Barely Winging It (4 page)

Chapter Four

Thursday after sundown

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,
happy birthday, dear Havana, happy birthday to you.”
The slightly off pitch chorus sang around her. Once
the lyrics were completed, closing her eyes, Havana leaned over her full sheet
birthday cake and blew out the eighteen candles adorning it. Opening her eyes,
she smiled at the curls of smoke that rose from the extinguished sticks of wax.
She was pleased with herself for being able to blow all of them out.
That was a lot of candles
.

Everyone around her cheered and clapped.

“All right, cake time!” Reese rubbed his hands
together and grinned. Havana had to laugh at him. He had convinced one of the
others to take him to town to get several bags of M&Ms to replace hers that
he had eaten, all to win back rights to a piece of her cake today.
How could I not be won over by that?

It was after sunset, so they could have the gargoyles
join the celebration. Havana thought it was one of the longest days in her
life. She found keeping herself busy was a real challenge since everyone
thought not to give her chores on her birthday. That would have been great if
she wasn’t so desperate for something to kill time. Luckily
Kace
allowed her to help on the construction on Betty’s little cabin. She had a
pretty fun time hanging with the team and helping out. It was the only thing
that made this wait bearable.

A plate of white frosted cake coupled with chocolate
ice cream scooped on the side was placed in front of her. Havana ate her treat
slowly as she watched her mate, who was still across the room. She tried not
letting it get to her that he was still keeping his distance, but the weight of
worry was slowly starting to creep into her chest. Shaking her mind out of its
stupor, she smiled at everyone around her as they teased and laughed.

“Havana, Gale says you plan on taking your college
courses online. Is that true?”

Havana nodded to Connie as she tried to swallow her
bite of cake. Once her mouth was cake free, she made a more complete response.
“Yes. My work load will be a bit heavy since I’m taking graphic design,
marketing, and business management.”

“Wow, why so much?”

“Because the graphic design path I want to take is web
development,
and learning the other two will be
beneficial in a big way to my work.” Havana had no doubts she could pull it off
since she always worked hard in school to successfully attain the best grades.

They were interrupted by a sticky faced duo each
holding a small wrapped box with sticky fingers. Havana chuckled at the twins
and leaned down to peck a kiss on their heads. “Is this for me?”

Both heads of brown hair bobbed up and down. “Open,” they
said in unison.

With their excited and eager faces glowing up at her,
she couldn’t refuse. Grabbing the boxes, she opened Abby’s first. She revealed
a small red leather diary with etched flowers covering the front and back.
Havana ran her fingers over the texture of them and smiled. Behind the tots,
Connie snickered, “She even wrote in it for you.”

Sure enough, on the first page were several swirly
lines. Reaching out, she pulled the tot in for a hug. “Thank you, Abby.”

“Mine, mine,” Danny begged earnestly.

Laughing, Havana let go of Abby. “Ok. Yours is next.”
Tearing off the wrapper and opening the narrow box, she revealed a very nice
pen.
“Perfect to go with my diary.
Thank you, Danny.”
Havana received a hug back when she wrapped her arm around him.

After the tots were led away, other gifts were piled
in front of her. She laughed and delighted in every single one of them. She
reached for the last gift from the pile and read who it was from. “To our
dearest
dau
…” Her breath caught as her lungs froze
and her throat swelled with emotions. She struggled to read the rest through
the tears that instantly welled in her eyes and poured down her cheeks. Havana
wasn’t used to being weepy, but her emotions overtook her, and no matter how
hard she held her hands over her mouth, she couldn’t stop the sobs.

Alphy
and Reese were by her side giving her support. She even scented her mate behind
her. He rested his hand on her shoulder.
Alphy
took
the note and read it. “To our dearest daughter, you make us so proud.”

A Kleenex box was placed in front of her. Grateful for
something to clean herself up with, she grabbed several sheets and used them.
The warm hand of her mate disappeared before she could truly enjoy it. Her
shoulder where he had placed his hand, now felt colder than the rest of her
body, and she missed his warmth.

