Sully took the cup out of her hand and reached up to put it in the holder between the two front seats. He turned back to her with a low growl of frustration. “Don’t play games with me, Marie. I’m not in the mood.”
She stared at him without responding. When he let out another growl, she held up one hand and said, “All right. All right.” She glanced over her shoulder at Declan and then looked back at Sully. “I thought”—she shrugged and glanced down at her fingers, twisting together in her lap—“I thought you would hurt me. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
Declan leaned forward. “You’re the Omega of your pack.” He caught the look Sully sent him and shrugged, a grimace tugging at the edges of his mouth. “I did a lot of readin’ while I was at Ryder’s.”
Marie’s dark head bobbed. She looked at Sully, her blue eyes wide and dark. “I figured, for once in my life, I’d make the first move.”
“Hurt me before I could hurt you?” He could understand that, and it made him wonder just what her life had been like since she’d been turned.
She nodded and looked back down at her hands. “I am sorry. It was…instinctual.”
“And the sex?” Sully stared at her, trying to figure her out.
She gave a little shrug, her cheeks tinged with red. She cast an uncomfortable glance at Declan but answered easily enough. “You know how it is after you shift.”
“So I was handy?”
“Oh, I’d say you were a little more than just handy.” A slight grin curved her pouty lips, and Sully found himself smiling in response. When she glanced at him, arousal flared in her eyes, flecking the blue with wolf-amber and driving away her slight embarrassment. “Cocky is the word that comes to mind.”
He drew in a breath, his gut—and other parts—tightening in lust. Remembering what her silky cunt had felt like clasped around him, he wanted to plunge into her and lose himself in her again and again.
And again.
“All right, all right,” Declan muttered.
By the look on his face Sully could tell that his friend had sensed the heightened sexual tension between the two of them.
“Maybe we should go back to the house where we can talk in private but a little more comfortably,” Sully suggested.
“What, get to know each other a bit better?” Declan rolled his eyes. Opening his door, he got out of the vehicle. “Good idea. Before you two start up anythin’,” he muttered. He slammed the door shut and opened the driver’s door, glancing at Sully with one brow lifted as he climbed behind the wheel. “Of course, I don’t want to be accused of kidnappin’ here. You all right to come home with us, Marie? My fiancée will be there.”
Sully reckoned that his friend tacked that on so she wouldn’t feel threatened by going home with two men. The thought of sharing her with another man brought immediate and irrational jealousy.
It wasn’t as if he had any claim to her. She didn’t belong to him any more than he belonged to her.
And the absurd feeling of regret that followed that thought he ruthlessly pushed aside.
“Well, I…” Marie looked at Sully and then at Declan. She spread her hands. “Your fiancée won’t mind?”
Declan shook his head and twisted around to face front again. “She won’t mind. Probably will be glad to have another woman around.” He pulled his door shut and fastened his seatbelt, then inserted the key into the ignition. When the engine kicked to life, he shifted the gear and pulled out of the parking space.
“Even if that other woman is a werewolf?” There was hesitation in Marie’s voice.
Sully was quick to reassure her. “Pel’s great. She’ll be delighted.”
Declan glanced to the side, lips pressed together, and Sully knew his friend fought a grin.
Damn. He was acting like a teenager with a crush on a pretty girl.
Well, she was more than pretty. She was beautiful.
Intoxicating.
And very likely habit-forming.
While in the past a thought like that about a woman would have had him running in the opposite direction, he felt at ease with it. Anticipated it, even.
Was that because he’d matured? Or because the wolf was wiser than the man?
“So, we’re good to go, then?” Declan stopped the SUV at the end of the shopping center driveway, waiting to turn onto the main road, and watched them through the rearview mirror.
Marie nodded. “We’re good to go.”
They drove along in silence a few seconds. Sully glanced out the side window and watched the passing scenery, again noting the complete alien nature of this landscape compared to what he was used to. Turning back to Marie, he asked, “So, what’s your real name?”
