by Mia Taylor
She says that now but as soon as we have a moment alone, she’ll be asking about the case, too.
Still, he gave her a grateful look and smiled.
“Yes,” he agreed. “Tell me about you. You have a girlfriend yet?”
Braden smirked.
“Never mind me. Have you got one?”
The question caused Mal to bristle and again, his sister ran interference.
“Braden, why don’t you take your uncle’s stuff to his room? I’d like to spend some time alone with him.”
Braden looked abashed.
“I didn’t mean anything by it,” he grumbled and Mal shook his head.
“You didn’t say anything wrong,” he lied. Braden cast his mother a nervous look but he didn’t say another word as he left the siblings alone in the kitchen as the smell of coffee wafted through the room.
“He doesn’t remember what happened with Brynn very well,” Lena told him softly.
“I know.”
“I barely remember,” Lena offered and Mal’s shoulders tensed.
“I really don’t want to talk about it, Lena,” he said gruffly. “As you said, I didn’t come here to talk about unpleasantness.”
“I know,” Lena rushed on. “But let me just say this…”
Mal ground his teeth.
“Spit it out,” he muttered.
“Mal, you’re chasing a ghost. You can’t live like this for the rest of your life. If—”
His cell rang in his pocket and Mal snatched it up, relieved for the interruption.
“Barnes,” he answered.
“Shit, Barnes, I’m sorry,” Cory breathed. “I know you’re on vacation but this is important.”
“It’s fine,” Mal said, rising from the island to take the call away from his sister, who stared after him with sad eyes. “What’s going on?”
“This new case we got, the brothel near Northwestern?”
“What about it?” Mal asked. He could hear the echo of Rhett Lewis’ voice, warning him not to involve himself in any case, but Mal dismissed it.
“I think…” Cory inhaled. “I think we’ve got a problem.”
“You’ll need to be more specific,” Mal sighed. His whole life was a constant problem. If Cory wanted his help, he’d need more specifics.
“The brothel is run by bears. Well, one bear for certain.”
Mal blinked.
“Are you sure?” he murmured, lowering his voice. “Who? Someone known to us?”
“No…” Cory trailed off and Mal understood his reluctance to talk. “Can I come to you?”
“I’m in Saugatuck at my sister’s,” he said slowly. “If you want to drive two hours…”
“Text me the address. I’m leaving now.”
Mal felt a feeling of dread mounting in his gut.
“All right…”
“Don’t tell anyone I called.”
“Of course not,” Mal agreed. “I’m not supposed to be talking to anyone about anything.”
“I’ll see you tonight.”
The call ended and Mal turned to see Lena shaking her head, arms folded over her chest.
“You couldn’t even go one day,” she grumbled.
“I didn’t call,” Mal protested. “Cory called me.”
He texted the address to his partner and followed Lena back into the kitchen.
“He’s going to stop by later.”
“Of course he is,” Lena sighed. “Gods forbid you enjoy the little time you have with your family.”
“Lena…”
“What can’t wait? Why is Cory calling you and not your team?”
That, Mal had an answer for.
“Things aren’t the same at the CPD anymore,” he stated. Lena looked up, her brow furrowed.
“They can’t have gotten worse,” she jested, but it wasn’t really a joke. The corruption and solve rate was terrible in Chicago, no doubt.
But that wasn’t what Mal was referring to.
“The bears have split into their own division,” he explained quietly. “And things are getting a little tense around the office.”
Lena’s eyes widened.
“Is that smart?” she questioned. “There’s a reason that’s never happened before—anywhere.”
“I don’t know how it came about, but suddenly, all the mortals were transferred out to other precincts and we are together.”
“Why? Is there any explanation as to why that happened?”
Mal shook his head.
“No one has been questioning it but there is an undeniable tension. We’re waiting for another shoe to drop.”
“That’s crazy, Mal. Something’s not right. Who’s in charge?”
“Rhett Lewis. Do you know him?”
Lena cocked her head to the side as if she were trying to remember, but she shook her head.
“No… let me ask around about him.”
“No! No, don’t,” Mal said quickly. “There are a bunch of us who are already suspicious of who he is and where he came from but we don’t want to rouse his attention by asking. He’s been on the Chicago circuit for years but he came from nowhere. Sort of fell out of the sky.”
“No bear just falls out of the sky,” Lena told him. “He must have a sleuth, a family.”
“None that we can find,” Mal insisted. “But again, we’re working quietly without his knowledge.”
“Oh, Mal… that sounds dangerous. How do you know this guy isn’t some rogue, power-tripping agent or—”
“We don’t. That’s why there are some things that need to be done quietly. Hence the unsolicited visit from Cory today.”
Lena grunted and shrugged.
“I guess I don’t really have a say in the matter,” she griped.
“Thanks for understanding,” Mal replied dryly. “He won’t be here long.”
Lena paused and stared at him. Mal could feel her question before it was asked.
“Please don’t,” he begged her. “Not right now.”
“Okay,” she sighed. “But know that I’m worried about you.”
“I know.”
“Here,” Lena muttered, pouring a cup of coffee into an oversized mug. “Drink this.”
