“I see.” She pulled her shirt down over her wounds and looked at Thatcher. “I’m finished here. I want you to take me back to your place. If you can’t do it, then I’ll find someone who can so dumbass here won’t get his underwear in a cinch. Your mother? Father?”
“I’ve called Rogen.”
She nodded and then looked at Houston, who was just staring at her. “Mate or not, you come near me again, and I will not ask questions as to why you’re there. I’ll blow your fucking dick off, then your brains. If you have any.”
“Houston?” She could hear the voice but didn’t know it. “Houston, why is there a woman on your couch bleeding?”
He didn’t take his eyes off her as he spoke to the woman behind her. “Mom, this is my mate, Tru. Tru, this is my mom, Meggie Robinson.” Meggie came to the side of the couch where she could see her. “She’s pissed off right now and wants to go back over to Thatcher’s home. I don’t know what is going on, but I plan to find out.”
When he stood up, she could see the anger all over his body. Stiff as a rod, didn’t cover how angry he seemed to be. She waited for him to—well, she didn’t know what he might do to her, so when he turned on his heel and went out onto the deck he’d been on earlier, she laid back and closed her eyes. Tru had no idea why, but she felt like she’d just lost a major battle. And she was going to wear the scars for the rest of her days.
“Houston said he’d stay at our home and have someone come here and take care that you’re all right.” Tru told her she didn’t want to push him out of his own house. “Well, you did, didn’t you? I’m not sure I like you overly much right now, young lady. To think I was excited for him to find someone to love. Then in less time than it took for him to figure this out with you, you crushed him.”
“I didn’t ask to be his fucking mate.” Meggie just glared at her. “That won’t work with me, Mrs. Robinson. I’m made of sterner stuff than most people. I’m a hired killer, and nothing much bothers me.”
“Well then, I wish you luck with this. Because I believe you’re going to need it. I was asked to come here and take care of you by my son. I’ll do that. But you, you’re on my list.” Tru didn’t know why, but that hurt her heart more than she’d ever been hurt by any of her family members. “All right, Ms. Justice. Can I get you anything right now?”
“No. I’m fine.” Meggie nodded and left the room. Tru looked at Thatcher. “Do you have something to say to me? If you do, then say it and leave me alone. I didn’t ask for this bullshit, and I don’t need someone else telling me I’m fucking up.”
Thatcher stood up. “No. Nothing to say to you about this. Your wounds were looking better until today. If I were you, I’d try very hard to stick to resting rather than running around in the yard. Otherwise, you might have to spend more time with this family than you obviously want to.” He laid a cell phone on her lap. “That’s from Rogen. She said she’d get in touch with you if she needed something.”
When he left her too, Tru laid there on the couch, fighting tears. It had been a very long time since she’d been so upset and hurt she wanted to cry. Forever since anyone had spoken to her as Meggie had. When she heard Meggie speaking again behind her, it took her a few moments to realize she was more than likely talking to Houston. He was there, Tru figured out, to get some clothing.
She laid there for a while before she tried to figure out if she could sit up or not. When the pain took her breath away, she laid back down. The remote to the large television was within her reach, but she didn’t want to see what she could find to occupy her mind. Not yet at any rate.
This was just bullshit. Why was she the bad guy in all of this? She’d been a bitch, she told herself. And she’d hurt someone who was only doing what they’d been trained to do. Well, that’s what she’d done as well. Done what she’d been trained to do.
Pushing people away, so they didn’t get too close, was something she’d been doing since she was in the service. Having a family or even friends could get both of you killed. Tru had seen it happen time and time again. Even children were nothing more than a pawn in her line of work. That was why she’d been so surprised when she heard Rogen had not only married but had children.
Not me, she told herself. Looking out the doorway to the back yard, she wondered what it would be like to be free enough to take off your clothing and run. How it would make her feel not to have to put her gun on her person before she did her clothing. To know the next time her phone rang, it wasn’t going to be someone needing a clean-up. Tru figured she’d never know that sort of companionship with anyone.
