The phone on the desk rang, startling her. She watched it light up, the ringing echoing in the room, and debated answering it. Surely it wasn’t for her, only Jinx and Tex knew where she was. What if Lukas had arrived and someone thought Jinx was still there?
Timidly, she reached forward and cradled the phone in her hand before bringing it to her ear. “Hello?”
“I was starting to think you wouldn’t answer.”
His voice teased along her senses, and she could feel him almost as if he was in the room with her. “Jinx? I thought…”
“I am, but we need your help. There was a woman visiting a small child that Avery was keeping in the tunnels, and we need you to find her.”
“Claire.”
“You know her?”
“Yes.” She kicked herself for not thinking of the girl before. “Autumn and I were looking after her. Well, Autumn lately, I was too busy dealing with other things for Avery. Is she…” Fearing the worst, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“She’s alive, but she needs you. Come down the hall toward the reception area. I’ll be waiting for you. Hurry.” He hung up before she could ask anything else.
Claire. Oh, that sweet child had been through so much, and now she was being thrown into a world she knew nothing about. Her mother was gone, and she barely knew her father. Had Cliff been reunited with his daughter? With her heart breaking for the child, she saved the document she was working and dashed from the room and down the hall.
She found Jinx leaning against the wall, his black cowboy hat hiding his eyes from a distance. She could feel his pain. He was worried about the child. Had he seen her?
“Is Cliff with her?” She asked, coming to a stop in front of him.
“Cliff is gone. He’s left the clan and his daughters behind with only a note.” He pushed off the wall and took her hand in his. “Claire is in the room behind me, refusing to let anyone near. You’re our only hope of calming her down. She needed someone to help her adjust to being outside of the room.”
“I’ll do whatever I can.”
“I just want you prepared. I haven’t seen her yet, but Tex said she’s in bad shape.” He squeezed her hand.
“I’m fine. It’s Claire I’m worried about.” With a nod, he let her hand go and opened the door.
Inside, Ashley was screaming, her mate standing behind her trying to calm her, but Summer looked beyond them, searching for Claire. There in the corner, Claire was curled up in a ball. The blanket Summer had crocheted was wrapped around her, and her head was buried in her knees as she sobbed.
“Claire…” Summer neared when the little girl didn’t look up. “Remember me?”
The little girl let the blanket fall away from her, revealing just what kind of state she was in. Dirt covered her clothes, and her fingers were raw as if she’d tried to dig her way out of the room. She came to Summer’s open arms.
“Get away from her!” Ashley screamed in the background. “That’s my sister.”
“Summer was the woman caring for her. She visited her while she was locked away. Shut up and let her help,” Jinx ordered. “Claire’s fragile body can’t take much more.” He stood guard at Summer’s back.
“I’ll care for her. No one else.” Ashley tried to push past Jinx, but he wouldn’t let her.
“How can you be expected to do that when Claire is terrified of you? She won’t come to anyone. Do you understand what that means? I’ve seen children give up their will to live without the touch of another. Shifters are more likely, because they need it to survive.”
“Ash, he’s right. There’s nothing you can do for Claire right now. Let Summer help her.”
Ashley spun on her mate, anger heating her body and words. “You just don’t want to take responsibility for her.”
“Think about what this is doing to our own child.” Michael ran his hand over her stomach. “We have our own family to care for. If Summer can help Claire, then let her.”
“She’s my sister.” She sobbed.
Tex interrupted them. “She’ll always be your sister. Since your father left her in the clan’s care and she’s a minor, as Alpha I’m responsible for doing what’s best for her. Right now, Summer is what’s best for her.”
“You’d let her take Claire?” Ashley turned to look at Tex. “Even when you know it means she’ll go to another clan?”
“If Claire can’t open up and trust someone in this clan, what choice do we have? Would you condemn your sister to a life of suffering, solitude, and possibly death just to keep her in Texas?”
Ashley looked at Claire and Summer, sobs making her tremble, and shook her head.
“If it comes to that, Summer will bring Claire back often,” Tex reassured Ashley.
Throughout it all, Summer sat there with Claire in her arms unable to believe what she was hearing. She was expected to care for the child. What did she know about being a full-time mother? Nothing. She had been a part of Claire’s life since she was born, always spending time with her each day, but taking on the responsibly of motherhood when she’d only just mated might be too much. What about starting her own family?
She pushed all of it away for the moment and focused on the child. “I’ll work with her, try to get her to open up. Right now, let me get her fed and cleaned up. She’s starving and exhausted.”
“Why don’t you go back to your room and rest?” Jinx suggested to Ashley. “Summer will call you when Claire wakes, and maybe you can try visiting her then.”
Ashley’s mate wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Ash, they’re right. This isn’t doing any good right now. Come on.” With some reluctance on her part, he led her from the room. After the door shut behind them, Summer turned to Tex. “Are you honestly suggesting I become a surrogate mother to her?”
“From the looks of it, you already have.” Tex nodded at the girl’s grip around Summer’s neck.
Ben stepped closer, coming to her other side. “As Tex said before, what choice do we have? Claire needs someone and right now that has to be you.”
