Single Dad Shifter (Shades of Shifters Book 6)

by T. S. Ryder

  He headed out, trying to force Arabella and his messed-up life from his mind. He needed to focus on the twins. He had lost sight of that, but he'd gotten the kick in the head that he had needed and now he could do what he needed to again. Make sure Olivia and Hudson were safe and leave them a better world than he had been given. It was the duty of every parent.

  There would be other nannies. Someone else who loved them as much as Arabella. Next time, he wouldn’t let himself fall in love and ruin it all. They needed stability. Maybe in a few years he would consider dating again, but he didn't have the time for that now.

  He quickly got to his office where the lawyers and other lobbyists he was working with were waiting. The doors were closed and he received the news. Senator White had called for a vote in the senate on a bill he was trying to pass that would allow mining companies even more freedom – well ahead of schedule. Somehow, it had all slipped through quietly without them finding about it until now. The bill would affect hundreds of communities, both shifter and non-shifter.

  "Get this out on all of our social media sites," Grayson ordered, fire flickering in his belly. "This can't happen. I want the country to know exactly what that little weasel is trying to get away with. And get me White on the telephone."

  One of his aides flinched. "Sir, the senator is going to be sleeping—"

  "Do I look like I care?" After everything that had gone wrong in his personal life, he was glad to be able to focus his aggression onto something else. Even if it meant terrifying his aides until he could speak to the senator. "I want to talk to him right now."

  The aide gulped and turned away, taking his cell phone out of his pocket. The office buzzed with activity and Grayson shooed them all out so he would have privacy for this discussion. He allowed the aide with the phone to stay until he got ahold of the senator.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing, White?" Grayson snarled.

  "Mr. Alexander. Do you have any idea what time it is?" The senator's half-asleep voice was no less furious. "What can possibly be so important that it could not wait until morning?"

  Grayson let out a lungful of smoke. The burning scent helped to calm his frayed patience and he lowered his voice to dangerous levels. "You know exactly what I mean. This bill you're trying to push through. It will destroy communities across the nation."

  White didn't reply, but hung up. Grayson snarled, flames searing his tongue. How could this be happening? How could all these people be put at risk?

  Grayson closed his eyes, considering his next move. The first thing was, of course, letting the people in on what was going on. This sort of legislation was snuck in silently for a reason. There were two weeks until the vote would take place. Two weeks to get the public to react. Public reaction was a factor that representatives would consider. But he didn't have much time. He would also need to conjure up a strategy to talk with the other senators.

  His cell phone rang. He answered it, mind still elsewhere. "Hello."

  "Grayson Alexander." The voice was deep and robotic. "Step back and refrain from involving yourself in Senator White's politics."

  His brow furrowed. "Who is this?"

  "This is the only warning you will receive. If you continue, we will take action against your children."

  Dread flooded him, drowning his fires in ice. Grayson stiffened, his grip tightening on his phone, but the caller had hung up. Olivia and Hudson flashed through his mind. Their wide, joyful smiles; their innocent, trusting eyes.

  Grayson dashed from the office. His colleagues and aides tried to talk to him, but he brushed them off. His car waited in the parking garage but he didn't bother going after it. He took off into the air, his suit shredding from his body as he shifted. The wind that usually calmed him did nothing. The ice left his veins, his fires roiling. If anybody had harmed his children, he would destroy them. He'd stop at nothing to see them reduced to a pile of ash.

  He overshot the landing platform when he got home, landing instead on the screened-in balcony. He tore the screen in half and shifted before he swung in.

  Grayson's heart pounded in his chest as he rushed to the twins' room. They were sleeping, tucked into their beds, Olivia with her thumb in her mouth, Hudson curled on his side. Grayson sagged against the doorframe, blinking back a rush of grateful tears, then shot up again. Arabella.

