by KM Mahoney
“Then an alarm system. Motion detection lights. Security cameras.”
“Don’t you think that’s overkill?”
“I’m not letting you get hurt on my watch.” Chris crossed his arms across his barrel chest. Michael wasn’t interested in the big deputy, but he couldn’t help noticing how the pose made the man’s arms bulge. Chris was definitely not someone Michael would want to mess with.
Chris and Alli stopped arguing, but were now engaged in a visual stand-off. Michael reached over, wrapping one arm around Alli’s waist.
“Come back to the cabin,” he urged softly. “It’s hard to find, easy to protect. Whoever this is would find it really hard to get to you on Bruce’s territory.”
Alli’s brow furrowed. “I would like to see Bruce again,” he mused. “He’s sweet.”
“Sweet,” Michael said. “Gee, thanks.”
Alli shrugged. “He does make me feel safer.”
“Good, then let’s go.”
“You could always stay here and—”
“Babe, I told you, Bruce doesn’t do well in confined places.”
“Please,” Chris said. “I don’t really want a bear wandering around town, no matter how human he might be.”
“You know, that’s probably one of the strangest sentences I’ve ever heard.”
“Shut up.”
Alli laughed and Michael grinned back, not even caring that his lover was laughing at him.
“All right,” Alli gave in. “But just for a day or two. I don’t want to put you out or anything.”
“I wouldn’t care if you moved in.”
Michael wasn’t an idiot, though. He muttered the words. He thought Chris might have caught it, but Alli didn’t, which was kind of the point. No sense spooking his lover just yet. Michael figured that part would come soon enough.
Michael dropped a quick kiss on Alli’s forehead, manfully ignoring Chris’ smirk and Alli’s scowl. “Go pack, baby. I wouldn’t mind getting some sleep tonight.”
“You didn’t have to come,” Alli pointed out in a grumpy mutter.
Michael ignored the comment, not feeling such a silly thought deserved response.
Alli stalked out of the kitchen, grumbling to himself the whole way. Michael didn’t care. Alli was going, and that was all that mattered. He could work on loving the grumpy out of his man later.
“I’ll have my guys keep an eye on this area,” Chris said in a low voice.
“Something you haven’t told me?” Michael asked.
“No, but I’ve got a hinky feeling in my gut.”
“What is that, like appendicitis?”
“No, idiot. It means whoever this is, I don’t think they’re doing this for shits and giggles.”
“You have the strangest sayings.”
“Focus, Michael!”
“I am,” Michael assured the deputy. “But Bruce is riding me hard right now. I get upset, and that bear’s gonna be wandering down Main Street, whether we like it or not.”
Chris groaned and scrubbed at his face again. “Why the hell did I think taking this job was a good idea?”
“Focus, Chris.”
“Shut up.”
“Sheesh, I leave the two of you alone for five minutes…” Alli halted in the doorway, dropping a large duffle bag at his feet with a loud thump. “Well, are we going or not?”
Michael and Chris exchanged grins.
“You’re the boss,” Michael said.
“And don’t you forget it.”
* * * *
Michael took a deep breath, held it, then let it out loudly. Alli lay curled up in Michael’s bed, buried under a mound of quilts, just a few strands of red hair peeking out. He slept deeply, the sound sleep of one who’d reached the limits of their endurance, stress and anxiety combining to knock the little fairy out better than any sleeping pills.
Michael, on the other hand, couldn’t stop pacing. His skin felt tight and shivers kept running through his nerves. Bruce was close to the surface, very close. And while it took a whole hell of a lot to rile the bear, Bruce was angry now. Furious. Someone was trying to harm what was theirs. Michael had never been possessive before, hadn’t even known he had the gene until he’d come across Lucas mauling his fairy. Now, just the thought of someone putting one scratch on Alli’s pale skin was enough to make his control slip.
Before Michael could think about it anymore, he snatched up his shiny new cell phone. He didn’t have all the numbers programmed in yet, but this particular number he knew by heart.
