by Juniper Hart
Hazel tried to hide the feeling of longing in her eyes, but he caught it, even though she went back on the offensive.
“I can take care of myself,” she growled. “I’m trying to get some work done here, Kirk. Can’t you find something else to occupy your time today?”
“Sure can,” Lev agreed. “I’ll be in the field if you need me.” He could feel her eyes on him as he grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.
“Wait!” she yelled after him, and he turned to look at her.
“Yes?”
“Where are you going?” He steeled himself from thinking, lest she read his mind again.
“To do fieldwork,” he replied evasively, and she snorted at his response.
“More specifically?”
“I do my best work when I’m driving around,” he lied. “Inspiration always strikes me then. Do you need something?”
“Maybe your cell number?” Hazel asked shortly. Lev inhaled.
“I guess that would be a good idea,” he offered brightly, ambling toward her. He jotted the number down on a piece of paper and moved back toward the door.
“Kirk!” Again, he spun to look at her. “I’ll catch up with you later, okay?” Her face had softened considerably, and he took it as a good sign. He nodded and grinned.
“Sounds good.” Lev hurried out the door before she could decide to follow him and made his way back down into the underground parking.
Jumping in his truck, he considered what he was about to do next. Confronting the doctor could, and likely would, backfire on him. Short of threatening the physician, there was no other way to find out why Hazel had gone to visit him, but if he had ordered bloodwork or if something was wrong with his mate, he needed to know. His only job was to protect Hazel, and part of that was keeping her safe from the knowledge of what she was until she was ready to accept the truth. Bloodwork would undoubtedly raise questions, not only with Hazel but also within the medical community.
Maybe it was best for Lev to tell her what had happened. But that was much easier thought than done. He was a stranger to her, someone who had swooped into Hazel’s life, and she was not one who welcomed change easily. Throwing that on her wouldn’t fare well for anyone.
Or maybe you’re not giving her enough credit, a little voice in his head contradicted. Hazel was nothing if not strong. Stubborn. Beautiful. Already a pain in my ass. Maybe I should just be honest with her and tell her what’s going on.
But the truck still made its way toward the medical center where Hazel had been the previous afternoon, and Lev parked outside, debating his next move carefully. With a deep sigh, he stepped from the driver’s side and headed into the doctor’s office, his pulse quickening at what he was about to do.
Again, the small voice inside him called out to the inappropriateness of it. Lev silenced it, reminding himself that he was doing what was best for Hazel. Even if she didn’t know it yet.
“Good morning, sir,” the receptionist greeted him. “May I see your insurance card?”
“I’m not here for an appointment,” Lev told her. “I’m looking to speak with Doctor…” He paused, realizing he didn’t even know the doctor’s name. A quick glance at the chart on the wall told him who he sought. “Dr. Whitby.”
“Oh, he’s got back-to-back appointments all day,” the woman replied sympathetically. “Is this an emergency?”
“I’m here about my wife,” Lev explained. “She was in here yesterday. Hazel Carrington?”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, of course, Mr. Carrington. Actually, I was just about to call her with the appointment at the labs.”
Well, that was ridiculously easy, he thought. They’re much more trusting around here than they are in DC. Fewer politicians is why.
“That’s exactly why I came!” Lev laughed with relief. “She was getting really antsy waiting around, so I told her I was in the neighborhood and I’d stop by.”
“She’s expected at Primacare Labs. It’s right next to the Kindred Hospital.”
“I know exactly where that is,” Lev said, accepting the paperwork from her outstretched hands. He leaned in confidentially. “Between you and me, do you think we have anything to worry about?” he whispered. “I’m trying to be optimistic, but it’s hard when she’s so concerned.”
“Memory loss can be scary,” the receptionist sighed. “But your wife is young, Mr. Carrington. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
Lev reeled back slightly. Memory loss? What the hell? He maintained an impassive look on his face and nodded.
