Forbidden Secrets (Lee County Wolves Series) Book #5

by Teresa Gabelman

  “Who the fuck says?” Malcolm sneered, pulling away from Leda as he took an aggressive step toward Minor.

  “Ah, I’m Sandy.” Leda tried to extinguish what was about to be a fight. She could feel it building and so could Jamie, who had slowly stood to move out of the way. “I didn’t know she was Malcolm’s sister. I was supposed to meet him at the restaurant, or at least that’s what I thought. When he didn’t show up there, I went to the address he gave me, here.” God, she hoped this idiot bought it. If not, they were all in deep shit.

  Minor gave her a quick dismissive glance before looking back at Malcolm. “You know how Kingsman is about newbies.” Minor sniffed the air crudely. “At least she’s one of us.”

  “I’ll deal with the alpha,” Malcolm replied, not budging an inch as he stared at Minor.

  “Oh yeah, you will.” Minor’s laugh actually made Leda feel physically ill. The asshole then turned to Jamie. “Come on and get home. I’m hungry.”

  “You just ate.” Jamie sighed as she went to sit back down to put on her shoes, but Minor grabbed her arm roughly, stopping her.

  “You back-talking me?” He sneered in her face.

  “No!” Jamie’s eyes widened in fear. “I, ah, just let me get my shoes back on.”

  Leda went toward them, but Malcolm stopped her by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back against him. He gave her a warning squeeze. Watching her friend struggle to get her shoes on while the bastard just stood impatiently waiting without helping her had Leda screaming in rage on the inside. The bastard didn’t even help her stand as she struggled to do so.

  “It was nice meeting you.” Jamie glanced her way quickly, then followed Minor toward the door.

  Leda mumbled back, afraid to open her mouth too much. What she wanted to say would possibly get her and everyone else killed, so she bit her tongue and watched her friend walk out the door.

  Minor stopped and looked back, first at Leda and then Malcolm.

  “You have graveyard watch,” Minor growled, his eyes dark with an evil she could feel. “Don’t be late.”

  The door shut and the room became silent. They stood without moving, both just staring at the door. Finally, Malcolm moved, but only his head so his mouth was against her ear.

  “You have got to leave.” His whispered words rang throughout her head, as did the images of Minor treating Jamie like trash.

  Slowly, she shook her head. “Not until I finish what I came here to do.”

  Chapter 6

  Thankfully there wasn’t much traffic or people around. Taz really didn’t think this was the main part of the town the pack resided in, because if that were the case, there would have been more people. Though this suited him just fine, it still made him nervous.

  “Wait!” Steve stepped behind an old run-down structure.

  Taz glanced to see a man and a pregnant woman exiting the house. He moved out of sight but had a visual of the man getting on a bike and the woman backing out in a beat-up truck. They headed down the old dirt road in the opposite direction, and as soon as they were out of sight, Taz took off in a run with Steve right behind him.

  Missing nothing as he made his way up to the house and onto the porch, Taz went to knock, but his hand stopped. Even in a short blonde wig, he knew the woman on the other side of the front door was Leda. His relief was short-lived as he noticed the man with his arms wrapped around her, his head lowered against her cheek.

  “Ah, shit,” Steve said behind him, clearly indicating he was seeing what Taz was seeing. “Calm down, man, and keep that wolf in chill mode until we know what’s going—”

  Taz reached for the handle, nearly ripping the knob off the door as he slammed it open. “Get your fucking hands off her.”

  “Okay, that was the other option I was hoping we could avoid, but guess not.” Steve followed him inside with a long sigh.

  “Steve?” The man frowned, looking up in surprise.

  “Taz,” Leda gasped, looking guilty as hell.

  “Ah, I’m Steve.” Steve held up his hand, then pointed at Taz, who ignored him since his eyes were zeroed in on the man touching Leda. “The one growling and foaming at the mouth is Taz. You must be Malcolm.”

  “I am.” Malcolm nodded, his eyes going back to Steve. “I’m sure glad you guys are here.”

