Read White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel) Online

Authors: Jennifer Ashley

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #United States, #Romance, #Contemporary, #Fantasy, #Paranormal, #Science Fiction & Fantasy

White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel) (4 page)

BOOK: White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel)
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Kendrick’s mouth hardened. “They were Shifters who used to work for me. I thought they still did work for me. I thought . . .” He shook his head. “Someone has been stirring up trouble, and I need to find out who.”

Robbie had let go of Kendrick. While Addie blurted questions, he brought the cubs’ clothes from the car and tucked them into one of the two wide saddlebags on the bike. The saddlebags had been modified to have small seats inside them, and the two cubs scampered down Kendrick’s arms and fixed themselves onto these seats.

“Where are you going to go?” Addie asked.

Kendrick kept his eyes on her, the green visible in the dark. “Someplace safe for them. I want
you
to go somewhere safe, Addison. Take a vacation; go far away. You’ll have my scent on you—leave Texas for a while. And burn this.” He reached out and took a fold of her sleeve between two fingers. He didn’t touch her, but she felt the heat of him brush her arm.

“Your
scent?
What the hell does that mean?”

“They can track you through it. Any Shifter can. I can’t risk that they won’t use you to get to me.”

“I can’t just leave. I have a job . . .” In a shot-up diner that would need a hell of a lot of work before Bo could open it again. She probably wouldn’t have a job at all for a while.

“Safer for you to be nowhere near here.” Kendrick reached into his coat and took out a thick wad of rolled-up bills. “I don’t know how much this is but it will help you travel.”

Addie stared at the roll, which was very fat, her eyes widening. The top denomination, as far as she could see,
was
100
. “I don’t want your money. Besides if I showed up at an airline counter looking like this and tried to pay for a ticket with
that
, they’d call security.”

His lowered brows told her he had no idea why. He took her hand and pressed the roll of money into it. “However you go, take it. Buy a new car.” Kendrick’s glance at the vehicle behind her was full of skepticism that she’d reach anywhere in it. “Go far, Addison. Don’t go home.”

Addie’s heart burned. Ivy would be up waiting, worried about what had happened at the diner. Tomorrow it was Addie’s turn to drive Tori and Josh to school after Ivy made breakfast, and Addie had planned to look some more into signing up for college classes before heading in to work. A normal day in Loneview.

Kendrick closed Addie’s hand around the cash, the warmth of his fingers coming through the cool leather of the glove. “I thank you, Addison. Truly.”

The words told her more certainly than anything that she’d never see him again. He’d ride off down the road and disappear, his cubs with him. Addie would have to find a new job—she needed the money too much to wait for Bo to put the diner to rights, if he ever did. There would be police reports and insurance . . . insurance could take forever.

Kendrick would become a memory, his strange hair, his intense green gaze, the powerful way he moved, his voice deep and resonating, the way he was so careful with the little boys. He’d fade into her past and become a strange, confusing, heart-pounding memory.

“Oh, what the hell,” Addie said softly.

She closed the space between them, flung her arms around Kendrick’s neck, and pulled him down to kiss him fully on the lips.

CHAPTER FOUR

A
ddie felt Kendrick’s body move in surprise under her kiss, then he went very still. She expected him to not respond, to freeze until she stepped back, embarrassed and apologetic.

Then Kendrick growled low in his throat. He wrapped his arms all the way around her, and Addie went breathless at his strength, his warmth. He cradled her in the darkness, shutting out everything terrible, all the fear and horror of the last hour.

He eased away from her first kiss, only to bring his mouth back down on hers. His body was a place of heat as he kissed Addie slowly, his lips parting, his tongue tangling hers with a bite of spice.

Kendrick’s arms were hard on her back, crushing her against the solid power of him. Addie felt every inch of his body through her thin polyester dress that ended at her knees, the heat of him against her bare legs.

She held on to him as the kiss strengthened, the two of them seared together in the cool of the Texas night. His breath was hot on her cheek as he pulled her closer still, his strength astonishing. He kissed with aching intensity, the
hunger she’d seen his eyes in the diner manifesting in this savage, amazing kiss.

Another growl, and Kendrick abruptly released her. Addie staggered back, fighting for breath. She put out her hand, but found nothing to steady herself on. She had to back away until she bumped into her car.

Kendrick said nothing. He didn’t reach for her again, didn’t apologize, didn’t do anything. He simply looked at Addie for a long moment as she struggled to stay upright.

Another sound came from him, like a snarl in the darkness. “Go,” he said, his voice fierce. “
Now.
Stay away from me.”

Addie’s throat didn’t work, nothing emerging in answer. Kendrick watched her a moment longer, his chest rising in a sharp breath, then he turned away and mounted his motorcycle.

Moonlight flashed on his sword as he kicked the bike to life. He didn’t look around at her, didn’t say a word. Addie supported herself on the ledge of the driver’s open window while Kendrick eased the bike forward, then out of the abandoned parking lot.

