Coming In Hot Box Set

by Gina Kincade

  "Are you staying in a motel?"

  "No. I'm with my husband… ex-husband…" She sighed. "We're separated."

  "Your last name Dakota?"

  "Reed."

  There was a pause on the line.

  "Dakota Reed? Griffin's mate?"

  Crap.

  "Yeah, that's me. You know Griff?"

  "Griff served with a friend of mine in Afghanistan. Pulled him out and saved his life."

  She nodded. "Sounds like him. Look, I get it if you don't want to help me."

  "I didn’t say we wouldn't. We don't discriminate. Is there a place you'd like to go?"

  "I'd like to stay out here in the west if possible but I'll take anything you can find that's affordable."

  "Do you have funds to relocate?"

  "Some."

  "All right. I have your number. Give me 48 hours?"

  Another forty-eight hours before she would be out of Boise forever? She'd waited this long. "Sure."

  "I'll call you back. But Dakota, if something happens and you are in danger at all, you call me and we'll get someone there immediately."

  "Thank you."

  She hung up the phone. Now she just had to make it through the next forty-eight hours.

  ***

  Griffin's phone rang. "Hello?"

  "Griffin. It's Tate from Night Shift."

  "Hey Tate. How are ya? How's Noah?"

  "He's doing great. He isn't the reason I'm calling."

  Griffin furrowed his brows. "What's up?"

  There was a sigh and then a pause. "I shouldn't be calling you and if it were anyone else I wouldn't be but I know you and I know you're a solid guy so I thought you should hear it from me."

  "Okay."

  "It’s your mate, Dakota."

  Griffin's throat dried. "What's happened?"

  "Nothing, I think. But I wanted you to know that she called me a little while ago and asked me to relocate her."

  All the blood drained from Griffin’s head to his waist. He blew out a deep breath. "Well, if that's what she wants then you should do it."

  "That's okay with you?"

  "We've been separated for a long time. I guess some things, once broken, aren't meant to be mended."

  "But you two are bonded right?"

  "We are."

  "Damn. I'm sorry man. I can't even imagine what this will mean for the two of you."

  "It means we'll move on, with other people, and we'll live like humans for the rest of our lives."

  Silence stretched out.

  "Thanks Tate." Griffin hung up the phone and stared at the steering wheel. A knock on his window pulled his attention. It was Jose.

  "You comin'?"

  Griffin nodded and grabbed his bag. Maybe it was for the best. He had Cassie and it was obvious Dakota was done. She felt no remorse for what she'd done. She still thought it was his fault things hadn't worked out. Nothing he could do about it now. He had to get to work.

  The night dragged on; Griffin and Jose were slammed non-stop with calls. By the time his shift ended, he was exhausted down to his bones.

  "Was it a full moon?" Jose joked.

  "Nope still eight days off."

  Jose snorted. "What do you keep track or something?"

  Griffin tensed but then threw him a smile. "Or something."

  Jose patted him on the back. "See ya this weekend."

  "Yeah. If not sooner."

  Jose shook his head. "Man I hope not. I've worked so many shifts in the last month I think my girlfriend is more used to having me gone than having me around."

  Griffin laughed, pulled off his uniform and put it in his locker.

  "How's Cassie?"

  "Good. She's good."

  Jose looked at him for a minute and shook his head.

  "What?" asked Griffin.

  "Yeah, I know that tone."

  "What tone?"

  "The cooling off tone. Good is a term you use for your old lady, who spends more time taking care of the kids than she does paying attention to you."

  Was it? The truth was, Cassie was good. Would she ever be amazing? He doubted it, but his life with her would be good from now on.

  "Take it easy." Jose waved and then took off.

  Griffin reached into his locker and in the back, hidden by his coat, was a small photo. He looked at it and then looked away. He didn't know why he'd kept it. At first he'd convinced himself it was a reminder— to always use his head and not his heart while in the field, but in all honesty, seeing Dakota's face, fresh and young when they'd first met, reminded him that life could be good.

