Shifter Wars (14 page)

Matthew flashed me the peace sign before speaking. “I was under orders, Kyle.”

I took a step toward him and he flinched slightly.

“You’re not carrying Stanley, are you?”

Griffin’s eyebrow rose in question, so I enlightened him. “It’s the name of my .9 millimeter.”

The corner of Griffin’s mouth quirked up slightly, but he didn’t actually smile. “Did you hear or see anything interesting today?” he asked Matthew.

“I overheard Ken talking. He doesn’t like that you were asking questions about Mark Brennan. He thinks you’re too nosy.”

“Well, I think he’s an antisocial ass, so we’re even.”

Griffin interrupted. “Did he say anything specific about poachers or shifters?”

“No, but he is acting jumpy, and now he’s suspicious of Kyle. It’s a good thing I’m there to observe him.”

I gestured to Misha and Jean Luc. “Guys, stand up for me here.”

Misha spoke with his mouth full of cookie. “I agree with them, Kyle.”

“You’ve been brainwashed with snickerdoodles. Your vote doesn’t count. Jean Luc?”

“I would feel better having Matthew with you as well. The more quickly we can learn what we need to know about the poachers, the better for everyone involved.”

Leave it to Jean Luc to be all practical. Which was what it came down to. This was about Trina’s safety, not my pride. But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t make Griffin suffer for it.

“Fine. He can stay. But I call the shots. Be at the office tomorrow at noon. We’ll go from there to the body shop.”

Matthew saluted me. “Yes, ma’am!” He then turned on his heel and marched smartly out of the room.

Misha laughed until he caught sight of my face.

“Guys, can you give me a moment alone with Griffin?”

Jean Luc and Misha exchanged a cryptic look before walking out of the room. I shut the door behind them. When I turned around, Griffin had moved from behind the desk and was now leaning on the front. I stepped toward him.

“I want to let you know you didn’t win this fight.”

“I know.”

I glowered at him. “I’m doing this for Trina, not you.”

“I know that, too.”

He was being awfully agreeable. “So you will not interfere any further in the investigation?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Damn it! If you don’t trust me, then why did you bring me back here?”

He stood and took a step so he was within inches of me. “I trust you, Kyle. But that doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you. I never let any of my people go into a tough situation alone.”

“I’m not one of your people.”

He reached up and ran his hand along my jaw. “I am very aware of that.”

I gulped in a very unladylike manner and blinked before staring into his green eyes. For a split second I could have sworn his pupils flared amber. I blinked again, and his eyes were normal. I took a step back.

“I better go find Misha and Jean Luc.” I rushed out of the room, not waiting for his response. But then, I probably wouldn’t have heard it anyway since a voice in my head was clucking like a chicken.

* * *

The drive back from Griffin’s was painfully silent. After running out of his office, I found Misha and Jean Luc in the front hall, whispering. About what, I didn’t know at first, until they stopped talking when I got within two feet of them. I wasn’t sure why I had become the topic of conversation. Misha actually stammered guiltily when he asked me if I was ready to go.

Now I sat in the back of the van trying to sort out my feelings. Why did I act like a teenager whenever I was around Griffin? When he had touched my face, I’d wanted to lean into his touch, but I had frozen and backed away instead.

Misha cleared his throat, and I looked up to see him staring at me like a specimen under a microscope. This could not be good.

“What’s up?”

“We want to talk to you.”

Jean Luc slowed and turned into the empty parking lot of an office building.

This really could not be good. “About?”

Misha glanced at Jean Luc who nodded. Misha maneuvered out of the front bucket seat and sat next to me in the back. “We’re worried about you and want you to know we’re here for you.”

My heart clenched. “I know.”

He reached for my hand and squeezed it. “We wanted to talk to you because we don’t want to see you continue down a destructive path.”

What?
My mouth gaped open. “Oh, my God, Misha. Are you staging an intervention?”

“No…well…yes. You’re running away again, little one.”

I gritted my teeth before responding. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Jean Luc chimed in. “We know how hard it was for you to lose Dalton. But we don’t want you to close yourself off to new opportunities.”

Misha nodded emphatically. “By opportunities, he means Griffin.”

“I know what he means, Mish.”

“Well, it just seems like there is a lot of chemistry between the two of you. And if you do decide to explore it, that would be okay.”

Jean Luc added, “But only when you are ready,
ma petite
.”

I squeezed Misha’s hand and reached over to touch Jean Luc’s shoulder. “Got it.”

Chapter 18

Jean Luc gave me The Look. The one which announced, “I have something profound to say.” But I ignored him and went to my office. I was becoming the queen of avoidance, and after the intervention they staged on me yesterday, I wasn’t sure I could handle any more. After a few minutes of self-imposed exile, I wasn’t surprised when I glanced up to see Jean Luc standing in the doorway.

I sighed. “Come on in and spill it, oh Wise One.”

He smiled one of his rare smiles and sat across from me. “I knew you were avoiding me.”

I frowned slightly. “Are you using your vampy senses on me?” Since biting me last year, Jean Luc had been able to sense my feelings, and I didn’t enjoy being an open book to him.

He shook his head. “I have known you for ten years. I don’t need to read you.”

Relaxing, I rocked in my chair. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Did we not cover this last night?”

“This isn’t about Griffin. I never felt it was my place to ask what happened between you and Nicholas, but after seeing you with him yesterday, I think it is time we discuss it.”

