“Killian. Look at me.”
Turquoise eyes stared into her. She wasn’t sure what he was feeling right now, but it wasn’t satisfaction, and it wasn’t happiness. He broke eye contact but gathered her into his arms.
“What’s wrong? Talk to me, please?”
He didn’t say a word but lifted her up instead, carried her out of his office and padded softly into the bedroom. Silently, he lay her down, slipped in beside her and pulled the covers over their bodies.
As Luna lay next to him, a dreaded feeling crept into her heart. Something was not right, she knew it. And she was determined to find out what.
***
Waking up alone in the morning did nothing to abate Luna’s suspicion that something was going on with Killian. When she woke and realized he was gone, worry began to creep into her mind again.
Meredith and Evie came around so they could finish shopping for the apartment. But as they walked around the bedding section of Bendel’s, it was evident Luna’s heart was not into the excursion, so Meredith promised them both the best Italian food in all of Manhattan. She even told Evie to ask Selena to come along; a free meal was the least they could give her after all, considering all the trouble the redhead went through.
Selena was already waiting for them, and the four women walked into Muccino’s Italian restaurant.
“I didn’t know the Lupa owned a restaurant and that her brother was a chef,” Evie said as they walked inside. “And they’re right around the corner from the office.”
“One of the reasons Killian chose the office location,” Meredith said. “Hey, Enzo,” she greeted the tall, handsome man standing next to the host’s station inside the restaurant.
“Hey ba—I mean, Meredith,” Enzo Muccino greeted back. “Um, is your husband around?” he asked, his eyes darting around.
Meredith giggled. “No, don’t worry, he’s not with us.”
“Good,” he said with a nod.
“Are you afraid of Daric?” Meredith asked with a grin.
“No,” he denied. “I was afraid you guys were going to bang in the bathroom again,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I need to warn my staff so you don’t traumatize them. Again.”
Meredith slapped him on the arm playfully. “Aww, c’mon. It’s not like your busboy needed therapy.”
“Say, did you guys pop in there for a quickie the other night? I could have sworn I heard something while we were closing up.”
“What?” she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But as Meredith turned away from Enzo, a smile was tugging at her lips.
“Right. Well then,” he nodded at the rest of the women. “Ladies, we’ve been expecting you. Frankie’s not here right now, but she said you’re our VIPs for the day and she picked out what you’re going to eat, so come with me.”
Enzo led them to a corner booth which already had bread, olive oil and a few other appetizers on the table. “Your server will be with you shortly to take your drink orders. Have some wine too, if you like,” He winked at Selena and Evie.
“Oh wow!” Selena grabbed the wine list. “Really? Maybe I should get kidnapped more often.”
“You weren’t kidnapped, Selena,” Evie reminded her.
“Whatever. How about a glass of merlot?” she asked Enzo.
“Anything for you, sweet cheeks,” Enzo replied. Evie shook her head when Enzo looked at her.
“No more wine for you, Evie-girl?” Selena asked in a teasing voice.
Evie shook her head. “Uh, never again. I’ve only gotten drunk one night in my life, and it was a big mistake.”
“Next time Connor’s being an asshole, please feel free to hit him with whatever object you have on hand,” Meredith said. “Drunk or not.” Meredith turned to Luna and explained what had happened the night Connor and Evie met for the first time.
“What were you doing at a male strip club anyway?” Meredith asked with a grin, elbowing Evie.
“It wasn’t my idea!” She looked at Selena, who had put on her best innocent ‘who me?’ look.
“Excuse me, ladies,” a deep voice said. Four pairs of eyes swung over the handsome man in the white chef’s coat.
“Chef McHottie!” Meredith greeted, standing up and putting her arms around the man. “How have you been?”
“Oh you know,” the chef said with a smile. “Same as always. Hello, I’m Dante Muccino,” he nodded to the other women. Dante Muccino was gorgeous with his dark hair, olive skin and mismatched blue and green eyes. It wasn’t surprising that Evie and Selena both were tongue-tied when the handsome young chef introduced himself.
