by Dannika Dark
“Which one is he?” Ivy tugged the end of her long braid, which was wrapped around her right shoulder.
“The one with the hickeys all over him.”
I didn’t know what to make of Jericho, but he seemed like kind of guy you wouldn’t want your little sister hanging around. Although I still wasn’t certain how Austin felt about Ivy. She sure didn’t look like a little sister, and he wasn’t blind. I saw the way he appraised her when she got out of the car.
The door swung open and the sound of men filled the house.
Austin tucked his arm around Ivy and escorted her through the main entrance. She slipped out of her flip-flops and leaned into him.
I shut the door and felt a burning coal sitting in the pit of my stomach, and it wasn’t hunger. We’d made a four-hour detour on the way home to eat lunch and pick up a few things at the store for Ivy. Her father hadn’t allowed her to pack very much—just a couple of bags of clothes.
The sun hung low in the sky and the smell of barbecue made my mouth water.
Maizy was sitting outside in the atrium on a bench, blowing bubbles from a wire she dipped in a tall glass. I walked past Austin and Ivy and slid open the door.
Denver turned around, wearing an apron of a nude woman’s body.
“In front of her?” I scolded.
He sniffed and rubbed his nose as a plume of smoke poured out of the grill and into his face. “What’s the big deal? She’s a chick.”
“And why is she holding a wire? She’s six.”
“Beer bubbles. Damn, where have you been? You didn’t play with those as a kid?”
I took the glass from her along with the sharp metal object. “No, we bought bubbles at the store for a dollar.”
“You wasted a dollar.”
“And you wasted a beer.”
Denver waltzed over and snatched the glass from my hand, chugging down the warm yellow beverage that had a tiny piece of grass floating on top. Then he belched, winking his eye. “Nothing’s wasted around here, honeypie.”
Who would have thought such a pretty boy with his golden locks and dashing smile—despite the scar, which wasn’t that severe—could be such a child himself?
“Did you have fun, Maizy? Come with me and tell me all about it,” I said, taking her hand.
“Uncle Denny let me play video games and we shot the bad guys!”
“Oh, goodie. How about you take this and ask Uncle Reno if he’ll put it on?”
I pulled a DVD out of the back of my jeans and handed it to her. Her face brightened with excitement and she went bounding into the living room with the Beauty and the Beast cartoon.
Then I heard her crying.
“Dammit, Wheeler,” I heard Reno bark out in his gravelly voice. He sounded like Stallone without the accent. “Let her watch it.”
Austin escorted Ivy into the living room in the same fashion as he had me the first time.
“Lexi, come meet the rest of the pack,” he said with a wave of his hand.
“Maizy, go put on your nightgown and brush your teeth,” I said. She smiled and I tried to contain my laugh due to her missing tooth.
“It’s fine,” Austin cut in. “We shouldn’t keep her in the dark.”
I glanced at the twins on the couch. Their dusty brown hair was lighter than the others—choppy and styled a little messy. Their eyebrows were dark and pronounced with a little arch to them, making their eyes stand out. They definitely inherited the Cole looks because despite their more narrow features, they were handsome men in a very stern and mischievous way—I wasn’t quite sure which. Liquid brown eyes sparkled like amber, bright and illuminating. They shared the same medium build with toned arms and lean torsos.
But here is where they differed. The one on the left wore tattoos like sleeves. One shoulder had a wolf, then I saw a dagger, some tribal, and they blended like one fantastic design. He also had a circle beard closely trimmed that he seemed to like stroking with his fingers.
“These are my brothers, Wheeler and Ben.”
I turned my mouth to the side. “Where’s that located?”
Simultaneously, they replied, “Ben Wheeler, Texas.”
“At least it wasn’t Beaver Dam.”
“Ah shit,” Ben said. He was the guy on the right who seemed to have a friendlier personality than his inked brother, and his smile was wider. “Don’t mention that around Denver; he’ll have a field day. The jokes never end with him.”
