But there was a rustling noise as someone began to emerge from the trees.
Darrius held his breath, wondering which agent had been stupid enough to defy their alpha. But it wasn’t an agent who stepped from the woods.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Unlike any of the other people here, Jocelyn was dressed for the cold. A long, fur-lined jacket that looked as if it belonged on a red carpet event in Aspen, rather than the middle of the night in the Olympic Mountains.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t believe this shit,” Darrius muttered.
“I’ve got a clear shot of Jocelyn if you want me to take it,” Donovan mentioned a little too casually. “You don’t have any idea how much I want to take this bitch out.”
Darrius smiled humorlessly. Oh, he had a pretty good idea.
“Stand down,” Larson finally spoke. “And cut the goddamn chatter.”
“I guess it was too much to hope you were more than just a pretty face, Andy.” Jocelyn strode into the middle of the group.
“I loved you, Jocelyn.”
She rolled her eyes. “You loved my bank account.”
“I—”
“You fucked up. Abducting my nieces proved just how stupid you really are. You don’t touch my family.” The last words were said with slow deliberation.
His disbelieving laugh snapped through the trees. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re not going to actually pretend you care for them. You murdered their parents.”
Darrius watched Jocelyn, a little more than curious to see her reaction. Was there truth to it? But besides a slight tightening of her jaw, there was none.
“You’re acting irrationally, Andy. You really should lay off the drugs.”
“You fucking whore, you’re the one supplying them!”
“Is there no end to your evil, Jocelyn?” Grace spoke finally, her voice quiet and yet threaded with accusation. “You probably ordered Thom murdered and my attack when I got too close to the truth.”
“Actually, no. I’ve told you that from the beginning. I had absolutely nothing to do with Thom’s death. Apparently that was my ambitious little assistant.” She sighed and turned a brittle stare at her assistant. “I must say I’m learning all sorts of unpleasant things today. Andy, you’ve been quite busy. Seducing minors, murdering middle-aged men… ”
Andrew’s eyes rounded and he looked ready to blow. “I killed him for you. You should be kissing my ass.”
“Ready yourselves,” Larson warned.
Darrius heeded the order, leveling his gun at Andrew. He flicked a glance at Aubree. She must’ve known this was her chance, because she was inching toward the woods and away from her abductor.
Jocelyn laughed, thrusting her hands into the pockets of her fur jacket. “You killed him because you’re an idiot.”
“Screw you all. You’re just as guilty of murder as I am, Jocelyn. If I go down, you go down.” He jerked Grace harder against him, rough enough that it must’ve hurt because she flinched.
You’re going to die, boy. Darrius allowed his finger to graze lightly over the trigger but before he could move or Larson could give the order to fire, a savage snarl ripped through the air and there was a blur of black.
“Now who in the hell is that?” Donovan muttered in disbelief.
Shock reflected in Andrew’s eyes as well, before the wolf was upon him. Grace pulled free and slammed her elbow into his face, helping in his descent to the snowy ground.
“Apprehend the tangos!” Larson commanded.
Larson and Donovan surrounded Jocelyn, who seemed to have no intention of leaving and seemed almost amused by the turn of events. Certainly not surprised.
Darrius, however, had only one goal, and when he finally reached her side, he swore he’d never leave it again.
“You found me.” Grace bit back a sob of relief and flung herself into Darrius’s arms as he strode purposefully toward her.
Being pulled into his hard embrace gave her the reassurance and security she’d so desperately needed. She wanted to just melt into him and stay there until she had the energy to move. But then she remembered…
“Aubree.” She struggled free of him, remembering the danger her sister might be in.
Darrius pulled his gun out and turned and followed her gaze. They both watched as the wolf who’d attacked Andrew began to shift back to human. Aubree’s features took form before she took a step away from Andrew and collapsed.
“She shifted,” Darrius muttered in disbelief.
