Hunt (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles Book 1) (13 page)

"
Y
ou can step
out of the way." The man dressed in a black suit walked toward where I stood behind Ian.

I was usually one for being brave, but after dealing with the guys in the bar, I wasn’t feeling particularly courageous. I may have played it tough with Ian, but I was nervous. Maybe not nervous enough to stay at his place, but nervous enough that I had no interest in dealing with another stranger. I stood far enough back that I could see around Ian’s broad shoulders, but I hoped I was still hidden.

"Who the hell are you?" Ian snapped.

"Is that how you greet visitors around here?" The man smiled. "Where is that small town charm I heard you guys have?"

"It only applies to those who are welcome.” Ian’s voice was hard.

"And I'm not welcome?"

"Not until you tell me why you’re here.” Ian crossed his arms. The action accentuated his muscles.

“I’ll tell Mara who I am.”

At the sound of my name, I stepped around Ian.

The man’s lips twisted into a smile as he looked me over. "My, you've grown up."

I studied the man. He was clean shaven, with a thick head of jet black hair. I couldn’t see much else of him in the growing darkness. "Do I know you?"

"Not really. But that's not your fault." He grinned as if his words were some sort of inside-joke I was supposed to understand.

"I'll repeat my first question." Ian moved closer to me. "Who the hell are you?"

"Did Connor tell you why you’re here?" The man ignored Ian and addressed me. "I'm starting to doubt it."

"You know Connor?" I asked.

"Yes." He smiled. "Where is he? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight."

"I wish I knew," I mumbled.

"Is he in town?" The man took a step toward me, and Ian growled. As in actually growled. I’d never heard a guy do that before. The man smiled even bigger.

"He was," I answered honestly.

"And he left you here?" The man’s forehead furrowed. “With these sorts around?” He pointed at Ian.

"He left me here.” I ignored his comment about Ian.

"Which means you'll come with me."

"Not a chance in hell." Ian stepped in front of me again.

"And who are you?" The man finally turned his attention to Ian. “I know you’re Ursus, so save that part of the speech.”

“Ursus?” I asked.

The man in the suit laughed. “Your friend has been keeping you in the dark.”

“Get off this property.” Ian glowered. "I am the only one Mara is going anywhere with."

"Mara, who's this clown?" The man in the suit asked.

"Stop talking to me like you know me." I must have been dreaming. Nothing about the evening made any sense.

The man laughed. "Fiery one. Willem is going to have fun with you."

"Willem?" I recognized the name from the bar.

"So you have heard of him. At least you know something."

"'Mara, you can wait inside." Ian nodded toward my house.

"No. He's going to tell me who he is and why people keep referring to me by name." I wasn’t sure where the sudden burst of confidence came from, but maybe it was because I was no longer convinced any of this was real.

"I do wish Connor was here. It would make this all a lot easier." The man stepped toward us.

"Easier for you and me both," I said under my breath.

“Mara, please go inside.” Ian’s words were softer this time, but they didn’t hide a warning.

“I think going inside might be a good idea,” Lauren took my arm.

I nodded absently, letting her lead me toward my house. Whatever this guy wanted from me, I had to assume it wasn’t good. Lauren’s touch was normal, and that in itself made me wonder if I wasn’t dreaming after all.

As soon as the door closed behind us, Lauren leaned in to whisper. “Pack a bag.”

“A bag?” I whispered back.

“We have to get you out of here.”

“If this is about going to Ian’s, I don’t want to hear it.”

“You should hear it. Forget your feelings for him for a moment. Be smart.”

“Are you coming too?” Maybe I shouldn’t have been so comfortable with the woman who had led me into danger

“If it means you’ll go.”

“Please come.” Leading me into danger or not, she at least seemed to be a nice person, and I had no one else to trust.

She nodded. “Then pack a bag.”

I listened. I selected my smallest duffel bag and stuffed in some of my clothes and toiletries. I wasn’t thrilled about staying at Ian’s, but Lauren was right. My feelings for him aside, getting out of this house was a good idea.

But then I thought of something. “What about Mrs. Peterson?” I couldn’t leave an innocent woman to deal with a mess that seemed to revolve around me.

“I guarantee she’ll be safe. Ian won’t let anything happen.”

“I’m so confused. You trust him yet tell me to stay away.” And that made things even worse. I wasn’t sure who to trust and who to run from. All I wanted to do was jump in my truck and drive back to the farm, but I wasn’t sure if that was the answer. If Ian was right, and it wasn’t mistaken identity, what if they followed me there? I refused to tarnish the one real home I had.

