by D T Strange
Fi swallowed, feeling a slight pain in the back of her throat as her chest tightened. She’d also spent the hours on the plane convincing herself that she hadn’t just ran out without so much as an explanation to Cameron about how important the stone was to her. But would he have listened? She certainly hadn’t listened to him at the time. But, as she’d tried to read through one of the journals on the plane, his words kept playing through her mind.
If she had taken the time she would have heard him when Cameron had told her what the stone was and how important it was to his pack. But she had only focused on the fact that it was her grandfather’s handwriting on the package which had meant that it could have only come from him. She had reacted in anger and had quite literally pushed him out of her house and, quite possibly, out of her life.
Fianna stood in line at the customs gate, patiently waiting her turn, and wished again she could have gotten a private plane like normal. She could get up and walk around or stretched out if she needed. Bonus point, customs came to her. When she was finally first in line, she handed the woman behind the desk her passport and, speaking in flawless Italian, answered all her questions.
With that taken care of, Fi hoisted her backpack on her shoulder, picked up her overnight bag and weaved her way through the airport. She needed to get a taxi that would take her to the safe house she knew her grandfather kept in Venice. She’d been there several times since he’d disappeared but had never found any evidence that he’d been there. Now, she hoped she’d find what she was looking for there. She knew she right. He was alive and had sent the package. She just needed to find him.
Fi stepped out of the airport, looking around. It was early evening, but the sun hadn’t completely set yet. The airport was still busy, with cars and taxis coming and going, voices rising trying to be heard over each other in their attempt to get where they were going next. She looked around trying to determine where she should get the taxi since she’d never done that before either. Fi had no idea why there wasn’t a car waiting for her like she had at the terminal private planes landed. Of course, again, this trip was spontaneous and there hadn’t been a lot of time. Still, she would have thought Joseph would have ordered her one while she was flying over.
She searched the area trying to figure out where the taxis dropped off and picked up passengers. Frowning, she felt a tingling on the back of her neck as the feeling of being watched crept over her. Her whole body stiffened as she slowly took in her surroundings again, checking out every face and every car she laid eyes upon. Turning, her eyes searched the cars and people that were pulling up and driving away from the airport. That’s when one lone figure standing across four lanes of traffic, arms crossed and leaning against a black sports car stood out like a neon sign saying, I’m right here baby.
Fi’s breath caught in her throat when she spotted Cameron and she could feel the heat from his eyes across the four lanes and through all the cars and people. She just stood there a moment, first in shock which started to give way to annoyance, then surprise. Adjusting her backpack, she slowly made her way to him, skirting around cars and people until she was standing in front of him.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him and crossed her arms, mimicking his stance. “What the hell are you doing here? How did you know where I was going?”
She watched as he visibly fought not to laugh, the result being a smirk along with a quiet chuckle. “It’s called having access to a private jet and knowing people who owe you favors. Your neighbor told me you had left. From there, all it took was a few phone calls and my remembering the address where the package came from and whala…here I am. Come on, we need to go, I’m starved.”
Fi stood there, speechless as she tried to digest what he said as he held his hand out for her bags. He looked over his shoulder and gave her a grin. “The polizia are coming to make me move the vehicle.” Fi looked over her shoulder at the uniformed man weaving his way toward them. “Just get in Fi and we can talk.” She looked at Cameron again. “Please.”
Sighing, Fi handed him her overnight bag but kept her backpack with her and walked around the car to get in. Cameron put her bag in the trunk of the car then slid into the driver’s side, giving a slight wave to the uniformed officer who was almost to the car. Tension between them was thick as molasses as Cameron pulled away from the curb and into the flow of traffic, heading out of the airport. She had a death grip on the backpack, not willing to let go and lose any evidence and clues she had to her grandfather.
She waited until they were well away from the airport before she turned to Cameron, anger flashing in her eyes. “Alright Cameron what are you doing here? I told you that this stone means too much to me to let you have it.”
Fi watched Cameron’s knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel but that was the only indication that he was either angry or frustrated or both. He turned his head and pinned her with a look she couldn’t quite fathom then looked back to the road. “Why don’t you start by telling me why that stone means so much to you? I told why I wanted it right before you blasted me out of your house.” He rubbed his chest a moment and looked back at her with a grin. “Good shot by the way.”
Fi’s lips twitched at the memory of using her witchcraft to get him out of her house. She had used her magic moment before her humor left her as she turned to look out her window, staying silent for a moment. She was at war with herself not wanting to trust him or anyone when it came to finding her grandfather but, on the other hand, perhaps if she trusted him then she wouldn’t be alone in her search. Maybe he’d help her find her grandfather. She’d never wanted that before but in a span of a day or, so he had changed everything from just one night of incredible sex and connection.
Turning from the window, she started to speak. “For generations my family searched and collected magical objects, recorded them and most of the time returned them to the rightful owners. Many of them had been stolen or lost.” Cam gave a nod that seemed to show both understanding and the need for her to continue. Fi turned away from him and looked back out her window before she continued, her voice hitching.
