The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2) (17 page)

“Groggy and feverish. Asleep now. She knew it was wolfsbane. Obviously too late to do anything about it.”

Titus growled softly. “Who the hell does that to someone?”

“I plan on finding out.” Hank’s pocket buzzed. Ivy’s phone was going off. “Hang on.”

The name Sam came up on the screen. He answered it. “Hello?”

Silence for a second, then, “Sorry, I must have the wrong number.”

“Were you trying to reach Ivy?”

“Yes. Ivy Kincaid.”

“Then you have the right number.”

More silence. “Are you the Merrow she was sent to marry?”

“I am. Who are you?”

“I’m her brother. Where is she?”

“Unable to come to the phone right now.” Her brother had interesting timing. “Is there a message?”

“I’m in town. I need to talk to her.”

In town. How convenient. “In that case, we’d better meet.”

Hank gave Sam the address of the station, then hung up. He looked at Titus. “Can you stand guard on Ivy’s door until I get back? That was her brother. He’s in town. I need to go meet him and explain what’s going on. And find out why the hell he just showed up.”

Titus nodded. “You got it.”

Bridget wrapped her arms around herself. “I feel like I should be doing something, too.”

Hank tipped his head. “Just keep your wits about you and your phone on in case I need you.”

“You know it.”

“I’ll walk you to your car.” He nodded at his brother. “Be back as soon as I can.”

Hank saw Bridget safely to her vehicle, then took off for the station. Birdie was gone for the day and Cruz was at the front desk.

He frowned as Hank came in. “Something change?”

“Titus is standing guard. Ivy’s brother is in town. I told him to meet me here.”

Cruz stood. “I can take over for Titus if you want. Give you some privacy.”

Hank thought about it. “Okay.”

Cruz grabbed his things and left. Sam showed up ten minutes later. He had Ivy’s coloring but not her delicate features. He was almost Hank’s size. Apparently, the Kincaids were getting bigger.

Sam looked Hank up and down as he came in. “You’re Hank Merrow.”

Hank nodded, but didn’t move from where he stood in front of the reception desk, one hand on the desk, the other casually on his duty belt near the handle of his service weapon. “What brings you to town all of a sudden, Kincaid?”

Apprehension tightened the muscles in Sam’s jaw. “What makes you think it’s all of a sudden? What’s going on? Why couldn’t Ivy come to the phone?”

“Because someone tried to kill her with wolfsbane.”

Sam’s mouth opened, and genuine shock registered in his eyes, giving Hank the sense that Sam might not be as bad as his father. Sam swore and glanced away. “I’m too late. Those mutt bastards. Is she going to be okay?”

“Should be. What are you too late for?”

Sam sighed. “Is there somewhere more private we can talk?”

“My office.” Hank pushed off the desk and led the way.

Sam closed the door behind him and sat as Hank settled into his chair. The other shifter eyed him warily. “When was she poisoned?”

“Late this afternoon.”

Sam nodded. “Anything else happen?”

“Yes. Earlier. Some pictures were dropped off in an envelope with my name on them.” Hank watched Sam’s face. “Pictures of her and Charlie.”

Sam’s brows lifted. “I guess you know now that’s her son.”

“I already knew. She told me about him yesterday.”

Sam frowned. “She told you about him?”

“Did you think she wouldn’t?”

Sam hesitated. “Our father made her swear she wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

Sam snorted. “Isn’t it obvious? He thought it would sour the deal.”

Hank stared at the man as his opinion of the Kincaids and their tactics worsened. “It didn’t.”

Sam sat back. “You like her.”

“You sound shocked. You shouldn’t be. Your sister is a good person. But maybe that’s a rare breed of Kincaid.”

Sam started to say something, but Hank interrupted. “Let’s get back to why you said you were too late. What do you know?”

Sam sighed. “The night the truce was announced, word of the marriage leaked. It wasn’t supposed to get out, but you know how packs talk.”

“Not really. Go on.”

Irritation edged Sam’s voice. “I overheard two of our pack members talking in the meeting hall parking lot. The Jenkins brothers. They’re distant relatives. They’ve always felt like they deserved more respect in the pack. A higher ranking. A bigger share of the stipend.”

“That only the men get.”

Sam made a face but continued. “They weren’t happy about the truce. They said as much in the meeting, but they disagree with ninety percent of the things my father does or the way he does them. Based on their conversation in the parking lot, they were steamed.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t think they’d do anything about it. They’re big talkers. But when my father called another meeting to confirm the marriage rumor, they didn’t show. They never miss a meeting. Or their chance to be heard.”

“So you thought what?”

Sam sighed. “That they’d come here. To make trouble. To disrupt the truce.”

“They stand to gain from that?”

“Maybe. If the truce falls through, my father will bear the shame of that since he initiated it. One of the brothers could challenge him. They’re younger and stronger.”

“Pack leadership has changed over lesser issues than failed agreements.” Though, not in the Georgia pack. A Merrow had been alpha for the last century. But, then, Merrows didn’t rule the way Kincaids did, in that all or nothing style. Merrows allowed some compromise. And treated all pack members equally.

“I may not agree with everything my sister’s done in her life, but she’s still my sister, and I don’t want to see her hurt. I’d like to stay and help you keep an eye out for the Jenkins boys.”