“I already explained my feelings about him. He might not be who I’d recommend as a boyfriend, but there is no one around who could possibly keep you any safer.”

I put my bag over my shoulder. “How are we getting out of here?”

The walls of the house were thin, and I could still hear Ian and the suit guy arguing outside.

“Ian is distracting him.” Lauren gestured to the front.

“How do you know that?”

“I just do. Which means we need to move. Now.”

I considered what I was about to do. I was going to trust a woman I didn’t really know to help me run to the house of a guy I also didn’t really know. “What’s an Ursus?” I remembered the term.

“I’ll let Ian tell you. We need to go.”

I nodded absently. “So how are we getting out of here?” I repeated myself.

“Out the back door.”

“Oh. I forgot about that.” I walked through the living area and had Lauren help me push aside the couch that was currently blocking the second entrance. I paused. “How’d you know there was a back door?”

“I stayed here when I first came to town.” Lauren pushed open the back door, and I followed her out into the night.

We wove through the quiet woods quickly all while I clutched my duffel bag. I’d never run away from home as a child, but I had a feeling it might feel similar to this.

I hoped Lauren knew what she was doing. After ten minutes, she stopped, pulled out her phone, typed something, and returned it to the back pocket of her jeans. “We need to head to the road.”

“Were you texting someone?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Our ride.”

“Who is it?”

“Ian’s brother, Noah.”

“Noah?” I hadn’t met that brother yet.

“Yes.”

We hurried toward the road, and even from a distance I noticed a car parked.

“Why are the police here?” I pointed to the police car.

“I told you, I called Noah.”

“Ian’s brother is a cop?”

We reached the edge of the woods and an attractive guy dressed in a police uniform walked over. “Hello, Lauren.” He tipped his hat at her. “And you must be, Mara.” His eyes locked with mine.

“Guilty as charged.”I grimaced at my stupid line.

He laughed. “I heard you needed a lift.”

Lauren glanced over her shoulder. “Yes. And fast. I don’t think Ian’s going to be able to hold things back any longer.”

“Hold what back?” I asked.

Lauren looked back toward the woods. “The guy in the suit.”

“There’s a guy in a suit?” Noah opened the passenger and back seat doors.

“Yes.” Lauren slipped into the back.

“You can fill me in later.”

I glanced back at the woods one more time before sliding into the passenger seat. It was my first ride in a police car.

E
ither this guy
was dumb or very smart. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Mara had run off, but maybe it was all part of some bigger plan. There was no way of knowing, and at the moment all I cared about was making sure Mara was safe.

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself involved in here.” The man eyed the house and then set his eyes on me.

“I’m afraid you have it all backwards.” I tried to stay calm; I’d get more information that way.

He smiled. “What exactly do you think I have backward?”

“You’ve walked into trouble. I’d suggest you walk right back out of it.”

“Walk back out of it?” He laughed. “You have no idea who she is.”

“I know exactly who she is.” She was Mara, and she was mine.

“If you did, you wouldn’t be handling the situation the way you are.”

“Maybe you don’t realize who I am?” I hadn’t volunteered my name.

“I don’t, but I can’t say I care unless you don’t heed my warning.”

“Heed your warning?” It was my warning that he needed to concern himself with.

“Stay away from the girl. She isn’t yours, nor will she ever be.”

“Who are you to decide who Mara should be with?” She’d be with me. There was no question about that. It was where she belonged.

“You really don’t know, do you?” He stepped toward me.

“You keep saying that, but you’re the one who doesn’t understand the situation.”

He took off his suit jacket. “I understand the situation completely. Be glad I’m not killing you right now. The girl was promised to someone else long ago.”

“Killing me?” I stiffened. “Is that how you want to play this?”

“I’m not playing anything, bear. I could do it in the blink of an eye, but we may need you later.”

“Who the hell are you?” There were few people who would ever talk to me that way, and he would regret it.

“Your worst nightmare.” In a flash giant black feathery wings ripped through his shirt. “Until we meet again, bear.” He grinned before taking off into the night sky.

I watched him fly away into the night, in shock that one of his kind had entered Crestview.

I
sat
on the edge of Ian’s couch. I couldn’t allow myself to get comfortable because that might mean I’d stay, and staying was out of the question. I needed to get back to my truck and out of this crazy town. Now that I was away from the guy in the suit I felt more confident. All I needed to do was wait until everyone was distracted and then I could disappear and hope this mess would blow over.