“When I was thirteen my grandfather left in search of this stone and others like it. His plane crashed, and everyone told me he was dead, but I didn’t believe them. I can’t explain why I believe this other than the connection my grandfather and I have. I would just know if he was dead.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it away. “The handwriting on the package is his. After I... after you left I found a note from him inside the package.”
Reaching into her backpack she pulled out the note her grandfather had written and turned back to Cameron to see him watching her. Handing him the note she licked her suddenly dry lips as he glanced between the note, back to the road, then the note again. “The note says that this is one of four stones stolen from a wolf pack. I wasn’t going to keep the stone. As soon as I find my grandfather it's yours.”
Eighteen
Trouble Comes to Light
Cam let several weighted moments go by before speaking. His mind was trying to make sense of what Fianna had just said. He hadn’t been expecting it, so was trying to tell if there was some sort of trap if he were to acknowledge the offer she’d made.
Cam’s wolf growled at him, raking its metaphorical claws along his ribs for even thinking the thought. He must have winced because Fianna cocked her head, giving him a quizzical look. Cam shrugged lightly. “Seems my wolf isn’t liking my thoughts.”
One thin brow went high as Fianna smirked back at Cam. “Just what were your thoughts Cameron Bishop?” Cam drew in a ragged breath as a flash of a memory from their night together played in his mind. He’d licked along that very eyebrow, nipping at the corner of it.
A horn blasted from behind them, causing Cam to jerk, his eyes going to the light that had been red moments before, but was now green. He gave the car some gas, easing them ahead even as he cursed.
“Shit, let me get us to th
e boat I rented, and you can tell me where to go from there.” The smirk Cam gave Fianna was rewarded with a small smile in return. His mind turned back to what she’d said about giving him the stone. No, he hadn’t said anything in return. He wouldn’t push, not again. Not when all he wanted right then was to help her in this quest of hers so that he could spend more time with her.
Cam headed to the parking garage he’d made arrangements to leave the car in. As he drove, he kept glancing from the road to Fianna, then back. She was sitting there, her head laying back against the headrest, eyes closed. Damn she was beautiful and tired. He could see the tension in her and knew she’d had a long flight.
When they parked, Cam got out and made his way round to her door, opening it for her before she’d had a chance to tug on the handle even. Holding his hand out to her, he gave a tilt of his head in invitation. When Fianna took his hand, power sizzled along their skin, from her fingertips, to his palm and up his arm. The jolt went straight to his heart, his wolf howling in joy even as his cock hardened behind the button fly of his jeans.
“Holy hell…” Cam’s breath was short as he studied Fianna, seeing as much surprise in her eyes as he imagined his own were showing. “Um, come on. I’ll grab our bags and we can head out to the boat I rented. You can give me directions on where we’re going from there.”
Moving to the back of the sleek black number Cam had rented, he grabbed out their bags. He was impressed with how light Fianna had packed. It meant she’d grabbed the essentials and would be able to travel easily.
“I’m assuming you do have a destination in mind? One other than the post office your package was mailed from I hope? Because I can tell you, that will be a dead end other than the time it was checked in and the time it was shipped out.”
Fianna gave a nod. “I already checked with the post office and you’re right, they weren’t much help and yeah, I do have another destination in mind.” She’d been following him down to the dock, her eyes scanning all the boats tied up in their slips. “Have you been to Venice before?”
Cam tossed their bags into a sweet looking speedboat then turned back to her, reaching out his hand to help her into it. “No, I haven’t actually.” He noted how her eyes traveled from bow to stern as she whistled low, showing her appreciation of the boat.
Again, there was that hit of sizzling power when Fianna took Cam’s hand, but they both managed to step into the boat without their overloading systems pitching them into the water. Cam kept hold of her hand until she settled into the seat next to the wheel.
“That’s surprising because you’ve been really well prepared from the moment we met at the airport. Not many would know that you have to drive from the airport, park then take a ferry, or another means of water transport to the island proper.”
She’d been talking as Cam made quick work of untying the lines to the dock. The grin he gave her was a cocky one as he moved into the spot next to her. “Anna, one thing you’ll learn about me, is that I do my research before jumping into something. I’m assuming the same about you since you have a destination in mind.”
“Actually, I’ve been to Venice many times. It was one of my grandfather’s favorite places to visit and we have a place here. That’s where I’m checking first.” Cam’s brow arched as he started the engine, eased them out of the slip and headed into the main channel in the direction Fianna indicated.
“Anna, if this was one of your grandfather's favorite places to visit,” Cam’s words trailed off when he saw her shaking her head.
“I know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is yes, I’ve been here a few times after my grandfather disappeared. Where I’m taking you is where he would have stayed if he’d ever come here and each time I visited, I checked the security cameras, but the place has remained empty.” Cam gave a nod, but he still wondered if they had other places like this and whether her grandfather had used any of them to hide if they did? If so, why?
