She got her hand on the weapon first, but Dane clawed her arm. More blood spilled, dripping to the floor. Dane threw his other arm up and grabbed her injured shoulder. She cried out, pain registering in the squint of her eyes, but she didn’t release her hold on the gun.
Without delay, Tess swung her foot out from underneath her. Her heel landed squarely in Dane’s Adams apple. He gagged and tumbled backwards. “Don’t you fucking lay another paw on me again,” she said.
Dane clutched his neck and slowly rose to his feet with a wobble that resembled a drunken sailor. But the gesture didn’t fool Hugh. Dane wanted to buy himself time. Why?
“Don’t move,” came a masculine voice.
That’s why. Hugh looked over his shoulder and caught sight of the man who hadn’t stayed down nearly long enough.
“I’m not,” said Tess, her outstretched arms holding the gun and aiming it at Dane.
“Fool me once—”
“Shut up,” Tess said to Christian while keeping her sights on Dane. “You’ve got no fucking idea what I’m capable of. What I do and don’t do.”
Hugh took a good look at Christian before inching his way closer to the bastard. He heard the even beat of the man’s heart, smelled his expensive cologne, but a tiny bead of sweat dotted his temple. The man wasn’t immune. Wasn’t as cool as he wanted to seem.
But he did hold a gun. And it was trained on Tess. Shit. Could she see it?
Only a fraction of light lit the room now. Fragments of reflected color from the cityscape slashed through the window here and there. Shadows cast doubt on exact body locations.
“You forget who trained you. Who made you what you are,” Christian said. “I’m responsible for your capabilities, Tess. There’s not a move you make that I don’t take credit for.”
“That’s bullshit. I make my own decisions.”
“And you’ve decided the wolfen’s life is more important than your friends? More important than the organization that saved you from destroying yourself?”
“I don’t give a shit about myself.” She remained focused on Dane. From Hugh’s point of view, a sliver of white light bisected his body.
“Precisely.”
Christian swiveled his arms the necessary distance to meet Hugh’s chest, now a mere couch length from the mouth of the gun.
Hugh suspected the man’s bullets wouldn’t have the same effect on him as Tess’s. With lightning speed, he raced to Dane’s side to make getting an accurate shot more difficult. He hoped like hell the guy valued Dane’s life. At least, it would cause a distraction and give Tess time to figure out a way to protect herself. Or so he hoped.
He grabbed Dane by the shirt collar and lifted a knee to the shifter’s groin. Dane retaliated with his own knee, but Hugh held onto him, not wanting any extra space between them.
“No!” Tess shouted, either catching the glint of her boss’s gun when it moved in Hugh’s direction, or not wanting Hugh in the way of her taking a shot at Dane.
Too late to wonder.
Two shots rang out, a split second separating the deafening sounds. Hugh was forced backwards, Dane’s weight pressing him several feet back as he absorbed the impact. Hugh kept his arms around Dane’s torso as he grappled with what happened. Dane wasn’t moving. Wasn’t breathing. His body slumped against Hugh’s like dead weight.
Tess’s boss had taken his shot. And missed.
Hugh laid Dane down on the floor and knelt beside him as his head swam with sadness. For Dane’s mother and father, his sister. For the pack. Despite Dane’s flaws, he had people who loved him, people who would feel his loss. He knew firsthand what death did to survivors. This wasn’t supposed to happen, dammit, but his priority had been protecting himself so he could get Tess out of the suite alive. She ruled his every action and he didn’t regret that. That was what a Night Runner did for his mate. The sting of it costing another life didn’t lessen with that knowledge, though.
Tess.
He looked up, frantic to see her.
Across the room, Christian sat in a pool of blood. His eyes were open but there was nothing there. The second shot that rang must have hit him, not Dane.
Which meant Tess had pulled the trigger.
Hugh shifted to human form and shot to his feet, anxious to wrap his arms around her. He had no idea how long he’d been lost in his musings but he suspected it was longer than he’d thought.
