by T. S. Ryder
“There is.”
Charity shook her head. Maybe driving while being this angry was a bad idea. She pulled off into a parking lot and stopped the car. When she turned to her twin, Hope’s eyes were hard and her jaw was set.
“There is a danger to you because of this pregnancy.”
“Do I have to show you all the research that I did when I first became pregnant? I’m not going to—”
“Will you let me finish?” Hope crossed her arms. “There is a danger. From Honor. Maybe there isn’t a risk of the baby shifting inside of you.” The expression on her face showed her she wasn’t convinced, “But Honor is a danger to you right now.”
“That’s her problem. I’m not going to abort my child just because Honor has her head up her ass.”
Hope leaned back into her seat. A muscle twitched in her jaw. “And what about Mom and Dad? You know how they reacted to hearing about this? Mom was heartbroken and Dad . . . Well, Dad was furious. Neither of them would blame you if you—”
“This is my baby. And I am going to keep it, raise it, and love it. Regardless of what Mom, Dad, or Honor think of it or me. What makes you think that I would care more about them than about my own child when I can hardly stand to be in the same room as them?”
“Charity, I just . . . I just don’t understand how you could get involved with a shifter in the first place!” Hope clenched her hands and sucked in a deep breath. “They excrete pheromones that make women go crazy for them when they otherwise wouldn’t have anything do to with them. Does he make you have sex with his animal form?”
Charity couldn’t make herself speak. She was so enraged that all she could do was leave the car and walk away. Another blatant untruth. There had been so much research done on shifters and the myths about them. They were well publicized. So why was it so hard for people to actually read those papers rather than just covering their eyes and ears and repeating centuries worth of slander?
Going back to the island had been a mistake. The only good thing she had found there was Devin and now this baby. Even Hope was too wrapped up in lies to care about the truth about shifters. So she could keep arguing with them until she was blue in the face, or she could just cut her family from her life. The thought hurt, but how much did she have to do with them, really?
She wasn’t certain how long she walked around. By the time she returned to the car, her feet and legs were starting to get sore from all that walking. Hope was still in the passenger seat. Her eyes were red and puffy. Charity didn’t look at her as she slid into the driver’s seat.
“I’m sorry,” Hope said. “I’m sorry for everything I said. It was awful of me. I’m so sorry. You’re right. I need to start making my own choices and looking at things logically rather than relying on hearsay. I’d like to stay with you. I want to help you every way I can with this baby, Charity. And I . . . I want to get to know your shifter. I don’t want to be like them. Like Mom and Dad and Honor. They’re so full of hate. I don’t want to . . . ”
Charity nodded slowly. The rage inside of her ebbed a little more. She squeezed Hope’s hand. “Okay. I’m sorry for yelling instead of trying to explain. I’m just so tired. But I’m sorry.”
Hope embraced her, hugging her tightly. “I know you are. You’ve had to go it alone for so long. But you’re not alone now. I won’t let you be alone. I promise. I’m here for you. Whatever you need. I’m here.”
Chapter Eight – Devin
After going to Charity’s apartment and finding it empty, Devin didn’t know what to do. He used the keys she had given him to get inside and found it to be as neat as it usually was. Until he had gotten to the bedroom. Where clothes were flung on the bed and drawers were left half-open. It was clear that she had left in a hurry.
But where? And why?
He tried calling her, but there was no answer. Again.
Even though the city was next to the ocean, it felt far too distant. On the island, he was never more than an hour’s jog from the water. Here, all he could smell was car pollution and all he could hear was motors and people talking. It was too noisy to think. The worst of it all was that as he was driving down the freeway, smoke started to belch out of the jeep. So now he and Leo were at a mechanic’s shop. Waiting. Doing nothing.
It grated on his nerves more than he cared to admit.
“This is an old beauty, isn’t it?” the mechanic said as he peered in at the engine. “I haven’t seen one of these for ten years.”
“Yeah, well, my little brother here needed a starter car,” Devin lied. He kept his tone friendly and polite. “It’s just fine for driving around the island but apparently can’t handle this city traffic.”
The mechanic nodded. “So you’re from the island, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Leo shifted next to him, arms crossed over his chest. He looked as uncomfortable and on-edge as Devin felt. Devin rested a hand on his shoulder, trying to help him relax.
“So you have to deal with them shifters a lot, I bet. Damned freeloaders. They get free money from the government for doing nothing and who pays for it? You and me. They should take those shifters and make them get jobs. Take the money away and they’ll work, let me tell you.”
Devin’s nostrils flared. Did the man know he was talking to shifters? Was he hoping for them to say something incriminating? His hands clenched as Leo shifted uncomfortably beside him. He would have liked to have said exactly what was on his mind, but with a glance at his brother, decided not to risk it. They were in unfamiliar territory. It was clear that this guy was hostile towards shifters. How hostile, though?
No. He might still fix the jeep if he knew they were shifters, but he also might charge them extra for it. He might refuse to fix it at all. And worst of all, he might be one of those humans who came at shifters with every weapon they had and then claimed self-defense afterward.