Robbie was the only one who looked back, his small head covered in a helmet, as Kendrick turned onto the road. Robbie raised his hand in a wave, which Addie shakily returned.

The motorcycle picked up speed, the bike’s taillight flashing as Kendrick slowed for a turn, then they were gone.

Addie was left alone in dark, silent warmth, amidst the smell of exhaust and dried grasses, her mouth raw from Kendrick’s hard kiss.

*   *   *

A
ddie took the 377 and kept heading south. The money Kendrick had left with her burned in the pocket she’d shoved it in. She’d run her thumb over the wad and realized it was about five thousand dollars. She could consider it a tip, she supposed. She’d served some really good pie.

Addie started laughing, the laughter turning hysterical. She took a deep breath, trying to stifle it. Losing her mind right now wasn’t going to help her.

Kendrick had told her to leave Texas, to go anywhere. Addie’s heart pounded as she contemplated what to do. Ivy
would be scared for her. Her big sister didn’t handle life as well as Addie did—Ivy had a comfort zone she’d rarely left since her divorce.

But then, if Kendrick was afraid the guys who’d attacked the diner would look for her . . . Addie couldn’t lead them back to her sister’s house, where her innocent nephew and niece lived.

Kendrick was right—she should leave the state and just keep driving. The only trouble with that was, Texas was such a damn big state, and Loneview was more or less in the center of it. It would take a long time to cross a border. But she had a change of clothes in her trunk—she often changed into and out of her uniform at the diner—and now the money Kendrick had pressed upon her.

She could go to New Orleans, lie low there in a motel somewhere—however low a person could lie in New Orleans. She could blend in with the tourists, at least.

Addie’s fingers firmed on the steering wheel. She’d drive on through the night, call Ivy and assure her she was all right, that she needed to get away after the trauma. She’d even mail Ivy some of the money.

She knew these back roads pretty well and started looking for the turnoff that would let her head east. A little maneuvering would get her into San Antonio, and the 10, which would take her straight to Houston and then to Louisiana and New Orleans.

A flash of light caught her attention, and Addie glanced into her rearview. Her heart sank as she saw the unmistakable lights of a police car coming up behind her. Had they followed her from the diner? Did they know about Kendrick? The dead Shifters?

She soon heard the wail of a siren as the car came closer. This might not be about her.
Might
not. But there was no one on this back road but herself.

The lights grew closer until they were right on her bumper. She knew better than to try to floor it—they’d chase her, and life could get bad after that.

Their headlights flashed, and they sounded the horn that meant,
Yes, we’re following you, lady, and you need to pull over.

Swallowing, Addie put on the brakes and halted on the highway’s shoulder.

A glance into the mirror showed that much of her hair had escaped its ponytail and hung in long hanks down her face. She hoped by all that was holy she hadn’t looked this bad when she’d thrown her arms around Kendrick and kissed the hell out of him.

The heat of that kiss still lingered on her lips, the sensation of his hands on her body imprinted there for life.

Two men approached the car. One leisurely strolled toward her window while the other remained at her taillight, almost in her blind spot.

The one who approached her open window wore an immaculate khaki-colored uniform, his short hair combed and perfectly straight. He wasn’t Loneview police, she realized; he wore a county sheriff’s department badge on his chest and his name tag read
Alvarez
.

He stood at her window, leaning slightly to look inside. “Ms. Price? Can you step out of the car for me?”

Addie tried to hide her agitation as she opened the door and got out. Cool wind wrapped her bare legs. She saw that the other deputy remained at the rear of her car, and he had his gun in his hand.

“Mind telling me where you were going?” Alvarez asked her.

“I don’t know, really,” Addie said, her voice shaking. “Anywhere.”

“Your car was seen heading out of town after the trouble at your diner,” he went on. “You were a witness.”

Not a question. A statement. He knew she’d been there. But then, if he’d talked to Bo, Bo would have told him she’d been working her shift tonight.

“Yes,” she said, her mouth dry.

Alvarez was watching her with a calm, steady look, but she read the suspicion behind his eyes.

“Wait,” she said. “You think I had something to do with it? I didn’t. I was scared out of my mind.”

“I can imagine,” Alvarez said, continuing with the calm tone. “I’m going to ask you now why you were driving down
this highway instead of going home. You’re not obligated to tell me, but I’m going to ask. Seems a kind of strange thing to do.”

He wanted her to confirm his suspicions, that she was involved somehow, that she knew all about who had done the shooting and why. His eyes and tone of voice encouraged her to.

Addie thought of Robbie’s too-serious gray eyes as he looked after the smaller cubs. She also remembered the way Robbie had momentarily let down his guard when he’d seen Kendrick, to run to him and cling to his legs.

No way was she giving up those kids to the cops. Not their fault their father had been hunted, not their fault he’d killed a guy with a sword. Kendrick had been defending them against men who’d tried to shoot them all dead.

