by Codi Gary
Greer covered her mouth to smother her giggle, and Xander winked at her. “Noted. I’ll let them know, but Jill, you can’t stay alone at your place in case Pax decides he made a mistake letting you live. So, unless you want to bring one of the Larson’s home for a sleepover, you’re bunking here.”
“Or I could bunk with you guys at Greer’s. She’s got an extra room.”
Xander’s expression when he met Greer’s gaze was filled with hunger and exasperation, so Greer decided to save him. “I think Xander wants to have me all to himself.”
Jill sighed. “Got it. All night sexcapades and I’d be a third wheel. Fine, I’ll pack a bag and stay here. But I am not sleeping on the couch. If I’m going to be in witness protection, I’m going to at least get a goodnight sleep.”
As Jill took her coffee and headed upstairs, Xander leaned against the kitchen counter with a groan. “Is she always that dramatic?”
Greer padded over to him and set her coffee down on the counter. Then, she wrapped her arms around his waist before kissing his chest. “Welcome to the wonderful world of Jill Meyers, former child star.”
“Joy.” Xander kissed her, lingering on her lips. “So, a sleepover at your place. Does that mean that I get to kiss you a whole lot more tonight?”
“Yep.”
His hands traveled over her back and squeezed her buttocks. “And touch.”
“Uh huh.” Her hand slipped around to the front of his jeans, cupping his erection. “And a whole, lot more.”
A deep sound vibrated in his chest. “I’ll be counting down the hours.”
Me too.
Chapter Sixteen
Later that afternoon, Clyde had called to let him know that he was about an hour out with his sons and they were starving. Greer had offered to call in a couple pizzas, shocked when he’d told her to order seven.
“Who is going to eat all that?”
“You’ve never seen the Larson’s take down their food like they’ve been lost in the desert for a week.”
Greer shook her head, but while she went off to order, Xander looked over the paper Pax had generously left for him on the windshield of his truck that morning. He’d hidden it before the girls had seen it, but the police had found Sam’s body, and another woman was missing.
Poor Patty hadn’t been seen since Thursday after work.
The police were baffled by the string of animal attacks, and had called in an expert to see if the murders were the work of a rogue shifter.
Shit.
Pax wanted the heat in Twilight in case Xander did kill him. That way, all the deaths would point to him. It was the only reasonable explanation that he could come up with.
The unreasonable conclusion was that Pax was just one crazy son of a bitch, which actually fell in line with everything he knew about him. Every time he caught one of Pax’s old gang, he always asked just before he ended them, “Why my family?” None of them had known or admitted it. They’d all just said that Pax had set it up.
Greer came back into the room, and when he started to throw the newspaper away, he stopped. He wasn’t going to lie or hide things from her anymore. If he really wanted to have a future with her, he had to let go of his solitary lifestyle.
“They found Sam’s body. The local police are bringing in an expert to determine whether it was a shifter.”
Greer stopped at the edge of the kitchen, her face drained of color. “And they’re going to find two bodies. One killed by a were-cougar and the other a werewolf. Xander…”
It all clicked. “He turned Jill so she’d take the fall for him.”
“And you’ll take the fall for Dakota. You found Sam’s body and I bet Pax and Dakota were counting on that to lead the police straight to you.”
Xander sat down at the kitchen table and rubbed his hands over his face. “I have to end this, now. Before they finish whatever they have planned. I have to kill them.”
Her arms slipped around his neck from behind and he could feel the press of her breasts against his shoulders. “We will stop them. It will be all over and you can move on.”
He let out a shaky breath, allowing her embrace to calm and strengthen him. He pulled her around until she was seated across his lap, her ass cradled against the front of his jeans. He held her to him, and just breathed her in.
The sound of pounding feet on the stairs alerted him Jill was coming, but he held tight to Greer before she could pull away.
“Geez, what’s the matter with you two, you look like you’re in mourning.” When they didn’t answer, she cursed. “Oh, shit, who died?”