He accepted it and met her eyes.
“We’re good,” he promised. “I just don’t want to do this right now.”
“One day, Mal,” she breathed. “You’re going to have to move on.”
“That’s what you think,” he replied, taking a long sip of coffee. “I’ve been holding onto hope for five years. I’m not letting it go any time soon.”
~ ~ ~
Cory arrived just as dinner was put on the table and Lena grunted in exasperation.
“Hello, Cory,” she addressed him dully. “Won’t you stay for supper?”
The overweight detective blushed and shook his head.
“I can’t stay, Lena, thank you. But it was good to see you.”
“You drove two hours to turn around and go home?” Lena demanded in disbelief. “At least come in and have something to drink! Use the facilities.”
“Show me what you have first,” Mal insisted, pulling his partner outside.
“Hurry up!” Lena yelled after them. “It’s going to get cold!”
Mal closed the door and eyed Cory expectantly.
“Well? What’s so urgent?” he demanded but Cory was already reaching for his tablet, pulling up pictures.
“As I said, this latest case, the brothel by the school…”
“What about it? We’re not even sure if it’s a trafficking case,” Mal reminded him.
“No,” Cory agreed, thrusting the tablet into his hands. “But the madam is definitely a bear.”
“The madam?” Mal peered closer at the screen and his eyes narrowed slightly.
He was staring at an attractive blonde, ushering women from the back door of a brownstone into a van. She was in her mid to late forties.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Stella Lap
ierre. She’s from Boulder, Colorado.”
Mal waited, expecting that there was more to the story than just a bear heading up a criminal enterprise.
“And?” Mal urged, his eyes still fixed on the pictures.
“I have it on good authority that Rhett Lewis comes from Boulder also,” Cory said slowly, his eyes darting back toward the car. Mal’s gaze followed and for the first time, he realized that there was someone in the car with him.
“Who is that?” Mal demanded, his stomach twisting in alarm. “Who did you bring to my sister’s house?!”
“Don’t freak out, Mal. You’ll want to speak with her.”
Cory waved and with shocked eyes, Mal watched as Stella Lapierre stepped from the passenger side of the car.
“You brought a brothel owner to my sister’s house?” Mal hissed as the svelte blonde moved toward them, her green eyes bright.
“Don’t get upset, Mal,” she cooed as though they were old friends. “I already know where you live.”
“You were the one who came looking for me,” Mal choked.
“I was,” Stella agreed, nodding. “But I’m not here to do you any harm, I swear.”
“Cory,” Mal growled. “What the hell is this?”
“I’m here to strike a deal with you, Mal,” Stella said before Cory could answer.
“And what deal would that be?” he snarled. “What could you possibly have that I would want?”
He did not know this woman and he was certain he’d never before laid eyes on her, but he inherently did not like nor trust her.
“I have a personal problem with your boss,” Stella explained lightly.
“Most pimps do,” Mal bit back.
“Mal, you want to hear her out,” Cory said quietly and Mal gaped at him in disbelief.
“You don’t know Rhett Lewis, not the way I do and not the way my sleuth does.”
“Cory, I’m shocked at you,” Mal growled, shaking his head in disbelief. “What were you thinking?”
“He’s thinking that he wants the right bears having his back,” Stella again answered and Mal glowered at her.
“Lady, I don’t make deals with criminals, not unless it results in jail time for them.”
“No?”
“No.”
Mal turned his attention back to Cory.
“Get her the hell out of here before I lay you out myself.”
He spun, still stunned at the turn of events, but Stella’s voice called out to him.
“What if I can get you Brynn back?”
All the hairs at the base of Mal’s neck rose and he gaped at her in shock.
“What?” he gasped, spinning around. “What did you say?”
“Brynn. Brynn Alexander. The woman who got kidnapped in Belize five years ago? You’re still interested in what happened to her, aren’t you?”
“What would you know about Brynn?” Mal rasped, advancing on her with furious eyes, but Stella did not balk.
“Mal, don’t,” Cory pleaded. “She’s only trying to help.”
Mal scoffed.
“Assuming I believe anything that’s coming out of her overpainted mouth, she’s not doing this for free, I assume.”
“I’m offering you a way to be reunited with your mate, Malcolm. Isn’t whatever I want in return a small price to pay?”
She’s lying. Whatever she claims to know about Brynn. She has to be lying.
“Just hear her out, Mal.”
His breaths were escaping in short, uneven rasps, but he found himself staring balefully at her as he waited for her to continue.
“Well,” Stella said, beaming. “It’s really very simple. We want Rhett Lewis… and Station 22.”
Mal scoffed.
“What does that even mean?” he demanded. “And where the hell is Brynn?”
“Brynn is safe… for now. If you do what I propose, you’ll be back together in no time, but if you don’t…”
“I don’t even know what you’re asking,” Mal shouted, his patience completely expired as the conversation grew more ridiculous.
“We’re asking you to stage a coup,” Stella replied evenly. “And when you do that, I will deliver Brynn back into your arms.”
Before he could stop himself, Mal shifted, lunging toward the perfectly coiffed blonde and pinning her to the ground.
