“Well, she needs to be thinking about it. I don’t want her to leave,” Resa whined laying it on the line that she thought I should stay.
“It’s not like she’d never come back,” Felix argued.
“You guys do realize I’m right here, right?”
“We’re just worried. We’ll miss you.” Tori hugged me.
“I haven’t gone anywhere. I don’t even know if I am going to go anywhere.”
My cousins all shared a knowing look. I pushed the thoughts from my mind. I really couldn’t worry about that right now. For the moment, life was normal. The salon was even busier than usual because everyone wanted to come in and gossip. I’d barely had a second to think about anything other than screwing up someone’s trim.
“What are you doing tonight?” Felix asked.
I shrugged. “Killian should be dropping Macie off soon. I honestly haven’t even decided what we’re having for dinner yet.”
Resa gasped. “Say it isn’t so.” She put her hand on my forehead like she was checking to see if I was sick.
“Ha, ha. You’re quite the comedian. It’s just been a super busy day around here.”
“Well, you are the hottest local gossip we’ve had in like, forever,” she pointed out.
“Kano’s keeping a tight seal on the whole part about your dad maybe being alive, so yeah, full focus is all on you, kiddo.”
“Gee, thanks, Felix.”
“Hey, sometimes you just have to take one for the team. At least Macie is keeping all the gossips busy.”
I groaned. “Thanks for that reminder.”
Tori shrugged. “She’s pretty proud of the fact Baine’s her father. That’s a good thing, I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Well, he is banned from the Clan. Doesn’t that technically make her an outcast?”
My cousin looked worried for me.
I shook my head. “Kano already officially removed his banishment. He was reinstated this morning.”
“When did this happen?” she asked.
“Right after Baine left and Kano found out he was my one true mate. All traces of the banishment have been officially removed from Clan history. My brother made sure of that for Macie’s sake.”
“And yours,” Felix pointed out.
I nodded. I knew that was true. I also knew just how guilty Kano felt about everything that had happened. It was enough that he had tried hard to keep track of Baine all those years he was gone.
My mind started floating back to the what-ifs. What if he hadn’t left? What if Kano had stood up to Killian and Dad? I shook my head to clear it. No. I couldn’t go down that trail. The past was the past. All I could do was keep my eyes forward.
“How many more appointments do you have today?” Tori asked.
I checked my calendar. “None scheduled, so just taking walk ins this evening.”
“Good, then close up shop and let’s get out of here.”
“I can’t just do that.”
“Of course you can. You’re the boss.”
“Killian will be here soon with Macie. If you close up now, we can be ready to head out as soon as they get here,” Resa pointed out.
There was a knock on the backdoor before I even had a chance to make a decision.
“That’s weird. They never use the backdoor,” I mumbled to myself as I went to let them in. When I opened the door, I gasped. “Baine?”
“Mine,” he growled as his arms wrapped around my waist and his lips branded me his. He pulled back leaving my head spinning as he stared into my eyes. Only Baine Landry had ever made me feel equal parts beautiful and vulnerable at the same time.
“You’re back.”
He scowled. “You sound surprised. Where is Macie?”
I could feel his bear close to the edge. I wanted to ask him a million questions. Did he find my father? Did he expect me to leave the Clan and follow him? Where the heck had he come from anyway? I was nearly dizzy from all the thoughts filling my head, or perhaps it was that kiss. God that man could kiss.
“Olivia? Where’s our daughter?”
His claim on Macie warmed me all over and I smiled. “Killian picks her up from school. They should be along shortly.”
He was practically vibrating with energy.
“Baine, are you okay?” My own bear was stirring and becoming more agitated by the second.
“Better by the second,” he whispered crushing me to his hard chest and kissing the top of my head. “Just need to see my kid and maybe go for a run.”
“What happened out there?”
“Oh, nothing you need to worry about. I’m fine, really, it’s just, well, my bear did not like leaving the two of you behind. It made the mission hard, but I’m fine. The guys assured me it’s perfectly normal.”
“Will it get better with time?”
He shrugged. “They said it’ll ease up some after we seal our bond. I’ll admit, I’m having a really hard time not doing that right here right now.”
His eyes were a little wild as I looked up into them. They were also filled with passion and love that made me instantly wet and ready for him.
He smirked and took a sniff of the air. I smacked him. He didn’t say a word, but I knew he smelled my arousal and was very pleased with himself for it.
“What are you doing around here?” I heard Felix asked. “Weren’t you just at the backdoor?”
“No, why?” Killian demanded.
“Someone knocked and Olivia went to answer it. When she didn’t return, we just assumed she was talking to you guys,” Resa said.
“Olivia?” Tori yelled out. I could hear fear in her voice. They were the only ones in the Clan who knew the suspicions of my dad.
“I’m fine,” I yelled back to them.
The door into the salon room opened and we were greeted with an ear-piercing squeal before Macie leapt into the air. To Baine’s credit, he swooped her up with one arm never taking the other from around my waist. He held us both tight. I felt his body tremor.
“You’re squeezing me too hard,” Macie complained.