“I’m E-evie,” the brunette stuttered, extending her hand.
“I’m…I’m…” Selena’s blue-gray eyes were boring holes right into Dante’s face.
“Selena,” Evie supplied, elbowing her friend.
The redhead’s face brightened. “Yes. Selena. That’s me. My name. Don’t wear it out. Or wear it out, if you like. Haaaa…”
“And I’m Luna.” She extended her hand and shook his.
“Well, Frankie told me to take care of you—”
“Oh will you, please?” Selena added, batting her eyelashes at him.
“Um, yeah,” Dante chuckled. “Take care of your meal, I mean. So I whipped up some veal scallopini just for you. Off the menu. I’ll have it right out, but in the meantime I’ll send more appetizers and pasta to your table, okay?”
“Thanks, Chef,” Meredith said with a jaunty, two-fingered salute.
“Selena, put your tongue back in your mouth,” Evie ordered.
“Oh. My. God.” Selena fanned herself. “He certainly deserves that nick name. Rreeowwl.”
Luna laughed. She liked Selena, the almost-witch, and hoped she would be around more.
“So,” Meredith began as she dished out some appetizers to the rest of the girls. “Luna, now that it’s just us girls, tell us what’s going on with you.”
“What?”
“Oh come on,” Meredith said. “When Evie and I arrived, you were moping around the house. And shopping didn’t really seem to excite you, either.”
Luna sighed. The three women looked at her with various expressions of concern and worry. She took a deep breath. “It’s just…I feel like there’s something wrong with Killian. With us. I think he’s pulling away from me and I don’t know why.” Her throat tightened, and when Selena put an arm around her, she burst into tears.
“Aw, honey,” Meredith said, offering her a napkin. “I’m sure he’s just preoccupied. We’re still not sure that your life isn’t out of danger yet.”
“He’s pulling away from me.” She wiped her eyes with the napkin. “I can feel it. Do you think he doesn’t want me anymore? Am I getting too fat?”
“What?” Selena said. “You are not fat! Stop saying that.”
“Maybe you’re just reading things wrong,” Evie offered. “I haven’t known Killian for long, but he seems to be the serious type. Like, he just gets an idea in his head and he can’t let go until it’s resolved. So maybe Meredith is right and he’s just got a lot of things on his mind.”
“I am right. He wouldn’t go to all this trouble to move you into his place, only to push you away.”
Luna’s mouth formed into a perfect ‘o’ at the Lycan’s words.
“Oh, please,” Meredith continued. “You haven’t left his house since your date. He’s bought you all these clothes so you have no excuse to go back to your place. For crying out loud, he’s having you furnish his apartment. Nuh-uh, no,” the blonde Lycan held her hand up when Luna tried to speak. “Yes, all that furniture is for you. I’ve already ordered the entire nursery set from that store, so don’t you dare think he’s going to toss you out. And if he does, he’ll answer to me.”
Luna sat silent, staring at her plate. Was Killian just distracted with work? Had he been moving her into his home all this time? Her hands went to her belly, and as if her baby heard her, she felt a sm
all kick against her hand. She sighed. Maybe it was all her imagination.
Meredith continued. “Dante’s coming back with our food. Just enjoy the meal, okay? Maybe when you go back home, you and Killian should have that serious conversation I’ve been telling you to have. Christ,” she gave an exaggerated sigh. “I can’t believe I’m the adult in this situation.
Luna nodded. Yes, it was time she and Killian had a sit down to talk about their future, and their child’s. She only hoped he would say what she’d been hoping to hear.
Chapter Sixteen
Killian slammed his fist on the table in anger. Fucking hell. He ran his palms down his face in frustration. Hours and hours of research, reading and calling in favors, and still nothing. He let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair.
He had combed every piece of evidence they had and re-ran all the background checks on John Rhoades’ accomplices and anyone he had been in contact with in prison, even the guards. Luna had mentioned that she and her mother had lived with a wealthy old couple, so he looked into their backgrounds too. He had a few possibilities, mostly disgruntled employees or business rivals, but nothing substantial.
