by T. S. Ryder
"Then tell me."
"No."
Grayson stepped back, pulling in a deep breath. He studied her for a moment, then released it. "I'm sorry."
"You’d better be."
She had three days left before she was supposed to deliver the twins to the organization. Three days to harden her heart and sever these stupid emotional ties. It wasn't the first time she had gone undercover to get close to a mark and not the first time she had developed feelings.
But those were never this intense – always easily washed away. Why couldn’t she let Grayson go just the same?
Arabella stuffed her hands into her pockets and headed back toward the house. Grayson followed silently. In the elevator, the tension between them fell like a bass guitar's string, thick and tense. She stared outside, keeping her arms tight around her middle.
"You can tell me, you know. When you want to."
I'm part of a shady organization that kills for hire, kidnaps people, and manipulates the market for profit. Arabella couldn't suppress a snort. I was sent to kidnap your children.
"You need to find a new nanny," she said abruptly. She would go with the children when she kidnapped them. She couldn’t trust Kennedy with their safety. But this was the end of it all. She had to get her head out of the fantasy of what could never happen. "I'll stay for however long you need me to in order to find my replacement and then I'm gone."
And I'll never be happy again.
Chapter Eight – Grayson
After the conversation they'd had, Grayson hated knocking at Arabella's door later that night, but he really had no choice. She answered with angry eyes and a hostile expression, her hair mussed up around her head, flannel pajamas hiding her figure.
"Sorry for waking you," he said gruffly, his own embarrassment coloring his voice. "I just got a call from my lawyers about . . . well, about what I'm working on. I need to go."
"In the middle of the night?"
"They said it couldn’t wait."
Arabella shrugged. "Okay. That explains why you're in a suit again. Although I suppose it wouldn't be all that surprising if you slept in them."
When had she become so snarky? Grayson's frown increased. He had come off too strongly during their discussion, he knew that, but she was being rude. Although, considering how their discussion had gone down, he supposed it wasn't exactly unwarranted. He'd been up all night tossing and turning, wishing he had acted and spoken differently. It had almost been a relief when his colleagues had phoned him.
"I'll call you around nine if I'm not back yet," he told her, still stiff and gruff. "If you need anything, call my secretary."
"Okay." She shut the door without another word.
Grayson stood there for a moment. He wanted to open the door again and apologize for how he had acted and explain it was just because he felt so vulnerable himself. Maybe beg her not to leave, promise that he could actually behave the way he should and treat their relationship professionally.
But, of course, his insistence was what got him in this problem in the first place. He pushed too hard too fast and now it had opened a rift between them that he wasn't sure could be closed. He had done exactly what he had promised himself he wouldn't do and he had hurt Arabella and the twins in the process. They had already lost Christine and now he was driving Arabella away.
He headed out, trying to force Arabella and his messed-up life from his mind. He needed to focus on the twins. He had lost sight of that, but he'd gotten the kick in his head that he had needed and now he could do what he needed to do again. Make sure Olivia and Hudson were safe and leave them a better world than he had been given. It was the duty of every parent.
There would be other nannies. Someone else who loved them as much as Arabella. Next time, he wouldn’t let himself fall in love and ruin it all. They needed stability. Maybe in a few years he would consider dating again, but he didn't have the time for that now.
He quickly got to his offices where the lawyers and other lobbyists he was working with were waiting. The doors were closed and he received the news. Senator White had called for a vote in the senate on a bill he was trying to pass that would allow mining companies even more freedom – well ahead of schedule. Somehow it had all slipped through quietly without them finding about it until then.
"Get this out on all of our social media sites," Grayson ordered, fire flickering in his belly. "This can't happen. I want the country to know exactly what that little weasel is trying to get away with. And get me White on the telephone."
One of his aides flinched. "Sir, the senator is going to be sleeping—"
"Do I look like I care?" After everything that had gone wrong in his personal life, he was glad to be able to channel his aggression into something else. Even if it did mean terrifying his aides until he could terrify the senator. "I want to talk to him right now."
The aide gulped and turned away, dialing his cell phone. The office buzzed with activity and Grayson shooed them all out so he would have privacy for this discussion. He allowed the one aide to stay until he got ahold of the senator.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, White?" Grayson snarled.
"Mr. Alexander. Do you have any idea what time it is?" the senator's half-asleep voice was no less furious. "What can possibly be so important that it could not wait until morning?"
Grayson let out a lungful of smoke. The burning scent helped to calm his frayed patience and he lowered his voice to dangerous levels. "You know exactly what I mean. This bill you're trying to push through. It will destroy communities across the nation."
White didn't reply. He just hung up. Grayson snarled, flames searing his tongue. How could this be happening? It wasn't just the Shifters being targeted anymore. Just because it wasn't going to affect the rich, it meant that thousands of people should be put at risk? And they were the most vulnerable groups – the marginalized ones that were repeatedly silenced or outright ignored.
Grayson closed his eyes, considering his next move. The first thing was, of course, letting the people in on what was going on. This sort of legislation was snuck in for a reason. Public reaction was a factor that representatives would consider, but it wasn't always enough. There were two weeks until the vote would take place. He would need to conjure up a strategy to talk with the other senators.
