by Nina Croft
He sat in silence while he sipped the drink, but she refused to be intimidated. It wasn’t as though she was doing anything wrong.
She let her gaze drift over him, then back to his face. He was leaning back now, studying her out of half-closed eyes, and another shiver ran through her. How come she hadn’t noticed how big and intimidating he was? Maybe because he’d been wearing pink shirts and not black leather. “What’s with the scary bad-ass makeover?” she asked. “Where has Mr. Mild-Mannered-Accountant disappeared to?”
His lips twitched but he didn’t quite smile. “Maybe this is the real me.”
She studied him some more. “Have you got a whip under that coat?”
“No, but I do have one at home. Why?”
And there it was again, flashing across her mind. A vision of her, strung up, being beaten, Bastian doing the beating. Nah, didn’t do anything for her, she denied, then crossed her fingers under the table. “No reason. Just trying to see how far down the makeover goes.”
“All the way.”
He sounded deep and dark and mysterious, and she shivered. She needed to shake herself free, and she closed her eyes and envisaged Sebastian on all fours wearing a dog collar and a leash. Suddenly it was all a little too much, and she giggled. Sebastian’s brows drew together.
“Don’t worry. I’m not hysterical. It’s been a long night and then you all macho badass is a little too much. Just what are you doing here? You told me you were seeing an old friend or was that an excuse so you could come here and indulge your appetites?”
“Melanie called me. Told me you were here.”
“She did? Why?”
“Maybe she thought you were out of your depth.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“Yeah, she’s a nice lady.”
He didn’t sound convinced. He’d told her he hadn’t approved of Melanie’s lifestyle, but he actually looked as though he fit right in. It was as though he’d been wearing a mask and now she saw him clearly. She stared into his eyes, trying to figure him out, and something flickered behind them.
Inside her, Leloo awoke, stretched, and growled. Julia jumped at the sensation of claws rasping down her insides. She tried to shut the feeling down, but Leloo growled again as though in warning. “Shit,” she muttered. She’d really believed she’d been banished until the next full moon. Now she was here again, fucking up Julia’s chances of a nice, normal Saturday night with her badass as un-normal-as-it-was-possible-to-be boyfriend in your friendly neighborhood BDSM club.
“Are you all right?” he asked, a frown forming between his eyes.
“I want to go home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“You don’t have to. I came with Lissa and my sisters. We’ll get a cab back.”
“Wouldn’t you rather I take you?”
Part of her screamed a resounding yes. But tonight she needed nice, normal Bastian and the man before her was anything but nice. Darkness glittered in his eyes, and an air of recklessness enshrouded him. Leloo growled again; she really didn’t like Bastian tonight.
“Don’t you want to stay here and have some…fun with Melanie?” she asked.
“Melanie and I are over. No, I believe I want to go home and have some…fun with you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Julia couldn’t shake the conviction that Bastian hadn’t come here tonight to be with her as such, but to…to do what? She had no clue. Maybe he had been worried about her, but she could look after herself. Of course, he wasn’t aware of that or that she could probably take on the enormous bouncer and come out on top.
Lissa came back at that point, and Julia heaved a sigh of relief. “Everything okay?” she asked.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Bastian murmured. He stretched like a tiger, and Lissa caught her gaze and fanned her face.
He turned back to Julia. “Well? Are you going to take me home? I missed you today. And I’d like to make it up to you for spoiling your girls’ night.”
She really hadn’t meant to be with him again until they’d had that talk. But the night had been too long, and she was feeling too frazzled. And she’d missed him as well. She wanted to lie in her familiar bed with his familiar arms around her. Except these arms weren’t familiar. All the same, she couldn’t resist him.
“Let’s go.”
He stood and held out his hand, but as her palm slid in his, claws raked down her spine. “Ouch.”
“What is it?”
“Indigestion. Too many cocktails.”
She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the sensation as they followed Lissa out of the dungeon, up the narrow staircase, and into the main area of the club.
“Uh-oh, looks like I’m in for it,” Lissa said. “I’m going to be in so much trouble for going out without my babysitters.”
Julia searched the bar and found Marcy and Debs almost straightaway. Beside them stood Jason and behind him she could see a dark blond head, which must belong to her brother, Daniel. She grinned; she didn’t see much of Daniel as he tended to piss her off, going all leader of the pack on her as though that gave him the right to boss her about. Never going to happen. But tonight, because of Marcy and Debs, he wouldn’t be able to say anything. He would just be her big brother.
Bastian still had hold of her hand and now she tugged him forward. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
“I thought we were going home.”
“We will, but come and say hi to my brother first.”
“Your brother?”
“Hmm, Lissa’s husband.” Lissa had already pushed ahead through the Saturday-night crowd. The music was a loud beat and lights flashed.
Daniel turned as Lissa reached him, dragged his wife into his arms, and kissed her thoroughly. Finally, he pulled free and turned to Julia. As always, she sensed the otherworldly power roll off him in waves, and a shiver ran through her. But at least Leloo went quiet, relaxing and slumbering once again. She felt safe near the Alpha. That pissed Julia off a little. She was quite capable of looking after them. She heard the echo of a snort in her head.
