by Bethany Shaw
“I am offering you your freedom. To forgive Gene for his deception a few days ago. The freedom to live happily with your blonde, human, vulnerable lover.”
Devon’s heart clenched tightly in his chest at the mention of Lark. Red blurred his vision, and he slammed on the brakes, throwing gravel up as he pulled his car to a halt inches from a round oak tree.
“I would hate for anything to happen to her,” Juarez continued. “Such a pretty face and, from what I’ve seen of her, a spitfire. Save her from a doomed life and hand over my granddaughter. A girl like her—with her willpower—would be fun for my grandsons to break.”
“Enough,” Devon bellowed.
“And what about your little sister. She is a gem. Emily may put up a little fight, but her light would diminish quickly.”
“Stop!”
“Their lives are in your capable hands. Bring me my granddaughter, and you have my word that I will leave both your and Gene’s packs alone forever. I am a man of honor. My word is my bond. Without family, I have no meaning, and I commend you for your bravery in protecting yours. Family is sacred, and, because we both honor it, I hope you will understand the sincerity with which I offer you this deal,” Juarez said.
Devon felt the color drain from his face as he leaned his head against the headrest. Juarez’s words shook him. Not just the threats, but the honor in his words.
“I know this is a very difficult decision for you, Devon. Because I know this, I am willing to give you time to think on it. I will call you back tomorrow. Until then,” Juarez said.
Devon opened his mouth to respond, but the phone clicked. Taking the phone from his ear, he watched his shaking hand as he threw it against the plush seat. The phone bounced off the seat and fell to the floor with a soft thump. Running a hand over his face, he punched the steering wheel repeatedly with his other.
***
Gene sighed and scratched at the stubble on his jaw.
“He threatened Lark and Emily. We have to stop him. If we don’t and he gets them, he will make their lives hell. I’m going to put more men at the bakery when they are there. I could never ask Lark to give up her bakery,” Devon said as he paced back and forth in front of Gene’s desk.
The hairs on Gene’s neck bristled at Devon’s rage. The apprehension and distress of the situation crashed over him.
“We can increase security at The Cookie Jar immediately. Do you believe Juarez about the deal?” Gene questioned. He knew Devon wasn’t a rash person, but, still, people will do crazy things to protect the people they love.
“I do, actually. There was something about him—something about the way he said it. I think he truly just wants his family back together.” Devon stopped his frantic walk and closed his eyes, the frustration still evident on his face. “I’d love to ensure Lark and Em’s safety, but at what cost? If Natalia doesn’t want to go, what kind of men would we be if we made her?”
“I couldn’t condemn her to that life either. I…” Gene started but stopped. What exactly was his relationship with Talia? It was more than just lust. He cared for her deeply, and was possibly falling in love with her.
“You’re falling for her,” Devon finished for him as if he’d read his train of thought.
Gene frowned, nodding slowly. “How did you know?”
“Anyone with a heightened sense of smell knows, Gene. If you were going for subtle, you failed miserably,” Devon grunted quietly.
“You don’t like it?” Gene questioned, watching his cousin.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Devon started, taking a seat across from Gene. “I’m happy for you. It’s just that she has a kid. Not that you shouldn’t be with her because of that, but…” Devon stopped, shaking his head. “I know what it’s like to be the third wheel, if you will. Unless you’re positive that you can treat that boy like your own, you should end it now.”
Gene closed his eyes as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. Opening his eyes, he stared at Devon. His cousin had suffered greatly when his mother remarried; still carried the effects of it with him. It wasn’t something he talked about—ever.
“I care about both of them, and I would never alienate Adrian. I may not be his father by blood, but I feel a connection to Talia. To both of them. I would never pursue a relationship with her if I didn’t think I could love them both,” Gene explained sincerely.
“Good,” Devon said. His eyes fixated on the floor; he seemed to be in a daze.
“How’s Lark?” Gene asked, sensing that Devon needed to change his train of thought.
