by Morgan Fox
“We can help you,” Luken said, rounding the desk.
With quick reflexes, she snatched up her shoe, gripped and held it, heel pointed directly at him. She snarled, “Don’t even think about it, pretty boy. You touch me and I’ll change your anatomy into that of a woman.”
Luken backed up, hands held up as he retreated back a few steps. “Okay, princess. You win. We’ll just wait over here.”
“Brie, what the hell is going on?” Tabitha yelled.
“Tabby, please don’t panic. Everything will be fine. I was hoping I would have a chance to talk with you before they arrived, but I misjudged how long it would take them to get to you.”
“Why are they here at all? I’ve managed alone for thirty-two years. I don’t need a babysitter now.” She groaned between clenched teeth. “What’s the real story?” She knew there was something going on, felt it like an electrical current running over the flesh of her body. “Spill it.”
“I’m getting married, Tabby. I want you here and safe beside me as I take my vows of marriage. Ryken and Luken are soon to be my family, and they volunteered to escort you to McCarthy Ranch. By the way, that’s going to be my new last name, McCarthy.”
Brie shared that information with her like that was supposed to make everything better. Nope, it didn’t do a fucking thing. “Good for you. I still don’t buy it. Something’s off about this entire thing. First, I don’t hear from you for over a month, then I find out you’re being hunted by a freaking murderer, and now you’re getting married and you’re having some asshole’s baby.”
Ryken snickered, and she glared at him, heat and anger firing from her eyes. “You think this is funny, Goldilocks? Well, it’s not funny at all, and I’m not going anywhere with these two,” she yelled into the phone. Then, she faced both Ryken and Luken, and in a tone that screamed annoyance, she said, “So you can take your barbarian twin asses out of my office now!”
“Tabby, please—” Brie was cut off before she could finish her thought.
Oh, no she didn’t. Tabitha was not going to let Brie use that sweet, innocent, lawyer shit on her. “Don’t ‘Tabby please’ me. I know there’s something else going on, and I don’t have to do anything. If you really are getting married, I don’t think I could be there anyway because I think your getting married is a mistake. No one smart gets married after just meeting someone, and anyone can tell you that you don’t marry an asshole just because his cock doesn’t shoot blanks.” She slammed the phone down onto the receiver, and it sounded as if the phone shattered on impact.
“I think I’m going to like her,” Ryken said with a smirk.
Tabitha rose to her feet, glaring at Ryken, one palm pressed firmly to the dark brown wood of her desk, the other pointed towards the door at their backs. “Now, you two, get the fuck out of my office.”
Grinning as if amused by her actions and unaffected by her words, Ryken pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number and pressed the phone to his ear. A moment later he spoke, and she knew she was in big trouble.
Staring her down with mischievous eyes, he said, “Sebastian, we’re taking matters into our own hands. No going easy with this one I’m afraid. She’s a bit of a wildcat.” Ryken closed the cell phone and slid it back into his pocket.
She gasped. “What the hell does that mean? Taking matters into your own hands?”
Both Ryken and Luken exchanged knowing glances and edged closer to her. She rounded the chair, placing it as a shield between her and the two men. “I asked you two barbarian boneheads a question. What the hell does that mean?”
Ryken’s grin looked forced as he approached her. His knees bumped the front of her chair, and her heart stopped dead in her chest. Leaning towards her, she could feel the heat of his body, the warmth of his breath upon her face.
She was in more trouble than she’d ever been.
His eyes flashed with warning, a thickening haze of mystery and sex. She swallowed hard, and her body quivered in response to his nearness. Gazing into his darkening blue eyes, she wondered just who this man was and why he affected her so. She was aroused by him and she wanted him in a way she hadn’t wanted another man. He brought out primal urges in her—a raw hunger that frightened her.
She watched him inhale, his face so close he nuzzled her hair at the crook of her neck. The deep timbre of his voice sent a chill down her spine as he said, “I think we’re done with the question and answer session, sweetheart. I think it’s time for you to just sit back and let us do what we came here to do.”
Panic rose like a five-alarm fire in her gut. Rocketing herself out of her sexual haze, she jolted back as if electrocuted. “Oh, my God, I knew it. You’re too pretty to be normal. You’ve somehow taken Brie prisoner and made her say those things to me, tried to have her convince me to go with you so you could rape and murder me, too.”
Luken’s face scrunched up in confusion and wonder. “Seriously? That’s what you think?” He shook his head and said, “Sweetheart, you’ve been watching way too much television.”
“I don’t watch television and stop calling me sweetheart,” she demanded. Then she realized that the chair no longer separated them and she was well aware of just how close Ryken had gotten to her. Her eyes rounded as she looked into his heated gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as his hands clamped down on her arms, forcing her back into her chair. “Sweetheart, sit back and shut up. This is going to be a bumpy ride.” Ryken closed the last of the distance between them and all hell broke loose.