Taking a few deep breaths, she was finally in control
of her emotions again, or at least until she opened her present. Whatever it
was, it would probably make her cry again. That would totally suck if it was
something silly like a teddy bear. Not wanting to make a mess of the wrapping—no
doubt her mother had done it before she died—Havana pulled at the shiny gold
ribbon and carefully unwrapped the white wrapping paper. The box was small and
extremely light, so she wondered if there was anything really in it. She also
wondered how she didn’t know about this gift as she was pretty active with
helping to go through all of their parents’ things and pack them up.

Lifting the lid off the box, she looked inside and saw
tissue paper. Moving the paper aside, she saw a manila envelope. Inside, she
revealed tickets and reservation information on hotels, and car rentals for a
trip to Italy.
Ok, so not a gift to be
ashamed of crying over.
She saw, in the back, was another letter. Again,
Alphy
had to read it.

“Havana, now that you are officially an adult, we
wanted to send you out into the world to create some memories that you could
carry with you for your entire life, and perhaps also find your mate to give us
grandcubs
.
With love, Mom and Dad.”
The room gave a subdued laugh at the last part of the sentence.
 

The last part of that sentence sent a wet and loaded
snort out into her tissue she held over her face. Leave it to Mom, while
dragging Dad along, to remind her that she wanted
grandcubs
.

The room emptied out, leaving just her brothers, and
her mate, who was still standing behind her. Reese was more subdued than she
normally saw him. He was reading some of the information. “So there’s an extra
ticket to take someone along with you. Can I go?”

“No,” she said as she wiped her face with more tissue.

“Wow, you didn’t even think about it. It’s not like
you have a boyfriend to take you, and
Alphy
has
already seen the world,
and
has a
mate already.”

Her brother’s voice sounded almost whiny, and she
could tell he really wanted to go. However, she wanted to get something settled
right now, whether
Dultyn
wanted it or not. “For your
information, I
do
have a boyfriend.
In fact, I have a mate, and I’m going to use this vacation as a mating
present.”

Alphy
straightened up when he heard her. He looked behind her at
Dultyn
,
then back to her again. He was silent for a while, just staring at her. She was
starting to feel uncomfortable and was going to say something when
Alphy
spoke. “Wow, didn’t see that
comin
’.”
He looked behind her to
Dultyn
. “Since I never
scented you on her, I take it you two have kept separate because of her age.”

Havana couldn’t see behind her, but she figured he
nodded because Reese totally deflated.
“Aww, man!
And
there is no way I’m begging you to smuggle me in your luggage since I don’t
want to get stuck there waiting for you two lovebirds to remember me.” Reese
stood up and stalked into the living room with a sullen look.

“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you claiming my
little sister in the bedroom that is right next to mine, and we can’t have you
two stay out in the barn. Give me a few minutes to work out an arrangement for
you both,”
Alphy
said.

Before Havana could reply,
Dultyn
responded. “I do not plan to claim her yet. She is still too young.”

Ok, weepy mood gone
. Now Havana was angry. Pushing herself off the chair,
she whipped around and faced her mate, speaking to him for the first time ... while
he was conscious. In the back of her mind, she briefly regretted her first
words to him would be in anger.
“Too young?
I’m only
too young if you treat me like I am by not discussing things about
us
with me and making decisions about
us
without me. I’m not too young. No
matter how long you think you will need to take, it will never be long enough
with that attitude. I don’t want to die of heartache because you can’t see me
as your mate.” Havana didn’t take any of her gifts as she stormed out of the
room. She would get them later. Right now she was too upset. She was going to
go spend some time in her fur.

Shifters didn’t have much modesty since they had to
strip down to shift, so Havana walked out onto the porch and immediately began
to strip. She loosely folded her clothes and plopped them on a bench seat.
Right before she reached for her bear, she looked back through the window and
saw
Dultyn
staring at her through the glass. He
looked angry, and knowing how possessive
paranormals
were when it came to their mates, she guessed it was because she was naked for
all the
world to see, but she just didn’t seem to have it in
her to care. Looking back at the tree line, Havana initiated her shift and took
off into the dark and wet woods, angrily lacerating the soft muddy earthen
ground with her extended claws.

