by Leah Brooke
From above, Ian’s own fear and helplessness poured over him.
Easy, Alastair. Just a few more feet. The lions aren’t moving. Tell Serena to jump on your back as soon as you get down there. If the lion charges, I’ll shoot him. Whatever happens, keep moving. Get Serena the fuck out of there.
Alastair gritted his teeth, keeping his attention on the lions. What the hell do you think I’m trying to do?
Blocking out Serena’s running monologue with the deadly animals, Alastair dropped the last few feet to the floor of the pit, reaching out to shove Serena behind him.
“No.” Serena held out a hand to ward him off as the male lion growled and took a step closer. “Don’t touch me. He’ll attack if you do. He’s not interested in hurting me, but he’s worried about what you’re going to do.”
Alastair glanced at her, relieved to see that she was inching her way closer to him. “He’s worried about what I’m going to do? Come on, honey. A few steps more. That’s it. Now, do you think you can wrap your arms around my neck and hold on?”
“Of course.”
Worried to hear that her voice had weakened even more, he changed his mind. “Come on, I’ll hold on to you.”
“No. I’ll hold on. I swear. I won’t fall.” She took a step closer, and even in the semidarkness, Alastair could see how badly she shook. “Alastair, I lost my shoes.”
She sounded so lost and forlorn, he wanted to cuddle her close and fight off anyone who wanted to hurt her. Frowning, she looked at him, rubbing her head as though confused.
He eyed the lions, wondering if she still communicated with them. “It’s all right, honey. I’ll buy you as many shoes as you want.”
Nervous that she wouldn’t be able to hold on to him long enough to get her to the top, he turned and lifted her against him, keeping his movements slow and controlled. “Wrap your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist. Yes. That’s it. Good, honey. Now just lay your head on my shoulder and hold on as tight as you can.”
Alastair gripped the rope and started up, having no choice but to turn his back on the lions in order use his feet to work his way up the steep incline.
“Good kitty. Thank you for taking care of me.” Serena sounded as though she’d spent what little energy she had left. The adrenaline had probably worn off and she would be crashing any minute.
“Stay with me, honey. We’re almost to the top. Keep talking to the lions.”
“It’s a male and a female, you know. They’re mates. She’s gonna have a baby.” Serena sounded even more dazed, and a little weaker.
“Is she?” He tried to keep his tone light, despite his concern at the fact that she seemed a little more disoriented.
“That’s why the male didn’t want you there. He’s very possessive.”
“I understand the sentiment.” He paused when Serena’s grip loosened. He’d gotten high enough to be out of reach of the lions, and sure as hell didn’t want to fall back.
Serena sighed, a sigh that ended in a whimper. “No. Elise really dumped me in a lion pit? That can’t be right. I’m still dreaming.”
“Hold on, honey. We’re almost at the top. Ian’s waiting. Yes, your cousin’s a real bitch. She wanted to get rid of you and didn’t have the guts to get rid of you herself. I think she dumped you where you would just disappear, and there wouldn’t have been a trace of you after the lions were through.”
He couldn’t remember ever being so furious. He wanted to kill Carello and Elise.
Right now, though, Serena needed him and he had to be there for her.
She stirred, lifting her head. “Oh, God! I think I’m going to be sick.”
From above, Ian reached down for her. “Give her to me.”
Keeping his knees bent to support her, it seemed to take even longer to get to the top. Sweating, despite the cool night, Alastair climbed the last few feet.
“I don’t know what that bitch gave her, but now that the adrenaline is wearing off, she’s crashing hard.”
Ian reached for her, his expression even colder, his eyes narrowed in concern. “I’ll get her to Jonathan’s. I’ll call and tell him to have his doctor meet us at his house.”
Alastair hated to let her go, but his brother had already taken her from his arms, rushing with her to his car. “I already called him and asked him to notify the cops in ten minutes. They’re probably on the way. Get her back home as soon as you can. I’ll be waiting.”
