by Kimber White
Then she let out a sob. Instinct drove me. I put my arms around her. She stiffened at first, then crumpled against me. As Meg softly cried, I held her in my arms and it felt like coming home.
Chapter Six
Meg
It was quiet when I woke. Easy to think I had dreamt the whole thing. My grandfather was still alive. Things weren’t so close to falling apart.
Leo stirred downstairs and I knew the last two days had really happened. I got out of bed. I’d slept for maybe three hours all night. After my ugly cry all over Leo Kalenkov’s chest, it got pretty hard to wind down.
Lord. What must he have thought of me? I’d sworn to myself I wasn’t going to take the time to let myself feel grief or pain or panic until this was all over and I had my family business...my future...secured.
So much for that plan.
I wasn’t the kind of woman who took to flights of fancy or romantic fantasies. Then, Leo stormed in, strong, confident, virile. It would be so easy to let him take care of everything like we’d hired him to do. Only now, he might be the person with the most power to cut my legs out from under me.
After I pulled myself together last night, I’d asked him what he was going to do now that he knew Grandpa was dead. I knew the rules. Just like Mrs. Davies, Wolfguard contracted with him and him alone. His death nullified the arrangement. That is...if Leo decided to call it in.
I didn’t beg him not to. Maybe I should have. It just seemed too desperate. I needed Leo to know I was fully capable of handling this operation on my own. Crying on him hadn’t helped my cause, but he promised at least to sleep on it.
I threw on jeans and a t-shirt and went to the kitchen. It was early still. Not much past seven. I brewed a pot of coffee and poured it into a carafe. I set two mugs and a plate of fruit on a tray alongside it and brought it downstairs.
My grandfather had thought of everything. We converted an extra room across from the vault into a bedroom. This wasn’t the first time we had needed onsite security.
I padded downstairs and set the tray down outside the door. Peeking into the room, I found the bed still made. My heartbeat tripped. Leo wasn’t in the hallway near the vault either. I picked up the tray and headed for the main showroom.
He was there with his back to me, facing the front door.
He’d changed out of his suit and wore a black t-shirt and jeans. He was a marvel of a man. Sculpted muscles, big hands, the broadest shoulders I’d ever seen...or cried on.
The sun caught his auburn hair, lighting it with flecks of gold. He had a presence about him. I knew what it was. Dark. Primal. Dangerous.
It was Leo Kalenkov’s wolf.
I’d never been this close to a shifter before. My grandfather generally handled those transactions when we needed to. He told me enough about Leo’s kind but never wanted me to get too close.
He had the strength of ten men. Twenty, maybe. And that was now, with his wolf hidden. He could run faster than a cheetah. He could shift into his wolf in an instant.
I knew his emotions could force his wolf out into the open. If he sensed danger. If he was in pain. If his mate needed protection.
His mate.
A flash of anger went through me.
I’d read about wolves’ mates plenty. My grandfather had never kept knowledge from me even as he tried to protect me from reality.
A wolf shifter mated for life. He shared a telepathic bond with the partner he chose. If his partner felt fear or pain, he was supposed to sense that too and come running. I wondered how that worked. How it felt.
As I went further down the hall, my head swam. I felt a pull from my core, driving me forward. My pulse skipped. I felt a second, strange vibration running through me. Almost like a second heartbeat.
He can sense her fear. Her pleasure. Her pain.
Leo turned. It was just a moment. A beat. My eyes went to a tiny tremor near his throat. A nerve jumped, perhaps. I felt an echoing flutter through my whole body.
“I brought you coffee,” I said, lifting the tray. “Breakfast...sort of. There’s a bakery at the end of the block. I’ll order something…”
“Coffee’s fine,” he said. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. Lord almighty, this man was handsome. Rugged. Ruddy. I could still feel the comforting strength of his arms around me.
I plastered on a new smile and set the tray on the counter.
