Rescuing Their Virgin Mate[Pack Wars-Book 3] (18 page)

“Can I stay with you for a
few days until I find a place of my own?” Elena’s furniture was stored in a
storage unit. When Liz gave her the money, she decided to visit her parents for
a month. If her landlord hadn’t jacked up the rent by twenty-five percent, she
wouldn’t have needed to move. At the time, Liz’s
five-thousand
dollars gave her the perfect opportunity to shove that apartment in the man’s
face.

“Sure, sweetie. You know you
can.”

She faced two dilemmas—how
to find a job, and how to tell the men she had to leave them.

“I’ll call you when I’ve
figured out the details.”

“Sure.”

She disconnected and inhaled
courage. She punched the number and waited for her mom to pick up. Elena
pictured her wiping her wet hands on her apron and scurrying around to find
where she’d placed the phone.

“Hello.”

“Momma, it’s me.” She stopped
breathing waiting for the explosion.

“Dear Lord in Heaven,
hallowed
be
thy name. Elena, darling,
are
you okay?”

“I’m fine. The men who are
keeping me safe wouldn’t let me call. It wasn’t safe.”

“Oh, baby. I wish I could see
you.”

“Me, too. The men who
abducted me stole my passport. I’m waiting for another one.”

In the background, water ran
and pots banged. “Who are the men keeping you safe? You aren’t staying in their
house, are you?”

She never lied to her mother.
“Yes, but I have my own room.”

“Hmm.”

That one word said it all.
She had sinned. “How’s Dad?”

“He’s good, but we’re worried
about you. Have you been going to church?”

If she told her how dangerous
it was to leave the house, her mom would worry even more. “Not yet, but I will.
Yesterday, the authorities caught most of the men responsible for my
abduction.” She didn’t have the heart to tell her the scope of the men’s
horrific deeds. “I’m going to stay with Janice until I find another job.”

“That’s nice.”

Her father’s voice sounded in
the background. She ran her nails across the microphone to simulate static.
“You’re breaking up, Mom. I’ll call you later.”

She disconnected and inhaled
to calm her racing heart. This was terrible. She’d never be able to visit them.
The moment they questioned her about the men, she’d fold and they’d know she’d
disgraced them. As terrible as it was to disgrace her parents, how could she
live without these two men?

There were no simple
solutions. Maybe time to herself would provide her with answers.

She dreaded telling Clay and
Dirk she had to leave them.

Chapter Thirteen

Dirk jumped up. “What do you
mean you want to leave us?” His hands fisted.

Clay strode next to him
presenting a united front. “Sugar, what’s going on?” At least Clay appeared
calm. He held out a hand as if he feared Dirk would attack her.

I
want to strangle her
.
Elena was his mate, the woman he loved.

“I can’t do it.”

Clay eased closer. “Come sit
with us and tell us what’s on your mind. I’m sure all of us can figure out a
solution.”

She drew in her bottom lip
and Dirk’s cock hardened. Fucking body. After the incredibly amazing sex, he
should be less susceptible to shifting. Where Elena was concerned, he wasn’t
sure he’d ever be immune.

Clay led her over to the
chair. Dirk sat on the sofa across from her and shot Clay a death stare.
Sit next to me and don’t antagonize her,
asshole.

Maybe he had reacted rather
strongly, but Christ. An hour ago, all three of them were soaring high above
the earth.

“I spoke with my mom and told
her what happened.”

Let
me
. Dirk was fine with
Clay doing the talking. If he spoke, he’d just mess it up.

“Your mom was happy you were
safe, right?”

“Yes, but if I stay with you
two, maybe someday we’ll permanently want to be together and how would I
explain to my Catholic mother I want to be with two men?”

Dirk’s gut nearly exploded.
We can’t compete with a mother’s love
.

We’ll
see about that
.

“Why don’t you take some time
to think this through, sugar? I bet, in a few days, we’ll be able to figure
something out.”

She knitted her fingers
together as tears streamed down her face. The urge to cuddle her and soothe all
her aches blasted him, but she wasn’t ready. He should have seen that. They’d
rushed her.
Damn
. They were idiots.

She wiped the tears with the
back of her hand. “Will you drive me to my storage unit?”

“Sure,” Clay said with
amazing calm. “What do you need?”

She glanced to the side. “My computer
and some clothes. My friend, Janice, said I could stay at her house until I
find another apartment.” She glanced up but didn’t make eye contact with him.
“Okay?”

Clay stood. “We’ll do
whatever you want.”

Hood
is still out there.
Dirk
would go ballistic if anyone harmed her.

We’ll
see he doesn’t make trouble.

“Can we go, now?”

At her anxiety, Dirk’s heart
broke. She seemed torn between wanting to stay with them and doing what she
thought was the right thing. The old adage, “blood is thicker than water,” was never
more true case.

Dirk got up. “I’ll drive.”

Elena drew in half her bottom
lip, and his fangs nearly poked out.

“Do you have a suitcase I can
put my clothes in?”

Clay stepped toward the
hallway. “I have one.”

As she waited for Clay to
return, Dirk’s tongue wouldn’t work. He sucked at saying the right thing. “You
want something to drink? Water, maybe?”

“No, thank you.”

Where had his wonderful Elena
gone? There had to be something he could do. He didn’t have the chance to
ponder his options before Clay returned with a suitcase and handed it to her.

She stood. “Give me a sec.”

When she closed her bedroom
door, rage raced through his veins. He charged up to Clay. “We’re just going to
let her go?”

“For now. She needs time to
process what happened. You know as well as I do we can’t force our mate to
accept us.”

