Touch the Sky

by Kari Cole

  They needn’t have bothered. Before Hermann’s feet even left the floor, Angelo was in motion, displaying the other things Caine appreciated about him: his ability to move in silence and get the job done. Angelo caught the doctor by the back of the neck and, with one brutal shake, broke it.

  Hermann made a harsh gagging noise as he was slammed onto the table. Orange eyes wild, his hands and feet twitched like a human having an epileptic fit.

  “Careful,” Caine warned Angelo when he moved in for the killing blow. “If you get his venom on your skin, it will ruin your day.”

  The Atlanta pack’s enforcer looked around the room before walking to the corner and dumping the garbage pail out onto the floor. He removed the plastic bag and returned to the table, jerking it over the doctor’s head. Then, with a quick, economical motion, he twisted the male’s head two hundred and seventy degrees, severing the spinal cord.

  One of the doctors vomited on the floor, earning a look of disgust from Angelo.

  “I’ll need to remove the head to make sure this guy stays dead,” Angelo said. “Is there a good place for that? Unless you don’t care about the mess.”

  “There is a disposal room on the floor below,” Dr. Salma said. She gestured at the stronger-stomached scientist across from her. “Dr. Lipinski can show you.”

  Dr. Lipinski, a fat, balding man with beady eyes, sucked in a wheezing breath and said, “Right this way, sir. Follow me.” He lurched out of the room, the stench of his fear and sweat swirling in the room.

  Angelo tied a knot in the bottom of the garbage bag to secure it to Hermann’s flopping head. Then he hoisted the body onto his shoulder and left.

  The doctor with the weak stomach jumped up, flapped his hands, and ran from the room.

  Dr. Salma rolled her dark eyes.

  “You’re rather calm for someone—a human, no less—who has just seen her boss killed,” Caine said.

  “If you and your associate want to kill me, there is hardly anything I can do to stop you. Why waste the emotion?”

  “Hopefully, a clear head will serve you well, since you are now Genysis’s Director.” Caine moved to the door. “Don’t disappoint Holt. As you’ve seen, it doesn’t end well for those who do.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Vaughn sat in the cab of his personal truck and looked around the crowded parking lot of the Golden Claw for Jessie Mills’s red Jeep. It wasn’t stalking. Just because he’d come here after trying to reach Cassandra on the landline didn’t mean he was being creepy. Of course, that rationale might hold up more if he hadn’t also dropped by the house and found it dark and empty with Cassandra’s van in the driveway.

  He dropped his head and banged it on the steering wheel. Yeah. He should probably arrest his own ass.

  “Problem?”

  Vaughn jumped. “Shit!”

  A mocking smile on his face, Diego leaned in the open passenger window, arms resting on the door. “Careful, Sheriff. You didn’t even hear me coming up on your flank. Distraction can get you killed.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” he said dryly. “What are you doing here?”

  Diego straightened, a sheepish expression coming over his face. “I’m hungry. This is a restaurant.”

  “Yeah. My mother’s restaurant.”

  He shrugged. “Heard the food’s pretty good.”

  Best friends since they were ten years old, Vaughn and Diego had practically lived in each other’s hip pockets. That meant a lot of time was spent running around each other’s houses, mostly Vaughn’s, so they could escape Elena’s constant little-girl chatter. In that time, Diego had grown to love Mom almost as much as Vaughn did. When everything fell apart and Diego had written him out of his life, he’d cut all ties with Mom, too. That had pissed Vaughn off more than the way Diego had treated him.

  “I told you, Mom would be happy to see you,” Vaughn said. “You don’t need a pretense.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Whatev—” Headlights washed across the parking lot as a Jeep Wrangler pulled in and parked on the other end underneath a lamppost. By the glow of the dash and the pub’s external lights, he saw two figures in the front seat, and the distinct outline of a wolf in the rear. His heartbeat kicked up and he got out of the truck. “Listen, Diego, you do whatever it is that makes you happy, but don’t be an ass to my mother, or I’ll kick yours.”

