The Wolves Are Everywhere

by Janie Marie

“Darling, it’s a bit more complex than that. I told you to read. It might help you escape this young man who haunts your thoughts.”

  She nearly revealed her sketch to look at Logan, then slid it under her arm to keep it out of view. “What do you think they’re doing?”

  “What they do, I suppose.” Lorelei’s soft gaze fell over her face. “It might help to understand them. If you considered for one moment what their relationships with each other could mean, it would give you a different perspective of their actions.”

  “The last thing I want is to learn Logan was more tied to Janie than I thought.” She groaned, her mind torturing her with the memory of those photos they’d taken. Logan had been in love with Janie when he touched her. And it had been unnecessary since Luc really considered Janie his queen, and he wouldn’t have even hurt them. Then again, she had to remind herself that the Luc Logan described wasn’t exactly the Luc she’d met. Something had changed because of the attack on Janie, and maybe this side of him wasn’t as inclined to maim and torture.

  She shivered, wondering what Luc was capable of. Damon scared the crap out of her, and the few times she’d seen Lance Grimm, she’d frozen in place with the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. They were dark men, that was for certain. But Logan—her mind always drifted back to him. He touched Janie then, and he wanted to. “I don’t want to talk about him,” she rushed, taking a shaky breath as the burning ache spread out from her heart. “Gabriel had me thinking about him all day yesterday because he doesn’t want me to leave the center.”

  “I don’t want you to leave,” Lorelei said hastily. “Neither does Maura.”

  “Maura only wants Ryder, and it’s ridiculous.” Kylie darted her eyes to her stepsister. Maura was drawing patterns on the glass.

  “She needs her sister.” Lorelei touched Kylie’s hand. “Let me see.”

  Sighing, she sat up straight and slid the sketch over.

  “Oh, this is beautiful.”

  Kylie put her head down on her arms, watching Lorelei admire the drawing. She’d drawn him how she remembered him from the night he told her he was in love with her.

  “He’s quite handsome.” Lorelei smiled at the drawing. “Like his father.”

  She didn’t comment. Lance Grimm visited Lorelei once a week. He showed interest in Maura in a fatherly way, but he seemed to hesitate getting closer. Maybe it was Kylie’s protective urge to keep Maura away from all men that made him keep his distance, but he didn’t hold back with Lorelei.

  It amazed Kylie that Lorelei really seemed at peace when she was around a man as dangerous as Lance Grimm. Then again, Kevin had been the actual monster, and Kylie had thought he was a great man. Besides being clueless, that is. It still confused her that Kevin had done all this to Lorelei. He loved her, or he made it appear that way. She wondered if Lorelei had only returned Kevin’s feelings, genuinely, would things be different.

  Kylie even asked Lorelei if she ever loved Kevin. Her stepmother’s reply left Kylie in tears: “How could I love him? He wanted to kill you.”

  It was awful how fucked up her life was. It turned out she had the most protective mother anyone could ask for. She was just lost on how to keep them safe.

  Kylie turned her head so she wouldn’t have to see either of them. Between Lorelei’s scars and Maura once again wearing her hoodie to hide, it was too much.

  She took a painful breath upon realizing Janie was the other girl with the red hood. Kylie had merely been the wolf dressed up. Instead of a grandma, she was the wolf pretending to be Red Riding Hood so no one would bother looking for her victims. “Do you think the Red Riding Hood story is real?” she asked distractedly. “I know it’s different from the ones passed down in Europe, but do you think there’s truth in the way everyone here thinks about their stories?”

  Lorelei didn’t even pause to consider the question. “We’re living their version of that story, darling.”

  “What?” Kylie sat up again, feeling the urge to flee even though she’d asked for answers.

  “From what I understand, they believe there are always two. Two Red Riding Hoods, two wolves, two hunters, two worlds. Two everything.”

  “What does that have to do with us?”

  “Everything.” Lorelei gestured to the murals on the walls. Logan did them—she could tell his style. But they were the American Fairy Tales. “This is their world, not ours.”

