by Tl Reeve
Kalkin hooked a thumb at Royce. “He started it.”
“Shouldn’t have stepped foot into my apartment.” Royce grunted.
Danielle shook her head. “Both of you are at fault.”
Kalkin snorted. “I got a noise complaint. Turned out, this one was tearing up his apartment.”
Danielle stared at him. She pursed her lips as she shook her head. “Out with it. What happened?”
He didn’t want to talk about it. The minute he did, he’d fall into the trappings of his anger and guilt. “Nothing.”
Kalkin sighed. “Charisma left him.”
“She had every right to.”
Danielle gaped at him. “What?”
“This one” —Kalkin pointed to Royce— “Up and mated Charisma three years ago, right when I needed him most.”
“Kalkin...” Danielle sighed again.
“No, listen. We all know something didn’t add up when Holly got to town. I needed him to get in good with Katie since every time Holly went to town, she met with the girl. I had to find out. Mackenzie needed the truth.”
Danielle slammed her hands down on the table. “No, Kalkin. You needed the truth. Yeah, we all saw what was going on. But you, you couldn’t let sleeping dogs lie, could you?”
Surprise filled Royce. “What are you talking about?”
Danielle straightened her shoulders. “I’ve known all along. So has Keeley. We tried to tell Mac, but he didn’t want to listen. So, on orders of our fearless leader over here, we kept our mouths shut. So... What did you do, Kalkin? Did you make Royce screw Katie for information?”
Royce blinked. He was a loss for words. He stared at his uncle who clenched his fists at his side. Resignation filled Kalkin’s gaze, along with a bit of humiliation. Had he really thought Royce would use sex to make Katie talk? “You could always see right through me, Danielle. Sometimes I forget that. But, you’re wrong. I knew he would never sleep with Katie. Mates can’t fuck outside their mating. You should know this by now. Or do you not remember your little tryst with Rapier.”
Kalkin doubled over. A harsh groan fell from his lips.
“Does it hurt? Feel like someone has your balls in a vise squeezing them until they pop?” Danielle cocked a brow.
“Danielle, please,” Kalkin gasped.
She stepped back. Kalkin slumped against Royce as he caught his breath. Royce had never seen Danielle use her abilities to hurt anyone, especially Kalkin. “Don’t get cocky with me, Kalkin Raferty. You might be Alpha, but I will not tolerate you being an asshole in my clinic.”
Kalkin straightened. “I apologize. That was a low blow on my part.”
Still stunned silent, Royce watched them. “Does Keeley know you use those tricks on her mate?”
“I only do it when it counts.” Danielle shrugged. “This counted.” She stepped to Royce. “With your wolf genetics, you’re already beginning to heal. Your ribs are mending nicely, and the bruising to your kidneys should be gone by morning. Until then, clear liquids. It’s also going to hurt when you pee.” She traced her finger across his cheek. “Bone’s not broken here, just battered. Should be gone within the hour. Sooner if you shift.”
“Thank you,” he muttered.
Danielle nodded, moving over to Kalkin. “Takes a lot of strength to strangle someone. You bruised the hyoid cartilage of Kalkin’s throat. Minor concussion, cracked ribs, and a broke dick.” Her gaze lifted to Kalkin’s. “Just kidding. It’s not broken, just contused.”
Kalkin growled in warning. “I gave you leeway, don’t push it.”
Danielle placed her hands on her hips and arched a brow. “Whose office are we in?”
Royce smothered his laugh.
“Both of you need to shift and do your wolf things so you don’t look like shit. I don’t want to hear from Keeley how awful you look. I also don’t want Caden taking this out on Royce either. Sounds like you owe your nephew an apology.”
Kalkin snorted. “It’ll be a cold day before I apologize to him. He could have broken my dick.”
“You’re such a cry baby,” Danielle teased before going back to the bassinet. “Now, which one of you wants to hold Asher? He needs a bottle before Hayden and Nico come pick him up.”
