A Bleacke Christmas (Bleacke Shifters 5)

by Lesli Richardson

  She nodded.

  He rose and intercepted Peyton. “Can we please talk, Sir? Alone?”

  Peyton shook hands with him, smiling. “You don’t need to take a knee to me. I’m good.”

  “Not about that.” He glanced over at Tamsin, and Peyton’s demeanor immediately changed.

  “Yeah. Come on.” He sent Gillian on into the dining room and led Carl outside. “What happened?” Carl quickly related the conversation to him, and Peyton frowned. “Dammit,” he muttered. “Okay. I’ll talk to Duncan and Badger and let them know. They’re going to try to work with her. They’ve both lost mates.”

  Peyton sighed. “Look, your entire job, for now, is taking care of her to the best of your ability. That’s it. I want the two of you with her day and night. Once she’s back with Trevor, she’s not our responsibility. But we promised to protect her, and if that means protecting her from herself, we’ll do that, too, if we have to.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Peyton grimly smiled and patted Carl on the shoulder. “You don’t need to call me Sir right now, although duly noted and appreciated.”

  “Can I ask a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why don’t you want me taking a knee to you? I mean, I get not right here and now.”

  “Because you did with Dewi, and your sister took a knee to me. Now that she’s marrying Da’von, I have zero worries about your loyalty. Any of you.” He grinned. “Although you might wish you’d picked a less insane pack to hitch your wagon to, once you get to know all of us better.”

  “Well, like I told Joaquin, I don’t regret this for a second, except we didn’t hook up with all of you sooner.”

  “No, it worked out the way it should.” Peyton glanced around and dropped his voice. “You brought Manuel Segura to us. As far as I’m concerned, that’s huge.”

  They returned to the dining room, Mateo catching up with Carl.

  He’d wait to tell him what Tamsin said until later.

  For now, all he wanted to do was…

  Breathe.

  And try to get used to the fact that not only did they not have to hide who they were, they’d been welcomed into the pack.

  Carl reached over and laid his hand on the table in front of Mateo and waggled his fingers at him.

  Mateo laid his hand over Carl’s, and Carl laced fingers with him. “Love you,” Carl said.

  Mateo smiled. “Love you, too.”

  As Carl finally took a moment to look around the dining room, he saw the Christmas decorations, the beautifully decked trees—everything.

  Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath.

  Dad, I hope you’re safe and happy. I wish you were here. If you’re still alive, I swear I’ll find you and bring you in. You deserve to have a pack like this.

  “Best Christmas ever,” Mateo whispered next to him.

  Carl squeezed his hand. “Best Christmas ever, babe.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Abundio Segura stood at the window of his office and stared out at the carefully tended grounds surrounding his home. Within his well-protected compound, sometimes it seemed the world was something totally apart and distant. Like nothing could harm him.

  Like nothing else mattered.

  He used to love this time of year so much, but even the gaiety of decorations and Christmas trees couldn’t do much to pull him out of his pensive mood now.

  Life had crept up on him and passed him by, it felt like. One day was like another, unless there was a reasonable distraction to otherwise distinguish it.

  He heard a light rap on his door. “Come.” He didn’t bother turning from the window when he heard the door open.

  “Father?” Miranda.

  “Come in, sweetheart. Close the door.”

  He waited until he heard that to turn and indicate for her to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. He finally retook his own and leaned back.

  She was thirty-nine now, and completely capable of taking over his business and running it full-time, should he decide to release the reins to her. “Manuel, Mateo, and Carl.”

  She shook her head, not needing him to clarify. “Nothing new.”

  “Bank accounts?”

  “Based in the US. My contact cannot gain access without triggering red flags.”

  Abundio waved his hand. “Never mind then.” He tapped his index finger against his lips. “Anything else on the apartment?”

  “No. They’d paid their rent and utilities in advance. It runs out in another month. My contact hasn’t seen any changes there. Mail is piling up inside the door.”

  He scratched at his neck. “And Brianna? Mateo’s sister?”

  “No response to my attempts to reach her. The last time I tried contacting her, I found her Facebook profile had vanished.”

  “Hmm. Now that is suspicious, is it not?”

  She let out a sigh. “I am of two minds about that.” He motioned for her to continue. “Well, Carl and Mateo raised her. I’m sure, based on their skillsets and experience, they would have drilled caution into her. One theory I have is that, perhaps, when they disappeared, she worried about her own safety and deleted her account. Especially after I tried to contact her. It wouldn’t be suspicious then.”

  “Or?”

  “Or it was a coordinated effort, and her brother sent for her and spirited her out of the country somehow.”

  “Any word of her location? Of which university she was at? Or of her whereabouts at all?”

  “I checked with my resources in the United States, with ICE and Border Patrol. No record of her entering the United States. No record of her leaving Mexico, either. Meaning there is another option.”

  “Which is?”

  “She could be dead. Whoever killed Manuel, Carl, and Mateo wrapped up that last loose end.”

  “Ah. Are we working on that assumption, then? That Manuel is dead?”

