by Dena Christy
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea Nick,” Cadric said reasonably.
“I do. The advantage we have in this situation is that David probably doesn’t know that Kate recognized him. He never saw her that night because she kept herself well hidden. As far as he knows, she thinks he’s just some random wolf who crashed our run. If she does anything out of the ordinary, like staying here, instead of with Rowan, than that may very well raise a red flag with him, and our advantage is gone.”
Cadric was silent, and Kate had heard enough.
“I’m sitting right here so don’t talk about me as if I have no say in this. I have the ultimate say. It’s my life were talking about, and while I appreciate that all you want to do is protect me, I think I can decide for myself how that is going to unfold. If you want to use me as bait, then please at least show me the goddamn courtesy of not dressing it up as something you are doing for my benefit.” Kate’s voice grew louder as she pushed back her chair and stood. “As far as I’m concerned I’m safest with this man right here, and frankly I’d trust him with my life.”
Kate stood beside Rowan and held his hand. He gave it a squeeze and out of the corner of her eyes she caught his approving nod.
“I’m sorry that you feel that way Kate. I do think you would be safest here, but as you say, you know what’s best for you. I can’t force you to stay. Please be careful, since in a way I do feel responsible for what happened to you,” Cadric said as he looked directly at Kate. She fought to keep from rolling her eyes, since he did seem sincere in his regret over what happened to her. Another man who wanted to claim responsibility for her life. “Our organization’s mandate is to protect humans, and our mishandling of this whole Dark Wolf affair has altered your life, resulted in the deaths of a number of young women, and even now there are several still missing. It should not have happened, not on my watch. And for that I’m sorry.”
Kate nodded in acceptance of his apology. Cadric turned his attention to Rowan.
“I didn’t mean to imply that you couldn’t protect her,” he said briefly as he stood, gathering up the paperwork in front of him. “Hadria, can you please come to my office to discuss our next steps with regard to David O’Connell.”
Hadria leaned over to kiss Nick on the cheek before she picked up her things and followed her boss out the door. Nick stood and walked over to Kate and Rowan. Kate could detect some tension between the brothers and wondered about it.
“Surprised you stood up for me,” Rowan said as he glared at his brother. “Of course maybe there is a way you and the Order can twist things so that you can use her to your advantage.”
Kate looked at Rowan in shock at the venomous tone coming out of his mouth. She looked over at Nick, and could see the muscle dancing in his jaw.
“I’m getting pretty tired of you and Eric thinking the Order comes first with me. It doesn’t. You are my pack and my family, and you come first.” Nick said as he stepped closer to Rowan, getting in his face.
Kate could see that they had some things to hash out, and perhaps it was better done with just the two of them in the room together. She let go of Rowan’s hand, and he looked at her sharply.
“You two obviously have something you need to discuss, so I’m going to excuse myself,” she said as she stepped toward the door.
“I’ll come with you, I really don’t have anything I need to say to him,” Rowan said as he moved closer to her. Kate could see the frustration on Nick’s face, and knew that if they didn’t talk things out right now, the rift developing between them would only grow. And whether he knew it or not, Rowan needed his brother, otherwise his belief that Nick was siding with the Order wouldn’t piss him off so much.
“No, you are going to stay in here and talk to him,” Kate said, her voice firm and she saw a surprised look come over his face. “He’s your family, and you need to talk this out. Both of you need to listen to each other. You don’t know how lucky you are that you have a family. Some people have no one. So I don’t care what it is you need to do, I don’t want to see either of you until whatever this bullshit that’s between you is settled.”
Kate didn’t look at either of them as she walked out the door, and shut it behind her. She looked down the hall, hoping to find a seat somewhere. She noticed Lee a little further down the hall and called his name. He turned, and a smile brightened his face when he saw it was her.
“Kate, how are you doing?” he asked as he walked toward her.
“I was hoping to run into you,” she said as she smiled up at him. In fact she’d hoped no such thing, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings by admitting that she had completely forgotten him and getting together with him. “I thought we could arrange to have lunch whenever you’re available.”
“Tomorrow would be good. Today is my last shift before I take a couple days off, so I’m free whenever you are.”
“How about noon? Could you swing by Rowan’s place and pick me up? I’m afraid I’m not that familiar with Kingston so you’ll have to pick the place.”
“Not a problem,” he said as he smiled. He glanced at his watch, before looking apologetically at her. “I have to get back to work, but I’m looking forward to lunch tomorrow. Take care.”
“You too Lee,” she said as she watched him turn and stride back down the hall. Looking at the closed boardroom door, she wondered how Nick and Rowan were doing in there.
Chapter 10
When the door closed behind Kate, Rowan turned to his brother.
“Well it appears we aren’t getting out of here until we hash this out, so you want to go first or shall I?” Rowan said as he crossed his arms across his chest.
“You know what, I’m getting sick of you and Eric throwing the Order in my face. Yes I work for the Order, and I know that a lot of beings are suspicious of it because we police the supernatural community. But I do good work here, and I’m proud of that.”
“I’m not disputing that you do good work. You’re a great doctor, and you can do the most good here, I get it. What sticks in my craw is your answer to every problem is to go to the Order.”