* * * *
Kalkin hated emotional females. His mate...whole other story. When women got emotional, they did irrational things. Like Charisma walking out on Royce. Or trying to get an apartment, using Keeley and the orphanage as her employer. But, what they really tripped themselves up on, was going home.
Saber called him an hour ago and let him know Charisma showed up, needing to stay for a couple of days. She wouldn’t talk about what happened, but she was acting like everything was okay.
Kalkin figured even if the house was burning down, Charisma would believe everything was fine. He climbed out of his Enforcer and stared at the home Penelope and Saber made their own. Senator Winters had purchased it for the girls after the firebombing of the Sheriff’s Department and their home. Once Charisma moved into the apartment with Royce, Saber moved in with Penelope and the rest was history.
He trudged up the walkway. The lights in the front room were on, and he could see Charisma sitting there, a pillow to her chest as she watched movies with her sister. As much as he couldn’t stand overwrought women, he also didn’t like interrupting family time; however, Charisma needed to hear some hard truths. As much as Royce might not like him or any of the Rafertys at the moment, he was still Kalkin’s nephew and he refused to allow anyone to treat Royce like shit.
The door opened before he could knock. Saber motioned him to enter. His face was void of any emotion, and he locked his scent down tight. It didn’t surprise Kalkin. Charisma had shown up without Royce. She wouldn’t tell them what happened, but even from the entryway, he could scent her sorrow. It was bitter on Kalkin’s tongue. It tasted of rejection and defeat.
He stepped into the living room and cleared his throat. Charisma slowly turned her head. Her eyes were wide. Her mouth hung open a bit. A second later she closed herself off. She narrowed her eyes at her sister and snarled, “I thought we had a deal! Why would you betray me?”
“Penelope didn’t betray you,” Saber said, coming up beside Kalkin. “She did the right thing. Deep down, you know it’s true.”
Charisma crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not talking to you.”
“Good,” Kalkin answered. “I don’t need you to talk anymore. I need you to listen.”
She gasped. “Fuck you.” She stood. “Fuck your bullshit. Fuck this family. Fuck the rules. I don’t have to do shit with you.”
Kalkin cocked his brow. Royce was seriously going to owe him. “Are you done pitching a fit, because I gotta tell you, the dick-punch your mate landed still has my balls sore and standing makes them dangle, which makes it worse.”
Penelope giggled.
Saber hissed and covered his groin.
“Yeah. Tell me about it. All because this one” —he pointed to Charisma— “Decided she knew what was for the best, and left Royce.”
“Charisma!” Penelope shrieked. “That’s why you called me earlier? You wanted me to lie for you, so you could leave?”
A hint of remorse filled her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. I especially don’t want to talk about it with the likes of you.” She poked Kalkin in the chest.
He glanced down at her finger then back at her face. “Lesser men have died for poking me in the chest.”
“You don’t scare me.” She lifted her chin, defiant.
“I wasn’t trying to. I was telling you the truth. Something you have never learned to listen to. Something you like to twist in that brainpan of yours.” Kalkin’s lip curled as a low growl vibrated in his chest. “Now, I’d rather not argue in front of your sister and her mate. I would like to buy you a cup of coffee so we can discuss the issue you are having with Royce.”
Charisma looked to Penelope, who raised her hands. “This is on you, Charisma. You started this.
Now, like daddy always says, you have to fix it.”
“What is with you people? You see a Raferty coming and you cower?” She shook her head. “No, Kalkin. I won’t be going with you.”
“Yes, she will,” Saber answered for her. “She’ll also be leaving with you. I won’t bring the wrath of hell down on my home because mates are being foolish.”
Charisma’s mouth opened and closed. “Penny, aren’t you going to help me?”
Her sister sighed. “In any other situation, I would have your back, sis. But, Saber is right. You need to listen to Kalkin and fix whatever happened.” She put her hands on Charisma’s shoulders. “If what Kalkin said about Royce hitting him is true, then something seriously bad happened.”
She turned to Kalkin. “I hate you.”
“You and Royce both. Grab your shit. I’ll take you to Danielle’s and Caden’s place when we’re done talking.” He pointed to the door. “I’ll be outside. Don’t make me come find you.”
