Sue pushed the cart through the grocery store, stopping long enough to add a dozen eggs to the basket before continuing on. She had two loads of clothes pinned out on the line at home drying and the morning was still young. She’d wanted to beat both the heat and the crowd and get her chores done. Her habit of getting up early for work meant she was always awake at the crack of dawn even on days she didn’t have a shift at the diner.
That wasn’t her excuse this morning. No, she’d had a much nicer wakeup call. Billy tugged at her hand. “What?”
“Popsicles. Remember?”
She grinned. “How could I forget?” She wheeled over to the freezer and pulled open the door, shivering at the rush of cold air. “Pick out a box.”
Billy went up on his toes and reached for a box with multiple flavors of the icy treat. Holding it carefully with both hands, he lifted it down and then frowned when he realized he couldn’t reach the bottom of the cart. He held the box up to her.
“Thank you.” She set the box down in the cart. “Fruit and vegetables next. I’d like some watermelon.”
Billy did a half-skip, half-run down the aisle in front of her. He liked watermelon as much as she did. She was thankful her son wasn’t a picky eater. He liked most foods, except lima beans. Since she didn’t much like them either, it wasn’t a problem.
He was sizing up the watermelons and patting each one when she pulled the cart up next to him. “Well, what do you think?” She included him in the grocery shopping and cooking. She thought it was important for kids to understand where their food came from. They often went to the weekend farmer’s market for fresh veggies and eggs.
“This one.” He pointed to a medium-sized watermelon.
Sue lifted it. “Good weight and no soft spots. Excellent choice.” She set it in the cart and headed toward the tomatoes.
She was just reaching for one when Billy yelled. “Daddy.”
Sue whirled around and, sure enough, William was striding toward them. He was dressed for success in dress pants and a shirt, but he’d rolled the sleeves back as a concession to the heat. “What are you doing here, William?” Not exactly friendly, but she wasn’t feeling very kindly toward her ex. Why wasn’t he at his office in Charlotte? It couldn’t be coincidence that he’d run into them here. Salvation was a two-hour drive from the city. He had to have been looking for them.
William had his sunglasses in one hand and a cocky smile on his face. She’d seen that smile a thousand times. He used it when he wanted something from her. “I saw your car in the lot and thought I’d drop in to say hello.”
Billy was bouncing on his toes in front of his father, but William never even looked at him. Anger simmered in her gut. How could he ignore his son so easily? Billy tugged on his father’s pant leg to get his attention and William frowned, stepped back and checked the crease in his pants. Billy’s excitement slowly faded and he glanced up at her for guidance.
Sue ignored her ex and focused on her son. “It’s okay. Why don’t you go and pick out four tomatoes for us.” She handed him the plastic produce bag. “Make sure they’re ripe.”
He took the bag and plodded toward the tomatoes, his little head down as he scuffed his toes into the floor. She clenched her hands by her sides to keep from smacking the idiot she used to be married to. “You’re obviously not here to see your son, so what do you want?”
William frowned and his forehead wrinkled, but he quickly smoothed away his concern with a smile. “Of course I’m here to see Billy.” He tucked his sunglasses in his shirt pocket. “We should discuss our son’s future.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at William. “There is nothing to discuss. Billy has lived with me since the day he was born and that’s not changing. Ever. I’ll bankrupt myself before I allow that to happen.”
William frowned as though that possibility had never occurred to him. Then a sly smile slid onto his face. “I just thought a young, vibrant woman like yourself would be interested in getting out and about, maybe finding a man.” He ran his gaze up and down her body in the most insulting way.
It boggled her mind that she’d ever been attracted to him. Amazing what clarity came with age and experience. She was just glad the bruise on her face was faint enough that she’d been able to cover it with makeup and there was no swelling. The last thing she wanted was to have to answer questions about how she’d gotten it.
“Hard to find a man with a kid in tow,” he pointed out.
Sue was mildly surprised the top didn’t blow off her head. She’d never been so angry in her life. Not even when he’d left her all those years ago. After having him size her up in such a sexual manner, she felt slightly unclean and wanted to go home and have another shower. “Not every man is like you. Some even like kids.” Elias came to mind. He loved his nephews and was good with Billy.
Her ex frowned again. She wondered if he practiced his expressions in a mirror. They were picture perfect but not really genuine. This was his concerned expression. “Are you seeing someone? Who are you allowing around my son?”
“And we’re done.” Sue glanced around the store. It was early but there were customers around, people like her who were trying to run their errands early before the heat got too bad. “This is not the place to discuss this. If you have anything to say, talk to my lawyer. Until this is settled, stick to your visitation schedule.” Billy was hovering behind her but kept a distance.
William wasn’t happy but there wasn’t much he could do about it here. He turned and left without even saying goodbye to Billy. Sue turned to her son and crouched down. The shattered look on his face almost broke her heart.
“Why doesn’t Daddy like me?”
His innocent question broke her heart. Tears welled in her eyes but she blinked them back. “It’s not you, baby.” She pulled Billy into her arms and held him close. “You’re the best little boy in the world, and I love you more than anything.” She pulled back and looked into his precious face. “You know that, right?”
