Doubly Protected [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

“Yes, we’ll be staying in Cadfael’s apartment. Rhion and Cadfael both need to be on-site at the mall to deal with issues as they arise. Even commuting from the apartment building the pack owns, although it’s only twenty minutes away, it’d still be a nuisance. By the time they got the message, got dressed, and drove there, the situation they were needed for could have gotten out of hand.”

“Is Cadfael’s apartment big enough for you all? I know it’s quite big, but still, is it family sized?” asked Hawthorne.

“We’re going to convert the second bedroom into storage. There’s not enough closets right now. The living room and kitchen are big enough for three of us, and so are the bedroom and bathroom.” Willow stopped talking as everyone laughed. The bathroom had been built by a bathroom supply company and was huge and luxurious.

“Yes, yes, but the second bedroom is really tiny, and the apartment has so little storage space. We’re going to add a floor-to-ceiling closet the full length of the long wall, which will be big enough for all Rhion’s and my things. Both men have their own offices in the professional suites already, and we can use the conference room on level six if Cadfael needs to entertain customers. After all, that’s what he’s always done in the past.”

“That makes sense. What’s going to happen about apartment 7C?” asked Maelor.

“Cadfael has said it’s ours to use as long as we need it,” said Willow.

“But we shouldn’t keep using it when really it’s more an office than anything else. Perhaps there’s a disused office that we can move into,” said Hawthorne.

“You’re welcome to sleep in my apartment, Hawthorne,” said Dylan.

“Or mine,” added Maelor.

“I’ve been thinking of maybe looking at the apartment building where the wolves live. I’m really very spoiled and well looked after in 7C, but I’m used to living in a house and having a little more space. As well as a proper stove, and a washing machine, and a dryer. As I said, I guess I’m being childish and spoiled but somewhere a little larger would suit me better. No, not larger. That’s not quite right. But more house-like and less hotel-like perhaps is a better way of phrasing it.”

“I understand.” Dylan did. It was the type of thing he’d been thinking, but she’d phrased it better. She wanted a home, a real home again. He and Maelor needed to put their heads together and work out how to give it to her.

“Can Dylan and I take you to the pack apartment building one day to look around? We could call first and find out if there are any vacant apartments, or if there will be soon,” said Maelor.

“I’ll find out the address and talk to them first. There’s no sense going unless there’s something suitable available,” said Hawthorne.

Well damn. There was another idea for an outing together that wasn’t going to happen. He needed to get a better plan.
Ah, yes.
“Do you still want to go walking around the neighborhood? Maybe we could look for vacant apartments while we walk?”

Hawthorne spoke slowly and at first he thought she was going to say no. “I suppose it would be better not to go outside alone at first. Okay, I’ll check the local realtors as well and maybe plan a walk. But I’ll look at the pack building first.”

Dylan figured that was the best he could hope for. And it wasn’t a no, so he was doing okay so far.

“I’m hungry. The next time there’s a sign for takeout let’s stop,” said Maelor.

“You’re always hungry,” teased Willow.

“It’s all that vacuuming, and sweeping, and scrubbing you made me do.”

Dylan laughed. Yes, they’d worked hard, but the house hadn’t been really dirty. It wasn’t that bad. And being with Hawthorne made it all worthwhile. Fuck, last night his dick had been as hard as a spike and his balls blue by the time he’d coaxed her to orgasm. Next time he had to fuck her. They both did. Hopefully she’d say yes. And he still needed to buy those damn chocolate condoms she’d talked about, too.

* * * *

The next few days raced by with so much to do Maelor could hardly find the time to think straight. He did manage to visit the adult store and buy a box of chocolate flavored condoms, and a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs, though. Dylan had checked up with local realtors and the news wasn’t good. There didn’t seem to be any nice apartments vacant in the immediate neighborhood around the mall.
Damn.
That meant they needed to think of something else.

He and Dylan finally got together on Friday and hurried up to 7C.

“Hi, Willow, hi, Hawthorne,” said Dylan.

“Hawthorne, we hoped you’d come out for a walk with us this evening,” said Maelor.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve booked in for my first Zumba class. I’m really looking forward to it. Could we reschedule, please?”