Looking down at my desk, I weighed my options. Last summer, the last thing I had wanted to do was to drag Jean Luc and Misha into my battle with Nicholas. But now I decided the truth was in order. “When Dalton was hurt last year, I wanted to erase the memories of his torture. Nicholas didn’t think it would save him. He demanded I erase all of Dalton’s memories, but when I fought him on it…” I hesitated.

Jean Luc leaned forward. “What happened, Kyle?”

“Nicholas told me Dalton wouldn’t be safe unless I erased everything. Otherwise, the supernatural community would take care of it.”

His jaw clenched. Jean Luc normally suppressed his emotions, and until that moment, I had not understood why. He was livid, and energy thundered off of him in waves. It overwhelmed my small office space. I almost pushed my chair away from the desk, but thought it more prudent to hold still. I could barely make out his next words.

“Did he threaten you?”

“No, just Dalton.”

“Why did you not come to us?”

I gazed into his dark eyes. “Because I was pretty sure you and Misha would fight him, and then what? We trigger a supernatural civil war? I couldn’t ask you to do that. And how would we protect Dalton twenty-four hours a day?”

“We would have done it for you in a heartbeat.”

I reached for his hand across the desk. “I know you would have, and that’s why I love you both. But I didn’t know if partially erasing Dalton’s memories would have saved him anyway. I couldn’t risk both of you on a what-if.”

The tension lessened in his face. “You should not have had to struggle with this alone.”

“I took the coward’s way out last year and ran off to Nevada. It was my choice, but I’m sorry if I hurt you by leaving.”

“You are not a coward, Kyle. Just a very stubborn human.”

I smiled at him. “Thanks. Please tell me I don’t have to bare my soul to Misha right now, too. I don’t think I can handle it.”

“I will talk to him for you. But I cannot promise to keep him in check.”

“Promise me you won’t say anything to Nicholas. The important thing right now is to protect Trina.”

He stood. “Nothing will happen…for now.”

* * *

I got out of the truck carrying Booger. Jason collected the pet bed and cat food and trailed into the shop behind me. When Matthew met us at the office at noon, he had also brought his kitty supplies. He wanted to be comfortable at the shop, and I could hardly blame him. I set him down when we got inside, just as Bruce came ambling up to the front.

“Looks like the cat has suckered you too, huh?” he said, eyes sparkling.

Booger rubbed against my legs, and I rolled my eyes. “He’s a cutie.”

Bruce walked over and took the supplies from Jason. “Good to see you.”

“How’s she working out?” Jason gestured toward me with a wry grin.

“Great. You’ve got a smart lady, there.”

“She picked me, didn’t she?” Jason smirked.

I rolled my eyes again, and Jason laughed. “I better get going before she makes me pay for that.”

He walked over and kissed me hard on the lips. He was going to pay, all right. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.” I turned to Bruce while I hung up my coat. “Let me take this back and get the cat settled before I get going on the invoices.”

I walked through the door with Booger prancing along beside me. While I set the bed in the corner and got the small bowls and food out of the bag, C.J. wandered over.

“Hi. How did our little dude do last night?”

“Good. Can you get him some water while I give him food?”

“Sure. I’ll be right back.”

I squatted down and opened a can of Booger’s food and dumped it unceremoniously into his bowl. Leaning closer, I petted him as an excuse to give him some parting advice.

“Don’t fall asleep back here in your comfy bed and miss any important info.”

He rubbed his chin against my hand, and I took it as an affirmative. I passed C.J. as he came back from the kitchenette with the water.

“Thanks for taking care of him last night.”

“No problem. I can take him home tonight too, if you need me to.”

I settled at my desk and started the invoices. After forty-five minutes, Bruce came up front with his jacket.

“I’m going out for a while to run some errands. We have a new client coming in shortly. If I’m not back when they get here, buzz for Jim, and he’ll deal with them.”

“Got it.”

Only a few minutes passed before the front buzzer sounded and a large man lumbered in. He quickly took in the waiting room area, as if casing the place, and then his gaze landed on me. His hard look set off warning bells in my head.

“Can I help you?”

When he spoke, he had a deep, raspy voice, like he hadn’t used it in a while. “I want to speak to the boss.”

“Bruce isn’t here right now, but his brother Jim should be able to help you.”

I clicked on the pager. “Jim, please come to reception.” I gestured in the direction of the waiting area. “You can take a seat if you’d like.”

He simply stood there, staring down over the counter at me.
Creepy
. I went back to typing, trying to ignore the hairs dancing the conga on the back of my neck. When the door opened and Jim came up front, my unease grew. Jim’s face went through a variety of emotions from shock to fear to anger in about ten seconds.

“What are you doing here?”

“We have some business to discuss. Let’s go to your office.”

Jim jerked his head toward the back, and they walked out.
Crap.
Where was Booger when I needed him? I
had
to listen in on their conversation. How to do it without suspicion? Coffee! I would take a cup of coffee with me, and then, if they caught me outside the office, I would just tell them I was bringing it to the client. Wasn’t that what a good receptionist would do?

I picked a random mug and filled it quickly before sneaking back toward the offices. I waited around the corner from Jim’s desk and hoped their voices would carry. I was in luck.

“Why are you here?” Jim hissed.

“I came to see your brother.”

“What the hell for? I told you I’m good for the money.”

“You’ve been saying that for a while now. We don’t believe you anymore.”

“I’ll get you the money. I’m not bringing Bruce into this.”

The man chuckled. “You don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“Damn it! No!” Jim hollered, which was followed by a thud. Misha’s voice thundered in my ear. “Get out of there Kyle, we’re coming for you!”