“It’s just been going on for a while,” he improvised. “Is there anything I can do to ease her suffering?” The receptionist looked perplexed by the question.
“Well, not that I’m judging, but she really should have come in when the symptoms started presenting themselves a year ago,” the assistant answered. “But she came now, and that’s the important thing.”
A year ago. That’s when Gabriel and his rogue Lycans became much more active, Lev recalled. Was it connected? Probably. Now he had to figure out how. Unease filled him, and he forced a warm smile on his face.
“Thank you for your help,” he told the receptionist. “I’ll make sure she honors her appointments.”
“Wonderful, Mr. Carrington. I’ll have the doctor follow up with you when he has the results, of course. Would you like me to have him call you?”
“No,” Lev said quickly. That was the last thing he needed. Surely it would be in Hazel’s file that she wasn’t married, and Lev wasn’t particularly happy to be lying in this instance. “That’s not necessary. You’ve been great…” He let his sentence hang, cocking his head as if trying to recall her name.
“Rebecca,” she offered, and he grinned.
“Of course. Hazel was talking about how much she liked you, Rebecca. Thank you for everything.”
“Stay strong, Mr. Carrington. We’ll figure it out.”
Indeed, we will, Lev thought through clenched teeth. What the hell did Gabriel do to my mate?
His next stop was to the Henderson-Villers Labs on 5th, where he found Fern and handed him the paperwork he’d picked up from the doctor. Fern was a contact from Landon Burke, who was the head Lycan on the Council of Seven. Landon assured Lev that Fern would help in any way possible.
“What is this?” he asked the wolf lab technician. “What are they looking for?”
Fern peered at the papers and raised his head to glower at Lev. His myopic brown eyes emoted anger.
“You’re intercepting medical records?” he snapped. “You should know better than that!”
“She’s my mate,” Lev explained. “She just doesn’t know it yet.” Fern’s eyebrows arched in disbelief.
“Should I even ask?” he scowled.
Not if you don’t want to feel my wrath.
“You need to get her in here and do the work yourself,” Lev replied, avoiding any further discussion on his relationship with Hazel. “Apparently, she’s suffering from memory loss.”
Fern’s eyes widened. Lev was beginning to think of him as a cartoon character.
“What kind of memory loss?” Fern demanded, looking back toward the sheets in front of him. “This is just standard bloodwork.”
“Which is why I’m bringing it to you,” Lev said. “You can be trusted to keep your findings under wraps.”
“From her?” Lev sighed, realizing he’d need to explain more than he had to Fern, whether or not he wanted to.
“She doesn’t know she’s a Lycan,” he said, and Fern’s eyes bugged clear from his skinny face.
“How is that possible?”
“Fern!” Lev growled. “Are you going to stand here questioning me, or are you going to do what you’re told?”
“Of course I’ll do it, Lev, but I’d like to know what the hell it is I’m doing.”
“You’re running bloodwork on her and finding out what’s going on. In other words, you’ll be doing your job.”
Fern swal
lowed visibly, the underlying threat heard loud and clear. He shifted his eyes downward. “Are you having her come in?”
“No. You need to call her from here and set it up. She can’t know I know any of this.”
“Lev…”
“What?”
“Are you sure you want to go about it like this?”
“What did I just tell you about questioning me? Is that what you’re doing?”
Fern shook his head vehemently. “Of course not. I have my orders from Landon, but—”
“Then just do it.” Lev didn’t wait for another word to spring from Fern’s mouth before turning for the door, a smidgen of guilt rising inside him.
You’re doing what’s best for Hazel, he reminded himself. Even if it feels wrong.
6
Contrary to what Hazel had told her new partner, she found herself doing exactly nothing as she sat at her computer, staring blankly at the screen. It wasn’t that she didn’t have a pile of paperwork to catch up on. She simply didn’t have the motivation to do anything.
It had happened again, the previous night.
