“If I let you stay here and protect me, you have to promise not to walk away again. No more lies. No more running away.”
“Done,” he said quickly but I shook my head.
“I’m not finished. You also have to promise me that you won’t try to stop me from learning the magic.” He didn’t answer right away and I glared, adding, “You lied to me for a long time in order to keep me from it.”
“Sam, that’s not what—”
“Isn’t it? Isn’t that why you didn’t tell me about Wes erasing my memory? Isn’t that why you left rather than stick around so I could heal you?” I didn’t wait for him to answer; I could see it in his eyes. “I don’t know what you have against magic but that’s your problem. Not mine. If you take this job, protecting me includes helping me. No matter how much you don’t like it or believe in me. Do we have a deal?”
He stared at me, his eyes hard and glittering and searching my own. I didn’t look away even though I wanted to. He had to know I meant it. I might not be able to forget the way he’d walked out when I needed him; but I damn sure wasn’t going to let him actively stop me from saving his life. No matter the reason. No matter how much it hurt.
“Sam, I have always, from the day I met you, believed in you. Even when I barely knew you, when I didn’t know shit about your life, I still believed in you. I saw the spark inside you and I knew you were special and I’m not talking about the magic either. I won’t block you from learning how to use it,” he said quietly and I couldn’t help but feel the sadness in his words. Though I couldn’t imagine for the life of me why magic would make him so sad. Especially when it was the answer to letting him live.
“I’ll do everything I can to help you. I swear it,” he said, the intensity in his eyes and etched into his stony expression more than enough to convince me he meant it.
“All right,” I said finally, my shoulders sagging as the fight left me. Without the anger, all that was left was fear of being hurt again. But I didn’t tell him that. Instead, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. “Let’s go. I need a shower and a drink. Jet lag is killing me.”
My hand flew to my mouth and I shot Alex a sideways glance, my cheeks heating. He offered me a half-smile. “I know what you mean,” he said, chuckling as he followed me out.
God, I’d almost forgotten the unique brand of self-deprecating humor that was Alex. What I hadn’t forgotten, apparently, or gotten over, was how much I loved it. Or him.
It wasn’t like it was the first time I’d thought it either. Love. I’d never said it to anyone in my life. Never even been tempted. And I would cut out my tongue before I said it to Alex Channing, especially now.
But once I’d let the thought in, my brain—and my heart—couldn’t seem to let it go. Like a dog with a bone. I was hopelessly in love with a guy that had already broken my heart once, and considering he was dying, had all but promised to do it again. And now that I’d agreed to let him protect me again, I was guilty of the same thing he was: self-inflicted pain.
Because being around him all the time was only going to make it all hurt worse in the end. The worst part was that I was enjoying it.
I was a masochist, for sure. Hell, we were perfect for each other in a really twisted, sad story kind of way. Not that I’d ever tell him that. Because if I told anyone about the feelings I had for Alex Channing, they’d take one look at us and just shake their heads. A guy born to kill the thing I wanted to save? And that was only the tip of the iceberg. Even if he lived, it was a train wreck waiting to happen. And I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life. Which meant that no matter how this turned out, I was so totally screwed.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex
Sitting beside Sam in my rented truck on the ride home was excruciating. I hadn’t needed Edie’s push to go after her—although, it had helped to have not just her blessing but her orders to do so. Truth be told, I’d known deep down that I was coming back for this girl the moment I’d chosen to walk out. Our story wasn’t done yet. I’d known that all along.
I also knew she wasn’t going to let me back in very easily, nor did I deserve automatic forgiveness. If her little tirade back in the cafeteria was any indication, I was going to have to work for it. For her. Somehow I was going to have to find a way to earn her trust again, and in the end, her respect for my decision. I was absolutely not here to be healed.
I also knew now was not a good time to voice that.