Lauren had run off with the promise she’d return, and now I was stuck sitting with two of Ian’s brothers: Noah and Jasper. I wasn’t sure which one intimidated me more.

It was strange. Ian was bigger than either of them, but they scared me in a way he didn’t. Sure, they were attractive. They each had the tall, dark, and handsome thing working for them just like Ian, but whereas the sight of Ian thrilled me, the sight of these guys made me feel like a small rabbit running from a fox.

“Do you want anything to eat?” Jasper asked.

“No thanks.” Eating was the last thing on my mind.

“He’ll be here soon.” Noah rose from his seat on a chair across from me. “I’m surprised he’s not here already.”

“That’s fine. I just have to decide what I’m going to do tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Noah ran a hand through his brown hair.

“I’m not sure if I should go home.” I looked down at my hands.

“Of course you’re not going home.” Noah’s harsh tone got my attention. “It’s not safe.”

“But we don’t even know who these guys are to know if it’s safe or not.” We didn’t know much of anything, which made the situation worse.

“We know enough.” Jasper pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and then pocketed it again. “Tyler is coming.”

“Great,” I mumbled.

Jasper laughed. “That much of a fan of his?”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that.” He was no worse than the others, but I didn’t need a third babysitter.

“Sure you did.” Noah took his seat again. “You meant something.”

“I’m a bit overwhelmed, ok?” I wanted to be left alone, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Are you afraid of us?” Noah leaned forward slightly.

“No.” I wasn’t about to admit the truth to them. It would only make me appear more vulnerable, and what I wanted to be was strong. “Why would I be?”

“You seem uptight. You should feel safe.”

“You are the one who just pointed out my home wasn’t safe.”

“Safe with us. We should make you comfortable, not the opposite.” Noah and Jasper exchanged glances.

“Why?” I asked. “No offense, but you’re giant men I don’t know. What part of you would make me feel safe?”

The two brothers exchanged looks again.

“What?” I hated feeling out of the loop. It brought me back to the middle-school mentality of always feeling like you missed some huge party everyone else was invited to.

“But you feel safe with Ian, don’t you?” Jasper removed his cowboy hat and spun it around on his hand.

“I know him better.” I felt like I’d known Ian for months, or at least weeks. It was hard to believe it had only been two days.

“He’ll be here soon.” Noah stood again.

“You already told me that.”

“And you’re sure you’re not hungry?” Jasper looked out the front window.

“Not at all.” I leaned back against the couch.

“Thirsty?” he pressed.

“Nope. I’m fine.” I let out a slow breath.

“When’s the last time you drank water?” Jasper sat down beside me.

“Why would that matter?” I scooted away from him a tiny bit. He’d left a socially appropriate amount of space, but I wanted more.

“Dehydration is dangerous.” Noah walked over to where I sat.

“You’re a police officer and you are concerned about my hydration?” Were they kidding me? Nothing about these guys matched their outer bad boy cowboy exterior. At least not the side they showed me.

“If you’re tired, I’m sure Ian wouldn’t mind if you napped in his room.” Noah pointed down the hallway.

“I don’t need to nap.” They were crazy if they thought I could fall asleep with everything going on. “Do you think Lauren is coming back soon?”

The two looked at each other. “Probably not.”

“Um, why not?” I froze. That wasn’t the answer I’d been expecting.

“Because she had to deliver a message somewhere far off.”

“Then why did she tell me she’d be right back?” My heart rate accelerated. What was going on? Had I been wrong to trust Lauren? Had she ditched me?

“Because she didn’t want to worry you.” Jasper put his hand between us on the couch.

“Worry me?” I jumped to my feet. “Yes, knowing I was being abandoned with a bunch of random guys would worry me just a bit.”

“We’re not random guys.” Jasper stood.

“To me you are.” I put my face in my hands. What kind of mess did I get myself in now?

“We’re Ian’s brothers.” Jasper patted my arm.

I forced myself not to wrench my arm away. He was trying to be nice. “And you say that like it changes anything. I barely know Ian.” Yet I’d been ready to have sex with him in the woods. I really needed to get out of Crestview.

The door burst open and my chest nearly beat out of my chest. Tyler walked through the doorway. “Sorry I’m late for the party.”

I was hit by disappointment. I wanted it to be Ian. The disappointment and my annoyance were too much. I stormed past all three guys out of the house.