His cell phone rang. He answered it, mind still elsewhere. "Hello."
"Grayson Alexander." The voice was deep and robotic. "Step back and refrain from involving yourself in Senator White's politics."
His brow furrowed. "Who is this?"
"This is the only warning you will receive. If you continue, we will take action against your children."
Dread flooded him, drowning his fires in ice. Grayson stiffened, his grip tightening on his phone. Olivia and Hudson flashed through his mind. Their wide, joyful smiles, innocent eyes, and trust in him. The voice continued, explaining to him to withdraw from his current political activities and Grayson already knew he would do so. Nothing was more important than his children. Nothing.
There had been threats, but never against the children, and never by someone who was able to contact him like this.
As soon as the call ended, he dashed from the office. His colleagues and aides tried to talk to him, but he brushed them off. The car waited in the parking garage but he didn't bother going after it. He took off into the air, his suit shredding from his body as he Shifted. The wind that usually calmed him did nothing. The ice left his veins, his fires roiling. If anybody had harmed his children, he would destroy them. He'd stop at nothing to see them reduced to a pile of ash.
He overshot the landing platform when he got home, landing instead on the screened-in balcony. He tore the screen in half and Shifted before he swung in. He charged into Arabella's room – only to receive a baseball bat to the abdomen. The air rushed from his lungs as pain exploded through his body. He doubled over and the bat smacked him across his back. He lashed out blindly, grasping handfuls of cloth. He
yanked and it tore in his hands. A female voice shrieked; the bat came at him again but this time he was able to grab the wrist holding it and slam it against the wall.
He pressed against his attacker. As soon as he saw who it was, though, his eyes widened and he released her, backing away. Heat rose in his cheeks as he looked back into Arabella's shocked eyes.
"I didn't know you had a baseball bat in here," he mumbled.
"I have to protect—"
He turned before she finished and left the room. Arabella gave a strangled shout and followed him. Grayson's heart pounded in his chest as he rushed to the twins' room. They were sleeping tucked into their beds, Olivia with her thumb in her mouth, Hudson curled on his side. Grayson sagged against the doorframe, blinking back a rush of grateful tears.
"What is going on?" Arabella hissed. "You break into my room naked, then practically tear my nightgown off—"
"I received a call," he interrupted. "I don't know who it was, but they said I had to back down from politics or something would happen to my children. I had to make sure they were okay."
Arabella's eyes widened and her face paled. She pushed past him, glanced in at the children, and let out a sigh. She leaned against the other side of the door, closing her eyes. She trembled from head to toe and he reached out to comfort her but stopped. He didn't have the right to touch her.
"I'm going to hire some more security," he said. "Jeremy White is trying to pass a new bill that will have devastating effects on Shifter communities."
"And you need to stop him."
"I need to protect my children." Grayson snorted, shaking his head. "But it seems like I need to sacrifice the future I dreamed for them for their safety now. I will be stepping down. I can't let anything happen to them."
Arabella looked hesitant. Her arms wrapped around her middle, making her breasts spill from the torn nightdress. She opened her mouth but said nothing. Grayson had nothing more to say at the moment, either. He needed to forget about whatever personal messes he had. His children were everything. They needed to stay safe.
Chapter Nine – Arabella
What had Kennedy been thinking, actually calling and threatening Grayson directly? The mission was going to be successful – at least the endgame was – but the organization would want to know why they changed the script. Kennedy calling Grayson changed everything.
At least now Arabella had a good reason for saying that it was too dangerous to steal the kids and volunteer herself as the kidnapping victim instead. It didn't really matter who they kidnapped. They just needed to make sure that he would stay away from White's vote and she needed an escape.
Her phone rang.
Arabella glanced at the big, burly security guard who was standing by the window. Grayson may have overdone it. This guy was one of the half-dozen who now resided at the tree-top house. But then again, considering the organization itself, there was no such thing as overdoing safety.
Her phone continued to ring. She answered it, slipping into another room as she did so.
"Hiya, sis," Kennedy greeted brightly. "I was hoping that we could talk. The vote is happening and we need to get our two most important voters where they can do their job."
"Oh, is that still happening?" Arabella replied, anger simmering in her voice. "Here I thought that you had gone ahead and made the vote without me."
There was a beat. "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You were supposed to wait."
"And you think I haven't?"
"What do you think?" Arabella rubbed her temple. "Look, I can't talk about this right now. I'll see you at the wedding and we can talk there."
Arabella could almost hear Kennedy rolling her eyes. "Fine. But you better hurry it up. I'm about done waiting for you and this vote can't wait – the groom has to know what kind of flower to wear, after all."
"I'll be there soon."
If Kennedy thought that Arabella still could get the children away from the Shifter community without causing a scene . . . well, that would be discussed later. All she had to do was play up how her plan was ruined and she might have a chance to protect the twins after all.
***
She met Kennedy at a house in town, a bright yellow structure that reeked of over-cheerfulness. Arabella marched in without knocking. Her colleague was in the living room, watching old sitcom reruns while cleaning her gun collection. A weapons display? Was Kennedy making a power play?