Neither of us spoke on the drive. She’d agreed to let me guard her and that was enough progress for now. I darted glances in the review, easily spotting the two cars that had joined us by the time we exited the highway and took the back road leading into Half Moon. I’d read the files for both teams briefly before we’d left for home.
I hadn’t recognized any of the names but RJ had. When I’d gone to see him, he’d demanded a full report and to study his replacements. All of them. He’d assured me these guys were good. And they would stay in the shadows so as not to alarm Sam. According to Edie, she was already feeling the pressure of being the only hope of curing this mysterious ailment plaguing werewolves across the globe. She didn’t need to see proof that CHAS had made her their number one asset. Which would also drive home that she was the number one target for rabid werewolves everywhere.
No, I wasn’t planning on letting her spot a single one of the operatives that would be watching her at all times from here on.
It was late by the time I pulled up in front of Sam’s apartment and cut the engine. She hadn’t said a word, and I’d let the radio fill the silence. Nothing I could say was going to ease her fears about me or her guilt over killing that werewolf—and I knew from the way she kept balling and un-balling her fists, that’s what was eating at her now.
I turned the engine off and rolled my window down, sniffing liberally and noting any changes in the scent signatures since I’d been here last. Not much had changed and more importantly, there weren’t any werewolves close by at the moment.
“I can wait here while you grab some stuff,” I said.
Sam paused and looked back at me, her fingers stalling over the door handle. “Where is your truck anyway?” she asked. I realized how stressed she must be to only now think of the question.
“I left it in Alaska,” I said. “When I got the call about RJ, I didn’t want to waste time driving so I flew down.”
She nodded. “Makes sense.” She moved to get out and then stopped again. “How long should I pack for?”
“A while,” I said. “My place has linens and stuff but you’ll need enough clothes to—”
“Whoa. Hold on, your place?” she asked, her voice rising as she finally turned to look at me.
“Yeah, where did you think we would go?” I asked.
“I don’t know. A hotel or a rented cottage up on the mountain maybe. I’m not going home with you,” she said and it wasn’t lost on me the innuendo in her words. But it wasn’t like that. Not entirely.
“Sam, that werewolf tracked you across a fucking ocean. There is no way I’m letting you out of my sight. A hotel is too vulnerable. Not enough visibility to guard it. The best solution is for you to come home with me.”
“Best solution?” She rolled her eyes. “Convenient. But I’m not falling for it.”
“Falling for what? I’m trying to protect you.”
“And you can do that so much better from your bed, right?” she asked, a single brow raised in a sexy-as-hell challenge. But it was a trap and I shook my head forcefully in order to avoid being caught.
“That’s not what this—”
“Damn right that’s not what this is.” Her brow fell and her eyes narrowed. “You are not strutting back into my life and whisking me off my feet—figuratively or literally.” She leaned forward and stuck her pointer finger into my chest. “I am not going to sleep with you the night of your freaking homecoming.”
“No one is asking you to,” I said, thoroughly exhausted from h
aving my guard up so much. Every time she spoke, I could feel a hundred hidden messages underneath her words.
“Good.” She smirked. “Then it won’t be a problem for you to stay parked outside my house all night.”
“I am not parking—Sam, don’t be stupid just because you’re angry with me.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Edie already told you, you need to stay somewhere I can protect you. This place is too exposed and there are too many variables. Besides, do you really want to put Brittany in danger?”
“She’s not here,” Sam said.
“What about when she is? Your strong scent will be most recent here which will draw them. Rabid werewolves might not know the difference between you two and they definitely won’t care.”
Sam cursed under her breath and fell back against her seat.
She turned to me, baring her teeth as if it were my fault she was in this mess. Then again, it sort of was. I couldn’t say I didn’t blame her for refusing to come home with me. “Fine. A compromise then.”
“What do you have in mind?” I asked warily. When her eyes gleamed like that, I didn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.
