Del huffed and turned her back on Zak. “This is why I was on that last dig, Mother. I found something that will finally name the family with the rightful claim to Fort Jericho. The blood pact Dad made with the Armsfords can be honored. We can stop this feud once and for all.”
Vie’s jaw dropped and when she recovered, it was hard to say who looked more furious. “You just took it upon yourself to uncover this priceless information, did you?”
“I thought you’d be happy,” Del said.
“Is that right? Because from where I’m standing you’re the only one here who looks happy about it,” Vie shot back.
“This feud has to stop,” Del said but her determination had clearly wavered. Vie was unmoved.
“We could re-bury it,” Vie said hopefully. “This proof. Hide it again like it has been all these years.”
Zak shook his head. “She can’t. Not with whoever this is after her. If we don’t expose it, they will, and they won’t stop trying to hurt Del in the process.”
“I see.” Vie aimed an angry glare at her daughter. “Did it occur to you what will happen to us if our family is not named once this proof of yours surfaces? What will happen to our home. To your cousins and nieces and nephews. Where we will live or go if we are removed?”
“I…” Del fell silent, all the color slowly draining from her cheeks.
“With me,” Zak said, grabbing her hand and wrapping it tightly in his. She tried pulling away but he only held tighter. “I’d like to marry your daughter today, Mrs. Santoni. Before this proof can come out.” Vie didn’t answer and he decided that was close enough to a maybe. He plunged on. “This way, our families will be connected and no one loses their homes or has to leave. I love your daughter, Mrs. Santoni. I want to make her my wife.”
“All right then.” Vie sighed. “Clearly, these circumstances are not ideal. But the solution is workable. Let’s get you two married.”
“Workable?” Del repeated. “Hang on. Do I get a say in this?”
Zak grinned. “Only if it’s a yes. Otherwise, we’ll talk about it later.”
Del narrowed her eyes at him and he wondered if he’d pushed her too far. “This is insane,” she said.
He shook his head, brushing a kiss along her parted lips as Vie turned to address the staff. “Nah. I haven’t lost my mind. Only my heart.”
Chapter Seventeen
The sunset from Del’s bedroom window was brilliantly orange and pink. Just as she remembered. It was one of her favorite things about Fort Jericho—the moment the dying light hit the rocks and everything became ablaze in one brilliant neon color streak.
Unfortunately, it also signaled her impending wedding—for real this time. She couldn’t believe how easily her own mother had agreed to this. Or that in just a couple of hours she’d be Mrs. Zak Armsford. It felt like a dream. Or a nightmare. Especially considering it was very possible that Zak was only marrying her to secure their families’ position once the truth about the statue came out.
She really needed to tell him about the message she’d decoded.
She caught sight of her reflection and her heart sank lower into her stomach. The ivory dress her mother had chosen was beautiful. Satin and silk and lace all the way to her toes—and it felt like a lie. To think, for a moment there, she’d thought he actually might love her.
A sharp knock sounded and Ashley poked her head inside. “Hey, bride,” she called, sailing in like she’d been here a hundred times before.
Del scowled.
“How do I look?” Ashley spun, showing off her flowing dress in a pastel blue. Between the fancy fabric and Ashley’s freshly styled hair, she did make an impression.
“You look beautiful,” Del said and Ashley winked.
“Damn right I do. So many hot shifters tonight, so little time.”
“What makes you think they’ll be hot?” Del asked.
“Because I plan to drink as much as it takes to make them that way,” Ashley shot back and Del shook her head. “Your mom sent me to check on you.” Ashley frowned. “Why isn’t your hair done?”
Del sighed. “Out of principle.”
“Your principles wouldn’t look nearly as good on you as that ivory gown you’re wearing. Also, there’s some lady here to see you.”
That got Del’s attention. “Who?” she asked.
“Some state… Alabama? Lousiana?” Ashley tapped her finger on her chin.
Del straightened. “Georgia?”
“That’s the one. She drives a really nice car.”
