SizzlingInsanity

by Lorna Jean Roberts

  “You need to be in the habit of keeping away from windows so you don’t forget when you’re somewhere else. Plus, there are things that will break bullet-proof glass.”

  Sam turned and moved away from the window. “Like what? A rocket launcher?”

  “Yes,” Cade answered seriously, not realizing the senator was joking.

  “I doubt someone is going to launch a rocket at the house, Cade,” Sam told him, his voice tinged with exasperation and some amusement.

  Cade shrugged. “They might. I’ve run through all the scenarios and that was one of them.”

  “What scenarios?” Sam asked.

  Connor groaned silently.

  “Your assassination,” Cade replied.

  “That’s a worst-case scenario, of course, sir. Cade is just being thorough.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt in my mind about Cade’s thoroughness. Tell me, how many scenarios did you come up with, Cade?”

  “Five hundred and forty-seven.”

  “And just how did you come up with five hundred and forty-seven ways to kill me?” Sam asked incredulously.

  Christ, why did I let Cade come to this meeting? Connor thought. Hell, why do I let him talk to other people at all?

  “Oh, I thought of all the ways I might assassinate you,” Cade replied matter-of-factly. “I’ve eliminated most of them from being a possibility.”

  “But not a rocket launcher.” Sam sounded almost faint.

  “Well, the probability is low, but there is always a chance.”

  Did he almost sound cheerful? Connor shook his head at his brother who sent him back an innocent look.

  “Umm, so you know of the Sunnyland pack?” Connor queried, desperate to get the conversation back on track.

  Sam turned his attention to him. “Yes, they’re one of the closest packs to here. Their Alpha doesn’t like humans, though, so I wouldn’t say I’ve had a lot to do with them.”

  “So you have no idea why a wolf from this pack would be spying on you?” Connor asked.

  Sam sighed and ran his hand over his hair. “No.”

  “You’re lying,” Cade stated.

  Connor glared at her brother. Great, way to alienate the boss, bro.

  Sam crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t need to know everything about me, Cade.”

  “We need to know anything that might affect your safety,” Connor told him, trying to smooth things over. “If you hold back on us then you put us all in danger.”

  A weary look crossed his face as the senator moved back to his seat. “All right. I did know someone from the Sunnyland pack. A long time ago. She and I, well, we had a relationship. But it ended over twenty-two years ago. She couldn’t leave her pack to be with me and I couldn’t move there to be with her. Her pack wouldn’t have allowed a human to live with them.

  “We used to meet up when we could. I had a cabin built in the woods and we would meet there. Then one day, out of the blue, she called me and told me it was over, that our relationship could go nowhere so why were we kidding ourselves. I tried to change her mind. I tried to talk to her, but her pack closed rank around her.”

  “You loved her,” Connor said.

  “I did. I’d have given up everything for her. But she obviously didn’t feel the same way. After a while, I gave up. I never heard from her again. A few years later I moved to Washington to help further my career. I thought I’d sell this place, but I just couldn’t do it. Six months ago, I came back.”

  Cade frowned. “How could you just give up? If she was your mate then you should have just ordered her back to you.”

  Sam grinned slightly. “Ahh, Cade, I hope I’m around when you meet your mate and try to tell her what to do. That will be a sight to see.”

  Cade sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “I will protect my mate and see to her care. In turn, she will acknowledge who is dominant in our relationship and she will do as I say.”

  “I’m going to spend all my time keeping her from killing him,” Connor said dryly.

  Some of the sadness in Sam’s eyes disappeared. “So the two of you intend to mate the same woman?”

  “Do you really think any woman would take him on his own?” Connor replied, nodding his head at Cade. “Sir, is there any reason this woman or her family might spy on you? Do they hold a grudge against you about anything?”

  “No, not that I can think of. I’m sure Annabeth is mated by now. Plus, we’re talking about more than twenty years ago, why would they be interested in me now?”