  “I am convinced of that, yes. Marciella is beside herself and calling me several times a week. He hasn’t been seen visiting Aunt Lucia. Raul’s wife hasn’t heard anything, either. Not a single one of his men I’ve talked to have seen him.”

  “What did you think of his claims?” Abundio leaned forward in his chair. “Do you think he was mad?”

  “Who, Manuel?”

  “Yes.”

  She took a moment to ponder her response. “Just because he was convinced he saw something crazy when he was in Idaho doesn’t make it so. The more I think about all of that, the more I’m wondering if he wasn’t perhaps sampling the product.”

  “On drugs?”

  “How else do you explain it? He claimed he saw people turning into wolves.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. The most logical explanations are that either he was on drugs, or crazy. I don’t believe in wolfmen, or Chupacabra, either.” She smiled. “Perhaps when I was ten and you and Mother were trying to scare me into not straying far from home.” Her smile faded. “I think it’s far more likely Manuel, Mateo, and Carl did find someone connected to whoever that group is in Idaho, perhaps an American drug cartel of some sort. And they finished the three of them off.”

  “Simple as that?”

  “Simple as that.”

  He sadly sighed. “Life would’ve been so much more amusing were that not the case.”

  She arched an eyebrow at him. “You honestly wanted there to be such a thing as wolfmen?”

  He shrugged. “Call me a dreamer. I take my amusements where I can find them at this age. Come give me a kiss and I’ll let you return to work.”

  She rounded the desk and pecked him on the cheek. “Should I drop all inquiries then?”

  “Perhaps that’s best, sweetheart. We have a business to run. Or, should I say you do.”

  “Me?”

  “I think, starting this new year, that it’s time I let you step forward into full control. I don’t want you taking over at my death. That will undermine your authority. I want people to know I have full conf
idence in you and your ability to run my company. You may announce publicly that, as of January 1st, you are stepping in full-time as CEO to run the company. I will remain as an advisor, for now, but I wish to retire and enjoy the rest of my life.”

  He thought she might actually feel…emotional over that. Normally, she was calm and collected, but her voice trembled a little even as her gaze widened. “Thank you, Father. I promise, I won’t let you down.”

  “I’m sure you won’t, sweetheart.”

  She leaned in and gently hugged him, giving him yet another kiss on the cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  * * * *

  Miranda waited until she’d left her father’s house and was in the back of the car, en route to the office, to pull out her burner cell phone from her purse.

  She quickly tapped in a message to one of her contacts.

  Any additional news?

  She impatiently waited for their reply, which arrived moments later.

  Not yet. Still running down leads in Idaho. Did you see the information I sent you yesterday?

  She smiled to herself. Oh, had she.

  Yes. Excellent work. Remember, no word about any of this to my father.

  They replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

  Miranda sat back after tucking the burner cell into her purse. No, she didn’t want her father knowing about any of this. She didn’t want him sticking his nose in and possibly causing her trouble because of any silly grudge.

  This was far bigger than a grudge.

  This was a potential fortune that she was looking at.

  Because if the information she read through last night was accurate?

  It meant she might be able to turn her family’s corporation into the most powerful entity on the face of the planet. More than just the scientific community would be interested in what she might have to offer.

  More than just the military.

  She might be able to strike deals with some of the richest nations in the world to give them access to this knowledge.

  All she had to do was be patient, keep it a secret from her father, and hopefully not lose any more critical personnel. Because she did suspect Carl and Mateo fell victim to foul play.

  Those two men had not only been the most skilled men they’d had in their security force, but also the most trustworthy. And if their adversary was good enough to take down Carl and Mateo?

  Then they were very dangerous adversaries, indeed.

  Unlike Manuel, she didn’t go running headlong into a situation without full research and preparations being completed first.

  And she was willing to wait to make her move until she had all the information she needed, all the personnel in place, and an airtight plan that would ensure success.

  Miranda stared out the window.

  It’d potentially mean success beyond her wildest dreams.

  Like hell would she allow anyone to stand in her way in pursuit of it.

  Not even her father.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Early that evening, before they were due to migrate everyone over to the compound, Ken found Da’von sitting alone on the resort’s deck, by the fire pit, and staring out over the valley.

  “Mind some company?” Ken asked. They hadn’t had a chance to talk alone yet.

  Da’von shrugged but didn’t reply.

  Ken sat and settled in, not speaking for a few minutes. Yes, this had to seem insane to the poor guy and Ken didn’t blame him for feeling freaked out.

  “I know it’s a lot to take in,” Ken eventually said.

  Da’von snorted.

  “Look, if it’s any consolation, know that the love you feel for her, and what she feels for you, is real. Doubt your sanity, sure, but don’t doubt your emotions. Or hers.”

  Ken let that sit for a few minutes without interrupting Da’von’s thoughts.

  When Da’von finally spoke, he sounded completely heartbroken. “I never thought Nami and Malyah would ever lie to me like they have. I thought of anyone that my sisters, they would always have my back, always be straight with me.” He glanced at Ken. “You, too, man. And Dewi. Badger. All of you. I trusted you.”

