Healing Cathy
Page 22
“That little mate of yours is getting sassier by the day which is awesome by the way. I find it hard to believe you’ve never laid the flat of your hand on her backside.”
“Fuck you.” Paul flipped Kell the bird which only made him laugh harder. Paul left his brother, still braying like an ass, and headed towards Silas and Kieran, who were being greeted warmly by the other pack members with hugs and handshakes.
“I wasn’t sure y’all were gonna make it.”
Silas gave him a hard, backslapping hug. “We weren’t either.”
Kieran, who didn’t like anyone’s touch but his mate’s, shook Paul’s hand. “Our DM was supposed to look after the club while we were away, but his wife went into premature labor. I was finally able to convince The Poster Child for Overachievement here to close down for a few days.” Kieran grinned and rolled his eyes.
Silas growled, leaned in, and spoke in a low tone. “That’s twenty. You have been goading me all day. I would quit while you can still sit down.”
Kieran sighed. “I love you.”
Silas pecked him on the lips. “You are so bad. I love you, too.”
A high pitched squeal had everyone turning. Emma Grace ran towards Paul and her two new guests. “Kieran!”
Kieran planted his feet shoulder width apart and held out his arms. When Emma Grace was a few feet away she made a running leap, launching herself towards Kieran. He plucked her from the air. Paul shook his head. He really wished she would stop doing that. One day someone was going to miss, and she was going to be hurt. Paul saw that her two shadows, Luke and Jay, had followed at a much more subdued pace.
Emma Grace hugged Kieran around the neck. “Oh, Kieran, I missed you.”
“You did?”
“I did. My party wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t here.” She turned and glared at Paul. “Uncle Paul, you didn’t tell me they were coming here. It’s not nice to keep secrets from the birthday girl, unless it’s presents.”
Silas fake coughed to cover his burst of laughter. “You tell ‘em, pixie. Now, where’s my hug and kiss? I’m going to think you like my Kieran better than me.”
Emma Grace giggled. “You’re silly, Mr. Silas.” She held out her arms, beckoning Silas.
Silas plucked her from his mate’s arms to receive Emma Grace’s affection.
“Hey, des what, Mr. Silas.”
“What?”
“I can say, guess.”
Everyone standing around them, bit their lips to keep from laughing.
“I can see that, very good.”
“Luke and Jay have been helping me with my words.”
“Luke and Jay?” Kieran crossed his arms over his chest. “Who is this Luke person?”
Emma Grace pointed at the two boys walking towards Silas. “That’s Luke. He’s my other bestest friend.”
“And we’re all very excited about that.” Fiona said wryly as she and Cathy walked up. She hugged Kieran and then Silas. “I’m glad y’all could come.”
Cathy stood next to Paul. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Silas, Kieran, I’d like you to meet my mate, Cathy. Kitten, you remember the club I told you about?”
She nodded.
“This is the owner and my mentor, Silas and his mate, Kieran.”
Cathy held out her hand to Kieran, who shook it, then turned her attention to Silas. The bastard took her hand, and instead of shaking it, kissed the back of it. Paul couldn’t stop his wolf’s possessive growl, as he reached out, snagged Cathy around the waist, and tucked her back against his side. “You’ve got a mate. Kiss his hand.”
“Paul!” Cathy looked up at him, her tone held censure, but her eyes held pleasure. She wasn’t as upset about his caveman routine as she let on.
“What? He asked for it. I get that you are irresistible, however, he needs to keep his lips to himself.”
Cathy smirked and blushed. “You think I’m irresistible?”
Her violet eyes drew him in and everyone around them ceased to exist. He tucked and errant wavy lock behind her ear and caressed her cheek. He let his eyes roam over her face, memorizing every minute detail of how she looked in this moment. Flushed cheeks, eyes filled with pleasure and trust, the ends of her hair lifting from the breeze, and a naughty knowing smile. Yeah, she was irresistible. “Very.” He placed a lingering kiss on the softest, sweetest, lips he had ever known. He could kiss her for days and live off nothing but the pleasure of it. A trio of giggles brought him back to reality.
“Uncle Paul and Aunt Cathy sitting in a tree…” Emma Grace started singing, Jay and Luke promptly joined in. Paul pretended to lunge for them. The cubs squealed and giggled, and ran away towards the playground, still singing that damn song.
Emma Grace stopped halfway and turned. “Come on Kieran. Let’s go jump. You do the best double bounces. You have to show Luke.”
Kieran looked to Silas. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not. Don’t break anything important.” Silas wagged his eyebrows and kissed his mate.
“I won’t.” Kieran turned his attention to Cathy. “Would you like to come with? I do seriously rock at the double bounce.”
Cathy looked between Silas and Paul, then back to Kieran. “I am assuming that is your subtle way of saying Silas would like to have a word with Paul in private?”
Kieran shrugged. “Obviously not very subtle. It’s not just that, I would like to get to know you better. I also like to show off my skills to a captive audience. Well, the ones I can show off in public that won’t get me arrested.” He snickered.
“Sure.” She rolled her eyes. “Y’all take your time talking at the grown-ups table. I’m gonna go check out Kieran’s mad skills.”
