Duncan (3 page)

“You demand?” Nicole tilted her head, looking up at her mate. “You demand?” She shouted this time, her voice trembling with anger.

“Shit.” Jared stepped in front of Tessa who had also stood.

“You have no right keeping this information from Duncan, Nicole,” Damon shouted back; he never shouted and definitely not at his mate. “And you know it!”

Nicole gave him a deadly glare. “What I do know is my friend trusts me, and I’m not breaking that trust.”

“Call Adam,” Damon growled at Jared, but his eyes did not leave Nicole. “And Duncan.”

“Screw you.” She emphasized each word with a hard point of her finger to his chest before walking around him.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Damon went to grab her arm, but she snapped it back.

Nicole stopped and slowly turned around. “Away from you.”

“I don’t fucking think so.” Damon took a step forward to grab her again, but she smacked at his hand.

“If you touch me, you are going to have your hands full, Damon DeMasters,” Nicole hissed.

“You are
not
leaving.” He loomed over her, bent slightly to glare down at her.

“Is that a demand?” She stretched up so she could go nose-to-nose with him.

Before Damon could respond, Tessa pushed past Jared. “Stop it. Just stop, both of you.” She walked between the two, pushing each of them back. “I know where she is. Nicole, I understand why you haven’t told Duncan, but I never promised Pam anything. You can stay here while I tell them what I know, or you can leave.”

Nicole stared at Tessa for a few seconds before nodding her head. Without looking at Damon, she walked out the door, closing it softly.

Tessa watched Damon stare after Nicole, his face changing before her eyes. He hated himself for fighting with his mate and it clearly showed. She almost felt sorry for him…almost.

“You’re an asshat.” She pointed at Damon. Before he could open his mouth, she continued. “You of all people should understand Nicole. She is loyal to a fault.”

“She should be loyal to me. Her mate…her husband.” Damon frowned, becoming angry again. “She should not have kept this from me.”

“This isn’t about you,” Tessa sighed. “This was about Duncan. You said so yourself.”

“But you both put yourselves in danger.” Jared pointed out with a frown of his own. “That makes it about us.”

Tessa snorted. “Breaking my damn neck was the only danger I was in.” Seeing Jared’s concern, she waved it away. She didn’t need to go into her embarrassing fall through the kitchen window. “I actually didn’t know until today about Nicole and Pam having contact, but I was there when Pam called. She asked Nicole to go to her apartment to find a vial. It was a quick call. Nicole is supposed to meet her with the vial.”

“Where?” Damon demanded impatiently taking his phone out.

“Are you going to apologize?” Tessa crossed her arms; she could play stubborn with the best of them.

A loud sigh escaped his lips. “Sid’s right. Women will drive you nuts,” Damon growled. “Yes, I will apologize.”

“Good, ‘cause you were being an ass.”

As Damon’s growling grew louder, Jared wrapped his arms around Tessa. “Tell him where, Tessa. The faster he calls Duncan, the faster he can apologize to Nicole.”

Tessa glared back at Damon in warning before rattling off what she knew and where Nicole was to meet Pam.

Damon punched in a number on his cell. After a second of silence, his voice echoed in the small room. “We found her.”

Chapter 3

Newport, Kentucky, was Pam’s stomping grounds. She grew up here, along the Ohio River. For a brisk November night, Newport on the Levee was bustling with activity. Restaurants were overflowing as well as the shops that had sprouted up overnight. Flipping the hood up on her lightweight jacket, Pam scanned the crowd looking for trouble. In every face, she expected to see Kenny scowling back at her. She spooked herself so much, she was afraid to look at anyone, but she had to be prepared. He was out there, and she knew, without a doubt, he was looking for her.

Two women walked close by talking and laughing, reminding Pam of better times when she and Nicole would walk the Levee. They would talk about their day as they headed toward their favorite place to eat, Dewey’s Pizza, then go to Club Zero for a beer and some dancing. Shaking the memories away, she hurried her pace. She didn’t have time for memories.