Chapter Three
The train car rattled and bucked as it charged down the tracks and the trees whipped by at such quick speeds they were making her a little sick. Experiencing some nausea might be good, considering she was frustrated beyond measure. Her face was hot like fire, and she breathed through her nostrils like a raging bull. That jackass Ryken had subdued her and tied her up with little effort. Funny how she could easily tear free of her bonds if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Had he done that on purpose? She wasn’t sure, but she also wasn’t as freaked out as she had been earlier. Now, a lingering curiosity made her simply want to see how this all played out and then if they were lucky, she would let then walk away with their lives.
The private car was frigid, not from temperature, but from the wall of ice she erected around her heart. Getting close to her captors at this point was not an option, other than to dig and pry for information. She had an agenda, one she would follow to the letter. Even if just the scent of them made her body sing like a canary and forced her mind to walk on the naughty side.
Stop it, stop it right now. Think of Brie, you’re only here to save Brie.
She glared over at her captor sitting directly across from her. “I can’t believe you hit me, and then drugged me,” she snapped, turning to stare out the window, arms folded defiantly over her chest.
Ryken snorted. “I can’t believe you’re such a bitch, but it was fun telling the conductor what a sloppy drunk you are.” He winked at her. “He suggested you ease up on the booze, sweetheart.”
She rounded to face him, eyes heated with pure venom and hate. “Right, I’m sure he did, and I’m also sure he considers your barbarian ass the picture of a perfect gentleman.” She let out a sarcastic chuckle.
Stiffening, he told her, “I never said I was, but I do have to admit that I’m amazed that someone as sweet, warm, and caring as Brie would have a best friend like you. You’re nothing at all like her.”
She was stunned. For some reason his negative impression of her troubled her straight to her soul. She should not care if he approved of her or not, should not care if he liked her or not. She should only care that they were taking her to Brie.
Straightening her spine, her voice just above a whisper, she said sharply, “You don’t know a thing about me.”
Snickering, he rested his booted foot across his knee and flexed his arms over his chest, biceps bulging. His crooked grin warmed her straight to the spot between her legs that had been long n
eglected, but was desperate for attention.
Oh, God, don’t look, don’t even think about it, she told herself. He’s the enemy.
“Sweetheart, I’m afraid I know you better than you think. Women like you are all the same—men haters to the core because you feel if you put your trust in a man, you’ll lose a part of yourself. If you let a man help you, it only makes you weaker. Well, precious, that’s a load of bullshit.” The deep, brusque tone in his voice was angry and loud—and wildly sexy.
Gasping, she thought she heard the hint of an animalistic growl emerge from deep within his broad chest. A sound that should have frightened her, but instead it excited her. Her pulse quickened.
“To you maybe, but I bet you’ve never once had to fight for what you truly wanted, even the simplest of securities. Your good looks and pretend charm have gotten you everything you’ve ever needed or desired, hasn’t it? And I bet that as long as you don’t open your mouth too long to put your foot in it, you get laid at the drop of a hat.”
* * * *
He glared at her, hating that she struck a nerve. His home, his clothing, everything he called his own he owed to his pack, to his alpha, Sebastian McCarthy.
Staring into the eyes of a woman he should have claimed the moment he’d seen her, he instantly hated her. He despised everything she was, but at the same time, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything else in the entire world.
Groaning, he couldn’t get close to this woman. There was too much danger involved. “You know nothing,” he growled.
“Just as you know nothing about me,” she angrily said.
He stood, brooding and pensive. He could do one of two things—kiss the smartass vixen out of her and claim the woman he knew belonged to him or leave her in the hands of his able brother. Luken could calm her down and ease her into being a good little girl.
He chose the safer option. “I think its best we don’t speak to one another.” He turned to exit the train car.
“I couldn’t agree more,” she acknowledged. Her tone might have told him “get the fuck out,” but the energy she sent out to him said otherwise. The attraction was mutual, and that made things a bit more complicated for them both.
Gripping hold of the door, claws lengthening, digging into the wood panel, he opened it. But just before he vanished, she begged, “Wait, where are you going?”
Not bothering to face her, knowing his eyes glowed with a silvery vengeance, he spoke over his shoulder. “What? You suddenly think I can strike up a civilized conversation with you without insulting you, or did you just want me to shut up so you could fuck me?”
Eyes wide, she gasped. “I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last man on earth.”
He could smell her lie a mile away. Growling, hating the need that twisted and ate at his gut, he snapped, “Well, it’s a good damn thing I’m not then, huh, sweetheart?”
The train car door slammed shut, just as Luken appeared at his side.
“Trouble with the little lady, brother?”
He grumbled, “She’s all yours, Luken. Maybe she’ll be less of a bitch to you than she is to me. For some reason I bring the hellcat out of her, and I don’t have the patience to make nice with her.”
He brushed past Luken and headed for the dining car that was loaded with gallons and gallons of alcohol. This wolf had plans of getting good and drunk, then maybe even finding a faceless someone to fuck the shit out of. As long as it wasn’t little Miss Pain In The Ass.
* * * *
Luken opened the door and stepped inside the room. Tabitha quickly brushed the fallen tears from her cheeks before he could notice. Frustrated both sexually and emotionally, she had been greatly affected by Ryken’s outburst, saddened at their abrupt separation. A need to have him rush back to make amends with her was so fierce in her mind and heart she almost couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Traditionally, she liked conflict, enjoyed the rush of adrenaline she got from it. But not resolving the conflict with Ryken before he stormed away from her twisted inside her like a rusty knife.
