by Becca Van
Tami drew in a couple of deep breaths, and she tried to alleviate the emotional constriction in her chest and throat. If she let the grief take hold and she started crying, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop. She wished she hadn’t had to leave her home, but she’d had no other option. Tami knew that she was probably in the law’s sights, and while she was innocent of any wrongdoing, she wasn’t convinced the police or the IRS saw it that way.
She pushed her thoughts aside when the men got out of the truck after Karter parked it and turned it off. Just as she reached for the door handle, Karter tugged the back door open and offered her his hand. She clasped it reluctantly after bracing herself for another physical reaction and was glad she had when tingles of heat shot through her body.
“Thanks.” Tami pulled her hand from Karter’s and sidled away from him. Even though she kept her gaze lowered, she watched him in her periphery and wondered what had put that frown on his face. Was he annoyed with her for moving away from him? What did he expect? She didn’t know him or his brothers, and she was feeling rather anxious over her decision to go home with them.
Tami gazed about and took note where the closest neighbors were. They weren’t that close. From what she could see, there had to be about ten acres of land between each property. When she realized what she was doing, looking for avenues of escape if it became necessary, she mentally shook her head and sighed. She didn’t think that Zayn, Karter, and Jace would do anything to hurt her, but being a woman on her own with strange men, she wasn’t going to let her guard down. And yet, for some reason, she wasn’t afraid of them, which was an anomaly since she should be scared out of her mind.
“Tami?” She startled when Zayn called her name from right behind her. If he hadn’t reached out to grasp her elbow as she spun around, she might have fallen on her ass. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Come on, baby,” Zayn said as he urged her toward the house with the hand still holding her arm. “Let’s get inside.”
Tami nodded and hoped like hell she would get some privacy soon. She’d put off grieving her father’s death for way too long and could feel the pain roiling in her chest. She wasn’t sure she could hold off crying for much longer.
As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she gazed about, but she couldn’t take anything in. She was exhausted and in so much emotional pain nothing she looked at held in her mind. Thankfully, Zayn didn’t linger to give her a tour of the house but guided her through the living room and down the long hallway she guessed led to the bedrooms. It was still early and just hitting the dinner hour, but Tami didn’t care. All she wanted to do was shower, crawl into bed, and sleep for a week. However, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to sleep at all.
“This is your room for as long as you want it,” Zayn said as he walked through the doorway behind her. She was aware of Karter and Jace following behind and hoped one of them had grabbed her small case from the truck.
“Thank you. This is really nice.” She forced a smile as she met Zayn’s gaze.
Zayn nodded before moving toward a closed door off to the side of the room. He opened the door and looked into her eyes again. “This is the bathroom. There’s a spa bath if you’d like to soak for a while and a big shower. There’s also an enclosed toilet on the other side of the bathroom.”
“Thanks.”
“Where do you want your bag, darlin’?” Jace asked as he held up the case.
“On top of the dresser will be fine.”
“Put it on the bed,” Zayn said. “I don’t want you lifting it down and hurting yourself when you want to unpack it. You can make use of the dresser and closet since they’re all empty.”
“I’ll put your purse on the dresser,” Karter said.
Tami blinked at him, hoping she didn’t look as chagrined as she felt. She’d completely forgotten about her purse. Normally she didn’t go anywhere without it.
“Right,” Zayn said. “We’ll get out of your hair so you can get settled.” He walked toward the doorway, paused, and then gazed at her over his shoulder. “Sleep well, Tami.
“Thank you, for everything.”
Zayn nodded and left.
“Just ask if you need anything and we don’t have it,” Karter said. “G’night, honey.”
“Night, Karter.”
Jace took the few steps separating them and stopped when he was within touching distance. She stared up into his gorgeous gray eyes and hoped she wasn’t swaying on her feet. Tami was totally lost as she gazed into those amazing eyes. There was so much emotion in the depths of those orbs, but since she didn’t know him, she couldn’t work out what he was feeling. Plus, she was too weary to concentrate.
“Do you have everything you need, darlin’? Do you want a drink or something?”
“I’m good, but thanks.”
“Okay.” Jace sighed and raised his hand toward her face but seemed to catch himself because he lowered his hand again. “See you tomorrow, Tami.”
“Tomorrow.” She nodded.
As soon as Jace left the room, Tami hurried over to the door, closed, and locked it. She moved back toward the bed on autopilot, opened her case, and selected her sleep shirt, some clean underwear, and her toiletry bag. After closing the bag, lowering it the floor and sliding it under the bed out of the way, she headed toward the bathroom.
Tami moved about as if she were a zombie. Her body felt way heavier than normal and it was difficult to go through her ablutions, but fifteen minutes later, after showering, brushing her teeth and hair, she was ready for bed.
She crawled into bed and closed her eyes, but as soon as she did, she saw her father’s familiar face and the tears started. At first she wept silently, but the pain in her heart and soul was unbearable, and soon she was sobbing her heart out. Luckily, she’d had the foresight to cover her face with a pillow to soften the sound. The last thing she needed was Karter, Zayn, and Jace hearing her and coming to investigate.