  A good question Connor had no answer to. But could it really be a coincidence that the two women came from the same pack?

  “The cabin where the two of you met, is it still there?” he asked.

  “Yes, but I don’t know how that would help you.”

  Connor shrugged. “Can’t hurt to have a look.”

  Sam gave them the directions and they left the study.

  “So what do you think?” Connor asked Cade as they moved back into the meeting room.

  “I don’t believe in coincidences. This woman has to have something to do with Annabeth.”

  “Yeah, but what?” Connor replied. “They’re not the same woman; she was way too young to be Annabeth.”

  “We need to find Annabeth and question her.”

  “Sam won’t be happy,” Connor stated.

  “So we won’t tell him.”

  Connor snorted. “Are we going to gag you?”

  “I can keep quiet.”

  “That will be the day. Seriously, Cade, five hundred and forty-seven ways to kill him? Do you really think that’s what he wanted to hear?”

  “He asked,” Cade said with surprise.

  Connor knew it was impossible trying to explain to Cade that he didn’t always have to be entirely truthful. Cade took most things literally and his social skills were pitiful.

  “Cade, you can’t expect that our mate is going to obey your every word.”

  His brother’s face grew serious. “You and I both know how dangerous the world can be. If we ever find our mate, I’m not going to risk her safety.”

  “You can’t lock her away from the world.”

  “Watch me.”

  Connor swiped his hand through the air. “Enough. We’re probably never going to find her so it doesn’t matter. Let’s get on with the matter at hand. We need to find Annabeth and get her to talk to us. I’m going to check in with Gabe, see if there’s been much movement at the house,” Connor said, reaching for his phone.

  Before he could make the call, the door to the meeting room opened and Trick stepped in. He nodded to them both before sitting.

  “What did you find out?” Cade asked, resting his arms on the large, oak table they sat around.

  “Her name’s Shelby Myers. She’s a half-breed, which is why she lives on the outskirts of pack land. Her three cousins live with her, Jonty, Owen, and Sawyer. They all work at Riggers in town.”

  “A half-breed?” Connor asked.

  “Yeah. Apparently the pack Alpha, Jack, hates half-breeds and the only reason she’s even allowed to live there is because her uncle was good friends with Jack. The uncle died awhile back, since then it’s been just Shelby and her cousins.”

  “Damn hard way to live,” Connor commented. “Wonder what any of this has to do with the senator?”

  Trick shook his head. “Couldn’t figure that one out. Very few people would even talk to me about Shelby. They’re a pretty suspicious lot.”

  “So I suppose if we sent you back to ask about an Annabeth Miller they wouldn’t be too forthcoming.” Connor said with a sigh.

  “No, I think they’d close rank on me if I went back. But everyone seemed to like Shelby’s cousins. They want them to move back into the pack.”

  “Without Shelby, effectively leaving her alone with no pack,” Connor growled. Bastards, he thought, feeling protective over the girl. Hell, he’d had a change of mind. Yesterday he’d been furious at her. Now, he felt almost s
orry for her. “All because she’s a half-breed?”

  “Seems that way.”

  Shit, he hated this old-school crap. When were Alphas going to realize that integrating with the humans was key to their survival? If they continued to keep themselves segregated, then fear and suspicion would only grow.

  “We need to bring her in,” Connor said. “It’s the only way we’ll get answers.”

  Connor nodded. He brought up Gage’s number on his cell.

  “Gage here.”

  “Hey, any movement at the house?”

  “Not much. Seems to be four of them living inside. The target and three males. The males have been doing a few chores around the house but they’re all inside now.”

  Damn, he’d hoped to get her on her own.

  “Call me when you see the males leave. We’re going in to get her.”

  “Will do.”

  *

  “Come in,” Shelby called out at the knock on her door. She turned away from her desk as Sawyer walked into her room.

  “Sorry to interrupt your studying,” he said.