“I’m really sorry for my behavior last night. It’s not like me. It’s just…”
“You should have told me straight off,” Leo said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. He poured one for me too. I put cream and sugar on the tray, but he kept his black. When he gestured to the cream, I waved it off.
“Black’s fine for me too. And I know. I should have told you. But, if I had, you would have turned right around.”
“You’re right,” he said. “You’re in over your head, aren’t you?”
“No,” I said, more forcefully than I intended. “No. My grandfather inherited this business from his father and grandfather before him. I was raised on it. He was eighty-three years old. I’ve been running the day to day for six years since I was eighteen years old.”
He narrowed his eyes and took another sip of his coffee. I found myself transfixed, watching his throat work as he swallowed. I shook my head, trying to snap out of it.
“You didn’t tell me what happened,” he said.
“What?”
“To your grandfather.”
“Oh.” I slid onto one of the stools at the counter. Leo took the other one. I met his eyes then flicked my gaze away. His was filled with genuine concern. It enveloped me with the same strength as his arms had last night. I couldn’t give in to that. I stiffened my spine.
“I found him in his bed,” I said. “He died in his sleep. He has...had...a house just a couple of miles from here. Every morning I go get him. I drive him here to the shop. When I got there the one morning last week, he wasn’t waiting for me on the front porch like he always does. He wore a suit and red bowtie every day of his adult life. It never mattered if we weren’t even open for business. He always said you never know what the day will bring better dress your best and be prepared.”
The words sounded like they belonged to someone else even as they came out of my mouth. I couldn’t let myself feel them. I couldn’t let the memory break me.
He was gone. Forever.
“I’m sorry,” Leo said. He reached across the counter and put a hand on mine. His touch was warm, inviting, intoxicating. I pulled my hand away.
“Your grandfather sounds like an amazing man.”
“One of a kind,” I said. “He grew up in Liverpool. Came to this country when he was nineteen with fifty dollars in his pocket. He could have stayed back in England and run the store out there with his brothers. He had a bigger plan to expand it here in America. They ridiculed him for it. Pretty much disowned him except for the family name. That’s all he needed. He started turning a profit. Now, the U.S. store is twice as big in terms of revenue as anything my uncles do across the pond.”
Leo nodded, impressed.
“If they find out Grandpa died,” I said. “They’re going to try to take this all away.”
“How?” Leo asked. “Didn’t your grandfather leave a will?”
“A trust. But, he’s a franchise. Basically, my uncles have the right of first refusal on the sale of this place. With the commission we stand to earn from the sale of the Kingsblood...I can buy them out. I can clear Grandpa’s debt.”
“I thought you said he does twice their business,” Leo said.
I sipped my coffee. I’d already spilled so much of the family tea. Maybe I was a fool to confide in him. It just felt so natural. I knew that made it dangerous.
“So where’s your father in all of this?” Leo asked, too shrewd by half.
I set my coffee cup down. “AWOL. Emerson Junior doesn’t have much of a head for business. He’s got a head for gambling and other get rich quick schemes
, I’m afraid. My mom was out of the picture by the time I was five. She died a few years ago. I’ve pretty much lived with Grandpa exclusively since I was about ten. My...father...always turns up like the proverbial bad penny. I didn’t want him to know about my grandfather. Not yet. There wasn’t a funeral. He didn’t want one. But, my father figured it out anyway. He’s going to make trouble for me again. I just know it.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said.
I shrugged. “It’s just my life. Others have had it much worse.”
Something flickered behind Leo’s eyes.
“What about you?” I asked. “I’ve told you my life story. What about you? How’d you end up working for Payne Fallon?”
“Kalenkov,” he said. “We have our own family business on the other side of the Atlantic, you might say.”
The name wasn’t unfamiliar. Kalenkov. It jarred something on the edges of my memory. “Andre Kalenkov,” I whispered. “Your father?”