Because Tess was gone.
Chapter Eighteen
The surf at Maverick’s Beach pounded Tess wave after wave. Saltwater entered her nose and mouth with each crash that followed the towering wall of water. Her eyes stung. Her lips burned. Every limb suffered from exhaustion. And yet the punishment from the roughest surf in Northern California wasn’t enough to pull her under and set her free.
That was what she wanted.
She wanted the ocean to swallow her, take her away from her life and make her forget. Forget about everyone and everything, and float into the depths of the mind-numbing frigid water.
Wasn’t it?
But as she marched out of the bitter cold ocean and onto the soft, sandy shore, her surfboard tucked under her arm, all she could think about was staying. With Hugh. And how he’d broken down the walls around her heart. How he’d known her better than she knew herself. How he wanted her to be his mate.
Hugh had led her away from the world she knew and set her heart free. She couldn’t stop remembering how it felt to be in his arms, to laugh with him, to care more about someone than she thought possible.
That night in San Diego had been the worst of her life. She’d killed a human being. She knew Christian’s gun had mercury bullets, so without hesitation, she’d taken her shot. Her aim never faltered. Not even with only a sliver of light to guide her. But the impact of what she’d done had immediately swamped her with shame and guilt and fear. She’d needed to escape before Hugh could discover it. She needed to run and keep running.
So that was what she did.
She didn’t regret her actions. Hugh’s life took precedence over everything else. He was the destination at the end of the dark and lonely road, the whisper that whisked all her worries away. He’d made her think about things in a new light, and she didn’t want to go back.
She’d repeatedly told herself that the knowledge he was alive was enough.
“Rack off!” Kensie said, pulling Tess from her thoughts. She was waving her arms frantically back and forth to shoo the seagull edging a little too close in its search of dropped food.
Tess let go of her board and collapsed onto the towel next to her friend.
A couple of quiet minutes later, she turned to her side. Her elbow sunk into the towel as she propped her head in her hand. “What day is it?”
“Friday. Which means we only have two more days before we need to be back at work.” Kensie licked her fingertips to rid them of the orange from the Cheetos she’d been eating.
“I’ve been thinking about that.”
Kensie pulled her hand away from her mouth and turned her head. “You have? Oh my God, Tess! Your lips are blue.” She jumped up and grabbed another towel.
The sun hid behind gray clouds. The crisp air carried a strong saltwater breeze. The only other inhabitants on the beach were a couple of other surfers, an older guy with a metal detector and a few pesky birds.
“Thanks,” Tess said, accepting the towel Kensie put around her. “But I really should get out of this wetsuit first.” She stood, reached behind her back, and yanked the zipper down and the suit off. Goosebumps prickled her skin as she pulled her sweatshirt and sweatpants on before burying herself under the towel.
“So back to work,” Kensie said. “Are you ready to talk about it? Talk about what happened that made you disappear for a week?” She paused, eyes narrowed. “And if it has anything to do with Christian’s death.”
Good onya, Tess. Ask a question and look where it gets you. Who gives a shit what day of the week it is. And if she added in thi
s mini-vacation with Kensie, she’d been gone almost two weeks.
After fleeing the hotel room in San Diego, Tess had hopped on a train and rode for days. The passing scenery, constant motion and continuous hum of passengers supplied enough distraction for her to remain close to sane. Eventually her stiff body couldn’t take any more of the railroad, though, and she’d had to pump some adrenaline back into her system. She’d ended up at Half Moon Bay to surf, hang glide and bike ride until she couldn’t feel her legs.
She’d hoped that if she jumped back into her favorite pastimes everything would go back to normal. But it hadn’t.
“How would I know about his death? You were the one who tracked me down to tell me.”
