by Jianne Carlo
Mike hopped on one foot while trying to pull a sock over the other. “Get to the point.”
“When I told him about that, he remembered that the guys he’d been with kept a stash of drugs and liquor hidden in an alcove in the wall. Gray said he’d scented something familiar about the place but couldn’t pinpoint what. We went back there. Searched the place top to bottom and found not one but two other alcoves. Looks like Boyd and Millar met there often. We found a knife with bloodstains. Had it analyzed. Three strains of DNA, Boyd’s, Melanie’s father, and her grandfather.”
He leaned against the tree and stamped both feet into the new shoes. “And? I’m getting married in a few minutes. Do you think we can skip the drama?”
“They found poison on the knife tip. Freddy showed a pic of the knife to the elders who witnessed the takuskanka-otaktay. It was the same knife Shuman used in the fight. The elders opted to do nothing about the whole thing, the past being the past and all that. When Freddy told us that, two and two clicked for Gray. The lodge is located not five minutes away from the spot where Gray’s father was killed.”
“Shuman didn’t kill Melanie’s father. Millar did. Ten to one he put the poison on the knife Shuman fought with.” Mike straightened. “No wonder Shuman refused us sanctuary and never told anyone. There’s no way I would have left any of this alone. The truth about his sons would’ve come out, one way or another.”
“Yeah.” Drake tossed Mike a tie. “What’s ironic is that Shuman sold his soul for his sons. That plus Boyd being betrayed by his partner in crime. Quite a kill list for Millar: Melanie’s father and grandfather, Boyd, Eddie, George, Augustus Balden, Shuman, but there was a reason behind all the killings. Apparently, before He Who Sees With Eagle Eyes accepted the takuskanka-otaktay challenge, he paid a visit to Raine’s father’s reservation and issued an ultimatum; renounce their black wolf practices or he’d wipe them out. ”
“What?” The hairs on Mike’s nape stood up like little spears. “And?”
“According to the files Freddy found about half did, and Melanie’s grandfather bid them leave at once. There was a fire. Mikey, whoever stayed behind was wiped out. Not a black wolf left.”
“I don’t get it. Why wasn’t Melanie’s grandfather arrested?”
“Most of the land on the edge of the Canadian border suffered drought conditions worse than the depression in 1994. There had been dozens of forest fires. This one raged out of control and consumed everything in its path. The authorities never even considered arson.”
Mike braced against a tree trunk, too stunned for long moments to speak. His mind raced. “Millar and Smith were after what was left of the White family. This was all about revenge.”
“That’s what Freddy thinks.”
“Do all the other women know about this?” Mike thumbed his collar up.
“Yeah.”
Something niggled at the back of his mind. “Oh yeah. Satisfy my curiosity. Tom and Charles Smith related?”
“That one bothered me too. Nada.”
He tightened the tie’s knot. “Does this match? Blue shirt, navy tie, and pin-striped morning suit? And isn’t there supposed to be a handkerchief in the pocket? Is my hair sticking up? Shit, I should’ve had it cut.”
“Focus.” Mike could tell Drake totally enjoyed being the one to say that. “Janie’s going to keep your mate busy and prevent her from changing. Lizzie got in not three hours ago. She, Susie, and Brinda are all ready to go.”
“How’s that?” Mike smoothed the jacket’s tails. “Who picked a morning suit, for Christ’s sake?”
“Mom. Perfect. The muscle under your eye’s jumping like mad.”
“I just want to get this done.” Mike half jogged around to the front of the Caboose. The scene that met his eyes made him stop on a nickel.
The front parking lot had been turned into a celebratory makeshift outdoor church. Brinda, Susie, Mom, Virgil, Kitchi, and all the staff had done a stellar job. Lit garlands hung from the four poles on each corner of the lot. Rows and rows of chairs decorated with streaming yellow ribbons filled the asphalt rectangle. At the south end, Whisper nuzzled her foal under the watchful eyes of Doc G. and Pincer.
Andy, the busboy, approached Mike, his focus on the black satin pillow he carried. “Susie said to give you the engagement ring before you go in.”