Following Fi’s directions, it wasn’t long before he was slipping into a private garage under a house that looked like all the others around it. Once inside, he killed the engine and made to hop off the boat. Fianna took hold of his arm, keeping him from moving past her. “Wait, let me deactivate the security system. You don’t want to step foot onto the dock before I do. Although, I am pretty good at mouth to mouth and I’m thinking you’d be needing some at that point.”
Cam couldn’t help it, he knew she was serious, but the play on mouth to mouth had him barking out a laugh that went belly deep. His eyes met hers and the mirth shifted. His breath caught as if she’d stolen all the air from his lungs. Cam couldn’t fight it, he tipped his head, his lips capturing hers in a kiss as wild as hurricane Katrina. When he finally pulled back from her, he felt almost as devastated as those that felt the worst of that bitch of a storm
“Yeah, about that security system, I’m thinking you should deactivate it. I don’t know if I’d survive more mouth to mouth like that Green Eyes.”
Fianna blinked a few times, shaking her head, to clear it he thought, if she felt anything like he had just then. Then she drew out her phone, pulled up some app and punched in what he assumed was a code. She practically sprang from the boat, leaving him to grab their bags, and follow her up into the house.
Fianna was sliding a key into the only door they could go through when Cam’s nostrils flared, catching not only the staleness of the house, but the stronger tang of blood and rotting food. His hand shot out to grab her wrist, keeping her from pushing the door open. He stepped in front of her, easing the door open as he did.
His wolf whined at the foul smell of the place and he really didn’t want to let Fianna inside. With a snarl Cam stepped inside, keeping his hand behind him to prevent Fianna from pushing past. He felt her sudden worry jolt into fear. Not for herself he knew, rather, because of how he was reacting. “I can scent blood and rotting food. Are you sure this place is secure Fianna?”
“The security app would have shown if someone was here, it gives a rundown of the house before it deactivates the security system.” Cam could feel her whole body thrumming with the need to get inside and check it out. With a trepidation that settled in his gut like a bad case of food poisoning, he slowly started making his way further into the house, with Fianna hot on his heels.
The hall they walked down was far darker than Cam had expected it to be. When they entered the kitchen, his realized why that was. All the shutters were slotted so that they were mostly closed. Next, his gaze was drawn to the kitchen island, where several takeout boxes sitting there, all with food still in them, almost like a meal had been interrupted. Behind him, Fianna made a gagging sound.
“Anna, I want you to go back to the boat and wait there as I check out the rest of the place. If I don’t find anything worth worrying about, I’ll come back and get you.”
Fi’s eyes flashed with her power and Cam felt it prickle along his skin. His wolf wanted to take control, so he could be ready to protect her if needed, and he found himself having to assure his wolf that if it came to that, Cam would let his wolf take over, but for now, being human was more important. Grudgingly, his wolf went back to pacing within him.
Fi had started to push past him while he had that internal debate. He clamped his hand around her forearm, stopping her in her tracks. “Anna, there’s more wrong here than food rotting on the kitchen counter. I know you can take care of yourself, but that’s not why I asked you to go back to the boat. Since you’re determined not to though, I want you to stay behind while we check out the rest of the place.”
“Look Cam, when you asked me if the place was secure, I did a quick, mental detection spell and was unable to detect any other people inside.”
Cam gave her a tight nod, still concerned by the scent of blood he’d picked up. The further into the apartment they went, the more destruction and signs of a struggle they found and the stronger the smell of old blood became. When they stood within what must have been the living room, he fo
und the source of the smell of blood.
Near the sofa, a big patch of dried blood stained the rug. There were other traces of blood outside the living room, but it was obvious something bad had gone down here. Cam hadn’t been able to keep Fianna behind him when they’d stepped into the living room. He turned to her and saw the horror and fear he expected to see within her eyes, only it was a hundred times worse.
“Anna, maybe it’s not what it looks like.”
Nineteen
All That’s Lost… Stays Lost
Cameron’s words didn’t register with her at first as she stood there staring at the blood. She covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes, her chest felt like there was a pallet of bricks laying upon it, crushing her, and her legs threatened to give out on her. In fact, they did give out, but Cameron grabbed her, pulling her against him, turning them both away from the blood.
Cameron led her from the living room and back to the kitchen, pulling out one of the stools that sat at the kitchen island and helping her sit down. Fi dropped her head into her hands a moment, a headache building behind her eyes as she tried to control the nausea that threatened to have her losing what little food she had eaten on the plane ride. A glass of water appeared in front of her and she looked up at Cameron, her eyes wide. “It's not him, Cameron, I know it. It's not my grandfather.” Her voice broke as tears filled her eyes and she looked away.
She felt Cameron’s arms wrap around her, pulling her to him and she lay her head on his chest. “Anna...how can you be sure?” Fi closed her eyes, her mind and heart racing as if they were competing in sprints. Could she be sure? Was she just in denial? She knew that the stone had come from her grandfather but had someone found him here and killed him after all this time?