Holy shit, she was losing her ever-loving mind. She wanted distance between them, didn’t she? She didn’t even know him or care about him, but if that were true, then why did she feel so lost the moment Ryken had left the room?
Yep, she was truly out of her mind. The man was kidnapping her and had most likely done something awful to Brie. Having concerned feelings for a man in his position was not only dumb, but psychotic.
Luken untied her bonds and then sat across from her, silent as a church mouse. His eyes were the same steely blue as Ryken’s, the resemblance uncanny. She took a moment to put her emotions in check before she spoke.
“Did your brother send you here to babysit me?” Her voice shook as she tried her best to sound sarcastic and annoyed. It wasn’t working.
He frowned. “No, but I was coming to relieve him anyway. I thought you might enjoy something to eat.”
He presented her with a brown paper bag, waving it slowly in front of her. She hesitated to take it, but eventually did. She didn’t have the same urge to be a bitch to him as she was to Ryken. Not to mention, she was starving. Peering inside the bag, she found an apple, banana, orange, sandwich, and a bottle of water. Holding the sandwich wrapped in plastic, she arched her brow.
The corner of his mouth quirked. He shared, “Thinly sliced turkey, American cheese, lettuce and tomato and mustard on whole wheat bread.”
Amazed, her heart skittered to a stop. Narrowing her eyes, arching a brow, she asked, “How did you know that I liked my sandwiches this way?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t, Brie did.” He cleared his throat before he said, “She’s apparently pretty angry with us for the manner in which we’ve taken custody of you.” His alluring voice was drenched with both humor and regret. He wasn’t hiding his emotions from her, and strangely, she felt that comforting.
Her gut rolled at the reminder of her present situation—a captive. “Really?” She tossed the bag of food on the bench beside her and crossed her arms once again over her chest, noticing that her wrists rested more comfortably on her arms now that she was unbound.
His intense but soft gaze penetrated into her soul as he stared at her. “I know you’re having difficulty believing us and with good reason. You don’t know us, you’ve never met us, and I’m sure Brie’s never mentioned us even once.” His deep voice rolled over her like a warm burst of wind. “Now, you’re being forced to be in our company, and you’ve been given startling news about your best and dearest friend. All of these things would be difficult for anyone to sort through.”
She frowned, eyes narrowing tighter. She barked, “What, are you a psychiatrist?”
She held his gaze as he explained, “No, but I grasp emotions and that the manner in which we’ve brought you with us might not have been the best way to earn your confidence. Please understand that we are truly here as chaperones.” His buttery smooth voice licked over her skin and sent a thunderous chill straight to the core of her body. “Look, I hope you see me and my brother as friends. We really are escorting you to see Brie, and she really is getting married. She’s happy, Ms. Burns. She radiates whenever she is with her…” His words trailed off.
“What? She radiates whenever what?”
His gaze wandered towards the darkening view of the landscape outside the window of the moving train. “I’m sorry, I got carried away. I realized these are things she should be sharing with you.” He returned his gaze to hers. “I have no right to divulge matters I’m sure Brie would want to tell you herself…as sisters or best friends might.”
She was so confused by the man in front of her. Her reaction to him was so different from that of his brother. Ryken infuriated her while Luken calmed her, soothed her and made her feel like she was important. “You speak so differently from your brother. If you two didn’t look identical, I wouldn’t believe for one second that you were related.”
He chuckled. “Ryken means well. He’s just ha
ving a hard time these days.”
“These days?” she questioned, her tone sounding more interested in the subject than she realized.
“I fear Ryken might be experiencing…growing pains.” He snickered.
She giggled, but then covered her mouth, not wanting to reveal that she felt, in any other circumstance, she could have genuinely liked Luken. “But he’s already a grown man. What kind of growing pains could he possibly be suffering? Is his brain finally catching up with his body?” She laughed.
He smiled, and she was suddenly captivated by the view of his warm, delicious grin, teasing her straight to her soul. He explained, “His heart, of course.”
The way Luken spoke the words told her it was an unexpected statement. Perhaps even Luken was surprised by Ryken’s behavior.
“His heart?” she asked, pinching her brows tight together.
What was he referring to? Matters of the heart seemed a strange topic for them to be having. Ryken didn’t seem to love anything but himself, at least that was her first impression.
She couldn’t help but tease, “Does Ryken have trouble expressing himself? Does he actually like me?” She laughed a little harder. “Was he just acting like the boys in grade school who believed in order to show a girl you liked her you pulled her hair or pushed her down during recess? Because if that is the case, then he must love me.” She glanced out the window, reflecting over the absurdity of their conversation.
“Maybe,” he said plainly.
She shrugged, wondering what the heck she had gotten herself involved with. There was something so different about the men that had become her traveling companions. They invoked a fevered connection that made her experience a sense of security when she was in their presence. The link between them made the crazy world she was somehow thrust into seem acceptable.
She grabbed the bag beside her, pulled out the sandwich, and unwrapped it. Taking a bite, she asked, “Have you already eaten?”