While Larry Bakersfield was a bastard, Killian believed him when he said he didn’t want Luna dead. Money motivated the hedge fund manager, and although he probably cashed in millions from the insurance money, Bakersfield wanted to have his cake and eat it too, so he had Luna followed. Besides, he wasn’t from the streets, as evidenced by the way he conducted business with Shorty Alberts and his pals. Killian doubted the coward could stand the sight of blood.
And so here he was, back to square one. Someone was out to get Luna, but who? He would find out, and when he did, there was nowhere on earth the bastard would be able to hide. He would do anything to protect his mate and child.
But that wouldn’t be enough. Killian had taken everything away from Luna, and he was doing everything in his power to make it up to her. He pulled his chair back to his desk and clicked a tab on the web browser. He was lucky that her apartment was still on the market. She had sold it back to the bank at a loss to pay for her legal fees, but no one had snatched it up yet. He spent all night talking to a real estate agent in Portland to make sure the sale went through. He didn’t care how much it cost, just so long as it was done. As soon as he knew she was safe, he would give her the deed. With Larry Bakersfield’s reputation being dragged through the mud with his arrest and possible trial, he knew it wouldn’t be long before Luna’s reputation would be repaired and she could have her old job back.
And when she decided to go back to Portland with their child? His inner wolf growled in protest. No, he told the wolf. He’d destroyed her life and she deserved a chance to have it back, even if it meant living with the hole in his heart for the rest of his life. Because that’s what people do when they’re in love, right? Set the ones they love free.
A ringing interrupted his thoughts and he fished his phone from his pocket. He frowned as he saw the caller ID read, ‘unknown number.’
“Hello?”
“Lone Wolf,” the raspy voice on the other end whispered.
A chill blasted through him. “Who is this?”
“It’s not important who I am,” the voice said. “But, it’s important who I have.”
“Is this a joke?”
“No, Killian. I finally have her. Your True Mate.”
Luna. The wolf inside him howled in anger, its claws digging into him, begging to be let out. He felt the muscles twitch under his skin and he knew he was starting to lose control.
“Yeah, right.” He had to reign the wolf in. “I’m hanging up now, asshole.”
“Uh-uh, Killian,” the voice warned. “Look outside.”
Killian swiveled his chair around so he could see out the window. He looked down and saw a man in a dark jacket with a cap pulled low over his face. He waved at Killian and then jerked his thumb at the van behind him. The door slid open, and Killian saw a small figure with a flash of silvery hair tied up in the back. The door closed again.
“You fucking bastard! Who is this? I swear, I’m going to kill you—”
“Tsk, tsk, Killian,” the voice taunted. “Come down now if you want to see her alive.” The line went dead.
Killian ripped out of the office, slamming the doors open and not caring if they closed behind him. He didn’t even wait for the elevators, running to the stairs and taking them two at a time. He let out a growl as the cold air hit him, and he felt the shift coming. Good. He and his wolf would rip those men who dared touch, Luna.
He stalked over to the van and pulled the door open. “Luna!” he cried as saw her lying limply on the dirty floor of the van. He grabbed her legs to pull her out. “What the fuck?” He frowned, looking at the dismembered leg in his hand. He pulled the rest of the body out, only to reveal that it was a mannequin with a blonde wig. “Jesus—“
A puff of green smoke was the last thing he saw before the world went black.
Chapter Seventeen
“And so, Evie and her ex-boyfriend, Dick—”
“Richard,” Evie corrected, “His name is Richard.”
Selena took another sip of wine and ignored her. “So, anyway, Dick,” she emphasized the name, “broke up over the phone with her all the way from Kansas, for like, the umpteenth time and I thought I’d cheer her up.”
“By bringing her to a male strip club?” Luna asked.
“Hell yeah,” Meredith raised her hand and Selena heartily high-fived her.