Kalkin stomped out of the house and waited by the Enforcer parked in the street. If Keeley were with him, she’d tell Kalkin to go easy on Charisma because she was hurting, but since Keeley wasn’t there, he figured he’d do it the Raferty way. Blunt and to the point.
When Charisma stepped outside, he went to the back of the Enforcer and opened the door. He grabbed the bags from her and threw them in back, so she didn’t have to. Once they were seated in the vehicle, he turned to her. “First, you can be pissed at me. Not at Royce. Understand?”
Charisma snorted. “Orders or not, he lied.”
“You’re stubborn.” Kalkin started the vehicle and pulled away. At that time of night, the diner would be emptying, and he could talk to her without worry. “Have you eaten anything?”
“No, Penelope starved me.”
Kalkin clenched his jaw and counted backwards from ten. “I am trying here.”
Charisma’s gaze darted to her feet. “Sorry. Yes. I did, but I’d kill for an iced tea.”
“Great. See, we can talk without biting each other’s asses.”
“We’re not talking about Royce,” she said, pointing out the obvious.
“No, we’re not.” Kalkin turned onto Main Street and found a spot right in front of the diner. YoJo’s, Keeley’s favorite place to go, was closed. “Hope you don’t mind the diner?”
“If they have tea, I’ll drink it,” Charisma admitted.
“Great.” Kalkin turned off the Enforcer, then glanced at her. “Look, I need you to promise me, everything I am about to tell you, you will listen to with an open mind.”
She sat there, staring him down until her gaze drifted to his right shoulder. The gross amount of pain and sorrow swirling in her eyes should have choked him. Whatever she conjured up in her mind about mates... Shit, no wonder why Royce tore apart their apartment. “I will.”
They walked into the diner together and found an empty booth at the back. After giving their order, Kalkin folded his hands in front of him. “I need to start at the beginning.”
She eyed him warily. “Okay.”
“Ten years ago, Hayden appeared on our land. Her aunt weaved this wondrous tale of how they were chased by the Paranormal Bounty Hunters and how Hayden had already been kidnapped. And, oh, by the way, Hayden is Jace’s daughter.”
“I knew this part,” she said. “I witnessed some of it firsthand.”
Yes, she had. “What were your first impressions of Holly?”
Charisma frowned. “My first impressions?”
“Yeah.”
“She seemed nice. They’d been through a lot together, and she was protective of Hayden. She also liked to keep to herself some too. Like, being around you and your brothers, Royce, your mates had been an imposition. Then sometimes, she enjoyed it.”
“She ran hot and cold,” Kalkin said.
“Yes. It’s to be expected though, right? They had a traumatic beginning, then they ended up here with everyone...” She let out a breath. “I feel like I am missing something.”
“We all were,” Kalkin assured her. “When Danielle and Keeley came to me and explained what they experienced with Holly, I brushed it off. I, like you, chalked it all up to the situation. For fourteen years, Holly and Hayden depended on each other more often than not. How could I accuse the woman who raised Jace’s daughter of being the bad guy?”
“You couldn’t.”
“Exactly. I also knew I had the last piece of the Geithner family sitting in my house. However, when Mackenzie said he claimed her, I had to drop all of my suspicions and try to be happy for my brother.”
Charisma sat back when the waitress brought out her iced tea and Kalkin’s dessert. “You didn’t give up, though.”
“No. At first, I thought, okay, Mackenzie is telling the truth. However, as time went on, and there were no biological children, I wondered.”
“She might not have wanted to pass on the genetics.”
Kalkin touched the tip of his nose. “Thought the same thing.”
“So, what was the final straw?”
Kalkin took a sip of his coffee. “Truth?”
Charisma nodded.
“Hayden.”
She blinked. That obviously hadn’t been the answer she expected from him. “What?”