Thank God for that too. Tess had been so relieved to find out her friends were okay. Christian had sent them each on secret assignment and told them no contact with anyone whatsoever. She had no idea what would have happened to them upon their return if things had gone down differently in San Diego, and chose not to even think about it.
“Yeah, after you mysteriously vanished. It’s a good thing Francesca and I love you enough to find you. She called, by the way. Wanted to let us know when we get back that she’ll still be on assignment.”
“I’m not going back.”
“Don’t be a dill, Tess. What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about being through. I’m tired.” She tightened the towel around and underneath her cold feet.
“It’s all you know. It’s all we know.” Kensie laughed off her confession and looked at her like she’d just flapped her arms and acted like a chicken.
Tess pinched her temples with her hand.
“Wait. You’re serious?” Kensie’s face clouded with confusion. “I wish you’d tell me what’s really going on. You’ve been acting strange ever since I got here.”
“Nothing’s going on. I’m just—”
“You’re different, Tess. Whatever happened on your last assignment changed you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go back. Francesca says the new boss isn’t so bad. She even told me he’s kind of cute. Which, if we know Francesca, means he’s ripper.” She paused and looked out toward the ocean. Silence passed between them before Kensie said very softly, “You can trust me you know. With your secrets.”
Where would she even begin? She stared at her friend’s profile and wondered if she’d feel better if she did tell Kensie everything. But there was so much she didn’t know about that night.
She didn’t know how the mess at the hotel had been taken care of. Obviously, Hugh had seen to it that the deaths of Dane and her boss were handled discreetly because according to Kensie, the staff at P.I.E. had been told he’d died of a heart attack while out of the country on a business trip. His body had supposedly been flown home and immediately cremated.
She’d no idea how Dane’s death was explained to the Night Runners, but was positive Hugh had given him a proper burial, no matter his betrayal to the pack. Hugh was decent, unselfish, a true leader, and he’d give Dane praises for the sake of his pack. She wondered several times a day about the Night Runners and if anything more had transpired with the Wolf Seekers. Did Dane’s death put an end to the rife or fuel greater animosity? And every night she prayed Trey was okay, that whatever had taken place in Los Angeles that night hadn’t caused him harm. Something told her everything was all right, though. Good always defeated evil, didn’t it?
Then there was Hugh. Not a second went by that she didn’t miss him something fierce. She longed to be in his arms, feel his warmth, share his air. Her every thought included him. At night when she couldn’t fall asleep, she’d let herself drift to his bedroom, his office, the hotel room. All the places they’d devoured each other. All the places he’d worshipped her body while injecting her heart with love.
“I fell in love with my mark,” she finally said, her body relaxing at her admission.
Kensie whipped her head to the side. “You what?” She took a slow, deep breath. “You fell in love with a Veiler?”
“Yes. He’s a wolfen.” A tidal wave of emotions swamped Tess. Saying she loved Hugh out loud overwhelmed her with the courage to tell Kensie everything.
Her friend’s sympathetic eyes gave her the reassurance to continue.
“I didn’t eliminate him.”
Contemplation washed over Kensie’s face. Her brows furrowed and she rubbed a few fingers across her mouth and chin. A full minute went by before she spoke. “Did he deserve it? I mean they all do, don’t they?”
That was the best question Kensie could ask, and it opened the floodgates.
A half hour later, the skies brightening as rays of sunshine poked through the gloomy sky, Tess finished talking. She’d told Kensie everything—well, except for the details of the amazing sex. Those memories were hers alone. Sharing what had happened in San Diego, and Kensie telling her she understood, helped lessen the burden of what she’d done. She breathed easy for the first time since that night. The tide stretched farther up the sand, almost touching her toes.
“You need to go to him,” Kensie said.
Tess gulped. “I…I don’t know. As much as I want to, he—”
“He told you you were his mate, Tess. There’s only you. Don’t be a drongo and deprive him of his mate.”
“What’s a drongo?”
“A stupid person.”