“Because they have way more resources than we have. I know you’re pissed that I suggested we bring the matter of David O’Connell to the Order. But you have to realize that not only are they the best equipped to neutralize his threat, this also goes a lot deeper than just you and Kate. There are other women missing, and he is the link to where they are being held. And I don’t think it would help Kate or anyone else for you and Eric to go off half cocked, and get all vigilante on David’s ass.”
Rowan startled, because he didn’t think Eric would have told Nick about their plans deal with David O’Connell themselves if the Order didn’t deal with him soon.
“Did Eric talk to you?”
“I swear sometimes you and Eric must think I’m completely clueless. As a matter of fact, I haven't spoken to Eric since the two of you left last night. But I know you two, at lot better than you think. You both have the same problem of not thinking things through before you act.”
“Well at least we act, instead of analyzing things to death. That son of a bitch is after my woman, and I’m not going to sit back and let anything happen to her.”
“And I’m not suggesting that you don’t protect her. Why the fuck do you think I insisted that she stay with you?”
“You only insisted because it would be better for the Order if David wasn’t suspicious that you’re on to him.”
Nick grabbed hold of Rowan’s lapels, and hiss back hit the wall as Nick slammed him against it. “I told Cadric what he needed to hear. Why can’t you see that I’m on your side in this?” Nick shouted at him, and something inside Rowan snapped and the floodgates of his bitterness at his brother opened wide.
“Because you let them come after me to kill me,” Rowan yelled as he shoved his brother back. He saw the blood drain from his brother’s face, and immediately regretting saying what he said in the way that he had.
/> “Is that what you think?” Nick said as he appeared to deflate in front of Rowan.
“Look Nick, I don’t blame you. God knows, with the state I was in I deserved to be put down. I almost killed Kate and who knows what I could have done to someone else if I’d been allowed to continue.”
“I didn’t know,” Nick said quietly as he looked at him.
“Look you don’t need to pretend for my sake. I was out of line saying what I did. But don’t lie to me about your involvement.”
“I’m medical staff here, and we don’t know what goes on with the missions. We patch people up, look after any members of the supernatural community who need medical help, and that’s it. You want to know how I found out that you’d taken the Dark Wolf formula? When Samara called me, asking for my help because she’d been sent to kill you, and changed her mind midway through and was afraid you were going to die anyway.”
Rowan silently absorbed what Nick was saying. “Nick I…” he began, but he didn’t know if he could find the words to apologize to his brother, but it appeared Nick wasn’t finished.
“I knew as soon as I went to her, and saw your unconscious body that I’d failed you. I knew you were devastated when Chelsea died, and I thought letting you grieve in your own way was the best thing to do. I should have tried harder to reach out to you.”
“Nick, there was nothing you could have done to stop it. I wouldn’t have listened, because all I wanted to do was wallow in my guilt over Chelsea, in my grief at losing her and my baby. I wanted to die and there was nothing you could say that would have changed that.”
“I should have tried harder,” Nick said. “You’re my brother. I’m the oldest and I can’t help feeling responsible for both you and Eric.”
“But you aren’t Nick. Eric and I are adults. We are going to make our own mistakes, and yes some of them will be major fuck ups. But you have to let us make them. You can’t be responsible for everyone.”
“Old habits die hard,” Nick said ruefully.
“I know. You think that Eric and I are lot alike, and while that’s true, you and I share that same trait. It’s been recently pointed out to me that I can’t be responsible for what other people do. It’s harmful to you and makes the ones you feel responsible for feel like a burden.”
Nick was silent for a moment, and he smiled sheepishly at Rowan. “I guess you and I both have issues we need to work though. And I’m guessing Kate is the voice of wisdom in all this.”
“Yeah, she had a few choice words for me last night, and they’ve struck home. Not saying I’m going to change over night, but I’ll work on it.”
“So will I. She’s a smart lady, don’t mess it up,” Nick said as he reached out and pulled Rowan into a bear hug. “I really do have your back, even if sometimes it looks like I don’t.”
“I know,” Rowan said as he clapped his brother on the back before stepping away. “So do you think we’ve made up enough for Kate to let us out?”
Nick laughed, and Rowan felt like a weight he’d been carrying had been lifted. Although he had never verbalized it, he realized now how much his suspicion that Nick knew about the Order’s plans to have him killed had hurt.
“I just want to say that I believe you. I don’t think you knew they were coming after me before hand.”
“Good, because I didn’t. If I’d known what was planned for you, I would have found a way to save you,” Nick said simply as he reached for the door, opening it to allow Rowan to proceed him out of the room. Rowan came abreast of his brother.
“I realize that now, and I’m sorry I accused you of letting it happen.”
“I know, now why don’t we get out of here,” Nick said as he nudged Rowan out the door.
Rowan walked out into the hall and saw Kate leaning against the wall waiting for them.
“Well have you two gotten over it?” she asked as she looked sternly at both of them.
“We have,” Nick said from behind him. He stepped around Rowan and approached Kate. He reached out to her, and hugged her briefly. He stepped back and looked over at her. “Thanks for giving us the boot in the ass we needed.”