She looked at Jinx, hoping he’d throw in some logic as to why she couldn’t do it. Instead he agreed. “Mate, I believe you’ve just become a mother. Congratulations.”
“How can you take this lightly?”
“What would you like me to do? Rant and rave?” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Lass, you must know that isn’t my way. I wouldn’t toss Claire out into the world of hungry tigers alone.”
She leaned against the arm of the sofa. “This is all too sudden.”
“One step at a time.” Jinx grabbed the crocheted blanket from the ground and stepped closer. Claire’s grip tightened on Summer’s neck. “Little lass, I mean you no harm.” He tucked the blanket around her. “Let’s use my suite. There’s enough room that we can add a cot. You can get her cleaned up and I’ll see about food.”
Ben cleared his throat from where he stood across the room. “I’ll see about the food. You stay with them until we can get someone else to.” When everyone turned to him, he glanced at his sister and added, “I don’t think Ashley’s going to give up. Claire is the only family she has left, and a pregnant tigress is unruly. I just want you both safe.”
“I believe this brings us to another topic.” Jinx looked from each of them before his gaze finally settled on Tex. “With your permission, now that our mating is official, I’d like to fly in Elder guards for Summer and Claire.”
“With the state of the clan, I believe that would be wise,” Tex agreed. “However, I ask that you keep it to four guards. Any more might have some of the clan on edge, more so than they already are.”
“Wait a moment, don’t I get any say in this?” Summer asked.
“No,” Jinx and Ben said without even bothering to look at her.
“See that, Claire?” Summer peeked down at the little girl’s dirty face. “That is your first lesson on not giving men power. They’ll try to rule you into submission.” She smoothed her
hand over the girl’s back. “Come on, love, let’s get you cleaned up while Ben finds you something to eat.” She glanced over at her brother. “Ben, do you think you can rustle up some pizza with pepperoni for us? It’s her favorite.”
“Us?” he teased. “I only offered to get it for the little girl who stole my heart with her tears.”
With a roll of her eyes, Summer strolled from the room. Ben was always a ladies’ man when there wasn’t any danger, and he’d been trying to win Claire over. From the way she moved to look at him, Summer had a feeling it was working.
* * *
Summer sat on the edge of the cot, tucking Claire in. The sleepy little girl clung to a stuffed tiger Ben had bribed her with so he could get the filthy blanket she’d held onto. Looking down at the sweet face, she couldn’t understand how Cliff could run off and leave her behind. He had to have known the state she’d be in when they released her from the cell she’d been in since she was born.
“You okay?” Jinx came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders.
“How do you just leave a child behind?”
“Our kind has always done it. Normally it’s not until they’re older and can take care of themselves. In the states we have adapted to their ways and wait until the child reaches adulthood—eighteen—but in other countries the children are younger. Mind you, none as young as Claire, but some parents don’t care. Look at humans, they do it too, and sometimes worse things.”
Seeking comfort, she reached up, laying her hand over his. “She’s so innocent.”
“Lass, there’s nothing I can say that will make this right or even easier, but you’re that little girl’s only hope.” He squeezed her shoulders gently. “Ashley wants her because she feels it’s her duty, but there’s no bond there. Claire needs you now more than ever.”
“Can I be what she needs? What do I know about raising a child?”
“Every woman has instincts. Trust them, and never think you’ll be alone. You won’t be. There are plenty of experienced mothers in West Virginia, and Alaska to help you if you need it.”
She turned to look at him. “You keep saying me, but this involves you too. I’m not the only one expected to take on the parenting role with Claire. She’ll need a father.”
“I never meant to imply I wouldn’t be there. Claire will be our responsibly if she comes with us. Not only to bring up correctly, but to protect.” He pulled her to her feet, his fingers traveling down the length of her arms before going back up. “Fatherhood, well that’s a new role for me, one that I’d be excited to take on. I have extensive experience with children, through my clan. We are a very close bunch, and believe strongly that it takes a village, or in this case a clan, to raise a child. No parents are left without help.”
“You’re serious about this aren’t you? We’re really going to take Claire with us.”
“What would you have us do? Claire is in a fragile state right now. If we abandon her it could be the end for her. When Ashley gives birth, don’t you think Claire will be pushed aside?”
She glanced at Claire, sleeping peacefully, and wondered what would happen if she stayed with Ashley. “What about when we have children of our own?”
“You have the bond with her, as if she was your own child. Ashley does not. Ashley is also just a few weeks from giving birth. She’s not ready to handle both a new baby and Claire, especially not because she feels it’s her duty.” He brushed his finger along her jawline, gently turning her head so she was looking at him. “Claire will never be second to you or me, not even if we have a dozen children. I can see the bond connecting you to her. Search your heart and you’ll know the right thing to do.”
Chapter Ten
Jinx had barely stepped out of the bedroom when there was a light knock on the door. He had arranged for Tad to guard his new family while he met with Lukas about the upgrades for the resort. He crossed the living area quickly, hoping to reach the door before Tad knocked again and woke up Claire.