  He grabbed his coat and slammed the locker door.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Dakota punched the bag, hanging from the ceiling, in the middle of the garage and then kicked it. She punched again and again and again. Every time she punched she pictured one face. She kicked and then punched several times in rapid succession. After an hour, her arms and legs ached with fatigue.

  She stopped and groaned. Her wolf wanted out. She wanted to run and the exercise only seemed to make it worse. She bent and breathed deep. It'd been almost twenty-four hours. Only twenty- four more and the Night Shift would have a new place for her to go. Then she could finally put her past behind her and move forward.

  The sound of a Jeep pulling into the driveway had her looking up. He was home. The garage door opened and Griffin stood on the driveway. As the door rolled up so did his gaze.

  She stretched in her sports bra and shorts. He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked in, careful to avoid stepping on the red mats with his shoes.

  "I saw the light on in here when I pulled up and could hear you beating up my bag before I even got out of the Jeep."

  She shrugged. "Not much else to do. Besides, I'm used to working out every day. I can't afford to get out of shape."

  He headed for the side door and closed the garage.

  "You want a sparring partner?" he asked.

  She laughed. "Are you serious?"

  "Why not?"

  "Okay. But I have to warn you, I've learned a few things since the last time you and I wrestled."

  A sexy grin slid across his face. "I would hope so, otherwise this won't go well for you." He took off his jacket and set down his bag.

  "Don't you want to change?" she asked.

  "I'm good." He stripped off his shirt revealing his highly toned body. He shucked off his shoes and socks and walked on to the mat.

  He pulled his jeans up at the waist but they fell back to their spot low on his hips.

  "Show me what you've learned," he said.

  She grabbed the scrunchie around her wrist and tugged her hair up into a high ponytail, out of her face.

  He made like he was going to advance on her and she stepped back. His eyes glinted with mischief.

  She took a steadying breath and assumed her stance. He advanced again and she swung at him. He dodged and backed up. She studied his muscles as they rippled with anticipation. He advanced yet again and this time she didn't wait. She dropped to the floor, swept his legs out from under him and planted her foot in his gut. He grunted and grabbed her ankle, twisting her to her stomach. She pulled her legs in and got into a crouched position just feet away from him.

  He stared at her and smiled. "I may have underestimated you."

  "You shouldn't." She leapt at him, pushed him back, then flipped him over and caught him in a leg hold. Grabbing his arm she tried to push his shoulder to the floor, but he grunted and bucked beneath her, flipping over and pinning her underneath him instead.

  She struggled for a second and then crossed her leg, twisted her hips and pinned him to the ground with his arms above his head.

  He looked perplexed. "How did you do that?"

  "Like I said, you shouldn't underestimate me. I'm not the same timid girl I was before."

  He pushed with his arms and she slammed them down on the mat.

  "You're a hell of a lot stronger," he said.

  "Working
at a BJJ studio, six days a week, will do that to a girl. It also helps that I refuse to be bested by a man."

  He licked his lips and she could tell he was weighing his options. Desire flashed in his eyes and she hopped to her feet and backed away. Nope. Not going there.

  He pushed up to his elbows. "What? Quitting already?"

  "Quitting?" she said. "I won."

  He laughed. "I let you."

  "Like hell you did."

  His eyes twinkled. "Alright. Let's go again."

  She rolled her neck. "Nah. I'd hate to hurt you."

  Being near Griffin was excruciating. She wanted him, but couldn't do it. She was leaving. Getting close again would be too painful, for both of them.

  She turned and headed for the door. His hand fell heavy on her shoulder and instinct took over. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it under his arm, landing a kick to his ribs. He twisted his arm back, grabbed her hands in his, and pulled her close. Panic swept over her and she pushed against him. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet. No. No. No. She had to gain control. She hooked her foot behind his kneecap and pulled him to the ground. He refused to let go though and landed on top of her, his weight crushing her into the mat. Her face and breasts smashed the ground and he raised her hands high above her head.

