Kaleb (Samuel's Pride Series) (4 page)

“Would you have
answered me truthfully?” Stephan didn’t answer her. She nodded. “I didn’t think so. As for compelling you to answer me? I’m not sure what that means other than the true definition of the word. Are you saying I can make you answer me?”

“As I’m sure you can with most people.”

She frowned at
Stephan before looking at Kaleb. The connection was there for him to use, the one between mates. Kaleb thought if she could talk to Samuel that way, he would try as well.

“Do you have any idea what they’d done to you?”
Without answering him verbally, she nodded.
“I’m going to kill the men who did this to you. All of them. And the man in charge. Do you know who it is?”

“Yes.” She answered him out loud
, and Samuel looked at him as she spoke again. “I’ve always been able to talk to people through their mind. Samuel was the first one who ever spoke back to me. I think it had something to do with the head injury I had as a kid.”

“It’s more than that. You can compel and yes
, it is just what it sounds like. I would imagine that it is the reason you’ve been so good at your job. You’ve made people tell you what you wanted to know.” She shook her head, and Stephan nodded. “It is. And I’m pretty sure you know it. Do the people you work for know anything about your abilities?”

“No, and I’d like to keep it that way.” She looked at
Kaleb. “You’re not telling me the truth either, are you?”

“I’m not lying to you
, but I want to speak to you before I talk to Samuel. There is a great deal more to me than anyone knows about.” She nodded, then looked at Samuel.

“I need a place to stay.
Do you have a hovel or something I can hide out in until I can figure out what’s going on?” Kaleb felt Samuel look at him, but he watched her. She wasn’t going to go easily. “I won’t have you guys get into this any more. This shit I’m trying to bring in is not a nice guy.”

“You can stay with me.” She didn’t acknowledge him
, and he laughed. “Tania, if you go home with anyone else but me, I’ll have to kill them.”

Samuel stood up and patted him on the back.
When he went to the door, Tania called him back, but he only stopped at the doorway as Stephan went out. Samuel looked at her.

“I’ll be around if you need me. And you’ll be in good hands with Kaleb. He
won’t let anyone hurt you.” She was shaking her head when he laughed. “Christ, you’re still as stubborn as you ever were, aren’t you?”

“I can take care of myself. I do not need a sitter.”
Samuel was still laughing as he moved out of the room, and the door closed softly behind him. When she looked at Kaleb, he could see her anger. She was spitting mad. But Kaleb had to hand it to her. She was handling it much better than he would have.

“I’m your mate.
I’m sworn to protect you above my own life.” He watched her face when she leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes. “Tania, I can’t make you go with me, but—”

“Don’t call me that.
My father calls me that, and I hate him more than I do you right now.” She looked at him. “But you’re coming in second really quick.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She only shook her head. “I want to tell you what I am. Then we can decide what to do about this situation you’re in with your job.”

“I’m really tired.”
He watched her open her eyes only to have them close again. “I need to rest, and I need for you to leave.”

He sat very still
, watching her until she was sleeping. Going to the door, he had a nurse bring her something for pain, and waited for twenty minutes before he reached into her sleeping mind to speak to her. But as soon as he reached into her mind, he found memories that made him think she was in more trouble than she’d realized. After sorting out the information he needed, he spoke to her to give her everything she might need.

“I’ve been touched by a witch in a way that makes me so much more than what I appear.
Not even Stephan, with all his considerable age and magic, could come close to what I can do. I’m also a good deal older than I look. As of last month, I’m over two thousand years old. With that, like Stephan, I’ve grown more powerful. And as soon as we mate, you, too, will be just as strong.”
Her mind seemed to take this in, and he continued
. “The witch told me long ago that I’d meet you. I tried to tell her that I didn’t want a mate, but she insisted that we’d be a value to each other. I’ve been waiting to tell you that I don’t want you, but I’ve changed my mind. I need you.”

“No
, you don’t. You just think you do.”
He had to laugh. She was stubborn even in her subconscious.
“You should leave now before it’s too late.”

“It’s much too late for that. I’ve drank your blood and you’ve had mine.”
She shied away from that information, so he moved on.
“I’m a grizzly bear, changed when I helped someone with their child. It was what I needed at the time. My mother died when I was younger and left me with my brother, Langley.”

