Chasing His Lynx’s Sass (Sass And Growl Book 4)

by Dawn Sullivan

  “How did you find us?” Cora ask curiously.

  Shayna grinned. “I’m just that good.” When they laughed, she told them, “There is always a paper trail somewhere, you just have to first recognize it for the scam it is, and then have the patience and skills to track it all of the way back to its source.” When Cora’s eyes narrowed on her, Shayna’s grin widened. “You like to get your nails done at the little shop here in town.”

  “I always pay cash.”

  “Yes, but they have your name in their system.”

  Shayna looked over at Camila. “You spend a lot of your money at the local bookstore. You don’t use a card, but once again, your name is in their system to call you when they have new releases in from your favorite authors. You also check out a lot of books from the library.”

  “True,” she breathed, her eyes widening in understanding. “You hacked confidential records of businesses here in town.”

  Choosing not to reply to that question, she looked over at Cannon. “You spend time at the local hardware store. Which means, you are Mr. Fixit around here.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I bet you are sexy as hell in a tool belt.”

  “That is not a way I want to think about my brother, Shayna,” Cora said, glaring at her in mock anger.

  Ignoring her, Shayna went on, “And Casen must have an older car that he loves, because he’s on record at all of the…” she froze, her eyes going from each of them to the old barn that stood not too far away. “Did Casen spend a lot of time in that barn?”

  “Yes,” Camila said, a wistful smile crossing her lips. “He used to let me sit with him sometimes while he worked on his car. He was in that barn more than the house.”

  Shayna didn’t wait to hear more. She ran quickly across the driveway to the dilapidated old building, grasping the large door on the front and pushing it over until it opened revealing a large, open area with a concrete floor. She walked in, quickly taking everything in. There was a black toolbox on one side, and an air compressor and various things on the other. She walked over to the toolbox and began to hunt around it until she held up a key that she found hooked to a magnet underneath it, a large grin of satisfaction on her face. “I know a lot of guys who hide keys like this,” she said, before she began opening all of the drawers.

  “You think the journal is out here,” Cannon said, striding over to where a row of shelves were lined up on the back wall.

  “It would make sense,” she replied, leaning down to open the larger drawer on the bottom. “He would keep what means most to him close. If he spent all of his time out here, then this is the place he would hide it.”

  “No one would look out here for anything,” Cora said, going to help her brother look through the area in the back of the barn. “If they wanted to find us, they would go through the house, but who would think to come out here?”

  “Right,” Shayna agreed, stepping back away from the toolbox to rake her gaze around the area. “If I were Casen, and I had a journal that meant everything to me, one that I kept all of my thoughts, hopes, dreams in, where would I put it?”

  “The loft,” Camila said softly from where she stood by the door, Diadra by her side. “Casen loved to be in the hay loft. He kept some blankets up there, and would sit in front of the door with it wide open at night, staring at the stars.”

  “He did?” Cora asked in surprise, stopping what she as doing to look over at her sister.

  Camila nodded, tears in her eyes. “It was the past few months that he was here. It must have been after he met Nadine. He was thinking of her, wishing he was with her, but instead was here trying to get everything ready for us to leave.”

  “Why didn’t he tell us about her?” Cora whispered, coming to stand next to Shayna. “Why would he suffer like that, being apart from her, and not say anything?”

  “Because he loved you,” Shayna said softly, reaching over to take Cora’s hand in comfort. She was aware of Cannon leaving them, climbing the ladder up to the loft above, but she needed to be here for Cora and Camila now. “All of you, Nadine included. He wanted to bring her home with him, to live with you as a family, and he was working on making that happen. My guess is, until he was sure you were all safe, he was keeping her existence a secret to protect all of you.”

  “But we are safe now, right?”

