by Moxie North
Trust Me
A Kindred Novel
Moxie North
Copyright © 2018 by Moxie North
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. ARC
Cover Design by Jacqueline Sweet
Created with Vellum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
Connect with Moxie
Also by Moxie North
Chapter 1
Squeak. Squeak
Faye turned the corner down a long row of cubicles. She hated the mail cart and the noise that drew the gazes of those she passed. Oil, axle grease, she’d even tried Vaseline. Nothing would stop that stupid cart from squeaking whenever she turned left.
She had even tried to map out her route to include only right turns, but it just couldn’t be done. Left, squeak, left, squeak. Faye might as well have been ringing a bell. Sometimes she got a smile, sometimes a thank you as she handed out the daily mail. Often she got a head nod or a grunt. Then there were those that ignored her completely.
That didn’t matter to Faye. It was easier this way. The more she blended into the surroundings, the easier she found her job. Being the mail clerk of Thayr International was not a taxing job. She liked it for the most part because it gave her time to think over the classes she was taking. Being with animals was how she found joy. Volunteering at an animal shelter when she could also gave her extra credit in the Veterinary Assistant program she was taking.
Just one more year of this crap and then she could find a new job where she was able to help animals and get paid to do it. She wouldn’t miss Thayr International much; she didn’t even really have any friends in the building. She knew other people could form those kinds of relationships with their coworkers. The drinks after hours. Signing up for Secret Santa during the holidays. They seemed to enjoy each other’s company, although she wondered if they ever stayed in touch when they moved on to other positions.
Being on the outside was something she was used to, so she didn’t feel left out. Her life had led her to be independent and that made it easier to get through her day. Her enjoyment wasn’t in meaningless work acquaintances that would ask her about her day and complain about the quality of the staff room coffee. She found her pleasure by helping animals in need. The animals always gave her unconditional love. Purrs and fur were the way to go.
There was one small, tiny, practically insignificant thing she might miss about Thayr. Well, not so much a thing as a person. A person that she shouldn’t even be thinking about, but luckily no one could read her mind. It was a secret she kept to herself, and it was the one little pleasure she allowed herself each day during her work hours.
Walking past Gideon’s office. In her quiet life it was a small thrill she secretly enjoyed.
The CEO of Thayr International was no ordinary man either. He was Gideon of Clan Othala. He was a man that captured your attention whether you wanted him to or not. The media had given him a coveted spot on the Kindred Hot 100 for a number of years. Faye couldn’t imagine this was something he was proud of. He didn’t seem the type to revel in the attention.
Faye sometimes caught glimpses of him when she walked by. If his door was open, if she aimed her cart shockingly close to his assistant’s desk. A casual lean could gain her a view of the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life.
He was Kindred, one of the thousands of shifters that lived side by side with humans. Kindred carried themselves differently than humans and Gideon couldn’t hide what he was. Not that he’d ever want to. It only took a moment to see he wasn’t human. The reflective silver eyes that would flash and fade gave him away. Kindred eyes reminded her of seeing an animal crossing the road after dark, their white-silver eyes shining back at you as you passed in the night.
There were rumors of what kind of shifter he was. If Faye had to guess, she would say he was a big cat. She’d seen him prowling the hallways. It was a fast walk that was silent, smooth and graceful. Something she had only seen on the animal channel on TV. She could imagine him stalking his prey and pouncing on it without it ever knowing.
His skin was tanned from spending just enough time on white sand beaches, and his short black hair made him look more like an international model, not a feared businessman. He was the type of man who literally took your breath away.
Whenever he was coming by she practically dove out of the way. She had to fight the urge to curtsey when he walked by. He was powerful and a little scary, and Faye hated to admit that her nervousness excited her. Gideon never looked at her. At least she couldn’t recall a time that he had. If he had, she wasn’t looking. It would have been like staring at the sun, burning out her retinas and leaving her blind to regular life. Just a passing glimpse of him could make her day.
Faye could have spent the rest of the day fantasizing about him. Making up scenarios that he would whisk her away to a far off castle and they would live happily ever after. It probably was the cheesy movies she loved to rent. Faye also told herself that her imagination was healthy and it didn’t hurt anyone.
Then she would remind herself that she was an invisible mail clerk, and that was the way she liked it. She could keep her secrets to herself that way.
Today was one of those days where she could use a small snippet of Gideon. It was Friday afternoon and she had a long weekend of volunteering and homework ahead of her.
