Owen

by Barton, Kathi S.

  Not what he’d said, but it was what Con had wanted to hear from him. They’d not just taken his check, however. There was also the discount that they’d gotten on their electric bills. The phone was gone when they had to start paying on it. And the fact that they wanted both of them to work full time jobs to get the food stamp card was just plain mean. Why did they have to work for something that the government should have been giving them? Then there was the car.

  “I miss having our own wheels the most.” Ava asked him why. “I don’t know. I loved driving around that big van they gave us to cart his dumb ass around town in. I mean, it was loaded too. Four-wheel drive, air conditioning, and leather seats. It was really special to take to the grocery store when we had the card.”

  Ava said how she’d loved the discount things they’d gotten too. And all the freebies. “Remember that time we all got to go to the baseball game, and they gave us all that baseball stuff? If I remember, we made a killing off that junk when we sold it all off.” She laid back on the bed. “Those were the days, weren’t they, Con? We didn’t have a care in the world when dummy was with us. Well, except for having dummy with us.”

  “Maybe when we leave, we could take him with us. Get some of them old perks started back up someplace else. I mean, we sure did eat better when he was around. Not to mention all those gifts they made sure he had at Christmas time. And that holiday is coming up soon. I think we should think on that one a little bit.” She said that she would. “Ava, I love you so much. Meeting you was the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

  “You too, Con. You have been so good to me over the years. You have given me this lovely body that I’m feeling good about. The doctor said that in about six weeks, I’d be able to show it off, but with the new stitches and bandages, I have to be careful.” He nodded and laid down beside her. “We’re going to have to work fast on this. I bet we don’t have too much time before someone figures out where we are.”

  “I agree. I think maybe we might have a month at the most. They won’t know where we are yet, I don’t think, but that’s more than enough time, don’t you think?” She said she didn’t know, but she’d rather be done than sorry about it. “All right. I’ll see about getting to see Clare sometime tomorrow. Surely she has time for her parents, who’ve been playing dead for so long.”

  “Yes, but we were shipwrecked, or whatever they call that when the plane goes down. I don’t know what to tell her about the bodies. Maybe she won’t ask. She’s not all that smart, if I remember correctly.” He agreed with her. “All right then. Tomorrow we start with this plan to kidnap her and demand a ransom.”

