He turned to face her. “I can’t. I need to be by your side.”
“Hex can stay,” Mac said. “He’s coming back here with the wheelchair and he can stay while we all go into town.”
Kassia nodded. “Okay. Just stay calm, no matter what.”
Beck’s head jerked up and he looked at her kind of weird. “I won’t lose control.”
“I know.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I never used to be such a crybaby.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a few tears,” Betsy assured her. “And you have had an emotional journey these last few days.”
“I just want this over,” Kassia admitted. “I spent months living with the court case and the repercussions of the police investigation. When Travis was sentenced, I thought that was an end to it. I was wrong.”
“At least you aren’t alone,” Betsy said. “Not this time.” She sighed heavily. “I should have been by your side then. I should be by your side now.”
“No, I wanted you to stay away,” Kassia insisted. “Just as I want you to stay here now. Stay safe.”
“We should go. Brad wants us in position well before you come to town.” Beck looked worried. “Will you be okay driving to town?”
“I don’t have a car,” Kassia reminded him.
Beck dug in his pocket and pulled out his keys. “Here, you can drive my truck.”
“Thanks.” Kassia glanced toward the window. “I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t care about the truck, just look after yourself.” Beck’s jaw tightened and his fists clenched by his side.
“I will,” Kassia promised then her eyes widened as she realized how vulnerable she was. “You think someone might try to drive me off the road?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve asked Duane to follow you.” Mac took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Kassia. “Call him as you leave, and he’ll drive over. He’ll stop just along the road and send you a text. That is your signal to leave. He’ll follow but keep his distance.”
“If anything happens, he will be able to protect you.” Beck didn’t look particularly happy about any of this and her fears for him mounted. Irrational fears, since if this was Mindy, she stood no chance against all of these brawny bear shifters.
But what if it wasn’t Mindy? For all they knew, it could be friends of Travis who were upset they had lost their main source of smuggled diamonds. The full extent of the smuggling ring had never been exposed, according to the detective in charge of the case.
“We’ll be fine.” Beck hugged her before Mac left and she missed the warmth of his touch and the comfort of his presence immediately after he shut the door behind them.
“Sit.” Sue patted the chair next to her. “And eat one of these cupcakes before I eat them all. I want to wear a swimsuit on our cruise and that is not going to happen if I pile on any more pounds.”
“You look fine,” Kassia said as she helped herself to a cupcake. “I wish I could be a fly on the wall on this cruise. It sounds as if you are going to have great fun.”
“That is the intention.” Sue got up and poured them all fresh coffee. “I’m looking forward to having no stresses for a month or two. Life has never been easy. And I don’t know if I’d have gone through with it if Beck hadn’t come home.”
“He said he needed to work through some things.” Kassia dipped her finger in the chocolate icing on her cupcake and licked her finger.
“He did. Mac and Beck never had an easy relationship. I think sometimes Beck resents not having made a break and gone and made something of himself. Deep down, he blames Mac because they all knew the sacrifices Mac made to keep us together. I think both Beck and Hex felt that if they left, they would be betraying him.” Sue held up her hands. “Stupid I know. But we can’t always help the way we think.”
“Very true.” Betsy glanced up at Kassia as she took a bite of her cake. “But he’s back for good.”
“I think so,” Sue said as she also turned her attention to Kassia. “He’s finally found the thing he was searching for and I think it’s surprised him that it was never about a successful career or making something of his life through work. The thing he really yearned for was a mate and a family of his own. Now he’s found her.”
“And I’ve found him.” Kassia sighed. “I just hope Brad’s plan works out and we can all go on with our lives.”
“Yes, we have a cruise to plan and one thing for sure, I am going nowhere until whoever is trying to scare you is caught,” Betsy said firmly.
Kassia listened to Betsy and Sue as they talked. Their voices soothed her, keeping her fears at bay until she glanced at the clock. It was time to leave. Her anxiety spiked but she fought to mask it from her aunt and Beck’s mom, although she feared Sue saw right through her.
“It’ll be okay. Brad will deal with this. He’s a good sheriff, the best I’ve ever met, he cares too much about the town and the people in it to let someone come along and make trouble.” Sue hugged Kassia as she walked out of the door. “And on top of Brad, you have my sons to watch your back. Beck won’t let anything happen to you.”
“That’s what worries me,” Kassia admitted. “He’s too close to this, what if he gets into trouble because he tried to defend me? What if he gets hurt?”
“He’s a smart man. He won’t do anything that jeopardizes your future together and winding up in jail for hurting the person who threatens you would definitely damage your future together.” Sue held onto the door as Kassia pulled out her phone and texted Duane. “Will you two be safe?”
“Hex will be back any time now.” Sue looked past Kassia, looking into the distance just as Beck did as if she could see Hex out there.
“Are you a shifter?” Kassia suddenly asked. She’d assumed Beck’s mom was a non-shifter, but her assumption was not based on any fact and since shifters were used to hiding among everyone else, Kassia might have gotten it completely wrong.
Sue shook her head. “No, although sometimes I think I have a sixth sense when it comes to my boys. I often think I can sense when they are close. Maybe some of that sixth sense they all have has rubbed off on me.”