Turning the corner on the tenth floor, she cringed at the squeak of the horrible hateful wheel. She approached slowly, seeing Sabrina, Gideon’s assistant, on her computer. Just past her shoulder were the double doors to his office. If the door was closed she was out of luck. If it was open she had a chance.
The mail was always given to Sabrina. No one ever went into Gideon’s office besides his secretary and his mother when she visited. Sabrina would likely cut someone for calling her a secretary. Executive Assistant was her preferred title. She was also Kindred, and was almost as scary as Gideon.
As Faye approached, her damn cart squeaked and gave her away. She hadn’t even turned left! It drew Sabrina’s gaze and her beautiful green eyes flashed silver at her then back to green, narrowing at her like she was some kind of bug.
Picking up the stack of mail that was address to the CEO, she held it out to Sabrina. She’d learned a few years ago to not drop it on her desk. You had to wait until she finished what she was doing and accepted the delivery directly to her hand. She would then go through each piece, ensuring that Faye hadn’t screwed up. She had once, two years ago, when she was new.
Now Sabrina acted as though she could never be trusted again.
“Faye,” Sabrina returned coolly.
Sabrina took the mail and as soon as she looked down, Faye’s eyes shot up to the door. It was closed.
That meant he was either not in or he wanted to be alone. There was also a chance that he was in a meeting, but he refused to meet with anyone except in the conference room on his floor. His office was a mystery to everyone.
“Anything outgoing?” Faye asked, while Sabrina was still looking through the mail. Faye knew she didn’t like that, but if there was no chance of seeing Gideon, she might as well move on.
Sabrina didn’t answer until she got to the last envelope. “Just this,” she said, her voice crisp as she handed Faye a package.
“Have a nice weekend,” Faye croaked weakly.
It wasn’t that Sabrina was mean to her. She was kind of mean to everyone. Faye had taken it personally the first year. That was until she saw Sabrina make one of the IT guys cry, then Faye got a better read on her. Sabrina was efficient, which meant she didn’t have time for most people.
“I always do,” Sabrina said without a smile.
Faye waved awkwardly, which luckily she was sure Sabrina missed as she pushed her wretched cart down the hall.
Chapter 2
“Sabrina, get in here,” Gideon’s voice called out through the open door. It was Monday morning and he’d walked into a shitstorm. If he hadn’t been such a hands-on part of the company, he could hire other people to deal with the day-to-day crap. But he liked to be in the middle of it. His family was known around the world and it mattered to him that he and his Clan were well respected.
Dealing with issues efficiently and fairly was a hallmark of how he did business. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be ruthless when it was in his best interest. He’d graduated summa cum laude with a degree in business management and international relations. After he’d finished school, his parents had stepped aside to let him take over the business with assistance from his sister.
His parents were responsible for building up interest in Othala Oil and had morphed it into a luxury hotel chain that was renowned as being the best and the most eco-friendly in the world.
“How can I be of assistance?” Sabrina said, strolling in on a pair of impossibly high heels. She was wearing a purple dress that clung to her curves. Gideon observed that without any sexual interest. Sabrina was a panther, slinky and seductive. She also dressed to impress, not just because she liked to, but she’d told him once she was the first person people saw when they came to meet him, and she didn’t want them to ever doubt they were dealing with professionals.
He also observed she was being sarcastic when she asked that question. Not that she wouldn’t do whatever Gideon needed, but she was one of the few people in his sphere that would call him on his shit.
“You can assist yourself to a chair and tell me what the hell I’m reading,” Gideon said, tossing a folder on the desk.
Picking up the folder, Sabrina flipped it open. “This is a cease and desist order for the Palisades build. And you know what it is; you’ve seen them before. So why are you asking me what it is?”
“Because I thought we had all of this handled. Legal assured me that everything was by the book.”
“It is. This is just a bunch of arm waving to try and garner attention. They’re worried about the pocket gopher,” she said primly.
“There are fucking gophers everywhere. Why the hell do these ones matter?”
“As they say it, the Palisades project is developing one of the last large patches of undeveloped land in Santa Monica. Where, oh where, will the gophers go?”
“I’m guessing into someone’s yard. Don’t they realize that gophers will find more dirt to dig in?”
“Maybe they don’t want them tearing up their perfectly manicured useless lawns. Still, it sounds good and they are a big enough group that they can afford the media attention needed to bring people to their cause. Legal has assured me this low-level court decision won’t affect us in any way. We own the property, all of the environmental impact studies have been done and are on file in Santa Monica County.”
