“Okay, sure, I’ll cover for you, Braun. It’s not like I have anything else to do,” he mumbles sulkily.
“Thanks, Finn. You’re the best. And do me a favor, keep an eye on our new friends?” She nods over at Warner and Cash who are standing apart from the crowd, probably discussing what endangered species tastes the best.
“If keeping an eye on them means hiding in the office until they leave, then yup I can totally do that!” Finn salutes her without a trace of irony, but then he stops her as she goes to leave. “You don’t want to ask me how I’m getting on with that little personal hack of yours?” He looks at her curiously, clearly wondering how something that had got her so worked up only a few hours ago has completely slipped her mind
“You found something?” she says, checking that there’s no one within earshot of them.
“Let’s just say I found the start of something. I need a little more time to run a trace, but it looks like I wasn’t the only one hacking your account. Someone has managed to put a hold on all of your cards, everything. It’s like your account’s been frozen; it’s actually a pretty impressive job.” Finn seems genuinely excited by what he’s found, but Sofie’s frown brings him back to the seriousness of the situation. “Right, impressive but very, very bad for you.”
“Any idea why someone would want to freeze my assets? It’s not like there’s a whole lot there for anyone to be interested in!” Sofie doesn’t even have the energy to be outraged or surprised, she feels a little like nothing would surprise her anymore.
“The why I don’t know, and I’m working on the who.” Finn shrugs nonchalantly, trying to pretend that he’s not desperate to ask her what she’s not telling him. “It could just be a glitch, a hacker looking for data to steal, and they locked your account by mistake. You’d be surprised how often this kind of stuff happens.”
A thought occurs to Sofie. “You don’t think that Shale could have something to do with it, do you?”
Finn holds his hands up like he’s making it clear to the non-existent cameras that he has nothing to do with what she’s just said. “I would keep that thought to yourself for now, Sofe.” He looks at her pointedly and tilts his head slightly to the side, taking in the two guards that are within hearing range. Sofie nods in understanding. “If Shale is involved in this, then I’ll find out. We’ll deal with whatever that means, then.” He nods at her reassuringly, being the older brother that she needs right now. “In the meantime, you need me to spot you some cash?”
Sofie smiles at the sweetness of Finn’s offer. “Not unless you have a small fortune hiding in your wallet.” She was facing collection day without anything to collect.
“You could always ask Luke for an advance on your salary. It’s not like the guy is low on cash,” Finn points out.
Sofie knows that it’s a reasonable idea, but she hates the thought of having to ask Luke for a favor, giving him another level of control over her. However, she was running low on options. In fact, she was running out of them. “I just don’t want him to think that cash is in return for something else…”
Finn blinks as if he hadn’t even thought of that possibility. And that’s why you’re my best friend, Sofie thinks.
“Anyway, I’ve got to go. Let me know how Darwin is, okay?” She tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“Sure thing. You want me to tell him anything?” Finn asks, uncharacteristically sympathetic.
Sofie contemplates the question. There are so many things that she wants to say to the older man; that she was so afraid when she thought that she was losing him, that she hates all their fighting, that he’s the closest thing to a father that she’s ever had, and that he’s more of a parent than her own dad had been. Instead, she says, “Nothing special, just tell him we’re looking forward to seeing him back here.” She walks away, wondering yet again, Why do I find it so hard to tell people how I feel. People always say that you regret the things that you didn’t say more than the ones that you did, but what happens when there’s too much to even start to tell someone? How do you even begin to tell someone that you love them when you’ve never said the words to anyone before?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sofie pulls her hair up into a smooth ponytail and pulls down the dress she’s chosen before she gets out of the car at Ashton’s store. Only a few boxes of her things have arrived from DC so far, but she sends up a silent prayer of thanks that it had at least included some clothes that were a little smarter than her Lara Croft combo that had become her uniform since starting the site visits over a month ago.
