by Kym Grosso
“I am a goddamned idiot. I should’ve known she would take off. Come on, if we hurry we can catch up to her.” Dimitri grabbed his cell off the bed and pecked at the phone number from where she’d sent the text.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m calling her. It’s not safe out here. Who the hell knows if New York is safe?” The call went to voicemail and he ended the connection. Sending her a quick text back, he told her to wait at the airport for him.
“Listen, D,” Jake began, plowing his fingers over his cropped hair. “I know you’re sweet on the tiger but you’ve got to let her go.”
“We’re going. Now,” Dimitri ordered, sliding his feet into the pair of Vans that Jake had provided. He strode out toward the exit.
“I’m just saying that we can try to catch up with her, but if we don’t find her,” he paused, trying to keep up with Dimitri as he opened the door and started toward the elevator, “I think she’s right. You need to go see Ilsbeth. You’re vulnerable.”
Dimitri grabbed Jake, shoving him up against the wall. Quickly, he realized his transgression and released him.
“I’m not vulnerable,” he denied. I’m compromised. I’m a liability. Dimitri’s jaw ticked in anger as he mulled over the situation.
“I know this can’t be easy, but ya know, Gilly left because she wants you to go home. She healed you and knows that whatever piece of shit evil took your wolf from you the first time could happen again. And then what good are you to her?”
“Let’s just see if we can catch up with her.” A ding resonated, alerting them the lift had arrived. They entered and Dimitri stabbed at the lobby button with his finger.
“She’ll be okay. You saw what she did last night.”
“Yeah, I saw, all right. I saw her tied up like an animal for a whipping. If we hadn’t gotten there in time, they would have…” Raped her. Killed her…she’d never submit. “…hurt her.”
“But we did get there, and now she’s skipping town to where she’ll be safe. She’s lived in New York for a while. New Yorkers are tough.”
“Badass,” Dimitri added, hoping their speculation was true.
“Yeah, that’s right. She’s tough. Nothing happened to her while she lived there. The danger’s here. Chaz would have to have a death wish to go to New York City. You and I both know that Jax wouldn’t take kindly to strangers in his town, causin’ a ruckus.”
“Maybe.” Jax Chandler, the New York Alpha, was an arrogant prick who wouldn’t have allowed a rogue wolf anywhere near his territory, let alone another Alpha who was looking to attack a shifter.
Still, it rubbed Dimitri the wrong way that Gillian was on her own. He was angrier at himself that he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t end up mortal, unable to protect his woman. He quickly corrected his runaway thought. His woman? Yeah, right. Dimitri didn’t keep women like belongings. It was more like he entertained the ladies, no ties, no promises.
His rule may have gotten him in trouble a few times. A certain witch in New Orleans came to mind. But for the most part, women respected his honesty and he respected them. One hundred and twenty years of dating, and he hadn’t tired of the revolving door of beautiful ladies who’d warmed his bed. So why did it bother him so much that one gorgeous kitty cat went stray?
They reached the car and his phone buzzed. Another text: Don’t try to come to the gate, baby. Won’t pass security w/out a tix. Go see the witch.
Dimitri huffed, irritated that she’d called him a term of endearment while telling him what to do. Baby? Baby, my ass. The girl had a lot of freakin’ nerve. Not only did she just leave him holding his dick in his hands, but she’d bossed him no less than twice in the course of the day. Clever little kitty knew how to sneak out and then found bravery behind her texts. If she thought this was the end of things, she was dead wrong. When he saw her next, he planned to spank her ass pink. For the first time in the day, a smile broke across his face.
No matter how cheery she’d tried to sound in her texts to Dimitri, Gillian was scared shitless. She was certain that Chaz would be hot on her trail. On the way home from the airport, she’d considered calling her mom, but knew if she spoke to her that she’d spill every detail about what had happened in California. Instead, she’d sent her a short text, letting her know that she was okay and that she’d returned to New York. Gillian hated lying to her mom, but didn’t have the heart to worry her.