“At least it’ll get the attention off of me,” Jericho said from behind. I turned around and Jericho greeted us in nothing but a pair of black jeans. He stretched his long arms up and held onto the frame above the hallway entrance. It looked like a vacuum hose had made out with him.
Austin went on with introductions. “This is Lexi, Wes’s little sister.”
I held my tongue and mentally rolled my eyes. I would never be more than Wes’s little sister to these guys.
Ben and Wheeler didn’t talk much. They resumed watching Reno putting the movie in while Maizy plopped down on the round carpet in front of the TV. She was eating up the attention because they didn’t quite know what to do with a little girl around the house. Therefore, they spoiled her with whatever she wanted. Hopefully she didn’t pick up on some of those fun four-letter words they enjoyed using. Regardless, I got a good vibe with the pack. Despite their differences, they were unified.
“Who’s she?” Wheeler (the one with the tats) asked apprehensively.
“Our new packmate,” Austin replied without blinking an eye.
“Since when are we taking in bitches?” Wheeler protested. I was surprised he didn’t like the idea; you’d think a woman would be just the thing they’d want around here. While identical, Wheeler had a little darkness in his eyes that I didn’t see in Ben. Maybe that’s why he covered himself up with ink.
Ivy had attached herself to Austin like a wild vine. “Since today. Ivan is taking over the hunt for Lexi’s mom and to return the favor, he asked that I bring one of his daughters into our pack because she’s nearing the change. We’re growing, and y’all know I make the decisions on who we take in. You’ll get more say-so when it comes to men because I don’t need you guys killing each other, but we need women to balance things out. Since Ivy doesn’t have a mate, as a rule, it’s hands off.”
Denver wandered into the house and lingered in the hall to the right of the recliner. “Did you meet Wheeler and Dealer?” he asked with a smirk.
I couldn’t help but notice that while Ben hardly paid attention, Wheeler’s eyes slid over to Denver and looked volcanic. Odd reaction since the nickname seemed more of a jab at Ben.
Austin made sure to look all of them square in the eye. “Any funny business and I’ll find out. Treat her like a sister, because from this day forward, that’s exactly what she is to you. You know damn well what some of these packs are like, and I’m going to put in my claim officially so we don’t have to worry about anyone closing in on our turf.”
“You claiming Wes’s sister?” Denver asked.
“Will everyone stop calling me that!”
I stormed past Jericho into his bedroom and slammed the door behind me. Where else could I go? I might have been overreacting just a hair, but I couldn’t get my mom off my mind and what could possibly be going on with her. I’d never felt so helpless and lost—so uncertain of what I should do, and here these guys were, having a meet and greet.
I grabbed my bag and went across the hall into Austin’s room, glancing around for anything that belonged to Maizy. I stuffed her wand into my bag and walked with a determined pace to the living room.
“Come on, Maizy. We’re leaving.”
“But my movie just came on,” she whined.
“Lexi, what do you think you’re doing?” Austin said, attempting to be calm but not doing a very good job of it. Ivy stepped around us and found the bathroom in the hall.
I snapped my fingers impatiently. “Come on, Maizy. I’ve got movies at the house and Auntie Nay
a bought you a new one as a surprise.”
She got up and pouted, coming over to stand at my side, her blond hair in tangles. I didn’t have time to look for her shoes, so I lifted her up and grunted from her weight. “Sorry, Austin, it’s time for us to return to our lives.”
“I can’t let you go,” he said firmly. The words lingered in the air and he lowered his eyes.
“Let’s not do this here, okay? It’ll get ugly. I really appreciate everything, and I’m going to come back over tomorrow so we can find my mom. I just need to be home, and it’s totally safe. My dad has no idea where I live and just let him try. I think my mom went willingly with him because she still loves him. I don’t know. I have Naya next door to watch Maizy when I’m out, but I can’t keep crashing on your brother’s bed.”