“Are you leading my wife astray?” Daniel asked, gesturing to their surroundings. “Again.”
“Hah, it’s the other way around.”
“Probably a bit of both. But I’m betting this place wasn’t Lissa’s idea. I can tell you that bondage isn’t her thing.”
“You might be surprised,” Julia said. “Wait until Christmas morning.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me any more.”
She tugged Bastian forward. He had gone quiet and still and felt like an inanimate object on the end of her arm. “Daniel, this is my next-door neighbor, Bastian.”
Her brother raised an eyebrow as he took in the other man and all his black leather. Daniel was dressed in a silver-gray business suit, Jason in black jeans and a black sweater. Neither appeared the sort of men you’d want to take on in a fight; there was an air of awareness about them, but next to Bastian tonight, they looked like pussycats.
“He’s role-playing,” she said. “Getting into the spirit of things.”
“Really.”
Bastian still hadn’t said a word, and she turned to him with a frown. He was staring at Daniel, something undefinable in his eyes. She squeezed his hand, he shook his head, and the expression was gone.
“This is Daniel Melville, my brother,” she said.
Bastian’s gaze flicked to her briefly. Something was wrong, and she couldn’t work out what. The two of them had obviously never met, but Bastian was acting odd. He gave himself another visible shake, a smile curved his lips, and he held out his hand.
Daniel took it and the two men shook and the awkward moment was gone. But a small frown flickered across Daniel’s face. “Have we met?”
“No.”
“You seem familiar. Well, good to meet you. You must be a brave man to take on my sister.”
“Thanks, Daniel.” She punched him on the arm.
They
dropped hands, and Daniel turned back to Lissa and spoke to her quietly. Lissa was getting her reprimand. Bastian touched her on the arm, and she turned with a smile. He appeared back to normal or he was hiding it. “Can I have a quiet word?”
They moved away a few feet, and he turned to her. “I’m going to have to take a rain check on tonight. Something has come up.”
“Something?”
“Something I need to deal with.”
“How can something have come up between coming out of that doorway and now?” She shook her head. “We need to talk.”
He gave her a long, slow look. “No, we don’t.” And without saying another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.
She watched until he disappeared out of the room and stood staring at the doorway. Why couldn’t anything in her life be simple? She’d needed him tonight, hadn’t realized how much until he had gone. Her heart hurt, though at least Leloo had ceased her pacing.
“Julia?”
She glanced away and found Jason at her side. “Yeah?”
“I wanted to let you know that the check threw up a few…anomalies.”
Christ, she wished she was more surprised, but obviously there was far more to Sebastian than he was letting on. She just couldn’t work out what or why he would keep things from her. What could be so bad?
“Julia?”
“Sorry, I was miles away. Anomalies?”
“Yes, the stuff holds up but there’s more. He does own an apartment in London. A very, very expensive apartment in an upmarket block south of the river. I’ve sent you the details.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“No, but there’s something not quite right, I don’t know, there’s nothing concrete…yet, but something about this guy is making me edgy.”
“Like what?”
“Nothing certain, but I’ve learned to rely on my hunches. I’ll dig into his background some more. But there’s one other thing. This guy Colin, the one you met last night, what did he look like?”
“Tall, blond, thin face, pale gray eyes.”
He pursed his lips. “The description matches.”
“Matches what?”
“One of my contacts came up with someone, a guy who might be your Colin. He runs an illegal fight circuit, big-money gambling. This is hard-core stuff.”
“Not amateur boxing?” she asked hopefully.
“Bare-knuckle and anything-goes-cage fighting. But that’s not all. I mentioned this Colin guy to Daniel. Don’t worry, not in connection with your neighbor—that’s for you to tell him. And by the way, you have a day, then I tell him. But if it is the same guy, he has connections with the pack. Apparently, Ethan used to make a lot of money sending pack members to fight and betting on his guys.”
“I hope Daniel doesn’t do the same.”
“No, but he checked out the place and gave the okay to anyone who wanted to take part.” He must have seen her disapproving expression because he continued. “Some of his guys need to let off steam and this is at least a controlled environment and consenting adults.”
Just like this place. Maybe that was Bastian’s criteria—consenting adults and after that, anything was acceptable. She shuddered; she hated violence. Or she had before…
“Well, at least Bastian’s not a werewolf. We’d be able to tell.”
“Yeah, at least he’s not that. But he’s also not the Mr. Nice Guy he was coming across the other day at lunch.”
“No,” she said morosely.
Jason grinned. “Hey, did you know you just said the word ‘werewolf’ without flinching?”
“Well, maybe I’m beginning to think there might be worse things to be.”
“You are?”
“Yes, like someone who gets off on being tied up and whipped in public.”
He laughed. “Yeah, things could be worse.”
But all the way home, she couldn’t shake the depression hazing her mind. She wanted Sebastian with a need bordering on desperation. Just to hold him, to tell him whatever it was he was hiding, she could take it.
