“Who created this painting? Was it the same person who painted the one of Central Park I purchased?” Fenly asked, sounding desperate for the answer.
Duggy looked toward the right corner of the painting and noticed the letters AO.
“Whoever has the initials AO painted this one, too,” Duggy offered.
“Ava,” Fenly whispered as he brushed by Duggy and took a closer look at the portrait.
* * * *
Fenly felt a surge of emotions as he stared at the painting of the O’Brian estate. It could have been a photograph, considering how accurate and identical it was to the real thing. He stared at the strokes of color and the castle situated on a hill of grassy green, gently rising from a lake of thirty acres in the middle of the woods. He could practically smell the outdoors, the scents of County Clare and surrounding wildlife.
His Ava was here in the United States. She was in New York and perhaps here in this gallery tonight. He looked around him frantically, and immediately Miller and Pete were by his side.
“What is it, boss?” Pete asked.
“My Ava is here. Find her and I want this painting in my possession immediately.” Pete and Miller took off in opposite directions as Fenly searched the crowded gallery. His heart pounded inside of his chest, and his beast roared with hunger. He would have his Ava back again, and he would take her home to Ireland where she belonged.
“What can I do to help?” Duggy asked Fenly.
“Get your men on this. Find out where she is and anyone who knows anything should be thoroughly questioned.”
“I’m on it,” Duggy stated then walked away.
Fenly began to look at some of the other paintings Ava had surely painted. He had known that painting was a hobby for her back in Ireland. He had witnessed her beauty and focus as she painted on the back patio to the castle. But it wasn’t until she escaped and was out of his life that he truly missed her presence. She was more than just a valuable commodity. She was his destiny and the key to a family mystery decades old. She had to be the key to finding the Irish Jewel. Her father had had possession of it. But where did Patrick hide it? Ava had to know the answer.
* * * *
Willy and his brothers gathered into the two SUVs and headed toward Walt’s high-rise apartment. As Mick drove the vehicle, Willy’s cell phone rang.
“Hello?” He answered it, half caring about whoever was on the line. He wanted to get to his mate.
“Don’t sound so thrilled to hear from me, Willy. I remember the days of you and your brothers flirting like crazy with me just to get my men going.”
“Samantha? Holy shit, how are you, honey?” he asked, feeling instantly happy about her call. He hadn’t heard from her in months or from her mates. The Valdamars were busy these days keeping the Circle of Elders in order and dealing with aspects of the government.
“That’s so much better. You sound tense. Is everything all right?” she asked. He released a sigh.
“It seems we have found our mate.”
He pulled the phone away from his ear as Samantha screamed with joy. She was calling to Dustin and Trey.
“Well, tell me about her and then we’ll deal with some business,” Samantha replied.
“What business?” he asked.
“First things first. Who is she and when are you going to bring her out here to meet us?”
“As soon as we convince her that she’s our mate and figure out exactly who she is.”
“Ahhh, sounds interesting, which brings me to the business reason for my call.”
“What’s going on?” Willy asked.
“It has been brought to my attention during a council meeting that two businessmen by the names of Duggy Doolin, Fidelis’s cousin, and Simon Font have been getting involved with some things that they shouldn’t be.”
“Doolin is Fidelis’s cousin?” Willy asked even though Samantha didn’t like to talk about the old dead wolf. He had taken so much from her and tried to separate her from her mates and mate her himself so he could gain council position. That was an intense time.
“Yes, it’s true, and both of these men have been sneaking around trying to find out more information on a matter that the Circle is investigating.”
“What does this have to do with us?”
“I believe my sources stated that you and your brothers had a confrontation with Doolin and Simon and in fact arrested Simon this evening.”
“We did. He is also after our mate.”
“Interesting. And who is this mate of yours?”
“We just found out about her by accident really. We were investigating Simon and Doolin when we came across illegal smuggling of guns from Ireland. We found out about Fenly O’Leary and him taking over a huge import and export business in Ireland. We believe that Simon and Doolin are working for Fenly as his main connection here in the States. As you know, Doolin is involved heavily with the Irish mob. The woman is of great interest to these men and we need to know why.”
“You aren’t talking about the O’Brian family?” she asked.
“Yes. Apparently Patrick O’Brian had a daughter who went missing two years ago a day after her father’s death. Anyway, we found her and she’s our mate.”
Willy heard a gasp and then the silence on the other end of the phone.
“Samantha? Are you still there?”
“Yes. Listen to me, Willy. Do whatever you have to to protect your mate. Fenly cannot get his hands on her. If they mate then Fenly will gain the power, money, and control over all of Ireland and its were packs plus hundreds of other packs here in the United States. He has been organizing, building a dynasty, and attempting to take out the Circle of Elders and any other organization that stands in his way. He will also become privy to a certain secret organization that helps maintain justice and pack laws around the world.”
He immediately knew that Samantha was talking about the Secret Warriors of the Brothers of Were.
“She is our mate, Samantha. No other wolf will touch her,” he stated firmly.
“You must find her. Simon and Doolin are working for Fenly and they are in search of the Irish Jewel. If they find it and Fenly possesses it then the destruction of all our forces begins. I mean every organization both known and unknown in our culture’s history.”