Carbon dioxide gushed out of a passing pickup truck, and Gillian choked on the fumes. Her taxi swerved to the curb, and she tossed the driver a twenty. She yanked her hoodie down over her head, and ducked out of the cab, then slid into the shadows of an alley and waited. She wiped the city grit from her eyes, observing the steady flow of pedestrians. Her gut told her to be cautious. Her salary didn’t afford her a doorman. She knew that just about any good-looking guy could talk her neighbor, Mrs. Beasley, into letting him into the building. A nice smile and a smooth story was the key to the kingdom.
Deciding a disguise was in order, she lowered her head and hoofed it two blocks to the corner store. As loathe as she was to do it, she needed to change her looks. She sighed, vacillating between her choices. Blonde or redhead? Blondes may have more fun, but something about red hair appealed to her. She pondered her options for only a second, taking care to be cognizant of her surroundings.
Gillian grabbed a box of the strawberry hue, praying she’d chosen wisely. The only other time she’d dyed her dark brunette hair was in high school, and she ended up looking like Ronald McDonald. Instead of fretting, she’d proudly worn it until the roots had grown out. Her mother had fits over the two-toned tresses that graced her graduation pictures. The memory caused her to chuckle in spite of the danger that could be lurking back on the streets.
In haste, Gillian swiped her credit card, and made quick work of getting back to her building. Trekking toward her apartment, she got the distinct feeling someone was watching her. Her stomach clenched, and she glanced over her shoulder and back again to the passing crowd. A young mother hurriedly bustled her children down the sidewalk. An older woman fussed over her toy poodle, who apparently was having trouble doing his business. Gillian jumped as a teenager bumped into her, obviously not looking where he was going as he tapped at his phone. The strangers appeared innocuous, but her instincts remained on high alert. Crossing past the threshold of the entrance, she panted a small breath, relieved that the lobby appeared empty. Tapping in the security code, she prayed she’d make it safely to her home.
Gillian could have won a medal for the world’s fastest dresser, because she’d gotten in and out of her apartment in less than thirty minutes. In the time it took to go from brunette to red, she was on her way to see the Alpha. Unsure of how to best approach Jax, she hadn’t called him, deciding it would be best to go see him in person. Within seconds of entering the building and asking for her brother, she’d been ushered into the elevator. Glancing up into the small orb on the ceiling, she got the distinct feeling she was being watched. Her eyes fell to the bellman, whose fake snobbish accent told her he thought she was some kind of bottom feeder, who didn’t belong in his lobby, let alone in the penthouse. She twirled a strand of her newly dyed hair, and glanced down to her royal-blue toenail polish. She supposed that in her rush to pack, she hadn’t taken great care tending to her appearance, but she was merely grateful to have made it safely across town.
Gillian tried not to think about the melancholy that had washed over her when she’d opened her apartment door. She was relieved that there hadn’t been a thug waiting for her inside, but the sight of her portfolio on her kitchen table brought tears to her eyes. Although she’d been lucky enough not to lose her wallet and cell phone during her ordeal in the desert, her new camera was lost and that was going to cost her money she didn’t have. Replacing it would have to wait, though. Right now, her first priority was securing protection. Security from a family member who didn’t even know she existed.
Gillian’s heart raced in tandem with the overhead flashing numbers that ticked away. Her stomach lurched as the lift came to a stop. Within seconds, she’d face the Alpha who had the potential to save her. This was either going to go really well, or she’d be out on her ass. Would Jax help her? Would he accept her as his sister? If he did, would he force her to live with him…as wolf? She took a deep breath and tried to halt the tornado of questions that whirled in her mind. A gruff demand brought her out of her contemplation.
“You’re here,” he grumbled, nodding toward the opening doors.
“What?” she asked, taking a second to steel her nerves.
“I said, ‘you’re here’. Mr. Chandler is waiting,” the bellman announced, extending his arm to usher her forward.
Putting a foot over the grate, she stepped onto the shiny Spanish marble. The enormous modern glass chandelier that hung from the cathedral ceiling captivated her, and she nearly tripped as her shoe slid over the smooth floor.