  He charged into Arabella's room – only to receive a baseball bat to the abdomen. The air rushed from his lungs as pain exploded through his body. He doubled over and the bat smacked him across his back. He lashed out blindly, grasping handfuls of cloth. He yanked and it tore in his hands. A female voice shrieked; the bat came at him again but this time he was able to grab the wrist holding it and slam it against the wall.

  He pressed against his attacker. As soon as he saw who it was, though, his eyes widened and he released her, backing away. Heat rose in his cheeks as he looked back into Arabella's shocked eyes.

  "It's you! I thought . . ." She didn't finish her sentence. "I'm sorry that I hit you."

  "I didn't know you had a baseball bat in here," he mumbled.

  "I have to protect—" Arabella stopped. "What is going on? You break into my room naked, then practically tear my nightgown off—"

  "I received a call," he interrupted. "I don't know who it was, but they said I had to back down from politics or something would happen to my children. I had to make sure everybody was okay."

  Arabella's eyes widened and her face paled. She trembled from head to toe and he reached out to comfort her but stopped. He didn't have the right to touch her.

  "I'm going to hire more security. Jeremy White is trying to pass a new bill that will have devastating effects. I need to protect my children and their future." Grayson said, shaking his head.

  Arabella looked hesitant. Her arms wrapped around her middle, making her breasts spill from the torn nightdress. She opened her mouth, then closed it again and said nothing. Grayson had nothing more to say, either. He needed to forget about whatever personal messes he had. His children needed to stay safe.

  Chapter Nine – Arabella

  What had Kennedy been thinking, actually calling and threatening Grayson directly? This was not the plan. How were they supposed to kidnap the kids now, with the extra security around?

  Arabella glanced at the big, burly security guard who was standing by the window. He was one of the half-dozen who now resided at the tree-top house to ensure the kids’ safety. At least now Arabella had a good reason for saying that it was too dangerous to steal the kids and volunteer herself as the kidnapping victim instead.

  Arabella's phone rang. After another glance at the security guard, she answered it, slipping into another room as she did so.

  "Hiya, sis," Kennedy greeted her brightly. "I was hoping that we could talk. The vote is happening and we need to get our two most important voters where they can do their job."

  "Oh, is that still happening?" Arabella replied, anger simmering in her voice. "Here I thought that you had gone ahead and made the vote without me. You were supposed to wait."

  "And you think I haven't?"

  "What do you think?" Arabella rubbed her temple. "Look, I can't talk about this right now. I'll see you at the wedding and we can talk there."

  Arabella could almost see Kennedy rolling her eyes. "Fine. But you better hurry up. I'm about done waiting for you and this vote can't wait – the groom has to know what kind of flower to wear, after all."

  "I'll be there soon."

  If Kennedy thought that Arabella could still get the children away from the shifter community without causing a scene . . . well, that would be discussed later. All she had to do now was play up how her plan was ruined and she might have a chance to protect the twins after all.

  ***

  She met Kennedy at a house in town, a bright yellow structure that reeked of over-cheerfulness. Arabella marched in without knocking. Her colleague was in the living room, watching old sitcom reruns while cleaning her gun collection
. A weapons display? Was Kennedy making a power play?

  "Arabella, glad you could make it." Kennedy frowned as she glanced behind her. "Where are the kids? Didn't you bring them?"

  Arabella laughed. "Really? How did you expect me to get them out of there after that stunt you pulled?"

  "Listen, Bella—"

  "Don't call me that." She had always hated being called 'Bella.' Her hands clenched. "So what is your end game? You call up Alexander to tell him that if he doesn't step down his children will pay the price and then you act like I should have taken them with all the extra security around? I told you from the start to follow my lead and you have done nothing but put this plan in jeopardy again and again."

  Kennedy put the gun she was cleaning down and stood. "One, I've been sitting here with my hands under my ass, waiting for you to finally put your plan into action, but nothing has happened. Two, you were supposed to bring the kids. I don't see any kids."

  "You made a threat against the children and Alexander isn't taking any chances. He's hired a bunch of extra security. If we're going to still go ahead with the plan, then adjustments have to be made. Namely who the target is."