She’d come home from the doctor and then woken up at three-thirty in the morning with no recollection of what had happened in between.
It’s getting worse, not better. I need to call Dr. Whitby and tell him to hurry up those lab tests.
Almost on cue, her cell rang, and Hazel snatched it up, even though she didn’t recognize the number. “Hazel Carrington.”
“Uh… yes… uh,” the voice on the other end sputtered. Hazel pulled the phone back to peer at the screen and frowned.
“Who is this?” she demanded, the hairs on her neck rising with alarm.
“Fern Brady. I’m a lab technician at the Henderson-Villers Laboratories on 5th?”
“Oh… hi,” Hazel sighed. “Is this about an appointment?”
“Actually, Ms. Carrington, we have an opening at noon, if you can make it.”
Fear prickled down Hazel’s spine. Another last-minute appointment. That couldn’t be good.
“Noon?” she croaked, glancing at the time on her computer. “Yeah, I can do that.”
“Fine. When you arrive, I’ll meet with you.” There was something odd about the appointment, but Hazel was far too distraught to think about it.
“I’ll be there. Sorry, what did you say your name was again?”
“Fern.”
“Okay, Fern. Thank you.” She hung up and continued to stare blankly at the screen, a strange burning formulating behind her eyelids.
You are not going to cry, she chided herself. You’re Hazel Carrington. You don’t cry. Whatever this is, you’ll get over it. You’re strong. You’ve survived worse than this with fewer resources. She inhaled shakily and steeled herself from bursting into sobs.
“I brought you a coffee.”
Her head jerked up, and she started with some surprise at the sight of Lev. She hadn’t realized he had returned from wherever the hell he’d been.
“Thanks,” she muttered, accepting the hot beverage from his outstretched hands. “Find anything in the field?”
“Maybe,” he replied lightly, pulling a swivel chair closer to her. “How’s the paperwork going?”
She stared at him blankly. “What?”
“The paperwork? Isn’t that what you’re doing today?” His dark eyes studied her face with interest, and Hazel was caught up in the warmth of his gaze. And then it was all too much to take. Horrifyingly, she burst into tears.
“Oh, my God,” she gasped, jumping up to run from the room before anyone else could see her. To her chagrin, Lev followed her into the break room and shut the door. “Get out!” Hazel muttered between short sobs, but he didn’t move. Instead, he stood with his back to the door, ensuring that no one else came in while she struggled to compose herself.
“What’s going on, Hazel?” he asked when she finally caught her breath. “You can talk to me.”
She stared at him with red-rimmed eyes, the humiliation on her face as clear as the tears streaking her cheeks.
“It’s nothing!” she tried to say, but the words caught in her throat.
“Obviously, it’s something,” Lev countered. “You don’t strike me as the type to break down over a broken nail.”
Hazel scowled at him, trying to gather her composure. Of all the people to lose it in front of, it had to be him.
“It’s not a broken nail,” she conceded, and he waited. When someone tried to enter the room, Lev jammed his foot against the bottom of the door.
“Sorry. Out of order,” he called, locking the door.
“You can’t keep people out of here. It’s a common area,” Hazel muttered, but she was grateful all the same. He was standing there like a bodyguard, and she appreciated the effort, even if she was having a hard time showing it.
“They’ll figure out that there’s a break room on every floor of this building and find the same shitty coffee or stale breakfast bars there,” Lev assured her. “Don’t worry about the agents.”
Their eyes met, and Hazel inhaled a mouthful of air, finally breathing steadily again.
“I don’t even know you,” she growled. “I’m not going to unleash my personal problems on you.”
“Don’t tell me you’re crying over a guy!” Lev scoffed, and although her face darkened, the idea amused her. Even in high school, she hadn’t cried over a guy.
“You don’t know me at all,” she retorted, and his face lit up into a smile.
“Well, that’s good.” There was a slyness on his face that told her she’d walked right into a trap.