  * * *

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” Hannah said for probably the tenth time since Jessie had come home from work.

  Strings of white Christmas lights were draped around the outside of the Golden Claw. It looked so pretty. She bet the back patio was even better. She’d seen it the other day when she’d come in, with its wrought iron fencing and potted trees wound with more fairy lights. It’d been daytime then, though, and the lights had been off. Despite how welcoming Vaughn’s family had made the pub, it now screamed Danger! to Hannah. So many cars in the lot. So many people inside. The air carried their scents through the open Jeep window: shifters. Lots and lots of them.

  Her cousin blew out an exaggerated breath as she shifted into Park. “What is your problem? You were fine meeting me here before.”

  “No. If you remember, I didn’t want to do that. I practically begged you to meet me someplace more private. But you insisted. And then what happened? Someone freaking shot me!” Hannah was shouting by the end, her breath coming in harsh pants.

  Frost whined and leaned in from the back row to nuzzle her cheek. Hannah twisted around and buried her face in his neck. The band around her chest tightened until she could barely get a breath in. It hurt. Goddess, it hurt.

  “Hannah! Shit!” Jessie touched her face. “Move, Frost. Come on, honey. Breathe!”

  She couldn’t. Not with her heart pounding in her throat.

  “What’s wrong?” a familiar deep voice asked. Air swirled, blowing her hair around her face. Large hands settled on her upper arms. Vaughn.

  “Panic attack, I think,” Jessie said. Her voice sounded funny, like she was talking in a tin can. “Don’t do this, Han—honey. You’re okay. I won’t make you go in. We can go home. Please breathe.”

  “Let me,” Vaughn said. “Frost, let me try.” He turned her around, and tilted her face up. “Cassandra? Look at me. Come on, baby, look me in the eye.”

  His eyes were so beautiful, almost black in the low light, and filled with concern. She wanted to take the worry away, make him smile, but she couldn’t stop gasping like a fish out of water. Black spots danced before her eyes.

  He cupped her face in strong, gentle hands. “Uh-uh. No passing out. Breathe with me, baby. You’re safe now. All you gotta do is breathe. Come on. With me.” He drew a deep breath in and blew it out slowly. She tried to follow along. “That’s right.” He did it again. In and out. She stared at his handsome face. “There you go. Again. In and out. Nice and slow.”

  He was so big and brave. He’d saved her from the bear. She shuddered, and Frost laid his snout on her shoulder while Jessie rubbed her back. Vaughn still held her face. Hannah wasn’t alone, but she would be. She traced his features with her eyes, memorizing him for when she had to go.

  “Hey now, no crying,” Vaughn said, stroking her face with his thumbs. “You’re all right.” He kissed one cheek, then the other, and she choked back a sob. He was so sweet. Why couldn’t she have met him before?

  “What’s going on?” Another man—a male eagle, her nose told her—stood behind Vaughn, looking over his shoulder. Frost growled and Hannah squeaked, clutching at Vaughn’s shirt, burying her face in his chest.

  “I’ve got it. Go away, Diego,” Vaughn said. His voice was hard and Hannah trembled. “Shh,” he said, rubbing her back.

  “Is she all right?” the male named Diego asked.

  Vaughn’s muscles turned rigid and his scent grew bi
tter with anger. And then, Diego’s scent registered in her brain. She’d smelled it before, the other night in the woods—the IA agent. Her wolf jumped and pressed against her shields. She wanted to run.

  Frost’s growling grew vicious.

  Vaughn cursed.

  “Is that a natural wolf?” Diego asked.

  Good Lord, why didn’t he back away?

  “Diego...” Vaughn growled.

  Shit, shit, shit. Her reactions were making everything worse. When had she become a cowering, submissive wretch? No. No way. It ticked her off. She might not be the most dominant female in the pack, but she was the daughter of leaders. Her great-grandfather had been Alpha, damn it. She was shaming herself and her family, and she was going to make Vaughn and Frost get in a fight with an IA agent if she didn’t pull her head out of her butt.