Kassia looked down at her phone as Duane replied. “He said he’ll be along in five minutes. I’ll drive down toward the road.”
“Take care, Kassia. I’ll keep Betsy safe. I might not have teeth and claws to fight with, but I do know how to defend myself and those I love.” Sue left Kassia in no doubt she’d do whatever it took to defend herself and Betsy and anyone else in her care. She was fierce and Kassia admired her for the strong woman she was.
“I’ll see you soon.” Kassia crossed the front yard to Beck’s truck, it was the only one parked outside the house. She hesitated before she opened the truck and climbed in. It was bigger than the car she was used to driving but aside from that, everything looked the same. She could do this.
With a deep steadying breath, she turned the key in the ignition and the engine rumbled comfortingly. No one was going to force her off the road in this truck. Kassia slid her hands around the steering wheel, feeling the engine vibrate through her hands.
Kassia drove the truck along the trail leading down to the road to get the feel of driving such a big vehicle. Satisfied she’d be just fine on the road, she pulled over to the side of the trail and waited for Duane to text her to say he was in place. This wasn’t exactly the smooth minutely planned setup the police used on Travis, but it would be enough if they were dealing with Mindy. Travis’s sister wasn’t exactly a criminal mastermind.
Her phone beeped and she jumped as Duane’s text came through. It was time. Time to hopefully deal with her past once and for all so that she could move on with her future here in Bear Creek.
Chapter Fifteen – Beck
“Relax,” Mac told Beck as they walked down the main street toward their designated positions.
“I’m trying.” Beck rolled his shoulders and flexed his hands before he released the tension building in him. Like a coiled
spring, he was ready to explode, which would do no one any good.
“Try harder. You look…stiff. You look out of place and if the person we’re looking for has been following Kassia, they probably know you have a relationship with her.” Mac glanced at his brother sideways. “Which means if you are looking like you are ready to explode then you might frighten them off.”
“You think they’ll know this is a setup?” Beck resisted the urge to turn around and look back along the street.
“Let’s not take any chances, we need this to come to a peaceful conclusion.” Mac glanced around as if he were looking to cross the street.
“And you think I don’t want this to come to a peaceful conclusion?” Beck let out a big breath as the tension in his body intensified.
We won’t relax until we know our mate is safe, his bear told him savagely.
“I figured the natural response for a shifter whose mate is being threatened is to tear the world apart until they find the threat and neutralize it,” Mac said easily.
Beck nodded. “You might be right. But that isn’t who I am.”
“No, I don’t believe it is but in the heat of the moment, who knows what any of us are capable of.” Mac slowed. “This is me.”
“Thanks, Mac. I know you have a stack of work to do back at the sawmill. I appreciate you coming into town and letting the others come, too. I’ll make it up to you,” Beck promised.
“Family is what is important to me. You know that. And Kassia is part of our family.” He slapped Beck on the arm. “Keep alert and keep calm. If you figure out who it is, then call Brad, don’t act on your own.”
“Yes, boss.” Beck nodded at his brother and grinned as Mac scowled.
You still like to press his buttons every opportunity you get, his bear noted.
It’s one of life’s simple pleasures. Anyway, it’s not as if he hasn’t always done the same to me, Beck answered.
Not anymore, his bear replied. Mac seems to go out of his way not to antagonize you.
Maybe he missed us more than he lets on. Absence makes the heart grow stronger, his bear added.
Fonder, Beck corrected. I agree. Being absent from my mate is making me want her more and more. I want to see her, to touch her, to smell her incredible scent and know she is mine and know she is safe.
Focusing on just that, Beck strolled down the street to his position inside the small lobby of the Bear Creek Hotel. “Afternoon, Isla.”
“Hey, Beck. This is exciting. I’ve never been part of a stakeout before.” Isla came around from her desk and stood with Beck looking out the door.
“Me either. And I wouldn’t mind not being part of this one.” He shuffled his feet. “Not because I don’t want to be here for Kassia.”
“But because you would rather this was not happening.” Isla looked sideways at Beck. “It’ll be okay.”
“I know.” Because the alternative was too painful to even contemplate.
“Brad came in and checked the hotel register. He asked if I had a guest staying here who fit the description Kassia gave him. I don’t. My only guests right now are a couple of people from out of town.” She sighed and ducked her head. “This weather is keeping everyone away. If people want snow, they go to a ski resort.”
“It’ll soon thaw, and business will pick up.” Beck looked up at the gray clouds overhead. “I wish that the sun would break through and melt the leftover snow and ice.”
“Me, too. I hate walking in this weather. I hate wearing flat shoes but wearing heels out there is asking for a broken bone.” Isla folded her arms across her body. “Well, this isn’t exactly exciting, is it?”
Beck shook his head. “You’ve seen those movies where the cops just sit around for hours on their stakeouts.”
“Yeah, we need coffee and donuts.” She turned around and walked across the foyer. “Coffee I can help with.”
“Coffee would be perfect. I’ve got a good location.” Beck didn’t take his eyes off the street outside as he pushed his senses out further. There was hardly anyone out on the streets at this time in the afternoon, thanks to the weather, and those people who were out there, he knew.