****

Dultyn
almost tore outside to shield her naked body from the others, but the look she
gave him when she turned to look at him through the glass had him stopping cold
in his tracks. As he watched his mate tear off into the trees, he was left with
no doubt she was angry. He had had to make difficult decisions before so he
knew they were never easy, but he couldn’t stop the feeling he was in the
wrong. He was struggling to convince himself it was just the trick of his mind.
He had to be right. He was trying to protect her. She was so full of life and
spirit, and he … well, wasn’t. His life had been filled with painful and
difficult challenges, and he would only be holding her back. She would come to
resent him for it.

Alphy
stood next to him and grunted. “Keep a couple things in mind,
Dultyn
. Whatever your reasons are, they’re wrong if you
don’t include her in those choices. The more you push her away without her
going willingly, the more pain you cause her. Is that what you really want?
To hurt her?
Fate said now is the time, so be very careful
with what you decide, because it isn’t just about you.”
Alphy
turned and left
Dultyn
with his internal battles.

Chapter Five

Friday

Nix and Enzo excited their new pack vehicle and darted
quickly through the rain. This was the third pack car they had had to purchase.
The first one was in the shop still getting repairs from an attack on Katie
less than a week ago, and the last one was totaled just two days before with
the attack on Slate, Matteo,
Dex
, and Pierce. Good
thing their pack came with a generous bank account.

They stepped under the eave to their intended
building.

“I sure hope she’s here, man. She is turning out to be
one hell of a challenge to find, just like a woman,” Enzo jokingly griped, but
Nix didn’t feel humored. He shot Enzo a lethal look.

“Don’t talk about her like that! How would you feel if
you found your mate and I said that about him?”

Nix didn’t usually snap at Enzo or
Alphy
even. They were higher ranked, and in the shifter world, that was a far bigger
deal than in the human world. However, he’d had very little sleep the past two
nights because his mind wouldn’t shut off. All he could think about was her, the
look of her, the smell of her, the way she moved, her profession, and the one
that kept his dick hard, the way she looked at him. Though it wasn’t sexual
because he was in his animal form, she still had much to say in those eyes. It
fed his obsession. It turned him on like nothing else, and with the added
urgency to find her, he was left temperamentally fragile.

Fortunately, being someone Nix grew up
with,
Enzo didn’t let it get to him. He gave an amused
grunt.
“Snippy, snippy.
All right, I get it, she’s
worth it. Just note that if she wasn’t a mate, this would totally not be worth
it. You have to admit it feels like we’ve been sent on a merry wild goose
chase. I seriously hope we find her here because this is the third stop. And I
might add, none of these stops have been anywhere near each other.”

Nix swung the glass door opened and walked inside.
“You are such a gripe. We didn’t even drive to the first place. We just
called.”

“Yeah, but he was a bastard over the phone. That
stress factor validates the qualifications for being out of the way.”

They neared the front desk as the engine of a small
plane, outside, sounded overhead on its takeoff. The receptionist looked up as
they approached. If Nix had to describe him, he would say he was a
twink
. The young blond had short, well-groomed spiked hair,
and lip gloss sparkled on his lips. To add further validation, Enzo perked up
next to him, and he was nearly strutting as they neared. No doubt his
gaydar
was tripped. Leave it to Enzo to not miss out on any
opportunity to get laid. Nix could already see the young man’s interest focus
on Enzo. Nix didn’t want to lose track of why they were here, and knowing his
buddy, the little
twink
wouldn’t remember his own name
if Enzo had any chance to work his charm on him, so Nix quickly got down to
business.

“This is Enzo Boyce, and I’m Phoenix Savage. We’re
here for an appointment with Mister Richard Webber.”

In response, the young man reached up and pressed a
button on the phone receiver. “Mrs. Webber, Misters Boyce and Savage are here.”
He paused for a response then nodded, “Uh huh, yes, I will.” He pressed the
button and looked up at them with a cheerful smile. “You can go back. Just down
the hall, there’s a set of stairs on the left. Missus Webber will meet you at
the top.” Before either of them could say anything more, the young man accepted
an incoming call, “Webber Air.”