“Patty Simcox is missing,” Greer said softly.
“Probably not the best time to bring up karma, right?” Xander turned in his seat to glare at her, and found Greer already scowling at her over his shoulder. Jill threw up her hands in surrender. “Sorry, poor taste!”
“Greer thinks she knows why Pax bit you and why they killed Kelsey and Sam,” Xander said.
Jill sat across from them at the table. “Enlighten me.”
Greer filled her in on the theory and Jill’s mouth tightened, her pupils becoming slits. Xander could sense her beast, and held his hand up. “Breathe, Jill.”
She closed her eyes, obviously trying to find her calm again. “God, I’m going to have to take up yoga again to release all this bad energy. I fucking hate yoga.”
Xander heard the key in the lock just before the front door swung open and Clyde Larsen’s loud voice boomed, “Xander! Where you at, boy?”
Xander kissed Greer’s lips before depositing her back on her feet and standing up. He came around the chair just as Clyde entered the living room, his three sons behind him. All of them were big men, though not as tall as Xander. Clyde was shorter than his sons with copper hair and eyes the color of pine needles in the spring. His beard was darker than his hair, and his teeth were straight and even.
“Clyde,” Xander said.
Clyde stomped forward and pulled Xander into his arms, slapping him on the back. “It’s good to see you. It’s been too long.”
“Yeah, it has.”
Clyde pulled away and nodded over his shoulder. “And who are these two lovely ladies?”
“The one sitting down at the table is Jill, and this is Greer.”
Clyde winked at him. “Greer, huh? I like that.”
Greer held out her hand with a grin. “I’m so glad, sir, since it’s the only one I’ve got.”
“Oh, I like this one. She’ll definitely keep you on your toes.”
Before he could respond, Xander was pulled back into a rough embrace as Clyde’s oldest, Dereck, cracked his back.
“I missed you, little brother,” Dereck said.
Xander squeezed his shoulder when Dereck released him. Dereck was only a year older than Xander, but had insisted on calling him little brother. His hair was darker than his fathers with that red sheen to it, but his eyes were almost black instead of green.
“I appreciate you coming,” Xander said.
“Move out of the way, Dare, so we can give Xander a proper greeting,” Luke said.
Luke was the middle child and the clown of the Larson siblings. He looked just like his dad without the gruff exterior, and actually pinched Xander’s cheeks. Xander yanked away from him with a scowl.
“You’re an ass, Luke.”
“You love me best, just admit it.”
The last one to give him a hug was Clyde’s youngest, Clint. He was just shy of twenty, with his mother’s black hair and eyes. He was the quietest of the three.
“Good to see you, kid.”
Clint rolled his eyes. “Not a kid anymore.”
Xander introduced the three men to Greer and Jill, stepping between Greer and Luke when he got a little too friendly.
Luke stepped back respectfully with a grin. “So, that’s the way of it, huh?”
“Yeah, so keep a wide berth where she’s concerned.”
“Fine, fine…but where is the pizza?”
/> Chapter Seventeen
Greer sat at the table, her two slices of pizza still intact on her plate as she watched the Larson boys, Xander, Clyde, and even Jill, go through four of the pizzas in under fifteen minutes.
It was Clyde who caught her staring and shot her a wink. “Gotta grab it while it’s hot, girlie, or there won’t be any left.”
She laughed. “So, I see.”
“How long you been seeing Xander,” Luke asked.
She could feel her cheeks warm as she admitted, “Well we met on Monday, but seeing each other? Since last night.”
“Oh, so it’s not serious then?”
“Luke…” Xander growled.
Dereck knocked his brother upside the head, and Luke shoved him back. “I was just curious.”
“Bullshit,” Clint said mildly. “My brother thinks he’s a lady’s man.”
Luke puffed up. “I am.”
“Eat your food and shut it or I’ll take you out back and lock you out,” Clyde warned.