“You need to wait inside.” Noah followed me out.

“No thank you.” I continued out until I reached a fence.

“It’s safer in there,” Tyler called behind me.

“I’m fine out here.”

“So it’s not just me?” Tyler met me by the fence. “Good.”

“Nope, she’s afraid of all of us.” Noah came to stand on my other side.

I spun around and came face to face with Jasper. They had me surrounded. “Why wouldn’t I be afraid? What kind of girl wouldn’t be?”

“She’s not afraid of Ian.” Tyler appeared less perturbed than his brothers at my discomfort. “She’s different with him.”

“He’s lucky.” Noah tugged on the collar of his shirt.

“You are all crazy.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “This place is crazy.”

“It’s okay.” Tyler’s voice came from right by my ear, and I jumped. “Everything is going to be okay. Ian is going to be back—”

“Don’t even say it. I get that Ian is going to be back soon, but that doesn’t change anything. You can stop saying it.”

Tyler shrugged. “Ok. I thought you would want to see him.”

“I do want to see him.” I groaned. “I want to see him so I can get some questions answered.”

“Are you hungry? Thirsty?” Tyler asked.

“Ugh!” I hurried back inside the house and slammed the door.

I sat back in my spot on the couch hoping Ian’s brothers would take the less than subtle hint and leave me alone.

They did. I heard mumbled voices from outside, but the door remained closed. I let out a sigh of relief. At least I could relax a little if I was alone.

I stood up and paced around the room. I stared at the clock in the kitchen. Forty-five minutes had passed already. Where the heck was Ian? I was almost ready to find one of his brothers to inquire when the door opened slowly.

I prepared myself for whatever brother it was, but relief flooded me when I realized it was Ian. A completely disheveled Ian wearing absolutely no clothing. He had only a cowboy hat covering his lower region.

He smiled when he saw me. “You’re a nice sight to come home to.”

“What happened to you?” I gestured to his naked form.

“It’s a long story.”

“A long story about being naked?”

“It’s not what you think.” He changed which hand was holding the hat.

I didn’t want to have noticed the hand change, but my eyes kept going down that way on their own accord. “What would I think?”

“I wasn’t with a girl or anything like that.”

“Yes, because my biggest concern right now is whether you were fucking a girl.”

Ian’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think you cursed.” He walked toward me.

“Well I’m angry, and tired, and—”

He cut off my next statement by connecting his lips with mine. The kiss was hard and demanding, and before I knew it I was opening up to him. His arms wrapped around me, and I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, forgetting he was naked and still hadn’t explained his lack of clothes.

He continued the kiss, exploring every corner of my mouth while holding me flush against him. The hat had fallen away, and I could feel the evidence of his arousal. I liked it. I liked the feeling of having him pressed against me.

He broke the kiss, but held me close. He ran his lips over my ear. “The only girl I want is you.”

I moaned, loving the feel of his lips on me. I wanted them everywhere. I wanted them to erase the fear and panic welling through me. But I snapped myself out of it. “So why are you naked?”

“Because I got dirty.”

“And how did that happen?” I tried to force my eyes to stay at eye level. I didn’t need to see him naked again.

“I went through some mud on my way home.”

“And instead of staying in your muddy clothes you stripped naked?”

I allowed myself to look down. I’d been right about the arousal. I quickly looked up again and found him grinning.

“No grinning. You still haven’t explained yourself.”

“Yes I did. I got muddy and didn’t want to get mud in the house.”

“You care that much about keeping your house clean?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Does my home look dirty to you?”

I glanced around. “Not at all.”

“Exactly.”

“You can go get dressed.”

He shrugged. “I could, but I figured you’d want to know about that guy first.”

“I can’t think straight at the moment.”

He seemed to mull over my words and then smiled. “Am I bringing back memories or is it that you want to make new ones?”

“Neither.” I tried to hold myself together. It was completely normal to be talking to a naked guy in his house. Right? “You should shower.” He needed it, and I needed space. That kiss had been intense, just like all the others, and it shouldn’t have been. I shouldn’t have been making out with a naked Ian with everything else going on.

“Are you going to join me?” His eyes twinkled.

“I don’t need one.” I ignored the fact that my own jeans were dirty from the run through the woods.

“Is that the only thing stopping you?”

A thrill ran through me. A thrill I shouldn’t have felt. “I’m not showering with you.”

“Yet.” He walked off, dropping his shirt in the process.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I called after.

He turned around. “You know exactly what that means.”