Fuck a duck, he’d clean forgotten. He picked up the three-carat round diamond set in platinum that he’d picked out three days earlier. It looked a tad on the small size. He should never have let Brinda talk him out of that five-carat stone. “Thanks.”
Drake slapped him on the back. “Go for it, Bro.”
By the time he opened the door to the diner, Mike could’ve sworn he was having a heart attack. He hated public speaking. That’s why Drake held all their press conferences. Virgil, standing behind the cashier desk, winked. He gave Mike a thumbs-up. “All ready.”
Mike threaded through the crowded diner. He paused behind the bend to “their” table, fished the ring out of his pocket, and took a deep breath. Three strides and he was on one knee before Melanie seated opposite Brinda and Janie in the cozy booth.
Her eyes grew wider and wider. Her mouth fell open.
He grasped her hand, met her gaze, and said, trying not to rush the words, “Will you marry me, Melanie Frances White, and make me the happiest man on the planet?”
She pinkened all over, even the tips of her ears. Her eyes widened and brimmed with moisture. The lips he’d eaten at earlier, all red and rosy, quivered. She nodded.
Two fat tears streamed down her cheeks.
“You have to say it, babe.” He gave her fingers a little squeeze.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Between the shrieks and roared congratulations of the crowd behind his back and his trembling hands, it took forever to slide the ring on her finger. He rose and pulled her to stand before him. “Let’s do it.”
“Whaaat?” Her brows pinched together, but the dazzling smile on her face never wavered.
“We’re getting married.” He turned around and hurried her through the tables.
“Now?” He grinned when her voice squeaked.
“Right now.”
“Mike David Dorland. Where are we going?” She tugged, trying to loosen his hold on her wrist.
He finally made it to the entrance, shoved the door open, and lifted her onto the top of the stairs. The whole town had been invited, and it looked like a 100 percent turnout. A deafening round of applause broke out. Mike held up a hand. The crowd silenced.
Whisper reared and whinnied long and hard.
“Whisper. And her foal.” Melanie spun around. She threw her arms around his neck and tiptoed to press a kiss to his chin. “How’d you do all this without me suspecting a thing?”
“You wanted a spectacular proposal.” His heart could’ve pounded a drill to the center of the earth. God, he hated being the center of attention. “Did I do good?”
“You did perfect. And you included Whisper and her foal.” Aw shit, she’d started to cry again. Mike swiped at the wetness on his mate’s cheeks. “They’re your wedding present. Willowby agreed to let us raise the foal and stable Whisper if we agree to house his training staff.”
She traced the line of his jaw. “I love you, Michael David Dorland.”
Loose Id Titles by Jianne Carlo
Valentine Voodoo
* * * *
The HADES SQUAD Series
A Paratrooper in a Pear Treak
Lucifer’s Choice
Deviant Devil
Demon Seed
* * * *
The MEDITERRANEAN MAMBO Series
Manacled in Monaco
Notorious in Nice
Carnal in Cannes
* * * *
The WHITE WOLF Series
White Wolf
The Call of a Soul
Jianne Carlo
Jianne’s an Iron Chef America and Law and Order addict who loves to cook, eat, read, and
write. She wishes a body could burn a ton of calories being sedentary and eating. Don’t you? If only…
Married for 34 years to an amazing man who still manages to sneak up on her every single day, she’s also the proud mama of three fantastic sons, all of whom are now of legal age. Now if only they’d stop changing majors in college…
Alpha males, strong heroines, exotic locations, and cultural differences are her forte.
She’s travelling the world through her books. From Manacled, which is set in Monaco, to D is for Desire, set in Trinidad at Carnival time, to A Paratrooper in a Pear Tree, which is set outside of Denali National Park in Alaska, and Dark Chocolate Side of the Moon, set in Sleeping Dog, Texas.
Jianne’s writing career began in 2008, and since then she’s been lucky enough to have fourteen books published. Nothing makes Jianne’s day more than an email from someone who’s read one of her books. Jianne loves to hear what tickles your fancy. So far, she’s received emails from almost every continent on the planet. Almost…
Find out more at http://www.jiannecarlo.com