by AE Jones
I didn’t like where this was going. “I can just ride with them.”
“No. I think it would be a good idea for us to arrive together. The pack may open up to you more if you are seen with me.”
“Fine,” I replied grudgingly.
He smiled slightly, and I got the distinct feeling I had just been played.
Chapter 20
I had been sitting on my couch in the dark for a while. Griffin had tricked me into agreeing to go with him to his shifter soirée, and I wasn’t too happy about it. When the doorbell rang, I stomped over to the door, peering out through the peephole. Doc stood outside holding a plastic grocery bag. Even in an overstuffed parka, she looked like a beauty queen with her blonde hair pulled back from her face.
I opened the door. “Hello. This is a surprise.”
Her eyes danced. “Misha called me. He said you’re going with Griffin to a formal event tomorrow night.”
I backed up to let her in. “Don’t start with me.”
“I’m not here to give you grief. I’m here to discuss wardrobe.”
“What are you talking about?”
She set the bag down on my coffee table. “What are you going to wear tomorrow night?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t thought much about it. Maybe my black suit.”
Doc shuddered. “Black tie means Griffin will be wearing the tux–not you, doofus.”
“Ha, ha. So why are you here?”
“For an intervention.”
“You are not funny. I don’t need another one. Misha has a big mouth.”
She gestured toward the plastic bag. “There’s something in there to help ease the pain. I’ve got to get more from my car.”
Doc walked out the door, and I peered into the bag. A quart of mocha swirl ice cream. She had brought out the big guns. Lord, she was going to torture me to death.
I walked into the kitchen and fired up a pot of coffee. I then gathered bowls and spoons and went back into the living room. About the same time, Doc opened the door and came bustling back into the apartment with a garment bag. This was going to be worse than I thought.
Doc took one look at my face and smiled. “I figured I would never get you into a store. So I brought the store to you.”
I closed my eyes and prayed for patience. “There’s no way I’m going to be able to wear any of your outfits, Sabrina. Your assets are a bit more substantial than mine.”
She laid the bag on the couch and unzipped it. “I went to the store and picked out a couple dresses to work with your assets.”
“You’re an evil, evil female.”
The doorbell rang, and I shook my head. Who the hell was here now? I yanked open the door and found Vinnie standing in the hall.
“Hey, what’s up?”
He held up a bag. “Dad sent me with some hot fudge sauce and biscotti.”
“Your dad is right on time, as usual.”
He grinned, and then his eyes bugged out of his pubescent head when Sabrina came to the door. Sabrina placed a tip in Vinnie’s hand, and he gulped before turning around and tripping down the hallway. I rolled my eyes. Sabrina was like a homing beacon for testosterone.
“I love having empathic demon chefs living nearby.”
Sabrina chuckled while she walked back to the garment bag and eased out the first item. It was a simple black sleeveless dress. “Let’s try this one first.”
I moaned and held up the bag. “Can’t I have my ice cream first while the fudge is still hot?”
“You can have it later, but only if you’re a good girl.”
I dumped the bag on the coffee table, making the bowls and spoon sitting next to it clank together, snatched up the dress, and trudged into the bathroom.
I yanked off my sweater and jeans and then slid the dress over my head. After examining myself in the mirror, I had to admit I didn’t mind what I saw. The cut worked for my body. I turned around and peeked over my shoulder at the rear view. Not bad either. Opening the door, I walked out into the living room, and Sabrina studied me with a practiced eye. She twirled her finger, and I spun around so she could get the full effect.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“It looks pretty good,” I admitted grudgingly. “I’ll just wear this one. I don’t need to see the other.”
Doc shook her head. “Humor me.”
When she held up the next one my mouth dropped open. It was a shimmery silver dress with a v-neck front and a plunging back. “Oh, hell, no.”
“Go try it on or you won’t get any mocha swirl.”
I grumbled as I stomped back to the bathroom. After stripping off the black dress and hanging it up, I dropped the silver dress over my shoulders and it slid smoothly down my body. I gaped at myself. Damn. It actually looked pretty darn good. I was vain enough to see how well it showed off my assets. Griffin would choke on his tongue. And then I felt a painful twist of guilt and almost jumped out of my fancy duds when a voice whispered in my ear.
“Don’t, Kyle. Joe would want you to go on living.”
I took a breath of the rose-scented air. Great. Yet another party heard from. “Marie, you’re going to scare me to death one of these days.”
“Sorry, sweetie, but I could tell by your face you had decided not to wear this dress, and it would be a crying shame if you didn’t.”
“The black one is pretty.”
“Yes it is. But this dress is the one, and you know it. You’re not a chicken, so don’t act like one.”
I grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
Sabrina’s voice came through the door. “Are you okay in there, Kyle?”
I answered her. “I’m fine.” Marie faded away.
I walked into the hall. Sabrina circled me appraisingly. “I knew it.” Her eyes bored into mine, and she placed her hands on her hips as if preparing for battle. “You are going to wear this one, right?”
I sighed in defeat. “Yes. But we have one small problem.”
“What?”