  Shayna looked from Camila to Diadra, and slowly shook her head, remembering what the young girl had told them not too long ago. “No, I don’t think so, Cami. I don’t think the Baxters were the ones that were really after you all of this time. You said you’ve been running since Cora was born. From what Diadra knows, her father killed your parents, and then started hunting you after that, just fifteen years ago. I think, whoever was after you before that, is still out there. And, I think, they might be who has Casen.”

  What she said felt right to her, and Shayna was suddenly one hundred percent positive she was finally on the right track. Casen wasn’t taken by Nadine’s skulk, nor was he taken by the Baxter’s nest of snakes. No, whoever had him was someone who had been around a lot longer than any of them. Hunting their parents, and then them. And they were still out there, looking for Cannon, Cora, and Camila. She was sure of it.

  “Found them,” Cannon said gruffly, coming back down the ladder, a black backpack slung over his shoulder.

  “That’s Casen’s!” Camila cried, rushing over to him.

  He nodded, putting an arm around her waist. “I glanced inside. Looks like there are five journals,” he told them. He took a deep breath, and Shayna could tell he was fighting back his own tears. “How the hell didn’t I know about this? We were always together. Always hung out and did things. I didn’t have a fucking clue about any of it. The journals, Nadine. How could I have been so blind?”

  “Because he wanted you to be,” Shayna said simply. “He hid that part of his life from all of you, and I’m sure with good reason.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Cora muttered, walking to the door without looking back. “We need to get to Blue Creek and decide where to go from there.”

  “Wait, what about the journals?” Camila asked, pulling away from Cannon to follow her sister. “We need to read them to see if we can find out where Casen might be.”

  Cora stopped at the entrance to the barn, looking up at the night sky. “I don’t know that he would want us to read them, Cami,” she finally said. “They are private, his innermost feelings, and I don’t feel right combing through them without his permission. I think we should give them to his mate to read. Shayna can coach her on the things she needs to look for in them, and then Nadine can tell us if she finds any information in there that we can use to track him down. I believe that’s what Casen would want.”

  “I agree,” Cannon said, grasping Shayna’s hand in his and tugging her toward the door. “They go to Nadine, and only Nadine.”

  Even though a part of her wanted to argue, Shayna knew they were right. She followed them out into the early morning light, praying they would be able to find Casen soon. His family needed him home.

  It wasn’t until they got to the car that Shayna realized Diadra wasn’t with them, and hadn’t been since they went into the barn. Looking back, she saw the young girl standing in front of the still burning house, staring up at the sky, clutching her arms tightly around her waist. “Hold on a second,” she told her mate, slipping her hand from his and walking over to Diadra. “Hey,” she said softly, giving her a gentle smile. “You ready?”

  Diadra didn’t pull her gaze from the sky, but slowly shook her head. “No.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Where do I go from here, Shayna?”

  “With us,” Shayna told her. “You are ours to protect now.”

  “But why?” Diadra whispered, finally lowering her gaze to meet Shayna’s. Hope shone brightly in the teenager’s eyes, along with despair. “Why would you want me? How could you trust me after everything my family did to yours?”

  “You are not your fathe
r or your brother, Diadra. You have a kind heart. You don’t deserve the life you were handed as a child. Let me help give you a better one now.”

  “But I’m a snake.”

  Shayna cocked an eyebrow. “What’s your point?”

  “People hate snakes!” Diadra cried.

  “Not true,” Cannon said, walking over to them. “I happen to love snakes.”

  “You do?” Diadra asked in disbelief.

  “Yep.” Cannon slid an arm over Shayna’s shoulders, and grinned. “I think they’re pretty cool. And so intelligent.”

  “Not my nest,” Diadra huffed, looking away.

  “Then, strive to be better than them,” Shayna said. “You are who you want to be, Diadra. You may have been born into a nest of vipers…”

  “Boa constrictors,” Cannon cut in.

  “Whatever,” Shayna huffed, jabbing her elbow into his stomach. “My point is, just because they chose to be who they are doesn’t mean you can’t be different. Follow your own path. Choose your own destiny. Become the woman I know you can be.”