“She’s holding up. I think she’s dealing with everything by focusing her attention on Sarah,” Devon replied, glancing up.
“It helps to distract yourself,” Gene nodded solemnly.
“I’ve, uh, I’ve been thinking about moving things to the next level with her,” Devon said, lacing his hands together as he leaned forward onto the desk.
Gene smirked. “Moving to the next level? You do realize what that entails, right?”
Devon chuckled. “I do. I love her. I want to be with her for the rest of my life. I also want to protect her in every way possible, which is why I want to make a declaration for all to know that she is my alpha female—my mate. I want to ensure that she is treated as such. Lark is the most important person in my life, and I want our world to know it.”
Chapter Twenty
Natalia rolled over in her bed. The room lit up briefly as lightening flashed outside her window. The rain was usually soothing, and helped to lull her to sleep. Not tonight. She hadn’t meant to overhear Gene and Devon’s discussion earlier. She’d been going to talk to Gene and had stumbled upon the partially opened door.
She was equally chilled to the bone at Juarez’s intent and warmed at Gene’s declaration. Sighing, she closed her eyes, allowing a tear to trickle down the side of her face.
I can never be happy or safe as long as Juarez is searching for me.
Natalia sniffled and wiped at her face with the back of her hand. Frustrated, she sat up peering over the edge of Adrian’s bed. He slept contently with his left fist on his mouth, and the other hand over his head. His blue sleeper fit him snugly.
She shoved off the bed, grabbed the monitor, and crept out of the room, careful not to disturb Adrian. Natalia padded down the hall and gripped the banister as she walked downstairs. The house was quiet, and a quick look at the clock on the mantel told her it was after eleven.
Natalia walked to the kitchen, her throat parched, but stopped when she saw light peeking out from the office down the hallway.
Gene.
She shouldn’t go down the hall; she knew that. But before she could think better of it, she drifted down the corridor toward the door. Knocking lightly on the doorframe, she craned her neck so she could look in.
Gene looked up from the computer screen, a half smile on his face.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” she said quietly.
“Come in. Everything okay?” Gene asked, reclining in his desk chair.
“Just could not sleep,” Natalia said, shutting the door behind her. She set the monitor down on the desk and pulled one of the chairs around, taking a seat next to him. “You?”
“I didn’t get much done this morning. I have to make up for it sometime,” Gene replied, shrugging as he wrapped an around her.
Leaning into his embrace, she rested her cheek on his shoulder. “Are the sandbags holding?”
“For now. Although, if the rain doesn’t let up soon, I fear we could have more problems. Thank you for your help earlier,” Gene said, his hand running down her long braid.
“This is my home for the time being. You have done more than enough to help me. I wanted to help you too,” Natalia said, looking at her fingers.
“You know,” Gene said, grasping her hands in his. He shifted so he could look at her. “This could be your home permanently, if you wanted.”
Natalia’s lips parted, and she sucked in a breath at the vu
lnerability in his eyes. She wanted to tell him she would stay. That this ranch had become home to her, but Juarez’s threat still nagged at her. Once she admitted it—once she felt safe—she feared it would all crumble down. Unable to form words, she leaned in connecting her lips with his.
Gene’s hands lifted to cup her face as his lips moved against hers. His tongue darted out, grazing her lips and sucking her bottom lip. Natalia shifted, lifting herself up and straddling him as she deepened the kiss. Arching into him, she groaned as his hands trailed up the inside of her shirt. She could get used to this: the safety that Gene provided, and the soft caress of his lips. He cared for her and Adrian. Getting lost in the sensations, she tugged his shirt over his head, wanting to show him what she could not say.
Gingerly, she placed kisses down his neck, over his shoulders, toward his chest. Gene’s head tipped back with a groan. Smiling, she ground against him. The rails of the chair pinned her thighs down, bringing them closer together. His fingers slid up her shirt, pulling it up and yanking it over her head. Both of his hands gripped her breasts, his thumbs rolling over her sensitive nipples.