“Deal with it, short stuff,” Baine told her. He sighed. “Okay, everything’s okay now.”
Baine
Chapter 13
Olivia was staring at me like I was going insane, but I wasn’t going to explain it to her with all the eyes now watching us. I eased my grip on my girls. My bear was calming quickly. It was such a surreal feeling. It also scared me how it wasn’t just about my mate either. I needed our daughter just as badly.
“Oh, it’s you,” Killian said.
“We were just closing up shop for the day,” Resa said.
“Why?” Killian asked and I was wondering the same thing. I already knew the salon was open until five and it wasn’t even three o’clock yet. I didn’t know for certain, but I suspected Olivia took her business very seriously and from the surprise on Killian’s face it was easy to assume that this was out of character for her.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “They’re all babysitting me and were getting bored.”
“That’s not true. We were just worried about you and thought you could use some downtime away from prying eyes and all,” Tori argued.
I looked down at my mate feeling uneasy again.
“I’m fine,” she told me. “Better than fine now that you’re back.”
Killian sighed and his eyes widened. “Yeah, it’s gonna take me some time to adjust to all of this.”
“Well get used to it, Uncle Killian, because he’s here for keeps,” Macie said. It was the exact words I nearly spoke myself, but it gave me a sense of pride, and more than a little fear, hearing how much confidence she had in me.
I knew I couldn’t screw this up. This was my second chance and I wasn’t going to get a third.
“We already closed up and cleaned up if you still want to go,” Resa said.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s head back to my place,” Olivia said. I was a little disappointed to hear her invite all
her cousins, and her brother, but I knew I had to somehow mend fences and all that shit with them too. It didn’t matter to me, but I knew it was going to be important to my girls.
Together we all walked a short distance to a cabin hidden in the woods. It was exactly the sort of place I wanted to build for them back in San Marco.
“Is this were you live?” I asked.
“Welcome home, Baine,” Macie said as she squeezed my neck.
Home. It had been a long time since I’d really had a home. The smells, the people, the quiet stillness of the forest made it truly feel like home too.
I set Macie down on the porch. “I’m seven, you know. You didn’t need to carry me the whole time.” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I did, short stuff. You’ll understand when you’re older, but it wasn’t easy being away from you and your mom.”
She grinned, then disappeared into the house.
“What? No tour?” I yelled after her.
Olivia took my hand. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
The cabin wasn’t big, but it was everything they could need. The best part was that it was coated in the scents of my two favorite people.
I sniffed the air and smiled.
“You seem to do that a lot.”
“What?”
“Smell, I guess.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Sorry. I know it’s not as commonly used for bear shifters, but I guess in my line of work I’ve picked up some safe habits from the wolves.”
“Wolves?” Resa asked. Her eyes were the size of saucers.
I settled down onto the couch and pulled Olivia into my lap.
“Yes, wolves.”
“But, aren’t they dangerous?”
I shook my head. “No more so than we are. Actually, my best friend is a wolf. He’s pretty great.”
I saw Killian flinch and it made my jaw set. What did he think—that we’d just instantly pick up where we left off? Or really before that because I never wanted to return to that point in life where I last saw him. The pain and betrayal of that day still hurt. My eyes were locked onto his and I wondered what he was seeing in them. Was it the hurt or the anger?
“Are you okay?” Olivia asked me.
I slowly nodded and squeezed her leg in reassurance. It was so natural and comfortable just being near her and able to touch her whenever I wanted without hiding the fact that I loved her.
“So what are they like?” Tori questioned.
“Where do you live?” Felix asked.
“Are all those people that came with you wolves?” Resa wondered.
“This isn’t supposed to be an interrogation,” Olivia laughed.
“Where the hell have you been all these years? The whole story,” Killian demanded.
I had told them some things already, but I knew it was time to lay it out.
“After I left here, I was lost for a few years. It was not a time I like to think back on. To be honest, I don’t even really remember a lot of that time in my life. Eventually I started taking on small jobs wherever I could, really. I ended up working with a construction company in a city. Couldn’t tell you which one, because they all blurred together after a while. Turned out I was pretty good at blowing things up. I spent several years perfecting my pyrotechnic habits going from city to city dropping tall buildings without touching the one next door. I was good at it too, still amongst the best in the world.”
“That doesn’t look like a demolition crew you rolled into town with,” Tori pointed out.
“They aren’t. A few years back I was approached by this odd little man. His name is Archie and he’s a mole shifter.”
Felix laughed and I just glared at him. “You’re serious? A mole? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“It’s a big world out there, Felix. Bigger than you can possibly imagine.”
“How much have you seen?” Tori asked with a hint of excitement in her voice. “Have you been to any place cool? Have you been to Paris? Have you seen the Eiffel Tower?”
I snorted. “Do you want to hear the story or talk about places I’ve been.”
“Both,” Resa chimed in.
“Fine, whatever. Yes, I’ve been to Paris. I told you after a while they all look the same. I’d go in for a job, complete it, and leave. I was all about work.”