The two made their way down the hall as instructed.
Nix had shifter senses, but his scent wasn’t as good as his
sight,
as otherwise, he might have smelt his mate in the lobby. But as they reached
the top of the second floor, the scent of a dew-covered forest tickled his
nose. Nix closed his eyes and took in another breath as his dick began to fill.
His falcon twittered excitedly in his head and pushed for him to seek her out.

Enzo’s hushed voice pricked his ears just loud enough
for his shifter hearing to make out, but not loud enough that anyone else who
wasn’t plastered against them would hear.
“Nix.
Snap
out of it. Come on, man.”

Nix opened his eyes and looked around. A woman who
resembled his mate stood before him with a questioning look on her face. Beside
him, Enzo was giving him a look that was a mix of victory and caution.

“I get it, she’s here. Keep a hold of yourself. We can
pump these guys for info about her, but we have to be discreet. Remember we’re
here to look into buying a jet for the pack.”

Nix nodded his understanding, but inside his falcon
wanted to claw at Enzo. He shushed his inner beast as introductions and
pleasantries began the dance of business. The woman, introduced as Della
Webber, the wife to the owner of the private air strip they were at, led them
into a small conference room.

“My husband will be here shortly. He’s speaking to
some police officers who stopped in slightly unexpectedly. Would you care for
some coffee?”

Enzo beat him to the question.
“Unexpectedly?
I hope nothing serious.”

“It’s a personal matter. My daughter’s apartment burnt
down night before last, and they suspect it to be arson.”

Nix’s breath caught in his throat as he felt fear
punch him in the gut. “Is she all right?”

“Oh yes. She’s slightly freaked out I think, but she
was staying the night at our house, so she’ll be fine. She’s a strong one, just
like her father. She has very impressive control over her fears. Thank you for
asking.”

Just as Nix began to relax with relief to know his
mate was all right, something the mother said stuck out. “You said she was
staying the night with you?”

“Oh, well, yes.” Nix could scent the woman’s sudden
change in moods. She was suddenly nervous. He was about to try to calm her, but
she shocked him by continuing. “I wouldn’t normally tell people all our
personal issues, but my husband and I are strong believers in our instincts,
and mine, about the two of you, make me feel like I should trust you.” Nix
nearly laughed when he scented Enzo’s shock along with his own. But both stayed
quiet as she continued. “Our daughter has an unwanted admirer. He calls and
visits, trying to convince her to go out with him, but she has continued to
refuse his advances. The police just learned the fire started with her
apartment, so this man is now a suspect.”

“You’re
right,
you can trust
us on this.” Before Enzo could continue a man Nix suspected was Richard Webber
walked into the room.

“Gentlemen, I’m Richard Webber. I apologize for
keeping you waiting. Now, I understand you are looking for a private jet for
your business. Is that correct?”

While his wife stood behind him, Richard sat down, and
Nix and Enzo followed suit.

Enzo answered, “Yes. We have been working on setting
up a new business that includes private investigator, security, and protection.
We have already taken on two major cases and found that the ability to securely
fly anywhere we need, anytime, is turning to be a major necessity.”

Nix knew what Enzo and
Alphy
were planning. Even though he kept himself up in the trees all day, when he
came in, they would always keep him apprised of what was going on. For a long
time, they had wanted to create a pack and start a business that provided those
three services. They had begun planning it since the early eighties. With the
situation with
Alphy’s
mate and family, Slate’s
mother and sister, and now his own mate, Nix couldn’t have been happier they
had decided on it. It was also a great front for secrecy that they, being
paranormals
, vitally needed.

Nix could see the interest in Richard’s eyes. After
what Richard’s wife had just revealed to them, Nix understood why. He hated men
who preyed on women. He would have taken this case even if the woman wasn’t his
mate. However, being that she
was
his
mate, and he was certain she was, because she was the perfect likeness of these
two people, he started to plan a slow painful death for the offender.

“Did my wife tell you about our … situation?” Richard
cautiously asked.

Even though this was going to be his family, Nix let
his beta answer. “Yes, and if you’d like, we would gladly help in any way we
can.”

Nix and Enzo waited quietly as Richard studied them.
He looked like he was taking this decision seriously, and sizing them up. “I am
curious why you gentlemen came to my company for your needs. We are a small
company. In fact, I’m not opposed to telling you that you would be our largest
buyer ever. What brought you to us?”