That was true, but it didn’t
mean he had to like it.

#

This was terrible. Elena
almost vomited. She wanted to be with her men, but being in
a
ménage was considered a mortal sin or, at least, a venial sin. Right now, her
brain was too scrambled to think straight. Clay was right. A few days without
them around might help her figure out the best plan.

It didn’t take long to gather
her things. She drew in a deep breath and walked out, not even taking one last
look at the nicest bedroom she’d ever had.

“I’m ready.”

Clay took her suitcase, and
she followed them to the garage. Dirk slid into the driver’s seat and Clay sat in
back. She chose to sit in front, partly because Dirk’s jaw hadn’t unclenched
since she told them she needed to leave. His father had abandoned him, and his
mom, and now, she was doing the same thing. But she wasn’t ready to stay.

“The storage unit is on
Houston and Humphrey Street.”

Dirk’s jaw tightened even
more.
Great
.

Within ten minutes, they were
parked in front of her storage unit. Both men got out, but only Dirk escorted
her to the locker. Clay stayed by the car, as if he sensed someone was near.
Goose bumps tripped up her arm.

She leaned close to Dirk.
“Does he think someone’s here?” Clay’s hands might have been down by his side,
but his stiff shoulders didn’t bode well for them being alone.

“Don’t worry. Just hurry.”

She punched in the number and
let Dirk open the garage bay. The box of her clothes she needed, as well as a
bin of her shoes sat just inside the doorway. “The
computer’s
over there.”

The final box contained her
bank records, birth certificate, her social security card, and other important
documents. She grabbed it.

Once they loaded what she
wanted in the back of the car, Dirk jogged over to join them. She scanned the
area but didn’t spot anyone who looked evil.

“Where does your friend
live?” Dirk asked.

“It’s not far.” She gave him
directions.

Before they arrived at the
house, her cell rang. At first, she wasn’t even aware it was her phone. After
that skinny, tattooed jerk had stolen hers, she’d been without one. Then she
remembered she’d given Janice the burn phone number.

“What’s up?”

“I’m so sorry, but I’m
meeting a client for dinner. I won’t be home until late.”

Although Elena was disappointed
she wouldn’t have someone to talk to, she was glad Janice offered her a place
to stay. “No biggie. Have a good time.”

“Ugh. This one won’t be fun.
It’s about a child custody case. There’s a pizza in the fridge you can have.
You remember where the spare key is?”

“Sure do. If a little birdie
didn’t fly away with it.”

“I’ll be home by ten at the
latest.”

“Thanks for everything.” She
pressed the
End
button.

Dirk glanced over at her.
“Problem?”

“Not really. Janice won’t be
home until late.” She planned to ask her friend to drop her off at the
long-term parking lot, but now she’d have to ask the men. “Could you drop me
off at
Lindon
and Main so I can pick up my car?”

“Sure, but you aren’t getting
rid of us that easily. We’re going to help you with these boxes.”

The computer was heavy, and
she would need one of them to carry it in. “I appreciate it.”

They arrived at the garage.
Fortunately, she’d stashed the parking ticket in her box of important items.
Once she gave them the stub, they turned over the keys. She’d already paid for
the one-month service. They were supposed to start her car weekly, and she
hoped they had. When she slid in and the car turned over right away, she blew
out a breath, glad one thing had gone right today.

Dirk had directions to
Janice’s house in case they became separated. As she drove, she frequently
glanced in her mirror to make sure no car slipped between her and Dirk’s car.
This was the first time she’d been outside and alone, and a creepy feeling
crawled up her spine.

“Nothing can happen.” Even
saying the words out loud didn’t bring comfort. Being away from her men was
going to be harder than she thought.

Once they arrived at Janice’s
house, she parked next to the garage. Dirk stopped next to her and cut the
engine. She hoped they weren’t planning to stay any longer than it took to help
her unpack. The purpose of leaving their house was to allow her time to think
things through without their distracting presence.

You’re
going to miss them.

Terribly.

Dirk retrieved her computer,
and Clay picked up both boxes of clothing as she grabbed her suitcase and
personal items. “Just put the stuff on the porch while I get the key.”

Oak trees shaded both the
front and backyard, providing privacy. Janice had taped a plastic holder
underneath the bird feeder. Elena slid her hand along the rim, and once she
located the sleeve, pulled out the key. She trotted up the porch steps as Clay
stood motionless and Dirk scanned the neighborhood.

“Everything okay? You sense
any Colters?” She wanted this nightmare to be over.

They both faced her. “All
good.” Only Clay smiled.

She exhaled and put the key
in the lock. The one-and-a-half-story house had a compact living room with a
dining room at one end and an enclosed kitchen on the west side. On the east side
were two bedrooms and two baths. Upstairs contained a cute office that led out
to a second story deck above the garage. In the past when she’d visited Janice,
they’d often sat up on the roof deck and shared a glass of wine. What she
wouldn’t give for that peace again.

“The spare bedroom is through
here. Just put the stuff anywhere.”
Then,
please leave so you don’t have to see me cry.

Once the men put her things
in the bedroom, she walked them to the front door and faced them, her pulse
racing. “No words can describe what it’s been like having both of you in my
life. Not only did you risk your lives
sav
—“

“Say no more, sugar.” Clay
polished his knuckles on his shirt and grinned. “We’re heroes. We know it.”

That almost made her laugh.

Dirk didn’t fake his
reaction. “Sweetheart.” He moved closer.

She palmed his chest.
“Please, don’t. If you kiss me goodbye, we’ll all end up in bed.”