Seeing the spot she was to meet Nicole, Pam headed toward the bench and sat, huddling into her jacket. It wasn’t overly cold for November, but the weather in Kentucky was never what it was supposed to be. Her eyes focused on the strong current of the water; the Cincinnati skyline across the river reflected in the rippling water as pieces of driftwood skirted past. Her eyes lifted to stare across the water; her stomach fluttered. Duncan Roark was there somewhere. He might as well be a million miles away rather than a short drive across the river. There wasn’t a second that went by that she didn’t think of the Warrior. He probably hated her now. Not liking the thought, she stood, nerves and aggravation radiating off her. Even though she had talked to Nicole, she never let the conversation become personal.

A feeling of being watched shivered through her body. Slowly, she turned, scanning the area. “Come on, Nicole,” she whispered, shuffling from foot-to-foot and feeling more nervous than usual. Something didn’t feel right, and lately her instincts were dead on.

Checking her phone again, she looked back up, spotting a tall man with long hair. She only knew one man who towered over people with hair like that. “Dammit!” She turned to head in the opposite direction, but stopped. She should have known Nicole wouldn’t keep her big mouth shut. Damon DeMasters was at her back and Jared Kincaid was at her front. With nowhere else to go, unless she wanted to take a cold swim, she turned again to walk between the two Warriors before they got any closer.

Before she could take two steps, her eyes found his golden gaze staring intently at her as his long legs ate the distance up between them. Feeling cornered and panicked, Pam glanced quickly for an escape, but she knew it was useless. Her heart and body took over, sending her moving toward Duncan, but her head screamed for her to run.

As if in a daze, her body kept moving toward what she wanted more than anything in the world, but seeing the look on his face stopped her. His mouth opened in warning, his hand shooting out toward her. Snapping out of her dazed state, Pam let her eyes roam the area. She and the Warriors were surrounded by more uniformed police officers than she could count, all pointing their guns on her.

A tall man walked toward her, flashing his badge. “Pam Braxton.” He put his badge back in his coat pocket, nodding toward an officer who proceeded to handcuff her. “I’m Detective Ferguson. You are being brought in for questioning on the murder of Sheriff  Bowman.”

“This is bullshit. You get off handcuffing women?” Jared growled, moving closer to Pam. “She is no threat.”

“This time you have no jurisdiction.” Detective Ferguson smirked. “I suggest you Warriors go on with your business before you’re arrested and taken in with her.”

Duncan looked at both Jared and Damon. “Call Sloan.” Before anyone could question why, Duncan punched the detective square in the face.

*****

As Pam was led away to a police car, Duncan followed, pulling the officer who handcuffed him along with him. After they carefully placed Pam in the backseat, the officer closed the door.

“Uh, sir.” The officer holding onto Duncan’s arm nervously cleared his throat. “You need to come to my car.”

Duncan looked down at the man and frowned. “I’m riding in this car.” He nodded to where Pam sat.

“But, I don’t think Detective Ferguson will be happy with that decision.” He shook his head, trying not to seem too terrified. “Please, I don’t want any trouble. I’m just doing my job.”

His face softening slightly, Duncan looked over to where Detective Ferguson stood with his head held back, trying to stop his bleeding nose. The bastard was lucky he still had a nose. “I don’t think he cares who goes in what car at the moment.”

Knowing he wasn’t going to win, the officer looked at the other one who shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, but don’t cause problems.”

Duncan nodded, and then with a slight tug, he broke the handcuffs off his wrist handing them to the surprised officer. “Didn’t want it to look like you took these off me, and they’re not silver.” Duncan patted him on the shoulder before walking around the car to open the door and climb in.

“Are you nuts?” Pam frowned at him after he slammed the door shut. “You just hit a detective.”

“After three months, that is all you have to say to me?” Duncan frowned back at her.

“At the moment…yes.” Pam looked away.

“Lean forward,” Duncan demanded, but when she ignored him, he grasped her shoulders, moving her in the position he wanted her. Just as he did with his handcuffs, hers were broken and tossed onto the floor.

Pam rubbed her wrists glancing up at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Duncan’s golden eyes roamed her face, and his fingers burned to touch the softness of her cheek. “Why did you run?” The deepness of his voice filled the police cruiser.

Wrapping the too-large jacket around herself like a protective cloak, Pam shivered. “This isn’t the time or place, Duncan.”