“We can stay at my aunt Kiwi’s house. It backs up to the river which will be huge this time of year, so it’s not vulnerable. Plus, she has an alarm system we can use which is more than I can say for your place. I’ll take her room and you can have my old bedroom.”
She wore a slightly smug expression as she waited expectantly for my answer. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that I had my own built-in alarm system that was better than anything her aunt could have installed, at least where werewolves were concerned.
I dragged in a ragged breath, pretty sure I was not going to enjoy sleeping in a room that had Sam’s scent all over it. But I wasn’t about to admit how close to the edge I was with her. Not after her accusations a moment ago. Truth be told, I’d done nothing but imagine her waking up in my bed the entire drive here. “Fine,” I said through clenched teeth. “We’ll check it out. What’s the address?”
She gave it to me and I punched it into the GPS while she ran inside to grab some clothes. It gave me a minute to collect my thoughts and send a quick text to Edie, checking in and letting her know our change in plans. I knew we were all linked so the covert teams parked nearby would also see it. They’d probably all wonder if I’d lost my mind agreeing to an unsecured location too. Sure enough, I heard an engine rumble to life and a car pulled away from the curb just up the block. Per protocol, I knew would check the house before we arrived.
It would have to be good enough.
Maybe sleeping at Kiwi’s would make me behave. And it would remind me that I’d hurt this girl far more than I’d realized. All thoughts of sleeping with her—or anything else with her—needed to take a backseat to earning her forgiveness.
When Sam returned, she tossed a duffel into the back and I waited while she buckled herself in. She smelled amazing—the product of her natural scent and some perfume she must have just applied. Dammit, did this girl not have any idea how crazy she made me? She had to add to it by smelling delicious and then putting herself in a confined space with me to boot?
Maybe she really was clueless about my feelings for her.
I glanced over and caught her eye. She gave me a small smile and then a wink that left my jaw hanging open. Scratch all that. This girl knew exactly how I felt and exactly what she was doing to me in the process.
“Don’t even think about trying anything,” she said as I drove up the mountain road out of town.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, honey,” I said, sarcasm practically dripping from my words. And I wasn’t lying. I never tried. I only did something or I didn’t. And in this case, I knew I was definitely doing something. Tonight, tomorrow, and every day left in my short, tortured life. And that something was Samantha Knight.
Chapter Fifteen
Sam
Alex didn’t try to talk to me on the drive to Kiwi’s. I couldn’t help the small wave of smug satisfaction over that. When my memory had been restored, so had all of my “Old Sam” skills—one of my favorites being handling cocky-yet-attractive guys who assumed too much.
Alex Channing was definitely one of those. In fact, in the category of large egos combined with a healthy helping of charm, Alex Channing was the king. I knew full well Edie had put him up to coming back here with me. What I couldn’t understand was how he thought hitting on me in the process would help anything. Mostly, I was glad that he didn’t scare me like he used to. I still shook when he was around, but it wasn’t out of fear.
I’d gone inside to pack, hoping to talk to Brittany about it. If anyone would know how to handle a guy like Alex, it was Brittany. But she hadn’t arrived back from Christmas vacation yet. I’d tried calling her while I threw clothes in a bag, but it had gone to voice mail.
So, instead, I’d summoned all of the skills in “Old Sam’s” arsenal. It hadn’t been difficult with my memory intact. I’d given myself lots of practice throughout high school. In fact, I’d eaten guys like Alex for breakfast back then. I’d play his little game—and I’d do it better.
It was almost too easy.
When I’d winked, I’d thought he was going to lose it right there. I hated the way he always seemed so in control, especially when he was hurting me. It had been nice to see him thrown off balance for a change.
“This is it,” I said, pointing at the turn hidden by low-hanging branches and overgrown hedges. Alex followed my instructions without a word.
Still speechless, apparently. Old Sam really knew how to handle herself. And even though I was glad she was back, a tiny seedling of guilt bloomed, crowding out my satisfaction. For a moment, he’d actually looked pained. But then it disappeared, replaced by irritation, and I reminded myself Alex was only here for his own reasons; whatever they happened to be.