  Terror ripped through her and she lost all common sense Blurry memories threatened to surface. The smell of the mats filled her nostrils, reminding her of vinyl car seats.

  "Do you give up?" His seductive voice rumbled into her ear.

  "Get off," she whispered, trying desperately to keep herself from shattering into a million pieces.

  "Not until you say I win."

  His arousal pressed against her backside, long and hard. Her wolf roared in anger.

  "Please, get off." She struggled against him but Griffin held tight.

  A shudder raced over her and then another. Her nails lengthened, as did her teeth, as her wolf fought for control.

  "Get off. Get off. Get off," she screamed.

  ***

  Griffin scrambled off Dakota and backed up across the mat. Her breathing was erratic as she began to shift. He looked on in horror as she fought to control herself. The high-pitched desperation of her screams still pierced his ears.

  Something wasn't right.

  She cried out. Her body rippled, her arms snapped and then her legs. Bowgie barked and scratched at the door leading to the backyard, trying to get in.

  Dakota panted as her nails dug into the mat, puncturing it. Griffin stayed frozen, unable to think straight. His wolf whined, pacing back and forth at the sight of his mate in pain Her face broke and shifted, her nose elongated and then she cried out.

  Griffin crawled back to her and wrapped her in his arms. "Dakota. Dakota, calm down. Breath it's okay." He cradled her half changed form against his chest and she sniffled. "It's okay babe. I got you."

  Her body trembled against him and then she relaxed. She gasped for breath. A minute passed before her arms snapped back into place. Her legs lengthened and her face bones shifted back as well. He scooped her into a ball and sat her in his lap.

  What the hell had just happened? It was as if she'd actually thought he was going to hurt her.

  "Dakota I'd never hurt you."

  She sighed and then pushed away from him. She wiped tears from her eyes and got shakily to her feet. He followed her, waiting for her to say something. To explain why she'd shifted. To tell him she believed he wouldn't hurt her.

  "I need a shower." She walked toward the door and stumbled but caught herself and kept going.

  Griffin stared after her. Only the most intense fear would trigger an uncontrollable shift like that. But why had she been so afraid of him?

  Griffin waited an hour for Dakota to emerge from the bathroom. He and Bowgie sat on the couch, listening to the water run. The dog had barked until he'd been let in, then he'd gone to the bathroom and scratched at the door until Griffin had pulled him back to the couch. For the first time Bowgie actually let Griffin pet him.

  Cassie called three times, but Griffin let her go to voicemail. He couldn't deal with her on top of everything else right now. He had to know what had set Dakota off.

  His work phone buzzed and he picked it up. Damn. They needed him to come back in. Part of him wanted to tell them to shove it, but they were short staffed and he couldn't let other people down.

  He walked to the bathroom where the water had turned off. No sound emanated. He waited a minute and then knocked.

  "I have to go back to work."

  He was met by silence.

  "I'll be back later, okay?"

  Again silence. Part of him wanted to rip down the door, make sure she was all right, but in his heart he knew he'd feel it if something had happened.

  "I'll bring Chinese from The Golden Dragon."

  He pressed his palm and ear to the door.

  "Dakota, talk to me." He jiggled the door handle. "Dakota, please."

  His work cell buzzed in his pocket. He pressed his forehead to the door, his chest tightening with every silent moment.

  "Dakota."

  The faucet turned on again and he sighed. Dammit. He headed out and grabbed his bag on the way. They needed to talk. Really talk. And they were going to. Just as soon as he got back from work.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Dakota spent two hours in the bath, trying to wash away all the bad thoughts, grounding herself in the here and now. She fought against the desire to open up Griffin's medicine cabinet and take every single pill he had. Fought against the urge to escape. The urge to float away and become someone else. The urge to just stop fighting.