Paul and Silas watched and admired their mates as they walked away.
“You are right, Paul, she is beautiful and damn sassy. She’s a sweetheart, too. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, and yes, she is. What’s going on?”
“Have you heard from Mina?”
“No, should I have?”
Silas shrugged. “You never know. Things didn’t go so well during my conversation with her. I called her out for her lies and gave her a choice, a public apology to you and a six month cooling-off period or leave the club. She became angry, almost irrationally so, and rude. I gave her a day to cool off and reached out to her again, yesterday. I hoped she would think about our conversation and realize that you are not the Dom for her.”
“Her behavior worried you? Do you think she would hurt herself?”
Silas worried about the members of his club, especially the unattached subs. It shouldn’t have surprised Paul that Silas would take the time for follow-up and mentor Mina. Silas was a good Dom. The fact that Mina was a brat, wouldn’t have quashed his friend’s nature.
“I don’t want her to do something stupid. You never know what some people will do when smacked in the face with reality. You aren’t even her type. She requires more pain than you would ever be comfortable giving her.”
“If I hear from her, I’ll let you know.”
Silas nodded, still looking in his mate’s direction. “Would you like me to set up a collaring ceremony?”
Paul sighed, that was a good question. “I don’t know.”
Silas whipped his head around, his attention squarely on Paul. His displeasure evident when he growled, “You aren’t going to collar her?”
“Of course I am. I’m not sure about a public ceremony, at the club. I don’t know how comfortable she’ll be. She has issues with her appearance. We’re working on them. Cathy’s come so far in the week she’s been here. She’s not the same person, really.”
“I hope you find that abusive piece of shit.” Silas shook his head in disgust. “It’s not only her past that she’s battling. It’s the media’s idea of what is perfect and beautiful. No disrespect intended to your mating when I say, your mate is stacked.”
“None taken and yeah, she is. She’s perfect.”
Paul punched Silas in the shoulder. “Whatever.”
“Your lack of denial speaks volumes, my friend.”
“Yeah, like you’re such a harsh taskmaster when it comes to your pup.”
Silas smiled slyly, but otherwise ignored Paul’s statement. “I think a small intimate ceremony would be nice.”
****
Paul stood behind Cathy, arms around her waist, with his chin resting on the top of her head. He relished the feel of her in his arms. They stood together by the deck railing, watching Luke play with Jay and Emma Grace. The little pixie was having a great birthday.
“I liked your friends. Silas seemed nice and Kieran is a sweetheart. He told me some about the club. It sounds… interesting.”
“Yeah? I would love to take you there one day. I think you would really enjoy it.”
“I have to admit, I am curious.”
Paul’s cellphone began to ring, and he growled at the bad timing. Paul pulled his phone from his front shirt pocket and glanced at the screen. Crap. “Sorry, kitten. It’s the Sheriff from Henley, I have to take this.”
“Price of being the Sheriff’s mate. I suppose I can forgive you, just this once.” She pouted, but ruined it with a teasing grin.
He narrowed his eyes and growled playfully. “I’ll deal with you later, sassy girl.”
“Promises. Promises.”
He stepped away for privacy still grinning as he answered the phone. “Sheriff Diaz, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Paul snickered when the man on the other end let out a long-suffering sigh. “Will stop with that Sheriff shit, Paul. We’ve known each other since we were old enough to drink under age.”
“How is that good for nothing older brother of yours? Still contributing to the delinquency of minors?”
Miguel laughed. “Oh man, that is so close to the truth.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“He and his buddy, Steve went fishing last weekend, and they took Carlos, Jr. with them. Let’s just say it’s obvious they were too busy watching the water, and not the three-year-old in their care. Seems that every time their backs were turned, the little tyke was drinking their beer. Neither of them even noticed until they pulled up at the house and the kid breathed on them. Needless to say, Steve did the drop and run before May got ahold of them. Unfortunately, Carlos had to face the music alone. He tried to act like it was just another boring day fishing. All the while trying to figure out how to get rid of momma, so he could call the pediatrician without her finding out. Junior had other plans and spilled the beans, or rather, vomited the beans. May was hugging Junior when he puked all over her. Carlos had no choice but to fess up why their three-year-old was puking up a storm and smelled like a brewery. Carlos actually tried to blame it all on the kid. He did have his own sippy cup full of apple juice, you know.”
“Shit, was Carlos, Jr., okay? What did the pediatrician say?”
“She commiserated with May, said her husband was a dumbass too and she felt May’s pain. She told May the same thing happened to her son, Charlie when he was four. Dr. Harper said her son is a teenager, now, and wasn’t any dumber than the average sixteen-year-old boy ruled by his penis. Doc ran some tests said the BAC test showed hardly a trace. Him being so little it wouldn’t take much to make him act a bit goofy and get sick. She hooked Junior up to an I.V., though she said they were purely precautionary.”
“Junior got over it okay?”
“Yeah, he had a little headache, but wasn’t too bad. May said it was nowhere near as bad as Carlos’ eternal case of blue balls. The man is not getting laid anytime soon.”
Paul was in tears by time Miguel finished that story. “Oh, man, is he still married?”