“And
Langley? Why does he still live if this witch touched you and made you all that special?”
It was a good question, one he had an answer for but was ashamed to tell her.
“You might as well spill it. I’m not going anywhere soon.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re like a dog with a bone?”
She snorted at him, and he laughed.
“I will love to watch your face when I come deep inside of you. See what your breasts look like when I suckle hard at your nipples.”

“Never going to happen
, and stop changing the subject.”
He laughed again and wondered if she would be this way when she was awake.
“I’m just me, Kaleb. A normal person that has been hurt way too many times by people to ever want to bring anyone into my life to be hurt again.”

“I’m not planning on hurting you.
In fact, I’d very much like to work beside you when you take this man down.”
She mentioned his brother again.
“As I said, a dog with a bone. He was hurt long ago. Injured in what I had thought was someone else’s doing. Turned out he’d been the bad guy and I saved him for naught. He’s not a good person and if you must not trust anyone, he would be the one you should avoid at all costs.”

“I plan to avoid you as well. Whatever you think is going on between us must stop now. I’m not a very good person
. And more than that, I work alone. It’s all that has saved me all my life. Once I left Samuel, I was….”
He felt her mind close off to him by degrees and was too impressed to remember he needed to talk to her before she nearly had him blocked out.
“You should leave.”

Kaleb watched her rest and wondered several things about her. First and foremost
, who was this person named Sweeney that she’d just decided to investigate, and what did she mean about working alone? Did she really think that he’d let her go now? Kaleb leaned in and kissed her mouth gently. She tasted of warm air on a summer day and fall leaves at the same time. Standing up, he took her wrist to his mouth and bit down. Tasting her blood to make their connection stronger was what he told himself, but really, he just needed more of her with him.

“I’ll be back, love.”
She moaned when he moved his mouth over her pounding pulse at her throat again. “When I do, you and I are going to get a start on this mating business. I’ve found that I have a powerful need to take you. And I need you healthy to do that.”

He left her room and stopped by the desk to see the head nurse.
After he left the clinic, he knew that no matter what, Tania…or Thor as she wanted to be called…would be well taken care of. As for anyone getting in to see or harm her, if anyone tried, they’d be met with a good deal more than they’d bargained for. Kaleb protected what was his.

Chapter 4

Lyod sat in Ansell
’s outer office for ten minutes before he realized that he’d been stood up. He wondered if the secretary knew that her boss was gone and was having a good laugh at his expense. Lyod decided that the next time she was out in her little red car, he was going to make sure she was pulled over for something. The bitch was going to pay for her little game. When the door opened and Ansell walked out, Lyod glanced at the woman again. She didn’t even bat an eye at him as she handed Ansell some small pink slips. Lyod was motioned in, and he sat in a chair across the desk from Ansell.

“What have you found out?”
Ansell put the messages on his desk, ignoring them as he spoke. “I haven’t heard anything for a few days and the bitch has been out there for over two weeks.”

“Nothing. And that could be a good thing.
If she’s not making any waves, she’s either in a position where she can’t or she’s decided that it’s too dangerous.” Lyod didn’t believe she’d just give up on this and was certain that she was dead. “I’ve had the hospitals and even the vets offices watched. She’s never showed up at any of them. Whoever took her is long gone, too. Nothing on that front either.”

“
Except there has been movement from someone.” Lyod frowned as Ansell continued. “Three of my men that were there that night are now missing or dead. The two that were found were torn up well beyond what was there at the compound. And the last one…well, I’m reasonably sure he was run through a wood chipper. His blood was found at the scene of one two nights ago.”

“Fuck.”
Lyod tried to think. “Who would know who was there? I didn’t have that list of names of those that came with you.”

“Are you saying that I had something to do with this?”
Lyod stood when Ansell did. His gun was currently in the front hall with his knife and badge. Ansell, however, had his gun pointed right at him. “You should think very hard before you answer that.”

“No. What I meant was, I have no way of seeing to the men who were there. I have no list so that I can keep an eye on them. I’m not blaming anyone
, but would very much like to get a handle on this before anyone else comes up missing.” Lyod sat down when Ansell did, but the gun now laying on the desk made him nervous. “I have a man missing, too. If your men are coming up missing, I can only assume that a few of mine might as well. Do you think she’s trying to flush us out into the open?”

“How should I know what goes through the mind of someone like her
? You told me she was unstable at best, and now she’s not only been to my house, but killed several of my men before we were able to take her. She sounds like someone I should have hired instead of you.”

