Primal Possession (33 page)

Like kill Aiden.

December stared at Liam’s brother in trepidation. His dark eyes had turned even darker and his canines had protracted slightly. She didn’t think he’d hurt any of them, but he looked seriously pissed. And all she cared about was getting Kat out of there. Her friend might be healed, but after seeing her so bruised, so bloody, she could only imagine what she’d been through.

Connor looked pointedly at the enforcer. “There’s a body just outside. Dispose of it.” Jayce took a step forward, as if to defy him, but Connor shook his head sharply. “You can’t help her now,” he murmured.

It was obvious Connor meant Kat. December’s heart cracked for the other wolf. He’d been staring at Kat since the moment he’d entered the barn, and the pain on his face was so raw, so real, it made her want to cry for him too.

Next, Connor looked at Erin as he pointed to one of the decapitated males. “You go with him and dispose of that one.”

Once they both moved into action, he looked at Liam. “You and I have some digging to do.”

December looked up at Liam in confusion. “What’s he talking about?”

“There are bodies buried underneath here.” He stomped once with his foot. “Not killed by us and we don’t know who they belong to. We’re going to uncover them, then anonymously call the cops once we’ve disposed of the men we’ve killed.”

“What about…” She glanced at her friend.

“We don’t want anyone to know she was here. We’ve come up with a cover story, which we’ll go over with her later. We need to destroy any of her blood evidence too. Go back to the ranch with them.” He looked at Kat, then
at the dried blood on the wall and ground. “She’s going to need you right now,” he murmured.

Liam reached out for a moment as if to cup her cheek, then jerked his hand back as if he thought she’d burn him.

She looked at Aiden and Ryan. “I’ll be right behind you.”

When the two men started to leave the barn, she grabbed Liam’s arm as he started pulling a shovel down from one of the racks. “We need to talk first.”

“Now isn’t the time.” He didn’t look at her as he slammed the end of the shovel into the hard earth.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting like we’re strangers. Like you can barely stand to touch me. Or even look at me.” She hated that her voice cracked on the last word.

After everything she’d been through the past couple days, she needed him now more than ever and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. The fact that he kept pulling back burned a giant hole in her chest. He’d been concerned when he’d entered the barn, but he hadn’t made a move to hold her, console her. It ripped her heart out.

He held the shovel still and looked at her with those dark, penetrating eyes, but he wouldn’t respond. When he turned away from her again, she gritted her teeth and hurried after the others. Now wasn’t the time to push him, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to let things go on like this.

“A
re you sure you’re up for this?” December held Kat’s hand as they sat on the couch in the living room of the ranch’s main house.

Kat’s normally bright blue eyes were dull as she nodded. “I just want to get this over with. Whatever cover story they’ve come up with, it’s better than what really happened to me.”

It was the most Kat had said since they’d returned to the ranch. They’d been back a few hours, but she hadn’t slept or wanted to take a shower or anything. She’d just changed into some of December’s clothes even though they didn’t fit well, then curled up in a ball on the bed December had been sleeping on. And December hadn’t left her side.

Having long since returned from the hospital, Ana had been their communication link with the others still not back yet. Once she received word from Connor that the males and Erin were on their way back from disposing of those bodies, she’d come to get December and Kat to let them know that if Kat was up to it, Connor and Liam wanted to talk to her.

“Kat, I’m so sorry—”

“Please don’t say anything. It’ll just make it worse.” Kat’s voice was so low December almost didn’t hear her.

Tears pricked her eyes but she fought them back. She hated this feeling of helplessness and could only imagine what Kat had gone through. And she wouldn’t make it worse by crying when her friend was being so strong. If Kat wanted to talk about it, she’d listen, but December would never push. Instead of trying to say anything else, she squeezed Kat’s hand tighter. Even though her friend was taller and leaner—and now a lot physically stronger—her hand felt delicate and almost fragile. As if she might break at any moment.

Kat scooted closer to December as Connor and Liam entered the room. For a moment, December felt her stiffen—probably because she was waiting for Jayce to enter—but when it was just the two of them, some of the tension ebbed from Kat’s shoulders.

Connor and Liam sat on the longer couch across from them. Connor spoke first. “Kat, I can’t tell you how sorry we all are—”

Kat shook her head sharply. “Just get to the point,
please
.”

Liam and Connor exchanged a quick look; then Connor nodded sharply. “Okay. Normally humans aren’t turned into shifters without fully understanding the ramifications of their decision. In this case, however, I understand there was no other decision. I’m sure you have a lot of questions and I’ll answer anything you want, but right now we have to act quickly. We’ve disposed of the six men from the property where we found you and destroyed all your blood evidence there. As far as we know, Adler was the local leader of this group and he was among the bodies.”

Kat’s face paled as she nodded. She squeezed December’s hand tighter. “I know. I saw him die.”

Connor’s jaw flexed. “We combed the house for records or anything we can use against the APL, but at this point we don’t know who Adler answered to or how much they know about your kidnapping. If you want to tell the police you were taken by the APL, then—”

“No!” Kat’s answer was sharp and clear.

For a moment, her nails protracted and slightly dug into December’s palm.

December bit back a startled cry at the same moment Kat dropped her hand and stared at her, horrified.

“I’m sorry,” Kat whispered.

December shook her head and reached for her hand again. A ghost of a grateful smile played across Kat’s lips before she focused on Connor again.