When the phone did ring, she declined to answer it. There was no point in talking to Rogen right now. She had a feeling she was going to chew her out about how she’d treated her brother. When it rang a second time, she nearly answered it but declined it as well. It wasn’t until it rang for the third time in as many seconds that she finally answered it.
“What the fuck do you want? Another pound of flesh?” Rogen laughed. “What the fuck do you find so funny? Is it that I was put in my place by your mother-in-law, or the fact that I’m stuck here and can’t get out?”
“You’re stuck there until you’re released by my husband. First, the fact you did what you did is all on you. Secondly—and this is very important. You’re very lucky no one wants to kill you right now. Hurting the sweetest woman I know will get your ass plugged. Thirdly, you fucked up. Badly. Either fix it now, or I call your boss and have him come and get your ass. Just so you know, he’s not been cleared as not being your killer either.” She told her to call him then. “You have a death wish? Well, I’ll be happy to help you out with that. Straighten your ass out or so help me, Trudy Justice, I will bury you in the back yard alive.”
The line went dead, and Tru was tempted to toss the fucking phone across the room. But she only laid it down on her lap and counted. It was the only way she knew that worked to bring her temper down. When she got to five hundred, Tru stretched and tried again. Nothing was working right now, and she had a feeling that was her fucking fault as well.
Screaming made her feel better, but Tru was startled when Mrs. Robinson came into the room with a gun in her hand. Staring at each other, Tru nodded when Meggie asked her if she was all right. Then she simply turned and left her there. Tru had no idea why, but she thought that was the funniest thing she’d seen in a long time. The mild mannered Mrs. Robinson standing in the living room, with a flower in her hair and wearing a huge apron—obviously meant for a man—pointing a gun at the outside door. Tru thought that image alone would get her through the worst of times for the rest of her life.
Suddenly exhausted, she pulled the pretty afghan over her body and closed her eyes. Perhaps when she woke up, she’d feel well enough to go back to Rogen’s home—if she’d be welcome there. Tru knew she’d fucked up big time, but right now, she didn’t care if she fixed it.
Chapter 2
Houston made his way to his studio before the sun was up. He did check in with his parents on how Tru was doing, but he didn’t go into the living room where they said she’d been sleeping. Dad followed him out to his work and sat on the chair next to his big desk while Houston got ready for his day.
Weighing up the clay he was going to use, he didn’t pay any attention to what his dad was doing. He had told him earlier that he wanted to use his computer, and Houston told him he could use it anytime he wanted. He really thought his dad was out there with him to find out how it had gotten so out of hand yesterday.
“You got you a big show coming up?” Houston told him these were for the spring catalog that was being put together. “You mean like one of those catalogs your momma gets in the late winter? So people can order from it?”
“More or less. This is a catalog that goes out to the art galleries and art shows that might want to have one of my pieces there to draw in a crowd of people. I suppose if someone wanted to buy from t
he catalog, no one would put up a fuss.” Dad asked him when his next show was going to be. “I have the one in Florida soon, but I have nothing scheduled until July of next year after that. I’ve been working on some of the pieces for that too. I’m only going to take twenty pieces. That’s a little less than I usually take when I travel. Abby is making sure there are some in reserve if I should have a good show.”
“Don’t you always have a good show?” Houston told him he usually did. “Son, what are you going to do about that girl in there? You just gonna ignore her until she goes away? The way she and your momma got into it, I’m thinking she’s not going to be a good fit for us. What do you think?”
“I don’t think it matters if she fits or not. She’s my mate, and if she leaves here, then I’ll go with her, I guess—unless she tries to kill me. I haven’t any idea what her plan regarding me would be.” Dad asked him if he was all right with that. “I guess. As I said, it matters little if I am or not. She voiced her opinion of how she felt, and I’ll try my best to abide by what she wants.”