  “I love the way your mind words.” She giggled, and he closed his eyes. “Yes, we’ll be on our way home by this time next week. And we’ll be rich again.”

  ~~~

  Owen made sure the house was locked up tight, and then made his way up to their bed. Clare had gone up earlier, about a half hour ago, and he had wanted to join her. But things kept getting in his way. Like the phone call from that flipping reporter.

  How he’d gotten his number was a mystery, but he’d change his number in the morning. And Skyler had been told not to accept any calls from him or take any messages, and to have him arrested or the pack take care of him if he was on the property. Whatever his beef was with him, Owen had had enough. Albert Petersen was about to meet with Owen the Destroyer.

  Laughing as he entered the room, he nearly strangled on his tongue when he saw Clare. She was lying naked on their bed with her legs spread wide and her new toy between her thighs. Clare moaned when she saw him.

  “Are you just going to stand there or come and help me out here? I didn’t think you were ever going to come up.” He pulled his shirt off, not even bothering with buttons. “That’s my big bad wolf. Come on, Owen, I need you.”

  He moved to the bed, kicking off his shoes and letting them fly. His pants survived no better than his shirt as he ripped them from his body using a little strength from his wolf. By the time he reached Clare he was standing over her as naked as she was, and hard as stone.

  When she got up on the bed, sitting on her knees, she held onto his shoulders as she bit his nipple. Holding her, trying his best not to throw her to the bed and have his way with her, he rocked into her soft breasts as she tortured him with her mouth. She looked up at him and he smiled at her.

  “We don’t get to make love nearly enough. Don’t you think?” He said she was lucky that they were busy all the time or she’d never leave this room. “I think that sounds about right. Did you know that Conrad is spending the night at the pack house? And that Skyler made us a nice platter of food for us to eat throughout the night?”

  “No. I will have to give him a bonus for thinking of us.” He laughed when she bit him hard. “Clare, I don’t know if you realize this or not, but you’re playing with fire right now. Seeing you masturbating nearly had me coming in my pants.”

  “It’s not as much fun as I thought it would be.” She suckled at his nipple again. “Could be that I was all alone. You think that might be it?”

  “That could be. Why don’t you lie back? I’ll see if I can make you feel any better.”

  She did so without hesitation. He wanted to make love to her, but she was so excited with this that he couldn’t turn her down.

  Owen didn’t have a lot of experience with vibrators. When he got between her legs, he couldn’t help but take a taste of her. She was so wet that his mouth filled with her cream immediately. Turning on the pink vibrator, he touched it to her clit and nearly came with her when she screamed out his name.

  “More, Owen. I need so much more.”

  He was willing to oblige her. As soon as he suckled on her clit, he meant only to slide his fingers into her sheath when the vibrator touched her instead. Owen could not believe the sensation it was giving them both. And when she came again, screaming louder than before, he played with it in different positions, each time bringing her over the edge quickly and loudly. When she begged him to stop, he sat up on the bed again and put the thing to his cock.

  It was strange but felt good. And when she came to him, taking him into her mouth, Owen came hard, his cock being milked and vibrated so well that he felt himself fill a second and then a third time as she swallowed him down. Falling back on the bed, he laid there for several minutes, just too drained to move.

  “Owen, are you all right?” He looked at Clare, then pulled her into his arms. He was still too exhausted to move, but holding her helped a great deal. “You were right. It was a great deal more fun with you helping me.”

  “I think that was your idea, but I’m willing to help you out like that anytime you wish.” He felt the cold platter being put on his chest and looked down at it. “You left me here? I must have dozed off.”

  Sitting up, they enjoyed some of the things on the platter. There was meat and cheeses, as well as fruit. He was marveling at the way Skyler had taken the time to cut the fruit into small shapes, such as stars and hearts. The man was a wonder, he thought as he ate several of the green grapes.

  “If we were to have a baby, do you think it would be like Conrad? I don’t care, but it is something to think about.” He asked her if she wanted children. “I think I do. I’m not sure yet. I feel like I’ve only just begun my life. And I heard from a woman by the name of Carmen yesterday. She said that we’re going to live for a very long time. Did she mean forever, or just longer than normal?”

  “Forever. She said that she loved hanging out with us and wanted to keep us around for as long as she is. My parents weren’t all that happy about it, my dad anyway, but once the kids started coming around, he changed his tune.” He fed her a star shaped pineapple on a strawberry and smiled. “I’d love to have children with you. And as for your question about our children, no, they’d not be like Conrad. But to me, it wouldn’t matter. I love the man.”