The table fell silent, and Greer laughed. “Wow, you really have them trained.”
“Boys, there’s nothing to them. Girls, on the other hand, will drive you crazy.”
“Duly noted,” Greer said.
Luke turned his attention to Jill. “What about you, Jill? Seeing anyone?”
Jill wrinkled her nose at him. “Not interested, puppy.”
All the men hooted while Luke shrugged sheepishly.
Before Jill’s attention turned back to her food, Greer caught her sneak a glance at Dereck, who was looking back with obvious interest.
She turned to catch Xander’s eye, wondering if he’d seen it too, and found him watching her intensely.
“Eat your food so we can get you home,” he said with a smile. “You look exhausted.”
Greer swallowed, knowing he had no intention of letting her sleep tonight. He’d already caught her coming out of the bathroom, and pressed her against the wall, rubbing himself all over her.
She’d been fidgeting in her chair ever since, trying to ease the ache of arousal he’d created. It had been a bit embarrassing since Luke had given her a smirk that made her think he knew exactly what they’d been up to.
“Before you leave, I want to talk to you about Pax and Dakota,” Clyde said.
Greer noticed Xander stiffened. “I have it handled.”
“Maybe so, but I still think stacking the odds in your favor couldn’t hurt.”
“I’m not going to be responsible if one of you gets killed. This is my fight and I am going to take care of it.”
Clyde cursed a blue streak and his three sons scooted back from the table. Luke stood up with a flourish, bowing. “Ladies, would you care to join us in the living room while these two have a pissing match?”
“Sit your ass down, Luke,” Xander snapped.
Greer got up with her plate and came around the table, putting her hand on his shoulder. “Xander…can I talk to you for a minute?”
Xander stood abruptly. “Sure.”
The two of them headed into the kitchen and dumped their paper plates into the trash on their way out the front door. The minute the door closed, she turned to face him.
“Why won’t you let them help you?”
He actually seemed surprised she would ask that. “Like I said, it’s my fight.”
“But it’s two against one. At least if you took Clyde, Derrick, and Luke, the odds would be in your favor.”
“No. I can do this on my own.”
“I don’t want you to,” she snapped.
“This isn’t about you, Greer. This is shifter business and you don’t know the first thing about it.”
Greer tried to hold back her tears as his words cut her to the core. Not that he was wrong; she didn’t understand his world.
She wanted to, though, and he wouldn’t even give her a chance.
“I think I’m going to head home tonight alone,” she said.
“I’m sorry.” He tried to reach out to her, but she backed up. “I really am. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. You can be mad at me, but I can’t let you go home alone.”
“I won’t be. I’ll ask Jill and Dereck to come with me. I’m sure they’d enjoy a little time to get to know each other better.”
He drew back. “Jill and Dereck?”
“Yeah, they’ve been giving each other the eye all night. And since I looked it up and there’s no law against interspecies mating, I figured why not give them a chance. Someone deserves to get lucky.”
“Greer…”
“It’s okay. I’m not really mad, but I’m just not in the mood tonight. You really don’t owe me anything.”
With a sad smile, she walked inside and her heart ached when he didn’t stop her.
Chapter Eighteen
Greer sat in the back seat as Jill drove, letting Derick sit in the front. The two of them were just a couple of chatty Cathys, but Greer ignored them, too hurt and worried to think about anything but what an idiot Xander was.
He was really willing to take on Pax and Dakota and possibly die all so that he could get his precious revenge? It was idiotic, to say the least, but she wasn’t going to berate him or try to change his mind. Whatever made her think she had the power to show him that this crazy thing between them didn’t happen often, no matter what romance novels and movies portrayed, obviously had been a figment of her imagination. There was such a thing as soul mates, but they were rare and could be lost easily if they weren’t recognized.
She was probably reading too much into everything. She’d gone from scared of forever with Sam to begging for Xander to choose her over revenge.
She’d been completely naïve. Lost her head over a little charm, a fantastic smile, and amazing eyes.
