Layla spun to face him. “William doesn’t know who did this to Rosie,” she said vehemently. Her eyes snapped to their clan form as she glowered at her brother. “You’ve been hard on him since the second he got here, and he’s been nothing but gracious.”
“Feeling protective, are we?” Raife’s eyebrows flew up. “It looks like he’s growing on you, Red, but let’s not forget a couple important facts,” he said with no humor. “Number one, he says that you sensed there was another Amoveo at the house last night, and number two, they just happen to show up after William appears.” He leaned his elbows on his knees and kept his eyes locked with hers. “Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”
Layla’s eyes tingled and shifted back to their human form as she struggled with the reality of what Raife said. “No, I don’t.” She looked at Rosie who still lay unconscious, covered in tubes and bandages, and tears pricked at the back of her eyes. She rubbed at them furiously before they could spill over. “But I am telling you, there is no way that William is involved in this.” She sniffled and locked her serious gaze with Raife’s. “He cares for Rosie and for me. But at the moment, I’m not sure why, since I’ve done nothing but hurt him.”
Feeling every bit as guilty as she sounded, Layla sat on the edge of the radiator and studied her brother’s face. “Do you know how we got her to the hospital last night?”
“No.” He shrugged and sat back in his chair. “I figured an ambulance, why?”
“Remember that incident I told you about the other day?”
“You mean the one where he just appeared in your Jeep?” he asked the question tentatively, but his body visibly tensed as he waited for her answer.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Well… we did that.” Layla folded her arms over her breasts in a vain effort to steady herself. “More to the point,” she said softly, “I did that.”
“You? I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t bird boy do it?”
“He’d never been here before. Apparently, we have to imprint on the location or on a person at the place we want to go. That day in the Jeep, he tapped into my energy signature and was able to use visualization skills to get to me. Anyway…” she said with a sigh. “Last night he showed me, or helped me, to use that ability to get us here.”
She looked at Rosie, and her throat clogged with emotion. “If he hadn’t showed me how to do that, I don’t think we would’ve gotten her here in time. She was pretty banged up and had lost a lot of blood.”
She watched Raife absorb what she’d told him. He rubbed his mouth and made a sound of understanding.
“He knows,” she said softly.
“Knows what?” Raife asked as his face twisted in confusion.
Layla straightened her back, instinctively feeling defensive. “He knows that I’ve never been able to shift.”
“Are you sure?” His lips set in a tight line. “What did he say?”
“Well, that’s just it. He didn’t say anything. He just knew. Last night at the bar, when Sylvia was there being… Sylvia… she got under my skin.” Her lips curved at the irony of the statement. “So to speak.”
Raife’s eyes twinkled with excitement for his sister. “You started to shift.” He knew how much it bothered her that she’d never been able to shift like him and Tati. “You know, I thought I sensed something last night, another ripple in your energy signature, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was.”
“Well, if it hadn’t been for William, I probably would’ve shifted into my cheetah right at the damn bar, and most likely ripped Sylvia’s head off.”
Warmth washed over her at the memory, but she suppressed the smile that was brewing, unsure if her brother would share her enthusiasm. She suspected that no matter how much he said that he hated Sylvia, there was a part of him that still loved her and probably always would.
“William sensed the shift coming on, knew that it was happening beyond my control, and talked me off the ledge. He showed me how to get a hold of it before it got a hold of me. And you know what? He never once acknowledged that I’d never done it before or called attention to my inadequacy… he just helped me. The same thing happened last night when he showed me how to get Rosie here. He knew what we needed to do and got it done. There was no shame, no mention of me being a hybrid, or being behind the curve somehow.” She let out a soft laugh. “It was the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “But that doesn’t change the fact that there are other Amoveo who have found us, and they’re the ones who did this to Rosie.” His eyes flickered, but he kept them from shifting. “Since lover boy has been so helpful, maybe he can use some of his awesomeness to find the animal.” His hands balled into tight fists, and his body tensed as he looked like he was choosing his words carefully. “You should probably show him my mother’s diary.”
Layla couldn’t have stopped from looking surprised if she wanted too. That diary was his prized, sacred possession.
“Are you sure?” she asked gently.
She knew how special that diary was to Raife and Tati; she’d never asked them if she could read it. He’d offered, but somehow, it felt like a major invasion of privacy. Besides, it wasn’t her mother’s story. However, given the latest developments, privacy would have to take a backseat to their safety.
“You want us to read it?” Layla lowered her voice. “Are you sure?”
“Want wouldn’t be exactly accurate.” Raife leaned one elbow on the arm of the chair and rubbed his mouth against his fist. “I’m not letting him read it to bond with the guy, and I’m not psyched about it,” his voice softened. “There might be something in there he can use.”
Layla walked around the bed to her brother and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispered and placed a kiss on his unshaven cheek. “I love you, Raife.”
“Yeah.” He patted her arm and gave her a quick squeeze before releasing her. “I love you too, Red.”
The door to Rosie’s room swung open, and William walked in bearing a tray with three cups of coffee and a brown bag that looked suspiciously like a bag of doughnuts. He stood there for a moment watching them, clearly uncomfortable that he’d walked in on an emotional moment for the siblings.
