Kristof turned his back to her, blocking her from grabbing his phone. “Trudy can’t stay here,” he said into the phone. “I’ll take her to headquarters to finish working on the audit.” He listened to the voice on the other end, all the while keeping her at bay by stepping and moving away from her grasping hands.
“Tell me about Meisha,” she said, trying to maneuver around his broad back.
“Are you sure?” he said. “I agree.”
He disconnected the phone and eyed her with…amusement. She’d just tried to take her employer’s phone away from him. Heat crept across her face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to find out about Meisha. We’ve been best friends for a long time.”
“She’s fine. I heard her yelling about killing ’motherfuckers’ in the background. She’s still with Lajos.”
“And Piper?” she asked. “What about my dog?”
“She’s safe.”
Trudy let out a sigh of relief. “This is my fault. I didn’t want to think there was a connection between the break–in at my business, Mark’s death or the break–in at my house. But now.” She shook her head. “There’s no denying it. For some reason those guys are after me.”
“You’re right.”
Trudy looked up at him in surprise. What had she expected? Maybe a little, “No, it’s not your fault” or “You didn’t cause Mark to get killed”.
“They’re after you because you’re working on the Dark Wolf Enterprises audit. And for that, I’m sorry. I didn’t know whoever was stealing from us would go to these lengths to get us to stop the audit.”
She scrunched her brows together. “Are you saying that people are after me because I’m performing an audit? But I do them all that time. That’s a part of the business.”
“Yes. I came here to sever our contract, but if you’ve found something, I’d rather see what it is first.”
“Oh, my god. I really did get Mark killed.” Guilt rushed through her. If it wasn’t for her and her business, Mark might still be alive. “But why would they go after him and not me? That night, it sounded as if he knew those men. He was talking to them first, before…”
“And have you given thought to the fact that maybe Mark was selling you out?”
“I…I can’t believe Mark would do anything to jeopardize his job.” He had too much to lose and he was normally a real stand–up guy.
“I think those men contacted Mark to get to you. I don’t know the men who killed Mark personally, but I know their type. They would’ve wanted to be as discreet as possible. Having Mark get to you would’ve accomplished that. He could find out what information you were finding, he could sabotage your files and, if needed, he could harm you.”
She shook her head vehemently, not wanting to believe anything Kristof was saying. “If I’d found out he was snooping around files and selling vital company information, I would’ve fired him. He has a special needs child–he wouldn’t have risked it. He had to work a lot of hours just to cover all of Ernie’s expenses.”
“And that’s exactly why he would do something like this. I’m sure the people who contacted him to get to you offered him a lot of money–too much for him to refuse.”
“He wouldn’t be that dishonest. He wouldn’t try to…harm me.” And then she remembered how strange he’d been acting before his death. How he’d offered to drive her home, to get lunch for her. She’d practically been tripping over Mark all week long.
It’s because he was trying to kill me.
Kristof looked down at her solemnly when she realized the truth. She reached behind her knees, feeling for the bed. Nothing. She tried to take some steps back to go to it, but her feet were too heavy and her legs were like jelly.
Kristof grabbed her arm, holding her up so that she wouldn’t hit the floor.
“If it makes you feel any better, he must’ve had a change of heart in the end, because he didn’t give you over to them. I don’t believe the killers ever intended to become the focus of a criminal investigation. They were forced to tie up loose ends when Mark wouldn’t cooperate anymore.”
Trudy closed her eyes, remembering what she’d heard Mark say to one of them. “She isn’t here,” he’d said. “She went home early”. He’d lied when he knew full well she was in her office.
Kristof pressed her close to his body and walked her back to the bed. Once there, he gently sat her down. By the time she opened her eyes tears began to pour from them.
“I thought we were friends. Why…why did they come if Mark was the one who was supposed kill me?”
“I guess when he didn’t do the job, those men came to find out why.”
“I listened to them torturing him. They killed him and all he had to do was tell them where I was hiding.” The force of her crying wracked through her body.
“The blame doesn’t rest with you. This is all my fault and Andras was right. I shouldn’t have ever involved in outside firm to handle our account. I thought it would have been safe. You’re a small unknown firm and I did everything possible to keep our hiring of you under wraps.”
It had been too good to be true, she thought. The business contact and the money… She’d forever be a small town accounting firm. “I can try to find what I saw before. I guess I can borrow Meisha’s computer. Can Erzsebet resend me the files?” Besides Kristof, Erzsebet had been her only other contact at Dark Wolf Enterprises. Trudy chewed on her lip in thought. Erzsebet had encrypted the files and had sent them to her over a secured network. “But I guess your company’s files wouldn’t really be secure if I’m using someone else’s computer.”
“No, that won’t do. We can’t stay here to continue the work, I’m sorry.”
“Please, just give me a chance before you leave. I could check my account to see if I have enough money to buy a new computer. But I did want to give Alice money to help pay for Mark’s funeral costs–even though he was trying to kill me.”
“Trudy. It’s not safe to continue here. We’ll need you in Michigan for this.”
