by Bianca D'Arc
She cupped his stubbly cheek and smiled. “Oh, Grif. There’s nothing to forgive. Let’s just forget all about it, okay? I definitely don’t blame you and I’m just relieved you don’t blame me, but you can be sure I’ve learned a valuable lesson here tonight.”
He leaned in and kissed her. His kiss tasted of desperation as well as gratitude and when he moved back and let her up for air, his trembling had ended. So had hers, as a matter of fact. They had helped each other over the rough spot and were ready to move on…together. As it should be.
“You were amazing, Lindsey. I’ve never seen you shift so fast. I doubt any natural born shifter could have done better.” His praise made her feel even better.
Steve was tugging on his shirt as he approached them. He’d been over by Timmons’ body for a while but since he wasn’t moving and nobody was fussing over the guy, Lindsey figured he was a goner.
“Nice shot, bro,” Steve said with a grim smile.
“Thanks.” Grif didn’t sound pleased, but she would have been appalled if he’d been happy about killing someone. The Grif she knew valued life. He shouldn’t take it lightly.
“Timmons will never bother us again. He’s dead,” Steve stated, looking from Grif to Lindsey. “You did good for a beginner, Lindz. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. You’re cool in a crisis and that makes me even gladder to know you’re part of the family now. We don’t look for trouble, but just lately, it’s been finding us all too often. It’s good to have someone at Grif’s side to ease his many burdens who can also be relied upon to be cool under pressure.”
Wow. That’s the most she’d ever heard Steve say at one time. She felt the weight of his approval and it felt good. Grif squeezed her waist and she took it as agreement with his brother’s words.
“Thanks. I’m just glad it worked.” She would have said more, but she was at a bit of a loss. Arlo’s arrival next to Steve saved her from having to figure out what to say.
“We’ll clean up if that’s agreeable to you, Alpha,” Arlo offered.
“I’d be obliged. Can you send his remains to Las Vegas? I’ll send him on from there to his home Pack, but I want our priestess to take a look at him first. We’ve had dealings with mages recently and I want her to check him for magical taint.”
“Can do. I can also ask Millie to take a look. She might sense something. She’s the Pack’s new tracker.”
“She’s the one who tracked Timmons here, right?” Grif asked and Lindsey could hear the curiosity in his voice.
“The very same.” Arlo looked behind him and signaled toward the barn.
A moment later, a woman emerged from the structure, Belinda at her side wearing a man’s very large T-shirt. The woman was beautiful, even at a distance. She had black hair, light eyes and a figure that made Lindsey feel a pang of instant envy.
Matt walked behind them, clad only in what had to be borrowed pants that were a little short on his lanky form. Both were barefoot, but the woman was dressed stylishly in a black cat suit and soft soled black boots.
Grif let Lindsey move off his lap. If she was going to meet a woman who looked like that, she didn’t want to do it from such a compromising position. She was strong. She had to be strong in front of all these badass shifters.
She took a seat at Grif’s side and she liked how he reached out for her hand, closing his big fingers over her smaller ones and drawing it to his side. He seemed disinclined to let her hand go and she didn’t mind one bit. After what they’d all been through that night, she needed the contact probably way more than he did. That he’d realize that and see to her need without being asked or told meant a lot. He was one helluva guy. And he was all hers.
She tried not to feel too smug about that, but she was proud to have him at her side. In her life. In her bed.
“Millie,” Arlo made the introductions as the woman neared. “This is the Redstone Alpha. Grif, this is Millie, our Pack’s new tracker.”
The woman reached out her hand and Grif took it for a businesslike shake. He then turned to Lindsey and introduced her before they went any further.
“This is my mate, Lindsey,” he said, his voice strong with just a hint of emotion as he looked at her. He wouldn’t let go of her hand so she couldn’t shake Millie’s, but the smile the other woman gave her said she understood and even found his possessiveness as amusing as she did.