“Zumba?” Maelor had a vague idea she’d mentioned Zumba before, but he couldn’t think when or where. Oh yes, when they’d walked her around the mall and she’d seen the fitness center. That’s right.

“What’s Zumba?” asked Dylan.

“It’s kind of a cross between aerobic dance and martial arts.”

“Dance? Uh, Hawthorne, I don’t think—”

Willow smiled at him in a manner that told him really clearly he wasn’t going to like what she said next.

“That’s all right, Maelor. Marbella told us the class is more than half men, so we’ll be perfectly safe.”

“Men do this Zumba class?” Dylan’s voice rose to almost a screech and Maelor knew exactly what the man was thinking. Pretty much what he was thinking, too. They were going to have to attend some stupid, girly, froufrou, pink tutu dance gig, just to ensure their woman was safe.

“What time is it? Can we come with you?” Maelor hoped he sounded vaguely positive. He hated the thought of attending the class, but shit, what options did he have? None. Some other wolf could be intent on catching her interest while he wasn’t there to protect her.

“You’ll have to check with Marbella. I don’t know whether the class is full or not.”

“That’s okay. I think it’d be better if we just watched you the first time,” said Dylan.

Willow snorted at him and Hawthorne’s lips were twitching. Yeah they knew how he and Dylan felt about dancing. But too bad. “Can we go walking tomorrow afternoon instead of tonight?” he asked. At least something good might come out of this meeting.

“Of course.” Hawthorne reached up and kissed both him and Dylan very lightly. Wow. That was nice. He longed to pull her back into his arms for a much better kiss but the opportunity was gone. Hawthorne opened the apartment door and he and Dylan left.

“We’d better go see Marbella I guess,” said Dylan.

“I’ve got a really bad feeling about this. Dancing. Yuck!”

He and Dylan walked straight around to the fitness center. The manager, Andreas, was sitting at the reception desk as he so often did. “How can I help you?”

“Is there space for two more of us to join the Zumba class tonight, please, Andreas?” asked Maelor.

Andreas leaned forward on both elbows and frowned. “Marbella is married.”

“So what? I mean, I know that. Why are you telling me?”

Maelor was totally confused. Marbella was a sexy little wolf but what did that have to do with anything?

“Hawthorne has joined the class. We’re asking because of her,” said Dylan.

“Oh, is that the problem? Yes, I don’t really want to do a dance class, but Hawthorne wants to,” said Maelor.

“I didn’t think you two looked like true Zumba aficionados. It’s an energetic class. Marbella expects people to work hard.”

Dancing was working? He really couldn’t see that. “So what time should we be here?” he asked.

“Seven. Wear shorts and gym shoes and bring a bottle of water and a towel.”

Water and a towel? Did Andreas really think he was that unfit? “Okay.”

* * * *

Hawthorne was really excited about her first Zumba class. She’d been to a few classes as a guest with a friend from her old job but hadn’t been free to join a class and was thrilled to have gotten herself in this one. Andreas had warned her Marbella took the class seriously, so she was ready for a good workout. She noticed most people had a towel and a bottle of water. Some of them wrapped the towel around their necks, but she left hers on a chair at the back of the room as some other people did.

Soon the pounding, rhythmic music began and Hawthorne joined a row of people toward the back of the class, but where she had a clear view of Marbella to watch her moves. Fortunately the huge mirrors on the walls meant the teacher’s reflection was multiplied and Hawthorne was confident she’d be able to watch her. Whether she could perform all the steps fast enough to keep up with the group was something else again.

Marbella was wearing a headset and microphone, and called out the instructions as she did them, which helped Hawthorne understand which direction she needed to move in. The class started simply with sidesteps and stomps, arms out, arms up, turn around. But soon the steps became more complicated and the pace was unending. There was no time to recover after one sequence of steps as the next had already begun. When they turned around and marched toward the back wall, Hawthorne was surprised to see Dylan and Maelor in the back row. Maelor’s black hair was wet with perspiration and the center of his wifebeater was dark with sweat. She was glad she wasn’t the only one working damn hard to keep up here.

