Go Fetch ! (16 page)

“You don’t know that.”

“And it doesn’t matter if that’s true.” Angelina cut in. “The point is not to worry about it. It’s your choice what you do with him,
Mik
. I just want you to relax and not worry.”

“Think you can handle that?” Sara asked.

Miki took a deep breath. “I’ll give it a shot.”

***

He hadn’t been able to stop looking at her since she’d walked out of the bathroom. It wasn’t dramatic or anything. A cropped T-shirt, black denim mini-skirt, and steel-toe Doc Marten’s. But it was the stockings. Dark thigh-high wool ones with garters. And you could see the garters. It was the total punk, geek-girl outfit, but on her… it made his whole body hard.

She hadn’t said much to him since Angie called. But he could tell something happened. She didn’t seem unhappy or stressed or much of anything. But for Miki that was pretty major because she was usually some kind of extreme. She didn’t even complain that he’d only gotten one room for the two of them since they had to move. He was waiting for her to bitch, but she seemed more concerned with the great view. He’d had to pay some serious cash for that, but it was worth it just to see her smile.

And he couldn’t stop thinking about that look she’d given him when she was on the phone with Angie. He’d been minding his own business, trying to watch TV and not think about fucking her on the balcony when he found her staring at him. All he could figure was that she and Angie had been talking about him. But, for once, she didn’t look mad or annoyed. In fact, she’d smiled at him. And he couldn’t help but think that smile was for him and him alone.

The woman was making him crazy. He wanted her so bad he was afraid his palms would start to sweat. As it was, he was having trouble keeping the wolf under control. Every time he smelled her. Every time she came near him, he just wanted to bite the back of her neck and mark her as his for eternity.

They parked close to Craig’s house and jumped out. As
Conall
came around the SUV, he found Miki crouching down adjusting the laces on her Docs. He growled. He couldn’t help it. Seeing her legs in those stockings was fucking killing him.

“I heard that.” She stood up and grinned at him. “Try not to start howling during the party.”

“Wearing those stockings, woman, I can’t promise you anything.”

She shook her head and moved toward the house. As she passed him, she grabbed hold of his wrist and dragged him behind her.

She’d touched him. It was the most innocent of touches, but it was the final nail in his coffin. Now he was hooked. And nothing was going to save him.

As soon as they walked into Craig’s house, he knew that Miki was in her element. The place was packed, and when the crowd saw her the entire room erupted into a chant. “Miki! Miki! Miki!”

The music playing was vintage 80s as well as some recent tech. And there were enough high-tech geek supplies to take over the Pentagon. Everyone was playing games on the giant TV screens or giant monitors or they were dancing… well, trying to dance. He realized that in her world, Miki was a great dancer. Because these people were the worst.

Of course, he was the biggest one there. Several guys were as tall or taller, but they were usually skinny. Like they hadn’t eaten in days.
Conall
tried to ignore the guys hugging Miki as she made her rounds. She was being friendly. They were groping. But when any of them got out of hand, she handled them expertly. She actually twisted one guy’s arm behind his back and slammed him up against the wall.

Conall
just loved watching her kick ass.

***

Miki had just finished singing, “Love is a battlefield” with five drunken skateboarders when Amy tackled her from behind.

“My best, best, best friend, Miki.”

She was toasted.

“
Dudette
. How much liquor did we have tonight?”

“Two beers.” Then she began to giggle hysterically.

Just like the bartender she was, Miki pulled the bottle of ale out of Amy’s hand and dragged her to the coffee pot. “Drink coffee now. Or we’re going to have to give you a cold shower.”

That way she could be a wet drunk. “Maybe I like cold showers.”

“I’ll make Ben do it.” Since Ben had been trying for about ten years to get into Amy’s pants, Miki was confident she wouldn’t have to “make” Ben do anything.

“Bitch. Where’s the loyalty?”

Miki handed her a paper cup filled with coffee. “I have loyalty only to the Pack.” Then Miki laughed at her own joke. Amy watched her with narrowed eyes. “You’re awfully perky, you know, for you.”

“I’m having a good time.” And she was in a good mood. Listening to
Conall
growl every time she moved had done wonders for her ego.

“It’s that guy, huh? Masters of the Universe’s He-Man.”

She had such geek friends. She’d already heard
Conall
referred to as Wolverine, The Punisher, Captain America and, her personal favorite, “One of those blond German guys from ‘Die Hard’.”

“Don’t be an idiot.”

“Oh, come on. I’m surprised the guy didn’t piss on your leg this morning when he saw you talking to Troy. And it’s been quite entertaining watching him watch you. While you do your damn best to ignore him.”

Kenny came up behind her. “What’s going on?”

“I’m drunk and Miki’s got Conan the Barbarian on her butt.”

“It has been quite the display between you two.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Show her, Ken.”

Kenny suddenly hugged her. A big, friendly one. Completely asexual. When he pulled away, they all looked across the room at
Conall
. She could see his glare from where she was standing. “That’s what we’re talking about.”

“All of you are idiots.”

“Deny everything. Admit nothing. Demand proof.” Her friends stated in unison. Miki gave them the finger and walked away. Seeing
Conall’s
face had made her toes curl. This night was getting stranger and stranger.

***

Conall
couldn’t stop watching her. He liked the way she moved. He liked the way she acted with her friends. He liked her. More and more with each passing second.