  “It’s okay. It’s the start of semester break next week. I’m just getting ahead in some of my reading.”

  He nodded and sat on her small bed, grimacing as it groaned. “Christ, it’s a wonder this bed hasn’t fallen apart, it’s as old as the hills.”

  She smiled. “Well, it only makes that noise when one of you guys sits on it.”

  “You calling me fat, squirt?” he growled, shaking his head. “Should have beaten you more as a child, you don’t know how to respect your elders.”

  She sighed. “Yes, and you are so very, very old.”

  “Brat, you’re not too old for me to put you over my knee.”

  “You’d have to catch me first.”

  “You okay, Shelby?” he asked, his face serious.

  “Of course,” she lied. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “There’s something going on with you lately. You’ve been secretive, more so than usual. I know it must be hard, not having a female to talk to, but if there is anything you need to tell me, you know I’ll listen.”

  Shelby groaned. “Haven’t we had this talk already? I know all about sex, Sawyer.”

  He narrowed his gaze at her. “Exactly how much do you know? Is that what this is all about? You’ve got a boyfriend? Is it someone from college? Who is he? We need to meet him.”

  “Sawyer, I don’t have a boyfriend. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be bringing him home to meet you guys. Owen would be sitting on the porch cleaning his gun and you’d probably grill him to death. There’s no way you are ever meeting any boyfriend of mine.”

  Sawyer growled. “You will bring him home to meet us. Immediately.”

  She reached out to grasp hold of his hand. “There’s no one, I promise. I’ve got too much going on for a relationship.”

  Sawyer grunted.

  “Shouldn’t you guys be heading off to work?”

  “We’re going. Just as soon as you spill what’s been bothering you.”

  “You know, you’d probably have been able to buy your own bar by now if Jack didn’t take so much from you. He taxes us much higher than everyone else, doesn’t he?”

  “Finances are my problem, Shelby. Not yours.”

  God, he could be such an old-fashioned idiot sometimes. He took his role as head of the household seriously, never burdening anyone else.

  “Do you ever feel like you would be better off if I wasn’t around, Sawyer?”

  “What?” he yelled. “Like hell. Why the hell would you say that?”

  She tried to turn away, but he grabbed hold of her shoulders, keeping her facing him.

  “If it wasn’t for me, you could live with the pack, you wouldn’t have to worry about money, you’d probably be mated with pups right now. Don’t you ever think about that?”

  “Of course I do. But I don’t blame you for any of that, Shel. Christ, you didn’t ask for any of this either. You were a tiny baby when you came to live with us. None of this is your fault—its Jack’s for being a stubborn old coot.”

  “You don’t think Uncle Colin ever wished that he’d never taken me in?”

  “Never. Listen to me.” He grasped hold of her chin. “Your mom and our dad might have been half-brother and sister but they loved each other and Dad loved you. You’re part of this family, Shelby. Our sister. And no one, not even Jack Masters, is going to tear this family apart, you hear me? I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

  “I just feel like I’ve robbed you of so much. If I were a better person, I’d leave.”

  “What the fuck kind of talk is that?” Owen snarled from the doorway. “I don’t like your attitude at the moment. You better snap out of it before I snap you out of it.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means that if I hear you talking like that again then I’m gonna take my belt to your butt.”

  She rolled her eyes, having heard the same threat before. None of them would ever lay a hand on her and they knew it.

  “You and whose army, buddy?”

  “Who needs an army when I have guns?” He curled his arms up, flexing his impressive biceps.

  “You’re such a poser, Owen. Get out. Go to work before you get fired.”

  Sawyer stood and kissed the top of her head. “Get some sleep, squirt, you look tired. We’ll be back around three.”

  She waved them off and turned back to her books. They slammed their way out of the house and she heard the trucks start up. The house became deadly quiet. Shelby turned back to her books and tried to concentrate, but it just wasn’t happening. Twenty minutes later she closed the book she was trying to read and rested her elbows on her desk, holding her head in her hands.

