She blinked at his correction. “So, that’s the part that’s wrong. That’s the part I’ve misunderstood.” El gulped down some more vodka. “Does that sound crazy to anyone else?”
As her question seemed to be aimed more at the room at large than at them, Ryan just took a sip of his own drink and let her process the information he’d just divulged.
She lifted a hand and rubbed at her eyes. Her fatigue hit him square in the jaw, and he grimaced at his selfishness. “You need to rest.”
El started to shake her head, but then she blew out a shaky breath. “M-Maybe I do. It’s been a long night.”
Trip clambered to his feet. “Let me show you to your quarters.”
A faint tension running through her limbs pricked Ryan’s attention. “You’re safe with him, El. As safe with him as you are with me, and as safe as you’ll be with Marc too.”
She swallowed. “This is too much to process.”
“That’s why you need to rest,” Trip said softly. He stepped around the glass coffee table and hovered next to her legs. When she peered up at him, the weariness on her face hurt Ryan to behold. He was about to concede defeat and offer to take her upstairs himself, but she surprised him by holding out her hand. Trip reached for it and helped her up.
Good. She needed to connect with his Triad brothers.
It was always difficult starting a relationship one on one when it was, as she’d so succinctly pointed out, one on three. The woman usually clung to the first male she met for a while until she felt more at ease and could respond to all of the Triad.
They had some trying days ahead, but hell, they’d be more than worth it.
She frowned as she settled beside Trip, then to Ryan, asked, “The picture in the hall. Of your parents? There are two of them.”
“My mother’s a Shifter, my father’s human,” he explained softly.
“Oh.” Her mouth rounded into a perfect circle that had his cock jerking to attention.
“Ryan’s unusual,” Trip pointed out softly, jerking her attention back to him. “Pride leaders such as him usually don’t spawn from such a coupling.”
“They don’t?”
“Nope. His mother’s strong though. Inordinately so. Lionesses are known for their wit and cunning, but not strength. Jane’s definitely different. It figures that her son would be different too.”
“You sound like you know her? More than just as a son-in-law?” she asked, her eyes hazy with confusion.
“I do. I’m a lot older than Ryan,” Trip explained with a smile. “I knew his parents before he did.”
Ryan rolled his eyes. “And they never got over the fact you weren’t their son and I was.”
Trip pshawed. “Because they don’t cosset you enough as it is.”
He couldn’t withhold his wide grin, and ruefully, he scraped a hand across his jaw. “Checkmate.”
Trip winked at him, then, to El explained, “It’s well known in the Pride that Ryan’s mom is… well, she’s a bit of a nightmare. You might have a bit of trouble dealing with her.”
“Oh boy,” El grumbled on a deep sigh. “Three mothers-in-law and only God knows how many fathers-in-law.”
It warmed his heart to hear that she was accepting of their mate bond. Maybe that admission surprised even her because her eyes were wide when Trip explained, “Five. I’m from a three-to-one partnership but Marc’s mom was the Shifter too. You’re in luck.”
“Luck…” El dazedly peered around her. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Trip snorted. “When you’re a little more at ease, all of this will start to make sense. I promise.”
She stared up at him, her five feet nothing height insubstantial to Trip’s six-six. “You mean that?”
His smile was tender, and he reached out to chuck her gently under the chin. “I always keep my promises.”
Ryan wasn’t sure what was buried in his Triad brother’s gaze, but whatever it was, it had El shuddering a little by way of response. When Trip lifted an arm and settled it on her shoulders, she didn’t pull back. If anything, she let him gently lead her from the sofa over to the door.
Before they made it out, she turned back to Ryan and asked, “I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Just try and stop me,” he replied with a smile.
Her eyes were big and scared and far too tired as she stared at him, but relief settled in them at his words. “Thank you for tonight, Ryan. For saving me.”
“It’s my honor. An honor that needs no thanks.”
She blinked at him. “Night,” she whispered softly.
“Night.”