Tami was scared and alone, and she was totally lost. She had no idea what she was going to do and hoped to God she didn’t end up in jail for something she hadn’t done.
Chapter Three
“We have a problem,” Karter said as soon as both his brothers joined him in the kitchen.
Jace nodded before heading toward the fridge and grabbing three beers. He passed one each to Zayn and Karter before opening his own bottle and taking a swig as he leaned his hip against the counter.
“Is she in trouble?” Zayn asked. “I saw you and the Louis men talking.”
“She’s wanted for questioning by the IRS, FBI, and the police in Las Vegas.” Karter scrubbed a hand over his face. “Her real name in Tamika Ann Darnel. Spencer was her mother’s maiden name. She’s twenty-six years old and grew up in Vegas. She lost her mother, Janet, when she was five years old, and it’s just been her and her father, Daniel Darnel, ever since.
“The Louis brothers informed me that her father, who apparently committed suicide, was embezzling funds from his company. This case was just starting when they resigned as agents. Daniel Darnel left a note admitting his guilt, and while the authorities have gone over all the books, they haven’t been able to trace the stolen cash.”
“Fuck! No wonder she looks so sad.” Zayn paced toward the dining room and back again. “They think she’s got the money, don’t they?”
Karter nodded. “She’s on the top of the list of suspects.”
“She didn’t do it,” Jace stated emphatically.
“I don’t think so either.” Karter sighed. “The Louis brothers are going to get in touch with a friend at the FBI and see what they can find out, but Preston warned me, if she’s found to be an accessory, he won’t hesitate to hand her over to the feds.”
“That’ll happen over my dead body,” Zayn snarled.
“I’ll be standing right beside you, bro.” Jace crossed his arms for emphasis.
“If worse comes to worst, we’re not going to
have any say in the matter.” Karter drained his beer and tossed the bottle into the recycle bin. He frowned and tilted his head when he heard a strange noise.
“What the fuck was that?” Zayn asked as he hurried toward the kitchen entrance.
“It sounds like someone’s crying,” Jace said. “Shit! That’s Tami.”
Zayn raced out of the room with Jace and Karter on his heels. Karter was excited, upset, and anxious all at the same time. Their mate was finally here, but he wasn’t sure he’d have the chance to get to know her let alone court her. His wolf was going crazy, pacing and snarling and trying to break free every now and then. It was hard enough trying to control his unruly cock let alone his inner animal. He wanted to know what the fuck was going on, and if it was necessary for him, his brothers, and their mate to pack up their shit and leave town to go into hiding, he wouldn’t hesitate to do it. However, he didn’t want to have to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder and living off the radar, even if they had enough cash to spend for three lifetimes. He loved Ambrose and being close to his friends, others of his kind, and didn’t really want to leave. They’d made a life for themselves here, and when he’d gazed upon Tami for the first time, he’d thought life was perfect.
That was so far from the truth it wasn’t funny.
Zayn turned the doorknob and sighed with frustration when he found the door locked. Karter wanted to shove his brother out of the way and bust the door in, but he didn’t want to scare Tami.
“Tami?” Zayn knocked. “Can we come in please?”
“Just a minute,” came her croaky reply.
Karter’s heart ached when he heard her hiccup a few times before dragging air into her lungs and releasing it shakily. Her feet hit the floor a second later, and she rushed across the room toward the bathroom. Water flowed, and he guessed she was mopping up her face after bawling her eyes out. He wished he could hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay, but he wasn’t sure it was. What he and his brothers needed to do was hear Tami’s side of the story. They’d know if she lied to them. Their wolf’s noses could smell any and all emotions because their sense of smell was way better than the average human, or wolf for that matter. Sometimes it took them a little time to work out what they were smelling since each individual person gave off slightly different aromas, but they’d never failed to peg a fragrance yet.
He just hoped that Tami didn’t try and pull the wool over their eyes.
* * * *
After washing the tears from her face and blowing her nose, Tami stared at herself in the mirror over the four-sink vanity. Her eyes were bloodshot, but there was nothing she could do about that. She hoped the guys put the redness and slight swelling down to her being so tired. She’d thought she wouldn’t have to face them again until morning, but she was also curious as to what they wanted. With a shrug over her appearance, she unlocked the door and opened it. She hurried back to the bed, got onto the mattress, and pulled the covers up over her bare legs, to her waist.
“What’s wrong?”
“We were hoping you were going to tell us the answer to that question,” Zayn said as he walked toward the bed.
He sat on the edge near her hip, and Tami was glad she was in the middle of the mattress rather than on either side. Karter skirted the end of the bed and sat on the other side of her, and Jace got up on the end and sat with his legs crossed, facing her.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Tami licked her dry lips and glanced at the quilt.
“We don’t like being lied to. Don’t lie to us, Tamika,” Zayn said emphatically.
All the blood drained from Tami’s head, and for a moment or two, she thought she was about to pass out. She had no idea how these three men knew who she was, but they did. When she felt herself beginning to tremble, she pushed her fear aside and embraced the anger coursing through her blood.
“Did you go through my things? You had no fucking right.”