“I think you know my brother, Slade,” Millie said, surprising them. Lindsey felt Grif jerk, just slightly. It probably couldn’t have been seen, but she felt it, close as she was to him.
“Slade is a great addition to our Clan,” Grif replied somewhat formally. “Can I assume you have his rather unique abilities as well?”
“For the most part,” she answered. Something was being said between the lines here but Lindsey didn’t quite know what it was. Still, she felt Grif relax slightly and realized the woman held secrets that Grif somehow was privy to because of their mutual knowledge of this guy Slade.
“Thank you for your work here tonight. Without your warning…” Grif got choked up as he looked at Belinda, standing with Matt and Steve off to one side.
She was all right, but she wouldn’t have been if they hadn’t gotten the warning in time. Timmons would have killed her first, then moved on to do more damage. It had been so close. Lindsey sucked in a breath, realizing what a close escape it had really been for the girl.
Lindsey squeezed Grif’s hand in silent support.
“My pleasure, Alpha. I’m only glad I found the trail in time. He was very good at evasion.”
“You can say that again.” Grif sighed. “He kept ditching the best trackers I could hire all over the world. Thank the Lady you were here tonight, Millie. I can never thank you enough.”
Millie ducked her head modestly. “It is my calling, Alpha,” she said simply.
There was something very exotic about the woman and Lindsey found herself fascinated by her despite the lingering, petty jealousy at how beautiful she was. She was also brave and skilled and that only made Lindsey admire her more.
“I know it’s distasteful, but would you be willing to take a look at the body?” Grif asked. “We’ve had dealings with mages recently and I’d like to have him examined by my Clan’s priestess—who I guess is your new sister-in-law,” Grif said with a hint of irony in his tone. “The more who look at him, the better I will feel. I’d be particularly interested in any magical tattoos that would be invisible to me, but that someone with your background might be able to detect.”
Millie’s eyes narrowed. “I understand your concern. I’ll see what I can do, though I do agree that you should get Slade and his mate to examine him too. Not all of us see things the same.” Millie’s lips tightened as she turned toward where Timmons still lay, surrounded now by armed soldiers who seemed to be awaiting orders.
She walked away without further discussion, leaving Arlo as she picked her way through the thick grass toward the body.
“When did she join your Pack?” Grif asked Arlo in low tones.
“Not long ago. She just showed up, gave my brother Jason a letter from the Lords which began a round of teleconferences with them and their mate, and the High Priestess. After all was said and done, she’d been welcomed into the Pack. Next thing I know, she’s offered her tracking services to Jesse and damned if he didn’t take her up on it. She’s on-call with our team for cases requiring her special skills.” Arlo watched her as he talked. She was by the body now, crouching low, apparently giving it a thorough going over. “This is the first time I’ve worked with her and I can tell you, I’m really impressed.”
“Me too,” Matt said, joining the conversation, leaving Belinda to Steve, who had her in a bear hug. “That trail was stone cold. I didn’t think anyone could pick up Timmons from the store where I saw him, but she did. She’s got serious skills. Just like her brother.”
Arlo turned his attention back to Matt and Grif. “I’ve worked with Slade a few times. He�
�s intense,” was all he said, but both men nodded in agreement.
Lindsey was intrigued and wondered when she would meet the guy they all seemed to be in awe of. He was part of Grif’s Clan, so she supposed if and when they went back to Las Vegas, she’d get her chance to make his acquaintance. If his sister was anything to go by, he would probably be a very interesting character.
As they watched, Millie straightened and visibly winced. She held her hands outward, palms facing down over the body and spoke a few words they couldn’t make out. To Lindsey it looked like a prayer or a benediction of some kind.
Millie walked back to them, a grim expression on her face. Silence held until she stood in front of Grif and found her voice.
“I don’t see anything obvious, but there’s a feeling…” Her brow furrowed in thought, but she shook her head, apparently unable to find the right words. “It would be best if a full priestess handled this. They see things I cannot.”