As the door started to close behind them, Trip shot Ryan a look. Grimly, they nodded at one another before he led El to the bedroom that had been proportioned expressly for her.
Getting to his feet, he headed for the drinks’ tray. Ryan wanted nothing more than to go upstairs with her. But this was her time with Trip. He had no problem sharing. He shared most things with his Triad brothers, but in this, he’d need patience.
Until all three of them shared an equal connection with her, they’d have to set out times unique to each of them so that the bond could flourish between them all.
The three of them had no desire to share her sexually. That wasn’t how this worked. They were the satellites around El’s earth. They were in her orbit.
For now, they’d have to remain singular beings, but when she was relaxed around them, accepting of the bond and understanding it, they could all show her their love together.
He looked forward to that day and wished it was now. She needed him to kiss her good night. How he knew that, he put down to the bond. But it was Trip’s time to connect with her…
Gritting his teeth, he poured himself another drink, and as he sank it back, decided that the best thing to do was head down to Pride House. At least there he could do some good with the cops.
Chapter 4
Shawn rarely felt unease. He’d seen too much. Done too much in his many years of service that very little managed to rattle him.
But the corpse in El’s car?
Yeah, that rattled him.
How couldn’t it?
Jamie had been a friend. A bud. They’d lived together, under El’s roof, for nearly a decade. They’d shot shit together, discussed how badly the Patriots were playing that season in the kitchen, and had guarded El with their lives…
How had he missed the treachery? Was he getting soft? Was that it?
He knew he was too close to El. Had been since she’d turned twenty-four. For the past six years, he’d been fighting the need she inspired in him. And had only fought it because he knew the instant her parents even caught a whiff of a relationship between the two of them he’d lose his job.
He didn’t care about the money. Gave less than a shit about the stain on his resume. All that mattered was El. Only he could keep her safe.
At least, that’s what he’d always figured.
Until tonight.
Ryan had kept her safe. Not him.
While that hurt, it also gave him some relief. She was safe, and that was all that mattered.
He stared at Jamie’s lifeless corpse in the SUV from the driver door and wondered how he’d missed the signs. Because there had to have been signs. It was impossible for them to live in such close quarters, and for Jamie not to have revealed anything.
Enrique had lost them along the way, and he’d yet to check in. Shawn left the man to it as he figured Enrique was the reason they’d lost the tail on them. He’d leave it another hour before he called the other guard. The last thing he wanted was to distract the guy when he was busy.
They’d both driven identical SUVs, with nearly identical registration plates. It was easy to mistake one for the other, and Shawn knew that was how they’d lost the tail. Not by going down shortcuts, but by smoke and mirrors.
It had worked for them before, and it had worked for them today.
Someone cleared their throat from be
hind him. He turned saw the guy Ryan had spoken with earlier. “Something wrong?”
“Your name? I’m Adam DeSoto.”
DeSoto? A relation of Ryan’s?
“Shawn McNamara.” He nodded at the other man. “Security to Ms. Forsythe-Drew. Are the cops on their way?”
“They’ll be along in twenty minutes,” Adam replied as he came to stand beside Shawn. He folded his arms, and asked, “What happened?”
“He’s one of her retinue. Bastard’s been with us for nearly nine years, and turns traitor now.”
“Jesus,” Adam spat under his breath.
“More like bastard,” Shawn grumbled, shooting Adam a look that had them both chuckling a little. Shawn’s amusement faded as he eyed the gaping wound at Jamie’s throat. “When he turned his gun on me, intent on backseat driving I suppose you’d call it, Ryan shifted and… well, did that.”
Adam nodded. “Ryan’s scent is all over the car.”
“That unusual?”
“No, not really. But it’s stronger than it should ordinarily be. He didn’t shift fully. The half-shift leaves a stronger trace.”
Shawn blinked at that bit of knowledge. Along the way, he’d come to learn of paranormals. Had even known a few of them in the army—had served with them, and knew they were fucking insane soldiers. So damn good they were soon sectioned off to serve in the SEALS or the Green Berets. It never took long for the acronyms to headhunt them.
