the door closed behind them then began walking around the building to the right. Instead of walking at his side, Dakota stayed a pace behind and a pace to the left, guarding his back. His very broad and solid back. He was so big if she’d stood right behind him she’d have been completely hidden, but where she was she had a clear line of sight in front of them, behind them, and to her left.

  They turned the corner of the building and there was the answer. Two Dumpsters had been overturned and rubbish was spilled over the sidewalk and the road. Bits of it had even spread into some of the parking spaces.

  “Ah fuck! Damn fucking kids!” said Maelor.

  Dakota walked from behind him and stood in front of the Dumpsters, pulling out her cell phone. “Do you want me to send a picture to the captain of the cleaning crew so he can get a team here first thing this morning to clean it up?”

  “It should really be fixed straightaway, but there’s not much wind so it shouldn’t blow everywhere. Yes, give him the bad news.”

  Dakota clicked off a couple of photographs and sent them to Rob. “That’s one sure way to ruin his morning,” she said. She stood very still staring for a few moments, before walking closer to the Dumpster. “Maelor, look here.”

  “What?”

  She pointed to scratches on the heavy metal handle of the trash bin.

  The other handle had matching scratch marks. “The rotten little shits. They actually used their truck to pull the trash over. They weren’t just being stupid. They did it to deliberately make a mess.”

  “But why?” asked Dakota and the answer came to her as soon as she asked the question. “To get us out here instead of us being on patrol somewhere else.”

  “Fucking Hamilton and the professional suites.”

  Dakota raced by Maelor’s side back to the entry door and checked it was locked behind them, rattling it twice.

  “He knows you. Stay here and call Cadfael. Tell him to make sure Willow and Hawthorne are guarded properly. I’m on my way.”

  Dakota felt his panic underneath his sensible words. He and Dylan had mated Hawthorne, and Cadfael and Rhion were mated to Willow. The women had come to the mall to escape Bailey Hamilton, Jackson’s brother, and now it seemed Jackson was here to catch them, and probably Lewis as well. Dakota tapped in Cadfael’s number as she walked briskly to the glass-walled elevator. She didn’t want to run while talking but riding the elevator was almost as fast.

  “Hanson.”

  “It’s Dakota, Cadfael. I’m sorry to disturb you, sir, but there have been a couple of Dumpsters overturned by someone using chains and probably a truck, and Maelor thinks it’s a diversion for an attack on the professional suites.”

  “Rhion will guard Willow. I’ll tell Dylan to guard Hawthorne. I’ll warn Lewis as well. Andreas can stay with him.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Keep me informed. I’ll wake up some of the other managers as well to be on hand if Maelor wants to direct them. Tell him to coordinate his actions through me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The elevator had brought her to the fourth level but instead of jumping out and running to the professional suites Dakota stood and listened as hard as she could. There were no discernible noises, but that didn’t mean anything much. Dakota squatted down and looked out the door to the right and the left. The concourse was completely empty. She kept watching, waiting for a flicker of movement or a shadow in the wrong place, but everything was exactly at it should be. Nevertheless she walked forward instead of running, looking from side to side and flicking glances back over her shoulder as well to ensure no one was creeping up behind h
er, but nothing moved anywhere.

  Something sparkled on the floor near the entrance to the professional suites. Walking faster, but maintaining her alertness, Dakota approached the professional suite doors. The double glass doors were firmly locked, but one of the panels had been smashed. Those panels were toughened glass. No booted foot had kicked it in. Only a concerted, planned effort would have smashed that glass. Hamilton was here. But who was he after? Hawthorne? Willow? Lewis? Or all three of them? And how many people had he brought with him to help him capture his target?