A few minutes later, Alex pulled up the drive and the familiarity of the short, winding road cleared my head. The moon was overshadowed by clouds tonight, but even so, I could make out the potted aloe plants dotting the stone walkway that led to Kiwi’s front door. Solar lights glowed dimly from the flower beds, washing the mulch and succulents in a lunar-like glow. Kiwi’s old Volkswagen was parked along the side, its faded yellow paint looking almost brown in the darkness.
Alex parked and we got out. “Nice wheels. How come you don’t drive that?” Alex asked, pointing to the Beetle.
I shook my head, imagining how my thin excuse would go over now. I hadn’t asked Kiwi to borrow it before because I hadn’t wanted to explain to her how bad my fears had gotten. Not to mention the detail about werewolves trying to kill me every time I walked home from work. Now, none of it mattered. I had a feeling Alex wasn’t going to let me go anywhere alone anyway.
“It’s complicated,” I muttered rather than try to explain.
“We can use it to take the rental back in the morning,” he said.
“Okay.” I nodded, glad he let it go.
I made my way up and then bent low and fished the spare key out of the pebbles that filled the mosaic urn at the edge of the landscaping. Wind shook gently through the leaves and I looked up, appreciating the sound. It had been one of my favorite things about living here.
“It’s like rushing water,” Alex murmured and I glanced at him sharply, surprised he’d put words to my thoughts so precisely. Or that he was able to appreciate it at all.
“Let’s go,” I said.
Kiwi didn’t live in a neighborhood. She’d always valued her privacy, right down to the clearing in the woods behind the house that she used for moon circles. Most of them nude, I recalled. My throat closed up as I remembered attending them now—and the werewolves that I’d watched shift underneath the moon’s glow. Memories I’d apparently buried and forgotten in the light of the following day. They all came rushing back now.
Dave, the owner of the fish store in Creeper Alley where Mirabelle sent me for deliveries of supernatural items. His wife, Lila
, who loved karaoke and costume parties. Bernard. Even mysterious Indra.
All of them had been friends of my aunt and then clients as I’d gone to work for Mirabelle, the town’s medicine woman and supplier of supernatural ingredients. But then Bernard—who had unbeknownst to me been a werewolf—had gone feral and tried to kill me. Alex had put him down, and afterward, I’d helped Alex bury him in the redwood forest.
That night had changed everything.
“You okay?” Alex asked and I blinked back to the present in a sudden awareness that left me breathless. Alex’s hand came up to cover mine where I hovered with the key halfway into the lock. “Sam?” he asked again.
I shook him off and unlocked the door, blowing out a steadying breath. “I’m fine,” I muttered and then shoved inside. I wasn’t going to talk about my memories with Alex. He’d forfeited that honor when he’d given them back to me and then walked out of my life.
I took a step inside and then shuffled right, my hand moving over the wall in search of the light switch. My thoughts were brewing fast into a turbulent storm. I was pissed and Alex was finally standing here, ready to take whatever tongue-lashing I felt like giving. Maybe that’s what I’d do. My fingers closed over the light switch and I flicked it up. Light washed over the room, painting the chaos in flickering yellow, and I froze.
“Oh my god.” I scanned the room, eyes wide, jaw open as a wave of horror washed over me at the destruction.
Alex bumped me from behind as I went utterly still. I felt the shift in him as he went from confusion to understanding and every inch of his muscled body stiffened against me. “Get behind me.”
He didn’t wait for me to obey before he stepped around me and shoved me against his back, his arm curving around to hold me against him.
I didn’t argue.
Within seconds, he’d pulled his phone out and was talking to someone, his voice low and urgent. “What the hell, man? You were supposed to check the place out before we got here.”
Inheritance: (A New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Heart Lines Series Book 2) Page 12