“MAL!” Cory choked in shock. “Don’t!”
“It’s all right,” Stella said, grinning up at him. She remained in her mortal form as saliva dripped from Mal’s fangs. “It’s a lot to process.”
“Where is Brynn?” he snarled. “If you know where she is and you don’t tell me…”
“MAL!” It was Lena’s voice which caused him to fall back off the nonchalant bear madam.
“Oh, all right,” Stella sighed. “I can see you drive a hard bargain. I’ll bring you to Brynn, but then we have a deal, all right?”
He blinked, morphing back, and gaped at her.
“Do we have a deal or not?” Stella demanded impatiently. “I don’t have all day.”
Mal whirled and looked at his shocked sister and then at Cory.
“Y-you really know where she is?” he sputtered. “You’re not just blowing smoke?”
“I know where she is,” Stella replied. “She’s been working for me.”
A terrible pang of sorrow filled Mal’s heart and he howled at the idea of his mate living in such deplorable conditions for so long. His desire to throttle Stella was overwhelming.
“Mal…” Lena whispered. “What is going on?”
“Well?” Stella demanded, losing the bemused expression on her face. “Are we doing this or not?”
“Bring me to Brynn,” Mal hissed, steeling himself from another attack. “And then we’ll talk.”
Chapter Three
Where Has Brynn Been?
“You’re doing that all wrong,” Brynn snapped, grabbing the feather duster from Jasmin’s hand. “How can you screw up dusting?”
The girl shrugged in her usual “don’t give a rat’s ass” way and stood back as Brynn finished attacking the chandelier.
“There, see? No dust floating around.”
“You’re great at this,” Jasmin murmured. “You must be very proud of yourself.”
Brynn glared at her, baring her teeth slightly, and Jasmin balked.
“Just do your job,” she snarled. “And don’t make me tell you again.”
“Yes ma’am,” the girl muttered and shuffled off to finish her cleaning.
“It’s hard to find good help, isn’t it?” Bailey chuckled, coming up behind her. He stood uncomfortably close to her and Brynn threw her head back to glare defiantly at him.
“You’re the one who hires them based on looks, not talent,” she reminded him. “If you’d actually look at their resumes…”
“We hired you for a different reason,” Bailey leered. “But the fact that you’re stunningly beautiful doesn’t hurt.”
Brynn snorted and spun away, but the reminder of her past only caused her stomach to flip dangerously.
“Where are you going?” Bailey called after her. “Aren’t you ready to take a break?”
“I am,” Brynn retorted. “That’s where I’m going.”
She was out of his earshot before he could respond, hurrying back through the mansion toward her bedroom.
Bailey had never been shy about his attraction toward her and for her part, Brynn didn’t know why she was so off-put by the bear. Perhaps it was because he was a bear and inherently, she knew to stay away.
But why? How?
She’d barely made it into her room when there was a knock at the door.
“Brynn?”
I can’t get two seconds to myself in this house.
She should have been used to it after five years of waiting on the LaPierres and Paul Stark hand and foot, but it never really got easier.
“Yes, Paul?”
“I need to have a word with you.”
“Come in.”
<
br /> The door opened and Brynn found herself staring at the intelligent-looking bear with mild interest. It wasn’t often that the owner of the house would make his way into the staff’s quarters.
This must be huge.
“How are you doing?” he asked and again, Brynn was perplexed by his presence.
Since when does he care how I’m doing?
While no one was particularly cruel to her, there was certainly no warmth toward her.
The way Brynn saw it, she was an orphan, living among strangers.
“I’m fine…” she replied slowly. “How are you?”
“Great. Good.” Paul seemed nervous for the first time since she’d known him and he stood awkwardly in the doorway.
“I’m just going to close the door,” Paul said. “Because what I’m going to tell you should be private.”
A prickle of apprehension shot through her and she eyed him warily as she nodded her consent for him to close the door.
“Someone is coming to see you today,” he explained. “Someone from your past.”
Brynn stared at him, the words making little sense.
“What?”
“I know,” Paul sighed. “But he’s very eager to see you and… well, we couldn’t deny him the opportunity.”
Brynn continued to gape at Paul, unspeaking.
“It will be hard for you, I know,” Paul continued in a rush. “But I want you to try and keep your composure.”
“W-how? How did he find me?” Brynn managed to choke. “How?”
“We found him,” Paul explained lightly. “You have to know we’ve been looking since you came here.”
Brynn knew nothing of the sort but she saved her skepticism.
“Who is it? When will he be here?”
“I’d rather you wait and see before I say anything else. Like a surprise,” Paul offered optimistically.
“A surprise,” Brynn intoned dully, running her hand through her too-long blonde mop of hair. “No one should see me like this.”
“We’ll get you fixed up,” Paul agreed, nodding. “Don’t worry. He won’t be here for a few hours yet. I just wanted to prepare you that you can expect a visitor.”
Brynn didn’t know what else to say and instead, lowered her gaze.
“Are you okay with this, Brynn?”
She nodded and raised her eyes.
“Of course. Sure. Isn’t this what I wanted?”