  “To be fair,” Ken said after pondering his response for a moment, “what would you have believed? We were doing what we thought was right. I’m sure if anyone had any idea that you’d also fall for someone from a wolf line, that they would’ve told you sooner. Peyton would’ve worked with all of you and showed you.”

  “What else have you lied about, huh?” Da’von asked. “What about all that shit about my father? Did Dewi and Badger do that mind stuff on me to make me hate him and imagine what happened? I mean, they concealed the truth from us about what happened to Malyah. Y’all lied to me about Duncan, and the ‘car accident.’ How do I know what’s true anymore?”

  “There’s no bullshit there,” Ken said. “The truth is that Jerome Drexler kidnapped your sister, and he was going to let his ‘friends’ rape her because he wanted to force you into a life of crime for his benefit. Does any of that sound like the actions of a loving father? I mean, seriously. The only ‘mind stuff’ Dewi did to you about your father was to get you to see the truth about him so you’d stop having contact with him. He wanted you to commit crimes for him. Wanted you to quit school. Do you honestly think he gave an actual shit about you? No. Even then, he was looking out for his best interests.”

  Da’von took a deep breath and blew it out again. “Why couldn’t they have done that mind stuff to him? To make him change?”

  “Because that’s not exactly how it works. Do you honestly want your father to be forced to be a decent human being if it’s not in his soul to start with? That would be the lie. Even if it did work, you’d never know what was really him and what was the effect of Prime on him. Is that what you want? To be able to lie to yourself and think he’s being genuine when he’s just being forced to comply?

  “I’m in the same position you’re in, except my step-father murdered my mother. My step-brother was a shithead to me from the start. I’d rather have no contact with my step-brother rather than Dewi forcing him to act a certain way. Besides, there’s too much damn bad history there between us. He was always shitty to me. There is no universe where I want Dewi using her powers on him to make him suddenly become a fantastic big brother. Because there’s no way in hell I want to forget a second of my life with my mom, and that means some of those memories are also tied up in bad ones of my step-brother and step-father.”

  Da’von sighed. “No, I don’t want that,” he softly said. “I just wanted… I just wanted a normal damn family.”

  “Hot news flash—there is no such thing. My dad died when I was four, and my mom was so scared she couldn’t provide for me on her own that she married an abusive asshole who ended up killing her. I would’ve done anything for the kind of childhood you had, with a single mom doing her best, but having a loving home. Never doubt how much your sisters love you. Nami sacrificed a lot to raise you.”

  Da’von’s attention returned to the landscape for a moment. “How do I know I’m gonna be any damn good at this?” he softly asked.

  “At what?”

  “At being a husband?”

  Ken stared up at the blanket of stars appearing overhead as twilight descended. “I don’t have any good advice for you there. Trust your instincts. That’s helped me. And lean on your family. On all of us, not just your sisters and Reggie. I know it’s overwhelming—believe me I know. Hell, I’m still not sure how I’m supposed to be a father to our baby. I’m legit terrified, dude.”

  Ken thought about it for a moment before he continued, since Da’von hadn’t spoken. “You know, I guess I do have some advice for you. Be careful not to have a baby too soon. Both of you have school to finish. Then you can decide where you guys are going to live, your job, all of it.”

  “Do you think I can still work here?”

  Ken looked at him. “Here?”

  Da’von stared out o
ver the valley. “For the pack, I mean. Not the resort. Did Peyton mean it?”

  “I know he did. He’s not one to make false promises. Why? Do you want to live out here?”

  “I think so, yeah.” Da’von took a deep breath, held it, let it out again. “I feel…calm out here. Before we came out here in October, if you’d told me I’d want to live here, I’d have said you’re crazy. I had no desire to live out here. Now? I kinda don’t want to go back to Florida.”

  “What about school?”

  “I mean, I will go back for that. I also feel guilty about wanting to live here.”

  “Why?”

  “Nami, Malyah, and Lu’ana. They ain’t gonna want me to live out here. I don’t know if Mateo will want Brianna out here, either. I mean, I know she’d be okay living here or back in Florida. We already talked about it.”

  “I think they’re going to want you to be happy. If being here would make you happy, I’m sure they’d be okay with it.”

  They sat there in companionable silence for a few minutes before Da’von spoke again.

  “Can I ask you a stupid question?” Da’von asked.

  “Sure.”

  “How am I supposed to keep all of this a secret from Lu’ana and Reggie? Looking back, I can see several times where stuff nearly spilled and we just missed it because we were clueless. Or because Dewi or Badger or Duncan helped out. Now, I see it. I see it all. Wouldn’t it be easier to tell them, too? Show them?”

  “I don’t have a good answer for you. It’s not my call. A lot of people could be in danger if they told someone else. It’s different when it’s the person you’re in love with. You’ve got more skin in the game, right? Like, even if my mom was still alive, I know I couldn’t tell her about the wolf stuff. It also puts their lives in danger.”

  Da’von frowned. “How?”

  “If someone learned about it, they could kidnap Lu’ana, or Reggie, or even Bebe, use them as bait, wanting to get one of the wolves to come to them, so they could study them in a lab or something. You want someone cutting Brianna open while she’s strapped down to a table and screaming? Vivisecting her like she’s a lab rat?”