by Celia Kyle
Elly placed two fingers against his lips. “Here doesn’t matter. You. Me. We matter. They don’t. And as for women, I’ll nibble off important bits if they even think of touching you.”
Her squirrel was in total agreement. She’d get over the taste of blood.
Deuce gave her a wicked grin. “Important bits? Does that mean I’ll get to see you with another woman? That idea has merit…”
She rolled her eyes and smacked his chest. “Dork.”
“Your dork.”
Elly’s stomach grumbled, keeping them from falling into a bout of mushiness. “Lemme go grab some breakfast from downstairs and then we can pick up where we left off.”
He sighed and flopped onto the mattress. “Defeated by a bagel. What’s the world coming to?”
She eased over and bit his nipple. “Nah, more like a chocolate muffin.”
With a growl, he reached for her, but she jerked out of the way and danced toward the door. “Put some clothes on and, as soon as we finish eating, we can work on your grandmother’s home. Get it livable while we figure out what to do with the rest of our lives.”
She winked and dashed through the room’s door. Then she was striding down the hallway, feet bare and not making a sound as she padded through the bed-and-breakfast. Quick as her squirrel, she’d dart in and out before anyone could catch sight of her. Well, maybe it would be more along the lines of “as quiet as her squirrel.” She wasn’t generally all that quick on two legs.
She tiptoed down the stairs, on the lookout for Rosie. Except she shouldn’t have bothered since the woman met her at the base, and anger pinched her features. Elly stopped short, waiting for the woman to speak.
“I thought I made it clear I didn’t want y’all down here.” Venom filled her words and slapped Elly in the face.
“No, making it clear would have been you telling us you’d take our money, but you didn’t want us stepping foot in the rest of your little establishment. This is a bed-and-breakfast, Rosie. Unless you feel like delivering, I’m going into that dining room and making up a plate for me and Deuce.”
The woman stepped closer, eyes glittering, and Elly refused to back down from the weaker squirrel. Elly had her father’s strength and she’d be damned if another in her colony would intimidate her.
“I don’t want him here.” The woman’s voice was low and she hissed.
“And I want to scratch out your eyes because you’re being a bitch, but I’m restraining myself.” Elly’s teeth pushed against her gums and lengthened, the squirrel super pissed at the confrontation.
“Do you know what kind of man you’re hanging around with? He—”
“Is my mate, juvenile.” If the woman wanted to act like an immature squirrel, Elly would call her one.
“You were telling the truth?” Horror covered Rosie’s features.
“Yes, so I suggest—”
Rosie grabbed her hands, expression pleading. “He set his own sister on fire, Elly. Fire. The man is a drunk who almost killed family and his father kicked him out of the pride for it. He’ll end up killing you.”
Elly shook her head. No. No way would her mate do something like that. Never. She’d never believe Deuce could harm someone, especially his sister, in such a way.
She’d met Autumn, seen the woman limping through town, always smiling. The gentle female was a picture-perfect lioness. Deuce wouldn’t, couldn’t, hurt his own sister.
There was no question as to whether Autumn had suffered an injury long ago—her limp attested to some sort of accident no one ever discussed. But at Deuce’s hands?
“No, you’re wrong, Rosie. He’s too gentle. I can’t see him—”
Elly’s defense was cut off by an earth-shaking roar that had the pictures on the walls vibrating, images rattling and bouncing against the drywall.
In her heart, she knew it was her mate. And he was pissed.
Abandoning Rosie, Elly spun and ran, breaking into a sprint as she raced to her mate’s side. God, what had happened? Had the townsfolk decided Deuce should be punished for some supposed crime against his sister?
She recognized Deuce had at some point been involved in a fire. His scars attested to that fact.
A heavy thud reached her, the sound spurring her to run faster. Which wasn’t saying much since Elly, jiggly butt and all, wasn’t really a runner. She was not down with cardio and her body was making it known.
The thump was followed by silence and that worried her more than Deuce’s echoing roar.