“No problem,” Kate said, and Rowan walked over to them and pulled her close to his side.
“We’re going to get out of your hair, and head home. Let us know if anything happens with O’Connell.”
“I will,” Nick said as he turned on his heel and headed down the hall.
“Are you ready to go?” Rowan asked as he drew Kate toward the exit.
“Oh God yes. Let’s go home,” she replied.
As Rowan took her hand and walked with her out of the building, he couldn’t help but notice that this was the first time she’d referred to his place as home. He didn’t want to read too much into it, since he realized that Kate was skittish about committing herself. But he couldn’t help letting her words light a tiny flame of hope inside him.
* * *
Kate and Rowan arrived back at his place, and she could see that his discussion with Nick had wrought a subtle change in him. He seemed a little lighter, as if something that had been troubling him had been removed.
“So you and Nick resolved your differences?” she asked as she hung her jacket on the hook by the door.
“We did. We needed to clear the air, and I’m glad you pushed us to do it. Why though?”
“Why what?” Kate walked into the kitchen and prepared a pot of coffee.
“Why did you push it?”
Kate hesitated while she fiddled with the coffee maker.
“Kate? What is it? I know you said that you don’t have a family, is that why you pushed us so hard?”
“I pushed you because…” Kate didn’t know how to articulate to him how much being around him and his brothers made her miss her sister, and made her wish she’d found her.
She heard Rowan move behind her, and turned her to face him. He put his finger under her chin and tilted her head back so she could look up at him. She blinked rapidly as his image blurred in front of her.
“Sweetheart what is it?” Rowan whispered as he led her into the living room, walked over to the couch and settled her on his lap. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“I had a sister, her name was Lizzy. She was two years younger than me, and I haven’t seen her since I was five. I guess when I saw what you and Nick were doing to each other, it pissed me off because I would give anything to see my sister again.”
Rowan put his arms around her. “Have you tried looking for her? We could try to find her, it would take some time, but—”
Kate reached up and put her finger on his lips, stopping him from speaking. “I’ve tried looking for her for years. I’ve never found a trace of her, it’s like when she was adopted she vanished. And I’ve come to believe that it’s very probable that she’s dead.”
Kate went on to explain her conversation with Lee when she first met him. Rowan listened quietly, and then pulled her close.
“You don’t know for sure that she’s dead. Your sister Lizzy and Lee’s Simone may very well be two different women.”
“I know, which is why I’m having lunch with Lee tomorrow,” Kate said. She didn’t want any secrets between her and Rowan and hopefully now that he knew what she and Lee had talked about, he wouldn’t have a problem with it.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Rowan asked, his voice neutral. Kate looked at him, and she could see the muscle jumping in his jaw.
“You have no reason to be jealous of him. I only want information about my sister, and Lee can give that to me. You should know by now that the only man who has the ability to turn my head is you.”
The corner of Rowan’s mouth kicked up, and she could see that her words had stroked his ego. “So I turn your head do I?”
“Oh brother,” Kate said as she rolled her eyes. She moved to get off his lap, but he grabbed a hold of her and pulled her back down. “You know I want you, and that since I’ve met you I haven’t been remotely i
nterested in any other men. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Only if it’s true,” he said as he moved her hair aside and pressed nibbling kisses against her neck. She shivered against him, and smiled as she ran her fingers in his hair.
“It’s true,” she gasped as his hands reached up her shirt to cup her breasts. He made his way up her throat to her ear as he caressed her.
“It’s true for me too,” he said quietly before taking the lobe of her ear in his mouth.
She turned in his lap so she straddled him, rubbing against the erection pressing against his jeans. He hissed his breath in through his teeth and took his hands out from under her shirt. He turned her so she was laying back on the sofa as he came down on top of her. He dispensed with her shirt and bra, before bringing his mouth down on one breast while his hand caressed the other. She closed her eyes as her head dropped back, her hips moving restlessly beneath him. All he had to do was touch her, and she was on fire for him. It should frighten her, how much she desired him, and in the cold light of day it sometimes did. But in this moment, her entire world revolved around him and what he was doing to her. She was torn between wanting him to hurry and bringing her to the dizzying heights he brought her to before, and to making it last forever.
She pushed her hands between them and tugged at the bottom of his shirt. “I want you naked,” she panted as he raised himself up and ripped the shirt off over his head. She watched his muscles ripple as he granted her request. His jeans followed his shirt, and he stood before her, his beautiful male body on full display for her pleasure. She sat up on the couch, her greedy hands running over his body. She slid off the sofa and went onto her knees before him, taking his naked flesh deep into her mouth.
Her lips glided up and down his shaft, and he tunneled his fingers through her hair. Soft moans escaped him, and she loved the powerful feeling giving him pleasure gave to her. After several moments he pulled her to her feet, undoing the snap of her jeans. He pushed them, along with her panties, off her hips to puddle around her feet. She gracefully stepped out of them, and he clasped her to him, her legs on either side of his legs as he kissed her deeply. His hands moved down her body until he clasped her bottom and pressed her against him. She could feel his straining erection against her and more than anything at this moment she wanted him inside her.