Zayn grabbed the finger she’d jabbed toward him, lifted it toward his mouth, and kissed the tip of it. Tami knew she was gaping at him, but she couldn’t seem to help it. Why did he do that?
“We didn’t go through your stuff, darlin’,” Jace said.
“Then how did you—”
“You were too tired to see what was going on around you at the pub, but after I paid the bill for dinner, I stopped to chat to some friends of ours who’ve recently moved to Ambrose,” Karter explained. “Preston, Gabriel, and Liam Louis are retired FBI agents. They recognized you as a person wanted for questioning. They’ve only been retired for a month or so.”
“Oh God.” Tami covered her mouth.
“Do you have the money, Tamika?” Zayn asked in a stern voice.
Tami shook her head and swallowed around the constrictive lump in her throat. “I don’t have any money. I would never steal from someone else. If I’d found out my dad had hidden it under my name, I would have handed it over already.”
Zayn sighed in relief.
When she glanced at Karter and Jace, they both looked less tense. Does that mean they believe me?
“How did you end up in Ambrose?” Karter asked.
“I had to leave,” Tami hedged. “I got on a bus about four weeks ago and ended up here.”
“Why did you leave Vegas, Tami?” Jace frowned. “You’ve implied you’re guilty by taking off.”
“I know, but it was all I could think to do.”
“What do you mean by that, baby?” Zayn asked.
“My father didn’t commit suicide. I think he was murdered and whoever killed him is after me.”
“Fuck!”
Tami flinched at Zayn’s loud profanity.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You didn’t. Not really, I just didn’t expect you to yell. Do you believe me?” she asked uncertainly.
“I do.”
“So do I,” Jace said.
“Me, too.” Karter nodded.
Tami sighed. “You’re the only ones. I went to the police in Vegas and told them I thought someone was following me, watching me, but no one believed me. I think they thought I was trying to use any excuse I could to redirect their suspicions.”
“How do you know someone was following you, darlin’?” Jace asked.
“Because they broke into the house.”
“Shit!” Karter snarled. “Did they fucking hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No, I hid in the back of my closet behind my clothes. I’ve never been so scared in my life. Whoever it was, was a man, and he ransacked the house. He was looking for something in particular, and while I have no idea what, I don’t think he found it.”
“How did you get away, baby?” Zayn asked.
“When I knew it was safe and the man was gone, I packed my bag, waited for the day staff to come in, grabbed one of the maid’s spare uniforms she keeps at the house in case she needs to change, and waited until she was done with her chores before sneaking into the back of her car onto the floor. It was difficult to move quickly while hunched over and carrying the bag, but I didn’t want to pull it behind me in case someone heard the wheels rolling over the floor.
“I was lucky she didn’t look into the back of her car. My bag was in one foot well in the back, and I was curled up in the other. She had no idea I was there, and when she got to her next job, I got out of the car and walked to the nearest bus stop. I changed clothes in the lady’s room and hopped on a bus. My father”—she paused to clear her throat and blink back more tears of grief before continuing on—“taught me to keep money on hand for emergencies. I grabbed all the cash I had and left. I’ve been traveling by bus ever since.”
“Why do you think your father was killed? Do you think he was stealing money from the shareholders?” Karter leaned back against the pillows and headboard.
“I hope not, but I can’t say for certain he was innocent because there was something going on, but he wasn’t the type of person to take his ow
n life. Other than when my mom passed away from cancer, he was always happy and upbeat. There is no way he committed suicide.” This time she couldn’t turn the tears off, and they trailed down her cheeks one after the other.
“Shit, you’ve been through hell, haven’t you, honey?”
Tami wasn’t sure if Karter expected a reply, but she wasn’t capable of answering right then, because she’d end up sobbing her heart out again. Her chest and throat were constricted with grief and emotion, and she felt as if she was seconds away from falling apart. When Karter slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him, she did just that. She turned her head toward him, intending on burying her face against his neck to hide, but he shoved the covers down, lifted her into his arms, and held her in his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clung, and cried her heart out.
* * * *
Jace couldn’t stand to see and hear Tami crying. Her loud sobs tore his heart to pieces. His wolf was snarling angrily at seeing his mate upset, and Jace was pissed, too. He wanted to go to Vegas to confront the cops who’d brushed aside her fear and concerns and tear them a new asshole. Everything Tami had said had been true. He and his brothers would have scented a lie. What concerned him was that his mate was in danger and she didn’t seem to know who was after her. He wished he could find that bastard and rip his throat out, but until he knew who was out to get his woman, he couldn’t do anything. He’d never felt so useless in his life.
Jace crawled up the bed closer to Tami and caressed his hand up and down her back. Zayn was frowning with concern as he smoothed a hand over her head and hair. Karter was making soothing noises as he rubbed up and down her bare arms.
Finally, after what seemed like hours had passed, Tami’s tears slowed before drying up. She kept her face hidden against Karter’s neck as her breathing slowed.
“We’ll find out who did this, Tami,” Karter murmured. “You’re not alone anymore, honey. We’ll help you get through this.”
Tami lifted her gaze up to Karter’s and, after taking a deep, ragged breath, asked, “Why? Why would you help me? We’re strangers.”