I ignored his hostile stare and brows sloped at a disagreeable angle.
We breezed past the men and into the hall when Maizy cried out. “Wait!”
“What is it?”
“I want to give Uncle Denny a hug,” she whimpered in a small voice.
Denver attempted to suppress his handsome grin, but I could see how such a small request touched him. She gave him a tight squeeze while still in my arms, and I heard the rattle of a plastic candy wrapper and decided to let it go and allow her to have it. Denver’s lips pressed tightly as he turned away and folded his arms.
My car keys were on the same ring as Austin’s—a little red flashlight dangled from the ring, so I spotted them easily. I had Maizy grab them since my arms were occupied holding her along with the bag. Austin followed me outside but seemed reluctant to make a scene in front of my sister.
After I buckled her in the car, I crossed around the front and Austin caught my arm. “Wait,” he said in a softened voice. That sexy, growly, just got out of bed voice. “Don’t go. Stay with us until we find Lynn.”
“I have to go, Austin. I need to check on things at work and take care of personal matters. There could also be a message on my machine.”
“We got that covered,” he said.
“You don’t have my life covered. I know you mean well, but maybe it’s better that I’m not in the house if I’m about to have a pheromone party in a few days. I’m sure you can agree.”
He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and I could see every line of his body through the thin shirt he wore. Shirts shouldn’t be that tight on a man; there should be some kind of a law against it. And then there was that lazy smile of his that nearly made me change my mind.
I stepped forward and slid my arms around his waist, leaning into his chest. His heart beat heavily against my ear where I rested my head. It felt so good to have him back in my life again, and despite all my anger I’d carried through the years, I could never hate Austin Cole.
“Thanks,” I murmured. “Not just for helping with everything, but for coming back. I missed you.”
His hands cupped the top of my head and he whispered into my hair. “Be careful, Ladybug.”
Chapter 18
After cleaning up feathers and hanging the curtains in my bedroom, I tucked Maizy in the bed and covered her with a fuzzy blue blanket. The door remained closed so that I could grill a cheese sandwich and not wake her up with the cacophony of pans rattling around. I relaxed on the sofa and noticed my apartment had that weird smell it gets when it’s been left alone for too long.
The door handle jiggled and I shot up with half a sandwich in my mouth. I tossed the plate on the coffee table and hurried to the door. Naya waved through the peephole and I stepped outside, closing the door behind me.
“Everything okay? I was about to go to work and saw your lights on,” she said.
“Yeah. Maizy’s sleeping in the other room.”
“I’m so glad the little baby’s okay.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Does Auntie Naya get to see her? I bought her the prettiest dress the other week and—”
“I really don’t know why you do that, Naya. You spoil her way too much.” I chuckled and we sat on the steps together. Her makeup looked like spackle with a heavy coat of foundation and glossed-up lips. She had on a pair of shorts and a button-up blouse, but her real work clothes were underneath. I never understood why men liked that look, because she was prettier without it in her normal clothes. But I guess she had to project an image on stage.
“The dress is adorable,” she answered. “You’re going to flip out when you see it. I picked it up at a thrift store, but it looks exactly like a dress a princess should be wearing.”
“You’re just feeding her obsession,” I said with a distant sigh, staring across the street at the shadow of a man as it disappeared behind one of the buildings.
“I don’t have kids; let me live vicariously through you. Someday, she’ll find out all that fairy-tale stuff about love is just a lie, so let her enjoy it while she can. Did you find your mama?”
That’s when the waterworks came on. Naya hugged my shoulders and I cried against her shimmery white blouse.
“Don’t cry, chickypoo. It’s going to be okay, you just wait and see. I really hate to leave you,” she said guiltily.
“No, it’s fine. I know you’re late. Maybe we can talk tomorrow, but I’m going to be in and out all day.”
“That’s what he said,” she purred.