  Kennedy narrowed her eyes.

  "I've worked on seducing the dragon," Arabella continued, keeping her voice flat. "He's developed feelings for me, so we stage my kidnapping instead. It will have the same effect."

  Kennedy started laughing. "Are you for real right now?"

  Arabella pressed her lips together, itching to have a gun in her hands.

  "Worked on seducing. Really? See, I think something else is going on. Something like . . . you developing feelings for the mark. Honestly, Bella, it's pathetic. You've always been a little too emotional to be really good at your job, but actually falling in love? Did taking care of those brats trigger some latent maternal instincts that you latched onto Grayson Alexander?"

  "I'm the emotional one?" Arabella scoffed, keeping a steady gaze on her colleague. "You're the one who lost the organization a million dollars last year because you lost your temper and shot your mark."

  Kennedy's smirk disappeared. She reached for a gun and it was all the threat that Arabella needed. She sprang toward Kennedy and brought her knuckles crashing into the other woman's ribs. Kennedy stumbled back, gasping. But when Arabella reached for the same gun, she growled and threw herself forward.

  Her arms wrapped around Arabella's waist and they fell back. Arabella smashed into the coffee table, its legs snapping under their combined weight. Kennedy pressed her elbow into Arabella's throat and leaned onto it; Arabella grabbed a handful of her colleague's hair and yanked hard, jerking her head to one side.

  Kennedy scratched at Arabella’s eyes, but Arabella punched out her elbow, knocking the other woman off balance. She grabbed a gun and smashed it into the side of Kennedy's face. Kennedy growled and threw herself onto Arabella again, but Arabella was able to roll her off. Both women sprang to their feet and circled each other.

  Sweat beaded Arabella's brow. Her heart pounded and she watched Kennedy closely. She was at a disadvantage here. She didn’t know what guns were loaded and which weren't; Kennedy did. One wrong move and she was dead. She tested the one in her hand; it clicked hollowly.

  Kennedy grinned at her. "You know, this was a delightful mission for me. I've wanted to see you go down for a long, long time. You're so . . . incompetent. So weepy."

  "Better weepy than someone with no self-control."

  "At least I don't go around falling in love with every mark I am paired with!"

  Arabella growled in her throat. "I have never fallen in love with a mark."

  "Just Grayson then?" Kennedy pulled a disgusted face. "He's not even a human. Remember the guy in Cairo? Now he was worth wasting your panties for. But a dragon?"

  "I wouldn't expect you to understand. You've never known anything but this life and you don't care if the world burns. Anything goes as long as you get your paycheck."

  Kennedy shrugged. "That's better than moping around to pay for your freedom. As if you'll ever be free from the organization. Once a killer, always a killer. What would you even do if you didn't have the organization telling you every move to make?"

  Arabella swung. Kennedy ducked and slammed her fist into Arabella's sternum. The air fled from her lungs and her heart skipped a beat. Her colleague trapped her in a headlock, squeezing her throat. Arabella fought against her, but it did no good.

  "It will be delightful to show you what will happen next."

  Arabella punched at Kennedy; she swung her body around, did everything she could to break the other woman's grip. Nothing worked and slowly the world went black.

  ***

  Light stabbed into Arabella’s eyes. It cut into her brain, sending white-hot shots of agony down her spine. Every inch of her felt bruised, especially around her ribs. Her heart still beat an unfamiliar pattern and it was difficult to pull in a breath of air. The light blinded her, but there were sounds. Muted sounds. They came from so far away that Arabella dismissed them.

  She swiveled her head to one side, trying to spare her eyes from the light. Didn't they always say that you’d go into the light when you were dying? So that meant she wanted to stay as far away from it as possible.

  Her vision cleared once she was no longer being blinded. Something large and black lay next to her. A body in a suit. Her fluttering heart stopped. Grayson! Bile rose in her throat, choking her. She forced herself to find the face. Not Grayson. Relief washed over her. But it still looked familiar. She blinked. The burly guard from Grayson's house.