The phone rang. And rang.
“Come on,” Michael urged under his breath. “Don’t you dare pull this crap now.”
“Yo.”
“Tristan, I’m glad you answered.”
“Michael?” The voice was grumpy, words snapped out harshly. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Yeah, I do. Look, I wouldn’t call normally, but I need help.”
A long pause greeted his words. Michael ground his teeth together. Goddamn it, Tristan was going to make him beg.
“Tris, please.”
Tristan sighed, the sound heavy and annoyed. “All right, what sort of mess did you get your skinny ass into this time?”
Michael wanted to hang up, so badly. His finger actually moved, hovering over the button, but he forced it away. For Alli. This was for Alli. Michael couldn’t risk not being able to protect Alli by himself. He needed backup, and that meant the oldest Lakkis brother.
“It’s not me,” Michael admitted. God, how to explain this? Because Michael knew, just knew, that that the instant he said the word ‘boyfriend’, Tristan would hang up. Of all his family, Tristan was the only one who had trouble accepting his younger sibling’s sexuality. Oh, Tristan was polite enough at family events, didn’t start anything. He just did his best to ignore Michael, and had for the last couple of years.
But damn it, this went deeper than any petty feelings. Family was involved.
“Give me any crap and I’ll sic Mom on you,” Michael snarled. “Got it?”
“Huh?”
“I’m in Wisconsin, Putman County. My lover has a stalker. It’s getting physical and I need an extra set of eyes. I’m not pulling Evan into this. I don’t know how dangerous it might get. But I’m not risking Alli.”
“Michael—”
“I don’t give a damn how you feel about me, okay? But Alli is my Chosen, my family. Yes, he’s a guy, but I wouldn’t care if he was a blue duck. So get your ass down here and help me out.”
Another pause. “Give me the address.”
There was a hint of something in Tristan’s voice, something that Michael hadn’t heard before, but he didn’t bother trying to puzzle it out. Tristan was coming and that was really all that mattered.
Michael rattled off the address of Flora. “That’s where we usually are during the day,” he said. “My cabin’s a bit hard to find and I’m not letting Alli go back to his house just yet. Bastard tried to break in a couple of hours ago and I’m not taking the chance.”
“Of course not. I’ll be there sometime tomorrow.”
Michael’s throat tightened and his eyes stung a bit. It was part relief and part gratitude. He’d lucked out when it came to family, that’s for sure. Tristan might be an ass, but he was a dependable ass. Tristan could be as grumpy and ill-tempered as he wanted, so long as he did it in Putman.
“Thanks, Tristan.”
“Just watch yourself until I can get there and don’t do anything stupid. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Tristan hung up. Michael stared at the phone’s blank screen, his thoughts chaotic. But one thing kept standing out. Tristan was coming. Alli would be safe.
“Michael?” a sleepy voice called from the other room.
“Coming, baby,” Michael called back.
He dropped the phone on the nightstand in the bedroom and lifted a corner of the quilt, crawling into the welcome warmth. He snaked an arm around Alli’s waist, tucking the slender form in c
lose.
“Ummm, your feet are cold.”
“Sorry. Those wood floors are chilly.”
“Summer soon, then you’ll be glad.”
“Go back to sleep,” Michael said, amusement clear in his voice. Alli was obviously exhausted.
“Yeah, sounds good. Staying?”
“We’re both staying right here,” Michael assured him.
“’Kay. Like it when you stay.”
“Me too, babe.” Michael whispered the heartfelt words into the top of Alli’s head, hair silky and soft beneath his cheek. “Me, too.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Thank you, Missy.” Alli handed over the pretty ceramic pot of Angelica atropurpurea, a red ribbon tied around the top of the pale cream container creating an appealing splash of color. “I’m sure your mom will be thrilled.”
“It’s perfect, Alli,” she assured him. “Mother’s been making amulets lately.” Missy paused and gave him a speculative look. “I should see if she would be able to make you a protection amulet.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Alli said. Apparently, news of his problems was spreading. Missy didn’t even live in this town.