Devin sucked in a slow breath, calming himself. He wasn’t going to say anything about being a shifter, but that didn’t mean he had to be silent while his people were being bashed.
“Look, they don’t really get that much. Not even enough to feed a regular-sized family.”
“’Cause they breed like rats.”
Leo’s head dropped to his chin and he kicked a rock that skittered over the ground. “Lots of our neighbors are shifters.”
The mechanic laughed. “Must mean that you have lower property values. But I’ve seen their women. Real knockouts. You boys must be pretty lucky, surrounded by those fine—”
“How long will it take to fix the jeep?” Devin couldn’t stop himself from interrupting. Great. Just by talking like that, he probably increased their fees double fold. He shoved his hands into his pockets while the mechanic looked between them, his expression put-out. If he was this ticked off at them for not playing along with his anti-shifter sentiments, how much worse would it have been if they had actually said they were shifters?
“Couple hours. There are a few parts that need replacing, but I’ve got everything here in the shop.”
“Thanks. Leo, let’s go get something to eat.”
The brothers walked away. Devin had to fight the urge to turn around and tell the mechanic exactly what he thought of him. But he had already done enough. Best to just get it over with. As they walked, looking for any sign of a restaurant that wouldn’t be too expensive, Devin found his shoulders slumping. Should he have more aggressively defended his people against that man’s bullshit?
“I’ve never been this far from the ocean before,” Leo mumbled. His shoulders hunched and he looked at the ground as he walked. “It’s making my shark very nervous. When I joined this quest of yours, I thought it’d be a simple matter of finding your girlfriend and learning that she had slept in or something. I never thought that it’d end up this big.”
“She’s got a friend in the next city.” Devin touched his pocket where his phone was. There were pictures on it that Charity had sent her. “I think I have a picture of her house. We
might be able to get the address from it. If not, then I remember her name . . . I think.”
Leo grunted.
Devin put a hand on his shoulder. Not for the first time, he considered how much simpler life would be if he was human. Did they even understand how good they had it? Not to have to face all of this constant discrimination? They didn’t have to worry about hiding who they were for fear of retaliation. Well . . . perhaps not all of them. Humans were hardly okay with their own people if they appeared slightly different to them. Shifters were just an easy target.
Once they found a restaurant, they took a booth that was well away from everybody else where they could have privacy. Devin ordered the cheapest entrée for himself, and Leo followed suit. As they waited for their food, Devin considered his little brother. His gaze locked on the table.
He should have stood up for shifters more against that mechanic. He should have said they’d take the jeep someone else. He should have done so much differently . . . But with Charity out there, having disappeared with no clue where she was, he just wanted things to go smoothly. He wanted to solve their problems. And he was just so damned tired . . .
The server brought them their waters and gave them both big grins. “If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“Thank you.” Devin managed a stiff smile at her. When she was gone again, he turned his attention back to his brother. “Leo, you okay?”
Leo nodded, not speaking.
Devin considered for a moment. He spent so much time with the pack, trying to solve their issues, that he hadn’t sat down and talked with his brothers for a long, long time. Leo didn’t have to face as many of the pack issues that Devin had to shoulder, but he was the one who looked after their mother all the time. That had to have an effect on him . . . Come to think of it, when was the last time Leo had just gone out with his friends?
“Leo—"
“Look, I know that there are people like that.” Leo added salt into his water and stirred it before taking a gulp. “And the people in town are worse. But if it’s one thing that you taught me, it was to be proud of who I am. So yeah. Hearing something like that hurts. It makes me angry. But I know who I am and I’m not ashamed to be a shifter. No matter what. You taught me to be proud. And just because we didn’t fight him doesn’t mean we’re not proud of who we are. We have to pick our battles, and the battle we’re fighting right now is to get Charity back.”’
Devin sat back. A grin spread across his face as he considered his younger brother. That was exactly right. The anxiety knotting itself in his chest eased a little.
“Yeah. It is.”
A female voice rang out. “Mind if I join you?”
As Devin looked up to see who it was, the woman elbowed him hard in the side. She pushed over as she slid into the booth. Sleek, golden-blonde hair. A face similar to Charity’s. A little chubbier, perhaps, but thinner than Hope’s. Devin tensed. His shark turned over and gaped its jaws. He had to resist the urge to do the same.
Honor Gatiss brushed her hair over her shoulder as she looked between the brothers. Leo pressed himself back against the booth, an expression of disgust — and fear — on his face. Honor’s face twisted as though she had rolled around in something filthy.
Was she going to start shouting for everybody to hear that they were shifters? His hands clenched, though he tried to keep himself calm. Best to avoid causing a scene.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, keeping his voice level.
“I’m worried about my sister. I went to her apartment and found that she wasn’t there. Given recent events, I was hoping that you might be able to tell me where she is. You are here . . . boyfriend after all. Regardless of my feelings towards you and your kind, all I care about is finding my sisters and making sure they’re okay.”
“Sisters?” Devin repeated.
“Hope is missing as well.”
Leo spoke up. “Maybe they just wanted to get away from you.”