  Whatever relief she had felt disappeared in an instant. The guard's shirt was stained with blood, a surprised expression in his blank eyes. The sounds that had been muffled and indistinct suddenly became clear.

  Olivia was calling for her father. Hudson was crying. Arabella pushed herself up but a foot collided with her face and she went down again. Kennedy bent over her, pressing a gun into her stomach. The scowl was heavy on the other woman's brow, a sneer on her lips. "I guess you were right, Bella. I do have too much of a temper. But that doesn't matter now. Not where you're going. See, I wanted to make sure that you saw that I'm taking Grayson's kids before you go. I wouldn't want you to rest in peace. Goodbye, sister."

  She buried her gun into Arabella's stomach and pulled the trigger. Once, twice, again and again. Pain exploded through Arabella's brain and the darkness claimed her again.

  Chapter Ten – Grayson

  Three days without his children and it already felt like a lifetime.

  Grayson's feet dragged along the hospital corridor, like they were too heavy to lift. His whole body felt sluggish, unable to draw out the energy to move properly. With his shoulders slumped towards the ground, wrinkled, torn clothes smelling like smoke, and reddened dry eyes, he was the epitome of a defeated man. His fires were so low they were almost charcoal. He hadn't slept since the kids had been taken and it was killing him that there was nothing he could do to get them back.

  The minute they had told him the guard had been shot and his kids taken he had known what to do. Step down from all of his political activities. He needed to sacrifice the future he had envisioned for his kids in exchange for their safety. He couldn't let anything happen to them. He had announced that he was stepping down via all media channels that he could think of.

  Yet, it didn't make sense. He had met the kidnappers’ demands, but his kids were still gone. Why?

  He licked his lips nervously outside of Arabella's room. Every time he visited her, he felt helpless. When she first came out of surgery, she had asked him about the children. Hearing that they were taken sent her into such a frenzy that the doctors had to sedate her. Since then, she'd been silent and withdrawn.

  Grayson had never felt more helpless.

  He entered Arabella's room to find the curtains drawn around the bed. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and cleared his throat. "Arabella? It's Grayson. Are you awake?"

  The curtains were drawn b
ack to reveal Arabella standing, completely dressed. Her eyes were less vibrant than usual, but her face was set in grim determination.

  "What are you doing?" he asked. "You should be in bed resting."

  "I'll rest when the twins are back. I'm checking myself out."

  Grayson stared at her in a mix of amazement and horror. "Arabella, you can't. You were shot. You need to stay in bed."

  Arabella shook her head. "I'm fine. I can walk around, I don't need a wheelchair and as long as I refrain from any seriously strenuous tasks, I won't reopen my stitches. Besides, I got a transfusion of shifter blood and it's really sped up my healing processes."

  "I know." Grayson inched forward again. "Otherwise you might not have survived. But shifter blood isn't a cure-all. You need to give yourself time to recover."

  Arabella shook her head. "I can't stay here any longer. Not when the children are out there in the hands of that . . . "

  Grayson's heart clenched. He quickly strode to her side and reached to put his arms around her. She eyed him warily, as though expecting him to do something like insist on holding her. He was so hurt by the distrust in her eyes that he drew back. Did she blame him for the twins being taken? Or did she think he'd use her distress to take advantage of her?

  "At least let me drive you back home," he said. "I know you'll want to know what is happening with the investigation—"

  "No." She shook her head again, dropping her eyes. "It's my fault they were taken, and I have to get them back."

  He wanted to hold her, but clearly, that was the wrong thing to do. He ran a hand over the stubble poking out from his chin and shook his head. "Arabella, you can't blame yourself. You were shot."

  She didn't respond as she tucked her thin wallet into the pocket of her sweater.

  "I am doing everything I can to get them back. I've got private investigators, the police, everybody."

  "It's not going to be that easy."

  Her eyes met his, and the guilt in them could have strangled him. He was silent, staring at her, wishing he knew what to say to comfort her.