“This is definitely the place, and three months ago was the goddamn time.” Anger vibrated from his voice. “I have been searching everywhere for you. Not a minute has gone by that I wasn’t looking for you.”

Turning from him, she watched an officer walk toward the cruiser. “Then you wasted your time because as soon as possible, I’ll be gone again.” She finished the cruel words, squeezing her eyes tight.

“The hell you will,” Duncan growled down the back of her neck. “You are mine, and I
will not
let you go this time.”

Her lips curved sadly. “Soon, you’ll be the one tossing me away.” Her words were spoken with such conviction it surprised Duncan.

“Never!” The word was spoken softly, but with certainty before he moved away as the officer got in the car.

*****

Pam followed the officer, who had not said a word about her no-handcuffed state, into what she figured was an interrogation room. She sat in the chair Duncan pulled out for her.

“Mr. Roark, you can’t stay in here,” the officer stated, looking up at the camera, hoping to find some help with the situation.

Pulling out a chair across from Pam at the small table, Duncan made himself at home. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Listen, sir, I don’t want any problems, but you cannot stay in here. I have the utmost respect for you and the Warriors, but it’s the rules. You hit an officer and have to be processed,” the officer stated, starting to sweat in earnest. Taking his hat off, he swiped his forehead.

“What is
he
doing in here?” Detective Ferguson demanded, sounding funny with what looked like two Kotex stuck up his nose. “Get him out of here, now. I’m pressing assault charges.”

“Then you better bring an army, because I’m not budging from this room.” Duncan stood, rolling his shoulders.

Armed officers rushed into the room with guns drawn. Pam also stood, taking in the situation. “If you release him and drop all charges, I will tell you everything you want to know.” Pam took a step toward Duncan.

“Get back.” Duncan nudged her away, his eyes daring anyone to make a move while she was in the way.

“Shut up, Roark,” Pam growled as she walked forward again.

“You’re crazy,” Detective Ferguson sneered. “I’m not dropping charges on this maniac. He attacked me.”

“No, he punched you in the face.” Pam shook her head. “If he would have attacked you, you’d be dead.”

“Get him the hell out of here.” The detective stepped out of the way so the officers could do their jobs. “I don’t care how you do it, but get him behind bars now.”

Pam walked forward, her hands outstretched. “You do, and I will go to my grave without speaking a word about what I know, and what I know is something that no one else does.”

Detective Ferguson’s eyes brightened. With his run for mayor, something like this could boost his votes. He wanted the son of a bitch that killed Sheriff Bowman behind bars, but anything extra could seal the deal on him becoming mayor. “We can make you talk.”

Pam frowned, shaking her head. “For almost a year I was tortured by the man you’re looking for. You can make me do
nothing
.”

The officers dropped their guns slightly at her words, looking at the man calling the shots. “Take him out and drop all charges,” he told the officer that brought them on.

“I want to see it in writing.” Pam didn’t back down. “And I want him out of here, but not until I see that you have dropped all charges.”

“Now wait a minute.” Duncan was stuck between being a proud son of a bitch, watching her call the shots, but annoyed as hell that she was calling his shots. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Then I say nothing,” she tossed over her shoulder at him. “And what I have to say, the Warriors also need to hear. So, it’s my way or no way.”

“How do I know this isn’t just a ploy for me to drop charges?” Detective Ferguson eyed her suspiciously.

Duncan watched as Pam’s back went stiff before she glanced over her shoulder at him, an apology in her eyes. Slowly, her eyes lowered as she looked away and faced front, pulling the large jacket off with shaking arms. She held the jacket with one hand, her head down toward the floor. He watched her take a deep breath before lifting her head to a proud angle.

Detective Ferguson looked down at her stomach then back to her face. “What does your being pregnant have to do with anything?”

Frowning, because from the back she looked as she always had, Duncan took a step to the side, and sure enough, her stomach was rounded. He lifted his gaze to her face, watching as she lifted her hand. Duncan couldn’t see what she was doing, but when she dropped her hand, every officer in the room gasped and stepped back, as well as Detective Ferguson.

Duncan grabbed and turned her to face him, her eyes downcast. Slowly, her gaze again came up to meet his. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.” A single blood tear slipped from her one golden eye.