Pausing to kiss Serena’s hair, he clenched his jaw. “Right after I take care of Carello and Elise.”
He started to walk away, pausing when Ian called his name. Turning, he watched his brother settle Serena in the front seat of the car, the look of tenderness on his face one that Alastair could never remember seeing before.
“What?”
Ian bent to say something to Serena and kissed her cheek before closing the door, the barely leashed fury in Ian’s eyes apparent even in the low light.
Rounding the car, Ian sighed, glancing back at where she lay slumped against the seat, her eyes closed. “She doesn’t want anything to happen to Elise. She said it would kill her aunt.”
Gritting his teeth against the almost overwhelming urge to go to her, Alastair nodded once and turned away.
Flipping the lapels of his jacket closed to cover the stark white of his dress shirt, Alastair moved away, blending with the shadows.
The sound of Elise’s screech came from his right, and he ducked behind one of the large signs posted, his jaw clenching at the unmistakable sound of a slap and another feminine cry.
He started to reach for his gun as the voices came closer, but quickly dismissed it.
They needed Carello alive.
The rage in Carello’s voice couldn’t be mistaken.
“Who the hell told you to think? You knew I wanted her. I had it all set up. I’ve told you not to interfere in my business. I ought to kill you right now.”
Alastair stilled as they neared. Another few feet and they would be within reach.
The fear in Elise’s voice made him sick to his stomach.
“Tony! I’m your wife. I love you. You certainly don’t expect me to stand by and—ow! Tony, no!”
Carello’s men walked in front of him and were almost to the sign when Alastair stepped out of hiding, punching one of the men in the face and knocking him out cold, and used the momentum to spin kick the gun out of the hand of the other.
Anticipating Carello’s reaction, Alastair knocked the gun out his hand before he could aim, pushing Elise aside before going after him.
Carello had gotten soft and lazy, so dealing with him proved ridiculously easy, and within seconds, the other man lay on the ground unconscious.
His bodyguard provided more of a challenge.
Pleased to have an outlet for his pent-up fury, Alastair went after Carello’s man, each punch, each kick for Serena.
Using the men’s own ties, he tied them to a fence, ignoring their curses and promises of retribution, ignoring Elise’s pleas for forgiveness.
He wanted nothing more than to get back home and wait for Serena.
After he’d tied up the men, he grabbed Elise’s arm and yanked her to her toes, leading her away from Carello and his men and back to the parking lot.
Dirty and bruised, she looked nothing like the woman he’d known for years, a selfish and self-centered woman who never had a hair out of place.
Now, her clothes were torn and dirty, her hair a tangled mess, her face bruised. Gripping his jacket, she pleaded with him. “Please, let me go. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I was jealous and scared. Tony wanted her for himself. She always gets everything.”
“You’re a mess, Elise, and still I can’t feel any sympathy for you. You left Serena to die. She’s been alone all these years. She came here for you.”
He shoved her away, scrubbing a hand over his face, wincing when he encountered what would probably be a black eye.
“I have that to thank you fo
r at least. If not for you, I never would have met her.”
Elise wrapped her arms around herself and nodded, her eyes searching and filled with tears. “You really do love her, don’t you?”
At the sound of approaching sirens, he shoved her away. “I have a feeling Serena’s going to be the most important thing in my life. Remember, she can put you in jail. I can do worse. You even think about hurting her, or saying anything derogatory about her ever again, and I’ll kill you.”
Elise gasped and took a step back, her hand over her heart. “Surely you don’t mean that.”
Alastair smiled coldly as he reached his car. “More than I’ve ever meant anything in my life. I’m letting you go, but only because that’s what Serena wants. I won’t allow anything or anyone to hurt her in any way, and it’s costing me quite a bit not to wring your neck. Keep that in mind.”
He opened the door and started to get in, pausing when she called his name.
“Wyn, what am I supposed to do? Tony killed Nicky.”