Alli’s pasted-on smile didn’t last through the next loud bang. This time, even Missy cast a curious glance to the far side of the store.
“Shouldn’t you check that out?” she questioned.
“Probably.”
Alli didn’t want to, though. No telling what Michael was doing back there. With all that noise? He was probably ripping down a wall.
“Well, I’ll see you soon.”
Missy departed with a cheerful wave, gift clutched in her hands. Alli waited just long enough for the door to swing closed before he rounded the corner. He was at the side door before the bell even stopped chiming.
“This is probably a stupid question,” Alli announced, surveying the room, and his soon-to-be-ex boyfriend, with narrow eyes. “But what are you doing?”
“Moving in,” Michael replied.
The door to the alley was propped open with a large cardboard box. Evan, framed in the opening, waved cheerfully.
“What are you doing here?” Alli asked bluntly.
“Helping.” Evan’s tone said it should be obvious.
Alli really wasn’t in the mood. “Don’t you people ever work?”
“As infrequently as possible,” Evan assured him. “It was a slow day at the office, no one needed suing. Michael wanted some help, so here I am.”
The whole family was utterly insane. Who else drove nearly two hours to help their brother move furniture and boxes on a whim?
Alli took in the chaos before him, for the first time registering the mess. Disassembled pieces of furniture littered the sheet-covered floor. Two of the walls were now painted pale blue. The third wall was covered in streaks of the same blue, an open paint can sitting in a puddle of sticky paint.
“You do realize this is a storeroom?” Alli pointed out.
“Not anymore.” Michael’s grin was cheeky, his words cheerful. “Now it’s my new office.”
Alli pursed his lips and held on tightly to the edges of his fraying temper. “It’s my store,” he pointed out sharply. “Don’t you think you should have asked me first?”
“Nope.”
“Nope?” Alli spat out between ground teeth.
“You might have said no.”
“Michael’s of the ‘better to ask for forgiveness than permission’ school of thought.” Evan added his two cents with the same damn cheerful grin his brother sported.
“Yep.” Michael scrawled something illegible on a box in black marker and shoved it aside to join the other three already forming the basis of a cardboard pyramid.
“Michael, can I talk to you a minute?” Alli asked.
“Go ahead.”
“In private.”
Evan smirked. “Uh oh. Somebody’s going to get yelled at.”
“Keep it up,” Alli advised, “and I’ll have that talk right here.”
“I’m gonna get a snack.” Evan vanished with impressive speed.
“Traitor,” Michael muttered.
Alli crossed his arms and tapped his foot. “Start talking.”
Michael sighed, leaning against the edge of the flimsy table. Alli waited for it to break under Michael’s weight, but the table held firm. And that just was not fair. If Alli tried that move, he’d end up in a pile of plastic, metal and fake wood.
“I don’t like you working here by yourself with this guy running around,” Michael started. “He hit your shop once and—”
“Try again,” Alli interrupted.
“What? It’s the truth.”
Sure it was. But not the whole truth.
“If that’s all you were worried about, you’d just park yourself behind the front counter with your laptop,” Alli pointed out. “It wouldn’t require completely remodeling an entire room.”
“Well…”
Alli realized he still tapped his foot in impatience and made himself stop.
“I need a place to work. My cabin’s only got one room and the living room is small and this gives me—”
Alli’s potent glare worked for once, stopping Michael mid-sentence.
“Not buying that one, either, huh?”
“Sure I am,” Alli replied. “You’ve never lied to me and I doubt you’re starting now. You’re just circling the real reason.”
“Maybe I just want to be close to you, ever think of that?”
Alli’s heart wanted to soften at the earnest expression in those melted chocolate eyes, but he made his face remain impassive. Give this man an inch and that was it. He took off running with whatever idea was in his head and it was nearly impossible to catch him.
“I guess I figured if I work my way into your life enough, you’ll let me stick around.”