She’d chosen the most demure dress she could find, but she’d forgotten about the way it clings to her curves. When she’d caught sight of herself in the mirror, she’d noticed how tanned her skin was after the weeks on the road, out in the sun. She has a healthy glow about her, despite the fact that she’s under the most stress she has been in her entire life.
There was no sign of the collector, no message and no sudden appearance of him when she went back to the motel to change. She’s starting to wonder if perhaps he’s willing to be more reasonable than she had thought. Anyway, after she sees Luke, she should have enough to pay them what they’re owed. She puts the thought of what Luke is going to expect in exchange for this favor in the back of her mind.
As she walks into Ashton’s store, she’s struck again by how beautiful the furniture is that he’s built. He really does have an amazing talent. The shop is empty but she hears some movement from the workshop at the back, the place that he’d taken her and told her he doesn’t usually show people. She figures he’ll be waiting for her, having heard her heels clatter across the wooden floor, but he’s completely oblivious to her presence.
She leans against the door, enjoying one of the few times she’s been able to observe Ashton without him knowing. He’s always had the upper hand when it comes to the surprise element, but not this time. She watches him as he works, earphones plugged in. She can hear the music from where she’s standing, some kind of hard rock; it’s no wonder he hadn’t heard her come in. He’s working on a large piece, carving the shape out from the wood and completely lost in what he’s doing. She can’t help but stare at this beautiful man, the way he moves, the grace and elegance about him.
Suddenly, Ashton’s head snaps up as he sniffs the air, and he turns to look at her, pulling his earphones out. She should have realized he would catch her scent, like he always did. She blushes when she knows that she’s been caught staring; but, she’s not the only one. Ashton doesn’t say anything, he just looks at her, his blue eyes shining and the intensity radiating off of him. The air crackles between them.
Then, she remembers why she’s there and that she’s pissed. She stalks up to him, stopping just out of reach like she knows that if she’s any closer she won’t be able to resist touching him.
“I thought we had a deal!” She points at him, letting her anger and frustration pour out. “You were supposed to keep the pack away from the canyon and let me do my job. I told you we have guards now who are just a little trigger-happy. What the hell is the matter with you?” She stands there breathing hard, hands on hips, ready for a fight. “Didn’t you trust me? You had to send Gus in to check up on what was going on?” The thought that he felt he couldn’t depend on her hurts her more than she would admit to anyone, even to herself.
Ashton stiffens in the face of her onslaught. “What the hell is the matter with me? What the hell is the matter with you? You’ve come in here spoiling for a fight, want to tell me why?” His voice is low and lazy, but she’s not fooled. She can see the irritation bubbling under the surface.
“Because you should trust me, and if you don’t, then you should at least give me a heads up. A friend of mine almost got hurt today. So yeah, I’m pissed.” She refuses to back down and the thought of how terrified Darwin was spurs her on.
“Let’s make something real clear, I don’t have to consult you or anyone else on my decisions when it comes to the pack
. I am the Alpha; this is my pack, and I will do whatever I Goddam please with it.” Ashton’s eyes flash, and his voice is a low growl. He’s not used to having to answer to anyone, and it doesn’t look like he’s planning on changing that anytime soon.
Sofie opens her mouth to tell Ashton just how arrogant he sounds when there’s a not-so-delicate cough from behind her. Ashton’s expression darkens, as he looks past her, and she turns to see Gus standing there, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else than listening to an argument between his boss and his boss’s girlfriend.
Before he has a chance to speak, Sofie rounds on him, “Did you enjoy that little display this afternoon? Is scaring an old man out of his wits your idea of fun? Do you even care that he could have died from the shock that you gave him?” She’s spitting mad at him.
“I hadn’t planned on being seen; it was just a bit of reconnaissance. I wanted to see for myself what was going on over there.” Gus doesn’t sound remotely apologetic, but he does keep darting concerned looks towards Ashton, who has been silent throughout their exchange.