“Yes,” he said. His face changed. Instinctively, I knew what it was. We hadn’t talked about the elephant...or the wolf...in the room directly. I know he knew I saw him nearly shift on the roadside. But, I hadn’t called it out.
“Your father is the head of a wolf pack out there,” I said, keeping my tone neutral, matter-of-fact.
Leo pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes.”
“And you’re his only son?” I asked. “So what are you doing here? Doesn’t that put you first in line to take over? I mean...I’m not going to pretend I know the politics, but I know the Russian wolf packs are powerful.”
“Maybe I’m a little like Emerson Senior,” he said, winking. “I wanted to make my mark here. When my father went back to Moscow, I stayed behind. Me, my uncle, three of my cousins. Fallon made us an offer to come work for him. It suits me.”
“Good,” I said. “I mean, I’m glad for you. I’m sure the pressure to follow in your father’s footsteps has pulled at you.”
He raised a brow. “At times.”
A silence grew between us as the clock on the wall ticked. I knew Leo had another decision to make. One that could change my future.
“So,” I said. “Last night...what did you decide to do?”
Leo crossed his arms. His eyes betrayed nothing. “I don’t like it,” he said. “Whether you’ve shadowed your grandfather or not, I know you’re in over your head with that diamond. And if it holds any kind of magic at all, that means your pool of potential buyers is both slim and dangerous. You grandfather has kept this business afloat for what, sixty-plus years then? That means he was careful. Smart. You’re just as smart, but I’m not sure about the careful part.”
“Leo,” I said, my anger rising. He put up a hand.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” he said. “That’s the bottom line. If I leave, you’re going to. Simple as that.”
I leaned forward. “I’ve taken care of myself just fine long before you waltzed in.”
“You need me,” he said, growling. “Don’t pretend you don’t. I think your grandfather protected you. Taught you the book side. Didn’t let you get your hands dirty, though. How am I doing?”
I opened my mouth to argue. Leo’s wolf eyes flashed, sending a wave of heat through me. He knew. I could posture all I wanted, but he saw right through it. I clamped my mouth shut.
“Right,” he said. “So what’s your plan?”
“I…”
He leaned in close so we were almost nose to nose.
“No. Bullshit,” he said.
I let out a breath. “In a few days, I have a meeting with a potential buyer. My grandfather set it up. Before that, I have an expert coming in to take a look at the stone. If there’s any magic tied to it, my guy will know. His name is Alonzo Fry. My family has known him for years. He’ll be able to help me gauge exactly what this thing is worth.”
“Let me guess,” Leo said. “This buyer you mentioned thinks he’s meeting with Emerson, just like Mrs. Davies did.”
“Yes,” I said quickly.
“Fine,” he said. “So give me every piece of intel you have on them and on Fry.”
“You’ll stay? I mean, you’ll help me?”
“Every piece of intel,” Leo answered. “I’ll make up my mind once I know what you’re walking into.”
Relief washed through me. It made the blood rush from my head. I slid off the stool. I was raw. Overcome with a million emotions. Without thinking, I threw my arms around Leo and planted a kiss on his cheek.
It was such a minor thing. Benign. But, the moment my lips brushed his skin, my whole system short-circuited.
Bang. Pow. Heat. Light. That odd vibration grew stronger inside of me. Leo’s arms went around my waist. His wolf eyes ignited, turning to blue fire.
Mine!
I heard the word thunder through me, but I knew it hadn’t come from me. It was him. A second heartbeat thundered in my head along with my own.
Mine.
I pulled away, putting two fingers to my lips.
Leo slid off his stool and turned his back on me. He curled his fists and his shoulders bunched. He seemed barely in control.
Whatever I felt, he seemed to feel it twice as strong.
A connection. An electric current. A magnetic pull. Magic swirled around us and it took my breath from me.
Chapter Seven
Leo
Mine!
The word went through me, strong as my heartbeat. It was as real as anything I’d ever known or believed.