Billy nodded. “I don’t like Daddy either,” he announced.
William had hurt his son before, but something was different this time. Billy’s innocence had been shattered when his grandparents died, but this was worse somehow. He’d lost faith in his father.
“How about we finish getting what we need, go home and have a picnic?” It would give them time to talk without so many interested ears trying to hear what they were saying. One of the drawbacks of a small town was that everyone knew your business.
Billy held up the plastic sack. “I got tomatoes.”
Her heart swelled with love for her little boy who’d been forced to deal with a lot more than he should have at his age. She took the bag and placed them in the cart. “They look delicious. You did a great job.”
Billy nodded and slipped his hand into hers. He stayed by her side while she grabbed the few other items they needed and headed to the checkout. He was quiet while she pushed the cart out into the parking lot and loaded their bags into the trunk of the car.
Together they pushed the cart into the cart corral. She held the handles and steered while he stood in front of her with his hands on the cart and shoved with all his might. Love for him threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted only the best for him.
They were headed back to the car when she felt a niggling in the back of her head. Someone was watching them. She glanced around, expecting to see William, which would totally be out of character. He usually went off in a pout whenever he didn’t get his own way.
But it wasn’t William watching them. Connor McLennan was on the far side of the parking lot leaning against the side of his truck, and he didn’t look happy. Scratch that. He looked downright hostile. She reached down and patted the pocket of her shorts to make sure her phone was there in case she needed to call for help. Icy fingers of fear crawled down her spine. She smiled and chatted with B
illy as she strapped him into his seat, but all the while she kept one eye on Connor.
He looked a little worse for wear this morning. Not surprising considering Elias had almost choked him to death last night. Her hand automatically went to her injured cheek. Connor smiled, lifted his hand and rubbed it over his chin. It wasn’t exactly a threatening gesture, but she felt the underlying threat all the same. She swallowed back her fear and squared her shoulders as she rounded the car and climbed in.
Billy looked beyond her to where Connor was standing. “Why is that man watching us?”
“He’s probably just waiting for someone.” She was surprised Billy had even noticed Connor standing there. “He knows me from the diner.”
As she’d hoped, that was good enough for her son. He kicked his heels against the seat as she started the car and pulled away. “Can we have watermelon on our picnic?”
She wished she hadn’t promised him a picnic. With the threat of Connor looming over them, she had the urge to barricade her and her son inside. But that wouldn’t stop Connor if he was determined.
Maybe she should give Billy to his father in order to protect him. William would take him away and Billy would be safe.
No. No one was getting her son. She’d pack up and run away if that’s what it took to protect him. “Of course we can have watermelon.” They’d stay close to the house and she’d be extra vigilant. She had to figure out what she was going to do.
She wanted to talk to Elias. Wished he were here beside her. She didn’t even know for sure when she’d see him again. It occurred to her that she didn’t even know how to contact him. Didn’t even have his phone number.
That was a slap in the face. If he were serious about her, wouldn’t he at least have given her some way of contacting him directly?
Sue kept glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure Connor wasn’t following her. Not that he had to. He knew where she lived.
* * * * *
Elias stared at Jacque. He wasn’t about to back down. He’d take his nephews and go someplace else if he had to. He would convince Sue to pack up her and Billy and leave with them. It would take some time to establish them in a new place, but he could do it. He had money and skills and wasn’t afraid of hard work.
“Relax.” Jacque leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on his bare stomach. “We don’t hurt women and children. And for God’s sake, eat something. You’re going to hurt Gator’s feelings. He slaved over those waffles.”
Gator wiped a non-existent tear from his eye. “I’m crushed.”
Elias gave a snort of laughter. Damned if he didn’t like these men. Beside him, Sage and Reece both relaxed. Elias picked up a fork and dug into the slightly cold waffles. Didn’t matter. They were damn tasty. He loaded up on ham and bacon as well. He needed the protein. Healing always took a lot of energy. He nodded his thanks when Gator placed another platter of waffles in front of him. He forked a half dozen more onto his plate.
Werewolf metabolism ran hot and fast, and he needed a lot more calories than a human male did to survive. Add in the healing and the shifting, and he was running on empty.
The others chatted among themselves. Jacque’s mother opened the door and walked in. She was a good-looking woman with brown hair and golden-brown eyes. She went to her son and spoke with him and Gwen about a repair that needed to be done on her cabin. Seems she’d dented a wall when moving a piece of furniture. “I can take care of that,” Elias told Jacque between mouthfuls. If they were going to stay, it was time to start earning their keep.
“Can you now?” the alpha asked.
Elias nodded as he drained his coffee mug. “A lifetime in the construction business.” He smiled at Elise LaForge. “It’s an easy fix. Won’t take me long at all.”
“We can help,” Sage offered.
Elias glanced at Jacque who nodded. “Sounds good to me. Mama?”
She smiled. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Elias pushed back from the table. “Thanks for breakfast.”
“We still need to decide what to do about Sue,” Anny pointed out. “Connor McLennan isn’t going to just leave her alone.”
