She shook her head and pulled the blanket tight against her. She looked worried, and he hoped that she didn’t regret what they all just shared.
“Do you want to close your eyes and rest?” he asked.
“No,” she whispered softly.
“Do you want to talk? I’m sure you have questions.”
She hesitated a moment, and then she adjusted her position, using her elbow to hold herself upright. She stared into his eyes as if she could read his mind. He hoped if she did have such capabilities that she would know how gorgeous he thought she was and how aroused his wolf was getting just from inhaling her scent.
“When you get angry, do you have control over your wolf?”
Her question surprised him as concern filled his body.
She swallowed hard then began to inch her body away from him. Pat wouldn’t allow it.
“Yes, I always have control over my wolf. Even if you angered me, Ava, I would never harm you. You are my mate and I am yours. This isn’t temporary but for a lifetime.”
She lowered her eyes and seemed to absorb what he was stating. However, he wondered about her fear.
“Who attacked you in wolf form?”
The moment the words left his lips, Ava pulled away from him. She scrambled off the bed, taking the blanket along with her.
* * * *
Ava looked around for her clothes as she held the blanket close to her body. This was overwhelming. She still wasn’t over the fact that she’d just had sex with five men she didn’t even know. She followed her heart and her gut and needed time to recover. She feared sharing any information with Pat or his brothers. If she admitted fear to wolves, then they could use it against her. The thought made her feel guilty. Obviously she had trust issues. My life is such a mess.
“Ava, what is it?” Pat asked, standing in front of her.
She closed her eyes, embarrassed by his nakedness and unsettled by his size and confidence. God, he’s beautiful.
He reached for her, and as she felt his strong arms begin to wrap around her and the blanket, she resisted. It felt right in his arms. It felt right to be with each of the men, yet she felt the need to keep her distance.
Quickly she turned from his grasp, taking a side step.
“Where are my clothes, Pat? I want my clothes,” she asked as she clutched the blanket to her body.
He stared at her with his hands on his hips, the curve of his muscles dipping against bone and solid flesh. He was so defined that she could reach out and trace each muscle and the outline of his belly to where it met his hips. His cock stood up straight and long, and as she absorbed the sight, it twitched as if it sensed her stare.
“Ava,” he whispered, and she slowly looked up toward Pat’s eyes and saw the intensity they held.
“Don’t run away from me,” Pat stated firmly.
Ava held her ground. “I’m not running away from you,” she replied.
He reached for her, and she took a step back. He, in turn, took two steps closer.
“You’re running away from this conversation.”
“I want to get dressed.”
“Who hurt you? Who put that fear in your eyes?”
She was silent as she held his gaze. Damn, the man was charismatic and sexy. So much that she found herself hesitating to ignore him and pretend he wasn’t there asking her questions she didn’t want to answer.
“Wolves. Wolves just like you and your brothers.” She headed toward the bathroom when Pat grabbed her arm to stop her. She had to use her other hand to hold the blanket to her chest.
“What do you mean, wolves?”
“Forget it, Pat. I’m not ready for this. I don’t want to pretend that everything is fine and that you are going to take care of me. I don’t want to talk about this. I just want to be alone!” she yelled, and Pat pulled her into an embrace. He held her tight, and she momentarily tried to resist him. But he wouldn’t have it.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to push you to talk. It’s just that I want to know everything about you, Ava. It’s natural for a man to want to know about his woman,” he whispered, and his warm breath caressed against the top of her head.
She thought about that for a moment. He was confusing her and making her feel on edge.
“Why don’t you go take a nice hot bath or a shower? Everything you need is in there,” Pat suggested as Ava pulled away slowly. She locked gazes with him as he reached up and touched a thumb to her lower lip. “I know you’re strong and used to dealing with things on your own, but you’re not alone anymore. Once you accept that, we can move on to more pleasurable things.”
She watched as he released her then headed toward the bed. His tight, muscular ass was a sight that made her lick her lips and admire his excellent body. Then he turned around and caught her gawking.
“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll join you. Now get moving, the others are growing impatient to see you.”
Chapter 12
William stared at the computer screen and the information Samantha had sent him on Fenly and his operation.
“As you can see, Willy, Fenly is quite resourceful. He cannot be underestimated. After all, he basically killed Ava’s father and took over the estate,” Samantha stated over the phone.
“I can see that. Why hasn’t the Circle eliminated him?”
“Not enough votes. We are dealing with new leaders and controversies over old rules. Those meetings are hell, Willy. I wish I didn’t even have to attend, but without my vote or my grandfather’s vote many new laws cannot be passed through. This leads to some jealousy among certain leaders. Not that I’m easily intimidated. ”
William let out a soft laugh. Ava was tough as well. He was concerned over his mate and her connection to the Jewel of Ireland.
“She needs to be moved to a safer location. Have you reconsidered my offer of bringing her here to Texas on Valdamar and Crespin territory?” Samantha asked.
“I won’t reconsider. She is safest with her mates, and there’s no need to bring the danger so close to home. We can protect her.”