“Well, just in case you’d forgotten, I’m the one that’s supposed to be doing that. I’m a whole lot less conspicuous than a giant black wolf!” Sofie stares at the man that she’s eye level with, standing her ground, not shrinking away from the intensity of his gaze.
“Who told you to go to the canyon, Gus?” Ashton’s voice is low, but it cuts through the tension as if it were a shout. “Whose authority were you there on?”
Sofie looks between the men, realizing that Ashton didn’t know anything about the little adventure that Gus had decided to go on. Based on everything she knows about pack life, disobeying an Alpha was a serious no-no.
“No one told me to go, Pack Master. I just wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any danger to the pack. I wanted to help, to undo some of the damage that I did when they found Bobby’s body.” Gus ducks his head, not looking directly at Ashton, an act of submission for the wolf part inside of them.
Sofie feels for him, for the guilt that he obviously feels over not having hidden Bobby’s body well enough and giving Luke the ammunition he needed to start the dig. She thinks, However, that doesn’t excuse what he did to Darwin. He could have died.
“Well, if your mission was to save the pack from danger then you’ve managed to do exactly the opposite,” Sofie tells Gus, as his head snaps up in confusion. “Your little exhibition this afternoon has given Luke exactly what he needs to get everyone on his side: a common enemy. He’s called in hunters…well…poachers I suppose. He brought them with him, desperate for an excuse to get into those woods to hunt. They’re going in tomorrow, and they’re going to be looking for you.” She nods her head towards Gus. In the silence, she feels brave enough to say what she’s wanted to tell him for a while, “To an onlooker it might seem like what you’ve been doing recently hasn’t had the best results for the pack. If I didn’t know better, I might be asking myself whose side you’re really on.”
Before the words are out of her mouth, Gus advances towards her. A sound like a growl comes from his throat, and Sofie wishes that she’d worn something easier to run in.
“That’s rich coming from you; someone who works for Shale and who isn’t even one of our kind. You’re an outsider. You don’t belong here. This isn’t any of your business.” Sofie can see how angry Gus is as he flings insults at her. They echo the dream that she had, and the words sting as much now as they did the first time she heard them; but, she refuses to back down. She’s tired of being bullied, by Luke and the Collector, and she has no intention of letting them walk all over her.
She opens her mouth to tell Gus where to go but, out of nowhere, Ashton is suddenly between them. Like a flash, he put himself in position to protect Sofie from whatever he thinks Gus might be willing to do to her. Ashton draws himself up to his full height, towering over Gus, looking down at him, dominating him, and making it clear exactly who’s in charge.
“Get out of here.” Ashton says in a low voice, full of bottled-up anger. Sofie can see the whites of his knuckles as he clenches his fist. “We’ll talk later.” He responds to whatever message he’s read in Gus’s face. Gus seems like he’s about to say something but thinks better of it and takes a step back, making it clear that he has no intention of challenging Ashton. He looks past his pack master and gives Sofie a look filled with so much hate that she has to stop herself from taking a physical step back. Then, he’s gone.
Sofie takes a few deep breaths. “Wow, I knew that Gus wasn’t my biggest fan, but I hadn’t realized quite how much he hated me.” However, there was no mistaking it now. “I guess I’m not going to be on his Christmas card list this year!”
She expects Ashton to laugh and ask her if she’s alright, but that isn’t what happens. He turns around to her, his face grim. “You should never have spoken to Gus like you did, accused him of working against us. He’s pack, and not only that, he’s my second-in-command.”
Sofie can barely contain her shock at his reaction. “What are you saying? That because I’m not pack I can’t be trusted? That I can’t say what I think?” She tries to keep a lid on her anger, but it’s a losing battle.
“Of course not. That’s not what I’m saying. I know how smart you are, and I’m getting an idea of how stubborn you are, too. All I’m saying is that you can’t go around accusing people of things. If you have something to say, come to me and I’ll look into it. You can’t make a were angry like that without being ready for the consequences. If I hadn’t been here, what do you think Gus would have done to you?” Ashton lifts his hand and traces the line of her cheekbone with his thumb, so gently.