“Easy, Gilly,” she heard Jax say. The rumble of his voice caused her to startle.
“J…Jax.” Surprised to hear his voice, she turned her head toward the large sunken living area. The commanding Alpha stood tall behind his beta, Nick, who was sitting on the sofa, stroking a small white wolf who lay in his lap.
Although she knew that wolves thought little of clothing, the sight of them only wearing jeans took her off guard. Both men, with their tan sculptured bodies, looked as if they belonged in the magazine they ran. Gillian’s eyes met Jax’s and she studied his face, recalling how their eyes were the same shade of gold. Even though she’d rehearsed her speech well, no words left her lips and tears pricked at her eyes.
“Here, kitty, kitty,” he taunted, giving her a wry smile.
He knows. “Jax…I…need your help,” she managed.
“Come sit. We need to have a chat,” he told her, walking around the large red leather sofa. Looking toward Nick, he nodded. “In private.”
Gillian slowly moved toward her brother but abruptly stopped as the animal on the couch shifted into a naked woman. Intrigued by the transformation, she watched as Nick kissed her before letting her off his lap. She gave Gillian a sideways glare before traipsing down the hallway.
Stunned at the display, Gillian forgot what she was doing. Being a tiger, she wasn’t used to the open sexuality that wolves exhibited. She, too, stripped bare before shifting into her beast, but unlike the wolves, she ran alone. Taking a quick breath, she composed herself and returned her gaze to Jax, who gestured for her to take a seat. Her heavy backpack remained on her shoulders as she sat in the far corner of the couch.
Nick scooted across the sofa until his thigh brushed hers. He sniffed and smiled, and she flinched in response. Yet when he reached over to help remove the straps of her bag from her shoulders, she relaxed enough to allow him to take it. The close proximity of the other wolf brought forth an odd familiarity, making her think once again of Dimitri. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to concentrate. Now was not the time for lust or pipedreams.
“She smells of a wolf,” Nick noted, brushing his fingers through her red locks. “And chemicals.”
“Well, she is a wolf, isn’t that right, sister?” Jax asked, his expression impassive.
“I’m…I’m a tiger. But you know that, don’t you, brother?” Sweat beaded on her brow as her anxiety rose, but she refused to show fear.
“A sister?” Nick clapped his hands and laughed. “Now this is an interesting development.”
“Indeed, it is,” Jax replied.
“How did you know? I didn’t say anything…” Gillian stopped speaking and shook her head, feeling both inexperienced and vulnerable. Dammit, she’d been foolish to think she could hide from an Alpha.
“This morning, I got a call from Logan Reynaud.”
Gillian stared back at Jax, putting the pieces together. Logan Reynaud? She recalled her conversations with Dimitri. He’d mentioned the first name of his Alpha: Logan. Dimitri must have called his Alpha. He’d gone back to New Orleans, all right, but not before making sure she was protected by Jax.
“Dimitri,” she whispered. “But how did you know about me…my tiger…about us?”
“Ah well, after you blew me off a few months ago, it got me to thinking. Why would a starving photographer refuse to speak to someone who was offering her the job of a lifetime? So I did a more in-depth background check. Your mother, Mirabel, I knew her many years ago. When my father died…”
“She was devastated…couldn’t live here anymore. I don’t have any memories of my father…our father…or you.”
“It isn’t surprising you don’t remember. When Alpha died, Father, you were a toddler. I knew you existed, but when Mirabel asked me to leave her alone, I did. I understood that you were a tiger and the dangers that would be presented to you should you grow up around pack. What I didn’t expect was that Mirabel would change your name to one I didn’t easily recognize. I knew you as Kaitlen. But here you are…Gillian Michel.”
“Gillian…it’s my middle name. My last is a family name on my mother’s side. She wanted to protect me. I didn’t even know you existed until we met a few months ago. You have to understand, I’ve gone to great lengths not to be around wolves. When I told Mom about you, the opportunity, that’s when she told me…that I had a half-brother in New York.”