  One tear slipped out, and then another, before Diadra whispered, “Will you help me?”

  “Every step of the way,” Shayna promised, her heart going out to the young girl who had been born into a life a hell, but wanted so much more.

  Suddenly, Diadra was in her arms, clinging to her tightly, sobs racking her body as she cried, “Thank you! Thank you so much! I promise to be a better person than Nate was. I will make you proud!”

  “You already have,” Cannon said gruffly, stroking a gentle hand down over her hair, then pulling them both into a hug. “Let’s go home.”

  “Is Blue Creek home now?” Shayna asked, looking up to meet his gaze.

  “Home is wherever you are, remember?”

  She smiled, giving him a quick kiss and then dropping one on the top of Diadra’s head. “Wherever we are,” she whispered.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Cannon stood in front of Knox Channing, the alpha of the Channing family of Blue Creek, Shayna at his side. Cora and Camila were right behind them, keeping Diadra protectively between them. The rest of the Channings stood behind Knox, including Nadine, who was holding her daughter close. His heart lightened at the sight, and Cannon smiled at her. “Good to see you and our niece, Nadine.”

  She smiled, a small smile that didn’t quite make it to her eyes, but it was still a smile. “You, too,” she whispered.

  “We brought you something,” Shayna said, removing the backpack from her shoulder. “We found this in the hayloft at the house. There are several journals in it, all written by Casen.”

  Nadine gasped, handing Athena to Teine and rushing over to them. She stopped, her eyes glued to the black bag. “That’s Casen’s.” Shayna handed the bag out to her, and Nadine grabbed it, clutching it tightly to her as she inhaled deeply. “Casen.” She breathed his name, her eyes closed, a shudder running through her body.

  “We haven’t read the journals,” Cannon told her, glancing back at his sisters, and then down at Shayna. “We decided that whatever is in there, it’s private, and should only be seen by Casen’s mate.” A sob caught in Nadine’s throat, her unusual golden eyes glistening with moisture. “Shayna will guide you on the things we are looking for that might help us find my brother.”

  “Thank you,” Nadine whispered, swallowing hard. “You don’t know what this means to me.”

  “You’re family, Nadine,” Camila said softly. “We would do anything for you.”

  Cannon watched as the tears began to flow down Nadine’s cheeks, helpless to do anything for her. Then, she was in his arms, holding him tightly, thanking him again before moving on to hug Shayna, Cora, and then Camila. Then, she was gone, flying toward the house, the backpack still grasped tightly in her arms.

  After she was gone, Cannon turned back to Knox. “We’ve decided we would like to stay in Blue Creek for a while, if it’s okay with you.”

  Knox nodded slowly, his eyes going to Diadra and then back to Cannon. “Family is always welcome. We will need to run it past the Blue Creek alpha, Tristan Wolfe, but since his wife already claimed you as her bears, I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.”

  Cannon grinned as he remembered how the alpha’s mate had made her appearance, and what she’d left in that hot pink sack. He couldn’t wait to use the gift on his mate, and knew she was looking forward to it, too, although she would never admit it to the people standing in front of them. “She can drop by anytime bearing gifts like that.”

  “Cannon!” Shayna smacked him in the arm, glaring at him before a small smile appeared.

  “What gift?” he heard Diadra whisper from behind them.

  “Don’t you worry about it,” Shayna snapped, glaring at him again, which caused a round of laughter from everyone watching.

  “I do have to ask,” Knox cut in, nodding to Diadra, “who have you brought with you this time?”

  A low growl emerged from his already overprotective mate, and Cannon slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “She’s with us,” Shayna said, around a mouth full of fangs.

  When Knox cocked an eyebrow in question, Cannon muttered, “Tone it down, kitten. He has a right to ask. He’s just protecting his family, like you are yours.”

  “She’s been through enough.”

  Before he could reply, Diadra stepped around them, standing in front of Knox, her head held high, even as a small tremor went down her back. “I’m Diadra Baxter, daughter of the man who killed Cannon’s parents. Sister of the man who just tried to kill all of them.”