  The door to the library opened, and in walked Dr. Gabriel Godson. She sat up straighter; he wasn’t supposed to meet with any of them today. Unless this was him coming to approve her request to leave the center. She’d agreed to continue getting treatment, but she wanted to get far away.

  “How are my favorite ladies?” Gabriel sat across from Kylie.

  “I want to leave,” Kylie repeated for probably the twentieth time. She didn’t deserve to be around Lorelei or Maura. And clearly, the world wasn’t meant for her. “Put me in jail if you have to, but I don’t want to be here.”

  Lorelei slid the sketchbook toward Gabriel. “Isn’t her drawing lovely?”

  Kylie scowled at Lorelei. Of course Lorelei would choose to act like a proud mother when she was trying to leave.

  Gabriel inspected the sketch, his ethereal features never exposing what he might be thinking. “You did a wonderful job, Kylie. Incredible; you relayed so much detail from memory. It looks just like him.”

  She teared up. This had been the worst part of having the truth hit her. “I remember everything now.” There were so many terrible memories—so many memories of her being a horrible human being. Sketching Logan had become her escape. It was the only time the memories left her in peace, and all she had was whatever moment with him she’d chosen to draw. “He’s in love with her, and he’s forgotten all about me.”

  Gabriel returned the sketchbook to her. “You make assumptions.”

  “He didn’t even look at me when we left.” She wiped away a tear that fell too fast for her to stop.

  “Kylie,” he said, sighing, “I explained the purpose of them not seeing you to your vehicle was to ensure anyone watching paid no attention to you. They instructed Logan to not look at the SUV you were going to be transported in. He meant to warn you, but it slipped his mind.”

  She scoffed, dropping her head to her folded arms. “Yeah, because he was focusing on telling me he was in love with Janie.” God, why couldn’t she let this go?

  Lorelei rubbed her back. Kylie flinched, which only hurt more because she knew her reaction saddened Lorelei.

  “I’ve arranged for Lance’s visit to last for the rest of the day,” Gabriel told Lorelei. “I’m closing the library for a while, and if you’d like to invite him to your suite, I can arrange it as long as Kylie and Maura feel comfortable. The garden is also open to you. I believe he wanted to discuss something with you there.”

  “Oh.” Lorelei cleared her throat. “I wasn’t expecting this. I thought—”

  “That he was bringing someone with him,” Gabriel cut her off.

  Kylie jerked her head up when the door opened and in walked Lance Grimm, followed by his son. She stood, almost falling over as Logan locked eyes with her.

  Lorelei got up slowly, holding out a hand, to which Lance thankfully stopped. He halted Logan and who Kylie immediately placed as Logan’s brother.

  Her heart pounded as the urge to hide caused her to seek escape. That’s when she noticed her sketch. Her sketchbook full of Logan Grimms. My man-boy. No!

  As Gabriel stood, Kylie snatched the sketchbook and flung it with all her might across the room. It flew like a Frisbee before smacking a girl Kylie hadn’t noticed sitting there.

  “Ow!” The girl clutched her head.

  “Sorry.” Kylie’s eyes went wide, darting back to Logan as he stood frozen. His brother simply shifted his attention between Kylie and the girl Gabriel was checking on.

  “Katie,”—Gabriel picked up the sketchbook while also offering the girl a hand—“why don’t you go to the clini
c and get some ice? I’ll come check on you later.”

  The brunette gave Kylie a dirty look as she got to her feet. “I just wanted to read. Zeyba and Éabha keep returning my books before I can finish them.”

  Gabriel smiled, guiding her toward the door. “I’ll talk to your roommates, but you know Nurses Dinah and Ashley have all the latest teen romances in their office.”

  “I like reverse harems, Dr. Gabe.” The girl passed Logan and his brother, winking. “I’m a sex addict.”

  Gabriel covered her mouth and continued ushering her out. When he finished, he returned to Kylie, an amused smile on his face as he held up the sketchbook. “I’ll keep this until he leaves.”

  Kylie could barely stand. Between looking like a damn fool for flinging her sketchbook across the room to the patient hitting on Logan and his brother . . . Oh, God, Logan was staring. He looked older. His hair was longer, his eyes darker. The already defined angles of his handsome face even more prominent. He’d gone from man-boy to man, and he was still a walking masterpiece.