“I thought you’d say that. She’s a mite touchy if you ask me.” He wanted to tell his dad he’d not asked him, but didn’t. There was enough shit flying around as it was. “I went and talked to Rogen about her last night. She’s being really tight lipped about what she’s doing here. I guess she was hurt and needed a place to lay low.”
“That’s what I was told as well.” He’d also been made aware of the buildings his brothers were working in now. Dawson and Thatcher were both working for themselves as doctors, but their buildings were also for agents that got hurt. Which was where Tru had been until Rogen needed her for some things she was working on. “She’s smart, too, Rogen told me.”
“Yeah, that’s what she said to me too. Speaks different languages.” He looked at his dad when he realized he was sounding more pissed with each thing he listed. Houston asked him what was the matter. “I don’t know. I just don’t like that there is a rift between the three of you. Mostly your momma, but I don’t care for any of it. She’s got to get her head on straight about this, or there will be trouble.”
“Trouble from whom, Dad?” He finally looked at him. “Don’t do this, Dad. I’m barely hanging onto myself as it is now. Don’t threaten her. I beg of you.”
“Houston, I didn’t mean that. I’m truly sorry if that was the way it sounded.” Houston nodded. “Now, don’t you be upset with me. I got enough going on right now with your momma telling me she’s all right.”
“I’m not mad at you, Dad. I just don’t need for you and Mom to be upset with her. Whatever is going on, it’s going on between Tru and myself. I know her and Mom exchanged words yesterday, but I’ve already spoken to Mom about it, and she is okay now.” Dad said he just wanted things to be like they were. “You mean messed up in that we have a hired killer, a woman who sits at a computer all day and orders hits? Or are you referring to Anna, who is currently raising three children, none of them birthed by her? You mean that normal?”
Dad laughed. “I guess you’re right. It is a strange bunch of things going on at the moment. I like it, I think, all this going on. But I am upset that Tru kicked you to the curb like she did.” Houston told him it would be fine, hoping he was right. “I guess I can only hope it is. Or believe it because you do. That’s what I’ll do. Believe it until something changes.”
“Good idea.” Dad stood up just as he was ready to go to his wheel to start on another piece. So far, he had about half of what Abby had told him she’d like to have for this catalog, and that was pretty good for him. Usually, he was hurrying through some of the last few pieces because he’d been off working on another project when he should have been working on his art. “I’ll see you guys later.”
After his dad left, he got to work. Yesterday he’d been so pissed off he’d not been able to do much more than stand out here and contemplate going in the house and showing Tru how pissed he was. But after got a good run in, he was able to come back here well after midnight and work almost until dawn. Now here he was working again. It was the way he usually worked. Then the day after Abby received the last piece or two from him, he’d go to bed for about three days and sleep until he was rested enough to start over. It had worked well for him over the years, and he saw no reason to change his schedule because his mate was around.
Not bothering with music today, he concentrated on the pieces he was throwing. Today he was making the long cylinders for the piece that would be the centerpiece for the catalog. Also, he supposed the most expensive. He was on his second piece, just putting it to the side when he realized he wasn’t alone. Houston saw Tru sitting at his desk where his dad had been earlier.
“Can I help you?” She shook her head, then nodded. “That was clear and helpful. I thought you were supposed to lie on the couch until Thatcher released you. You’re not doing yourself any good by moving around so much.”
“I need for you to fix me.” The pain was evident in her every word. Houston got up slowly—he didn’t want to piss her off again—and she watched him as he crossed the room. “I can’t stand this. The pain isn’t that bad, so long as I don’t move even my hair, but I’m sick of not being able to get up and do what I want.”
“Fixing you, as you put it, will bond us as a couple. Once that happens, there isn’t going to be anything that can tear us apart. Except death.” She nodded. “I have no idea what you’re agreeing to. You’re going to have to tell me you understand what I’m telling you.”