“Here.” Isla handed him a cup and then waited with him, sipping her own coffee as they watched the street.
“There’s Kassia’s truck.” Beck tensed and then relaxed as his mate parked his truck at the end of the main street. The plan was for her to walk the full length of the street and then head toward Betsy’s house since this was where the person had followed her before.
“Is that her?” Isla asked as Kassia got out of the truck and locked it. Without looking around, she began walking along the main street, walking toward Beck.
“Yes.” He longed to run toward her with his arms open and scoop her up and carry her away from harm.
“She’s pretty.” Isla nudged him gently. “You got lucky.”
“I did.” Beck grinned but didn’t allow his focus to slip. “I think I’m the luckiest man alive.”
“Said every shifter who met their mate ever,” Isla teased.
“Yeah. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you have finally met the one. I hope you don’t have to wait so long,” Beck told the hotel receptionist.
“Me, too.” Her eyes went out of focus. “I can’t sense anyone. Can you?”
“Nope. But Brad figured the main road might be too busy. I just hope this isn’t a bust,” Beck confessed.
“Yeah, the last thing you want is for all of this effort to have been for nothing. For all we know, the person took the photos just to frighten Kassia and then left.” Isla sipped her coffee. “Brad checked with Julius over at The Catherine Hotel, too. But he has no guests matching the description either.”
“She could have changed her appearance. So that Kassia doesn’t recognize her,” Beck suggested. “If she’s come here to cause trouble, she could be wearing a disguise.”
“True.” Isla’s face lit up. “We should have worn disguises, too. You could have worn a fake mustache or glasses and a wig. I could have worn a big floppy hat and glasses.”
“Next time,” Beck said with a laugh then he snapped to attention as Kassia came into view. “Here she comes.”
“I wish whoever it was would make a move now, so we could take them down. I’ve been learning karate.” She held her free hand out in a defensive position. “I could smack them in the windpipe. Not hard enough to break it but it sure takes people down fast when they suddenly can’t breathe.”
“You are a woman of many talents.” Beck fell silent as the nearness of his mate consumed him.
“Don’t damage the paintwork,” Isla warned sharply.
“What? Oh.” He’d grabbed hold of the door trim, the whites of his knuckles showed as he dug his fingers into the wood. “Sorry.”
“No problem.” They stood back as Kassia walked right past the glass doors and kept on walking. She didn’t even look up as she continued her journey.
“That’s it. I’m supposed to stay here while Kassia goes into the grocery store, buys some stuff and then walks home as if everything is completely normal.” Beck tore himself away from the front door and paced the hotel foyer. The need to go after his mate and protect her was all-consuming.
“You should follow the plan. You don’t want to blow it,” Isla warned as she blocked the front door, worried he was going to make a run for it.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to do nothing.” Beck stopped pacing and rolled his shoulders, trying to contain his anger that was directed solely at whoever was trying to hurt his mate. Focusing on the coffee cup that was still in his hand, he lifted it to his lips and drained the last of the coffee. He held it out to Isla. “Thanks.”
Isla’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she stepped away from the lobby door and accepted the cup. “You’re welcome.”
Beck dodged around her and headed toward the door. He should be out there, not stuck in a hotel lobby.
We need to protect our mate, his bear agre
ed.
“Are you going out there?” Isla asked, whirling around and following him to the door leading onto the street.
“I can’t bear to not be close to her.” His hands curled into balls by his side. Was this how his friend had felt that fateful day? His friend who had lost control and ruined his future.
“Which is why Brad wanted you to come to the hotel.” Isla ducked under Beck’s arm and positioned herself in front of the door. She was trying to protect Beck. Not from what was out there but what was inside him. Isla was trying to protect Beck from himself. And from screwing up the whole operation. “You are not going anywhere.”
Beck cracked a smile as Isla took up her karate stance. “You’re going to fight me?”
“No, I’m going to subdue you.” She arched one eyebrow, her expression set firm. “If you don’t believe I can do it, then come at me, bro.” Isla rolled her shoulders and loosened her neck muscles.
“I’m not going to fight you,” Beck told her again as he tried to sidestep Isla.
“I’m not going to fight you either.” Isla maintained her stance. “I’m going to subdue you. There is a difference.”
“Isla, please.” This was absurd. Why wouldn’t she let him go?
Because she wants to keep you and Kassia safe and to do that, you need to stay in here, his bear said bluntly.
“You’re right. I’m sorry for pushing you.” Beck’s temper flared but he calmed himself down. This wasn’t Isla’s fault, she was trying to protect them and not let him blow the whole operation.
“I can’t imagine what you are going through.” Isla let her arms drop to her sides, but she was ready to restrain him if necessary.
“So, karate?” Beck asked.
“Yeah.” Isla grinned. “I figured if I participated in a predominantly male activity, I might meet more men and one of those men might be my mate.” She shrugged. “You know how desperate things get when all you want is to find the perfect person for you.”
“I do. Have you been training long?” Beck pointed at her hands. “I like the throat move.”
Beck (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 2) Page 12