“Fine, but if they start making any noise about protesting, I want full security down there to protect our workers.”
“Done, anything else?”
“Yes, my mother should be making a surprise visit sometime this week. Make sure her tea and hot water is stocked at all times.”
Sabrina gave a wry smile. “She’s back from Hawaii?”
“Yes, she wants to spend the holidays here. She says she can’t do another Christmas with palm trees,” Gideon said with a small smile. “She’d rather have dreary rainy Portland weather.” Portland was a mecca of environmental innovation, and it was the perfect place for Thayr’s headquarters. His mother needed sun, so she only visited when she missed the damp. Then she would remember she didn’t like the damp and return to their plantation on The Big Island.
“Can’t blame her. Anything else?”
“No, that will be all for now.”
Sabrina started to stand.
“Sabrina, what did I get you for Christmas last year?”
“Oh, you bought me a lovely Chanel purse. It was exactly what I wanted,” she said.
Gideon gave her a smile, “Make sure I get you something nice again this year.”
“I always do,” she said, strutting out of his office.
Gideon relied on Sabrina to the point that there wasn’t much she could buy herself that would shock him. It was right before Thanksgiving and Gideon knew that it was just a week before the round of holiday parties began. He was sure that Sabrina would have all his tuxes rotating through the cleaners so he wouldn’t be without.
He loved his job. He just fucking hated mingling. It was a small price to pay to be successful and it helped that he loved his family, his Clan, and his life. He could almost imagine being happy doing and being the same person for the rest of his life. There was something missing, but that didn’t exactly explain it. It was more like a craving than a longing. Craving something that sounds like once you got a taste, you were hooked for life.
Gideon hoped his time would come. He was thirty-nine and had plenty of time. If he ever found a mate, all the hard work he put into his hotels, his family and Clan’s businesses would be easily pushed to the back burner.
Until that time came, he would take pride in his work. Thayr Hotels were the epitome of luxury. That was because of him and it made him feel good.
Picking up his phone, his sent a quick text to his personal bodyguard. As a Kindred, he could easily handle himself if the need arose. But having a guard meant he didn’t always have to be on watch. There were those that didn’t like what he was. They didn’t like that he was successful. Not that he was the only Kindred billionaire around, but it rubbed some people the wrong way. Gideon didn’t have time for that.
A knock sounded at his door and he called out, “Come in.”
In through the door walked an enormous man. Six-foot-five and at least three hundred pounds. Royce was a bear shifter and a security professional from KSI. King Security had the best bodyguards around and Gideon kept two employed at all times with a rotating third man named Leon that filled in for vacations and breaks. Royce and Tucker were bodyguards, drivers, and often a helpful ear to Gideon’s rants.
“Royce,” Gideon greeted him.
“Yes, sir?”
“How long have you been working for me?”
“Two years, four months, and eleven days.”
Gideon was not surprised he knew that. He could probably get him down to the hour if he asked.
“How many times have I asked you not to call me sir?”
“I’ve lost count of that number, sir.”
Gideon kept his smirk under control. Every time he got Royce or Tucker to slip and call him by his given name he gave them a hundred dollars. At first they would
n’t accept it. So he started adding it to their pay separately when he paid his bill to KSI. Now they accepted it with a nod and Gideon would ponder what they did with it. Knowing the men as he did, they were probably stacking it up in a little box somewhere and not spending it.
“I’m thinking we need to go out tonight. Pretty soon it’s going to be event after event. It would be nice to relax and let our hair down.”
Royce was standing with his hands crossed in front of him, his black suit crisp and perfectly cut for his enormous frame.
“Are you thinking drinks and female company? Or are you thinking something more… wild?”
Gideon knew that Royce knew he didn’t date. Hadn’t in years. It was complicated; there were too many Kindred groupies hovering around anyway. Woman that wanted nothing less than a Kindred mate. Even better that he was rich. They didn’t understand that mates didn’t happen that way. They also didn’t understand that trapping a Kindred by getting pregnant with their child never happened anymore. Back in his youthful days he always kept Kindred-designed condoms with him. Nothing was getting through it and nothing was ever going to break it.
It had been years since he even felt like indulging those needs. The desire wasn’t there, so he put his efforts into his work instead.
“I’m thinking I need to stretch my legs, what about you?”
Royce gave a rumbling grunt that only a bear would do. “I could run.”
Gideon nodded and Royce returned the nod before he left. Royce would make the arrangements and confirm that they could both privately shift, and let their animal sides have an evening of running and hunting without anyone following or watching them.