He cleared his throat and awkwardly held out the tray and the bag. “It’s been a long night, and I thought you could both use coffee and something to eat.”
“Unbelievable,” she said softly.
Once again, he showed consideration for her and her comfort, even after she’d been so horrible to him. A huge smile cracked Layla’s face, and before he could put anything down, she rushed over and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her face against his warm, firm chest, and tears stung at her eyes.
“Thank you,” she mumbled against his shirt. He smelled like the woods in wintertime.
“You’re welcome,” William said evenly. His arms still outstretched and his hands full, he remained stone still, but she could feel his heart beating rapidly beneath her cheek. “I’ll have to bring you coffee and doughnuts more often.”
“You look ridiculous,” Raife said as he took the items from William’s hands. “You better hug her back before she starts bawling,” he grumbled and brought the items to the nightstand on the other side of Rosie’s bed.
“I don’t bawl.” Layla sniffled into his shirt. William’s strong arms wrapped around her, and he kissed the top of her head. She squeezed him tighter, as if he might slip from her grasp and vanish. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You are most welcome,” he said as he brushed his hands down her sides. He leaned back and tilted her chin up with the tip of one strong finger, forcing her to look him in the eye. His dark, moon-glow eyes glimmered down at her intensely. “I swear we’ll find out who did this, and when we do,” he said with deadly intent, “I will make them pay.”
The stern tone of his voice was matched by the fierce look in his eye, and Layla knew he was telling the truth. She wanted to tell him
how sorry she was, that she knew he wasn’t behind any of this, and to kiss those firm, warm lips of his senseless, until he forgave her. However, the sound of Raife loudly clearing his throat broke the spell and set her cheeks aflame with embarrassment.
William’s lips curved, and his eyes shifted back to their human state as she slipped out of his embrace.
“Here,” Raife said as he handed a cup of coffee to her and one to William. “Do me a favor and drink the coffee, so I don’t have to watch you two grope each other.” He took doughnuts out of the bag and handed one of the sugar-coated concoctions to each of them. “There, now both hands are full of something other than each other,” he said with a satisfied smile as he took a massive bite out of his pastry.
He chewed and quickly swallowed his mouthful without taking his eyes off William. Layla blew on her coffee and watched Raife study him with his usual bold demeanor. She could tell he was deciding exactly what to say, and based on William’s calm, controlled stance, he was aware of it and didn’t seem bothered by it in the least. To his credit, he said nothing, but simply sipped his coffee with the same regality one might drink a fine glass of champagne.
No one was saying anything, and the only sound in the room was the steady beep of Rosie’s heart monitor. Layla half expected Rosie to sit up and tell them all to stop being so childish, but she continued to lie silently amid the tension of the room.
After what felt like an eternity, Raife finally broke the thickening silence.
“I may not trust you entirely,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “But my sister does, and that’s good enough for me, because I don’t know if you’ve picked up on this yet, but she doesn’t trust many people.” He crumpled the now empty brown bag and tossed it into the small garbage can in the corner. “So here’s the way I see it,” he continued calmly, with his hands on his hips. “An Amoveo was at our house tonight, and that’s probably who did this to Rosie.”
“Most likely,” William said quietly. “However, if it was a Purist, based on their previous actions, I find it strange that they left her alive.” His massive body didn’t flinch, but Layla could see he was primed and ready to leap into action if necessary. “No one else will be harmed. That much I can promise you. If it’s alright with the two of you, I would like to ask my friends Dante and Malcolm for their assistance. Their mates are hybrids. They have had some run-ins with the Purist sect, and their experience would be quite valuable.” His dark eyes flicked to Layla briefly before going directly back to Raife. “They could also provide us with additional security at the farm and here at the hospital.”
Raife crossed his arms over his chest as he looked from Layla to William. “You trust them?” he asked pointedly. “You would trust them with Layla’s life?”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “But you don’t have to worry about Layla, because I won’t let her out of my sight until the situation is settled.”
As the words escaped his lips, William’s energy signature buzzed loudly in her head and merged with Layla, as if tethering her to him. The suddenly increased connection caught her off guard, and she sucked in a sharp breath in an effort to acclimate to the new sensation.
William didn’t take his eyes off Raife and seemed unaware of the newly sharpened connection between them. As the buzzing subsided, and her body adjusted to their amplified bond, her mind raced with the possibilities of what it all meant.
“Fine,” he said quietly. “Call in your friends.” His serious blue eyes studied William intently, and the lines in his forehead deepened. “I have one more question for you. Do you have anything against killing one of your own?” Raife asked, pulling Layla from her thoughts.
Killing people? Raife was talking about killing the Amoveo who did this? What the hell? She looked at the two men as if they’d lost their minds. Maybe they had, and perhaps she had too.
“I have no problem with it.” William’s eyes flickered and shifted brightly. “Whoever did this is not one of my own.” His voice, barely above a whisper, filled every inch of the room as his glowing eyes latched firmly onto hers. “I will protect what is mine at all costs.”