“Damn, Samantha, this just keeps getting better and better. What does this have to do with the Irish Jewel, and how could Fenly take control of the Secret Order if the identity of the King is secret?”
“It won’t remain a secret for long, and ultimately, if he gains the funds, the following, and the power he is after then it may take an equal effort of all the organizations and packs to work together to fight him. But my sources believe that this is only the beginning and there is still enough time to stop Fenly. This is important. I just can’t believe that you are her mates. She has been through a lot, Willy. Fenly killed her father in front of her. He tried to force her to marry him. His men hunted her down, attacked her, and brought her back when she tried to escape. I’ve had men working on finding her since her disappearance two years ago. She may have information we could use to bring Fenly down. He wants her and he will stop at nothing to possess her.”
Willy felt his hackles rise and his temper flare.
“I’ll take care of it, Samantha. Thank you for the information.”
“Keep me posted.”
Willy closed up his cell phone, disconnecting the call. Through the telepathic link with his brothers, he shared the info. He could feel the intensity of his brothers’ need to find their mate and protect her.
“Forget about going to Walt first. She’s ours and we have a right to claim what belongs to us,” Mick stated firmly as he pressed on the accelerator.
Chapter 6
Ava made certain that she hadn’t been followed as she entered the elevator en route to her fourth-floor apartment. The place was decent. Not upscale and not a dump either. It lay somewhere in between what was modest and what was respectable.
She felt she fit in fine until more thoughts of her father and her life back in Ireland invaded her mind. Her head ached with confusion and information overload as she exited the elevator. Could this whole mating thing be genetic after all? Could her destiny lie in the paws of wolves? She chuckled at the thought of her own words. The lack of sleep was getting to her. Taking her key out of her bag, she unlocked the door and entered the darkness. A sudden sense of loneliness and fear gripped her insides. She was getting tired of being alone and coming home to no one and nothing but silence or her own somber thoughts. She tossed her purse onto the couch and heard the grunt.
“What the hell?” she yelled, taking a step back toward the door and raising her fists in front of her, prepared to fight.
“Don’t be afraid,” someone stated, and on instinct she turned to run. The lights came on, illuminating her apartment and all its occupants.
She was angry but also relieved to see all five men she recognized instead of Fenly’s men.
“How did you get in here? What do you want from me?” she demanded to know. But the sight of such large men in her small apartment caused fear to run through her veins. She hated feeling threatened, and these men reeked of intimidation. The men taking up most of the space in the living room and dressed up in tuxedos made for an odd display. Masculinity overwhelmed her senses, and whether she liked to admit it or not, these men were hot. She felt her cheeks warm and her heart begin to pound in her chest as she retreated back a few steps. Her damn nipples hardened, and she had the urge to cover herself up so these men couldn’t see the effect they were having on her. She shook the thoughts from her head and ignored her libido.
“Never mind, just get out!” she yelled as she absorbed each man’s expression as her eyes traveled through the room. She zoned in on one pompous man sitting at her desk looking calm and smug. Sean and Kyle glanced in his direction while the other two looked just as calm. Arrogant bastards.
“That’s not happening. We need to talk and you know it,” the arrogant, smug one stated. His hair was cut short in a military style. It was jet black, matching his tux and his demeanor. She didn’t like his authoritative attitude or the way he made himself at home at her desk. Had he snooped through her things? Perhaps gone through her computer for information? She panicked a moment but was confident that she was a way better computer hacker than most pros out there. She didn’t like the guilty feeling she felt. She hacked into Fenly’s computer to stop him from stealing from her family name. Sure it was illegal but she was limited on what she could do to stop him. Staying hidden was a priority.
Looking them over and how they stood around the room she assumed that they couldn’t have been here long. The best thing to do was give them the slip and get out of town. Be strong, Ava.
“Get out,” she repeated with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Slowly the man rose to full standing position, and her courage shrunk with each inch of height revealed as he stood. Taking two steps backward, she stared in awe. The man was even larger in such close proximity. A warrior through and through, she was certain. He had to be six and a half feet tall, maybe taller. He was built like a G.I. Joe, not pretty-boy looking like Tom Cruise. He was more like Gerard Butler in the movie 300. He had a wide chest and rugged good looks. Muscles upon muscles, a warrior-like caveman reeking of testosterone and sex. She could only imagine what he looked like naked. She felt her cheeks warm and her pussy leak. Her nipples hardened to tiny pebbles, and she adjusted her stance to accommodate the change of body temperature and hide her apparent attraction. I’m losing my mind. I could strangle Walt for putting such crazy ideas in my head.
The arrogant one raised his nose and sniffed. He glanced around the room, and so did the others. Was it her or was it getting seriously hot in here?
“I have nothing to say to you, so leave.” The words were barely audible to her own ears.
“No. We’re not leaving. You’re our mate and we need to talk,” he replied firmly and with a tone of voice that hit her to her bones. Oh yeah, he was definitely in charge and used to getting his way.