  She tripped out of the bathtub and dried off her shaking body before heading to the bedroom, where she fell onto the bed naked. She wrapped the sheets around herself tight and closed her eyes. Bowgie quietly padded into the room and crawled up onto the bed behind her. She didn't even have the energy to roll over and hug him.

  She stared at her phone and then picked it up and punched in a number she hadn't called in over six months.

  The phone rang once.

  "Hotline. I'm here for you."

  "This is 182."

  Silence pour across the line for several seconds.

  "How are you? It's been a while."

  She sighed. "I've been better."

  "I'm here to listen."

  She closed her eyes and a numb sense of peace blanketed her.

  "I don't know what to do."

  ***

  By the time four a.m. rolled around, Griffin's nerves were completely frayed. His fear for Dakota had him looking at his cell phone half a dozen times; he wanted to call her. Cassie had called several more times and he'd finally texted her, to tell her he was back at work and would see her later the next night for their date.

  A call came in as he was picking up coffee and a Danish.

  "Come on," said Jose. "We have a multiple car accident. We got to go."

  Griffin abandoned his place in line and rushed out of the shop. He jumped into the ambulance; Jose already had the sirens going.

  "What have we got?" asked Griffin.

  "A drunk driver ran a red light on State Street and hit a sports car. There may be one fatality already and two seriously injured."

  "Damn." He hated these ones.

  Jose sped through downtown when more information came over the radio.

  "Three cars. The driver that ran the red light is pinned in. He hit a black late model Trans Am carrying a man and a woman. The man is fine but the woman may be deceased. A truck was also involved…"

  The words faded away as Griffin's brain scrambled over the description. "Late model Trans Am… Woman may be dead."

  Dakota.

  His wolf roared from its slumber at the thought. Griffin rubbed his chest trying to ease the beast. "Can you go faster?"

  Jose glanced at him. "I'm going as fast as I can. We'll be there in under two minutes."

  But two minutes drew o
ut, as if in slow motion. Griffin's wolf wanted to jump from the ambulance and run for it. He had to keep it together. When they reached the crash Griffin already had his seatbelt off and his door open.

  He grabbed his bag, pulled his gloves on and ran straight into the fray. Smoke poured from the red SUV. Griffin slid across the hood, the heat seeping through his pants, and ran for the Trans Am. The driver was bent at the waist but Griffin bypassed him and ran to the passenger side where the drunk driver had T-boned them. The woman's dark hair covered her face.

  "Dakota!" He pulled on the door but it didn't give way. Glass blanketed her body. "Dakota!" he yelled again.

  "Her name is Gina," said the driver. Griffin looked up to find a blond teenager staring at him, blood seeping from a head wound.

  Griffin blinked several times. "What?"

  The driver pointed at the girl in the seat. "Her name isn't Dakota. It's Gina."

  Griffin looked at the girl and pushed the hair from her face. She was no more than sixteen or seventeen. A large piece of glass protruded from her throat. Griffin wrapped his hand over it. There was still a pulse.

  Relief flooded through him. It wasn’t Dakota. "Gina! Gina, can you hear me?" He rummaged in his kit and grabbed what he needed to cover and stabilize the wounds.

  Jose rushed over with a kit. "What the hell man?"

  "Sorry." He shook his head.

  Jose headed to the driver. "Sir, do what's your name? Do you know where you are?"

  Griffin turned back to the girl and tapped on her chest. "Sweetie can you hear me?" He looked to the driver being checked by Jose. "How old is she?"

  "Sixteen."

  "Do you know who we can contact?"

  The boy shook his head.

  "Is she taking anything or allergic to any meds?"

  The boy shrugged. "I just met her."

  Griffin shined his light in her eyes. Her pupils were equal and reactive.

  The fire department arrived and several of the guys pushed the driver's car away from the Trans Am.

  Griffin grabbed the oxygen mask and placed it over her nose and mouth.

  "We're going to need the jaws over here," called someone.