Alastair shrugged. “Tell the cops when they come, but leave my name out of it. Get a good lawyer and tell him you don’t know a thing. Remember, though, what’ll happen if you involve Serena.”
He closed the car door, not bothering to listen to anything else she had to say. Starting the powerful engine, he raced toward the entrance.
When he saw the lights of approaching police cars, he cut his own headlights and drifted off the road until the cops passed. Once they turned into the zoo, and would no longer be able to see him, he flipped the lights on again and raced for home to wait for Serena.
* * * *
Ian looked over again at Serena and cursed, pressing the gas pedal down harder. Each time he looked at her, he saw a new scratch, a new spot of dirt, a new rip in her dress, each one adding to his fury. The drugs she’d been given and her bleeding arm worried him the most. He’d wrapped a handkerchief around it to ease the flow of blood, but he wanted the doctor to see it.
Neither he nor his brother would have gone to the doctor for the injuries Serena had, but he wouldn’t be able to relax until Steve checked her over. His protectiveness toward her astounded him.
After a brief wave at the man at the gate, he sped up Jonathan’s driveway, glancing in the rearview mirror to see the gates closing behind him.
Almost before he’d come to a stop, Jonathan appeared at the door.
Ian turned off the engine and got out, rushing around the car to Serena. Shaken more than he’d care to admit, he reached in for her, gathering her against his chest despite her attempt to push him away.
“No, you don’t. You can fight me all you want, but I’m not putting you down. You’d probably fall flat on that beautiful face if I did.”
“Shit. My hip hurts, too. Whatever she gave me is wearing off, but it comes and goes. I just want to get a hot shower and lie down. Where the hell are we?”
“Jonathan Grimes lives here. He’s a…friend.”
“Bullshit. You don’t have any friends.”
Relieved that she sounded a little stronger, Ian held her close, careful to be gentle and fighting the urge to crush her to him. Bending slightly, he brushed her temple with his lips.
“Remember to call me Wyn.”
* * * *
“Stop poking at me!”
Ian was halfway to his feet before Jonathan’s low chuckle stopped him.
Waving him back to his seat, Jonathan sat up. “She’s fine. Steve will take good care of her. He takes care of you when you get shot, doesn’t he?”
Ian inclined his head, looking toward the doorway. “She’s a hell of a lot more delicate than I am. Maybe I should have taken her to the hospital.”
Jonathan’s smile disappeared.
“I got a phone call right before you pulled in. They found Carello and two of his men beaten and tied to the car. Elise Carello was found hysterical and screaming that they’d killed someone named Nicky.”
Hiding a smile, Ian raised a brow. “Oh?”
Jonathan nodded once and continued, swirling his brandy. “Nicky was apparently the man who was waiting outside. Elise ordered him to take Serena and drop her into the lion pit, and told him that it was an order from Carello. When Carello found out, he beat her and went to get Serena.”
Jonathan looked toward the doorway, his lips twitching at Serena’s curses. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
Ian clenched his jaw, not liking the interest in Jonathan’s eyes. “She is. What about Nicky?”
“Found him in the trunk. Dead. Also found about a half million dollars’ worth of heroin. Looks like Carello’s going to have a hard time beating this rap. Nice and tidy. Don’t know how you did it and managed to disappear before the Feds showed up.”
When Ian said nothing, Jonathan sighed and gestured toward the doorway. “So, is she really psychic?”
Ian shrugged, opening his mouth to speak, but snapping it closed when he heard Serena.
“No! Look, I appreciate your help, but if you come near me with any more needles, I’m going to sic Wyn on you. Where is he?” Serena’s disgruntled tone almost made Ian smile.
Coming to his feet, Ian moved to the doorway. “Let’s just say she has a gift. I wouldn’t want that to get out. Her life’s already in danger because of it.”
Jonathan nodded once. “I can understand that. I have to admit, I’ve never seen you so…intense about a woman before.”
Ian kept his expression cool. “She’s very vulnerable, and she’s been through a lot tonight. If being thrown into a lion pit isn’t enough, she has to deal with her cousin’s betrayal.”