Meg Crossley was mine.
It wasn’t about the job. It wasn’t about the diamond. It was her. The echo of her pulse thrummed through me. Her touch brought my wolf to life.
I knew what this was.
She was my fated mate. My body, my heart, my every nerve ending was tuned to hers. I was no wonder I picked up on her grief the second I walked into this shop. It poured off of her. She couldn’t lie to me about it because every emotion she had became mine.
If she was in pain, I would feel it. If she was in danger, my wolf would rip out of me. I might have to kill for her. I knew I would die for her. And yet, I barely knew her.
Meg stood before me, holding two fingers to her lips. Just that one, simple, chaste kiss had set off a chain reaction inside of her.
How much did she know about me, I wondered. She knew I was a shifter. She knew of my family. But, was it something she read about in a dusty, old book just like she had this Kingsblood Diamond?
“Leo,” she said, her voice hoarse.
“I have to make a call,” I said.
Her eyes filled with fear. It was the thing she’d been afraid of since the second she found her grandfather. Would I walk away from this job?
I knew one thing with absolute certainty. The job was the job, but I wouldn’t...couldn’t walk away from her.
“I need to talk to Payne,” I said. It killed me to do anything that put that look in her eyes. Though she may have been my fated mate, I still had a duty to Wolfguard. I would honor it.
“What will you say?” she said, finally dropping her hand from her mouth.
“I’ll explain the situation,” I said. “Then, we’ll decide how to handle it.”
“Leo, please,” she said. “I know what my grandfather would want. He knew how important that diamond was to us.”
“I have to make a call,” I said again.
She looked like she was going to say something else. Beg me, maybe? Instead, she squared her shoulders and gave me a nod.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and walked outside. The street was quiet. It was Saturday morning and many of the shops around us hadn’t yet opened. I didn’t go far. I kept Crossley’s front door in my line of sight. I positioned myself just across from the alley. If anyone tried to come in from the back, I’d see them.
And...I would sense any distress from Meg.
Payne answered. “You get lost?”
“Sorry,” I said. I should have checked in last night, I knew. Payne did
n’t sound angry, just concerned. I’d worked for him for nearly three years now. I’d earned his trust in that time. I valued it over almost anything.
“We picked up the gemstone from Crossley’s seller,” I said. “That went smoothly enough, but there’s been a wrinkle or two.”
Payne fell silent. I knew that was the last thing he wanted me to say.
“Emerson Crossley’s dead,” I said. “He passed away in his sleep a few days ago. I’ve been dealing with his granddaughter. She kept it quiet. I guess there’s been trouble with her father businesswise.”
“What? Then how did you...why have you…”
“His granddaughter Meg Crossley still runs the business. Apparently she’s been at the helm for a few years. Emerson wasn’t doing any of the real legwork for a long time.”
“Leo,” Payne said, his voice dropping. “You should have called me the second you found out.”
I felt pulled in two directions. I wanted to fulfill my responsibilities. At the same time, I wanted to protect Meg. I didn’t want to tell Payne the full truth, that Meg had lied about Emerson until just now.
“Crossley Antiquities is still very much in business,” I said. “This diamond, it’s valuable.”
“Since when did you become a gem expert?” Payne asked.
“Come on,” I said. “You knew it was. You knew Crossley wouldn’t have engaged our services unless there was something special about it. Anyway, the girl...his granddaughter took possession of it yesterday. I’d like to stick with this. Nothing’s changed.”
“Everything’s changed,” Payne said. “I don’t know this girl. His granddaughter? Emerson never once mentioned her. Leo, she needs to be properly vetted. You know we’re not for hire by just anyone.”
“She’s not just anyone,” I said. I didn’t know what Payne could sense from my tone. To his credit, he kept listening.
“She’s all right,” I said. Once again, I felt that pull in two directions. I was vouching for a woman I knew nothing but the barest details about. Except, I didn’t need to know another single thing.