Jill was pulling through the stop sign on Moonbeam when suddenly, high beams flashed through the right-side window just before something slammed into the car. Greer’s whole body jerked against the seat belt as she was thrown to the right then the left, screaming in terror.
Greer’s head was spinning, making her see double, but she heard Dereck whispering to Jill.
“Go. Shift. Get help.”
“What about you?”
“My legs are pinned, and I can’t reach the side lever to lay the seat back. Hurry up!” he said.
“Greer…”
“She’ll just slow you down. Go!”
Jill threw open the driver’s side door and the explosion of a gun echoed in the night.
“Jill!” Greer screamed, but heard nothing. She prayed that they’d missed her, that she’d make it back to Xander’s and get some help.
Someone stuck their head into the shattered window. It was Pax, the man who had turned Jill. Who wanted to kill Xander.
“Well, looky, looky what I found. I’ve been waiting to get you alone, gorgeous.”
Greer’s vision cleared to find his mouth was twisted in a cruel smile, and his eyes were sparkling with triumph.
The asshole was seriously gloating?
Greer punched him in the face, sending him reeling back out of the window. She saw the muzzle of a gun outside Dereck’s window and it was like the fog rapidly dissipated in her mind. As fast as she could, she reached along the side of Derek’s seat and pulled the lever that leaned it back. The bullet shattered what was left of the window, but missed Dereck by several inches, going out the open driver’s side door.
“Can you get out now?” Greer asked.
He didn’t answer her, just lunged across the seat to the driver’s side. Greer saw the gun raise once more and she lunged forward, shoving the front passenger door open and into the shooter. She heard the clatter as the gun hit the pavement, and a wave of glee washed over her before something tangled in her hair, yanking her neck back at a painful angle.
“That was a mistake.”
Greer reached back, digging her nails into the skin of her assailant’s wrist, and Pax shoved her head forward into the head rest in front of her. It was soft, so it
didn’t hurt as much as dazed her, but it gave Pax time to let her go so he could open the door. As he dragged her out and held her in front of him, she stared at the woman dressed all in black, pointing a gun at her chest.
“You made me miss, meat bag,” she snarled.
Greer’s chin notched up. “Good.”
The woman, who had to be Dakota, raised the gun as though she was going to hit her with it, but Pax pulled her behind him.
“Get in the car, love, and drive. People will come investigating soon and I want to get out of here without a scene. Besides, Xander won’t like it if the bait is bruised.”
“I don’t give a shit what he wants! We’re just going to kill him anyway,” Dakota snarled.
Pax’s voice turned ice cold. “Get in the truck. Don’t make me ask again.”
The expression whipped dog fit Dakota’s crestfallen look to a T and Greer realized she was younger than she looked. And obviously devoted to Pax, since she practically ran to the truck.
“Did you call me bait?” Greer asked.
Pax’s hand wrapped around her bicep as he leered at her. “Yep, a tasty piece of meat dangled for dear Xander. I’ve seen the way he is with you. It’s rather sweet, actually.”
“You’re wrong. Xander doesn’t care about me. He just feels obligated to protect me.”
Pax dragged her toward the big four by four truck that had plowed into Jill’s Subaru. “Well, let’s hope you’re wrong, because I hate to be disappointed. It makes me crazy.”
“I think it’s too late for that.”
He released a maniacal laugh that chilled her to her bone. “You’re probably right.”
Pax lifted her into the back seat with ease and she shrank against the other door. She tried to open it, and Dakota turned, shoving the end of the gun into her cheek.
“Child proof locks. You aren’t going anywhere, bitch.”
Greer sneered at her. “From what Xander tells me, you’re the bitch.”
Dakota moved too fast for her to duck out of the way. Pain exploded over the left side of her face and she fell back against the seat. Dazed already, her vision was now completely blurred. She felt the trickle of something run down her throbbing cheek and realized it was her own blood.