"Arabella, glad you could make it." Kennedy frowned as she glanced behind her. "Where are the kids? Didn't you bring them?"
Arabella laughed. "Really? How did you expect me to get them out of there after that stunt you pulled?"
"Stunt? What stunt?" Kennedy's brows drew together. "What are you talking about, Bella?"
"Don't call me that." She had always hated being called 'Bella.' Her hands clenched. "So what is your end game? You call up Alexander to tell him that if he doesn't step down his children will pay the price and then you act like I should have taken them anyway? I told you from the start to follow my lead and you have done nothing but put this plan in jeopardy again and again."
Kennedy put the gun she was cleaning down and stood. "One, I didn't make any calls. I've been sitting here with my hands under my ass, waiting for you to give the signal. Two, you were supposed to bring the kids. I don't see any kids."
Arabella stared at her for a moment. The other woman seemed to be genuine in her confusion about what she was being accused of. Could it have been another group that made the threat toward Grayson? Maybe their employers were growing impatient and made the threat themselves. She shook her head.
"Somebody made a threat against the children and Alexander isn't taking any chances. He's stepped down from politics and he's hired a bunch of extra security. If we're going to still go ahead with the plan, then adjustments have to be made. Namely who the target is."
Kennedy narrowed her eyes.
"I've worked on seducing the dragon," Arabella continued, keeping her voice flat. "He's developed feelings for me, so we stage my kidnapping instead. It will have the same effect."
Kennedy started laughing. "Are you for real right now?"
Arabella pressed her lips together, itching to have a gun in her hands.
"Working on seducing. Really? That's what you call getting all weepy when he starts confessing his love to you? See, I thought that was something else. Something like . . . you developing feelings for a mark. Honestly, Bella, it's pathetic. You've always been a little too emotional to be really good at your job, but actually falling in love? Did taking care of those brats trigger some latent maternal instincts that you latched onto Grayson Alexander?"
How did Kennedy know about their discussion? The walk in the woods. Of course. Somebody must have been watching. There couldn’t have been any sort of bugs in the house. The security was too good for people to get in without being noticed, especially since it was on the top of a tree. And she had checked her own belongings very carefully.
But Kennedy was leading up to something big. Something Arabella knew she wasn't going to like.
"I'm the emotional one?" she scoffed, keeping a steady gaze on her colleague. "You're the one who lost the organization a million dollars last year because you lost your temper and shot your mark."
Kennedy's smirk disappeared. She reached for a gun and it was all the threat that Arabella needed. She sprang toward Kennedy and brought her knuckles crashing into the other woman's ribs. Kennedy stumbled back, gasping. But when Arabella reached for the same gun, she growled and threw herself forward.
Her arms wrapped around Arabella's waist and they fell back. Arabella smashed into the coffee table, its legs snapping under their combined weight. Kennedy pressed her elbow into Arabella's throat and leaned onto it; Arabella grabbed a handful of her colleague's hair and yanked hard, jerking her head to one side.
Kennedy scratched at Arabella’s eyes, but Arabella punched out her elbow, knockin
g the other woman off balance. She grabbed a gun and smashed it into the side of Kennedy's face. Kennedy growled and threw herself onto Arabella again, but Arabella was able to roll her off. Both women sprang to their feet and circled each other.
Sweat beaded Arabella's brow. Her heart pounded and she watched Kennedy closely. She was at a disadvantage here. She didn’t know what guns were loaded and which weren't; Kennedy did. One wrong move and she was dead. She tested the one in her hand; it clicked hollowly.
Kennedy grinned at her. "You know, this was a delightful mission for me. I've wanted to see you go down for a long, long time. You're so . . . incompetent. So weepy."
"Better weepy than someone with no self-control."
"At least I don't go around falling in love with every mark I am paired with!"
Arabella growled in her throat. "I have never fallen in love with a mark."
"Just Grayson then?" Kennedy pulled a disgusted face. "He's not even the best looking mark you've had. Remember the guy in Cairo? Now he was worth wasting your panties for. But a dragon?"
"I wouldn't expect you to understand. You've never known anything but this life and you don't care if the world burns. Anything goes as long as you get your paycheck."
Kennedy shrugged. "That's better than moping around to pay for your freedom. As if you'll ever be free from the organization. Once a killer, always a killer. What would you even do if you didn't have the organization telling you every move to make?"
Arabella swung. Kennedy ducked and slammed her fist into Arabella's sternum. The air fled from her lungs and her heart skipped a beat. Her colleague trapped her in a headlock, squeezing her throat. Arabella fought against her, but it did no good.
"It will be delightful to know what the boss has planned for you."
Arabella punched at Kennedy; she swung her body around, did everything she could to break the other woman's grip. Nothing worked and slowly the world went black.
***
Light stabbed into Arabella’s eyes. It cut into her brain, sending white-hot shots of agony down her spine. Every inch of her felt bruised, especially around her ribs. Her heart still beat an unfamiliar pattern and it was difficult to pull in a breath of air. The light blinded her, but there were sounds. Muted sounds. They came from so far away that Arabella dismissed them.