Honor gave him a blistering glare, but Leo didn’t back down. Devin caught his brother’s eye and shook his head slightly. They needed to keep things calm. In a public place like this with a pretty, young girl like her and two muscly shifters like them? All she’d have to do was start screaming and they’d get arrested.
“I know that you and Charity were sleeping together. You left the island shortly after she did. You have to know where she is. I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“I don’t believe you,” Devin said flatly.
Charity’s eyes flashed. “Neither of them is answering their phone.”
But if they both left together, then chances were that they are okay. What could have caused them to run, though? Perhaps it had nothing to do with Charity. Maybe it was because of Hope. Charity told him about Hope’s husband and how he treated her. Always keeping tabs on her movements, complaining if she spent any money whatsoever, insisting that he wanted her to stay home and care for the house, not letting her have a job.
Maybe Hope had had enough and Charity was helping her run away.
“Well?” Honor stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Are you going to help me get my sister back or not?”
“Not.” Devin shook his head. “I don’t trust you and I don’t trust that you care about Charity. Now please leave us alone.”
Honor’s nostrils flared. She opened her mouth, then closed it. A sickly-sweet smile appeared on her face. “You’re going to regret that, Shark. Believe me.”
She stood and stormed towards the door. Devin watched her go, his stomach twisting in knots. What did she mean by that?
Chapter Nine – Charity
After the hospital, Charity stopped by her friend Alice’s house. She had never mentioned Alice to any of her family members before this, so Honor wouldn’t have a clue as to where to look to find her. Alice was kind enough to let her and Hope both stay until they could figure out their next move. Charity had explained what was going on, and Alice was more than sympathetic.
A couple days after their arrival, Charity returned to the house with a bunch of groceries just as Alice was leaving. Alice caught her arm, expression serious as she gazed at Charity.
“Hey. So, before you go in there, I have to say . . . Don’t kill your sister.”
Charity’s brows rose. “What?”
“Don’t kill her. Although if you have to, there is bleach in the bathroom and an old carpet in the garage I don’t want to keep.” Alice squeezed her arm. “See you when I get home.”
She trotted away. Charity watched her leave, uncertain of how to take that. Alice could be a real kidder at times, but she had seemed pretty serious there . . . What had Hope done? Still frowning, Charity rushed into the house. She put the groceries in the kitchen and went in search of Hope. She found her sister sitting in the living room. She was on the couch, legs tucked up underneath her.
Guilt was plain to see all over Hope’s face. She had a strand her long golden-brown hair in her fingers, twisting it into a rope, the way she always did when she was nervous. Charity’s heart jumped into her throat just looking at her sister. Somehow, she already knew what had happened. She needed to hear it from Hope herself, though.
“What did you do?” The question came out harsh and accusatory. Hope flinched away from her, gaze dropping. Charity sat on the couch next to her. “Hope! What did you do?”
“I knew they’d be worried.”
Charity groaned and threw herself backward. “You called Mom and Dad?”
“I just told them that we were with one of your friends. I didn’t say where we are. And they haven’t heard from Honor since we left, so they’re worried about all three of us.” Hope dropped her gaze to the floor, shoulders hunching as she blinked back tears. “And I called my husband. His secretary answered. It was our home phone and she sounded out of breath. I knew he was cheating on me. He doesn’t even care that I’m—”
She cut herself off. Charity struggled to remain calm as she sat where she was. One thing w
as certain: Hope did what she thought was best. And she had gotten terrible news herself. She needed kindness and comfort right now . . . Even though that was the last thing that Charity wanted to give her. Her hands trembled as she stood.
“You didn’t tell Mom and Dad where we are.”
Hope shook her head.
“Okay. Okay. I can’t talk right now. I’m too angry and I will say things that I don’t mean. I am going to go calm down, and then we can talk about your husband. I’m sorry,” she added, her tone becoming gentler. “I know that you’re in pain and you need to talk. I just need to calm down first, okay?”
“Mom and Dad want you to call them.” Hope wiped her eyes. “You should call them.”
“I’m not talking with them—”
“They said that they want to help you.” Hope stood. Her hands clenched and she took a deep breath. “I am going for a walk. Mom and Dad want to help you out, and they’re sorry for how they were acting. So just talk to them, okay? I can’t deal with all of them right now.”
Charity watched her walk away, surprised at how she reacted. Perhaps finding out her husband had been cheating was a relief . . . Goodness knew that Charity hoped that it would make Hope leave him. He was always a selfish jerk, and this only cemented that thought in Charity’s mind.
Hope had left her phone, so Charity picked it up. She turned it over in her hands. Did she dare talk to her parents about this? She had a feeling that she already knew what they were going to say. They’d yell at her for being an idiot, maybe even pull out that ‘shifter babies kill their mothers’ crap that people liked to throw at her. But Hope said that they wanted to help her.
While she wasn’t certain she would want their attitudes anywhere near her baby, the least she could do was hear what they had to say. Maybe this was what they needed to get their heads out of their asses and start to see shifters as the people they were. Maybe they saw Honor’s reaction and regretted their behavior . . .