The Guardian (The Wolfe Series)
Page 20
The gunshot was deafening and a look of surprise covered Enrique’s face as bright red blood, his blood, blossomed on the white shirt covering his heart.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” Luzaro Rivera said as he materialized out of the shadows near the front door of the shack. He was joined by Poncho Vega and both men watched dispassionately when Enrique Perez stumbled and fell to his knees.
Dropping the knife, Enrique clutched his chest, his eyes glazing over as he fell forward into the dirt.
“Good riddance,” Vega spat into the dirt at Enrique’s feet.
Laurie rushed toward Jake and he gathered her into his arms, holding her fiercely as they turned and considered this new threat. Jake’s knew his brothers were still out there in their wolf form and would help if necessary but he hoped not to have to involve them any further. The less people knew about the wolves the better for them all.
Jake felt Laurie tremble as he took the gun from her hand. He guessed the man who had shot Perez was Luzaro Rivera. He recognized the man with Rivera as the man from the stables, the man who had drugged him.
“You have nothing to fear from me, Querida,” Luzaro sighed when he saw the look of fear on Laurie’s face. He tucked the handgun into the waistband of his trousers and waited until Jake reluctantly did the same. “There will be no more threat to your life and Aragon will be returned to you. You are free to go.”
Luzaro met Jake’s unflinching gaze and said, “Enrique came from a loco familia, you would do well to watch your back and those you love, Senor.”
Laurie watched Luzaro turn and walk away, realizing that she was finally free of the danger that had haunted her the past few weeks.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” she said as she and Jake walked to where Sugar stood waiting. Jake lifted Laurie into the saddle and vaulted up behind her. “Maybe he really did love you after all?”
“I don’t think Luzaro knows the meaning of the word.” Laurie leaned back against Jack and said, “Let’s go home.”
Laurie smiled as they rode away from the slaver’s shack and were joined by a pair or magnificent black wolves.
Epilogue
Jake and Laurie’s wedding was fast approaching. Most of the countryside would be attending the event and Laurie was glad that Julie would be arriving soon. She’d worried about her friend but Julie had been watching for the “personal” add that Laurie had sent letting her know it was safe to return to New York. Her friend was now back in the city and hard at work.
Rand had made himself scarce the last few weeks. Laurie knew that he wasn’t especially happy about her joining the family, shape-shifter or not. Laurie planned to work on that.
And Taggert? He’d taken off for California, something about a problem with one of the shape-shifters there. He’d promised to return for the wedding and Laurie fully intended to hold him to that promise.
Laurie turned over and snuggled up against Jake. Several weeks had passed since the deadly confrontation with Enrique Perez and Laurie was finally beginning to believe that her terrifying ordeal was really over. True to his word, Luzaro had sent Aragon back to her the very next week. She appreciated the thoughtfulness of the gesture as well as the note that had been included and the fact that Luzaro was no longer a threat to them.
Querida,
What we could have shared together if I had been a different man or you had been a different woman.
Stay safe.
L
“A penny for your thoughts,” Jake asked as he turned toward the woman who would soon become his wife, his mate, the only woman he would ever love.
Laurie shoved all thoughts of the past aside when Jake gathered her into his arms. “Just thinking how lucky we are and how bright our future looks.”
“And think of the beautiful children we’ll make together,” he said suggestively as he ran a fingertip over Laurie’s collarbone and across her bare shoulder.
“How do you feel about children?” Laurie had been wondering the last few days if she might be pregnant. She and Jake had not talked about having children and she wasn’t sure what his thoughts would be on the subject. She had her own misgivings about raising werewolf children but knew she would love them no matter what.
Jake kissed every part of Laurie’s body, down the long length of her thighs until he finally settled at the juncture of her legs and his tongue slid over her most private place. “I’ll love having children with you, lots and lots of children.”
Jake felt Laurie shudder. “I love you, Laurie, I will always love you.” He lifted her hips, spreading her thighs so he would have better access, and then plunged deep.
Laurie gasped in pleasure. “And I love you, Jake.” His body was taking her to a place of miracles where the outside world ceased to exist.
A fierce joy sprang up inside Jake as he plunged deeper and deeper into Laurie’s welcoming heat. He moved within her once, twice, three times and then his body stiffened and he felt the rush of his seed.
Laurie kissed Jake with all of the passion she held in her heart, giving everything and holding nothing back, a promise for their future together and a realization that their future would be whatever they chose to make of it.
The End