She gasped as Gene lifted her and set her on the desk. Using his leg, he nudged her knees apart and slid in between them. His already erect length throbbed against her thigh, and she moaned at the contact. Heat seeped through her core as she slid her fingers along the waistline of his jeans. Flicking the button open, she slipped her hand down inside of his jeans.
“Talia,” he grunted.
Grasping her hand, he gently released her grip, and backed away. She inhaled, watching as he shoved his jeans down and stepped out of them. Lifting her bottom off the desk, she slid her cotton pajama bottoms down, letting them fall in a heap on the floor.
Gene captured her lips as he wrapped his arms around her. His tongue slipped into her mouth, tracing along her teeth. His member prodded her core, and she rocked forward, hissing as the tip rubbed against her sensitive clit.
Slowly, he pushed into her. Hands on her hips, he set a steady pace, his lips and tongue mimicking his thrusts. Natalia grasped his bottom, groaning as she felt his muscles work beneath her fingertips. Her nipples brushed against his chest, and she cried out as her body tensed, peaked, and then fell over the edge. Her vision blurred as Gene rode her out, intensifying her orgasm. He thrust in once, twice, and then followed her over the edge, growling her name.
Panting, Gene kissed her gently as he slid out of her. He pushed her sweaty, matted hair back from her face and pressed his forehead against hers.
“You drive me crazy, Talia,” he murmured, meeting her eyes.
“You do the same to me,” she whispered.
***
Natalia opened her eyes, grunting as her arm prickled. She moved slowly, flexing her fingers as she tried to get sensation back into her sleeping limb. Inhaling, she licked her lips as Gene’s pine-and-moss scent filtered into her nostrils. A smile slipped across her face as she breathed him in. His arm was tucked around her torso, his face buried in her hair.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed, willing sleep to find her again. She knew she should leave but couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. Peeking her eyes open, she turned, glancing at the monitor. It was still on, and she could hear the soft whistle of Adrian’s snores.
Her eyes flitted to the device next to the monitor. Sitting up slowly, she clutched the sheet to her chest as she stared at Gene’s cell phone. Natalia chewed on her fingernails as an idea formed in her mind. Carefully, she stepped out of bed, gathering her clothes and slipping them on. Tiptoeing to the dresser, she picked up his phone and looked at it.
Blinking, she shifted her gaze to Gene. Should she tell him? More importantly, if she did, would he let her carry through with her idea? She licked her lips as she slowly walked to the bed. He’d asked for her trust. She supposed that now was as good a time as any to show it to him. Gene was special, and she didn’t want to betray his trust by going behind his back. Telling him was the right thing to do. Natalia could only hope that he would support her choices.
Sitting on the bed, she gently placed her fingers on his shoulder.
“Gene,” she said softly, moving her hand over his smooth, tanned skin.
Gene’s chocolate eyes popped open, and he frowned as he propped himself up on his elbow. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I have an idea on how to get rid of Juarez,” she whispered.
“How?” Gene asked, sitting up. The comforter slid down his torso and bunched around his waist. Her eyes lingered on his firm torso for a long moment before she shook her head, coming to her senses.
Holding his phone up, she said, “I overheard you and Devon speaking earlier today. Juarez wants me back, and I will give him exactly what he wants.”
“No! How is that supposed to stop him?” Gene questioned, grasping her forearms. His eyes widened, and she could smell his fear.
“All I need to do is get close to him. I can do the partial shift now; he won’t see it coming—”
“And what about all the other men he has with him? No. Even if you did kill him, you’d still have to get away from all his guards.”
“I’ll ask him to meet me alone or with one other person. He knows I do not trust them. He wants his family back. It is an advantage. I need to do this, Gene. I need to be safe. Adrian needs to be safe. The only way that can ever happen is if Juarez and the Gulf packs are gone.” Natalia stared down at the phone, hoping that Gene would understand her desire to be safe—to be free.
“Talia, this is dangerous,” Gene said, cupping her face with his palms.