  “Yeah, well, if you don’t remove your hands from Leda, you may be rethinking that.” Steve nodded discreetly toward Taz. “Believe me, I know firsthand.”

  “What in the hell are you doing here?” Leda’s eyes were still round with shock, then narrowed as they turned to look over her shoulder at Malcolm, who had finally let her go and stepped away. “Wait, what do you mean you’re glad they’re here? You contacted them?”

  “Yeah, I did,” Malcolm responded, not sounding sorry for that fact whatsoever. “Now they can get you the hell out of here before Allen gets back.”

  “I told you I would find you in my text.” Taz’s eyes glowed with anger, his body tense as his hands fisted at his sides. “That I know you read and refused to respond to.”

  “She does that when she’s pissy,” Steve added, then clamped his mouth shut when Leda turned her glare on him.

  “And you.” She pointed at him. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  “Oh, really, Leda?” Steve pointed back to her. “Why in the hell did you ghost me at my own wedding? Huh? I got questions of my own. Like where in the fuck did you get that wig?”

  Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She had missed his wedding. Damn.

  Hatred for her uncle consumed her to the point she felt confused and claustrophobic. She had to get out of there.

  Glancing from Steve to Taz, who just stared at her with such intensity that she felt it in her soul, she turned and headed toward the back door. Reaching the knob, she tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. Oh God! Please open! She started to hyperventilate. The more she tried to jerk the door open, the more her breathing became restricted as tears of despair clogged her throat.

  Feeling a presence behind her, she cringed, knowing it was Taz. His scent overwhelmed her. “Please, don’t touch me,” she whispered as her eyes closed. “If you touch me, I’ll break.”

  Taz reached around her and opened the door with a mighty push, without touching her. She rushed outside, taking in deep breaths of air like a starving woman. She bent at the waist, hoping it would help her catch her breath. This was too much. Seeing Taz and Steve here sent her fears into overdrive. Now not only had she put Malcolm and Jamie in danger, but Taz and Steve. Oh God!

  The strong hand on her back ran its way to her shoulder and squeezed gently. It felt right, was comforting, and even though she said not to touch her, Taz dared to do so only after giving her a minute. How could she want comfort so badly, yet her mind and heart screamed to push him away to keep him safe. She didn’t know what to do. She should never have been put in this position, but her uncle had seen to it that she was no longer a child, but a woman who sought justice with a vengeance that no person her age should feel.

  Slowly, she straightened, her eyes going to his. “You shouldn’t have come,” she whispered, the shaking of her voice prominent. “He will kill you.”

  Taz’s hand left her shoulder and cupped her chin. “But he will never harm you.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

  “Leda, I understand more than you realize, but this isn’t the way.” Taz searched her gaze. “Sam needs you. What happens to him if something happens to you? Then will he be the one seeking vengeance? Is that what you want?”

  “I can beat him.” Her voice grew stronger as hatred warmed her blood. “I’ve thought this through. I know what I’m doing. I’m doing this for Sam.” Her chin trembled as a vision of her little brother floated through her mind. She sucked in her bottom lip and bit down, trying not to cry.

  “My uncle will eventually find us. You don’t know him,” she finally choked out after getting her voice and
emotions under control. “I have to stop him before that happens. You don’t know him like I do, like this pack does. He killed his brother, my father. He won’t blink before doing the same to Sam.”

  “Or you,” Taz added, then sighed and pulled her into his arms. “I understand vengeance, uwoduhi.”

  His arms felt safe. He felt safe, and she soaked it in for as long as she could. Leda heard his words, then glanced up at him. “What does that mean?”

  “Uwoduhi is Cherokee for beautiful.” He didn’t hesitate in his answer. “You should have come to me, Leda.”

  Her cheeks warmed from the blush shading them, but she frowned. “This isn’t your fight.”

  “Yes.” Taz’s voice hardened slightly. “It is.”

  “Hey,” Malcolm called from the door. “Hate to break this up, but you might not want to stand out in the open too long. It’s not like I’m right in the middle of the pack, but anyone can be passing by.” He indicated the woods not far from his house.