“You know some in law enforcement consider watching someone that closely as stalking.”

Conall
looked down. Miki’s three male friends surrounded him. Craig. Ben, and Kenny Liu who she always called by his entire name.

Conall
crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Is that a fact?”

“Yeah,” Craig continued. “You may be bigger than us.”

“Freakishly bigger.” Kenny Liu added.

“But we can do things to you that you can’t even imagine.”

Ben adjusted his backward baseball cap. “Real shame if something happened to your bank account.”

“Or if you ended up on the FBI’s most wanted list.”

“Or if you were listed as dead.”

Conall
stared at the three men. He had to admit, he was impressed. He didn’t think they had any balls. He had been wrong.

“So,” Craig finished up. “If you hurt her, we’ll make your life a living hell.”

“And we’ll enjoy every minute of it.” Kenny Liu reached up and patted him on his shoulder. “Remember that Conan.”

Conall
watched them walk away. True, he could tear their throats out, but he liked the fact that Miki’s friends felt that strongly about protecting her.

His eyes moved across the crowd and he caught sight of her again. She was playing a video game with some guy. It was one of those fighting ones. He and Zach had to stop playing those because they kept getting into fists fights over them. Whatever Miki had done, she clearly won because she threw the game controller on the ground, brought both her arms up, and screamed “
In your face
!” Then she did a sad, but hilarious little victory dance.

Conall
sighed. “Sure,
Conall
. Why go for a normal girl?”

He was about to hit the food table again when he smelled it. Cutting through the throng of people. It was a she and she was moving fast. He caught sight of her dark spiky hair as she pushed through the crowded living room.

He glanced over at Miki. Craig had pulled out a karaoke machine and they were dragging Miki up to the front. She’d be fine. She had her dangerously psychotic friends protecting her. He followed the spiky head outside and around the side of the house.

He grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and lifted her off the ground. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She fought back, her claws coming out. He tossed her fifteen feet before she could slash him. She hit the ground and slid. Then she flipped herself over and stared at him. She was young. She’d dyed her golden hair black. But she couldn’t hide those gold eyes or that Pride smell.

She hissed like a house cat and backed away from him.
Conall
frowned and slowed his pursuit. Any other Pride female would have gone for this throat by now. This one was running from him.

“Stay away from me!”

Conall
stared at her and, for a moment, he was sure she was about to burst into tears.

“I was just here for the party. I… I don’t want to fight you.”

“Why aren’t you with your Pride?” He looked around, expecting them to suddenly appear. Females attacking from every side.

“I’m not part of the Pride anymore.”

“Why not?”

“That’s none of your business.” She scrambled to her feet. He sized her up. She was the alternative queen. All black clothes. All silver jewelry. Deathly pale skin. And black eyeliner and shadow. She was a Goth chick. He could bet that she didn’t get along too well with some of the other Pride females.

Conall
nodded. “Sorry about that. I thought…”

“I know. You thought I was going to fuck with you because you’re Pack. No offense, but I could give a shit. That’s not my life anymore.” She wrapped her arms protectively around her body. “And maybe you shouldn’t just attack people without being sure they’re actually trying to kill you. Asshole.”

Then she headed up the street.

***

Miki went to the food table and grabbed some carrots. She’d tried to go for a brownie earlier, but
Conall
had nearly broken her wrist getting her to drop it. That’s when she knew they were Craig’s “special” brownies. It was like having a drug-sniffing dog at her disposal.

Miki ate her carrots and looked around the room. At first she didn’t see
Conall
. She felt a moment of annoyance at his absence. Then she felt a moment of annoyance at her moment of annoyance. And was even more annoyed at herself when she felt relief at seeing him come back in the room.

He walked over to her and took a carrot out of her hand. “Well, I’ve hit a new low.”

“What happened?”

“I just beat up a little girl.”

“Compared to you everyone’s a little girl.”

“She was Pride.”

“Oh, yeah. The Goth chick with the gold eyes, right?”

“Yeah. Her. You saw her?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Miki shrugged. “I didn’t think about it. She’s one of Amy’s teaching assistants.”

“You think and obsess about everything else but that doesn’t seem like something you should tell me about?”

Miki was about to get good and pissed off, but then she realized he was right. “You’re right.”

Conall
choked on his carrot. “What?”

She shrugged. “You’re right. I should have said something.”

“All right. What are you setting me up for?”

“Nothing.” She would have been hurt if she hadn’t drugged him once. His eyes narrowed and she felt kind of guilty for making him so paranoid. “Really. I’m just telling you that you’re right. I swear.”

“You been
eatin
’ the brownies?”

Miki rolled her eyes. “No.”

“Drug the carrots?”

“No.”

“Drug or eaten the
Jello
shots?”

“No. I didn’t drug anybody or anything.”

Conall
backed slowly away from her. His eyes never leaving her face. “I’m watching you, Kendrick.” She stared at his body as he walked across the room to talk to a bunch of snowboarders. He was watching her. She liked the sound of that.

***

A sloppy round of “Video Killed the Radio Star” with some guys who actually made money playing video games for a living, and Miki was ready for a break from the people and the heat of the room. She headed to the back of the house and went out on the stoop. It was surprisingly dead in the back but, not surprising in Seattle, it was raining a bit. There were several couples in the trees behind Craig’s house. She stared in their direction but she wasn’t really paying attention. Watching other people fool around had never been very interesting for her.