  “And you now live with my cousins?” Knox asked, his tone mild, but his eyes missing nothing as he watched her closely.

  “Who my family was doesn’t define who I am,” Diadra said proudly, straightening her shoulders as she repeated to him what Shayna had said to her. “I choose my own destiny.”

  A slow smile spread across Knox’s face as he reached out a hand to the young girl. “That you do, Diadra Baxter. I’m Knox Channing. Welcome to my ranch.” He leaned in and inhaled. “Snake?”

  “Boa constrictor,” Diadra said.

  “That is so fucking cool,” someone whispered from behind Knox, which made a small smile appear on Diadra’s lips.

  Cannon met the man’s gaze after he shook Diadra’s hand and she moved back to stand between his sisters again. “There is something you need to know before you agree to let us stay in your town.”

  “It isn’t my town,” Knox interrupted. “It belongs to the Wolfes. They allow us to live here.”

  “Right,” Cannon nodded, “but you are the alpha of your family. Our family.”

  Knox’s eyes narrowed on him, “You are claiming me as your alpha?”

  Cannon knew the man would expect it if they stayed too long, but was surprised they were requesting it already. “None of us are alpha material,” Cannon replied with a shrug, “except maybe Casen, but he isn’t here right now.”

  “What about when he returns?”

  “After our parents’ death, we never really appointed any of us as head alpha in charge,” Cannon admitted. “And, to be honest, our family was falling apart because of it. We discussed it on the way here, and we want that in our lives.”

  “You’re family, Cannon, all of you. Of course, you are welcome for as long as you want to stay. You can live in the house here with us for now, and we can build another house after we find your brother. We have more than enough land.”

  Cannon nodded, not surprised by the man’s generosity. He’d proven himself over the days they’d known him, which was why they’d agreed to ask him to be their alpha.

  “The thing is,” Shayna broke in quietly, moving closer to Cannon if that were possible, “I believe they all still have targets on their backs.”

  Knox’s eyes darkened, and he growled, “Explain.”

  “As Diadra said, her father and brother were after them. They’ve been hunting them for the past fifteen years after Diadra’s mother died in chil
dbirth. Their mother was trying to help, but was unable to. Diadra’s father blamed her for his mate’s death and killed both her and her husband, and had been trying to get to Cannon and his siblings ever since.”

  “This all started more than fifteen years ago, though,” Cannon said, tightening his hold on his mate, needing to feel her as close to him as possible. “My parents faked their deaths after Cora was born, and then went on the run. We thought it was from the Baxters. Our parents never gave us specific details as to what happened because we were young. Just teenagers when they were killed.”

  “They kept us in the dark,” Cora growled in anger, “and now we have no idea what we are up against.”

  “Whatever it is,” Shayna said, “I think it’s the reason Casen is missing.”

  There was murmuring from the rest of the Channings, but Knox was quiet for a long time while he let everything sink in. Then, he held up a hand and there was silence. “That explains why our parents thought our uncle was dead.”

  “They needed everyone to believe they were,” Shayna replied.

  Knox nodded slowly, his arm going around Emery when she moved closer to him.

  “It’s obvious what we need to do,” she said, looking up at him with wide dark blue eyes.

  “Yes, sweet bunny, it is,” he agreed, kissing her gently before meeting Cannon’s gaze. “Find our cousin and protect our family.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shayna sat at the end of the dock watching the rippling water in front of her. They were all trying to wait patiently while Nadine read Casen’s journals. She’d been holed up in her room for two days, refusing to answer the door for anyone. Sighing, Shayna shoved a hand through her thick hair in frustration, halfway wishing she’d read them before giving them over to Nadine, even though they’d all agreed not to. She could have been through them before they even got back to Blue Creek and be out looking for Casen again. She couldn’t stand seeing the pain her mate was in and hated the way time seemed to crawl by right now as they waited.