Alli’s mouth dropped open. Was that really how Michael felt? A pang of guilt hit Alli. He must have done a better job of keeping Michael at arm’s length than he’d thought. It hadn’t worked, obviously, but it was clear that Alli’s actions had hurt the man.
“What makes you think I’m getting rid of you?” Alli pressed.
“You just—”
The front bell jangled loudly and Alli wanted to yell. Michael’s relief, on the other hand, was plain to see.
“I’ll go see who it is,” he announced. He darted past Alli and out of the door before Alli could stop him.
Alli rolled his eyes as the door slammed shut behind Michael. The cardboard box pyramid slid apart, narrowly missing Alli’s foot. Office supplies spilled across the floor.
“Great,” Alli muttered. “Just great. I’m not cleaning that up. And he’d better finish painting if he wants back into my bed. Blasted bear.”
Alli slammed his palms into the swinging door. It didn’t budge and he nearly smashed his nose on the metal. Why did it always come all at once? He paused, took a couple of deep breaths. They did absolutely nothing to calm him down. With another muttered curse, Alli smacked his shoulder into the door. This time it swung open easily. And quickly. It bounced back and Alli again narrowly missed a facial disaster. He was used to the door’s antics, though, and his palms took the brunt of the blow.
“Alli, I want you to meet someone,” Michael called.
Alli hated meeting new people. Hated it. He gave brief consideration to retreating to his greenhouse, but Michael would just track him down and drag him back out, so he steeled himself and made his way to the front of the store.
A big guy stood next to Michael. Really big. He had to be a good six and a half feet tall, with shoulders as wide as a door frame. Dark piercing eyes, shaved head, tattoos marching up both arms—this was one scary dude.
Alli’s feet halted and refused to move as he eyed the behemoth warily. “Hi?” he said uncertainly.
“Alli, this is my big brother, Tristan.”
Well, at least Alli probably wasn’t about to die. Michael’s brother wouldn’t try to kill him, right?
Even if he did look like a scary-ass thug.
Then again, Michael had said he was adopted, so…
Michael’s arm wrapped around his shoulders and tugged him forward. “Tristan, this is Allegro Romani.”
One meaty paw—no pun intended—extended. Alli took it, watching in unwitting fascination as his entire hand disappeared in Tristan’s.
“Nice to meet you.” Excellent. He managed the sentence without squeaking. Go him.
“Hear you’re having a little problem,” Tristan rumbled. Alli had never heard a voice so deep. It sounded like gravel rattling around in a cement mixer.
Yeah. He had no problem figuring out that this guy was a black bear shifter. Alli had absolutely no desire to see Tristan in his other form either. Michael was cute. This guy would be terrifying. And huge. Really.
“Problems?”
“Michael called me, said you had a break-in and an intruder.”
Alli’s nervousness died a quick, painful death. He pulled away from Michael and glared. “You called your brother?”
Michael’s brow furrowed. “Well, yeah.”
“Without telling me?”
“Are we still on this?”
Alli swung, turning his glare from Michael to the now-reappeared Evan. Evan wasn’t looking at him, busy smacking Tristan on the shoulder in greeting. When he finally did look at Alli, Evan took an involuntary step back.
“Dude, who killed your cat?”
“I see you’re as mature as ever,” Tristan growled. “We’re having a conversation here. Go find someone else to play with.”
“The hell with it.”
Three matching sets of dark eyes swung to Alli at his declaration. Alli announced, “I’m done with this conversation. Play away.”
He’d suddenly had enough. Enough of the whole situation, and way more than enough of the Lakkis family. He turned on his heel and headed for his sanctuary. Let the bears work it out. It was clear they didn’t want his opinion, anyway.
Alli latched the screen door to the greenhouse behind him, muttering curses. He kicked at a pot, but all that did was make his toe throb. He grabbed the remote to the stereo in the corner and turned it on, cranking the volume up high.
Maybe a little music and a couple of hours playing in the dirt would calm him down enough to face people again without causing mayhem.