  “What’s he doing here?” she asked, her pulse humming in her ears. “And burn that!”

  “I’m not burning your work.” Gabriel smiled, his green eyes glowing with delight. “Deep breath.”

  She obeyed because she wasn’t even certain she’d taken a breath.

  Lorelei’s protective embrace surrounded Kylie, and she leaned against her, breathing in even more while she listened to her stepmother. “Darling, I thought it would help to know he’s still supportive of you.”

  She trembled as Logan continued to stand there. His father was speaking to him, and his brother was staring her down like she was Satan’s assassin.

  Logan punched his brother’s shoulder. “Knock it off.”

  Oh, God, his voice. He sounded older—sexier.

  Gabriel gently took one of Kylie’s hands, warming it with his. “I’m considering your request to leave the treatment center for outpatient therapy. I feel forcing you to stay within these walls will hinder the progress you’re making. However, I will only approve this if you are in protective custody. Since Kevin is still at large, as is Trevor, I am opposed to letting this unfold. But we all feel that they’ll eventually conclude that you three are here. It would be beneficial to have all the guards rotating one area, rather than the town where Janie’s living, and the center. Ryder has opened the Godson Estate to your family.”

  “Ryder’s house?” she screeched.

  “There are several buildings on the property,” Gabriel said, as though this wasn’t the worst thing in the world. “Quite a few men are living onsite already. It would be ideal to have you all together.”

  “More like a buffet for the wolves,” she muttered, her eyes darting to Logan. He looked good. Too good. Every desire she’d had for him was back in full force, and she forgot everything bad he’d done. She had to remember Logan wasn’t as great as she wanted him to be. He was an asshole, and he knew it. He was only getting better because he loved Janie.

  Gabriel nodded. “He could track you down easily, and even on the other side of the world, you wouldn’t be safe. Which is their point. They can protect you, and the presence you would bring could increase the chances of them slipping up and revealing themselves.”

  “Kylie.” It was Logan. He took a cautious step toward them. “If you need us to leave, we can. I thought you knew we were coming.”

  She shook her head. He wasn’t looking at her like he hated her, but she didn’t see any outward sign he still had feelings for her.

  “No, you don’t want me here?” he asked. “Or, no, you didn’t know I was coming?”

  “I didn’t know you were coming,” she blurted, darting her eyes to Maura, who finally got up.

  Logan glanced at Maura, waving slowly before bringing his eyes back to her. “Is it okay if we visit?” He gestured to the man she had assumed was his brother. “This is Lykos, my brother. He’s not staying; he just brought me here.”

  Lykos, what a weird name. She scanned his face, trembling because he had none of the kindness Lance did.

  “Where’s Janie?” Kylie asked.

  “She went back to school today,” he said, distress written all over his face. He didn’t want Janie out in public, and he wasn’t happy about being so far from her. There was something else, too. He dropped his gaze. Guilt.

  Her heart hammered. “Are you with her?”

  He sighed, stepping back. “Not in the way you think. But I’m living with her. Well, in the main house.”

  “They’re not fucking,” his brother said in a cruel voice that felt like a punch to her stomach.

  Logan glared at him. “Stay quiet.”

  She took deep breaths, not sure why she was so upset by this. She couldn’t accuse him of anything—they were broken up, but she had the instant belief that something had happened between him and Janie.

  Lance slowly walked over to Lorelei, kissing her cheek and whispering in her ear.

  Lorelei nodded before rubbing Kylie’s back and addressing her, “I’m going to the garden with Lance. If you’re okay, I’ll leave Logan and his brother here with you and Maura.”

  Kylie darted her hand out for Lorelei, noting how Logan watched the movement in awe.

  “It’s all right.” Lorelei hugged her, whispering, “He’s come to check on you, Kylie. He cares. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t care.”

  Gabriel motioned for Lorelei and Lance to leave, then he gestured for Logan to come sit. “I’m glad you came.”

  Logan came over, shaking Gabriel’s hand before sitting. “Gabe—a little warning next time would be nice.”