Aubree might’ve taken him down in wolf form, but in human she was half Andrew’s size. And Andrew knew it. In an instant he’d knocked her down, and pinned her on her stomach. He grabbed her hair, tugging her head back and exposing her neck.
“You want to ruin my life, Jocelyn? Watch me ruin hers.”
When his canines flashed in the moonlight, Grace leapt forward with a shriek of fury.
Before Darrius could shoot, or Grace could shift, there was another blur of movement as Yorioka rushed forward in wolf form. In an instant, she’d knocked Andrew off Aubree and pinned him to the ground.
When he growled in dismay and swung his gun toward Yorioka, Darrius pulled the trigger and Andrew slumped back into the snow.
Grace rushed to her sister, who was far too still and lying in the snow. “Oh God, Bree. Are you okay?” She gently lifted her to her feet and took in her sister’s far too pale face that was wracked with pain.
“No. I feel…” Aubree wavered on her feet, “…like shit.”
Darrius was beside them in a moment, sweeping Aubree into his arms right before she apparently passed out from the pain. “I didn’t think she could shift.”
“She can, she just never has since childhood. It’s entirely too painful.” Grace’s throat tightened and she pushed back a dark strand of hair that had fallen in her sister’s eyes. “It must’ve been instinctive. She was protecting me. Do you think she’ll be okay?”
“She’ll be fine. I’m going to take her to the van.”
“Thank you.” Grace nodded, her throat tight with emotion. She wanted to follow them, but first there was something she needed to do.
Yorioka was busy securing a bleeding, but apparently not fatally injured, Andrew, and barely glanced up at Grace’s approach. How had she ever doubted this woman’s loyalty? Ever considered Yorioka might’ve been a threat to her? She’d just risked her life for Aubree’s.
“Thank you,” Grace said softly. “You saved her from a lifetime of misery in being mated to a complete asshole.”
“Asshole?” Andrew snarled. “You fucking bitches are so—”
Yorioka pressed his face back into the snow to shut him up.
“No problem. I wouldn’t wish him on anyone.” The other agent stood up and met Grace’s gaze. “How are you doing?”
“I’ve been better—” she glanced at her aunt, “—but I’m doing okay.”
“Understandable. Look, I’m sorry, Masterson. You know, for judging you so harshly.”
“I don’t blame you, and honestly, might’ve have done the same. Besides, I wasn’t all sunshine and roses with you either.” Not at all. Up until this evening she’d been convinced Yorioka had been one of the two people who’d attacked her.
Grace frowned. Which…if it hadn’t been Yorioka, than who had it been?
“We got off to a rough start,” Yorioka continued, breaking into Grace’s thoughts. “I didn’t know what you’d been through. Didn’t know the type of evil you had the misfortune of being related to.”
Misfortune of being related to? Grace’s her heart froze a beat. “You…you know?”
“We all do.” Yorioka gave a small nod. “Larson filled us in before the rescue op. Seems like he’s always known, I guess, and didn’t want anyone to judge you by who your family is.”
Larson had always known? But he’d never let on. Grace glanced over at their alpha, who seemed to be in a heated discussion with Jocelyn.
“If you’ll ex
cuse me for a minute…?”
“No worries.” Yorioka squeezed her shoulder. “And, hey, I mean it, Masterson, I’ve got your back. And am sorry if I ever let you think otherwise.”
“Thank you, Yorioka. And likewise.” Grace turned and made her way over to Larson and her aunt. Straightening her spine, she met Jocelyn’s gaze. “You’ve gone too far.”
“Whatever do you mean? Clearly, I had nothing to do with this.” Jocelyn gave a light shrug, but there was a sparkle of amusement in her eye. “I can’t be responsible for a crazed employee who steals my drugs and uses them for his own nefarious purposes.”
“And yet it seems to happen a lot with you, Ms. Feloray.” Larson folded his arms across his chest and stared her down. “It’s always somebody else responsible, leaving you to go free. And yet I doubt with a clear conscience.”
