by Lori Drake
5
Joey flung the front door open with enough force that it banged against the doorstop and shook in its frame.
She’d spent the better part of the drive from Granite Falls to Redmond trying to calm down, and planning what exactly she wanted to say to her pain in the ass of a brother. By the time she arrived, she knew exactly how she needed to approach the situation. She needed to channel her late mother’s calm, collected demeanor, her understated but unquestionable authority.
But as Joey stepped through the front door, her anger spiked again, and all she wanted to do was yell at him.
She found Sam in the living room with Justin, Jon, and Sara, his feet propped up on the table and a beer in his hand. A ballgame blared on the big-screen television, and just as Joey stepped into the room, the men cheered as whoever they were rooting for scored. Joey couldn’t have cared less.
Sara noticed her arrival first, looking up from the latest in the long string of baby accessories she’d been knitting, with a ready smile that swiftly turned uncertain when she took in Joey’s thunderous expression.
Joey stalked over to the coffee table, grabbed the remote, and turned off the television. Now she had their attention.
“Hey!” Jon exclaimed with a scowl. “We were watching that.”
In contrast, Sam sat quietly and took a long drink from his beer without taking his eyes off Joey. Justin sat at the other end of the sofa, looking on curiously.
“Too bad,” Joey said, tossing the remote on a nearby chair. “We’re having a family meeting.”
“Ben’s at work,” Sara said hesitantly.
Joey bristled and whirled on Sara. “I don’t give a shit.”
Sara cringed away, and Jon was on his feet and in Joey’s face in a heartbeat. “Watch your tone.”
Joey gave him a shove—hard enough that he lost his balance and fell back onto the loveseat beside his wife—and spared her wide-eyed sister-in-law a mildly apologetic glance. “Sorry, Sara.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Jon asked, staring at Joey with a frown.
Sam removed his feet from the coffee table and got to his feet. “Joey, let’s take this elsewhere.”
“No.” Joey fixed Sam with a narrow-eyed glare. “This is a conversation I want witnesses for.”
Sam sighed and sat back down. “Alright. I take it Chris told you.”
“You’re goddamn right he told me. Because he loves me. Because he respects me. I can’t say the same for you. What the hell were you thinking?” Joey rubbed her icy fingers against her pant legs, fighting the urge to curl them into fists. Cold hands, hot face. Yup, she was angry.
“Told you what?” Jon said. “Seriously, can I buy a vowel?”
Joey folded her arms across her chest. “Sam challenged Lucas. Twice.”
“Oh, that?” Jon waved a hand. “I knew about that.”
Joey’s only comfort in that moment was that Sara and Justin looked as surprised as she was. Then again, maybe she should’ve expected that Jon might be in the loop. He’d had his nose so far up Sam’s ass ever since Sam took over as Alpha that it was a wonder his whole face wasn’t brown. Rather than punching either of them, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to ten.
“Does Ben know?” she asked, once the urge to scream subsided. However momentarily.
“No,” Sam said.
Joey opened her eyes. “Okay, great. That’s one less ass I have to kick. Why did you do it? Better yet, why did you do it behind my back?”
Sam worked a thumbnail under the label on his beer bottle, taking his time answering. “A few different reasons. To get an idea of how tough he’d be to beat, maybe give Ben some pointers for your training… Because I knew you wouldn’t be able to do it yourself for a while… Hoping I could head him off before he started liquidated your assets… As for why I didn’t tell you, that’s a little more complicated.”
Joey tapped her fingers against her arm. “I’m listening.”
“Well, for one, you made it pretty clear that you didn’t want me to do it. So I didn’t want to piss you off. Second, well, I lost. Twice. Not exactly my proudest moments.” He picked at the label some more, peeling it back.
“And yet you told Jon.”
Sam shrugged. “He’s my second, and I needed a witness. Had to make sure Lucas didn’t try to pull a fast one.”