He pulled the door open and stepped back. “Come in, Tad, thanks for coming. Summer just got Claire to sleep and will be joining us in a moment.”
Tad stepped into the room, glancing around for exits. Every move he made showed he was working. “Milo and Lukas are ten minutes away. Besides this door, is there another one from the bedroom?”
“No, this is the only way in or out except the windows…and since we’re on the eighth floor, I doubt there will be any problems in that arena.”
Summer paused in the doorway to the bedroom. “Umm…”
“It’s okay, lass. This is Tad, he’s a member of the Kodiak Bears from Nome, Alaska. His sleuth partnered with Ty, and he agreed to guard you and Claire so I can meet with Lukas.”
“We’ll be here, there’s no need for guards.”
“I told you before that I would see to having Elder guards for you. I had planned to wait until we were in West Virginia, but with the state of the clan and Claire becoming our responsibility, it’s necessary. I have four guards arriving tonight. Until then, Tad has agreed to stay with you when I cannot.” He grabbed a folder from the table and went to her. “Don’t fight me on this, lass, you won’t win. I need to go. Lukas will be here soon. I’m just downstairs if anything happens.”
“What do you think might happen?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“You were there when Ben said he didn’t think Ashley would let this go. There’s that and other possibilities, but nothing’s going to happen. Tad’s here with you for now, and I’ll be back shortly. I just want both of you safe. Think of me as an overprotective new mate and instant father.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I love you. If you need me, Tad has my cell number. I’m only a few floors away and can be here in a matter of minutes.”
“You said that.” She smiled at him.
“So I did, but it brought a smile to your face.” This time when he kissed her, she returned his kiss with a hunger of her own.
He broke the kiss, forcing himself to the door before they ended up back in the bedroom. “I’ll be back soon.”
There were a number of things he wanted to see to before Lukas’s arrival. Trying to make up for lost time, he jogged down the hall to the elevator. Hopefully things with Lukas would go quickly and he could get back to his family. His family. Just the thought of them filled him with joy.
The elevator doors slid open, and Ben was standing there holding a box in his hand. “How’s Claire?”
“Sleeping. What’s that?” He stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the first floor.
“This is the last box of Avery’s demented shit. Can you believe that man kept journals of what he did to us and what he wanted to do?” Ben shook his head, disgusted by the idea. “We’re going to have a bonfire and burn everything that was his. Tex thinks it will be a symbol of starting over.”
“It will be good for the clan to put it behind them, might help them move on.”
“That’s what Robin said too. She went home with Ty this morning but offered to come back if we need her.” Ben shifted the box to his other arm. “How’s my sister handling parenthood?”
“She’s just been thrown in the deep end and is trying to doggy paddle. If she starts trusting her instincts and stops overthinking everything, she’ll be fine. Any more issues from Ashley or her mate?”
“Not yet. I’m supposed to meet with James in twenty minutes. He said we have a common interest, and we should discuss it. I suspect it’s about Claire. I’ll let you know what happens.” The elevator door opened and Ben stepped out. “You got things covered with Lukas, at least enough to get him started with the computer system and security?”
“I’ve got it covered. Tex approved the security measures this morning. Lukas is bringing a lot of the computer system with him and the rest will be arriving tomorrow, so it should be up and running the day after at the latest. He’ll handle the training for the new system.” He followed Ben off the elevator. “He’ll be here soon and I need to gat
her a few things, but you know where I am if anything comes up.”
“Same here.” Ben nodded and went down the hallway in the opposite direction.
Ben was a good man, and he cared about Summer, which made him even better as far as Jinx was concerned. They had a common goal to see that she was safe and happy. That would make their relationship easier, especially since he was about to take her away from the clan and put her in danger just by being her mate.
“There you are, brother.”
He turned to see a younger version of himself. It was uncanny how closely they resembled each other, even with eight years separating them.
“I was about to head up to the lobby to meet you.” Jinx gave Lukas a quick hug. “Did you have a good trip?”
“It was fine, hit some turbulence but nothing I couldn’t handle. Tex had some clan members standing by to unlock the equipment I brought, so while they were doing that I wanted to see what you had in mind.”
“Come into the office, and we’ll go over things.” He pushed open the door. “There’s a lot that has to be done. Computer system, keycards, and security are the biggest. Right now all the guest rooms have actual door keys, which needs to be done away with.”
“Coming in I noticed there’s no security cameras on this floor. Is that an issue throughout?”
“Yes. The whole place needs wired for cameras. I have Larry coming in with guards.” Larry was an electrician by trade, he’d be able to help Lukas with whatever he needed for the new security system.
“Guards?” Lukas took a seat in front of the desk, setting his laptop bag on the chair beside him.
“I’ve mated, and it looks like I’ve gained a daughter of sorts.”
“I could smell the woman on you but I thought it might have been a clan member. A daughter of sorts?”
He spent the next several minutes explaining how he had managed to become a father to a two-year-old terrified little girl. All the while, his mind wandered upstairs to his new family. He wasn’t used to the longing he felt to be near them.
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