  Lykos stayed where he was, watching Maura. “Is this the sister?”

  Maura stumbled backward.

  Kylie rushed around, grabbing Maura’s hand. “Leave her alone!”

  “Kylie.” Logan stood, holding a hand out to silence his brother. “He’s just asking a question.”

  “He’s not.” She checked Maura over.

  “I’m fine,” Maura whispered, but she was shaking.

  “Come sit,” Gabriel said, guiding them to the other side of the table.

  She was ready to cry and beg him to take her back, but she could see it—he’d lost all feelings for her. It was the way he shifted his eyes away from hers, the way they filled with sadness at the sight of Maura’s fear.

  “Is Ryder coming?” Maura asked.

  Logan frowned, glancing at Gabriel before answering her, “No. He’s at school with Janie.”

  Maura whimpered, lowering her head.

  Gabriel smiled, patting Maura’s hand. “Why don’t you come with me, Maura?”

  Her stepsister who acted more like a child clung to her. “What’s going to happen to Kylie?”

  “She’ll be fine,” Gabriel said, helping Maura stand. “We’ll go talk about Ryder for a bit. You’ll still see Kylie from across the room.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Kylie tried to smile at her. She had no idea how she became the older one, but it was best if she assured Maura she’d be fine. This was how she reacted any moment she had to separate.

  Logan muttered something to his brother, who nodded and walked out of the room. “So . . .”

  Kylie glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

  He sighed, stretching his arms out on the table. “I don’t know. Lykos tricked me—I thought we were going to the gym after we made sure things went okay at the school.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. “You didn’t want to see me?”

  “Not really.” He cringed, holding up a hand. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I’m just dealing with a lot right now, and I heard you’ve been doing well. I don’t see how me visiting helps is all.”

  It was hard to keep her tears back. “Well, I didn’t want to see you either.”

  “Fair enough.” He chuckled, glancing around the library. “Wow, I haven’t been here in a long time. Did they tell you I painted the murals?”

  “Of course.�
� She couldn’t sound bitter like she wanted to. His paintings were just as beautiful as the work he had at the gallery. God, she couldn’t believe that had been the day before everything ended. “It makes me wonder how you ever got into fighting,” she said, staring at a mural of an angel with black wings who looked an awful lot like Janie. The angel was older than Janie, scarred, glowing, and she had gold war-paint on her face. She was roaring at the opposite wall that was covered in demons and monsters. Behind her, though, an army of her own demons and fallen angels awaited her command.

  A sad smile reached his eyes. “I’ve been wondering about that a lot lately. First with the prostitution ring, and now Kevin—my fighting career is probably over. The board of directors closed the gym indefinitely. With most of the fight team charged with all the shit they got on them, and everything with Kevin, I’m not sure they’ll survive. I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do. There’s a team in California calling to arrange meetings with me, but I won’t consider anything until I settle things here. Ryder told me not to worry and to just help around the estate, but I can’t do that forever. I don’t plan on leaving until we catch Trevor and Kevin, though.”

  “So, what do you do there? Mow the lawn?”

  He chuckled, shaking his head. “Nothing like that. But Ryder tries to get me to clean the cat’s litter box.”

  Bitter acid ate at her heart. “Janie’s cat?”

  “Yeah.” He leaned back, crossing his arms as he gave her a long once over. “I don’t want to fight with you about her.”

  “Who said I was starting a fight?” Kylie was totally starting a fight. She couldn’t help it.

  Instead of looking angry, he smiled. “You know I think you’re sexy when you’re angry—so don’t be angry unless you want me to think that.”

  Her face heated. “Don’t you dare flirt with me.”

  “Fine.”

  The fact he dropped it so quickly was humiliating. But there was nothing she could do. She told him not to flirt because she knew it would hurt when he returned to Janie. It was just the same as it had been when they first started their game.

  “Look,” he said slowly, “it wasn’t my idea to come see you. I had plans to visit Mark today and keep an eye out for anything suspicious because Janie went back to school. But I guess word got to them you were trying to go out on your own. I’m here to convince you that that’s a bad idea.”