She was going to go around to his house and see him tonight. Make him talk to her. But when Daniel dropped her off outside her place, the building next door was in darkness and there was no car parked outside. Some inner sense told her Bastian wasn’t home, and she let herself into her own house and threw her keys on the side table.
It was full moon in a week and for the first time she wasn’t anticipating it with dread. Her life was such a mess, but at least when Leloo was in control everything was clear and simple. All Leloo wanted was to run free.
…
“You fucking bastard.”
Really, Bastian, language.
“You knew all along who she was. Who her brother was. What he was.”
Well, it did add a little amusing twist to the whole “good woman” thing. But I’m sure she’s still a good woman. After all, we can’t choose our families.
Why the hell had he not picked up the connection? He’d known she had a brother but it had never occurred to him that the brother was a werewolf. And not any werewolf but the leader of the pack.
Shit.
He’d not gone back to Notting Hill. He had an idea Julia would be around to see him. She’d said they needed to talk, when in fact there was absolutely nothing left to say. So he’d come back to the penthouse and knew the adventure was over. Here he would stay and he would make sure he did not see Julia again. She didn’t know of this place, and they hardly moved in the same circles. He would never see her again.
He slammed his fist into the wall.
Ouch!
Dante sounded amused, and Sebastian growled low in his throat. Hatred rose up inside him. He knew he had to be free of Dante. And now he had a way. Another way. Werewolves had gotten him into this mess, and he’d killed them before. What was one more?
But there was another thing. Julia was obviously unaware of what her brother was, but how long would that continue? What would happen if she stumbled on the truth? Werewolves were notorious for keeping their secrecy. She’d seemed really fond of her brother, but that wouldn’t stop the bastard killing her if he considered her a threat to the pack.
So you’ll do it?
He could almost sense Dante rubbing his hands in satisfaction. And he wanted to tell the demon to piss off. But if nothing else, the last few weeks had shown him the extent of Dante’s hold on him.
There’s another thing to consider. I might not be able to touch your little Julia myself. But I can put the word out. How long do you think she’ll last?
“Bastard.” But he knew the demon would go after her out of pure vindictiveness.
Yup.
“And you’ll leave her alone if I do this? Kill her brother?”
Yup. So how do you plan to do it? And when?
If he didn’t get his freedom and soon, there would be nothing worth freeing—he would be as evil as the demon himself. “Mind your own fucking business.”
Oh I think it is my business. You’re being childish because you’re not getting your rocks off tonight with the insipid Julia. You know, I’m sure if you called Melanie she’d be happy to come over. We could celebrate.
He smashed his fist into the wall again.
Or maybe not.
He couldn’t stay here; the anger and despair were eating him up. He knew what he had to do. He would kill the werewolf. He had no choice, though a little voice niggled at the back of his mind that there was always a choice. Had been a choice right from the beginning, but he had chosen not to take it.
Still didn’t want to take it.
He pulled out his phone and stabbed in Colin’s number. “Is that fight still available.”
“I’ll add it to the boards. Be here in an hour.”
…
Julia didn’t wake the next morning because she hadn’t actually slept. She’d been on edge, listening for Sebastian to return home next door, though deep inside she’d known he wasn’t coming back.
Not last night anyway.
When she had dozed, Leloo had taken over her dreams, running free in the darkness of the night, the ground soft under the pads of her feet, the night air crisp and cold, filled with the scents and sounds of the forest. Julia had stopped thinking and let her mind open and she’d been…happy. In the dream, she was heading for something, or rather someone, up in the distance a tall, dark figure awaited her beneath the shadows of the trees.
But she didn’t want to be a werewolf.
She wanted to be normal. Didn’t she? For the first time, doubts crept into her mind. All her life, she’d blithely accepted that her path was set. She loved her family and believed she wanted the same thing, a good husband, a clutch of children. Now something rebelled at the idea of the nice organized life. It sounded…boring. Besides, it could never be hers.
Even if she found the nice man, how long could she hide what she was? Her life would be a lie. A vision of Bastian flashed before her eyes, but Bastian wasn’t a nice man. She wasn’t sure what sort of man he was except nice didn’t come into it.
He went to kinky clubs, and he liked to fight in cages. He probably thought a girl like her couldn’t accept that, but then he didn’t know what she was really like. What if he did? If he knew her secrets, would he feel more comfortable about revealing his own?
What would he think about her being a—Come on, Julia, you can say it—a werewolf?
Daniel had told her it was imperative she not tell anyone what she was, at least not without the pack’s approval. And that must sometimes be given—Lissa wasn’t pack and she knew. For the first time, she wanted to understand how the pack worked, find out more about what she was, what she could be.
As she accepted that, it was as though a weight was lifted from her, as though she’d been tied by heavy chains, and now they dropped free.
She jumped out of bed, grabbed her phone, and punched speed dial.
“Lissa?”
“What?” Her friend sounded sleepy and grumpy.
“Is Daniel around—will he be home this morning?”
“Yes, he’s—”