Joey still wasn’t sure how she felt about Sam naming Jon his second. Instinctively, it annoyed her. But at the same time, she didn’t want to be his second. She wanted… Well, she didn’t know what she wanted. An apology, maybe. She leaned over the coffee table, putting her face level with his and meeting his eyes. Her wolf rose in challenge, and she couldn’t bring herself to push it back down. “This is my fight. Mine. Is that understood?”
He didn’t look away, meeting her power with his own. But he nodded. “Understood.”
Satisfied, if still angry, Joey straightened and tucked her icy hands under her arms. “What’s this about liquidating my assets?”
Sam and Jon exchanged a glance before Sam replied. “He’s started selling off some of the more valuable art and antiques you inherited.”
Joey’s jaw tightened. Another thing they hadn’t told her. Fortunately, Chris had. She played dumb, just to see if he’d be straight with her. “He has, has he?”
Sam nodded. “We were able to make counteroffers and buy some of them ourselves, but some were already gone when we figured out what was going on. I’m currently in negotiations with him to purchase the books, art, and artifacts from Mom’s study.”
“Peachy,” Joey said.
“There’s more,” Jon said, leaning forward. “He had the house appraised. We think he may be planning to sell it.”
That was news. Joey closed her eyes and counted to ten again. It didn’t help as much this time.
“I’m planning to try to buy it from him if it comes to that,” Sam said.
A low growl rumbled from Joey’s chest. There he went, trying to fight her battles again, buying back her inheritance once piece at a time. But what would he do with it when he had it? Present it to her with a bow? Or keep it for himself? Either way…
“It won’t come to that,” she said, opening her eyes and letting her hands drop to her sides. “This time next week, we’ll never have to deal with him again, because he’ll be on his way out of town.”
“He will?” Jon asked.
Joey nodded, but kept her eyes on Sam, searching for any hint of skepticism in the wake of her announcement. Why? Maybe she was a glutton for punishment. Either way, his expression was as unreadable as ever.
Damn him.
“Chris talked him into accepting her as his next challenger,” Sam said.
“The challenge is Thursday night,” Joey added. Though she had to admit—at least to herself—that she wasn’t feeling as confident about her odds now that she knew Lucas had beaten Sam. Twice. “Is there anything else you two have been holding back that the rest of us ought to know about?”
“Nothing comes to mind,” Sam said.
Joey scanned the faces of the others as no one spoke up, then shifted her eyes back to Sam. “Great. I’m getting out of town for a few days. Ben’s coming with me to continue my training. When I get back, I’ll deal with Lucas.”
Sam nodded and opened his mouth to respond, but Joey cut him off with a held-up hand.
“And once that’s settled… I’ll deal with you.”
When Chris trotted down the front steps the next morning with the travel cooler in one hand, Joey looked up from her phone and cocked a brow. “What’s that?”
“Nothing big,” Chris said. “Just some drinks and snacks for the road. Pop the trunk?”
“Awww.” Lucy put her hand over her heart. “He packed a lunch. That’s so sweet. Now I really wish I was going.”
Joey pushed off the side of the car and shadowed him to the back of the car, pressing the button on the key fob to open the trunk on the way. “You know it’s, like
, a three-hour drive. Tops.”
Chris shrugged and nestled the cooler between Joey’s and Maria’s duffel bags, blocking it in as best he could so it wouldn’t slide around too much. Once satisfied, he straightened and turned toward his smirking fiancée. He cupped her cheek and leaned down to kiss her.
“I believe the words you’re looking for are ‘thank’ and ‘you.’”
Joey flashed him an irreverent grin but pecked his lips a second time. “Thank you.”
Chris closed the trunk and did a last-minute walk around the car, inspecting the tires one last time. As calamitous as their last two road trips had been, he at least wanted to rule out mechanical malfunction. He’d checked out the engine the day before. Changed the oil, topped off all the fluids, checked the tire pressure… All those little things Joey never thought to do before a trip.
“Is he okay?”