She went still, like a small prey animal sensing a nearby hunter—or someone who expected retribution to be exacted. God. What the hell had happened to her to make her react like that?
The creamy skin of her throat moved with her swallow. Her expression flickered, and he knew she was weighing her options and deciding whether to tell the truth or continue lying to him. Finally, she whispered, “Olivia. My name’s Olivia.”
“Olivia…?” He trailed off, prompting her for a last name.
Her dark blue gaze cut to him. Amid the submissiveness was clear irritation, perhaps even the beginnings of anger. “Let’s just leave it at Olivia for now, okay?”
Damn, but she was beautiful when she was peeved. He was happy her spirit hadn’t been completely broken by whatever life had done to her. Sully bit back a grin and gave a nod of agreement. “Fine. I’m Rory Sullivan—but everyone calls me Sully—and the bloke up front is Declan O’Connell.”
Declan made the turn onto the rough road that led to his house. “Just another minute or so.” His gaze met Sully’s in the rearview mirror. He lifted an eyebrow as if to ask You sure you know what you’re doing?
Sully gave a short nod. As soon as the vehicle glided to a stop, he got out and went around the SUV to Olivia’s side, standing there as she hopped down. Unable to shake the feeling she’d take off the first chance she got—even though she hadn’t fought them at all up to now—he wrapped his fingers around her elbow and guided her into the house.
“Pelicia, this is Olivia, a new…friend of Sully’s.” Declan bent and gave his fiancée a kiss on one cheek. “Let’s pour some iced tea for everyone.” He looked at Olivia. “Or would you prefer somethin’ a bit stronger?”
“Tea’s fine.” Her voice was soft, her gaze sharp as she took in her surroundings.
“I’d like something a bit stronger,” Sully muttered. “How about a beer?”
“It’s in the fridge,” Pelicia said.
As a fellow Brit, he knew she realized he’d be used to drinking beer at room temperature. “Lager or dark ale?”
She tipped her head toward Declan. “Guinness, what else?”
“Iced tea’s fine.” Sully ignored Declan’s snort and looked at Olivia.
Declan and Pelicia headed toward the kitchen, and Sully gestured toward the sofa.
Olivia gave a little sigh and sat down on the end. Sully sat next to her, close enough to grab her if she decided to move.
Close enough that he could feel her thigh against his before she shifted and crossed her legs.
“So, Olivia”—he turned toward her, one arm along the back of the couch—“tell me more about yourself. I can’t place the accent exactly, but I’d say you’re from one of the Northeastern states, right? New York, or New Jersey maybe?”
Her brows dipped a little, but she replied easily enough, “New York. I’m originally from Virginia, but my husband worked in the city, so when we got engaged I moved there, too.”
“So you’re married?” He glanced at her ringless left hand.
She touched her ring finger with her right thumb. “He’s dead. Almost six years now.”
“I’m sorry.” Sully lightly touched her shoulder and then put his hand back on the sofa. “Truly.”
Her gaze met his. “Thank you. He was a go
od man.” Sorrow darkened the vibrant blue of her irises before she shook it off. “But we had a beautiful little girl together, so I still have part of him with me.”
“So, you’re livin’ here in Tucson now?” Declan asked as he walked back into the room.
“Ah, no. I’m here…on a job assignment.” She looked uncomfortable with the line of questioning.
Sully decided to back off. Sometimes you got more information from a suspect by playing it cool instead of going after him—or in this case her—with both barrels blazing.
“You said you have a little girl?” Pelicia handed Olivia a glass of iced tea. “What’s her name? How old is she?”
Olivia accepted the tea with a smile. “Zoe. And she just turned six.”
“Just turned…” Sully did the math. “She was just a baby when her father died, then?”
She nodded and looked down. “He was a cop with the NYPD. He died in a shoot-out between gangbangers.” She was silent a moment. “He was a good man,” she repeated.