  “I—I’m okay,” she said. Her voice was reedy and too quiet. She curled her right arm around Frost’s neck, digging her fingers in his ruff to stop his snarling. Lifting her head, she tried to catch Vaughn’s gaze, but he was looking over his shoulder, teeth bared at the other male. “Vaughn. I’m—I think I’m okay now. Please don’t fight.”

  He looked at her then, his cheeks flushed with anger. She tried to smile, but the effort was a bit wobbly. Still, it seemed to work. His face softened as he watched her. “Okay, Cassie?”

  Cassie. He’d never called her that before. The lump in her throat was back. How she wished he could call her by her real name.

  “Hey.” Jessie squeezed her shoulder. “Are you all right? I’m so sorry.”

  Hannah forced herself to let go of Vaughn’s shirt and patted her cousin’s hand. “You didn’t know.”

  “Know what?” Diego asked.

  In an instant, Vaughn rose from his crouch and spun to face the other male. “Why are you still here?”

  On wobbly legs, Hannah slid from the Jeep and wrapped her arms around Vaughn’s waist. The move served several purposes. One, she didn’t think she could actually stand on her own yet. Two, it put her between Vaughn and the IA agent. And three, it let her rest her head on his broad chest and listen to his heartbeat. The strong, steady sound filled her head like the sweetest music.

  Vaughn made a sound in the back of his throat. Then he hugged her to him, one hand covering the back of her head. She sighed, tucking herself even closer. If an IA agent hadn’t been standing behind her, she could have happily stayed like this forever.

  But she couldn’t. With a great deal of regret, she raised her head and peered at Diego through the fall of her hair. He was in a loose stance, arms and legs spread, ready for anything. She blew out a shaky breath and Vaughn stroked the back of her neck.

  Jessie came around the front of the Jeep and brushed Hannah’s hair back, checking out her face. Frost leaned his big bulk against her legs, letting her know he was there.

  “I’m sorry,” Hannah said, resting her head on Vaughn’s chest once again. “I have social anxiety. Too many people and I get all nervous and—well, after what happened the other day...”

  “What happened the other day? Are you the one who was shot?” Diego asked.

  “Damn it, Diego,” Vaughn said, his voice rumbling again. “Yes. Now, will you give her some room and get the hell out of here? She doesn’t need you. Beat it.”

  There was the sound of footsteps moving away and Hannah took her first real breath in what felt like hours.

  “I am so sorry,” Jessie said again. “I should have listened. I guess you weren’t kidding about Frost being a service animal.”

  “Not your fault,” Hannah said. “I didn’t think it would be this bad. I’ve never had a full-blown meltdown before.”

  “Well, let’s get you home. I’ll text Becca and—”

  “That’s not necessary, Jessie,” Vaughn said. He took Hannah by the arms and leaned back, watching her as he spoke. “I’ll take her. Frost, too. If that’s okay with you, Cassandra. I was hoping to find you tonight anyway.”

  “You were?” Hannah asked. Her stomach did a happy little flip.

  He smiled, flashing those dimples, and Jessie actually gasped. Hannah understood the reaction all too well. That grin was like a loaded weapon.

  “Yes,” he said. “I called the house but there was no answer, and I don’t have your cell phone number.”

  “Oh.” She was still holding on to him. She should probably let go, but she didn’t want to, damn it. He was so warm and solid.

  “I guess that’d be fine, as long as it’s okay with Cassandra,” Jessie said.

  Hannah nodded like an idiot. “It is. Go on, go have fun.”

  Jessie rolled her eyes. Then, she leaned in and gave Hannah a kiss on the cheek. “I’m really sorry, honey. You have a good night, ya hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Damn, you make me feel old. All right. See you in the morning.” She waggled her cell phone. “Call me if you need anything.”

  “I will.”

  As her cousin walked off, Hannah’s nerves sprouted quick as sunflowers.