“Thank you for trying,” Grif said respectfully, though Lindsey could tell he was concerned.
“We’ll prepare the body and send it on to your Clan.” Arlo put in, already making hand gestures that sent a few of his people into action.
Lindsey saw one unfurl what had to be a body bag, though she’d never seen one outside of television before. It impressed her how these soldiers had come prepared for just about anything.
Millie walked away after a solemn nod of farewell, but Arlo remained. His expression was dark.
“Alpha, I’m to blame here for what happened and I’ll accept your judgment.” Arlo’s words surprised Lindsey. “The target should never have been able to get that close to your family.”
“How did he?” Grif seemed more curious than angry and Lindsey could see Arlo relax just a tiny bit.
“He took out four of my men in rapid succession and I’ll be damned if I can figure out how he did it.” Arlo growled in frustration as he ran one hand through his hair. “But you can be sure we’re going to find out. Nobody takes out our people. Not that easily.”
“Where were they positioned?” Grif stood up and Lindsey went with him. It seemed the time to start getting answers had begun.
Arlo began walking and they followed. He gestured with his hands as they came around the side of the house.
“It was a pretty straight line through our perimeter, on target with your sister’s window.” He pointed in the direction that led out from Belinda’s second story window into the woods. “We found Mick and Jerry on the ground at twenty and thirty yards. Pepe was down at forty-five yards out, but the target had stashed Billy in the crook of a tree on the outermost ring, which is something I guess big cats do with their kills.”
“Are they dead?” Lindsey felt the need to ask. It sounded like there had been terrible violence not only in the house, but all around it that night.
“All critical. We won’t be sure if they’ll make it for a few hours. Our medics are working on them in the barn. Steve suggested we set up triage there.” Arlo looked at Grif, seemingly for confirmation that it was okay.
Grif nodded, staring at the woods. His expression was hard to read. Lindsey reached out to him, putting one hand on his arm and standing at his side, letting him know without words that she was there for him.
He seemed to make a decision and come out of the deep thoughts he’d been engaged in, turning to look at Arlo. Simultaneously, he took Lindsey’s hand in his and squeezed lightly, reassuring her that she’d done the right thing. He knew she was there and he seemed to be glad she was.
“Whatever you need for them, let me know. I don’t want anyone else dying here tonight if I can help it,” Grif declared in a strong voice.
Arlo seemed impressed, nodding. “Thank you, Alpha.”
“See to your men. We’ll talk in a couple of hours unless you need me for something before then.” Grif was already moving back toward the front of the house, Lindsey at his side and Arlo following close behind.
“Understood. I’ve pulled everyone in and will station them around the house. Nobody will intrude without our knowing.
“Good. We’ll convene in the living room at dawn, if not before.”
“Roger that.” Arlo left them by the front door and jogged toward the barn.
Grif turned and took Lindsey into his arms, hugging her close and just standing there for a moment, in the darkness of the porch, resting his chin on top of her head as she listened to the steady beating of his heart. She loved this man. So very much. He’d been through hell that night and she was glad they had all lived to tell the tale. She wouldn’t know what she’d have done without him—or Belinda—or even Matt or Steve, for that matter. This family had come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time.
The door behind them opened and light spilled out from inside the house onto the porch. Matt stood at the door, looking out at them. Grif let her go and they walked into the house as Matt stepped back to allow them to pass.
Belinda was in the living room and she ran to Lindsey when she caught sight of her. She looked like she was holding up well as Lindsey hugged her close. Strong arms came around them both—Grif on one side, Matt on the other. They just stood there for a moment, the family sharing a group hug that made everyone feel better.
Maybe there was something to this shifter need for touch after all, Lindsey thought. Even after the hug ended, it was clear Belinda didn’t want to go too far from her brothers or Lindsey.
Touched to be included in the family, Lindsey sat on the big sectional couch with Belinda close beside her. The little girl snuggled into her side while Matt and Grif talked with Steve who had just walked in the door.