“I’m sure he was.” Pelicia sat in one of the big armchairs opposite the sofa. “What was his name?”
“David.” Olivia looked up. A sad smile flitted over her face. “He’d just welcomed his little girl into the world and passed his detective exam. He was so proud.” She glanced down at her tea. Then she took a sip and seemed to shake herself of her sorrowful mood. She looked up with a genuine smile. “Anyway, that’s ancient news, right?”
Pelicia returned the smile. “So, Declan was telling me that you and Sully met out in the desert when you were both in wolf form. Was that strange?”
“It was for me.” Sully shook his head. “I hadn’t expected to be able to shift so soon, regardless of what you said,” he added with a look at Declan. “There I was, minding my own business, when I smelled something…different. Another werewolf.” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know why it seems so weird to be able to smell that someone’s a werewolf, but it is.”
“A dog’s sense of smell is about a thousand times more acute than a human’s.” Olivia took another sip of iced tea. “And a werewolf’s is even more acute than a dog’s, so it stands to reason we’d be able to pick up on the most subtle of scents.”
“Unless citrus comes into play.” Declan scowled. “That trick was used on us back on St. Mary’s. In the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast,” he added for Olivia’s benefit. “Couldn’t smell anything except that.”
“And yet you have lemon trees here.” Sully tipped his head to one side.
“Which are going to go as soon as I can get someone out here to cut them down. But, enough about that.” He set his glass on the small table at his side. He looked at Olivia with such intensity that Sully knew the idle chitchat was over. “You were going to tell us about trying to kill Sully.”
She frowned and fidgeted a bit, uncrossing her legs only to cross them again. “I already told you.” She glanced at Sully. “I was scared, coming across an Alpha so unexpectedly.”
“Yes, but—”
“Declan, give the girl some room to breathe.” Pelicia threw a glare at him. “The last thing we need right now is you going into your Black Ops Commando routine.”
He scowled right back at her. “I’m not goin’ into my Black Ops Commando routine. And even if I was—”
“They’re like a little old married couple, aren’t they?” Sully said from the corner of his mouth. He grinned at Olivia’s muffled snort of laughter.
Declan and Pelicia both looked at him, and he could see laughter lurking in their eyes.
He shook his head. “They just do this so they can have makeup sex,” he said. Pelicia blushed. “Come on, Pel. Americans are much more frank in their discussions, aren’t you?” he asked Olivia.
She pursed her lips. “Some of us are, I suppose.”
“Some?” Sully’s lips twitched with a grin. “I seem to recall someone calling me cocky. And not in the arrogant sense of the word, either.”
Olivia’s gaze darted to his groin, and the body part in question stirred to life. He could smell the arousal building in her, could see it in the little amber flecks that appeared in her irises.
She abruptly leaned forward and set her glass of iced tea on the coffee table in front of her, then stood. “I, ah, thank you for the tea, Pelicia, and for allowing me into your beautiful home.” Her hands clenched briefly. “But I really need to be going.”
“Oh, so soon?” Pelicia seemed genuinely disappointed. “Well, as long as you promise to come back again.”
“That’s a guarantee,” Sully said before Olivia could respond.
She gave him a sidelong glance but nodded. “Absolutely.” She looked at Declan. “Can I get a ride back to my car at the shopping center?”
“Sure thing, lass.” He stood and fished his car keys out of his front pocket. “You comin’ along?” he asked Sully.
“Of course.” He gave a nod of his head to Pelicia. “Thanks, love. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“It was nice to meet you,” she said to Olivia as the other woman was already opening the front door.
“You, too,” she responded. “I’ll see you later.”
Five minutes later, after a ride in which Olivia proved to be stubbornly silent, Sully stood beside Declan and watched her get into her modest four-door hired car. “Hey,” he called out before she closed the door. He walked over to the car as she shut the door.
She started the car and rolled down the window, looking up at him with a questioning expression.
