Abby's Heart (Bryant Station Curves) (9 page)

“Did Todd say what he wanted?” asked Skylar.

“No, he just said he wanted to talk to Miss Wolfe. Watch your step when you go in. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get some stuff for the sheriff.” The deputy turned and left.

“First, he didn’t want us anywhere near the site, now he wants to talk to us in the middle of the whole thing. Is he always like this?” Abby raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not sure what’s going on either.” Skylar shrugged his shoulders. “Let’s go find out so we can get out of here.”

“Are you always in a hurry, or do you have a date you would have a date you have to get too?”

“I want out of here. As for the other, you’re the only female in my life—for now, and forever.”

“You say the sweetest things. What do you really want?” Abby’s guard immediately went up.

“This is your last job. If you insist on working, you can have the secretarial position at my company.” Skylar knew she loved her job. She was good at it, but the thought of her constantly being in danger was driving him crazy. Hundreds of things could happen and she could be injured or worse—killed. Was he being irrational?
Definitely! He wanted her safe, and if that meant Abby had to find a new career, then that’s what she would have to do.

“I. Am. Not. A. Secretary.”

“You’re not doing this anymore. It’s too dangerous.”

“I will keep doing my job. I love my job.” Abby’s blood boiled. No one was telling her what job she could and could not do.

“Would you two knock it off and get in here?” Sheriff Anderson’s voice echoed through the basement.

Abby pushed on Skylar’s arms, but he refused to move. “I can’t believe how much of a pigheaded caveman you are. Let me go!”

“I want you safe. Have you looked in the mirror lately? You are covered with bruises and cuts.”

“They didn’t seem to bother you too much last night. In fact, I think you added a few more bruises to my collection. Now, let me go or else.”

Skylar growled. “Or else what?”

“I warned you.” Abby stomped his instep as hard as she could, causing Skylar to yelp in pain, and loosen his grip on her. She slipped out of his arms and went through the hole in the wall before he could stop her.

“What did you do to him?” Sheriff Anderson looked over at Abby.

“Nothing he didn’t deserve. Besides, I warned him. He chose not to listen to me.” Abby looked around. “What did you need to talk to me about?” The room was dark, except for the flashlights, which
didn’t show very much.

“Deputy Thompson went to get a field light out of the back of my squad car.”

“Are you asking my permission?” Abby frowned.

“Sheriff, here it is.” Deputy Thompson came back into the room, carrying a light kit.

A few minutes later, the room was flooded with light. Abby gasped. In one of the corners was a skeleton laid out on a twin size bed.

“Yes, it’s a real skeleton,” said Sheriff Anderson.

“About how long will this shut me down?”

“I’m not sure. We have a bigger problem.”

“What can be bigger than a skeleton in the middle of my basement?”

“These pictures.”
He gestured to a table on the opposite side of the bed.

Abby turned and looked at the pictures. Her eyes widened. “What the hell!” She reached for the one closest to her, but the sheriff stopped her before she picked it up.

“Look, but don’t touch. They’re all evidence.”

Abby swallowed.

“Abby?” Skylar appeared next to her.

“Look at the pictures.”

“What am I looking—damn!” He turned to his cousin. “What’s going on?”

“I’m thinking a murder or at least a passion of crime, but it’s the portraits that are bothering me. The resemblance is uncanny. The woman has to be kin to Abby.”

“Is Abby in danger?”

Todd looked at his cousin. In a low voice he said, “If she was my mate, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight until this murder is solved and the killer is put behind
bars. Right now, I need you to leave. This is officially a crime scene.”

Abby nodded. “For the record, I have no idea who that woman could possibly be. I don’t remember my mom talking about anyone in the family who went missing.” She turned and walked out.

He looked around at the crowd. He hated crowds, but today it was the perfect shield. No one would suspect him. He was just one of many who wanted to see what was going on in the basement of the old building.

Was she there?

She had to be. The wolf that was with her yesterday was standing by her truck.

As if answering his question, she walked out of the basement. The sun danced in her black hair, making it appear blue.

He smiled.

She was as beautiful as the day he put her in the basement. Too bad, she wouldn’t stay there.

He frowned. His hands balled into fists at his side.  The bear should not be with her. They were not supposed to be together. He had made sure of that a long time ago.

“You are mine, Elizabeth. You belong to me and no one else.”  The woman’s name slipped into his mind from that of the body in which he was hiding. He shook his head. Her name wasn’t Elizabeth. It was Abby.