A shiver ran up Layla’s spine at the possessive tone in his voice, and her heart leapt into her throat. He meant her. As if the bizarre bonding of their energy signatures wasn’t enough, he felt the need to verbally claim her in front of her brother? If they weren’t standing in the middle of Rosie’s hospital room, she would’ve decked him square in the jaw.
“Good.” Raife gave a curt nod, and without a glance back, he sat in the chair next to Rosie. Her brother was obviously unfazed by William’s caveman professions and actually seemed comforted by them.
Now she wanted to punch them both in the face.
“Excuse me,” she said in the most serene voice she could muster. “I am not some helpless damsel in distress, and I don’t need either of you to protect me.”
Having suddenly lost her appetite, she threw the rest of her doughnut in the garbage can and brushed the sugar from her hands briskly.
“Aside from the fact that I am an independent woman who has traveled to some of the most dangerous parts of the world on assignment, I also happen to be half cheetah and could kick both of your asses sideways if I wanted to.”
Hands on her hips, she glared at them, daring them to challenge her.
Raife let out a short laugh. “Oh, I know you could, but you also tend to act before you think and would probably run off half-cocked and get yourself killed. So if bird boy here can help keep an eye on you, then I’m all for it.” Raife glanced over his shoulder at William. “I’m not leaving Rosie’s side until you find the sack of shit that did this. I’m sure your friends are just freaking peachy, but I’m not leaving Rosie alone.”
“Understood.” He gave a sharp nod and turned his dark eyes on Layla. “I am well aware of how capable you are,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to belittle you or make you feel as if I don’t respect you or have every confidence in your abilities.” He moved his massive frame closer and linked his fingers with hers. Her heart skipped a beat as their flesh connected, and every nerve ending in her palm came alive. “Forgive my overprotective nature, but I couldn’t bear it if you were harmed.”
Layla couldn’t find her voice amid the rush of his skin against hers and the hum of their mingled energy waves. Looking into those dark brown eyes, she knew he was being truthful, and the childish flare of anger subsided. Wanting to protect her, to keep her safe—that was something she could understand—but binding herself to him for eternity wasn’t as easy a concept to grasp.
How could she possibly tell him that was never going to happen?
“There will be justice,” William murmured and turned his attention to Rosie. “There will be justice for Rosie. I promise.”
Layla could feel and see the anguish that tore at William from the inside out in a more profound way than ever before. It was as if she had a direct line to his emotions. Although his eyes were in their human state, she felt the barely contained fury that rushed beneath the surface. Under that calm, cool-looking exterior, Layla detected a turbulent sea of rage and a stark need for vengeance that sent a ripple of dread up her back.
Was it only yesterday that she’d wanted to see him reveal the primal side of himself? As she watched the tiny muscle in his jaw flicker, and his powerful stare remained locked on Rosie, she thought of that old saying: Be careful what you wish for… you just may get it.
Chapter 11
When they set foot in the house, William had been prepared for Layla’s reaction but not his own. The first floor of the house had been ransacked, and the sight of Layla’s photographs smashed and strewn around the floor was almost more than he could handle. The dark energy signature from the night before was almost gone, and even though that should’ve been a comfort, it wasn’t. Pure-blooded Amoveo energy didn’t usually dissipate this quickly. There was something off kilter about the phantom of energy left behind, but he couldn’t qu
ite nail down what it was.
Who in the hell had been here?
William slammed the door behind them, and his eyes shifted to his clan as he surveyed the wreckage left behind by the attack and the subsequent investigation.
Layla stood silently next to him, but her energy signature whipped around like a whirling dervish.
“I feel violated.” She hugged herself, which prompted William to pull her into his embrace.
He didn’t even think about it. It was instinctive and a sign that their comfort level with each other was moving in the right direction. Perhaps something positive would come of this horrific situation after all.
“It was always safe here, William. Woodbine was the one place in the world that I felt safe, and now some sick bastard has taken that away.”
“Don’t do that.” William lifted her chin so she was looking him in the face. “Don’t give up your power like that.”
She stilled. “What did you say?”
“Don’t let the Purists or anyone else take that iron-clad strength you have inside. It’s one of your most beautiful qualities. I realize Rosie isn’t a blood relation, but it seems to me it’s something you’ve learned from her.” He ran his hands down her arms and linked her fingers with his. “Don’t give anyone that kind of hold over you. People are only powerless when they believe they have no power.”
Layla smiled and hugged him tightly. “You’re right,” she said. “You’ve only been here for a couple of days, and you already sound like Rosie.”
“Well, something tells me that when she gets home, it would put her back in the hospital to see things like this,” he said, looking around at the mess. “What do you say we take back the house and wipe away any evidence of the incident?”
“I say, absolutely,” she whispered as one large tear rolled down her cheek.
She pulled away, but he held onto her hand.
“Until we find the person that did this, you are not going anywhere without me.” His eyes glittered like black diamonds, and the lines in his forehead deepened. “Do you understand me? You will go nowhere unattended.”
Untamed (The Amoveo Legend 3) Page 15