She skated around the corner and sprinted toward their room, worry and anxiety pumping through her veins. Adrenaline wove into the mix when she caught sight of the suite.
The place was a mess, bedside tables overturned, television broken on the carpet, and pictures hanging haphazardly on the wall. It looked as if a tornado had hit the place.
And there was no Deuce. The exterior door hung from its hinges and Elly raced forward, ignoring the slivers of pain that assaulted her feet from the broken glass littering the floor.
Deuce was gone.
She crashed into the stairway railing and then thumped down the stairs, soles stinging with each collision of her torn flesh against the mesh surface. She ignored the inconsequential aches.
The squeal of tires pulled her gaze to the edge of the small lot. She watched as a red truck swing around the corner of the building, flying out of sight.
But she’d seen enough. Just enough.
Elly spun, intent on chasing down the vehicle. She retraced her steps, tromping up the stairs only to have her way blocked by Rosie.
“What’s going on, Elly?”
She shoved the squirrel aside. She didn’t have time.
“Elly? What the hell happened here?”
Shoes, shoes, shoes…
“Eloise! Who’s going to pay for all of this?”
Shoes! She tugged on her sneakers, wincing as the insoles collided with the bottoms of her feet. Didn’t matter, though. Nothing mattered but getting to Deuce.
“Eloise Martin!” Rosie jumped in front of her, blocking her exit. “You can’t just leave—”
Elly let a hint of her gathering rage seep from her control. She allowed her inner beast to come out and play just a bit. Her fingers re-formed into claws, nails razor-sharp and ready to do damage. Without hesitation, she wrapped a hand around Rosie’s neck, squeezing until the woman squeaked. The tang of her blood permeated the air and she ignored Rosie’s attempts to dislodge her.
“I need a gun.” She pushed the words past her shifted teeth. The squirrel wanted to bite the other woman, hurt her for hindering them.
“I—”
She tightened her hold. “Two, actually.”
“But—”
“And what ammo you have on hand.” Her daddy had taught her to shoot—the daughter of a colony’s Alpha needed to be able to protect herself—so she was a good shot. Her father had always told her to look twice, shoot once. But who knew how many she’d be facing?
It wasn’t just the local pride Prime that had taken her mate. No, Elly’s own daddy had been in the back of that truck while one of Deuce’s brothers drove.
“Elly—”
Elly held the woman still and leaned close, baring her teeth before speaking. “Because of the town’s ignorance and stupidity, my mate is in danger. Every business owner in Colwich has at least one gun. You have two because Bobby Lords sold you his Glock last week. I want both the shotgun and your handgun. Now.” As an afterthought, she added one more item to her list. “And pants.”
When Rosie nodded, Elly released her, followed the squirrel as she practically ran through the house and back to the front lobby, only stopping long enough to grab a pair of jeans. Thank goodness Rosie was as curvy as Elly.
In seconds Elly was in her car. Both guns were loaded, ready to go, and she tucked additional shotgun shells in one pocket and an extra mag for the handgun in the other.
She was getting her mate back come hell, high water, or blood.
She knew, knew, deep in her heart there was more to the town’s version of events. There had to be.
Elly tore out of the parking lot and raced along the back roads leading out of the town proper. Smooth asphalt led to dilapidated concrete and, eventually, hard-packed dirt. Her father wouldn’t try to contain a lion in the family home in the center of town. They were headed to the pride house.
It took her a good twenty minutes, but she swung into the pride’s driveway and she tore the hell out of the gravel while she sped toward the main building. The assholes had taken her mate. Her own family had run off with the man who belonged to her.
The squirrel was out for blood and wouldn’t be satisfied with anything else.
By the time she slid to a stop in front of the steps, both her immediate family and Deuce’s were gathered in the yard.
Without hesitating, she grabbed the shotgun in one hand and tucked the handgun in the waistband of her pants. She kicked her door open and jumped from her car. She leveled the gun at the main source of her rage, sure the lion was the instigator, and asked a simple question.