His keen ears picked up Maria’s discreet inquiry. Even a human would’ve heard Lucy’s conspicuously loud reply.
“You mean, why has our Alpha suddenly turned into the world’s biggest mother hen?”
“Lay off,” Joey said, in a tone that brooked no argument. Lucy snickered, but otherwise went quiet. “He’s fine.”
Chris didn’t feel fine. His stomach was a knot of anxiety as their impending departure inched closer and closer. When he’d encouraged Joey to go, he hadn’t really thought the implications through. She’d be leaving town. Without him. Bad things happened when they were separated—not that they spent every waking moment together. But with that much distance between them, if she ran into trouble…
He pushed the thought away, finished his circuit of the car, and stopped on the other side, near the gathered ladies. “Everything seems to be in order.”
“Guess we’d better get a move on, then. I’ll call you tonight.” Joey stood on her tiptoes and pecked his cheek, then opened the driver’s door and slid behind the wheel. They’d said a much more thorough goodbye the previous night. As much as he hated to see her fight with Sam, angry sex was pretty amazing. He knocked on the window.
Joey rolled it down. “Yeah?”
Chris leaned down, placing his hands on the door. “Be careful on those mountain roads. They might be icy at higher elevations, and there are a lot of curves.”
“Yes, Mom.” Joey’s eyes twinkled with good humor as she rolled the window back up. Chris jerked his hands away rather than let her roll them up too.
Maria was already halfway around to the other side of the car. “Maria! A minute?” He motioned her a few feet away. Lucy looked on curiously, but withdrew to the porch steps, apparently intending to linger and see them off.
“Yes?” Maria asked, once she reached him.
Chris turned toward her and put a hand on her shoulder. She tensed but allowed it. “Look, I don’t know what you’ll be walking into out there, but I know what it feels like to meet a group of people that knew your parents better than you ever would or will. If you want to talk to me, I’m only a phone call away. Okay?”
She smiled faintly and nodded.
“Also… keep an eye out for Joey, okay? I know she can handle herself, but… it makes me feel better, knowing you and Ben will be there to back her up. And for the love of god, don’t tell her I said that.”
Maria’s smile grew, and she nodded again. “Anything else?”
“Yeah.” Chris slipped a hand in his pocket and turned so that his body would block his next action from Joey’s view. If she was even watching. “Roll up your sleeve.”
Maria eyed the permanent marker in his hand. “Why?”
“I’m going to write my phone number on your arm.”
“Why?” she asked again, brows drawing together. “I have it.”
“In case you get separated from your phone, or it gets damaged, or whatever. It can happen.” Had happened. Numerous times. If Joey hadn't had such a good grip on his balls, figuratively speaking, he would’ve done the same to her.
“Is this another thing I’m not supposed to tell Joey about?” Maria asked, but unbuttoned the sleeve of her denim jacket and pushed it up to reveal an expanse of bare, tanned forearm.
Chris wrote his phone number as small and neat as possible on the fleshy canvas. “Up to you.”
She peered at her arm when he finished, then pushed her sleeve back down again and buttoned it. “You’re a good man, for a wolf. I’m glad I didn’t kill you.”
Chris laughed and took the remark in the spirit in which it was intended. “Thanks. You’d better get going before she starts honking.”
Maria nodded and hurried off. Chris joined Lucy on the porch steps. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a warm squeeze. He returned the embrace loosely with one arm and lifted the other hand to wave as the car pulled away.
“Relax,” Lucy said. “They’ll be fine.”
“I hope so,” he replied, watching the pale blue sedan kick up a cloud of dust as it rolled down the drive. Lucy squeezed him again, and he took comfort in her presence. Which was no doubt what she intended.
“I just have one question…”
He tore his eyes away to look down at her. “Hmm?”
“How exactly do you expect them to enjoy your snacks when they’re in the trunk?”
Chris tensed, then groaned and smacked his forehead. “I’m an idiot.”