By the end of the class Hawthorne’s legs were wobbly and her thighs ached. She staggered over to the chair with her towel, bottle of water, and sweater on it, dropping onto the seat and drinking down half the water in a few gulps. She dried her face and neck and looked up to see Dylan and Maelor standing beside her.

“She really makes the class work,” said Dylan, tipping water on his hair and rubbing it with his towel.

“This is the easy class. I can’t imagine doing the advanced class,” said Hawthorne.

“It gets worse? Shit, no.” Maelor pulled her to her feet. Already the people in the next class were starting to come into the room.

Maelor’s hand on her back was gentle, but the heat of it penetrated right through to her bones, making her think of that big hand on other places of her body. Still, it was nice to have the men escort her back to her apartment. “Tomorrow we’ll collect you at seven to go walking. And maybe we’ll stop for a snack along the way,” said Dylan.

Hawthorne wasn’t sure whether he was asking her or telling her, but she was fine with the program so nodded.

“And next Friday you’ll be doing torture class again?” asked Maelor.

“Absolutely.”

“We’ll be there.”

Hawthorne grinned. He didn’t sound nearly as keen about that as about the walk. But she’d enjoyed the class. Okay, likely she’d have some stiff muscles tomorrow, but it was still fun. No way would she give up her Zumba classes.

* * * *

“Cadfael? It’s Harry Harrison.”

Oh, hi, Harry. Have you got some news for me about the mental well-being center and Jackson Hamilton?”

“Yes, I have and I don’t think you’re going to like it at all. I also think you’ll need to pass it on to the Supreme Alpha. The other packs need to know this as well.”

Fuck!
Cadfael sat down in his office chair and turned his back to the window. He needed to concentrate. Was Willow in danger? Or Hawthorne? “I’m listening. Tell me what you’ve learned.”

“My people have been watching Hamilton’s mental well-being center for almost a month now and no one ever leaves it. New people are brought in at the rate of about one a week, almost always by ambulance. But no one has been released at all while we’ve been observing the place.”

“That is strange. It would seem more likely that they’d need to send patients home to free up beds for the new arrivals. Unless the facility is very new and isn’t even close to full yet.”

“It’s not that new. Hamilton’s been running it for a couple of years now and I’ve got the same people who learned about Bailey’s tax fraud looking into its financial status. But it seems to be making a profit, so why does no one leave?”

“You’re sure of that?”

Cadfael didn’t want to seem like he was questioning Harrison’s work, more that he’d like some extra information. No one ever leaving sounded very ominous indeed.

“Yeah. Laundry day is Monday. They unload a van full of clean linens then pick up bags of dirty things. Wednesday groceries arrive. My people have excellent video footage and those deliveries are absolutely legit. No bodies in the laundry bags.”

Cadfael tapped his fingers on the desk until he thought of something. “Have your people tried to work out about how many people that quantity of groceries would feed? I mean. I know that sick people wouldn’t eat as much as a man doing physical labor, but has anyone tried to take a guess at how many are inside the facility?”

“No. That’s a good idea. I’ll get Tegan to follow up on that. Jayden’s been talking to a military buddy to see if we can borrow equipment that will count heat signatures to try to give us a head count, but that’s not organized yet. Jayden’s still in discussions with his contact.”

“Thanks for the information, Harry. I appreciate all you’re doing. It definitely sounds like something suspicious is going on at that place.”

“By the way, Hamilton owns the property legitimately. He’s bought the whole thing. Well, that is, he has taken out a mortgage on it. But he’s making full and regular payments on the loan, so he has to be making decent money.”

Cadfael leaned back in his chair and stretched. “Well, damn. I wish I knew what the fuck was going on there. I didn’t trust Bailey and I don’t trust Jackson either. I want to think Willow and Hawthorne are safe but I can’t relax yet.”

“No. Don’t relax. I don’t trust this man either. Now, are you going to report to Mr. Vukic, or do you want me to do it?”

“Likely it’s best if you talk to him. All the information is at your fingertips. If he asked me questions I probably wouldn’t know the answers. But please reassure him I’m not done yet. I want this mystery solved and I won’t rest until my woman and her sister are both safe. Thank you, most sincerely, for all your work. You’ve told me a lot.”