The guys looked like they were talking business. Steve was probably talking over the events of the evening from his perspective. There was a lot of back slapping and serious looks.
“You okay now, Belinda?” Lindsey asked, putting her arm around the young girl.
“Yeah,” she replied with a muffled sniff.
“You were so brave when you went out that window and jumped all the way down to the ground. You’re going to have to teach me how to do that without breaking my leg one of these days.” Lindsey squeezed Belinda, offering comfort and encouragement.
“It’s not that hard.” Belinda looked up at her and gave her a shaky smile. “I can show you sometime, if Grif says it’s okay.” She looked over at her brothers and Lindsey realized the men were pretty much done talking.
“I think we all need to spend a few hours as a family,” Grif said to his brothers, knowing they were still as shaken as he from what had almost happened to the girls tonight. “And we all need a few more hours of sleep.”
Both Steve and Matt nodded agreement and Grif turned to where his two ladies sat together on the big, sectional couch. He’d bought it with comfort in mind and he’d slept on it more than a few times, both in his fur and in human form. It would do.
“What do you say we camp out down here until morning? To tell you the truth, I don’t want to let either of you out of my sight.” Grif crouched down to look at Belinda’s pale face.
She’d had a terrible fright tonight, but she was holding up well enough. Still, he didn’t want to send her back to her bedroom—or to any room where she’d have to go to sleep all alone. She wouldn’t sleep, and he wouldn’t blame her. Better that they all stay together for now. At least for the few hours they had until dawn. Maybe some of them would be able to rest as long as they knew everyone was safe and accounted for—and less than a few feet away.
“What do you say, munchkin? Maybe we’ll put a mellow movie on and try to catch up on our beauty sleep down here for what’s left of the night?”
Belinda launched herself into Grif’s open arms and clung to him. He worried at first, but he felt her smile against his chest. She was okay. Or she would be, given enough time to get over tonight’s shock. She drew back after a few moments and smiled up at him.
“Thanks, Grif. Can I pick the movie?” She let him go and danc
ed backward, toward the rack where they kept a bunch of DVDs.
“Sure thing. Matt, get the milk and cookies. Steve, get some pillows and blankets from upstairs.” He sent everyone off on errands, then collapsed on the big couch, next to Lindsey. His arm went around her.
Damn, it felt good to have her close. Just having her near calmed him and made him realize once again how lucky he was.
His family had been fractured by the losses of their sister and mother, but they’d come through it. And now they’d finally ended the threat that had hung over them like a dark cloud. They could move forward from here.
The first step would be going back home. Grif was already formulating plans to close up the cabin and head back to Las Vegas. He hadn’t talked it over with Lindsey yet, but he had hope that she’d be eager to start their new life together in Nevada. She knew his Clan was based there and that they’d have to return sometime. Now that Timmons had finally been dealt with, it was a good time to go back.
“Milk and cookies?” Lindsey asked, chuckling at his side.
“What? Cats like milk. Belinda will drink a couple of glasses and be asleep before you know it. Just you wait and see.” He nuzzled her neck, making her giggle.
He liked hearing his mate’s laughter. Things could have gone terribly wrong so easily tonight. He was thankful that everyone he cared about had come through this all right. Even the injured guys on Arlo’s team were out of danger and would recover. Steve had told him when he’d come in and Grif was relieved.
The only casualty was Timmons and as far as Grif was concerned, justice had finally come to the man who’d murdered Jackie. Late, but it had finally been served.
Belinda chose a movie and slipped it into the player. She climbed over Grif’s lap to snuggle in between him and Lindsey. He didn’t mind. Belinda was still a child. She had to be feeling especially vulnerable after what had happened earlier. Grif would cuddle her for what was left of the night if he had to, to reassure her that they were all okay and that life would get back to normal. She was safe. They would all be as safe as they could be—together.