“Can I at least send more men for backup? Fagan pack and Dolberg pack are available to assist and you know them well,” Samantha stated.
They were part of the Secret Order of the Brothers of Were, too. She was really pushing more help from the Secret Order. He wondered what Samantha wasn’t telling him.
“I will let you know if their help is needed. Unless there’s more information you have for me?”
Her silence was a sure giveaway.
“Your mate had been able to stay well hidden for two years. She had some help escaping from Ireland and she maintained a nice apartment on the West Side of Manhattan. She’s resourceful and gaining her trust may take more time than you have.”
“She is our responsibility. Declan pack will ensure her safety. I’ll contact Fagan pack or Dolberg if I feel it necessary.”
“As you wish, Willy. Good luck and please keep me posted.”
William hung up the phone and leaned back into his chair. He felt uneasy, and his wolf was on edge. Something peculiar was happening here. Something that had his gut filled with trepidation for the safety of his mate. He stared at the picture of Fenly. He was a rogue wolf and showed all the signs of corruption and evil power. Why hadn’t he been eliminated? What was his value, if any? How could they figure it out without questioning Fenly himself? It was bad enough the man was in the country and in New York. They would have to move Ava elsewhere. Somewhere she would be surrounded by guards that could protect her.
Just then the lights flashed and the red sensors on the walls indicated that the outer perimeter of the house had been infiltrated.
William jumped from his chair and called to his brothers through their link.
“Where is Ava?” William asked as he headed toward the front of the house.
He heard Kyle and Sean leave through the back doors. They shifted.
Mick and William were about to join them.
/> “Head to the SUV. Get Ava out of there now, Pat!” William yelled through their link.
* * * *
“What’s going on? What’s happening?” Ava asked as Pat helped her get dressed.
“We got company, sweetheart. We need to move.”
“Fenly?” she asked in a panic, taking a few steps away from Pat as she clutched her sweater to her chest.
“Don’t know. The others are taking care of it. Let’s move. Willy wants us downstairs in the SUV in case we need to take off,” Pat told her then grabbed her hand.
Ava kept her feet planted on the rug.
“Ava, come on!” he yelled.
“He’s here. He wants me and he’ll never give up. I told you that. I warned you but you insisted…” She lowered her eyes and swallowed the sob of emotion she felt.
Pat grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
“This is real, Ava. We are mates and we will protect you. Don’t be afraid. We never go back on our word.”
Pat kissed her softly then swiftly grabbed her arm and pulled her along with him.
They ran down the back staircase and into a long hallway.
Ava remained close to Pat as they headed down the hallway. She could see an entry door shortly ahead of them and could have sworn that she heard fighting and gunshots.
“Oh my God, they’re shooting.”
Pat reached back and pressed the palm of his hand against her hip and thigh. Ava held on to his waist.
She felt Pat move his other arm then turn to the right to make sure no one was in the first doorway they passed. That was when she noticed the gun. In her state of concern she never saw him grab a gun or even notice that Pat had one but he did.
He froze in place as if he were listening to something when suddenly the glass on the exit door shattered before them.
“Get down!” he yelled at her as he shot twice with his gun.
Ava looked through the gap between his legs just as a soldier dressed in dark-green fatigues fell to the tile floor.
“Let’s move!” Pat yelled as he grabbed her hand and yanked her up off the floor.
They ran quickly toward the doorway on the left and entered the garage.
Just as they headed toward the SUV, three men in fatigues came out from behind the vehicle and attacked.
Two jumped toward Pat, and they began to fist fight while the other grabbed for Ava.
* * * *
Pat was fighting off the two men, but his focus was still on Ava and the guy who went after her.
“Where are you guys? They’re going to get Ava. I can’t fight them on my own,” Pat stated to his brothers through their link.
“We eliminated the other attackers and are on our way,” Mick stated.
“We have members of Fagan pack with us. They just arrived,” Kyle added, sounding as frantic as Pat felt. He didn’t have time to think about why Fagan pack was here.
Pat grabbed the one guy, twisted his neck, and snapped. It left an opportunity for the second guy to take a few shots at his head, but he was a wolf and these men were human. To the right, he watched as Ava fought off her own attacker. His guy reached for the gun on the ground and aimed to fire.
Two shots rang out just as his brothers broke through the side door and entered the garage.
Ava stood there with a gun in her hand pointed toward where they stood. She shot the two guys and saved Pat from getting killed.
* * * *
“Okay, Ava, you did a good job, honey. Give me the gun,” William requested in a calm voice, and Ava just stared at them. Through the doorway, five men slowly entered, all dressed in black fatigues and looking just as intimidating and wolf as her mates did. Her mates? Was she seriously losing her mind? She took a deep breath and lowered the gun with shaky hands. It had been the first time she ever killed someone with a gun. She was so fearful for Pat’s life, she had no choice.
Ava locked gazes with Willy as he ran his hands down her arms and softly removed the gun from her hand.
“You’re okay, Ava.”
“I know,” she replied as Pat instantly appeared in front of them and swept her into his arms. He was crushing her and taking deep breaths against her neck. Her lip throbbed from being hit there as she softly moaned but held him just as tight, feeling relieved that Pat was okay.