Lyod hated Thornton now more than ever. She’d made him look like a fool.
“I’m controllable, and she’s not. Hell, I couldn’t get her to listen to me if I tried. She had her own set of rules that she went by and fucked me up all the time.” Of course, they were the rules that all of them were supposed to follow, but Lyod had never been one to do that. Instead, he liked to be the one who made the rules. That way he could change them as it suited him. But never Thornton. She had to do things by the book, always by the fucking book.

“I want you to continue looking for her. If you don’t have her in some way or fashion, and I mean dead or alive, I’ll have to take other measures.”
Ansell glanced at the gun before continuing. “She’s seen my face, knows where I live. What will you do when she knows the same about you?”

A threat. A good one
, too. Lyod didn’t say anything because he was trying to think how much damage she’d do to him if she only knew a third of what he’d been doing since he’d been on the force. And even a drop of what he’d done since she’d been working for him. Lyod was fucked either way. And he knew then that he’d have to find her on his own if for no other reason than he could kill her for fucking up his perfect life. Nodding to Ansell, he stood up.

“I’ll find her. I’ll do it myself if need be.
And once I do, I’ll kill her for you and bring you her head.” Ansell smiled and told him there was no reason for that. “You’ll know that I’ve done my job as soon as it’s complete.”

“See that I do.” Lyod was nearly to the door of the office when Ansell said his name.
Turning, he looked at him. “You’ll regret this if you think to turn me in to save your own ass. I will mess you up in ways that will make what my men did to her look like a small scrape. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

“Yes, sir. I understand.”
Lyod retrieved his gun and badge from the silent man at the door before going out to his car. He sat there for several minutes before he started the engine and pulled out into the street. As far as threats went, Lyod knew that Ansell would follow through on everything he’d said. But what Lyod feared most was Thornton getting wind of what his involvement had been in everything that he and Ansell had been doing. She would not only bury him, but she’d put him in front of a firing squad. Or get him hanged. Lyod knew that either way, he was as dead as he hoped she was.

Lyod went home. There was no reason for him to go back to the office
, so he pulled into his driveway a few minutes later. He was surprised to see a limo parked in front of his house. Getting out, he nearly got back into his car when he saw who the driver was.

“Gilbert? What are you doing here?”
Lyod’s ex-wife had been told repeatedly not to come here without an invitation. It seemed she did what she wanted when she wanted, and he’d had enough. Hearing her screaming at someone at the top of her lungs, he went into the house without waiting for an answer from the driver. He found Sheila arguing with his butler.

“I will not wait
outside. I’ve come here to get my things he owes me or else.” She turned on him the moment she saw him. “Where the hell are they? I want them right fucking now, or so help me I’ll have my lawyers come here and get them.”

“
It might help me to tell you if I had any idea what you were talking about.” Lyod handed his briefcase to his butler, and the man ran off with it as if he’d been handed a bomb and needed to dispose of it. He supposed in a way he had. Sheila was a fucking time bomb every time she came there. “What are you doing here? I think you’ve been told many times that this place is no—”

“I want my diamonds.”
He smiled at her. “You said I could have them, and I want them. Now. I need them.”

“
Your diamonds? How do you figure that they belong to you? If I remember correctly, and for the record I do, you were given all you were supposed to have months ago. And the diamonds, because of their value to me, were not on the list of things you got. You’ll not get them to sell off for something trivial. Or is it more debt, Sheila? I thought for sure once the divorce was settled, you would understand that you need to pay your own bills. I’m not going to be footing them forever.” She snarled, and Lyod laughed. “Are you upset about something?”

“You motherfucker
, you cut off my credit cards, and I no longer have access to the checking account. Half of that money is mine.” Lyod laughed and walked by her to the den. He needed a drink. “Give me my diamonds now and I’ll forget the other jewels I left behind.”

“You mean when I kicked you out.
No, I don’t think so. I never said I’d give them to you after I caught you fucking everything that had a dick. Besides, I more than deserve them for all the shit I had to put up with from you.” He took a long drink of his bourbon before looking at her. “And as for you having half my checking account, whatever gave you that idea? I think you should read the decree again. I owe you nothing.”

“I don’t
fucking have any money. How the hell am I supposed to live on the little money you paid me for the lawyer fees?” She advanced toward him, and he simply moved his coat so that she could see that he was still armed. “You’d shoot me?”