  Chapter Six

  Andreas had been wide awake at three in the morning, and lying in bed didn’t make him any more likely to go back to sleep, so he’d picked up a clean uniform, put on his gym clothes, and gone to the fitness center. He hadn’t seen anyone in the elevator or on the fourth level, but that wasn’t a surprise. It was too late for partygoers to still be out, and too early for runners and his regular clients to be out of bed. He’d locked the doors of the fitness center behind him and walked through the reception area without turning on any lights, heading straight out into the boxing room. He’d dropped his clothing on a chair and spent the next half hour punching the hell out of the bag.

  He was so totally in the zone it took him a while to realize his cell phone was ringing. Andreas jerked back from the punching bag, almost letting it hit him, until he was sufficiently back in the present to take the half dozen steps to the chair and pick up his phone.

  “Hanson Mall Fitness Center.”

  “Andreas?”

  “Speaking.” Andreas recognized Cadfael’s voice. The only reason he would be making a call in the middle of the night had to be bad news. He took a breath to steady his heartbeat, pulled off his boxing glove with his teeth, let it drop to the floor, and asked, “What’s gone wrong?”

  “Break-in at the professional suites. Since Dakota is on shift I don’t suppose you’re with Lewis.”

  “No, sir, I’m at the fitness center. I don’t know where he is. Do you want me to find him?”

  “I don’t want him wandering around anywhere to become a victim. He didn’t answer his cell phone but likely he’s asleep. As most normal people are at this hour.”

  “He might be on the roof. He likes it up there. But I don’t have a swipe card to go look.”

  “I don’t want anyone else running around inside the tower. They could easily end up as hostages or victims. We don’t know how many people Hamilton has with him but we do know he’s got equipment that smashes toughened glass very easily. I’ve called in some of the managers who live out at the apartments. This time of night they should be arriving in ten minutes. Dakota is going to let them in at the fourth-floor parking lot. Stay out of sight and then join them. I want the professional suites locked down so no one can get out. I plan to catch these people in the middle of a criminal act so they go to jail, not just have the judge slap them on the wrist.”

  “Yes, sir. Ten minutes, sir.”

  Andreas rushed into the shower and got washed and dressed as fast as he could, then he rummaged through the closet in his seldom-used office until he found a pair of heavy winter boots. If there was going to be kicking and broken glass, this was not a good time to be wearing gym shoes.

  He figured the ten minutes would already be up so he grabbed his cell phone and swipe card and walked to the door of the gym. No one was around outside so he swiped himself out, checked the door was locked, then looked at his card. He didn’t have access to a lot of places, but he didn’t want anyone to take it from him either. Sighing, he tucked the keycard down inside his briefs, hard against his body. That was the safest place he could think of right now. Walking as quietly as he could in his boots, he made his way to the parking lot entry. Dakota was already there, looking as if she was working a perfectly normal shift. He was so proud of her. If Hamilton saw her she was toast. He’d know she was trying to set him up, not really looking for a home for her grandmother. Yet Dakota was calm, serene, and smiling. Damn she’s amazing and I love her so much.

  * * * *

  Andreas had offered Lewis the use of the tent whenever he wanted it, but the weather was fine and Lewis was happy enough with just a blanket. Lying on concrete would be very cold in a month or two’s time, he knew, but right now the double thickness of the blanket underneath him was all he needed, and the big empty sky above brought deep peace to his soul.

  He was deeply asleep, and transitioned to a lighter, shallower sleep with the thought that there was something he should do, or know, but the urge wasn’t strong enough to completely wake him, and it was a while later before he woke up knowing his cell phone had rung and he hadn’t answered it. “Only Dakota or Andreas would ring me at night. What’s happening?”

  The phone number was neither of them and no message had been left. Lewis couldn’t imagine it would be someone trying to sell him something in the middle of the night, but he didn’t want to answer the call in case it was someone he shouldn’t talk to. Although he couldn’t imagine Jackson Hamilton being able to access his cell phone number either. Finally he texted Andreas.

  I have a missed call from an unknown number. Is something wrong?

  Almost instantly his phone rang. “I’m so glad you called me. Hamilton has broken into the professional suites. Don’t open your door to anyone for any reason at all.”