If she gave up Kendrick, the cubs would be taken. To where and what would happen to them, she didn’t know. She was equally certain that Kendrick could take care of them now, wherever they’d gone.

“I was just so scared,” Addie said. Her voice quavered—not a lie. “I don’t know where I was going. Driving around to clear my head.”

Alvarez pinned her with his dark stare then grudgingly gave her a nod. “Understandable. But I need to ask you to—”

He broke off sharply. Addie went ice-cold as she realized he was staring at her pocket, which was bulging with the money roll Kendrick had handed her.

“Ms. Price,” Alvarez said, voice sharp. “I’m going to ask you now to empty your pockets. Again, you don’t have to comply, but I’m going to ask.”

Addie heaved a sigh. If she didn’t do what he wanted, he could arrest her or at least take her in for questioning, advising she call a lawyer. Not that Addie had one.

She drew a breath, reached into her pocket, and took out the bills. “It’s mine. A friend gave it to me.”

There was no law against carrying around a lot of money. But an underpaid waitress racing down an empty highway with thousands of dollars in her pocket after the diner where she worked had just been shot up didn’t look good.

Alvarez stared hard at the money. Then he looked back at Addie, anger in his eyes.

“Ms. Price, I’d like you to come to the sheriff’s department with me. There are few questions you need to answer.”

No telling her she had a choice this time. Sighing, Addie nodded. At least they didn’t cuff her before they put her into the back of the sheriff’s car and drove away.

*   *   *

“D
ad,” Zane asked Kendrick in their motel room well south of the I-10. “Is Addie going to be our new mom?”

Kendrick glanced down at his youngest son, barely four years old now. Kendrick’s heart constricted. Zane had the look of Eileen, Kendrick’s mate, who’d passed bringing this lad in. The eyes that looked up at him, thought they held the green of the white tiger, were hers.

Kendrick shook his head but kept his voice gentle. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing Addison anymore, son.”

Zane’s eyes filled with distress. “But I like Addie. She gives me pie.”

“I know.” Kendrick’s voice was harder than he meant it to be. “But it’s too dangerous for her to be around us right now. We don’t want Addison getting hurt.”

It had been a hell of a hard thing to unwrap his arms from around her and tell her to go. The sudden joy of her kiss, the taste of her sweetness, the feeling of her body the length of his had awakened a hope he’d not felt in a long, long time.

Grief and pain had consumed him for years, and then Addison had smiled at him, her blue eyes warm. The hot promise of her body had made aching need, long-suppressed, spring to life.

He had to send her to safety, away from the Shifters who’d turned on him, from humans who might find out she’d helped him. From himself.

Zane nodded at Kendrick’s words, but Kendrick knew he didn’t really understand.

Robbie, flipping through channels on the television, the sound muted, did understand. He said nothing though, only his hunched back betraying his unhappiness.

Damn it.
Kendrick hadn’t meant for his cubs to be out in the wide world any longer than they had to be. He was supposed to find a new safe place for them, for all his Shifters.

He was working on it, but slowly. Kendrick had hoped he’d find a new site for his Shifters quickly, far from here, possibly in Alaska.

That plan had fallen apart as soon as Kendrick, trying to take his cubs to safety from the collapsing compound last November, had been found by Dylan Morrissey. Dylan was an alpha stronger than any other Kendrick had met, didn’t matter that Dylan had a Collar firmly around his neck.

Dylan had decided that Kendrick, an un-Collared Shifter that Shifter Bureau didn’t know about, could help him with covert operations he was running. They were so covert, even the Shifters in the local Shiftertowns didn’t know about them.

Dylan promised protection for Kendrick and his sons and for any un-Collared Shifter that Kendrick had led, as long as Kendrick stayed around and helped him. Kendrick saw no reason not to—he could keep looking for a new place while he assisted—but he knew deep down inside that Dylan wouldn’t let Kendrick go until he was ready.

Dylan had not been happy that Kendrick had set up his “Shiftertown” in Dylan’s area of control, though Kendrick hadn’t realized until too late he’d violated Dylan’s territory, an unforgivable act. He hadn’t understood how far Dylan’s power reached.

Kendrick sat down heavily on the bed. He should never have gone to Addison’s diner, never endangered her, or his cubs. But they’d clamored to go, happy to get out of the boring motel room and eat some real food.

Addison
, her name tag read. Kendrick hadn’t been able to stop looking at the name, the label hung on her so all would know who she was. Humans so readily gave each other their most intimate names.

The cubs called her Addie. Not the same thing.
Addie
was cute and bouncy.
Addison
was more remote, lovely, like coming upon a sudden beautiful vista after climbing through a dreary, desolate landscape.

Addison had smiled at Kendrick and the cubs, her eyes warm. No distance. Addison was open, friendly, kind.

BOOK: White Tiger (A Shifter's Unbound Novel)
9.03Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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