“You took Deuce. Don’t bother to deny it. Now, tell me why shouldn’t I kill you.”
Burning fury turned Karn Pierce’s body red and the man bared his wicked fangs.
“Eloise Adele Martin.” Elly brushed away her father’s shout. She had eyes for one man and one man only.
“I’m waiting, cat.” She kept her tone even.
“Fucking prey.” The Prime took a step forward and she pulled the trigger, shattering the lovely post to his right, turning the wood into kindling. Pretty.
The lion jerked and hissed at her, color rising higher.
“I’m waiting, cat.”
A roar. Another stride forward. The next step on the stair exploded in a ball of concrete and dust. “Control your daughter, Martin!”
“The next one will cost you a knee, cat.” She didn’t let her gaze waver, didn’t let a single person distract her. “Daddy, why don’t you tell Mr. Pierce how good I am with this gun? Just on the off chance he thinks I’ll miss.”
Her father cleared his voice, the normal smooth tenor now wavering. “She’s right. My girl looks twice, shoots once, and always hits her target, Pierce.” He stuttered his next words. “M-m-maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Baby girl, we wanted to protect you from—”
“Daddy, if you don’t wanna make Momma a widow, I’d shut your mouth.” Fuck, the gun was getting heavy. “Now, give me my mate before I start putting holes in bodies.”
“He’s getting what he deserves.” Karn spit on the ground, gob of saliva striking the step with a low thud.
“What have you done?” The lone woman’s voice was enough to tempt her from her goal and she saw Autumn move toward her father. “Daddy, what have you done?”
“Now, baby girl…” While Karn hedged, one of Elly’s brothers stepped into her line of sight.
“Elly-belly…”
“Joey.” She spat his name. Her favorite brother turned traitor.
He must have seen the fury lurking in her eyes as he held up his hands, palms out. “I didn’t know he was your mate, Elly. Dad didn’t either. The Prime knew we weren’t happy about your obsession with the lion and Karn wanted the man gone because of what he did to Autumn. We thought we’d help each other out. We can get him back. I know you’re mad, but we can—”
Oh. Fuck. No.
“Mad? You think this is mad?” She shook her head. “No, this is beyond mad. But you’ll see that soon enough.”
Elly returned her focus to Karn, gave all of her attention to the Prime and his daughter.
“The boy ruined your life. Your grandmother protected him for a while, but he ran before he could suffer for it. It’s late in coming, but he’s getting what he deserves.”
The color drained from Autumn’s face, leaving her paler than death. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” Even from her spot fifty feet away, Elly could see the lioness’ tears. “You… It’s all my fault. It wasn’t him! It was me. He didn’t—”
One of the Pierce brothers came up behind Autumn, stroking her shoulder, but the she-cat didn’t let the touch linger. She spun and shoved at the man, sending the lion crashing against the side of the house. “What did you let him do?”
Everyone’s focus was on Autumn, Elly included, and she felt like she dawdled at the edge of a cliff and simply a gentle wind could push her over the brink. Emotion charged the air, and it felt as if even nature held her breath.
Autumn returned her attention to her father, tears now making tracks down her cheeks. “You and this fucking town are so damned stupid. Do you think Deuce did this?” The woman gestured to her leg. “That he went and got shit-faced and then tried to drive a car with me in it? It wasn’t him; it was me. I went to that fucking party.” She shoved her dad. “I drank until I could barely walk and decided to drive home. I skidded off the road and hit that tree.” She waved behind her. “Your prefect little sons? They stood by and wrung their hands like little bitches while Deuce pulled me out of a goddamned burning car!”
The Prime’s face burned bright, eyes now golden, his lion making its presence known.
“And then he took the blame. He decided he’d rather take your anger, the town’s scorn, than have you beat me once I healed.” Elly felt the heat of Autumn’s hatred for her father from where she stood. “Because that’s what would have happened, wouldn’t it, Daddy dearest? You would have beaten me to death, and Deuce knew it. You hit Momma for burnt toast, so what would you have done to me?”