  “I’m not in my room. I’m on the roof. He won’t be able to get up here unless he’s got one of a very few swipe cards.”

  “Oh, good. You should be safe there. But go behind the wall just in case. He’s already smashed one door in and maybe others as well. Cadfael plans to flush him out of the professional suites and capture him and any helpers he might have with him. But it could take a while. There’s a hell of a lot of rooms to check.”

  “I’ll be fine here. Let me know when he’s caught. And Andreas, look after Dakota, please. Don’t let him hurt her.”

  “You have my promise on that.”

  Lewis lay back down on his blanket. He really couldn’t imagine anyone coming up here and bothering him. For a start, a lot of people didn’t even know there was proper access to the roof, not just a workman’s ladder or something similar. And even fewer had a swipe card for the final level in the elevator.

  He worried about Dakota. She’d been face-to-face with Jackson Hamilton and if he saw her here, especially in her uniform, he could become very angry indeed. Her safety was his biggest fear. Only the knowledge that Andreas was with her stopped him from running downstairs to protect her himself. That, and the knowledge that if he was with her it might actually place her in even greater danger. If Hamilton was looking for him, and not just for Hawthorne Cunliffe.

  Sighing he picked up his blanket and moved behind the wall. If Hamilton came up here, likely he wouldn’t realize there was space behind the wall, and being invisible would be a whole lot better than being captured again.

  But when he lay down again he still couldn’t rest. If Jackson was here, and if he got caught, what would happen to the people in the well-being center? Not the ones being looked after by the nurse, but the other ones locked up in the upper floors. The ones like him. Lewis pulled out his cell phone again and called Andreas.

  “Trouble?”

  “No, sorry, I was just thinking about the captives at the well-being center. If Hamilton is here, who is looking after them? If he is caught and taken by the police, even jailed, what will happen to them?”

  “That’s a good point. I’ll talk to Cadfael. Likely he has it all under control, but just in case, I’ll mention it. Are you behind the wall?”

  “Yes, I am. Are you guarding Dakota?”

  “As much as she’ll let me, yes, I am.”

  * * * *

  Dakota guessed who Andreas was talking to and that Lewis was telling him to watch over her. Andreas was sticking to her closer than a shirt to her skin after an hour’s workout at the gym.

  Cadfael was managing the search, sitting behind Sophie’s desk in the profession
al suites. Maelor had led a team of wolves to the tenth floor, and they were searching each floor and dead bolting the doors to the stairwell behind them so that even a swipe card wouldn’t open them. The elevator was jammed open on the fourth floor so no one could use it either.

  Some levels were quicker to search than others, and the office floors would be easier still when they got lower down because there were far fewer places anyone could hide. Not that Dakota thought Hamilton would be hiding. She suspected he’d found out the apartment number for either Lewis or the Cunliffe women and was intent on capturing them. But she knew for a fact all three were safe and none of them had been in those apartments tonight. Willow had been living on the tenth floor with Cadfael and Rhion for several months now, and Hawthorne lived on the eighth floor with Maelor and Dylan in Dylan’s apartment. The women’s former apartment, 7C, was just an office now.

  Dakota and Andreas had been left on the fourth floor with Cadfael to prevent anyone exiting without their permission. Dakota smiled at the line of shopping trolleys chained across the doorway. Hamilton might have some useful tool for smashing through toughened glass, but if he wanted to use it to get out again he’d have to do it from either behind the trolleys, or when balancing on them. It was a rough and ready blockade, but she thought it would make his life harder. Or at least slow him down enough for the police to arrive.

  Cadfael had refused to call the police yet. “I want these men caught in the act. I don’t want anyone getting away this time,” he repeated.

  Maelor was in constant contract with Cadfael who was crossing out room after room on a floor plan of the building as it was checked and locked.

  In a way, it was incredibly boring standing here and waiting to find out if the team saw Hamilton. Or anyone who’d come with him. Or even other people if they were quite wrong and this wasn’t Hamilton at all.