  Why couldn’t she forget Garrison’s bodyguard? His scent, his touch, the heat in his gaze. No matter how hard she tried, he continued to play on her mind like a scratched CD, over and over and over.

  Urgh, maybe what she needed was a run. She’d been cooped up in this house too long. That was it.

  Shelby stood and stripped, grabbing a robe to wrap around herself. She had a lower body temperature than most werewolves. Her weak human blood.

  Moving downstairs, she walked out onto the porch and breathed in the late afternoon air. The sun would go down in about another hour.

  Stepping out into the yard, she pulled off her robe and threw it on the porch before starting the change.

  Cade watched the petite woman as she completed the transformation from human to wolf. Jesus, if he had ever seen a more beautiful woman he didn’t know when. She was tiny. She probably wouldn’t even reach his shoulders. Her long, wavy hair was so blonde it was almost white in places. Every inch of her skin was creamy, white perfection.

  Once she’d completed the transformation, a pale wolf stood in her place, small but stunning.

  No wonder Connor had been so taken by her. Not that Cade would make the same mistake. He would never let a female get in the way of a mission.

  The wolf trotted off in the opposite direction, without any clue that they were watching her. What the hell were her cousins doing leaving her alone? Anyone could get to her, harm her. If she were his, he’d make sure she was under lock and key when he wasn’t around to watch over her personally.

  “Gage, you and I will change. Cade, you bring the chloroform. Remember, we don’t harm her.”

  Cade nodded at his brother’s words. No, no harm would come to her. But he would get the answers they needed. It should be easy, she was just a female after all.

  Chapter Three

  “I can’t believe she bit me,” Cade said in disbelief, glancing down at the puncture marks on his leg.

  “Relax, it’s almost healed,” Connor replied with little sympathy.

  “You have no idea what kind of germs live in her mouth, she could have all sorts of diseases.”

  “Cade, she’s a werewolf, what diseases can she possibly have?”

  �
�She’s half-human, they have all sorts of nasty bugs.”

  “All of which you are immune to,” Connor pointed out.

  They’d had no intention of harming her—too bad she hadn’t extended them the same courtesy. In fact, she’d kind of impressed him. He hadn’t thought such a tiny female could fight so fiercely.

  But they had her now. She was safely locked in one of the rooms in Sam’s basement. Now they would be getting some answers.

  “Think we’ve waited long enough?” Gage asked as he leaned back in his chair. Gage had been watching Shelby’s house and when he’d seen her cousins leave, he’d called Connor. Just as they’d been about to storm the place, she’d conveniently stepped outside, which made taking her easier and with less risk of leaving any trace they’d been there.

  Hudson nodded. “Bet she’s broken down by now. There’ll be tears, pleading. She’ll probably be ready to spill after the first question.”

  “Ahh, I’m afraid not.” Dylan turned around the laptop so they could all see the video feed from the room she was locked in.

  She was glaring right at them. Very slowly, she raised her right hand, made a fist and then flipped them the bird.

  “Well, I stand corrected. That is one tough little bitch,” Hudson said, admiringly.

  Cade felt a sudden surge of possessiveness. What was wrong with him? He never got possessive over a woman. He took a deep breath.

  “Are we gonna tell those idiot human guards that she’s here?” Gage asked, resting his hands behind his head.

  Cade shook his head. “No way. They’d just find some way to fuck this up.”

  Connor had tried to convince Sam to get rid of the human guards, but he’d stubbornly refused to. Something about them having families, bills to pay, blah-blah. If they wanted to keep their jobs then they should actually do their jobs.

  Cade had been appalled by their lack of preparation, their sheer laziness. They were a bunch of bumbling idiots. He wouldn’t have them working on his team. Ever.

  “We keep her presence quiet. It doesn’t leave this room,” Cade warned.

  “You’re not telling the senator?” Dylan said in surprise. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”