“A lovesick, super-sweet idiot. Don’t worry. They still have to pick up Ben. Maybe someone will think to move the cooler into the back.” She released him but hooked an arm through his and tugged him up the steps. “Come inside. I know exactly what you need.”
“Please don’t say another Perfect Strangers marathon.” He went along regardless. It was surprisingly nippy outside, for a summer morning.
Lucy grinned and hummed a few bars of the theme song, which was sure to get stuck in his head the rest of the day. “I was thinking breakfast. Something Joey wouldn’t approve of. Something with syrup. Pancakes?”
Chris’s mouth began to water. “And bacon?”
“Bacon and sausage.”
Maybe there were unexpected benefits to Joey going out of town… but he still didn’t like it.
6
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Joey flashed a smile at Maria as she unbuckled her seatbelt. After a brief hesitation, she left the keys in the ignition and the engine running when she climbed out of the car. It was either a brilliant way to give Maria a chance to prove her trustworthiness or an awful one that would result in a stolen car and a quasi-reformed hunter on the lam.
Joey hoped for the former as she trotted across the lawn. The front door opened when she was about halfway, and Ben came outside with a comically large suitcase for a two-to-three-day trip.
She chuckled and shook her head. “Is that all for you?”
He held up a thermos. “Shut up. I brought coffee.”
“What kind?”
“Hazelnut, of course.”
“You are a god among men.” Joey snatched the thermos from his hands and held it against her chest, petting it. “My precious.”
Ben smirked and set his suitcase down, turning to lock the door. “So, where are we going, anyway? Don’t say Mordor.”
“Wenatchee.”
“What’s in Wenatchee?”
Joey winced. “Yeah, about that…”
Ben collected his suitcase again and turned to face her, brows drawing together. “What?”
Joey motioned toward the car with her head and stepped forward to take his suitcase from him. Distracted, Ben let her take it as he looked past her toward the car.
His frown deepened. “Oh, hell no.”
“We tracked her birth pack—or what could be her birth pack—to Wenatchee.”
He scowled. “Why me, of all people? Why not take… anyone else?”
“Because you’re my favorite brother?”
She hadn’t thought it was possible for him to scowl harder at her, but he did. “Without question. But try again.”
“Becaus
e I want you to watch my back, and keep up my training while I’m gone? I have a challenge in six days.”
“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before you agreed to do it.” Ben pushed his fingers through his hair and muttered to himself.
Joey wobbled her hand in the air. “Technically, the challenge wasn’t scheduled until after I’d agreed to do it. But I was planning to challenge him again on Thursday anyway, so… semantics. Come on, Ben. It could be fun. Maria’s not that bad when you get to know her.”
“That’s assuming I want to get to know her…” Ben muttered.
“Please. Please come with me.” Joey stopped short of getting on her knees, but when he met her eyes, she did the one thing she knew would give him pause: she lowered them in submission.
Ben was quiet for a long moment, then sighed. “Okay, fine. But if she kills me, I’m coming back to haunt your ass for eternity.”
Without another word, he stalked off across the lawn. Joey followed in his wake and stowed his luggage in the trunk while he climbed into the back seat. She had to take the cooler out to make room, and relocated it to the seat beside Ben before climbing back in the front.
“Buckle up!” Joey said with forced cheer, fastening her own seatbelt before pulling away from the curb.
Maria sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring out the window. Ben was stonily silent in the back. Joey sneaked the occasional glance in the rearview mirror and chewed her lip while she drove.
After a solid ten minutes, the silence broke her. “How about some music?”
“Whatever,” Ben said.
Maria merely nodded.
Joey grabbed her phone from the dash mount, unlocked it, and tossed it in the back. “Pick something.”
While Ben busied himself browsing her music collection, Joey tapped her thumbs against the wheel. “What kind of music you like, Maria?”
Maria shrugged. “I’m not picky.”
“You might change your mind if Ben goes all in on the show tunes.” Suppressing a smile, Joey glanced in the rearview mirror in time to catch her brother’s smirk.