“
Yes. In a heartbeat.” He moved to sit on the couch, and she stood there. Lyod was trying to remember why he ever thought she was going to be a good wife. The few years they’d been married had soured him on ever finding himself a wife ever again. Sheila moved to sit down, and he shook his head. “I think it’s time you left. And when you’re home again, I would suggest you try to figure out a bus schedule. I will call to have you taken off Gilbert’s to-do list as soon as you’re gone.”

“You bastard.” Lyod nodded
at her description of him. “Why are you doing this? We got along all right, didn’t we?”

“I suppose in your little mind we did. You fucked everyone you wanted
, and I provided a home for you to turn your tricks in. I no longer want you in my life. And as of right now, you come here again and I’ll make sure you never bother anyone ever again.” Lyod watched her try to regain control of her temper. Christ, he might be having the best time he’d ever had with her since he’d fucked her the first time. “Don’t come here again, Sheila, or so help me, you’ll regret it.”

“I know things
about you.” He didn’t bother asking her what she thought she might know. There was nothing. She was a liar now and always would be to get what she wanted. “I can go to your little boss and tell him what you’ve been up to. I know things.”

“You know nothing or you would have told your lawyer before the final divorce.
And what you think you know will never fly. I will end you before you get to tell one person.” She looked around the room, and he watched her. She’d been violent that last time she’d been here, and he would really shoot her if she tried that shit again. “Try it. Come on, try it please.”

“I hate you.” He nodded and took another drink as she stood up. “I really do hate you and will find a way to make you pay for this.
I deserve more than what you settled on me. Five hundred thousand dollars isn’t enough.”

He watched her for several seconds and then laughed. “You’re broke
, aren’t you? You’ve already blown through all that money and now you want more. You fucking idiot. What do you plan to do now?”

“Oh
, you will give me more, and if not, I’ll find another sucker. But this time I’ll be more careful not to get caught.” She moved toward the door, and he got up to follow her. When she turned suddenly, he moved his hand toward his gun and stilled. “You really would shoot me, wouldn’t you?”

“As I’ve said before, in a heartbeat.”
He led her to the door and nearly shoved her out onto the front steps. “Don’t come back here. I swear if you do, you’ll never leave in one piece.”

She
ila stomped to the car and got in. When Gilbert looked up at him, Lyod gave him the thumbs up. Tomorrow he’d be unemployed, but he was reasonably sure the man would thank him for it. Closing the door, Lyod went to his office. It was time to find the little cunt.

~~~

She was going stir crazy. Thor knew that if she had to watch any more television, she was going to kill someone. Who had time to make this shit up? And when the next show was another one about court cases, she turned it off. Enough was enough. The door opening had her reaching for the gun that wasn’t there.

“Do you do that every time someone comes to visit you?”
Samuel handed her a large bag with grease stains on the outside of it. “You tell anyone where you got that and I’ll never bring you another thing.”

The smell was enough to make her drool and when she opened the bag
, she looked at Samuel with tears in her eyes. “You remembered.”

He nodded and smiled at her.
There had been no money when they’d been children. Not even enough to go to get a burger between them. And they would talk about all the things they were going to do when they had some extra cash. She had wanted to get a supersized burger meal with fries and a milk shake. When the tall frosty glass was set beside her food, she reached for his hand.

“Samuel, I’m so glad we’re friends.
You’ve no idea how many times over the years I would think of you and smile. Think of all the promises we made to each other and how we would escape our lives.” He nodded and kissed her hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. And there are times when I was trying to make a decision about a business deal and I’d find myself wondering what you’d do. Most of the time thinking of you and what you’d tell me was dead on. And when it wasn’t, it was damned close.
You’re the best friend a guy could have.” He moved to the chair while she devoured the burger and fries. She knew that there was more that he wanted to say to her, but she was glad that he was waiting until she was finished eating. When the nurse came in while she was finishing up, she only smiled and took her blood pressure. Apparently, Samuel did have a lot of pull here.

“I have to talk to you.”
He nodded at her after the meal was gone and the mess was cleaned up. “I have to get going. My boss is more than likely looking for me.”

She knew he might be
, but she wasn’t really in any hurry to let him find her. There were a few things that had happened that night that she was still wondering about. Like how did all those extra men know to come out when she’d been talking to Sweeney? And why did he seem pissed that she’d gone to the house instead of standing down like he’d told her to do?

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I know that you’re good at your job
. I’ve looked you up, but you’re supposed to be dead, not running around like a maniac trying to bring some asshole in. Rest for a while.” She started shaking her head. “Don’t do that. I need you to be around for a little while longer. My son will be born soon, and I want you here to meet him.”