Luna shook her head. Their quick lunch had somehow turned into a three-hour affair, and Selena had already finished half a bottle of wine by herself. Totally sloshed, the redhead decided it would be fun to reveal all her best friend’s secrets, much to Evie’s mortification.
“Selena,” Evie warned.
“C’mon, Evie, be a good sport,” Selena said. “Look, we’re trying to cheer up poor Luna. I’m sure she’ll want to hear the rest of this story.”
Luna chuckled. Growing up, she’d never had any close female friends. She never thought it was such a loss, but now she realized how nice it was to have people she could talk to and make her laugh. “Yes, please.” She took a bite of the tiramisu. “Hmm, try this first, though. It’s heavenly.”
“Now, that is heavenly,” Selena said as Dante Muccino came out of the kitchen to talk to some staff members. He was showing them something under one of the tables, and he bent over, showing off a well-formed backside.
Evie rolled her eyes. “Selena, you’re impossible.”
“What?”
“He’s a Lycan. I thought you said you’re—”
“Pshaw, a girl can dream, right?”
“Wait,” Meredith interrupted. “Tell us the next part of the story of how Evie ended up at Merlin’s and smacked Connor with her handbag.”
“Oh, right,” Selena giggled. “So, I told Evie to meet me at Merlin’s that night and—”
“Selena!” Evie hissed and slapped her hand over the redhead’s mouth.
Selena pulled the hand away. “Evie, what the he—llo, boys!” She greeted brightly.
Luna turned her head. Connor and Quinn were standing right behind them. Both wore serious expressions on their faces.
“Have you seen Killian?” Quinn asked.
“Not since this morning,” Luna said. “I mean, early this morning. He left while I was asleep.” A cold dread filled the growing pit in her stomach.
Meredith’s back stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
The two Lycans looked at each other then Quinn spoke. “We just came from the office. The doors were open and the lights were on, but Killian wasn’t there. It was like he just left all of a sudden.”
“Or was taken,” Connor added.
“No,” Luna cried. Selena put a comforting arm around Luna, but it did nothing to stop the icy fear filling her veins.
“Maybe he just went out?” Evie offered. “Were there signs of a break-in or struggle?”
“No,” Conn
or said.
“Shit,” Meredith stood up with such force that the table shook. “You know Killian wouldn’t just leave like that.”
“What’s happening?” Luna asked. Her hand went to her belly. The baby was suddenly awake and she ran her palms over her stomach in a soothing manner.
Quinn let out a breath. “I think something may have happened to Killian.”
***
They all headed back to Lone Wolf Security to try and piece together what happened to Killian. As soon as she saw his empty office with all the lights on, dread crept into Luna’s heart. No, she told herself. It couldn’t be.
“What was he working on?” Meredith asked as Quinn sat down in front of Killian’s laptop.
“Hmmm…looks like he was doing more research on—” He stopped suddenly, but his eyes clashed with Luna’s.
“What is it?” she asked, running to his side.
“He was looking into your father,” Quinn said. “And into your mother’s employers,” he added quickly.
“He knew about my dad?” Luna asked, her voice quivering.
“I’m sorry Luna.” Quinn lowered his head. “I had to do a background check to find out who was trying to kidnap you.”
“But this doesn’t make sense.” Luna sank down on a chair, a look of disbelief on her face. “My dad’s serving a life sentence. I doubt he even knows where I am.”
“It was just an angle.” Quinn stood up. “Wait here.” He leaped up from the chair and left the office, then came back seconds later with his laptop in tow. “We had security cameras installed just yesterday outside the building. I haven’t had a chance to test them yet but…” He tapped the keys, and a window popped up on the screen, showing the outside of the building. “Let me scroll back…and there.” Quinn swiveled his screen around. He tapped on the space bar, and the screen showed Killian running out of the building to a white van across the street. He opened the van’s door and then suddenly collapsed. A man slipped out of the passenger seat and pushed Killian all the way into the back of the van, then shut the door. As soon as the man went back inside, the van sped off.
Killian's Secret: The Lone Wolf Defenders Book 1 Page 14