He slipped out of the crowd and disappeared.

“Abby, you need to eat.” Billy frowned. Worry showed in his eyes. He glanced around the room. His worry reflected in the eyes of the other pack members. He looked at Marcus, but the alpha only shook his head.

“I’m just not that hungry.” Abby pushed aside the half-eaten hamburger. She leaned back in her chair and stared at it. Her eyelids drooped and her head dropped a little bit. Tired
didn’t even come close to describing how she felt. Her body ached. The longer she sat still the stiffer her muscles grew.

“Abby, eat.” Skylar pushed the plate back in front of her.

“I’m not hungry.” She pushed it away again. Her eyes narrowed into dark slits. She hated people pushing food at her. It wasn’t what she needed. She wanted to lie down somewhere and sleep. Abby’s anger grew as she checked off each offense Skylar committed. It didn’t help she was still angry with him. He had a lot of nerve telling her she had to quit her job. Even her stepdad, the alpha, did not tell her what she could and could not do. She was a grown woman.

“You need to eat to keep up your strength.” He pushed the plate back in front of her.

“Would you quit trying to force me to eat? I am not hungry. I don’t want to eat any more food.” She rubbed her eyes. “If it appears in front of me again, I’m throwing it at whoever puts it there.” She crossed her arms. “I’m still angry at you for trying telling me I can’t do the things I want to do.”

Marcus’s eyes flashed red. His nostrils flared. “What exactly are you trying to force my daughter to do?” His chair flew backwards as he stood up.

Skylar stood. His fists clenched at his sides. “I will do anything I think is right to protect my mate.” He pulled himself to his full height. A low growl rumbled in his chest.

“You can’t force people to do what you want, and you will not force Abby to do anything she doesn’t want.” Marcus bared his teeth.

“Abby is my mate. I will not let her put herself in danger like she did yesterday morning.” Skylar growled.

Abby looked from her stepdad to her mate. She shook her head. “Damn alphas,” she muttered. As far as she was concerned, both were being buttheads. “Would both of you sit down and shut up! My head already hurts and the both of you are making it
worse.”

The restaurant grew deathly quiet. All eyes focused on Abby. She felt her cheeks growing warm. She closed her eyes and prayed for a hole to open up and swallow her. She had just told two alpha males to shut up.

Billy started laughing. “Damn girl! I knew you were bossy, but this is priceless.”

Abby glared at her cousin. “What are you talking about?”

“You may be a human, but you are an alpha.” He grinned at her. “You just channeled your alpha powers and shut everyone up.”

Abby rolled her eyes. “They’re obviously not that strong, because you’re still talking.”

“You should have seen the looks on their faces.” His eyes twinkled.

“Billy, shut up.” Marcus growled at him.

“You’ve always had a strong personality,” said Billy, completely ignoring his alpha. “Maybe being with your mate has something to do with actually channeling the alpha mojo.” He picked up a French fry off his plate and popped it into his mouth. “This is absolutely fantastic.”

Abby stood up.

“Where are you going?” Skylar moved toward her, but immediately stopped when she put up her hand.

“It’s not really any of your business, but I’m going to the restroom, and then you’re taking me home. I am tired. I just want to go to bed and sleep.”

“Abby?”

She turned to her stepdad. “I’m not going home with you. I am going home with my mate. He and I have to work out our differences, but right now, I am too tired
to even think about it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.” She didn’t bother pushing in her chair. She walked around the table with her head held high.

Skylar sniffed the air. Her pain and fatigue wrapped around him, causing him to stagger. How was she hiding so much from him?

“She’s always been good at hiding how she feels. You’re going to have to figure out how to crack through her barriers.” Marcus picked up his chair. “But first, you need to learn you can’t order your mate to do anything. If you keep doing it, she will make your life miserable. She may be human, but she’s an alpha female.”

“I have to have her safe.” Skylar stared after Abby.

“I understand. I want her safe as much as I want my mate safe, but telling Abby she cannot do her job, a job she has worked hard to turn into a business, will not work. If you think she’s stubborn, wait until you meet her mother, and I believe she has a bone to pick with you—something that happened during Abby’s college days.”

“Abby and I are working on that.” Skylar sat down and took a sip of his iced tea.

Abby looked at her reflection in the mirror. She carefully pulled the bandage off her forehead. The cut was slightly red, but it
was closed. The rest of her face had definitely seen better days. Bruises and scrapes dotted her face and neck. The dark circles under her eyes were a sharp contrast to her pale skin. She looked like an extra in a zombie movie. Abby turned on the water and gently washed her face.