Is he hitting on me even while I’m a blubbering mess? Hazel thought. What is wrong with this guy? Maybe that’s his thing—damsels in distress. Too bad for him I’m anything but that. She wondered why she found his presence so endearing. Perhaps it was the naked sympathy on his face or the fact that he was trying to lighten the mood with his little jokes. You’re a mess. That’s why. You need to focus on what’s important.
“Well?” Lev urged. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” She sighed and hung her head.
“I don’t want you to think this affects our relationship in any way,” she started. “I’ve got it under control.”
“I’m not worried about our relationship.” He was a cocky bastard, wasn’t he?
Lev’s smile only widened, but Hazel could read the concern in his eyes. “I’ve been having some… health issues.”
“Oh.” His face registered compassion. Somehow, though, he didn’t seem surprised. “I see,” he continued, sauntering toward her and peering down into her face. His nearness made her breathless again, but she didn’t move away. Slowly, he wiped at her face with long fingers, and before Hazel knew what was happening, she’d been drawn into his arms.
A wave of heat and awe passed through her in a heady fusion. Despite knowing it was wrong, she allowed herself to mesh against Lev’s strong chest. The scent of his powerful pheromones was overwhelming, and Hazel was drowning in a pit of pleasure and confusion. What was he doing to her?
Still, she didn’t pull away as his hands stroked her hair, the sensation only bringing her shoulders further down into a state of relaxation. Nothing seemed out of control anymore. She wasn’t afraid. It was as if Lev’s touch was made of magic and able to dispel her deepest woes. Hazel didn’t question it. She knew that whatever it was she was feeling was fleeting, and yet she didn’t want it to end.
Inevitably, her strong sense of logic and reasoning overcame the desire for intimacy, and she pulled out of Lev’s embrace, her body a mess of emotions.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed, looking away. “I don’t act like this.”
“You don’t need to be sorry,” Lev said softly. “I’m your partner. I’ve got your back.”
Hazel looked up at him imploringly, a thousand questions threatening to spring from her lips, but she could only stare into his face with some wonderment. Where did you come from?
It was kismet t
hat he’d arrived just at a time when she was feeling most vulnerable. Or was it that he was making her feel so vulnerable?
“What does the doctor say about this?” Lev asked her, and she sniffed away the rest of her unbridled emotion.
“I have to go in for some bloodwork today. Soon, actually.”
“I’ll drive you,” he volunteered, and she looked at him sheepishly.
“I’m not supposed to be driving,” she confessed, darting her eyes away again. “I shouldn’t have even brought my car today.”
“Fine,” Lev said simply. “We’ll take your car to the doctor, and I’ll drop it off at home. Then we can call a cab back here, and I’ll drive you home tonight.”
Hazel blinked. “Are you always this good at problem solving?”
“I am an FBI agent,” he teased, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. She shivered at his touch. “I’ve got a badge and everything.” It was hard not to smile around his almost boyish charm.
“All right,” she murmured. “Let me just clear it with Castillo.”
Together, they turned toward the door, and Hazel unlocked it, glancing over her shoulder to ensure that Lev was still behind her.
I don’t need him, she told herself, but it’s good to know I have someone watching my back for once. It wasn’t really a fair thought—Ortiz had always had her back as a partner. Still, Hazel couldn’t help feeling that Lev was something much more than that, implausible as it seemed.
As they stepped into the hall, Castillo loomed over them, his arms folded over his chest.
“Want to tell me what that was all about?” he demanded, his question directed at Lev.
“Hm?” Lev asked innocently. “We can’t take a coffee break in these parts?” Castillo glowered, his eyes darkening.
“What were you two doing in there with the door locked?” their boss demanded.
Lev looked at Hazel in surprise. “Was the door locked? I didn’t lock the door. Did you lock the door?”
He does that so well, she thought with some admiration, and she realized she was impressed with his ability to lie. Most people wouldn’t consider that a charming quality.