  “He thinks you’re the best thing—how did he put it? Oh, you’re the best thing since rocks
skimming over the pond.” Owen hadn’t heard that one before, but it warmed his heart. “Anyway, I haven’t any idea how this would work for us.”

  “Well, we’d have to have sex. A lot of it.” She slapped him on the chest. “You have to go into heat. I’m not sure how I would know when you’re ready to get pregnant, but I’ll talk to Mom. She knows a great deal about a lot of things.”

  “She told me a few days ago about this really nice nursery set that was on sale. Sara isn’t the type to beat around the bush much, is she?” He laughed as he told her that it wasn’t her strong suit, no. “I think the world of her. Just so you know. And Conrad has started calling her grandma. I wasn’t sure how she’d feel about that, him being as old as Caleb, but she thinks it’s perfect for them. He’s been hanging out with her after classes. They’ve been shopping.”

  “Now that she told me. He didn’t have all that much in the way of clothing. I hadn’t any idea that he’d been only wearing hospital gowns at the home, as well as slippers. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her to get whatever he wanted and to send the bill to me.” Clare had told her the same thing. “He had on blue jeans yesterday. And my dad had to explain to him the different types of underwear. Apparently he’d only been allowed to wear those cotton boxers. I have boxer briefs, and my dad wears tighty whities. So they bought him all the different types that were in his size and he has been trying them out. I don’t think he cares much for the white ones. He wants color.”

  “Yes, well, don’t ask him in public why he’s moving funny. He pulled his pants down to show me his briefs right there in the grocery store. Those are the ones that ride up on him, he told anyone within listening distance.” He’d laughed harder in the last half hour than he had in a long time. “He’s having such a good time at the pack house. When he asked if he could spend the night, I didn’t have the heart to tell him it might be too dangerous. But they said that they’d keep a close eye on him for us.”

  She dozed off sometime after three. Getting up without waking her, Owen went down to his office. He had meant to tell her what he’d found out, but since she’d needed him, he forgot.

  He’d gotten word that not only had Boone left town when he was told to, but he’d taken his henchmen with him. And no one trusted that he was really going to stay gone. But there were people all over his estate now, digging up the pool and a few other places that Gabe and Rayne had given them information on. When he was pulling up his computer to check on sales at the auction, Xander contacted him.

  Penny has been talking to her mom, and there are a couple of things you should be made aware of. Apparently she’s been doing some snooping around with other ghosts. I haven’t any idea how that works, but I guess now that someone has acknowledged her, like knows where she is, she can leave for a few minutes every couple of hours. He said that Gabe would probably know more than he would. Yeah, I’m going to talk to him tomorrow. But get this. Boone is staying at a hotel about fifty miles from here. Now, I don’t know in which direction yet; Sharon has some trouble with that.

  Penny was an eleven-year-old that lived with his brother Xander. When he purchased Rayne’s home, he inherited not only Penny, but her mom as well who had been buried in the basement under the pool table. It was the plan to dig her up and give her peace, but no one wanted to put Penny through something so traumatic again. Owen had heard that Sharon had not died peacefully in her sleep.

  Anyway, she said that while he’s not at his home, he is making plans to take care of Con and Ava. No one here feels the least bit sorry for any of them, I guess. Owen said he didn’t either. Just wanted to make you aware that he’s still close. I also need you to answer me a question about something. Do you know a person by the name of Albert Petersen? He called here four or five times today. And the others too. Once he tried to tell Tyler that you and he had spoken, and because you were so busy, you had him call Tyler to get the information on the dead guy you’re selling for.

  I’m taking care of him right now. He pulled up the newspaper that Petersen worked for. I think this might be more fun than I thought. Apparently Mom and Dad own the paper he works for. It was part of the estate from Mr. Cunningham.

  Sic Mom on him. Or Dad—either one would enjoy taking him to task. They laughed, enjoying the moment as they each thought of all the crap coming that man’s way. I was thinking of having a big tree this year. It’ll be Penny and mine’s first together. And I was wondering if you know where I can get some more ornaments. Mom has a lot, but since I want a huge fucking tree, I don’t have nearly enough to cover it.

  I never thought of that. I don’t think I have enough either, now that you mention it. And I need to find something for Clare and Conrad. It’s still a couple of months away, but I need to get on this. Xander said that was his thought too. All right. We should all get together, just us men, and figure out a time to go shopping. Mom and the girls are doing it this year, and Clare is excited about it. We should bring Dad too.