Grabbing several of the paper towels on the stand next to the sink, Abby patted her face dry. She looked in the mirror again. It
didn’t help her looks much, but it did wake her up. Maybe she would be able to make it until she got home.

Home.

The corners of her lips turned up. Home was with Skylar, even if he made her furious. She pulled aside the collar of her shirt and looked at the bite mark.  Its mate was on her other shoulder. She belonged to him, and he was going to belong to her.  She giggled. Just wait until she bit him.

Abby wadded the paper towels and tossed them into the trashcan. She
couldn’t hide in the restroom any longer.

The restroom door swung open before Abby reached it. Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

“No hello for me?”

“What are you doing here, Edwin?” Abby managed to get the words out. She
wasn’t afraid of Edwin, but something about him made her skin crawl. He wasn’t exactly a muscular wolf, but he was stronger than her, a fact he liked to use to intimidate her, and anyone else he deemed inferior.

“I heard about what happened, and I’m here to take you home with me.” He grinned at her.

“I’m not going anywhere with you. Now, move out of my way.” Abby forced her voice to sound tougher than she felt.

His eyes moved up and down her body, before they stopped at her breasts for several seconds before he forced his eyes up to her face. “You are my mate. You have no choice. You will go with me, where ever and whenever I tell you.”

“I am not your mate. How many times do I have to tell you before you get it through your thick skull? I. Am. Not. Your. Mate! You really need to leave before something really bad happens to you.”

“Threats don’t work on me. And don’t worry, I’m going to leave, but you are going with me.” He stepped into the restroom.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Abby moved backwards until she ran into the wall.
Too bad the wall doesn’t fall down on Edwin,
she thought.
But then he would probably just sue the owner.

Edwin laughed as he stalks her. “You’re mine,” he growled as he grabbed her arm and dragged her toward him. He leaned down, his face in her hair, and sniffed. His eyes turned red. “You’ve been fucking a damn bear, and don’t lie to me. I can smell him all over you.” He sniffed her again.

“Let go of my arm.” Abby tried pulling out of his grasp.

“You fucking, little whore!” Edwin grabbed her other arm and shook her. “You let a bear fuck you? You are going to pay for that. I will make you forget you ever meet that bear.”

“Let her go!”

Relief flooded through Abby when she heard Skylar’s voice.

Edwin turned, jerking Abby in front of him so she was between him and bear standing in the doorway. He growled at Skylar. “So this is the bear you’ve been fucking.” He squeezed Abby’s arms and shook her again. Some pathetic small town hick, am I correct?

Abby bit her bottom lip to keep from screaming out in pain. She refused to give Edwin the satisfaction of knowing he was making her hurt, even though she knew both he and Skylar could smell her pain.

“Let my mate go!” Skylar’s voice was low and deadly.

Let me rip that wolf to pieces. He is hurting our mate.

He will pay for touching her.

He wants our mate for himself.

He can’t have her,
said Skylar.
She belongs to us.

“Your mate?
This bitch is not your mate. She is mine. Always has been and always will be my mate.” Edwin laughed. “And I’m taking her home with me. After I scrub you obnoxious scent off her, I’m going to fuck her.”

“You aren’t going anywhere with my mate.” Skylar’s eyes turned silver. His bear
wanted out, but Skylar knew his sister wouldn’t appreciate a thirteen hundred pound Kodiak bear in her restaurant. He pushed his bear back, and before Edwin could move, Skylar lunged into the small room. He planted his fist in Edwin’s face.

The wolf howled as he let go of Abby and grabbed his nose. “You broke my nose.”

Skylar grabbed Abby and shoved her behind him. “Stay away from my mate.”

Edwin growled. His fingertips changed into sharp claws.

Skylar threw another punch at Edwin. This time hitting the guy in the chin.

The man made a fun noise. In a cartoonish way, he slid to the floor.

Skylar pushed Edwin with his foot. The guy didn’t move. “Not much of a fighter.”

“He’s more of a bully than a fighter.” Abby’s voice trembled. Fear and exhaustion were taking their toll on her. He legs trembled and her knees threatened to buckle under her.

Skylar turned and picked her up. “Is he part of your pack?”

“No. He’s just a problem that keeps showing up.” She snuggled against his warmth and closed her eyes. His bear made a low rumbling noise, happy its mate was safe.

Abby was asleep in his arms before Skylar got to his truck.