Enzo sent Nix a look that told him it was up to him
how to answer. Nix quickly thought how to answer. Since these were his
potential soon-to-be in-laws, he didn’t want to lie to them, but of course, he
couldn’t tell them everything. “I was in the area when I believe it was your
daughter who made an emergency landing on our property. We believe in fate, and
we took it as a sign that your company was the one for us.” Nix almost held his
breath waiting for the answer. He was walking a delicate balance between truth
and secrets.

The answer looked like it was the right one, and Richard
gave them an understanding smile. “We, too, believe in fate. I can’t tell you
how relieved I am that you sought us out. I’m not a man who scares lightly, but
this man who’s endangering my daughter gives me a very bad feeling. He has from
the start. Let’s talk planes, and then we can discuss what you can do to help
my daughter.”

Nix couldn’t help but ask. “Where is your daughter?”

“She is a recovery agent. She repossesses aircrafts
for the bank for a percentage of the value of the plane. She’s out right now on
a small catch just a few hours west of here. She should be back by the time we
finish up with the details. Does that sound all right to you?”

Nix looked to Enzo to answer. “That sounds perfect. So
what can you tell us about the kinds of planes we should choose from?”

****

Bronya
stepped from the repossessed aircraft, a small Cessna Skyhawk. She stretched
out her muscles before grabbing her paperwork. She needed to call the bank to
let them know she was successful. She spotted their mechanic enter the hangar.

“Hi Rodger, did Dad send you to look at the plane?”

“Partly.
He wanted me to make sure the plane could bring the biggest possible value, so
I’m to do a complete run-through. But he also wanted me to tell you that he
wanted you to see him as soon as you got in. I think it’s something pretty
important. I saw a couple of officers today, in the office.”

“Oh, that might be about the fire. Thanks, Rodger.”
Bronya
yelled over her shoulder as she trotted out of the
hangar and into the rain. She didn’t mind getting wet, especially in the
summertime, and after that flight, the jogging felt good. It stretched her legs
and lungs in a pleasant way. She was well oxygenated as she opened the glass
door and made her way inside.
“Hi, Zeke.”
She happily
greeted the young man at the front desk.

Zeke looked up but he was clearly on a call, so he
smiled and waved a greeting as she passed.
Bronya
felt in great spirits as she trotted up the stairs and made her way to her
dad’s office. A rich voice coming from the conference room stopped her in her
tracks.
Holy clams.
That voice curled her toes better than
chocolate. She hadn’t been really out of breath the whole way from the hangar,
until now. As she listened to the man talking about security equipment, shivers
of pleasure rippled over her body.

“There you are.” Her mother’s voice interrupted her
pleasure spike and forced her eyes open.
When
did I close my eyes
? “There are some people here your father wants you to
meet.” Her mother shot her a smirk, probably guessing pretty accurately what
she was thinking. “They’re in the conference room.”

“Uh, thanks, Mom.” Mentally shaking herself,
Bronya
turned and stepped towards the room the sexiest
voice reverberated from. Looking into the room, she saw her father talking to
two men. One was a heavily muscled Caucasian man with black hair. She could see
ink on his neck and arms, but she lost all interest in him when her eyes drew
to the light skinned African-American man next to him who owned the voice that
seemed to play her like a puppet.

The man wasn’t built as strongly as the other. His
body was more an athletic build, and when the men looked at her as she entered,
they stood. While the first male was tall, the man she was obsessing over was
just over average. His eyes were so dark, they were almost completely black,
and his full lips parted in a smile to reveal brilliant white, straight teeth.
A twitter fluttered in her lower stomach and zinged down through her channel at
the sight. Her eyes moved over his features bringing her both a calming peace
and a full bodied passionate desire.

“
Bronya
, welcome back,
my dear.
This is Enzo Boyce.” Her
father indicated the first man. Taking her eyes off the man she was suddenly
obsessed with felt like she was nearly ripping them out of their sockets as she
moved them back to the first man. He didn’t offer his hand, only nodded his
greeting as her father introduced the second man.
“And Phoenix
Savage.”