“You know it, although May is making his life a living hell. She said it was justice and divorcing him was letting him off easy. She told him to remember this for future reference. May said whenever Junior does something wrong or gets into trouble, it would be all his father’s fault, because Carlos is responsible for damaging the boys brain cells.”
“And I’m sure you are being all supportive and shit of big bro, right?”
“Of course. I didn’t laugh, much.”
“I suddenly feel the need to call and check in on May. Perhaps offer her the support of the Copper Creek County Sheriff’s Department, should she feel the need to press charges for contributing.”
“Oh, dude, you have to, but give me a heads-up so I can be there when you do.”
“Promise. Now that we are done shooting the shit while don’t you tell me the reason for your call.”
“I think we found your BOLO.”
“Latimer?”
“Yeah, well what’s left of him, anyway.”
“Tell me.”
Miguel filled him in on the crime scene. “The maid at the Henley Motel found the body of a blonde man beaten beyond recognition and parts of his body had been burned. The preliminary coroner’s report indicates that someone tortured him before they killed him.” Paul shuddered. He couldn’t imagine anything more painful than being burned. “Bud’s I.D. was still in his wallet, but his credit cards and money were missing. We’ll do a DNA test to confirm it’s him, that will take a few weeks as you know. However, right now, unless proven otherwise, I’d say William “Bud” Latimer appears to be the vic.”
Paul looked over at his mate and wondered how she would take the news and if he should wait to tell her. If he told her then he had to tell Luke, who along with Jay, was currently pushing Emma Grace on the swings. His cub looked so happy right now, he hated to ruin it. He realized he forgot to mask his thoughts when he felt his mate’s presence through their link.
“Paul? What is it?”
“I’ll tell you in minute, mate.”
“Paul? You there man?”
“Sorry, yeah.”
“Did you want me to send them?”
“Send what?”
“The photos of the crime scene? What was the last thing you heard me say?”
“Everything except that. I was distracted. Yeah, send them to me. I want to see them.”
“Do you think we could get Latimer’s ex down here to I.D. him?”
“No.” He growled.
“Ah, it’s like that is it?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations, man. About time you found a good woman though I question her sanity for putting up with you.” Miguel chuckled. “I’ll request his prison records. I wouldn’t want my woman to see that either. Give me an hour and I’ll send the file to your email. Let me know if you have any questions. Once I have a positive on the DNA, I’ll let you know. Left a message for Jamie Latimer’s Lieutenant to call me. Figured it would be better than me giving him the news over the phone. When I spoke to Jamie Latimer the other day, after you sent me the BOLO, I got the feeling there was no love lost between him and his brother, but you never know. Knowing the guy is alive and an asshole, is different from knowing he’s dead and an asshole.”
“Good point. I’ll let you know if I have any questions.”
“Alright, talk to you soon. Don’t be a stranger and don’t forget to call May.”
“Got it. I won’t forget to give you a heads up before I do.”
Chapter 26
Paul tucked his phone back into his pocket before making his way over to Cathy. He reached for her and she came willingly into his arms. The world faded when she snuggled into his chest.
“What is Paul?”
“Take a walk with me.”
She looked up at him with concern then over at Luke.
“He’ll be fine,
kitten.” He called to his brother. “Hey Mal. Could you keep an eye on Luke? Cathy and I are going to take a walk.”
Mal knew him well enough to know something was up, but he didn’t ask, not even through their link. He only nodded and headed toward the playground.
“Thank you. I would have worried anyway.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “I know.”
Paul took Cathy’s hand and led her down to the creek behind the pack house. He sat on a patch of soft grass and pulled her down into his lap. “My phone call, it was from Sheriff Diaz over in Henley. A maid at one of the motels over there found a body. They strongly believe it’s William Latimer.”
Cathy’s hand flew up to her mouth, and she gasped. “How sure are they?”
“The body fits his description, and they found his wallet. Looks like it may have been a robbery. His I.D. was still in his wallet, but cards and cash were missing.”
“Why did you say ‘fits the description’? Can’t they compare his face to the picture on his license?”
“No.”
“How was he killed?”
“You don’t need to know that, kitten.”
“Please tell me.”
“I’ll tell you he was badly beaten and leave it at that.”
Cathy looked out over the water, silent as she absorbed the information. Paul felt like the worst kind of bastard when he saw tears slipping down her cheeks. His wolf wasn’t happy either, but for a different reason. Did her tears mean she still had some feelings for her ex? Knowing the guy is alive and an asshole, is different from knowing he’s dead and an asshole. Paul didn’t think that was the case. He could feel her hatred for Bud when she talked about him. Then he it hit him, relief, her relief.
“You would think I would feel some type of sadness. I was married to him and he’s Luke’s father. I did love him once, at least I thought I did at one time. Do you think it makes me a horrible person that the only thing I feel is relief?”
He embraced her and drew her back to his chest. “There isn’t a horrible bone in your body. You feel how you feel, kitten, and it’s justified. That man, and I use the term loosely, didn’t warrant your sadness or your regard. I’m happy that he’s dead, but I’m pissed as hell, too. I didn’t get the chance to avenge you. Does that make me a horrible person?”