  Leda pulled away from him and felt suddenly empty. She turned to walk toward the house, but Taz grabbed her hand, stopping her. “You are not alone in this, Leda.”

  Only giving him a nod and a small thankful smile, Leda headed toward the house, realizing she was squeezing his hand without letting go. Deep inside, she knew she was not going to be able to put him in danger any more than she could anyone else. She was alone in this. She had no choice despite wishing with all her heart it was different.

  No one understood the evil she had witnessed at the hands of her uncle.

  Taz knew he hadn’t broken through to Leda with the truth that she wasn’t alone. He understood her anguish at not wanting to put anyone else in danger, but she would soon learn that he would not run. He was here and would be by her side, fight for her, die for her, but most importantly, love her and never leave her alone.

  Walking into the house, Leda let go of his hand and walked straight toward Steve. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug. What surprised Taz was he didn’t want to kill the bastard. When Steve gave him a look over the top of her head, Taz just gave him a nod. He knew Steve wasn’t asking permission but was being respectful, which Taz appreciated.

  “I’m sorry I missed your wedding.” Leda’s voice carried through the house, and everyone could hear that she was truly upset about the fact.

  “It’s going to take a lot of groveling for me to forgive you for that.” Steve pulled away from her with a large frown. “It was the event of the year.”

  Leda sniffed and laughed. “I’m sure it was.”

  Taz hated to break up their little reunion, but his thoughts were not on weddings. No, they were on her safety. “How safe is she here?”

  Malcolm gave him a long stare, then shrugged. “She’s safer here than anywhere else in a ten-mile radius.” Malcolm looked from Taz to Leda. “She’d be safer back with the Lee County wolves, that I know. You shouldn’t have come here, Leda.”

  Watching her closely, Taz knew exactly what was running through her mind. She wasn’t leaving, at least not without a fight. “What’s the situation here?”

  “Hell.” Malcolm didn’t hesitate in his answer. “It’s pure hell. My sister is one of Allen’s right-hand man’s whores, and pregnant with his kid. Most of the females who came with Leda’s uncle are treated the same way. Hell, what am I saying? Even their females are treated terribly.”

  “Did anyone get away?” Leda’s eyes narrowed, but the hope in her voice rang true.

  “Very few other than you and Sam,” Malcolm responded, the sadness in his eyes evident to everyone in the room. “They have nowhere to go. Once Allen stepped in as alpha, no one dared challenge him because you’d have to go through all his men before even touching him. And once everyone saw….” Malcolm let his words fade off as he looked away from Leda.

  Taz knew exactly what he was about to say.

  “Saw what?” Leda asked, giving Malcolm only a second to answer. When he didn’t, her face became red with anger. “Saw what, Malcolm?”

  “Jesus,” Malcolm whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “I can’t.”

  Taz didn’t stop Leda from walking up to Malcolm. It was her right to know, yet Taz knew what Malcolm was holding back would change Leda forever.

  “Malcolm, I’m going to find out one way or another. It’s best coming from you.” Leda’s voice shook slightly. “Saw what?”

  Even after Leda’s words, Malcolm kept his eyes squeezed shut as if trying to block out the memories that had his skin pale. “I don’t know how or when you and Sam escaped,” he finally began but then stopped, his eyes opening. Everyone in the room could see the horror reflected in their depths. “Leda, I really don’t think this is going to help you.”

  Taz watched Leda straighten her shoulders as if waiting for the blow Malcolm’s words were going to deliver.

  “Tell me, please.” That time Leda’s voice didn’t shake but sounded stronger than Taz had ever heard it. Even though he was afraid of what was coming her way and how it could affect her, he was damn proud of the woman standing there with strength even he didn’t know she possessed.

  “They brought them out in front of the whole pack, alive,” Malcolm hissed, his eyes narrowing, his face scrunching up as if in pain. “Allen demanded your father kneel before him.”

  “He refused,” Leda whispered.

  “Of course he refused,” Malcolm said proudly of his previous alpha. “Then he brought your mom out, using her against him. She wouldn’t let your father kneel.”