It was saying something that a Kincaid was asking permission to be in Nocturne Falls, but these were extenuating circumstances. Hank could keep an eye on Sam that way, too, because even if he was Ivy’s brother, he was still a Kincaid and Hank didn’t trust him. “I don’t plan on keeping an eye out for them.”

Sam’s brow wrinkled. “You don’t?”

“I plan on hunting them down. Starting tonight.” Hank slid a notebook toward Sam. “Full names and descriptions.”

“I can do better than that.” Sam reached into his jacket and pulled out a sheet of folded paper. “Here are their pack registrations.”

Hank unfolded it and looked at the photos on the registrations, memorizing the faces of the men who’d most probably hurt Ivy. It was unlikely they’d registered at any hotel under their real names, but it was a start.

Sam jotted a number on a piece of scrap paper, then stood. “I’ll visit Ivy in the morning, but after that I’ll come straight here. Call me if you find them before that.”

“Will do.” Hank pushed to his feet. “I’ll let my deputies know you’re allowed into her room. You can see her, but you can’t be alone with her.”

Sam grunted. “I don’t like it, but I get it. You don’t trust me.”

“No, I don’t. You could be pushing blame on the Jenkinses to hide your own guilt.”

“I would
never
hurt Ivy.”

“You were raised by a man who didn’t have a problem with it. Why should I think you’re any different?”

Sam frowned. “Point taken. I’d do the same thing if the situation was reversed. So while I still don’t like it, I understand. Trust is earned.”

Hank walked the man to the door. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Ivy woke up feeling like a slice of crap between two pieces of crap bread. Sun streamed through the hospital window, digging into her brain and making her cringe. She turned away from it to face the door and was greeted with a familiar silhouette.

“Sam?” He wasn’t the last person she expected to see, but it was still a shock. Albeit a pleasant one. One of Hank’s deputies moved from the hall to stand inside the door.

“Hey there.” Sam came over to the bed. The deputy stayed put. “How are you doing?”

“Achy, but not bad, considering. How did you get here so fast?”

“I was already here. Got your text when I was on the road. I had no idea what had happened to you until I called and Hank answered your phone.”

“You met him, huh?”

Sam nodded. “Seems like a good guy. Although he might not be all there.”

She frowned. “Why do you say that?”

Sam’s eyes were full of mischief. “He’s marrying you, isn’t he?”

“Says the man who can’t find a wife.” She turned onto her side, trying to find a comfortable position. Her whole body ached, and her muscles were as sore as if she’d been beaten.

“I’ll settle down when I’m good and ready.” He brushed a piece of hair off her forehead, a rare gesture since they’d grown more distant. “You look like crap, by the way.”

“And somehow, your visit isn’t helping.” She swatted at his hand. Her relationship with Sam was definitely the usual sibling love/hate. If only she could get him away from the influence of their father. “Why did you come to Nocturne Falls if not because of what happened to me?”

“Because of the Jenkins brothers. Overheard some of their conversation at the meeting where Dad announced the truce, and they didn’t like it at all. Gave me a bad feeling. I figured I’d better get down here, make sure they weren’t up to something stupid. Looks like I was too late.”

She smiled. At least he still cared. “Thanks. It was sweet of you to look out for me that way.”

He nodded, but his expression was serious. “Look, about you and Hank, it’s great that you like each other and all, considering you’re getting married, but you shouldn’t have told him about Charlie.”

She froze, her pain replaced by fear. “What did you say to him?”

Sam shrugged. “Nothing, really. I did tell him you weren’t supposed to say anything. Why did you?”

“All I told him was that I have a son. I had to. He overheard me on the phone.”

“So he doesn’t know about—”

“No. And I plan to keep it that way until after the wedding. I’m in a no-win situation. There’s no way anyone will marry me if they know about Charlie’s condition. But I’m also not going to risk Charlie’s life over this.” She knew exactly what her father would do to Charlie if the truce fell through. He’d told her in very plain terms.

The memory sent a shiver through her.

Sam was quiet a moment. “Hank might hate you for it.”

She stared past Sam, the truth of his words another knife in her chest. “I know. But what choice do I have? I’d rather have a husband who hates me than lose Charlie. That would kill me. Hatred I can live with. I’ve had plenty of practice.”

“He’ll divorce you.”

“And nullify the truce? I don’t think so. Neither of us has a choice. Because Clemens has made it that way.” She glared at Sam. “How you can stand by and let our father treat your nephew this way—”

Sam straightened. “Don’t put this on me. You’re the one who insisted on going to college.”

“That’s Dad talking, not you.” Clemens had never wanted her to go to college, never wanted her to do anything but what he told her to do.

Sam held up his hands. “Hey, you’re the one who wanted a life beyond the family businesses. Look where it got you. Now you’re living with the consequences.”

“My son is not a
consequence
. He’s a good kid and an innocent child.”

“He’s a mutt.”

Her heart constricted. “Get out.”

He sighed. “I didn’t mean—”

“Get out or I’ll call the nurse and have you removed.” She struggled to sit up in bed.

The deputy took a step forward but Ivy shook her head.

With a look of frustration and regret, Sam left. The deputy walked out behind him, leaving Ivy alone. She collapsed and began to weep, too hurt in body and soul not to. Hearing that word out of her father’s mouth was bad enough, but from Sam, the brother who’d been her ally growing up? She covered her face with her hands and gave in to the pain she’d been pushing down for too long.