“Wait. Michigan?” She shook her head vehemently. “I can’t go there. I have a business to run. Plus…plus I have to be here for Mark’s funeral.”
“It’ll be just for a couple of days. It’s too dangerous for you to stay here. The sooner we figure out who’s behind all of this, the sooner we can stop this nonsense.”
He took out his cellphone. She sat in a daze as he punched in some numbers. She really wanted–no needed to keep this account. It was just for a couple of days, right?
“Have the plane ready. We’ll be leaving within the hour.” He hung up and dialed another set of numbers. “I’m bringing her to Michigan. She found some anomalies in the records but, unfortunately, she doesn’t have a working computer.” He was silent again. “Yes, it could be the source of the embezzlement.” Silence again. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. We’re leaving tonight.” He disconnected the phone.
He grabbed her bag. “Let’s go.”
“Right now? I can’t just up and leave. I have responsibilities here. I have a business. I have a house and Piper, what about Piper? She’s on a diet and Meisha won’t make her stick to it.” Trudy fidgeted with her hands. “I’ll need at least a day to get everything in order.”
“Someone who works for you has been violently murdered. There was an attack on your life–two if we believe Mark was also trying to kill you–and your friend and my brother were just attacked.”
“But…”
“Trudy, trust me.”
She gazed into his eyes. “Home by Sunday?”
“Home by Sunday.”
“What about the guys who are after me? I mean, will they leave me alone once I finish the contract?”
“I believe so, but I can’t be sure. Hopefully Lajos will find out who’s trying to kill you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want him to endanger himself for me.”
“It’s his job as head of security. His team is already on their way here. He’ll
sniff out who’s behind this.” Kristof smirked.
“Alright, but I need to stop and get more clothes. I only packed enough for tonight.”
“No. It’s too dangerous. We can get clothes when we get to Michigan.”
… … … … …
A limo had picked them up from the hotel and he’d ushered her inside before she had time to try to stall again. He’d promised that her car–the heap that it was–would be looked after in the hotel parking lot. They’d driven to a private airstrip and that’s when it became official. He was out of her league. A private jet waited for them, gleaming white with numbers written across the side.
She’d been too awestruck to say anything, so she looked around at how expensive everything seemed. Plush leather seats, carpeted floors and wood tables, nothing she’d never seen on a regular plane. She’d taken a seat and he’d claimed the one on the opposite side of the row from hers. After about five minutes the plane had taken off.
That had been hours ago. While Kristof spent the trip with his head back, sleeping, she’d spent it staring out the window. For the hundredth time, she shifted her gaze from the blackness of the night sky to the image of him sleeping on the glass.
He’s way out of my league.
But he’s so hot.
His nose was strong. His lashes were incredibly long and made the perfect curve. He had his hands clasped together on his stomach. His buttoned–up shirt wasn’t tight, but even so, she could see the faint outline of his muscular frame. He had his long legs extended in front of him and crossed at the ankles. His pants weren’t tight either, but they hugged his muscles.
He turned his head to the side and her gaze caught his in the reflection. Abruptly, she averted her eyes to stare back into the night.
He shifted in his seat. “We should’ve been in Michigan by now.”
She adjusted her face and pressed it against the glass. “I don’t see anything down there. It’s so dark.”
He got up and went to the cockpit door and tried the handle. Finding it locked, he knocked. No answer. He took his palm and banged on the door. “What the hell is going on in there?”
Still no answer.
Coming back to his seat, he went to the window and peered outside. “We’re not above a city.” He growled deep in his chest. “The pilots aren’t taking us to Michigan. It looks as though they might’ve been bought off too.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She turned away from the window. “What do we do?”
He sat back in his seat. “We see were they’re taking us.”
“I don’t like that plan very much.”
“Neither do I.”
The “Fasten Your Seat Belt” light came on as the plane started its descent. If she wasn’t so scared she would’ve laughed. Why bother with the precaution if the pilots were planning to kill them anyway? After being slid forward in her seat as the plane’s nose pitched downward, she scrambled for her seatbelt. At least she’d live a few more minutes.
The plane hit the runway with a bump and then another. She held onto her seatbelt as the brakes were applied. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest.
She flicked her gaze to Kristof who, unlike her, hadn’t put on his seatbelt. His hands gripped the leather of his armrests. His fingers were pale with the amount of pressure he applied.
“When the plane comes to a complete stop, I want you to stay seated.”
In her mind, hiding in the bathroom or closet seemed to be more appropriate, but she nodded anyway.
Chapter Eight
As the plane began to slow, his wolf grew more anxious. He didn’t dare look at Trudy for fear that she’d see the murderous intent in his eyes. His wolf was just a hair’s breath away.
As the plane came to a complete stop he expected the cockpit to open. But no one stirred from beyond the door.
Wise, for if the pilots came out he would rip them to shreds.
“Don’t move,” he growled.
Getting up, he didn’t bother to reach for his coat. He sniffed at the closed door leading to the cockpit. The two pilots were in fear for their lives. He could smell their cowardly stench from where he stood. He tried the door again. Locked. Just as before. Only a fool would open the door for him now.