Hell, he’d headhunted them a time or two himself.
“I didn’t even know a half-shift was possible before tonight,” he confessed.
“You knew about Shifters before what happened here this evening?”
Adam’s shock was evident, but Shawn dismissed it. About to speak, the squeal of tires sounded from outside the compound. The gates opened though, so tension flooded from Adam, and when he saw the car, the other man explained, “It’s Trip. He’s… Well, one of Ryan’s partners.”
Why did that feel like there was a whole other tale behind that explanation?
Figuring he’d get answers later, he watched as Trip sought out Adam, nodded at him, then took off at a run in the same direction El and Ryan had taken earlier.
“He seems… panicked.”
“That’s one way to describe it. Trip’s relatively chilled out, but tonight’s tough on everyone.”
It was? Shawn frowned, then steered the conversation back to where he wanted it. “I knew about Shifters thanks to my time in the CUBS.”
Adam’s brows rose. “You served there?”
“Yeah. I did. I was leader for a few years, then I got out and went into private security.”
“Excuse me for saying it, but wasn’t that a bit of a come down?”
“You do know who the Forsythe-Drews are, right?” Shawn huffed under his breath. “What they spend a year on security is like a third world nation’s debt. I had a lot of access to a lot of information. It’s been interesting. Plus, El, she’s like… Well, she’s like family to me.” Lies.
All. Fucking. Lies.
She wasn’t like family. She was family. Simple as that.
Adam murmured, “I’m surprised you’ve never seen a half-shift before if you were in the CUBS.”
“Why?”
“Only the strongest Shifters can half-shift. It takes a hell of a lot of energy to harness the magic of the shift. Ryan is the only one who can hold it for long enough to attack. In this Pride anyway. Trip, his partner, the guy you just saw, and the other partner, Marcus, can hold it for a brief time, but not enough to do a lot of damage.”
“Why?”
Adam shrugged. “We’re supposed to be human or beast. Not both. His ability is why he’s Pride leader and at such a short age.”
Shawn frowned at that. “Seriously? That’s why he’s leader?”
“To a certain degree, sure. Of course, there are other reasons, but even as evolved as we are, we still appreciate strength.” Adam pursed his lips. “Ryan is the strongest Lion Shifter in the state, bar none. If he wanted to take it further, he probably could. There are few men who could do what he did tonight. Attack the way he did without falling into a frenzy, I mean.”
“You mean to tell me he could have hurt El?”
“No. Never!” Adam immediately retorted. “You? Likely.”
He grimaced. “Good to know that I’m technically on borrowed time.”
Adam snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far. Not with Ryan, anyway. My point is, he’s strong enough to go further than state leader.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Shawn asked, curious now.
“Because you asked?”
“It’s more than that.”
Adam shot him a look. “There’s a reason why his beast knew to spare you.”
“There is? It isn’t just his mighty control?” If he put a hint of mockery into the word ‘mighty’, who could blame him?
Ryan was sweeping El out from under him. It didn’t matter that she’d never been his in the first place. Little issues like that were never of any concern to the heart.
“It probably is that, don’t get me wrong. But it might be more. I’m trained to look out for ‘more’.”
“What is it you do here?”
“I’m the troubleshooter.” He grinned. “Well, I prefer that to PA.”
Shawn chuckled and felt for the first time like they were on the level.
In the distance, the sounds of sirens could be heard and the flickering of blue lights started to make themselves known at the gates. Adam lifted his hand and Shawn noticed he was holding a fob. The gates opened and two unmarked cars drove in.
As they pulled up on the grand, paved driveway, Shawn broadened his stance. He hated the cops. Even though he worked in security, he didn’t like dealing with them. They could be pedantic, and when it boiled down they were a nuisance.
Adam seemed to sense his tension. “Don’t worry. These are our guys. They’re good.”
“There are just two Lion Shifters in the entire LAPD?”