The amusement died in Jocelyn’s stare, and something that looked like a dark warning replaced it. “My conscience should be the least of your worries, Agent Larson.”
Larson took another intimidating step toward her. “Know this. I’m making it a personal fucking goal to bring down you and your disgusting laboratories.”
“It’s nice to have goals, Agent Larson.”
It was like some bad western movie stare down. Neither looked away. And then Larson shook his head, but didn’t break eye contact with Grace’s aunt.
“Agent Masterson, you are from this point forward forbidden from having any contact with your aunt if you want to remain with our pack or the P.I.A.”
Grace blinked in shock, opening her mouth to reply, but Jocelyn cut her off.
“What did you say?” There was panic in her aunt’s voice now. Alarm. “You can’t do that.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want. I’m her goddamn alpha. Do you or do you not accept my terms, Masterson?”
“I accept,” Grace replied without hesitation.
“And, Jocelyn, I want you to sign away all rights for Aubree as well. Grace will be her legal custodian until the date her sister turns eighteen.”
“You’ve lost your mind if you think I’ll agree to that.”
“You’ll agree, or I’ll have the local police begin investigating why one of your drugs was found in Thom Wilson’s blood.”
Rage flashed in her eyes and she compressed her lips. “I had nothing to do with it. We both know how this will work—Andrew was behind all that.”
“It’s a controversial drug created by your company. It’s not going to look good for you.”
“Do it and you’ll risk exposing the shifter population.”
His smile hardened. “And expose the fact that you’re half bitch and your lab’s creating drugs that can control a man’s mind enough to make him kill himself if told to. That’ll make the stock rise, don’t you think?”
Even in the dark, Grace could see the blood drain from her aunt’s face.
“So what’s it going to be, Jocelyn?”
Her aunt’s hands closed into fists and she gave a deceptively light shrug. “Well, Agent Larson, it appears you have a deal.”
“I thought we might. Come on, Masterson, let’s get out of here.”
“Wait.” Grace pulled back when he reached for her arm. “I have one last question for her.”
Jocelyn’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile. “And what might that be, dearest niece?”
“Did you kill my parents?”
Her aunt didn’t reply, just stared at her for a moment, before she turned and walked away.
“You falling back asleep?”
At Darrius’s drowsy question, Grace gave a small shrug. “Maybe a little bit.”
They were both exhausted. Both from the previous night and the long and slow lovemaking when they’d woken up this morning.
Larson had given everyone the day off, insisting they needed the sleep and he had personal business to attend to.
Languid and still feeling amazingly connected to Darrius, she snuggled deeper beneath the arm around her and pressed a kiss to his chest.
“Mmm. I love it when you do that.” His eyes drifted shut. “I didn’t mention it yet, but I’m leaving town in a few hours. I’m hoping to make it back by tomorrow night.”
Grace frowned. “Sounds ominous. Where are you off to?”
“I’m flying to Boston to meet with the elders.”
That had her sitting upright. “Why? Are you in trouble?”
Usually being called before the elders was a sign you’d done something wrong, or were being rewarded for doing something very right.
“Hell no, sugar. What would I have done? I’ve requested time in their presence and their help in discovering why I was able to mate again. They’re bringing in a Reader to read my past and hopefully give some answers.”
Readers. The few psychics within the shifter community were rare and extremely accurate. They hadn’t discussed the mating—at all really. They hadn’t had the chance last night after driving back from the peninsula, and this morning instinct had simply led them to speak without words.
“Darrius, if you have any regrets—”
“I have none. I just need to know what’s going on.”
Understandable. He probably still loved his dead first mate, and wanted to know how to move on. Or maybe that was her just being optimistic.
“Don’t worry about it.” He smoothed his hand down her back and she lay back down, her head on his chest.