“I know. But we have to stop this war, and if we have the chance…” she trailed off as she stared into his chocolate eyes.
“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but—”
Natalia put her hand up to cut him off. Pulling away from him, she stood up. “I am doing this, and you cannot talk me out of it. You asked me to trust you, so I told you about my plan. Now I am asking you to trust me—to trust that I know what I am doing.” Natalia shook her head as tears pricked her eyes.
Gene stood up, pushing his hands through her tangled mess of hair. “I don’t want you to get hurt—or worse. I’m not afraid of Juarez, and I won’t let you put yourself in danger like that. He has too many men.”
“Gene-“
“No, Talia, no!” Gene said adamantly.
Natalia stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest. He was not going to talk her out of this. “This needs to happen. Regardless of the danger, I can do this. I am not asking; I am telling you! If you won’t help me, then I will go to Devon and Lark.”
Gene growled, and his jaw clenched.
“I have made up my mind, and you will not stop me,” Natalia asserted, meeting his angry gaze. She opened her mouth to say more, but Adrian snorted, causing the monitor to vibrate and red lights to flicker. Soon his wails filtered through the device. Turning, Natalia picked up the monitor and held it to her. “I need to go check on him.”
“I understand. This conversation isn’t over, though,” Gene said sternly.
Natalia raised her chin. “Yes, it is!” she snapped. Spinning on her heel, she marched out of the room.
***
Gene sat back in his desk chair, grinding his teeth as Natalia took her seat, Devon and Lark sat next to her, opposite him. He wanted to forget their conversation earlier this morning, but he knew she wouldn’t leave it alone.
On one hand, he wanted to hear her out; he wanted to understand how her plan would help to keep his pack safe. On the other hand, he wanted to protect Natalia. Over the past few weeks, she’d grown important to him in a way no other woman ever had. She was strong but vulnerable. Passionate but defiant.
“So what’s going on?” Devon asked, breaking the silence.
Gene motioned toward Natalia.
The she-wolf shifted in her seat, her chestnut eyes falling on his. Natalia licked her lips. “I know a way we can lure Fernando Juarez out,” she revealed
.
Devon nodded, and Gene growled low in his throat. Natalia shot him an angry look before continuing. “Juarez wants to reunite his family—including Adrian and myself. I can call him and set up a time to meet. I will tell him that I wish to meet with only him and no one else.”
“You can’t know he’ll come alone,” Gene interrupted.
“He is a man of his word,” Natalia said.
“He may be, but I guarantee you he will have men stationed nearby. We won’t be able to get close,” Devon said quietly.
“I understand that. I know that what I am suggesting is risky,” Natalia acknowledged, meeting Gene’s eyes. “But if it works—and I can kill him—then his pack will be in turmoil.”
“It won’t eliminate the threat. Someone else will step into his spot,” Gene said.
Natalia nodded. “Yes. But, his spot is coveted. There are many people who would seek to be the alpha of the Gulf packs.”
“They would challenge each other,” Lark whispered, looking past Devon to meet Natalia’s gaze.
Natalia smiled, nodding. “Exactly. During that time, they would lose members. They would betray each other. The pack itself would be in duress. By the time they reassembled—if they ever do—they would have smaller numbers and be less of a threat.”
“Are you sure you can do this?” Devon asked, sizing Natalia up.
Natalia sucked in a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “That man is partially responsible for my mother’s and Antonio’s deaths. He has put my son in danger—my life and my friend’s lives in danger. I am prepared to do what I must to protect them. My son will not grow up in that pack. He will not be raised as a monster.”
“I think you should do it,” Lark said quietly.
“The risk is too high. A million things could go wrong,” Gene argued, banging his fist against the desk.
“Aren’t there always?” Lark countered. “This is a good plan.”
“Lark,” Gene shook his head, glaring at her. He balled his fists, seeing the determined look on her and Natalia’s faces, and knew he was fighting an uphill battle.