“Shoes. I have nothing to wear with this.”
“Come with me.”
I followed her back into the living room, where, for her next trick, she produced a shoe box from the bottom of the garment bag. I opened it and found a pair of silver slingback heels. My eyes narrowed on her. “Apparently you were pretty confident I would pick the silver dress.”
She shrugged. “I hoped you would. But if you wore the black dress, these would have worked with it, too.” She took a shimmery handbag out as well. “I made sure this was big enough to hold your .9 millimeter.”
“A girl after my own heart.” I tried on the shoes, and they fit perfectly. “I can understand how you guessed my dress size, but how did you know what size shoes I wear?”
“Misha told me.”
“Misha? Please don’t tell me he has some freaky foot fetish.”
She laughed. “No, he peeked at the extra pair of boots you keep at work.”
“Can I have my ice cream now?”
“Go change first.”
* * *
I finished my second bowl of mocha swirl and lounged back on the couch. “Ice cream is one of the best inventions known to man.”
Sabrina licked her spoon. “I’ve been around for quite a few of them, and I would have to agree with you.” She set her bowl down. “So are you ready for your first date with Griffin?”
“This isn’t a date. This is a job.”
“Right. This is a date with some work on the side.”
I frowned at her. “We need to figure out who’s after the Connor family. I think it has to do with Griffin.”
“You’re worried about him,” Sabrina pushed.
“I’m worried about everyone. I don’t want this to escalate.”
“And that’s what makes you good at your job. But I want you to enjoy yourself tomorrow night as well. Start with having fun and let it grow from there.”
“I’ll see what I can do. What about you and Jason? Has anything happened?�
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“Jason and I are friends. I’m just happy right now having a male friend who isn’t thinking constantly about sex.”
“Right. If you’re making me face the truth, then you need to face it, too.”
Sabrina smirked. “I’ll work on it. Now, about tomorrow night. You don’t need any jewelry. Let’s talk about your hair.”
I raised my hand to my head. “What about it?”
“I like the blonde, but I have some ideas about how to style it.”
* * *
I picked up the ice cream bowls and shuffled to the kitchen. Doc had left moments before, and I was exhausted from the fashion show and heart-to-heart. My bed was calling me, loudly. Bowls were dumped into the sink, and I made it to my bathroom, hesitating at the threshold. Did I want to take a shower or procrastinate till morning?
I sighed and stripped, dropping my clothes on the floor, and turned on the shower. When I stepped in, the warm water embraced me, and I closed my eyes. As soon as I relaxed and let my brain go dark, the name Thomas Wilson lit up front and center like words on a neon sign. Who was this guy?
The name vibrated and expanded, and a hum blossomed at the back of my brain. I tried to open my eyes, but couldn’t, and the hum exploded into a roar. I clapped my hands over my ears. The name blew apart, letters floating like alphabet soup in my cerebellum as other words grew from the letters and more and more names crowded my skull. My chest locked, and I screamed.
I opened my eyes as cold water hit the back of my head. I was hunkered down in the shower, my arms wrapped around my legs, my face resting on my knees. Shit.
I fumbled with the faucet and shut off the water. Grabbing a towel, I dried off and tested the stability of my legs before I stepped across the floor into my bedroom, where I fell onto the bed.
That had not been a memory. It had been a wakeup call. And I had to learn what it meant. Once Trina was safe, it was time to face this Key thing head-on.
Chapter 21
It was seven on the dot when my doorbell rang. I wasn’t surprised at Griffin’s punctuality. I buttoned my wool coat before opening the door. He would have to wait to see my dress.
He grinned at me, and I gaped at him. He was wearing a long black coat and a silk scarf straight out of a vintage movie. Anyone else would have looked like he was trying too hard, but it was natural on Griffin. His long hair was tied back with a black leather tie. I half expected to see a top hat in his hand. I swallowed a little harder than necessary.
He spoke first. “I like your hair.”
I had taken Sabrina’s advice and slicked my short hair down close to my head. It was a sleek look, and perfect with my dress. “Thank you.”
His eyes had a mischievous glint as he took my hand and actually lifted it to his lips. After a second, his slight grin was replaced by a frown. He turned my hand and ran his fingers over the pulse point on my wrist where Jean Luc had bitten me last year.
I slipped my hand from his. “It’s not what you think.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s none of my business.”
He had given me an out, but for some reason I felt the need to explain. “When Sebastian was after me last year, Jean Luc bit me.”
He eyes widened with understanding. “Once a vampire has bitten you, another cannot put you under his thrall.”
“Exactly.”
Holding out his hand, he said, “Are you ready to go?”
I picked up my purse from the hall table and placed my other hand in his warm grasp. “Ready.”
A limo was waiting for us. Griffin supported my elbow as I teetered in my heels over the slick sidewalk. The driver jumped out of the front seat and opened the door for us, and we clambered in out of the freezing cold.
I smiled at the driver through the open partition. “If a man opens a door for me, I like to know his name.”
“Paul, ma’am.”
I wrinkled my nose. “As long as you drop the ma’am business, we’ll get along great.”