Naya knew how to snap me out of my funk and make me laugh. She blew a kiss and dashed off, leaving me alone on the steps. I had just wiped a crumb from the corner of my mouth when the sound of heavy footsteps approached from below. A long shadow emerged on the walkway and a man came into view. He slowly ascended the stairs and I leaned to the left to see if it was one of Naya’s lovesick puppies who often swung by when she was at work.
Officer McNeal rounded the corner and smiled.
“Alexia Knight,” he said from the landing below. “Have you been dodging me?”
“How come you’re never in uniform?” I asked skeptically, looking at his black pants and shirt. McNeal looked like a cop, but it didn’t feel legit, if that makes any sense. He looked forty, but something about his grey eyes seemed much older.
“I’m a detective—we’re not required to wear uniforms.”
“So why did you introduce yourself as an officer?”
He threw his left foot up on the step and leaned on the railing. “Your father is in some serious trouble and we need to locate him.”
“You know about the kidnapping?”
His brow arched. Apparently he didn’t. “Nelson stole something that’s extremely valuable, and now the owner wants it back. He threatened to hunt down Nelson’s family, and we’re just looking to track your father down before this escalates out of hand.”
Then a light bulb switched on. “You’re not a cop, are you?” I rose to my feet with each foot on a different step. “You’re working with the man my dad owes, aren’t you? What did he do? Because he kidnapped my mother.”
McNeal looked me over and cocked his head to the side. “It doesn’t seem like he took everything of value.”
The remark confused me, but I quickly realized McNeal might see me as a way to bait my father.
“You think he cares about me?” I laughed but the sound quickly died as I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m not even his real daughter. He left us years ago and doesn’t give a damn about my life.”
McNeal drummed his fingers impatiently on the railing. “Your father is a thief.”
“What did he steal, a few grand? Write it off.”
“Fifty million in diamonds.”
Holy shit.
“My dad worked in a warehouse,” I said in a voice of denial.
“Is that what he told you?” McNeal huffed out a laugh and glanced upward. “He was a runner who completed payment transactions.”
“What does that mean?”
“If someone didn’t pay their debt, your father finished the transaction,” he said with his fingers shaped like a gun.
Oh my God.
“You’re lying.”
“Am
I?” He took a step up and I took a step back.
“I’m going to find him, and the longer I’m forced to wait, the more dangerous I become. Your family has been nothing but trouble; I should have washed my hands of you years ago by taking him out too.”
“Too?” This time I stepped forward. “What do you mean… too?”
“I can sense by your energy you’re not human,” he said. “And I’d be curious to know more about how that came to be. Your brother was a fool. At least your father wasn’t begging for immortality; he just wanted a fat paycheck. Humans should know their place.”
I was three seconds from lunging at him. “What do you know about Wes? How could you know him?”
“Nelson wanted to bring him into the business.” McNeal shrugged. “Only, your brother didn’t want monetary gain, that stupid human wanted immortality. Some of your kind get fixated on living forever and are willing to do anything, give up anything. Like a Mage is just going to give away that kind of power for a job? Fuck no. You got to earn your keep with us and show us your worth. It might take a lifetime to earn, but I didn’t tell him that. Just gave him his assignment and he chickened out.”
“What assignment?” I breathed. My heart raced like a hummingbird and my legs trembled.
“To kill a young Shifter—an alpha. We got a population problem around here with some of those wolves eating up land, and I’m trying to solve it. You take out the young alphas, and they can’t form packs. Packs are stronger, so creating more rogue Shifters by circumstance makes them easier to pick off—it’s a numbers game. Plus, no female wolf is going to pair up with a man who isn’t part of a pack. He had a problem with the assignment; some shit about the guy being his friend.”
It felt like a sheet of ice slid over my skin. McNeal was talking about Austin. Wes was trying to become immortal and his first assignment was to kill his best friend.
“You killed my brother?”
“Not personally,” he corrected. “I keep my hands clean and outsource all the dirty work. Keeps me out of Breed jail.”
“You aren’t afraid I’ll turn you in?”