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” Del asked, pushing to her feet and heading for the door.
“Her car? I didn’t think you cared about—”
“Where is she now?” Del bent low and reached into the depths of her closet, retrieving the statue from the shoebox she’d hidden it in earlier. She kept the figure wrapped in a scarf and tucked it under her arm, straightening and turning to face Ashley.
“She said she’d meet you in the garden—”
Del scooped up her dress to keep from tripping and was already halfway into the hall. “Let’s go.” With Ashley at her heels, she broke into a run, hurrying outside.
The sunset had already dipped behind the rocks in the distance, sending the gardens into shadows. Del knew the way and she didn’t slow as she navigated her way through the six foot hedges. The maze was her mother’s favorite; thorny and beautiful but uncomplicated—just like Vie.
At the next intersection, Del made a sharp right and kept going. She knew where Georgia would wait for her. The fountain in the center. They’d met there before. Ashley’s labored breathing was close behind her so she didn’t slow. Another right. A left, almost there.
Del rounded the bend and a pair of large hands caught her hard against a broad chest. For a moment she assumed Zak had found her. Maybe he’d even set this up himself. A rendezvous before the public ceremony. But then she opened her eyes and in the darkness, she caught sight—and scent—of her captor.
Coyote.
He was tall and broad like the man who had caught her before. And just like the first time, he had help. A second pair of hands caught Ashley as she came up behind Del. Both women shrieked but more hands appeared, covering their mouths, and another snapped a silver collar around Del’s neck. When Ashley wouldn’t stop struggling, one of the men struck her from behind and she fell limp into his arms.
“Ashley,” she called but her voice was no more than a whisper with the man’s arms holding her ribs so tightly. The collar around Del’s neck was cold and constricting. So much for her puma. Already near the surface, it shrank back, caged by the silver.
Del struggled and wriggled against the man’s tight hold. He swung back and she barely had time to brace herself before he hit her, sending her vision swimming and her stomach roiling. She went limp, barely hanging onto consciousness as the pain pulsed in her jaw where his fist had struck.
She almost forgot about the statue until she realized it was no longer tucked underneath her arm. She caught sight of it already unwrapped and held in a pair of small hands. She looked up and her eyes widened at the sight of who held it.
“Janet.” Del tried to scream the name but it came out muffled from behind her gag. Janet. It took her a moment to realize the woman was here with the coyotes and not to rescue Del. Holy … Janet was the one behind the attacks? But how? Why?
Janet stalked forward, staring into Del’s eyes with an expression Del had never seen before. Not on mousy, timid Janet, anyway. “You, little cousin, are the biggest pain in my ass since my sciatica flared up.”
Del struggled to respond and with a dramatic eye roll, Janet yanked the gag out of Del’s mouth. “What?” Janet demanded.
“You tried to kill me,” Del sputtered.
Janet sighed. “Don’t remind me of my failures.” She looked up at the man holding Del. “Bring them both. We need to move before someone comes looking.”
With a tug of finality, her captor yanked on the
lead connected to Del’s collar, dragging her away. Del wondered how she’d been so blind to Janet’s intentions—wanting the statue for herself. Being willing to kill Del in order to get it. She wondered if Zak or anyone else would ever realize it too. Probably not until it was too late.
Chapter Eighteen
Del woke with a pounding headache and chattering teeth. She gasped, filling her lungs with air to clear some of the dizziness. She probably had a lump on the side of her head the size of a croquet ball.
She concentrated on studying her surroundings, moving as little as possible. She was on the ground, on her back. The sky above her was pitch black. The air was frigid. What was left of her dress wasn’t nearly enough of a covering in the desert at night. She shifted carefully and found Ashley not far away, still out. Her blue dress was torn along the bottom, already fraying. If they ever made it out of this alive, Ashley was going to be pissed about the dress.
A noise to her left made her turn—and wince. Janet and one of her coyote-servants stood nearby studying something on the tailgate of a pickup truck lit by a flashlight beam. Their voices were low but even so, Janet sounded furious about something.