God, it felt good to get everything off her chest, to talk to Kensie like she was a sister and get the feedback she so wanted to hear.
And for the first time in a long time, she took a good look at her surroundings. The sand, soft as sifted flour under all her foot play, tickled her toes and brought a smile—a smile!—to her face. The ocean, wide beyond her scope of vision, and full of so much life, relaxed her, lessened the tightness in her muscles. A little while ago she’d thought about the sea swallowing her. Now she wanted to sail over it. Go where the tide took her. Discover what it meant to be alive and free.
Because for too long she’d been a prisoner to her fears.
For too long she’d been alone.
And she didn’t want to be any more.
She needed and deserved to be loved. Her parents’ death was heart-wrenching and unfair and she’d been deprived of their love far too soon. Jason’s death had also been painful, but loving again did not mean she’d lose the one she loved. She had to believe the risk was worth it.
“What do I do about P.I.E.? You know they won’t just take my resignation and tell me to have a nice life.”
“You won’t know unless you try.” Kensie hugged her legs and rocked back and forth. Her chin rested on her knees and Tess watched her eyes grow moist.
“Oh hell, Kens. Don’t you dare cry.” She put her hand on Kensie’s arm. “This isn’t goodbye.”
“Yes it is.” Kensie squeezed her hand. “You just don’t know it yet.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too,” Hugh answered without lifting his head from his desk.
“I thought you were leaving for the Rockies. Yesterday.” The pause in Gavin’s voice, along with the irritated tone, didn’t ruffle Hugh in the least. It was Monday morning. He didn’t let anything bother him the first day of the week.
Still keeping his attention on the papers in front of him, he heard Gavin pull out a chair.
“Your head hasn’t been here in a couple of weeks, Hugh. You need to go and clear whatever shit is going on up there. I’ve got this week taken care of.”
Yeah, there was plenty of shit going on all right. Too much for him to handle, really. And he needed to get away. He knew that. But something inside him told him to wait one more day before leaving.
Give her one more day to show up.
Hugh lifted his head and took in his partner’s professional appearance. In their five years together, Gavin had never let him down. Not once. The business was safe in his hands. Hugh was safe in his hands.
Not that he’d reveal any of his secrets.
“I’m scheduled for this afternoon.”
“If I have to kick your ass onto the plane myself I will.”
“No doubt.” Hugh appreciated Gavin’s interference. Without it, he very well might not leave. Not until I know what happened to her.
Gavin leaned back in his chair, apparently pleased he didn’t get an argument. “You know you can talk to me if you want.”
“What’s there to talk about? You just said you’ve got the week under control.” And Hugh believed without a doubt he did.
“That shit’s really seeped in, hasn’t it? I’ve known you a long time, Hugh, and I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like a guy so fixated on a woman he can’t think straight.” He held up his palm. “And don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve been in love like that. Once. Right before I came to work here. You saved my sorry ass from spiraling into a drunken stupor.”
Hugh hadn’t talked to Gavin much about personal matters. He’d kept their relationship strictly professional. But given recent events, he wanted to know more about Gavin. The guy was his partner, but a friend too. A friend who the last couple of weeks had gotten enough information out of Hugh to know his depression concerned Tess. They could discuss things besides flying without Hugh revealing he was a wolfen.
“What happened?” Since Hugh had never felt his heart squeezed like this before, maybe Gavin could offer some insight. He sure as hell wasn’t doing very well on his own.
“The short story is I let her walk away. Didn’t go after her when I should have.” He loosened the tie around his neck. “Go after Tess, Hugh. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”
He’d tried. Devastation had exploded inside him after discovering she’d left the hotel room in San Diego. He’d ran to the door to check the hallway, flew down the stairwell to the lobby. She was gone and he knew he wouldn’t find her, knew she needed to be alone to process the night’s events. He also knew he needed to take care of what was inside the room without delay so he could get back to L.A. and make sure Trey and the Night Runners were okay.
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