“I understand once you take my blood into your body, we’ll be a couple. I know that. What I don’t want is to figure out you’re going to be one of those men like my brother-in-law. He’s a prick.” He told her he could be a prick too. “I suppose you can, but I’ve also seen the side of you that makes me think you’re not like other men. Not even your own brothers. Are you?”
“I don’t know what that means. I’m just a man. One who can shift into a tiger.” She said she thought he was more than that. “You’ll have to tell me what you mean. I’m not stupid, but….”
“No, you’re not the least bit stupid. You’re also not a putz or a jackass. Things I’ve been calling you since you left your house yesterday. A great deal more things, but those were the cleanest. Then it occurred to me that you’re a tiger, as you said. That if you’d not wanted to leave your own home, you wouldn’t have. I’d have been tartar if you’d really wanted me out.” Houston laughed, and when she did, she winced in pain. “I wasn’t picking up a stone yesterday to see it skip across the pond. I’m not even sure there is one back there. But there was a man on the trail I was on, and he tried to jump me. It took him getting the shit knocked out of him before he realized I was supposed to be there as much as he was.”
“One of Rogen’s many men.” She nodded, and he started to lift up her shirt. “May I have a look at this? I don’t want you drawing a knife or gun on me again.”
“Yes. It really hurts. I thought perhaps your mother was trying to kill me, but she’d not be so subtle as to poison me. She’d just hit me with her claws, and that would be it.” He laughed again. Lifting up her shirt, he could see she’d pulled another stitch out. “Just tell me you don’t have to have sex with me to heal me right now. I just need to not fucking hurt every time I need to take a piss.”
“It would heal faster if I were my tiger. I can lick them closed with my human tongue, but it won’t be nearly as fast. Also, there are different properties in my saliva as my tiger that would benefit you as well.” She told him tiger. “I’m not a small man, and my tiger is bigger. It would make me feel much better if you were to lay whatever weaponry you have on you on the desk there.”
“Smart. But I don’t have them. I purposely left them on your couch. By the way, I love that thing. If the chair in the room is anywhere near as soft as the couch is, it’s going to be mine.” Houston asked her if she was planning to stay with him after this. “I don’t see I have
a choice.”
“Yes, you do. I’d rather not have you there if you’re going to feel like you have to stay with me.”
Before she could answer, even if she was going to, he let his tiger take him. He needed to stretch a bit before he could help Tru. He’d been at his wheel a little longer than he’d meant to be without getting up.
“Christ.” He looked at Tru when she spoke. “I guess I didn’t think you’d be small and cuddly, but I certainly never dreamed you’d be as big as I am standing up.”
Without tasting her blood first, there wasn’t any way he could speak to her. So after he nudged the shirt she had on, which he was sure was one of his, she lifted it up to the bottom of her breasts. Tru seemed to understand that she had to pull the bandages off, and did that for him.
He could see where the healing had started and ended. What it looked like was a nice neat hole where he knew she’d been belly shot. From what he’d been told by Thatcher, he also knew there was another hole in her back. While the bullet hadn’t gone through her, he’d had to remove it from her back as it was easier for him to get to.
Licking the area with his wet tongue, he could smell her arousal as her scent rolled over him. She looked at him when his cat growled low, but she didn’t say anything. When Tru stood up, then got down on her knees with her back to him, he needed to ask her to stand differently than she was now.
I need for you to lean over the chair. The wound here is wider than a single lick can fix. It’s a nice job, but it’s wider than my tongue.
She didn’t complain but did as he asked her to do. Licking the area around the wound at the bruises, he could already see where it was beginning to heal. When she continued to lay there, he wanted so badly to lean in and sniff at her pussy but wasn’t going to piss her off any more than was necessary. Backing away from her, he saw the long deep scars along her back. He asked her what had happened.
Houston: Robinson Destruction – Paranormal Tiger Shifter Romance Page 2