He smiled. “Got it.”
Griffin interrupted. “We’re ready, Paul.”
Paul maneuvered the limo away from the curb skillfully. The tinted partition closed, leaving Griffin and I alone in the back.
I ran my hand over the soft leather seats. “You sure know how to travel in style.”
“Would you be surprised if I told you this pomp and circumstance drives me to distraction?”
I studied his face to see if he was joking, but his eyes were deadly serious. “No, it must be difficult to feel like you’re never able to simply be yourself once in a while.”
He nodded. “It would be nice to hide away for awhile on an island. Would you care to join me?”
I rolled my eyes. “You blew it. Here I was feeling sorry for you. Now why don’t you tell me about the big players who’ll be there tonight?”
“The pack leaders as well as my board of directors.”
“Will Tim and Stephanie be there?”
“No, we canceled the meeting last night, saying Tim was sick, so I told him it would be wise for him to stay home again tonight.”
“And safer. Is there anyone I should pay particular attention to? Someone who has opposed your decisions in the past?”
He grimaced. “I’m not a dictator, Kyle. I want my people to voice their opinions.”
“I know. But we have to start somewhere.”
He thought for a minute before responding. “For the most part, the members of my board of directors are loyal to me. David Bryant is my most vocal opponent on the board.”
“What doesn’t he agree with?”
“He doesn’t like the idea of expanding Griffin Enterprises.”
“Expand how?”
“My great-grandfather created the company to help support our packs. We have been involved in a number of businesses over the years, from shipping to investment banking. Until now, humans were welcomed as customers, but they weren’t allowed to be a part of the business.”
“And now?”
“I’ve come to realize there is a large, untapped resource in human financing, and I intend to make our company stronger.”
“And your shifter board members aren’t too keen on it.”
“David is the only vocal one.”
“What about your pack leaders? Could any of them be trying to stage a coup?”
He shot me a wry grin. “It doesn’t work that way. The leadership is handed down through the family.”
“But if they were to kill you off, as well as every other successor?”
“Then it would be a free-for-all.”
“Are there any pack leaders who aren’t happy with you?” I prodded.
He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “There may be some who are not fully sold on my leadership. I was not supposed to be the leader. My older brother William took over when my father died.”
“And when he died?”
“The leadership transferred to me and my future children.”
“Wouldn’t Bea be next in line if something happened to you?”
“Bea’s my half-sister. My mother married again after my father died and had Beatrice. Tim is William’s son. He was born shortly after William died.”
I was beyond confused. “Then wouldn’t Tim be the rightful leader? And why is his last name Connor and not Griffin?”
“No. Tim is my successor, since I have no children. His full name is Timothy Connor Griffin. Connor is his mother’s maiden name. If he were to succeed me, he would use his full name.”
“So there could be some people who are still in Camp William and don’t want you as pack leader.”
“I suppose so.”
The car stopped, and I glanced out the window to see where we were. We were still on the east side of Cleveland, but were now in Gates Mill, an area full of high-end houses. This particular home had several manicured acres of prime real estate surrounding it. After a couple of seconds, the door opened, and Paul held out his hand to me. I
stepped out and took in the sprawling brick mansion and curved driveway.
Griffin rested his hand on my elbow to steer me to the front door. “We rent this home for special occasions.”
Other than a caterer’s van, there were no cars in sight. “Where is everybody?”
“They’re not due here yet. I have to arrive first so I can personally greet the guests.”
“So the line you gave me yesterday about letting others see us arrive together was a bit misleading.”
“Trust me, they will know you are with me, and it will make an impression.”
He led me into the small cubicle which was to serve as a cloakroom for the evening, but the attendant was not there yet. I unbuttoned my coat—moment of truth—and Griffin helped me with my jacket. When he slipped the coat from my shoulders, he gasped. I couldn’t help smiling as I turned to face him.
His eyes raked over me. “Holy hell, Kyle. You’re stunning.”
“Didn’t think I had it in me, did you?”
“Oh, I was sure you had it in you.” He raised his hand and brushed his knuckles ever-so-lightly over my cheek.
I gulped, and his eyes sparked with desire. After a second, he suppressed his emotions and his enigmatic face snapped into place. He was a curiosity, but I had just gotten a peek at what was hiding beneath his polished veneer.
“Are you ready to go to work, Kyle?”
“Lead the way.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later, the house was full of shifters dressed to the nines, and I felt like a mannequin on display. I could understand why Griffin found this nonsense tiring. Before the guests came, Griffin and I had agreed to a system. As we stood in the receiving line, he would grasp my elbow when he introduced me to someone who might be a person, or rather, shifter of interest. I had already spoken to a number of pack leaders. None of them had overtly expressed dissatisfaction with Griffin’s leadership. I didn’t know what I had expected, that maybe they would be wearing I hate Griffin buttons?
I decided to cozy up with David Bryant next. He happened to be standing by the bar, and I was in need of a drink myself. I ordered a tonic water with lime. Then I turned to him and smiled. “Wonderful turnout.”