Kristof pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket and tried to make a call. Nothing. No service.
He took a quick glance behind him. Trudy remained strapped in her seat with her hands gripping the belt across her hips. Her wild eyes were on him, waiting for direction.
“Is your cell phone working?”
She pulled her phone out of her pocket and tried it. “No,” she said shaking her head. “No bars.”
He nodded once. He expected as much. He opened the door leading to the outside and stood to the side, shielding his body from view. Cool air rushed through the entrance. He sniffed the air. Three distinct smells caught his attention.
Males.
Wolves.
Shifters.
He didn’t recognize their pack smell which meant he held no allegiance to any of them.
Good.
He kept his eyes focused on the shifters that were lurking in the darkness. “When I leave, you come and shut this hatch.”
“But...but you said for me not to get up.”
“That was before. Now I need you to shut the hatch and lock it. In the closet where our bags are there’s a box on the top shelf. Get the flare gun and aim it at the cockpit door. Shoot whoever comes out. When you get inside the cockpit you’ll see a red button on the controls, that’ll activate a distress signal. Engage it and wait here for the authorities.”
When she didn’t answer he turned to glare at her. “Do you understand?”
Her eyes opened wide as they locked on his. “Y–Yes.”
He threw his cellphone and wallet on one of the seats. He didn’t waste time trying to explain what was about to happen. She wouldn’t believe him anyway. He stepped into the entrance and peered out into the night. The shifters snapped at the air in his direction.
Gotta give the wolves what they want.
He leapt from the door to the ground below. On a growl one of the wolves came forward. His wolf growled in response. He shifted just as they rushed forward. His clothes were torn from his body as his wolf sprang to life.
Trudy watched in horror.
Did he transform into some kind of werewolf right before her very eyes?
One minute Kristof was at the airplane door and the next he’d jumped to the ground below. The ten–foot jump hadn’t fazed him at all. Instead of falling over, he’d sprung to his feet as though he’d stepped off the sidewalk curb and into the street.
Within seconds he’d transformed into a dark brown wolf. She wasn’t watching a normal wolf, well, even taking into consideration the fact that just moments before he used to be a man. This wolf was larger and thicker than any wolf she’d ever seen on TV or at the zoo.
What was left of his clothes clung in shreds around his neck and a remnant of his pants hung from one of his hind legs.
She caught her breath as a wolf jumped to attack him. The others circled the fighting duo. Each wolf snarled and ripped at skin. When another wolf joined in, she screamed. Kristof’s eyes met hers. He growled loudly, seemingly just for her.
The other wolf took advantage of Kristof’s momentarily preoccupation and jumped into the fight, making it three against one. Kristof fought them off, but he kept his focus on her. He called out to her again, making his displeasure known in a fierce growl.
The hatch, she remembered.
It took all she could to tear her gaze away from the fighting down below and run to the hatch.
She slammed it shut and laid her back against it. Her entire body shook as she tried to come to grips with what she was witnessing.
Kristof is some kind of freak and he’s being attacked by wolves. She was god knows where with god knows who.
She could be killed out here and no one would know how to find her body.
>
Her gaze shifted to the cockpit door. They could kill her.
Flare gun.
She scrambled to the back of the plane and flung open the closet door. On the top shelf was the metal box Kristof had told her about. Grabbing it, she pulled the box down. The handle slipped in her sweaty palms and hit the floor with a crash. The contents spilled at her feet.
She spotted the flare gun immediately. Grabbing it, she ran back to her seat by the window and aimed the gun at the cockpit door.
While she waited for the pilots to come out, she continued to watch the fighting below. One of the wolves was down, leaving Kristof to fight the other two. She peered at the cockpit door. Still shut. Then back to Kristof. One of the others wolves was now limping badly.
Kristof snarled and grabbed the uninjured wolf by the neck and shook him. The wolf went limp and appeared to be more like a rag doll than anything else. Kristof stopped and opened his mouth. The wolf he held there fell to the ground in a lump. The only wolf left stood his ground. Both he and Kristof growled and circled each other until, finally, the injured wolf seemed to realize this was a losing fight and scampered off into the darkness.
Standing alone, Kristof let out a long howl at the night.
Trudy pressed her face to the glass and looked left to right, trying to see if she spotted any more of the other wolves.
Kristof ran off, to where she couldn’t see.
He’s leaving me.
The thought ripped through her mind. Then an instant later, another thought eased the first.
He’d never leave me. I belong to him.
She’d no time to pick apart the last thought because, on the next blink, Kristof–the wolf–was standing outside of her window–watching her.
She knew it was him and not some other wolf, she felt he was hers. Their eyes locked. A part of her wanted to shrink away under his stare, but the other…wanted to claim him.
The cockpit door creaked open and the pilot peered at her. Yelping she raised her gun and aimed. Screaming, he shut the door before she could fire off a shot.
Brought to His Knees-Tough Guys Laid Low By Love Page 5