She realizes that the concern in his eyes is for her, not for Gus’s hurt feelings. He’s worried about Gus hurting her, however accidental it might be.
“How am I supposed to live like that? Having to keep my mouth shut in case one of your friends turns into a wolf and rips my head off!” She tries to make light of the situation, but it’s really not anything to laugh about. She knows that he wants to keep her safe, but she also believes that her safety should sort of be a given in any relationship.
Ashton looks at her, his eyes filled with so much emotion that she’s dying for him to let out. But, he doesn’t. And he says I’m the stubborn one, she thinks.
“I don’t know,” he answers truthfully. “I don’t know if you can live like that, can you?”
“Could you?” she fires right back at him. “Worried about what might happen to me all the time? That’s not how it should be.” Sofie knows that she’s not speaking from experience, but as far as she knows, most relationships don’t involve an element of life and death.
“No, it’s not.” Ashton lets his hand fall but keeps his eyes trained on hers. There’s defeat in the set of his shoulders, and Sofie wonders if this is it, if this is the moment that he’s going to realize that what’s between them can never work, no matter how strong it is. “You look amazing, you know?”
Sofie blinks, wondering how he’s managed to turn things around so quickly. He’s smiling that sexy smile of his and looking at her like she’s good enough to eat. She tries not to think about how much she wants him to.
“Don’t sweet-talk me, Ash. We’re having a fight. You can’t just sweep it under the rug; it’s going to come back and bite us both on the ass.” She looks at him severely, trying to ignore the desire that’s already building inside of her. “You say that you trust me, but there’s so much that you won’t tell me. If I’m going to be living in fear for my life by being with you, then I think I deserve some answers, don’t you?”
Ashton looks at her appraisingly. “I’ll answer what I can,” he says in his typically non-committal way.
“Okay, that’s better than nothing I guess.” She takes a deep breath and comes out with it. “So what’s the deal is with the rocks? And don’t ask me what rocks. You know exactly what I’m talking about. They don’t behave like any material that I’ve ever seen.” She
watches Ashton for a reaction, but there’s nothing. “You told me that the rocks, the trees, everything in the canyon had properties. But what does that mean?” She folds her arms, making it clear that she’s expecting a response.
“I can’t tell you that.” Ashton’s reply is slow and considered, almost like the words are being pulled out of him against his will.
“Because you don’t trust me,” Sofie finishes his sentence for him.
Ashton gets up and starts pacing, something he does when he’s getting worked up. It’s his way of expending excess energy. “Trust isn’t just about sharing secrets.”
“You’re avoiding the question.” Sofie makes sure to stay away from him. She knows that as soon as they come into contact again her brain will turn to jelly and all she’ll be able to think about is how much she wants him.
“Sofie, I’m not trying to shut you out, but there are some things that non-weres are just not supposed to know. And this is one of those things. Can you deal with that?” He looks at her like he’s desperate for her to say yes.
She takes a deep breath, feeling the prick of tears behind her eyes. She thinks about his question for a few moments, but she already knows the answer. “No, Ashton. I don’t think I can.” She shakes her head sadly, knowing that she needs to get out of there before she starts crying. “I’m not asking for all of your secrets, Ash. Just something, something that makes me feel like I’m not a complete idiot for hanging around. We’re so different, and I want to believe that we can get over that, get past it, but I’m not sure that we can.” She turns to head out of the door, feeling her stomach drop into her feet as she walks away from the only man that she’s ever cared about.
Before she reaches the door of the workshop, Ashton catches hold of her wrist and pulls her back to him. He holds her close, her hands against his chest, his arms around her waist. Sofie feels the familiar heat that always comes when she’s near him. “Do you remember what I said to you? That I didn’t want to ever let you go?” Ashton looks down at her, their faces inches apart, his handsome face more open than she’s ever seen it.
Thunder (Alpha Love - a Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance Book 3) Page 8