“Nah. There are more, but these are the only ones on Homicide.”
Shawn accepted that with a lift of his chin and watched as two detectives climbed out of their no longer flashing cars. As they strode over toward them, they directed their attention to Adam.
“What’s going on, Adam?” the shorter one asked. He had white blond hair that was turning silver. His face was craggy and lined with age, but though he was short, he more than made up for it with the muscles he packed.
“We have a situation.”
“When don’t we when you call us?” the taller, darker cop retorted.
“Don’t bust my balls, Santiago. It’s not my fault I’m calling you out.”
So, the dark, Hispanic-looking guy was Santiago, which meant the shorter one was Erickson.
“Just get to the details. We need to call this in ASAP,” Erickson remarked, folding his beefy arms across his chest.
Rather than let Adam explain, Shawn recited, “At twenty-hundred hours, your leader, Ryan DeSoto and my boss, Maryellen Forsythe-Drew left the site of their first date, Feral LA. I drove them to the compound in Ms. Forsythe-Drew’s SUV alongside a fellow guard, James Pantera.
“As we drove toward the compound, Pantera withdrew a weapon, aimed it at me, and told me if I didn’t drive where he insisted, he’d shoot me. His intention was to hijack the car, steal Ms. Forsythe-Drew away from the vehicle, and kidnap her for ransom.
“However, upon issuing the threat, Mr. DeSoto,” Shawn hesitated, “completed a half-shift and took out the threat to Ms. Forsythe-Drew. Pantera’s corpse is currently sitting in the passenger seat of the SUV behind you.”
Santiago and Erickson shot each other a look. “Military?” Santiago asked.
“How could you tell?” Shawn bared his teeth in a grim smile.
Erickson let out a whistle. “Fine mess the leader’s sprung upon us.”
“It couldn’t be helped. The threat to Ms. Forsythe-Drew was incalculable.”
Erickson demanded, “Are we talking about the Forsythe-Drews here? I mean, are we?”
“Yes. We’re talking about the American dynasty,” Shawn said blandly. “We’ve recently fielded two other kidnapping attempts, but this one was far closer to home than any of us could have calculated.” He firmed his jaw. “Pantera was a friend as well as a colleague. He’d been a part of the team for eight years. We… I trusted him.”
Sympathy lined both cops’ faces. “Your boss must be finding this real hard to take in.”
Adam cleared his throat. “She’s our Luna.”
Shawn frowned at the unusual terminology, but the label had both men’s eyes shooting wide. “He’s found a mate?”
“Yeah,” Adam confirmed. “She’s over at the lodge.”
Erickson rubbed his jaw. “Fuck me.”
“You think there’s a coincidence that the bastard’s name was Pantera? You know what those fuckers are like. They all change their surname to that at eighteen.”
Shawn’s frown deepened. “What do you mean? What are you talking about ‘changing their surnames?’”
Erickson, Adam, and Santiago shared a look, but it was Santiago who clarified, “You seem aware of the paranormal population, Mr.…?”
“McNamara.”
Santiago nodded. “Mr. McNamara. It will come as no surprise to you that there is a smaller subsection of feline Shifters in the area.”
“You trying to tell me that James was a, what? Panther Shifter?” Shawn scoffed.
“You didn’t know he was a traitor. Why would you know he was a Shifter?”
“Because I’ve seen the signs before,” Shawn snapped, and hated how Erickson’s words dug deep and raked along his skin like claws tipped in acid. “He displayed none. He was even-tempered, cool under pressure. Never rippled, not once, under fire.” In times of stress, Shifters could and would phase in and out as the magic of the shift overtook them in the most perilous of situations.
“That just means he was good at hiding it. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t a Shifter. Anyway, we’ll find out once the autopsy’s through.”
“Is there some kind of trouble between Panthers and Lions?” Shawn demanded, wanting to know what kind of shitstorm El had landed in.
Finding Luna: A Lion Shifter Reverse Harem Romance (PRIDE Book 1) Page 6