“…Not what we discussed,” she was saying. Del spotted the phone she held to her ear. “That photo I sent you must have been upside down. It can’t possibly name—”
“What…’s happ—ening?” Ashley’s groggy voice broke the silence.
“Ssh,” Del hissed at her.
“Janet’s the villain?” Ashley frowned, taking it all in. “Villainess? What a weird word. Villainessss,” she muttered, sounding it out awkwardly.
Del rolled her eyes and concentrated on breathing. She debated explaining to Ashley that they had concussions but decided it would only lead to more confusion on Ashley’s part.
Janet’s voice rang out again—something about the statue’s engravings not matching her research. Del started paying attention then. “I know my ancient symbols, you idiot,” Janet snapped. “It should have said Delphino.” There was a pause and then she added, “Me. I’m Delphino. Oh my God, I can’t take this. I’m surrounded by morons.”
Del bit her lip, her thoughts still hazy from her injury. And this stupid silver collar was pissing her off the way it dug into her neck. Her puma was caged and furious and doing everything it could to break free. Del shushed it and tried to think. Janet was a distant cousin on her mom’s side. Had she somehow assumed the rightful heir to Fort Jericho’s power was hers? And then lured Del into thinking the idea had been her own in the first place?
Suddenly, months’ worth of conversations about ending the feud finally made sense. Janet hadn’t been on Del’s side for the sake of peace. She’d wanted the statue—and the fortune—for herself. Killing Del had been a sure way to see herself get promoted. And if she succeeded, what would happen to the Santonis and the Armsfords then?
Del needed to get that statue back.
“No!” Janet’s sudden shriek startled everyone and rang out over the empty desert. “It can’t possibly say that. It’s supposed to be me.” Janet narrowed her eyes at Del and bared her teeth.
Crap. This was not looking good. If Janet found out what the message said, Del would be dead for sure.
Janet hung up abruptly and slammed the phone down on the truck bed. “Boss?” the man asked warily.
“Shut up, Bill,” Janet snapped. She whirled on Del and stalked forward. “I don’t know how you did it but I will find out and when I do—”
“Find out what?” Del asked, heart thudding.
“The statue’s engraving has been tampered with. It says Princess.”
“Princ…?” Del trailed off, understanding coming slow through her foggy thoughts. Her smile spread until finally, she tipped her head back and laughed. “Of course it does.” She shook her head. Only one person could have done that. Her mate was much sneakier than she gave him credit for. She hoped that meant he knew where she was now.
Janet growled, “I know it was you who ruined this for me. And you’re going to pay for it.”
Janet’s eyes glowed yellow. Hyena, Del remembered. She’d never seen Janet’s animal but she knew. And now, she held her breath, helpless as she waited for the woman to attack. Del could smell her when she got close. Janet was inches away from shifting and Del was trapped as a human.
Zak’s tampering with the statue meant nothing if Janet attacked now.
Chapter Nineteen
Zak clenched his teeth as he waited, his breaths labored with the effort of remaining still. He was close. From here, his wolf could just make out the shapes of the men gathered around a pickup parked haphazardly off the road. And sitting on the ground nearby were two smaller figures. Del. He inhaled sharply and caught her scent once again, letting it reassure him.
She was alive. And he wasn’t leaving here without her.
Georgia had come to him, breathless and panicked not an hour ago. He’d been keeping an eye on the house from the street, too keyed up to go home before the ceremony and risk letting Del alone. Now, he was glad he’d trusted his instincts.
He’d suspected Janet all along, but he’d known Del would have blown him off for saying so. God, he hated being right. But even without the kidnapping, he’d known. Kenneth’s info proved Janet had been after the statue all along. Her quiet trips to antiquity specialists. Her inquiries into the town records on rightful ownership to the Santoni estate, the founder’s rulings and the blood pact all those years ago. It all added up.