Jacque glanced at Gator and Armand. They both nodded. “I want to discuss it with the rest of the pack, but Sue needs to make a choice. Either she’s with us, with you, or she’s out of your life. Can’t be half-assed. If she’s with you, she needs to pack up and move out here. If she’s not willing to do that, she needs to be warned to keep her mouth shut and you need to stay away from her.”
Elias felt the pronouncement of the alpha all the way to the very marrow of his bones. He swallowed back the excitement that welled inside him. He could have a life with Sue.
If she wanted one. He knew she wanted him, but was it enough for her to give up her entire life?
“What about the trouble with her ex-husband? He wants custody of Billy.” And that would never work. They needed to get William Walsh out of his son’s life once and for all. Elias didn’t even feel the slightest bit guilty about that. Any man who’d abandon his son like William had didn’t deserve him. “Sue mentioned that her ex thinks there’s money from her parents’ estate, and he wants that more than he wants his son.”
Jacque looked to Armand, who nodded. “I’ll get all the information I need from Anny and start researching. If there’s any leverage to find, I’ll get it.”
Elias was overwhelmed by how quickly and easily the pack mobilized on his behalf. “Thank you.”
Gator slapped him on the back as he passed by and Sylvie squeezed his shoulder. “That’s what pack is all about,” Gator reminded him.
Jacque stood. “We’re done for now. Go and fix my mama’s wall and I’ll talk with Louis and Cole. We started this pack together and any decisions on the expansion of it have to be unanimous. I’m almost certain they’ll agree.” He leaned down and kissed Gwen. “Anny and the other women want Sue and her son here. They want Sage and Reece too. Not too sure about you though.”
Gwen swatted Jacque and frowned. “Of course we want Elias here.”
Jacque caught his mate’s hand and brought it to his lips. “He knows I’m teasing him, chère.”
Elias cocked his eyebrow in question. He hadn’t been quite sure the alpha had been teasing. In his experience, alphas didn’t tease. They simply made edicts that everyone else followed.
Jacque grinned. “The men won’t want to make their women unhappy. I expect by the time you finish the work at Mama’s, you’ll have the go-ahead to see Sue.”
“What about the men who attacked Sue?” Gator had one arm around his mate and a lethal glint in his eyes. The man acted like he was laidback but Elias wasn’t fooled. Not one bit. The man was like his namesake, dangerous and deadly. Simply waiting for the right time to strike.
“If they continue to be a problem, we’ll have to pay them a visit.” Jacque headed to the door, stopping long enough to kiss his mother on the cheek. “Now I’ve got things to do.”
The pack scattered. Anny and Armand began clearing away the dishes. Reece picked up some plates and started to help.
Elias turned to the alpha’s mother. “Ma’am. If you’ll lead the way, we’ll get those repairs taken care of.”
“I’m going to stay here, if that’s okay?” Reece asked.
Elias looked to Armand, who nodded in confirmation. “That’s fine. He can hang out here with me and Anny.”
Elias looked at Sage. “You coming with me?”
“Yeah, I am.”
Elias held the door for Sage and Mrs. LaForge but his heart and mind were with Sue. He knew there was a good chance she’d turn him down. It was asking a lot of her to give up the only life she’d known, to change not only her future but also her son’s. And that was the biggest obstacle of them all. Sue would want the best for Billy. Elias simply had to prove to her that he was the best o
ption there was.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sue laughed as Billy spit watermelon seeds into the air. The front of his shirt was covered in watermelon juice, but she didn’t care. She was happy to see him smiling and laughing.
“Look, Mom, look at how far they go.”
“I can see.” She tousled his fair hair as he sent another one soaring. “You’re pretty good at that. Don’t forget to actually eat some of the watermelon.”
“I won’t.” He took a big bite and chewed, gave her a sly look and sent anther seed flying.
Sue sat back on the plaid blanket and rested her weight on her hands. It was another hot afternoon and she was in no hurry to do much of anything. Her laundry was all folded and put away, her bed remade. With the grocery shopping done, there was nothing left for her to do but enjoy time with her son.
Sure, the bathroom needed cleaning, but that could wait until later. Being with Billy was the most important thing. She hated to break the mood, but she couldn’t ignore what had happened with his father. “Do you want to talk about what happened at the grocery store this morning?”
Billy put his head down and nibbled at his watermelon slice. He shrugged his slender shoulders. He was so young, so emotionally fragile after everything he’d been through. She silently cursed William even as she struggled to find the right words to console him.
“It’s not about you.” How could she make him understand that it wasn’t his fault his father was an asshole? She sat forward and rubbed her hand up and down his spine. “Your father, well, I’m not sure he’s capable of really liking anyone.”
“Not even you?” Blue eyes, so like her own it made her heart ache, filled with tears. Her son’s obvious pain made her want to hunt William down and smack him.
“Especially not me.”
“Why?” Billy frowned. “I like you. I love you,” he corrected.
“I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a reassuring hug. “Your father doesn’t understand what real love is. That’s his loss. But, Billy, there’s nothing you or I can do to change that.”
Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 Page 24