The backhanded slap echoed through the air, the crack of flesh against flesh grating on her nerves. Autumn’s head jerked to the side, nearly toppling her with the force of the blow, and Elly caught a flash of red dripping from her lip.
Then she moved without hesitation. She couldn’t disable the Prime completely. No, she couldn’t knowingly do that to the man no matter how much he deserved the pain. Instead, she lowered the shotgun and yanked the Glock from her jeans.
Look twice, shoot once.
And one was all it took. The pop rang in her ears and, beneath her gaze, a lovely spot of red blossomed on Karn’s knee. The lion went down in a howl of pain, clutching his injury.
Elly ignored the sound.
“Autumn? Get the fuck in the car.”
“Wha—” The woman’s eyes were wide, face pale.
“Do you feel like being around when your father recovers?”
Autumn shook her head.
“Then you’re coming with me.” Elly turned the gun on her father. Her fucking father. Tears stung her eyes, but the moment Deuce’s fangs had pierced her skin, he’d become her whole world. He was her family now. And the man who’d sired her had taken him away. “Where is he?”
Joey stepped toward her, drawing her gaze. “Elly, I can take you there. Let’s get away from here and make a plan and we can get Deuce back.”
“Back from where?” She heard the coldness in her voice and couldn’t care less.
As Joey crafted his response, Autumn ran toward her car, limp slowing her progress, but the woman seemed determined to join her.
“Deuce’s father had us turn him over to Freedom.”
Elly shot out the Prime’s other knee.
Chapter Seven
“They say pain is weakness leaving the body. Fucker, pushing two babies the size of watermelons out of a hole the size of a lemon is not weakness. Why don’t you try it? Here, I’ll catch.” — Maya O’Connell, Prima of the Ridgeville Pride. Yes, she loves her babies. No, she won’t ever-never, you’d have to kill her first, have babies again.
A fist slammed into the side of his head and he almost smiled. The asses could beat him until he could barely walk, but he’d be walking out of their hideout without a doubt.
He had too much to live for now.
Poor Elly. His mate had to be panicking. He’d kill them for worrying his little squirrel.
Then he’d move on to his family. Or rather, his father. He hadn
’t been able to believe his eyes when Elly’s dad and his own brothers came for him. Then the worst came crashing down when his dad showed up and took him to Alistair McCain, Freedom’s leader.
And hadn’t those two been buddy-buddy.
That’d been about two hours ago, the midday sun heating the interior of the house as more time passed. Yeah, his gentle female was probably crying her heart out and there was no one in town who’d stop to help her. Not when they found out it was him they’d be assisting.
The old lie still lay heavy in his stomach, but the sacrifice had been worth every moment of disapproval and hate he’d endured. Autumn wouldn’t have lived through another round of their father’s cruelty. But Deuce was a big boy, over eighteen, and could walk away once the “truth” came out about the accident, the fire.
Which was what he’d done. He’d moved into his grandmother’s home, cared for her until she passed, and then left Colwich behind for good.
Until Elly…
Another fist to his temple, the strike knocking him to the ground, and a booted foot collided with his belly. He heaved, stomach rebelling against the treatment, and he spit blood and mucus onto the wooden floor.
Deuce didn’t bother trying to sit up. They’d knock his ass down again. Dicks.
Alistair knelt beside him, his oily black hair falling forward until it made a greasy curtain around them. “I don’t particularly care for traitors.”
He smiled wide, exposing his fangs, not doubting his white teeth were covered in blood. “I don’t particularly care for psychopathic assholes. So I think we’re even.”
The polar bear spit on him, the warm glob of saliva slid down his cheek, and he rose to his feet. “Gimme a knife. I wanna hear the kitty scream for me before I kill the traitor.”
Deuce shook his head and laughed. Nah, he wasn’t about to leave his Elly. “Traitor? Your own family doesn’t believe in your cause, Alistair. How do you think I got in with you? You think I just happened to meet you in that bar? Or did your cousin Jenner send me?”
