She inhaled a deep breath to steady her nerves as the footsteps sounded on the porch. The gun felt heavy in her hand and she checked to make sure the safety was off. She stepped quietly to the bedroom door.
The front door crashed opened and a fresh breeze of air moved through the house. “Travis, what the hell are you doing here?” Taber called out.
Clinging to the wall, she peered through the crack in the door to see a younger and shorter version of her mate. His hair was lighter and his lack of confidence showed in his posture.
“Where is she?”
Taber raised his gun. “What do you want with her?”
“There’s a large bounty on her head and I plan to collect it.” Travis advanced toward Taber and she wondered for a moment if Taber would shoot his own brother.
“You’d betray your own brother, and take his mate for money?”
“I’d do a lot more than that for money. I’m getting out of here, away from you and the rest of the family. I’m tired of being smothered by everyone. I want to live my life on my terms.” Travis took another step toward Taber. “Just get out of the way, brother, and no one will get hurt. You’ll be free of her and can mate again.”
Taber growled and glared at Travis. “You’ll stay away from my mate if you value your life at all.” When Travis continued to advance, Taber jumped, taking his brother down.
Kallie fought the urge to run out there, to break up the brothers, but she promised Taber she’d stay hidden until it was safe.
The floor to her right creaked, forcing her attention away from what was happening in the other room. She swung around and found a man with short red hair, glaring at her by the window.
Tiger.
Her attention, swayed to the other room, hadn’t heard the window open. When he stepped toward her, she recognized him. She couldn’t believe Brian stood before her. He had spent years as a pet to Wesley as well. But unlike her, he was given privileges. He could shift when he desired, but spent most of the time in his tiger form unless he had to do something for his master. Just the thought of him saying,
yes master
, infuriated her. “Brian, what are you doing here? What do you want?”
“Oh Kallie, I’ve always wanted you, but you were the one thing he denied me. I’m here to take you back.” He leaned against the window, staring at her. “Wesley’s dead and you’ll finally be mine.”
“I’m mated now, I’ll never be yours.”
“Do you think that mating will stop me?” He snarled a deep and evil laugh, pushing away from the window to stand straight. “Oh, it will hurt you to be fucked by another man, but then again your comfort never mattered. Wesley left me his house and workshop, and I’ve modified the collar even more. I’ll be able to control your shifts with a push of a button, so I can force you into your human form anytime I want to be relieved. You remember just how much control the previous collar had, well this one has so much more.” Something in his hand caught the light of the moon.
She gasped. The collar! Her finger tensed around the trigger. “I won’t live like that again.”
“No, you won’t. It will be much worse this time.” He came at her with the speed no human had.
She didn’t think twice, she just shot. Her hands shook causing her to miss her chosen target, but she did hit his shoulder.
“Damn, you bitch!” He grabbed his shoulder and continued to advance toward her. “You’ll pay for that and when I’m done with you, you’ll beg for me to end your life.”
She shot again and again, tears pouring down her face. He finally collapsed to the floor and she shot one final time right between his eyes. She sank to the floor, hands shaking. The gun now empty in her hands after she used all the bullets to take down a man she once pitied.
The door flew open and Taber ran in, his gun drawn and ready for whatever he found. Scared and confused, she raised her gun, determined to protect herself.
“Kal.” He stepped around the dead man, holstering his gun. “Kitty, it’s me.” He approached her, reaching slowly as if afraid she’d shoot him.
“It’s empty.” She dropped the gun to the floor. “I…I killed him.”
He reached down and scooted her into his arms. “It’s all right.” He carried her to the kitchen, caressing her back with his hand.
“The others?” She inquired when he propped her up on the kitchen counter. He turned the tap on and ran water over the dishrag. He touched it to her cheek, but she pushed his hand away. “I don’t need this.”
“You might be in shock, the coolness will help. Put it against your forehead and focus on me.” He pressed the cool cloth against her skin. “The others are taken care of. They’re all dead.”
“Not Tra…” She wanted to say Travis, but the name stuck in her throat.
“Afraid so. He shot at me and Adam had no choice but to take the shot. It was Travis or me.” He ran his hand through his hair, droplets of sweat clinging to his hand. “I’ll have to tell my family.”
She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. For that moment, she forgot about the man she killed, all she could feel was Taber’s pain. He lost a brother today and it didn’t matter if Travis betrayed him, the loss still hurt. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” He held her to him, their bodies pressed together, and for once it wasn’t about sex or their mating bond. It was just about them and the comfort they provided each other.
She clung to him and thought about the brother she never got to meet. Guilt washed over her. She was the reason behind Travis’ betrayal.
Everywhere I go disaster follows.
Movement by the door forced her to lean away from Taber. Raja and Adam placed a body, she assumed to be Travis, into a body bag. Her heart sank.