“You stopped calling. Wouldn’t return my calls. You do know that doesn’t go over too well with an Alpha, don’t you? Did you really think you could get away with that?”
She gave him a small grin, sensing he was teasing her. She’d thought it difficult, but not impossible.
“It’s part of the reason I went to California. It seemed like such a great job, but…” She sighed. “I guess if you talked to, um, Dimitri’s Alpha, then you know why I’m here.”
“We’ll get to that in a minute. Let’s be frank, shall we? I know why you don’t want to be around wolves. Mirabel, she couldn’t shift. She gave up everything for my father. Yet in the end, the gifts she gave him were wasted. He died fighting for all of us during that attack.”
“I’m sorry.” She’d never known her father but sympathized with his loss.
“I killed his murderer,” Jax stated without emotion. “I lost everything. My father. My stepmother. I know what it feels like to mourn. I would never have done anything to compromise your ability to shift.”
“I’m relieved that you understand why I can’t be around your pack. I do. But I need your protection. If you could just talk to Chaz or do whatever Alphas do…please,” she pleaded.
“Jax, I don’t mean to interrupt, but when I said she smelled like a wolf, I wasn’t referring to her,” Nick explained further.
“Well, that’s not at all possible. I’m a tiger and you both know that, not that I let people go around sniffing me like a dog. No offense,” she added, upset that she could have been so careless as to compare a wolf to a domestic animal. Shit. This is so not going well. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m afraid. Dimitri almost killed Chaz. I should have done it…I wanted to do it, but the silver…it made me sick.”
“Did you just say that Dimitri almost killed the Alpha?” Jax exclaimed.
“Yeah, he could have easily killed him but he released him.”
“Isn’t that interesting?”
“I don’t think he wants to be Alpha. I don’t know Dimitri that well, but he seems loyal to his pack.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Nick laughed. He got up and crossed the room. Slipping behind the wet bar, he rummaged underneath it. “Something to drink? Soda? Water?”
“Beta, be clear with your thoughts. Do you think our sister lies about her relationship with the Acadian wolf?”
“His scent is all over her,” Nick confirmed. He pulled out three tumblers and set them on the counter. “Maybe we need something stronger. Wine or whiskey?”
Jax’s eyes flew to Gillian, who wished she could cower behind the furniture. Her face
grew hot, as she wondered how they could smell him on her. She’d taken a shower, but apparently that wasn’t nearly enough to hide the intimacy of their night together.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” Jax quipped, rubbing his chin. “Wine. Bring the bottle.”
“I’m not sure what you think went on between Dimitri and me but I’m telling you that nothing happened. Not that I need to report who I sleep with to you.” Gillian looked over to Nick. “Wine. Best idea of the day.”
“I’m your big brother, kitty cat.” Jax smiled and raised an eyebrow at her.
“Very funny. Thank you,” Gillian said. She gladly accepted the filled glass that Nick handed her. Taking a sip, she thanked the Goddess for grapes.
“You do know what happens if you mate with a wolf?”
“Mate,” Gillian choked, spitting out her drink. “Who said anything about mating?”
“You carry his scent. That means you’ve been intimate,” Jax noted.
“Oh my God, do you wolves have no secrets?”
“This is our nature. Besides, a simple review of the facts would tell me you care about him. You saved him from certain death. He reciprocated. You left without him. Now that I don’t quite understand, but and this is a big but, he specifically had Logan call me to tell me everything and to request protection on his behalf. It’s a very unusual circumstance for an Alpha, one in a state hundreds of miles away, to call another Alpha to ask for protection for an individual who is not even in his pack. He is now indebted to me, you realize? Of course, I owed him one, but nonetheless, this is a sacrifice on his part.”
Gillian sat silent. She hadn’t needed him to summarize the past seventy-two hours for her to tell him that she cared about Dimitri. But as she sat quietly, her beast purred at the thought of seeing him again, yearning to have him inside her, his mouth and hands taking whatever he wanted. One night would never be enough.
“Are you listening?” Jax asked.
“Yes, sorry, I just was thinking.”