“You were amazing,” he told her then slowly pulled back to look at her.
He crunched his eyebrows together then reached toward her lip.
“You’re bleeding.”
She reached up to touch where he had and saw the blood on her fingertips.
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.”
She glanced to the side of Pat and noticed the others staring at her as if they were shocked or perhaps ready to arrest her for killing two men.
“I had no choice. I was afraid that he was going to kill Pat.”
Mick stomped toward her, his eyes looking almost as dark as his hair. He appeared determined or about to dish out some sort of punishment when Pat released her and she took a step back. She couldn’t retreat fast enough as Mick grabbed her by her sweater, pulled her against him, and kissed her deeply on the lips. Despite the pain she felt from her bloody lip, she returned his kiss. Obviously the adrenaline rush was still steadily running through her veins.
Ava was lost in a pool of emotions. Her body shook from the aftereffects of the attack or maybe the intensity of Mick’s kiss. Her pussy throbbed, and instinctively she coiled herself around Mick as he lifted her into the air.
“Damn, that is one hell of a mate you Declans got yourselves,” someone stated, and she pulled a little away from Mick, but he kept kissing her a few seconds before releasing her lips.
“Let’s get this mess cleaned up then meet inside. We need to make a plan,” William stated as some movement took place around them. Ava shivered at the intensity of William’s tone.
Mick finally released her lips and held her gaze.
“You were incredible, Ava. So strong and protective of your mate. You belong with us. We’re going to protect you and take care of you,” Mick declared. His sincerity was so apparent in his eyes and in his embrace that she felt tears reach her eyes. Instead of crying, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Mick held her effortlessly and carried her back into the house.
After her men checked her over thoroughly for injuries and kissed her breathless, she was finally able to focus on the conversation going on in the living room between William and the five strangers they referred to as the Fagan pack. Definitely wolves and definitely exceptionally handsome warriors just like her own men. She felt giddy inside thinking such possessive thoughts, but in all honesty she was growing fond of the Declan brothers.
* * * *
“So did Samantha send you? I told her we were doing okay and making some plans to relocate,” William asked Van Fagan, the lead Alpha of his pack.
Van and his brothers were just as large and tall as the Declan pack. They, however, possessed some magical powers. That was why they were part of the Secret Brothers of Were. William knew this, and his investigative mind was beginning to go into overdrive.
“We were notified through the Order that the missing daughter of Patrick O’Brian was located. Some of our associates have been searching far and wide for her. When we caught wind of IRA soldiers moving in to locate her in the city we headed here immediately, knowing that this was your safe house. We thought we would have time to give you the heads-up.”
William eyed Van, wondering why their mate was so sought after. Perhaps they just wanted to use her as bait to capture Fenly.
“What’s your interest in Fenly O’Leary?” William asked, and he immediately sensed his mate’s uneasiness in mentioning Fenly’s name. He asked his brothers to comfort her through their mind link as he held Van’s gaze.
Van smiled then leaned back into the sofa, crossing his leg over his thigh.
“Do you even know who Fenly is or his role in the destruction of the Ord
er, never mind the Circle?” Van asked.
William explained about their investigation and about his and his brothers’ belief that Fenly was the mastermind behind the large amount of drugs and guns getting into the US from cargo ships.
Van chuckled. “This goes way beyond some drugs and illegal guns, my friend. Those are human issues. Fenly O’Leary killed his own father to gain his land and business operations. He killed Patrick O’Brian so he could take over the heritage and company plus all its assets, including O’Brian’s daughter. If he catches Ava and mates with her, he will be so powerful of a wolf, the Circle won’t be able to touch him. There’s no concrete evidence right now on exactly what elders Fenly has under his command. They have initiated that silent voting on certain rulings.”
“Ava is our mate. Fenly won’t get his paws on her,” Sean stated firmly.
Van exhaled.
“He is not to be underestimated. Fenly is here now in the States. He is searching for your mate and knows that she is in New York. If the Irish Republican Army found your home, then so can Fenly and his pack. They are a mean group of fighters and Fenly has gained so much power in Ireland and here in the States. Once he took over the O’Brian business affairs he pissed off a lot of people,” Van stated.
“Is that why the IRA came here searching for Ava? Do they want to use her as ransom or something?” Kyle asked and placed his hands on Ava’s shoulders in a protective manner. William heard his brothers’ thoughts. They were all concerned for Ava.
When Van looked to his brothers then to Ava and back to William, William got an uneasy feeling.
“I don’t want to speak too freely here, William. Fenly has enemies that are searching for ways to get to him and gain some control back. Perhaps we should talk in the other room?” Van asked, glancing toward Ava as he rose from the couch.
William stood up and nodded in agreement.
“It’s me who is the outsider here. You don’t want to speak in front of me. Yet, I am the reason for all this craziness. I’ll leave and you all stay,” Ava stated, taking a step forward.
Task Force Three and the Irish Jewel [The Men of Five-O #3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 13