“You know none of this is your fault,” Taber said when she stared at him, her questions obviously clear in her eyes. “Mates sense everything the other is feeling, no matter how out of control their feelings are. I feel your guilt, but this had nothing to do with you. He’s the one that betrayed your clan, my family, and me. It was all about money for him.” He frowned. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. No one caught the second scent in your room until just before the gun went off.”
“That’s because he was inside the window then. He was careful not to move, until he was ready to attack. I didn’t catch his scent until he was already in the room.” She tossed the cloth aside and clung to Taber. She didn’t care that she was sitting on the cool granite countertop. She just wanted to feel his body against hers. To know he was safe, and to give him comfort as he grieved for his brother.
He tensed and shrugged out of her embrace, pulling his gun from his holster. He swept her off the counter with his free arm and tucked her behind his back, aiming his gun toward the cabin’s back door.
She was tempted to ask what was going on, but kept quiet and still.
Chapter Twenty
If the scents weren’t different, she would have sworn it was Taber standing before them. They were identical, down to the defiance that shimmered in their eyes. He stood in the doorway, his hands up, showing he was unarmed.
“What are you doing here, Thorben?” Taber kept his aim pointed at his brother.
“I called Ty to inform him Kenneth’s sister and niece were safe. He mentioned you were here. I had a feeling something was going awry. I’m only here to help. I spotted Travis with Sanchez last week and when they saw me, Travis ran off. I thought he was up to something, but I never expected…” His words trailed off as anger replaced the sadness in his tone. “Theodore called to find out when I’d be back. He needed help making a delivery and Travis split on him. I put Travis’ actions together and figured he’d be here. I’m sorry I was late. I hit some bad weather flying in.”
“Thorben, I want to believe you, but after what Travis did you’ll understand if I find your timing suspicious.”
“I might be a pain in the ass and we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.” Thorben stepped in and shut the kitchen door behind him.
“But when the hell have I given you reason to think I’d deceive you? To plot against you enough to get you and your mate killed? Damn it Taber, no matter our differences we’re twins, I’d never do that to you.”
“You haven’t…”
“Damn right I haven’t and I wouldn’t. I’ve been there any time you’ve needed me. How could you think…”
Taber lowered his gun, but he didn’t holster it. “All we knew is that there was a leak. You’ve kept company in the wrong crowds, how could I not suspect you might have left something slip, even if it was on accident.”
“Taber, you should know I’d never risk my family, or friends of the sleuth. No matter who I keep company with, I watch what I say when it comes to shifter business.”
The men silently glared at each other for what seemed like eternity. Kallie finally stepped out from behind Taber. He shot her a glare and took hold of her wrist.
“I’m not going to stay cowering behind you all night. You two are brothers, even with your differences. One of your brothers stabbed you in the back, but that doesn’t mean you should start doubting all of them. Especially if we’re going to Nome.”
“Go to Nome? Now?”
“Taber, we need to tell your family about Travis. You can’t do that over the phone. What did you think, I’d go back to the compound without you?” She pulled her wrist free and stood next to him.
“She’s right.” Thorben leaned against the table. “Mom deserves better than finding out about Travis over the phone.”
“It’s too much of risk for Kallie.” Taber slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her to him. “I won’t risk you.”
“Your family needs you. At least go tell them, spend a little time with them and then we can leave. You have to take Travis’ body home to your parents.” Before he could debate further, Raja stepped in and Adam followed him.
“Thorben, it’s great to see you again.” Raja held out his hand.
Thorben accepted the extended hand and shook it. “You too. Sorry I wasn’t here for the action.”
Raja nodded. “My sympathies concerning your brother.” He turned to Taber. “What are your plans? Will you be returning to the compound?”
“We were just discussing that.” Kallie cut in. “If acceptable, Raja, I’d like to accompany Taber and Thorben to Nome, to return Travis’ remains to their family. It’s not the best time to meet his family, but as his mate I feel it’s my place.”
“I haven’t said you could go.” Taber snarled.
“Taber your family needs you, and you need your mate,” Raja said. “Adam will take you by helicopter and you can return to the compound when you’re ready. I’ll also send Korbin with you for additional protection, but I have no doubt she’ll be safe with your sleuth.” Raja nodded and walked to the door. “We’ve dealt with the other attackers so we’ll return to compound. Adam and Korbin will be ready when you are. If you need anything, call us.”
Once Raja left, Taber spun around. “That was backhanded. You played the situation and your Elder to force me to take you home with me.”
“You did want me to meet your family, right?”
“Shit Kal, that wasn’t what I meant. I want you safe.” He held her hand in his and stared at her.
“I’m safest with you, and you need me. Now let’s stop arguing and get out of here before it’s too late.” She snuggled into him, exhausted over the day’s events. Even with the sadness of the situation, and danger still looming, anxiety coated her stomach over meeting her mate’s family.
“I’ll take Travis’ body in the airplane and meet you there.” Thorben pushed away from the table, rising to his full height. “Unless you’d like to come with me and I can bring you back to get the helicopter?”