She pushed aside the tiny stab of sadness that had taken root. The thought of any other woman with Darrius made her a little murderous, but she knew if they were to have any future together she needed to accept his past.
“Did you know when the team arrived, Grace? That we were in the trees?”
She hesitated. “I felt you nearby, but my mind was so clouded with panic and fear for Aubree, I couldn’t seem to make that connection.”
“We only just mated, it makes sense.” He paused. “So you really remembered what happened to your parents?”
Grace squeezed her eyes closed and drew in a ragged breath. “No. I wish I did, more than anything. I just started to tell him what I thought he wanted to hear.”
“Smart thinking. Look, you were young, you’ve probably blocked it—”
“No. I don’t think everything Andrew rambled on about was crap. It makes too much sense that I might’ve had my memory wiped after that day. I remember the beginning of the hike with my family, and then nothing until I woke up in my aunt and uncle’s house. Which must’ve been several days later.”
Darrius’s fingers paused in the midst of tracing down her spine. “So you really think Jocelyn murdered your parents?”
“I asked her, but she didn’t answer. But I saw this look in her eyes. A sadness and guilt before she turned and walked away. Something happened that day, and unless she confesses, I don’t think I’ll ever know what could’ve motivated her to do it.”
“I wouldn’t count on her confessing.”
“I won’t. I just wish I knew.” Grace folded her arms beneath her head and rested her cheek on them. “Wish there was a way to make her pay for what she’s done.”
He closed strong fingers over her shoulder blades and began a massage. The overly taut muscles in her body eased and she let out a soft moan.
“Grace, even if there were a trial in shifter courts, it would never have held up. It’s all hearsay from Andrew. There’re no public records of the memory wipes—we’ve checked. And the one witness—the man who did the wipes—is dead.”
“Even though the memories of that day have been stolen from me, in my heart I believe what Andrew said. I know she killed my parents.”
“I believe it too.” Darrius paused. “At least you don’t have to have any contact with her anymore thanks to Larson. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
“Absolutely. In fact I’m grateful to him. It was easier having him take the decision from my hands and being forced to make the choice.”
He kneaded her shoulders deeper. “He
must have some serious dirt on her.”
“It’s not hard to find.”
“But apparently not the kind of dirt that will ever let us convict her.”
“She’s tricky.” Sighing, Grace rolled over so she could look up at him. “Jocelyn always manages to have legal ways out. Someone else to take the blame.”
“It’s how she’s climbed so high in her industry.”
“If she’s that high, she’ll fall. Someday, that bitch’ll fall. And I’m going to laugh as she tries to pick up the pieces.”
It was a nice image, but she wondered if it would ever happen. Jocelyn Feloray had always seemed untouchable.
“I heard the P.I.A. is sending someone over to talk to Thom’s widow—explain what really happened.”
“Yeah, I know it will bring her comfort. Some peace.” Grace murmured. “Which speaking of, I think I did solve one mystery, though. About myself.”
“What’s that?”
“Those glass flowers I make? I think it’s from a memory I somehow retained. I don’t remember much from that day, but while we were up there last night it flashed through my head. Being with my parents on the ridge and sitting in a field of those blue flowers. The mountains over there are covered with them in the summer.”
“That’s hauntingly beautiful. Think you’ll stop making them now? Is it too emotional?”
“No, it actually motivates me to make more of them. Brings me peace. I think my mom loved those flowers, was probably picking them by the handful that day…”
“You should keep making them.”
She nodded to acknowledge his comment, but closed her eyes as her heart clenched with grief. It had been years since she’d grieved for them, because she’d been too young. But last night had ripped off the scab of their death. Ripped it off and poured acid in the wound.
“I cleared the air with Yorioka,” she confessed, trying to think of lighter thoughts.
“Good. I knew you guys would finally come around. So you don’t think she’s out to get you anymore?” he teased, dropping a kiss on the curve of her neck where he’d marked her.
Savage Betrayal: Savage, Book 2 Page 24