“Back to the mole. What was he like? Why did he approach you? Did he just say, hey, I’m a mole shifter?”
I laughed. “Sort of, yeah. Archie’s an odd one for sure. He works closely with my unit. He was helping to recruit and decided I had the skills needed.”
“Blowing stuff up is a skill?” Tori snorted.
“More like an art. I’m good at what I do and in my line of work, it comes up as a necessary skill far too often.”
Olivia stayed quiet as I gave them a high-level overview of what we did. I didn’t go into anything concerning or details that would harm the unit in any way.
“And to answer your earlier question, Resa, no they aren’t all wolves. Two of them are gorillas and one’s a fox shifter.”
She gulped hard. “Gorillas?”
“That’s crazy and dangerous, Baine. I’m glad you’re back and safe,” Tori said. I didn’t miss the look she shared with Olivia. They didn’t really think we were staying, did they? Did Olivia want that?
I took a deep breath knowing that was something the two of us would eventually have to discuss in private. I wasn’t going to get into it with her cousins.
“They aren’t dangerous at all. Gorillas are very communal animals and much more even tempered than a bear.” My voice was a little growly, more than I had intended.
Tori’s mouth snapped shut and I knew she’d gotten my warning.
“So where do you live exactly?” Felix asked.
“A remote town in California.”
“Oh, well that’s not as bad as it could be, I guess. Close enough to still visit and all.”
Resa punched him and glared. It was obvious where she and Tori thought my family should settle. If it came down to it, could I move back to the Clan after everything that happened? I didn’t think so, besides, Bravo team was my family now too. I couldn’t just abandon them. What would I even do around here? I was truly only good at one thing and it wasn’t exactly in high demand here.
The fact that I was even giving it this much thought made me sick to my stomach. No, Olivia and Macie would be coming home with me as soon as we had Pike back safely, and the Raglan warehouse complex we knew they were using was leveled, and the area secured.
Sure, I’d let them come back for visits, but I wouldn’t compromise on where we called home.
“Do they even have schools there for Macie?” Tori asked.
I knew she and Olivia were close, but my bear was getting a little restless with her.
“Of course they have schools. A great one actually with all kinds of shifters.”
“But not bear shifters. Would she be the only bear there?”
I really didn’t know the answer to that, but Olivia jumped in first.
“Enough Tori. That’s for me and Baine to discuss and figure out what’s best for our daughter. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but just stop.” Olivia got up and stomped off to the kitchen. “I need to get dinner started.”
Tori and Resa jumped up and followed her.
“They’re just emotional right now at the thought of you taking Olivia away from here.” Felix looked genuinely sorry for me. “Don’t take it personally. If it were me in your shoes, I’d have grabbed them and run already.”
Killian looked like he was going to be sick but kept oddly quiet.
“Trust me, I’d have loved nothing more, but I still have a job to do.”
“Don’t try and go all noble on us.” Killian finally broke his silence. “You don’t care about my father at all. If you did, you’d never have touched her to begin with.”
“Don’t say that, Kill. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t have Macie,” Felix
pointed out.
Killian groaned and ran his hand through his hair.
“Look, I screwed up, okay. I should have waited until she came of age. But be honest, Killian, would it have made any difference to you? You had made it very painfully clear that no one would ever be good enough for her, not even your supposed-to-be best friend in the entire world. I love her man. I’ve always loved her for as long as I can remember. You thought because I was your brother and I agreed to watch after her and always take care of her, that I felt exactly like you, but she was never my sister, Kill. I never looked at O and thought little sister. I agreed to watch after her and always take care of her because I loved her. Still do. Always will. I’m sorry if that freaks you out, but she’s my mate, my true mate. You can’t do anything about it this time.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I feel like a complete piece of shit for what I did? I was blindsided and I freaked. You were too old for her and I knew you, man. I knew you better than anyone. Why her? Why my sister? You were like a brother to me, Baine and you betrayed me in the worst possible way.”
“What do you want me to do, Killian? What do you want me to say? You took everything from me. Everything,” I yelled. From the corner of my eye, I saw Macie come out of her room. Her wide eyes ebbed my temper, but only a little.
“We should take this outside,” Felix said.
Killian and I both rose and headed for the door. Olivia was standing in the kitchen doorway looking pissed and upset. The anger in me immediately fled. I walked over and kissed her. “It’s fine. We all knew it was going to come to a head eventually.”
“Don’t hurt him, okay. He was wrong, but it’s in the past and if we’re going to move forward, we’ve got to let it go.”
I nodded. “I promise, I won’t hurt him, too badly.”
“Baine, I’m serious. He’s not like you. He hasn’t been training for this the last three years.”
I sighed. I knew she was right. “I promise. Here,” I said emptying my pockets of the small grenades I had taken to carrying everywhere. I also removed my concealed carry from my waist. Her eyes nearly bulged out of her head as I passed it to her. Next, I lifted my leg and unstrapped the three knives I always carried, plus my second carry gun holstered to my left ankle. It was probably a good thing that I’d left the stick of dynamite I always had on me, back at the Inn.
Collision Course Page 9