  Vaughn cupped her face again, brushing her cheeks with his thumbs. “All right there, darlin’?”

  Warmth pooled low in her belly. “You are so dangerous.”

  “Funny. I was just thinking the same about you.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The front door of the Golden Claw opened, filling the parking lot with the noise from inside. A pair of couples sauntered out into the night. They were totally focused on their discussion of the best way to eat toasted marshmallows, but Vaughn still let go of Cassandra’s hand so he could move to her other side, putting himself between her and the group of humans. The fear and nervousness had mostly cleared from her scent, but he didn’t want anything to trigger another attack.

  Hidden in the shadow of an SUV, Frost lingered behind them, watching the humans. After a few seconds, the wolf trotted back to Cassandra’s side. He looked at Vaughn and nodded once, like All clear. Things were so weird, Vaughn didn’t even bother to question it.

  He put his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled in close and gave him a shy smile. “Freaked you out, huh?”

  “Scared the crap out of me,” he agreed. “Your lips were turning blue.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “What do you have to be sorry about? You can’t control those kinds of things. How long has this been going on?”

  “A while.”

  That was specific. “Do you know why you have them?”

  He regretted the question immediately. A shudder worked through her and she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I can guess. Don’t make me talk about this, please? I can’t.”

  They reached his truck, and he put his hands on her shoulders. “I want to help.”

  “I know you do. That’s who you are, but you can’t fix everything. Just—just—crap. Listen, not every pack is a safe place. Okay, Vaughn? Just leave it at that. Please.”

  “Shh.” He hugged her, holding her tight. Fuck. What the hell had happened to her? She smelled of misery and pain.

  Frost whined softly, nuzzling her hip.

  After a few seconds, she stepped back and rubbed both hands over her face. “Ugh. Every time you see me, I’m a disaster.”

  “Hey.” Bracing his arms on the truck, he sheltered her between it and his body. The instant touch of her hands sliding over his waist and pulling him closer made him want to howl with joy. “Hey,” he said again, and she met his eyes. “You’re beautiful.”

  Man, the way her smile lit up her whole face was better than anything else he’d ever seen. He couldn’t resist dropping a light kiss on her mouth, their lips clinging when he pulled back.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  Her eyes flared and she looked toward the pub. “Uh...”

  “No, baby, not in there.” He ran a kn
uckle down her jaw. “If you’re okay going to my house, I can cook. If not, we can go back to Jessie’s.”

  “Your house is fine. I’d like to see where you live.”

  “Great.” He opened the rear passenger door. “Let’s go, Frost. Up.” The wolf jumped up and sat on the bench seat like a person. Vaughn shook his head. Then he opened the front door for Cassandra.

  She hefted her backpack onto the floor, then turned to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

  After getting her situated, he closed the door and walked around the front of the truck to his own door. The hair on the back of his neck rose, and his beasts warned him they weren’t alone. In the shadows of the pub, Diego watched them. Without a word, he turned and disappeared around the side of the building. In his mind, Vaughn’s eagle flexed his wings, wanting to follow their aeriemate. His wolf wanted to pursue the male, too, but to kick his feathered butt, not reminisce. That sparked an argument that made his head throb until he silently told them to knock it off. They weren’t leaving Cassandra.

  He climbed into the cab and started the engine.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Uh-huh.” He reversed out of the parking spot and headed out of the lot. “How’s ribeye sound? The grocery store is still open.”

  “Fantastic. Um...why was that Diego guy watching us?”

  Shit. “You saw that?”

  “I have panic attacks, Vaughn. I’m not blind.”

  “Right. I don’t know. He’s a pain. It doesn’t have anything to do with you, okay? We grew up together and...we had a falling out during college.” He picked up her hand, gave it a squeeze. “I’m sorry he worried you.”

  “He’s an IA agent now?”

  Vaughn looked at her. “How do you know that?”

  “He was in the Gathering Circle the other night. I recognize his scent.”

  Jesus, he was an idiot. “Of course. Yeah, he is.”