  Taz knew Malcolm was leaving a lot of the story out. Glancing at Leda, he knew she also knew that.

  “What happened then?” Leda snarled, her hands fisted at her sides.

  “You know what happened then, Leda.” Malcolm sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Don’t make me say it.”

  “No, I don’t know because I ran.” Leda’s voice rose. “I ran away when they needed me most, Malcolm. I ran while you and others fought for your lives.”

  “There was no fight. We were too outnumbered and forced to stand and do nothing. It haunts me every single minute of every single fucking day. I hate myself for what I didn’t do. And if you hadn’t run, I would have had to watch you and Sam meet the same fate of the only two people other than you, Sam, and my sister that I called family.”

  “I deserve to know.”

  Taz watched a single tear slide slowly down her cheek, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her close and comfort her, but he didn’t. Selfish as it may be, he knew if he wanted all of Leda, which he did, she would have to face this head on, and he needed to let her.

  “Tell her.” Taz took a step closer to Leda, and without touching her, he let the woman he loved know he was beside her. She was not alone.

  Chapter 7

  Leda fought with everything she had not to slam her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to hear this but knew she had to. She had to know because that night haunted her every single time she closed her eyes. It haunted her every time her mind went silent.

  To say she was surprised by Taz’s words would be an understatement. She was sure he would be against her knowing whatever Malcolm was holding back. Slowly, she looked his way; his eyes were already on her. With confidence in her, he gave her a nod.

  Taking a deep breath, she gazed back at Malcolm, ready for it all. “Tell me.”

  “Fuck,” Malcolm hissed, then went to the fridge to grab a beer. He opened it, took a long drink, grabbed another one, then walked back to where he had been standing. He didn’t offer anyone else, but no one asked. “Jewel begged your father not to give in. No matter what, she pleaded with him not to kneel in front of that bastard. Jason had already been beaten so badly it took two men to hold him up, but once Allen threatened to have his men….”

  Her breathing came in short gasps as if on the verge of hyperventilating again, but she controlled it best she could. “Malcolm, please.”

  “The fucker was going to let his men
rape your mother in front of your dad and the pack, Leda,” Malcolm spat out. “Jason tried so hard to get to Allen, but every single thing was against them both, and there was nothing we could do. We tried, but we were outnumbered. I swear we were.”

  Leda swallowed hard past the knot in her throat. “I know you did. I don’t blame you.”

  “You can’t blame yourself either.” Malcolm eyed her, as if knowing that was exactly what she was doing. “Jason finally broke free and willingly fell to his knees, bowed before the son of a bitch to save Jewel.”

  “But Allen lied,” Leda added as Malcolm paused to drink his other beer in almost one swallow. “Didn’t he?”

  “Of course he lied,” Malcolm spat. “Oh, he played it to the max. He walked over and helped your mom to her feet, hugged her, giving her a kiss on the forehead.” He stopped again, just staring at her.

  She swore right then and there if Malcolm paused one more time, she was going to leap on him and strangle the words right from his throat. He must have gotten the hint, because his mouth opened once again and what came out of it seared her very soul.

  “He slit her throat.” Malcolm’s voice choked with emotion. “I have never in my life heard such pain in a man’s voice as I did in your dad’s. It was as if her death gave him strength. He went for his brother, but Allen knew he was no match for Jason. Once your dad got the better of him, the other men Allen brought with him took your dad and beat him until Allen delivered the final blow.”

  “How?” Tears fell down her face, but she didn’t move to wipe them away.

  “Leda.” Malcolm shook his head, unable to meet her gaze anymore.

  “How?” she repeated without blinking, her tears still flowing.

  “He decapitated him.” Malcolm’s voice was low, as if saying the words made them truer than they already were.

  Finally, Leda blinked, her eyes closing and staying closed. Her shoulders shook slowly. Death by decapitation was the worst death for a shifter. Most believed that death in such a way meant they could not go into the beyond with their loved ones, which was the worst fate any shifter could face.