And being kept a prisoner because she knows too much.
Frowning at the uncomfortable thought, he looked toward the doorway, impatient to see her again. He still couldn’t believe that she’d been able to communicate with them the way she had. He couldn’t help wondering what it meant, and if fate had indeed decided that they should be together.
Reminding himself that he didn’t believe in fate, and that he made his own destiny, he looked toward the doorway, anxious for her to appear, unable to shake the feeling that they belonged together.
With a little practice, she could become a force to be reckoned with, and could prove invaluable in helping them—if he could accept that she could get into his head.
Pacing restlessly, he glanced toward the doorway again.
He’d thought his life full and exciting—until Serena walked into it.
He realized now just what an empty existence he’d been living.
Thoughtful, and a little shaken, he paused, gripping the back of the chair across from Jonathan’s desk. “She’s special, Jonathan, and I want her to be safe.”
Jonathan lowered himself into his seat again, a dark brow going up. “Just what kind of gift does she have?”
Not wanting to give too much away, Ian straightened and eyed the closest thing to a friend he had. He preferred to keep information about Serena to himself.
“I don’t know the extent of it, and I don’t think she does either. She’s kept herself isolated.”
Interest sparkled in Jonathan’s eyes. “Remarkably vague, even for you. Is that how you knew what Carello was up to? We got the men in the warehouse, by the way, and have already started cleaning up the police department.”
Jonathan picked up his drink and sat back, his lips twitching. “Elise Carello is a woman who will do whatever’s necessary to protect her own skin.”
Clenching his jaw and fisting his hands at his sides, Ian nodded. “Yes, she will. She’ll roll over on Carello in a heartbeat, but I don’t think she knows too much. Carello knows she can’t be trusted, and from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t care too much for her. It’s a good thing they already have enough on him to keep him locked up for the rest of his life.”
Jonathan inclined his head and took a sip of his drink. “Yes. A good thing, indeed. I agree with you that Elise Carello wouldn’t know very much, but if he doesn’t care for her, why the h
ell did he marry her?”
Serena appeared in the doorway. “He wants children. A dynasty.”
Ian spun and started toward her, holding her away as he looked her over. “Are you okay?” Narrowing his eyes, he took in the small bandages on her arms and legs and noted that the doctor had cleaned her up a little.
“I’m fine. Just some bruises and scratches.” Wrinkling her nose, she glanced back toward the doorway. “The doctor gave me an antibiotic shot, and another one of vitamins. He was trying to give me another and I threatened him with you.”
She reached out to lay her hands flat on his chest, looking up at him through her lashes. “If he comes at me with a needle, will you beat him up for me?”
At that moment, Ian would have walked through fire for her. “Of course, baby. I’ll hurt him and let you watch. By the way, this is Jonathan. He’s the one who called the doctor for you.”
Holding the torn material of her dress together, she smiled in Jonathan’s direction. “Hello. I didn’t get to really say much to you when we got here. Thank you for calling Steve for me.”
Jonathan gave her one of the smiles that usually had women panting at his feet. “My pleasure. I know Wyn was anxious to get you checked over. I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Abbott, but Wyn didn’t tell me how incredibly beautiful you are.”
Ian glared at Jonathan, not liking the way the other man looked at Serena. Scowling when Jonathan glanced at him and smiled before turning his attention back to her, Ian fisted his hands at his sides.
Jonathan took a step closer to her. “You’ve had a hell of a night. Why don’t you sit down and have a drink?”
Serena nodded. “Please call me Serena. I don’t drink, but tonight I’m willing to make an exception. Do you have something that’s not too strong?”
Stepping between them, Ian caught Serena’s chin in a light hold, careful of what appeared to be the beginning of a bruise, and lifted her face to his.
“Honey, you’re going to be black and blue tomorrow.” He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, inordinately pleased to see her in it. It hung almost to her knees and made her look even more fragile. “Is that better? Are you warm enough?”