“Have dinner with me,” he said. “Just you and me. We can get to know each other a little better.”
Interest flickered in her gaze. “Sure.”
He licked his lips and gave a nod. “I’ll pick you up around six.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why don’t I just drive over to Declan’s? We can leave from there.”
“All right,” he agreed slowly. If she wanted to stay mysterious, he was still willing to play along.
“See you at six.” She waggled her fingers at him and put the car in gear.
He walked back over to the SUV and stood next to Declan, turning so he could watch Olivia leave.
“At least we know where she’s stayin’.” Declan folded his arms across his chest.
“If she was telling the truth.” Sully couldn’t be sure about anything she’d told them, though he didn’t doubt that Olivia was her real name.
“You think she lied?”
“Most people lie, and I think this one’s cagey. So I wouldn’t put it past her.” Sully glanced at Declan then put his gaze back on Olivia’s car as she drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
“Whatever she is in her pack, she’s definitely not an Omega.” Declan’s voice was thoughtful.
“What makes you say that?”
“She’s spunky. If she’s bein’ made to bear the pack’s aggression, it’s unwillingly. It’s not in her to be submissive like that.” He looked at Sully and then opened the driver’s door. “Couldn’t you see that?”
Sully gave a nod. He climbed into the SUV, closing the door behind him. As he fastened his seat belt, he murmured, “She’s not telling us the full truth, I know that much.”
“Finally puttin’ those acclaimed detective skills to use, are you?” Declan shook his head. “Nice to see you usin’ your big head for a change.”
“Shut it.” Sully gazed out the side window, taking in the passing scenery with only vague interest. He kept turning the morning’s conversation over and over in his head, trying to pinpoint exactly what it was that bothered him. But it was evasive.
Just like Olivia.
Chapter 5
Eddy stared down at the little girl quietly playing with her Barbies. He stretched one arm along the back of the sofa and contemplated the situation.
Olivia Felan had four days left in which to kill Sullivan. If she failed…
He sighed. He didn’t want to hurt Zoe, much less kill her. He really did
love her—who wouldn’t? All those dark curls and impish face, along with a sweet, sunny personality. She was a joy to have around.
He would even go so far as to say he couldn’t love her more if she were his own. But he hadn’t gotten where he was today by being Mr. Nice Guy. He would do what was necessary and learn to live with it, just like he had everything else.
Another brick in the wall around his heart would be worth it to finally realize his dream. To make his life absolutely perfect there was no room for cousin Ryder. The bastard should have died in that cave-in when he was a child. Then Eddy would have had the loving family he deserved—been a son instead of the poor little orphan his aunt and uncle had taken in out of pity.
He should be the one with the fame and fortune.
Removing Ryder Merrick from the world would be like cauterizing an open, bloody wound. It would leave behind healthy tissue with all memories of pain fading away into oblivion.
Twenty years was enough time to wait. Olivia had better get a move on or there’d be hell to pay.
Starting with the little girl playing at his feet.
Leaning over, he ran his palm gently over the top of Zoe’s head.
She looked up with a winsome grin. “Wanna play dolls with me, Uncle Eddy?”
“Sure thing, poppet.” Eddy slid down to the floor, stretching his legs under the coffee table. He accepted the blond-haired doll she gave him and stared at it in his big hand. Fragile and vulnerable, just like Zoe, who he could also crush with very little effort.
And he would if he didn’t get what he wanted. What he wanted was that miserable bastard Merrick to suffer before he died. By first losing the few friends he had—O’Connell and Sullivan, and from what he’d heard a new wife—well, that would be sweet vengeance, indeed.
Eddy wondered if he should head to Arizona so he could keep a closer eye on things—be more up close and personal so that if Olivia did screw things up, he could step in and take care of it himself.
Probably should have done that from the beginning. O’Connell and Sullivan would already be dead, and Eddy could focus all of his attention on Merrick and his new bride.
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