“Hayden. Didn’t you watch her with Hayden? She didn’t want her to be in law enforcement. Didn’t like her hanging around Nico. Didn’t like that Hayden wanted to be a Raferty. All the little nitpicky bullshit added up over the years. The final straw had been Hayden going away to school. It killed Holly to not have her under her thumb. She couldn’t pull her away from people. Couldn’t influence her niece’s decisions. But, it also got Hayden away from her biological family.”
“Jesus, Kalkin. Do you know how twisted a person has to be to warp a young girl’s mind? No wonder Hayden had a hard time returning here.”
“Exactly,” Kalkin agreed. “Holly didn’t have any kind of reservations when she made her opinions quite clear. We’d already closed down the Paranormal Bounty Hunters. Hazel and Simon were dead. She’d lived with us for four years without anything remotely bad happening. How could she say no?”
He watched as Charisma started to put together the pieces of the slimy puzzle he’d worked on for the last ten years. The realization that Kalkin didn’t do shit just for shits and giggles had her sagging into her seat. “The auction was part of all this, wasn’t it?”
“Bingo.” Kalkin popped a piece of his pie into his mouth and chewed. “Three years ago, when I called on Royce to take the undercover job, I wasn’t doing it to keep you apart. I did it because I knew Holly was meeting with Katie and Brooklyn Campbell. Their parents were one of the biggest donors for PBH. Katie and Brooklyn just magically appear in Window Rock, and attend the community college here, when they could go anywhere? Suspicious, right?”
She sank into her seat even more. “Very.”
“Because I had been watching Holly off and on over the years, I knew they were planning something. So, I sent Royce in. He looks young. He can pull off the boyish charm to perfection. He could get the answers no one else knew about.”
“But we were...are, mates,” she said, clenching her hands into tight fists.
“You are mates.”
“Then why didn’t he tell me? Why did he leave me alone more often than not? How am I supposed to trust someone who can’t trust me?” The pleading edge to her voice twisted Kalkin’s gut.
“Because he was undercover. We had to make it all look real. We had to keep you off balance, even though it tore Royce up. He hated every minute of it. He came to me and told me he quit, right before the gala. The same one you went to with him, because he couldn’t stand what was happening to the both of you.”
He wanted to pull her into a hug and let her cry it all out. The sadness and the absolute resignation seeping from Charisma destroyed him. She allowed her fears to be projected onto her relationship with his nephew and they’d—he’d thrown gasoline on it.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he replied. “Let me tell you. When I got to the apartment this afternoon, Royce wasn’t himself. He was broken. He demolished your apartment as well. For a few moments, I thought I’d lost him. I thought he’d gone feral.”
Charisma gasped. “Why?”
“Because the one thing that made it easier for Royce to get through the day packed a bag and walked out of his life,” Kalkin said.
Tears tracked down her cheeks as she sat there. She needed a dose of reality. Kalkin poured it over her, he hoped, waking her up. She needed to understand why it was imperative now she listen even closer to his words. In order for the next part of the mission to work, she needed to go with Royce.
“I need your help, Charisma,” he said. “There is one last Chapter to this cluster fuck, and I need to know I can count on you.”
She sniffled then raised her chin, giving him a watery glare. Her red-rimmed eyes did nothing to stymie the sheer determination in her gaze. “What?”
“Hayden and Nico are hosting an arrival party for Asher tomorrow night. I need you to be there for Royce, but I also need you to help me out on this investigation.”
“Help you on this investigation?” She tilted her head. “Kalkin, I’m not sure if—”
“You can. It’s going to be hard, but you and Royce are perfect for this last piece. I have a meeting at eight a.m. Once I have all of the pertinent information, I will pass it along. Until then, relax at Danielle’s and Caden’s. I won’t tell Royce where you are until it’s time. Deal?”
Charisma stared at him for so long, he thought she wouldn’t agree to his terms. Then she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “Deal.”
Chapter Three
Charisma stood in front of the full-length mirror in the guest room at Caden and Danielle’s house. The dark green wrap-around dress emphasized her breasts and curves. She’d purchased the dress months ago knowing her mate’s fascination with her larger than average breasts, even though he hadn’t shown much attention to them in a long while. On her feet were a pair of comfortable black ballet flats.