  And Conrad. He’d love that, don’t you think? He said that he would, but he’d have to clear it with Clare first. She’s wonderful, Owen. Just the kind of wife you need. All of you have the perfect wives.

  You will too. Xander snorted. You will. And the three of you will have so much fun being a family. I have all the faith in the world in that. Hey, maybe she will bring another kid with her and you’ll be set. Mom certainly would like that.

  When they closed the connection, he was making notes on all the crap he wanted to get done today. Owen called his mom first. Then he wanted to set up a time to go to the auction house. They said that it was important that they speak to him personally.

  Owen hoped that Albert wasn’t making trouble for him. He’d find the guy, snap his little scrawny neck, and bury him in the back yard. As he was thinking how violent he’d become, he heard Clare coming down the stairs. He hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. It was almost seven in the morning.

  Kissing her good morning, he ran up to get cleaned up for the day. She had plans already, she told him, or she’d go with him to the auction house. Instead, he would ask his dad to go with him. Maybe Mom too. He’d buy them lunch.

  Chapter 7

  Con moved along the sidewalk, amazed that no one seemed to be paying him any mind. And earlier when he’d gone to the diner to get them a meal, he’d called Ava to come join him, since no one cared who he was. They had, for the first time since coming here, had a nice breakfast with all the trimmings, and company from the people eating too.

  Now he was headed to the first house on his list. The Winchesters apparently didn’t just stay at home like normal people, but could be found at any of the other family homes, or at the numerous buildings that they owned around town. There was even speculation that they owned a few dozen houses outside the country as well. His daughter was going to have to come up with some major cash for all the shit he was having to do for her to be kidnapped.

  Laughing to himself, Con found the first house easily enough. Christ, it was huge. Pillars on the front, a wide porch that had several rockers on it, as well as the last of the season’s flowers in planters that lined the front. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a man in a suit.

  “Yes, sir. How may I help you today?” A butler. He knew it. Telling him who he was looking for, the man shook his head. “I’m sorry sir, but this isn’t Mr. Owen’s home. He lives just down the street from here. I haven’t any idea where he might be this afternoon.”

  “Thanks.” He started to turn away, then looked back at the man when he was closing the door. “You know if they’ve got Conrad with them? He’s my.... He’s a friend of mine.”

  “I do not, sir.”

  He closed the door with a sharp bang, and Con was left to stand there wondering if he’d just had the door slammed in his face. Instead of letting it bother him, he went to the next home on the list. This too was a huge fucking mansion.

  He got the same answers at the next three houses. Con was beginning to think that he wa
s being scammed in some way when he came to a home that looked like the one that he and Ava had had when they’d first married.

  It was a little run down, but looked to be in good shape. There was work being done on it too—the roof had been pulled off and was being replaced. There were large piles of bricks in the front yard that someone was placing to make a sidewalk. He was just thinking how this was more than likely Clare’s husband’s home when an elderly couple came out of the house with a younger man.

  He was in the picture that had been in the paper. While he wasn’t sure where he’d been standing, like near Clare or not, he was sure that he was one of the fellers that was related to them now. Con put out his hand to shake when the younger man approached.

  “Hi there. I’m looking for Clare Macintosh. I guess she’d be Winchester now.” The man didn’t take his hand, and that bothered Con. “I’m just looking for some information. I’m not out to do anything to her.”

  “I’m her husband.” Well, while helpful on some level, it really wasn’t very friendly, and he told him that. “I don’t really care, Mr. Macintosh. What is it you think you’re going to gain by coming around here?”

  “She’s my little girl, and I thought that we could get together for old times’ sake.” The man said nothing but did cross his arms over his chest. It was a bit intimidating to realize just how big the man was. “Do you think you can call her outside or something? Her mom and I were thinking of having dinner with her.”

  “She doesn’t live here. This is my parents’ home.” He nodded, thankful really that his daughter had done a little better for herself. “You’re not welcome here. Nor is your wife. And stop dropping by the rest of my family’s homes. They’re not going to help you either.”

  “Help me with what? What is it you think I want? Just a dinner with my little girl, that’s all I was wanting.” He looked at the couple behind the man and could see that they’d be no help either. They were as upset as this guy was. “Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I’m Con Macintosh. And you’re…?”