“I am not your mate. I’m not a wolf, so leave me alone,” she countered then began to walk toward the kitchen. Before she made it three steps, the intimidating one grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up against him.
“Wolf or not, you are our mate,” he stated through clenched teeth, and she noticed his eyes sparkled. They were hazel, but specks of emerald green sparkled around them. It was odd and fascinating at the same time. That combined with his firm hold on her body, his large, warm hands splayed across her hips and ass cheeks, and his solid physique had her shaking in her high heels. She swallowed hard as she pressed her fingers down onto his forearms in an attempt to get him to release her. The smug bastard smirked as he held her gaze, and the roughness of his chin brushed the cleavage of her dress.
The seconds passed in silence, but she knew they weren’t alone. She sensed the others but was transfixed on this one’s eyes. A strange sensation trickled over her skin like warm honey going down her throat and to every part of her body. She found herself loosening her hold and releasing a long breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. His chin, like sandpaper, slid lightly across her oversensitive skin. Closing her eyes, she fought the need to press harder against him.
“You feel the attraction. Listen to your body, Ava, and we will do the rest,” he whispered and began to inch his head higher toward her face. His breath tapped against her skin, tickling her and awakening a need that had otherwise been dormant. Lips firm and masculine, a face chiseled from stone, this man was some kind of superior being with powers to overtake her mind, not to mention her body. She didn’t want to be controlled. They were wolves and didn’t play by the same rules as humans.
“I don’t think so, beast. I don’t like wolves,” she stated, and his eyebrows rose.
“In fact I hate them,” she added.
He held her gaze, and she felt her own heart beating rapidly. She was in no position to challenge him, yet she did it anyway.
He stared at her lips, causing her to lick them and making him squeeze her tighter.
“We’ll help you change your mind,” he whispered as he pressed his hand and fingers under her hair, gripped the locks before he leaned down and kissed her. She tried to resist, but he had such a good hold and his body felt sensational against her own. She had never been kissed in such a way. Her heart pounded inside of her chest, her body hummed with need she never knew existed, and this man’s one kiss brought it all out. She climbed higher against his waist, grateful that the silk of her dress aided in sliding her body up and down his muscular frame. She felt the rough, hard palm of his hand push her dress higher to her waist as she straddled him.
She felt him turn her around, and a moment later she was pressed against the living room wall as his tongue delved deeper, exploring every crevice of her mouth. He tasted so damn good, she nearly came undone in his arms. When he finally released her lips in order for them to breathe, he continued to lick and suck along her neck, and her shoulder, and then she opened her eyes and saw the other four men watching. Their eyes glowed, and she grabbed the one wolf’s head to stop him.
“Wait! Oh God, please wait. I don’t know what came over me. Please put me down,” she begged, and the man softened his kisses trailing up and along her shoulder, back to her neck and cheeks and finally her lips. She noted the solidity of his cheeks, skin hard and dusted with whiskers. He kissed her softly then held her gaze. She didn’t even know his name, yet she allowed him to stick his tongue down her throat as she rubbed her pussy up and down his body. What was going through their minds? Why should she care?
“Don’t deny what you’re feeling. Your body doesn’t lie, Ava,” he told her then slowly lowered her feet to the carpeting. He used the pad of his thumb to touch her lips as he held her gaze.
“Let’s sit down and talk,” he stated as he slowly ran his hand down her arm to her hand then led her to the couch, where Sean
sat on the arm smirking. Her legs felt weird, and she actually felt kind of weak as she forced herself to remain composed. The mysterious wolf had a kiss that packed a punch.
When she passed Sean, her thigh touched his knee, and she felt the tingling sensation immediately. She stepped to the side, shocked at the power of such a small touch, but then she locked gazes with Sean, and she was mortified at how easily he read her body language. He smirked knowingly as he adjusted his position on the couch. Turning away from him, she took a seat on the couch.
* * * *
“Now what?” Mick asked his brother Willy through their link.
“Beats the shit out of me. All my wolf wants to do is take her to her bedroom and claim her. I’m having difficulty fighting it,” Willy replied.
“You’re doing great. Keep it up,” Sean encouraged.
“I can’t be empathetic and mushy when my wolf is revved up like this. Her taste is incredible,” Willy added. Mick made a sound then joined Ava by the couch. He sat on the opposite arm of the couch as Sean and took her hand into his own.
“I’m Mick. That’s Willy, Pat, and you met Kyle and Sean already.” Willy ran his fingers through his hair then sat down on the love seat opposite the couch.
Ava looked at each of the men then swallowed hard.
“I’m certain this is difficult after everything that you’ve been through,” Mick stated, trying to hold her gaze, but Ava tried to pull her hand away. He held it firmly.
“What do you know about what I’ve gone through? You don’t know me and I don’t know you.”
“We’re going to work on that immediately, Ava. Right now, I want you to understand what’s happening here between the six of us and how important it is that you trust us to protect you.”
Ava pulled her hand away and stood up.
She ran her hand through her hair then pushed it behind her shoulder.
She looked at each of them then took an unsteady breath. Mick could hear her rapid heartbeat.
Task Force Three and the Irish Jewel [The Men of Five-O #3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 7