“It sounds like we’re on the same page, then,” he said. “We don’t want the local cops involved any more than you seem to want them. We killed five—technically six—humans tonight and no matter that we were trying to save you, it will look bad that they’re all dead, especially the ones at the main house. We broke into that house and it’s obvious two weren’t killed in self-defense….” His voice trailed off as he looked at December. “Are you going to tell your brother about any of this?”

She was surprised by the bluntness of his question, but maybe she shouldn’t have been. Lying to the police or her brother specifically wasn’t something she’d ever thought she’d do. Of course she’d never thought to be targeted by crazy radical hatemongers either. December shook her head. “I’ll never speak about what happened tonight to
anyone
.”

Connor looked at her for a long moment and must have been convinced of her sincerity, because he nodded
once. Then his attention turned to Kat again. “If you’re willing, I’d like you to go with Aiden to the police station tonight. No offense, but you look like shit and if you come in with a story of how you escaped two kidnappers and were found in the woods by one of our pack members, it’ll be more believable now than if you come in fresh faced a day or two from now. And the longer you’re here, the bigger chance someone has of finding out you’re not currently being held anywhere.”

Kat nodded. “What’s the story, then? Why did these two men kidnap me and where was I held?” Her voice shook on the last word.

Connor’s expression softened. “Keep it simple. You were held somewhere in the woods, but with all the snow falling you have no idea where or for how long. They were holding you for ransom and wanted to blackmail your father into paying for your release. Since they wore masks the entire time, you have no idea who they are or what they look like. Plenty of people saw you being kidnapped at the hospital and you have no reason to lie to the cops. Since the men who actually took you are dead, the cops will eventually close your case as a cold one.”

Kat looked at December with raised eyebrows. She seemed so unsure of herself it made December’s heart ache. “What do you think?”

December nodded. “It’s a believable story, and like he said, you have no reason to lie.”

Kat lightly bit her bottom lip before turning back to Connor and Liam. Dropping December’s hand, she stood, her expression resigned. “If Aiden’s ready, I want to go now. I just want to get this over with.”

Connor and Liam both stood, but only Connor led her out of the room. Once the front door shut behind them, Liam finally spoke, but he didn’t sit back down or
make a move to comfort her. “How is she?” His voice was ragged.

December had no answer. “I honestly don’t know. She hasn’t said much since she’s been back. I think she’s in a mild state of shock. Considering…whatever happened to her, I think she’s holding up okay.”

Liam let out a string of violent curses before meeting her gaze again. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into all this.”

She frowned at him, not understanding why he was obviously keeping his distance from her. “This isn’t your fault. None of it.” It wasn’t anyone’s fault except that of some ignorant people so consumed with their own hatred they couldn’t see anything clearly.

He shook his head sharply, as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “After Kat was taken, I realized how selfish I’ve been. If I’d never forced my way into your life, you’d never be in danger. You’d never know”—he spread his hands out helplessly in front of him—“all this shit. Crazy people wouldn’t be after you. You’d be safe.”

Her heart rate sped up as she started to digest his words. The reason for his distance at the barn and now here at the house was suddenly all too clear. “So what are you saying?”

He cleared his throat almost nervously. “I think you need to leave town for a while. Maybe take a long vacation.”

“Excuse me?” What the hell was the matter with him? They’d just taken care of the leader of the local APL group and now he wanted her to leave. Now, when her friend was in so much emotional pain it was practically a living thing inside her. And now when December needed him more than ever.

Liam nodded resolutely. “We’ve got a list of all APL members in the area now. There aren’t many locals and
with these guys dead…I don’t
think
you’re going to have a problem anymore, but I want to be sure. You need to be far away from me.”

Like hell she did. “I’m not running away from anything. Especially not my home. When I was seventeen, my brother and I packed up and ran away from our problems. I’m not doing that ever again. There will always be problems or violence. Leaving is not the answer.”

He swallowed hard, his gaze haunted. “This time it is. You can’t be associated with me anymore. It will only bring you pain and suffering.”

“What the hell are you trying to say? Spit it out, Liam.” She had a feeling she knew what he meant, but she wanted to hear it.

His expression completely shut down. “There can’t be an ‘us’ anymore. I’m sorry, December.” She might not be able to read his face, but he actually sounded like he was sorry. All pitiful and pathetic and it just pissed her off even more.

“You are a coward.” She bit out each word. “You pursued me like there was no tomorrow and now that I’ve finally given you what you want—given us a chance—you think pushing me away makes sense?”

“It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“Bullshit. It’s the only way you can lock up whatever feelings you have for me and cling to some noble idea that you’re protecting me. But you’re only trying to protect yourself.”

When he didn’t respond, she wanted to scream. He simply stood there, his face impassive, as if he’d already made the decision and she had absolutely no say whatsoever in it.

“So you’re not even trying to deny it?” she demanded.

“This has nothing to do with me. I want to protect
you
.”

She gritted her teeth, fighting back the surging, bubbling anger coursing through her. Was he really going to do this? Kick her out of his life? “I can’t believe you seriously believe the crap that’s coming out of your mouth.”

He said nothing.

Which only infuriated her even more. “Don’t think you can come crawling back to me when you finally pull your head out of your ass!” Giving Liam one last lethal stare, she turned on her heel and stalked from the room. She’d be staying in the guesthouse tonight—technically this morning—but she doubted she’d get any sleep. Not when she was so wired. Despite the exhaustion overwhelming her and the lingering fear she had for Kat even though her mind knew her friend was safe, she felt ready for a fight. But if Liam wouldn’t fight back, she couldn’t make him. The only thing she knew for sure was that this conversation wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. After he stewed on his asinine decision for a day or two, she’d confront him again and see how ready he was to shove her out of his life.