He was just glad he’d made provisions for his suspicions last night. She wasn’t getting away with this shit now.
He waited another moment until he sensed the presence of the other two wolves at his back. Cade and Georgia. If Georgia was here, she’d done her part. It was time.
Without warning, he bunched his legs and shot forward, howling as he sprinted. His siblings followed and the coyote goons up ahead tore their clothes off in order to shift before his jaws could reach them. Zak grinned wolfishly, glad for the slight challenge their shifter forms offered him.
The fight was over quickly. The coyotes were no match for the Armsfords. Zak tore through them with a rage he hadn’t felt in ages. All the while, he kept an eye on Del. She looked dazed but she was awake. Collared. Weak. He couldn’t see any blood. Ashley looked worse but they were both hanging in. Zak tore into another coyote and let it fall. When his path was clear, he stalked toward the small woman cowering against the pickup truck.
“No, please,” Janet begged as he stalked closer.
He didn’t give a shit if she begged. He’d agreed to Georgia’s plan but if the police didn’t get here by the time he got tired of listening to the woman’s pleas, he couldn’t promise anything.
He was three feet from her ankle when the night exploded with flashing lights and the sound of sirens. His shoulders drooped in disappointment but he held his ground, keeping her cornered until the Fort Jericho patrol car pulled up and an officer jumped out, taking over for him.
“Ma’am, don’t move,” the officer called out.
The moment the police were in position, Zak retreated to find his mate. He shifted and scooped Del into his arms, holding her close and breathing her in. “You okay?” he asked quietly.
Del nodded, despite tears leaking from both eyes. “Took you long enough,” she sniffled.
Yep, she was fine. He grinned, listening to Janet’s pleas turn to demands with the police. Behind him, Ashley was being tended to by Georgia. He decided not to put Del down just yet. Or interrupt the show.
“Janet Delphino? You’re under arrest for theft, falsifying historical documents, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder…” The officer droned on but Janet’s high-pitched voice drowned him out.
“Do you know who I am?” she asked when he reached for wrists.
“Yes,” the officer deadpanned. “I pointed that out right before I told you that you’re under arrest.”
Janet huffed, doing a pretty close impersonation of Vie, Zak not
ed with amusement. “I’m the rightful ruler of Fort Jericho,” Janet said.
“Ma’am, there is no ruler of Fort Jericho. Only entitled socialites and civil servants. I think I’ve got you pegged,” the officer said. He cuffed Janet and then turned to nod at Zak. “Armsford, thanks for the tip on that artifact. Didn’t know you were back.”
“Hey, Joe. I’m back,” Zak said cheerily. Watching Janet being hauled away was almost as satisfying as killing her.
“For good?” Joe asked.
“Seems like it,” Zak said and at his easy words, he felt Del stiffen in his arms.
“Put me down,” she hissed.
He set her on her feet and watched as she smoothed her dress. It was stained, more brown than white any longer. But Del kept her chin up like she refused to admit defeat to the fabric.
Joe marched Janet back to the waiting patrol car and shoved her into the back seat. Her protests died off as the door slammed shut.
“The artifact?” Del asked Zak.
“Georgia delivered the real statue to the county historian’s office while I came here. Then she called Joe,” Zak explained.
“The real statue?”
“You didn’t think I was going to let you keep walking around with the real deal? Especially after your mother kicked me out of your house until the wedding.” Zak snorted.
Del glared. “What did you do?”
“I swapped yours for a ringer. Something my father gave me when I was young. Who knew it was a near replica and the old man actually knew what he was talking about all that time?” Zak shook his head.
“Wait. You knew about the statue?” Del asked. Zak shrugged which only seemed to make her madder. “This whole time?”
“Well, not the whole time. I mean, not when I first walked into your camp site and saw you about to get eaten,” he said.
“Do not patronize me, Zak Armsford,” Del warned.
Cade whistled as he walked over. “She used your full name, man,” he said. “You should probably take cover.”
Guarded By The Alpha Page 9
