Jarrett (16 page)

“Online shopping. Sounds good to me.” Jack laughed as she continued. “Do you think we’ll be able to find me something that doesn’t make me feel like I’m tied up in a bag and put into heels that make me feel like I’m about to fall on my ass?”

As they made their way into the office, Carrie stopped her. “I’m not leaving you, child.” Addie kissed her quickly and thanked her. “That girl, she can certainly charm a woman into thinking it, however. I’d almost think she was blood related to Mr. Cash and not by marriage.”

Addie was still laughing when she entered the office. Slone was sitting on the couch with her feet up, and Jack was trying to get the fireplace lit. Grannie was laughing with them both. Addie was glad she’d come home now. This would be the best medication she’d ever need. Family.

~~~

Jarrett watched the cave opening as they made their way there. He had a feeling that keeping their dad safe wasn’t going to be only concern they had today. And poor Lee looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As soon as they came within a few hundred yards of the entrance, a pack of wolves came from the other direction. This was the same pack that had been talking to Hunter for the last several days, and he stayed back but close enough to listen to the conversation. The leader, Mike Lateen, was the only one of them in human form, but as alpha that didn’t really surprise him.

“He came onto our pack land last night and killed one of our own.” Hunter told him he was sorry to hear that. “I know that he’s caused your family great harm, but I was wondering if we might assist you in taking him to justice.”

Hunter looked at him and he nodded. Last night they had talked at length with Luke and Shawn about what kind of justice that they should expect Duncan to get when he was taken in. He’d get nothing compared to what he deserved. And since they couldn’t prove that he’d actually killed Benny without telling the police how they knew, he would more than likely get away with that as well.

“We’re not taking him in. We’re using pack law to finish this.” Mike looked at his second, then back at him. “And as you have shown up and given us your support, we defer it to you should you wish.”

It wasn’t really the way things were done, and Jarrett was pretty sure that Mike knew it. Duncan had killed on Mike’s land, yes, but Hunter was the injured party and a guest. It was only right that he got first blood.

“You give this to me and mine.” It wasn’t a question, but Hunter nodded all the same. “It’s a great honor you’re giving my pack, Hunter. You know this, right? What will you require in return?”

“Only that you keep my family safe while they live here. Let them run freely so long as they are not intrusive into your land and pack. And to keep me informed of issues should any arise while the family is away.” Mike asked what else. “Nothing else. I promise you. You have a good pack here, and I’m honored to have you let us on your land.”

There was a noise behind them and his pack scattered. Duncan came tumbling out of the cave and they all watched him. Jarrett stepped next to Hunter when they noticed that Duncan was covered in blood.

Jarrett watched as the pack surrounded the man. He was soon circled by them, but still he had no idea. Hunter and the rest of his family moved toward him and Duncan stood there.

“We’ve been looking for you, Shepard. There are some questions we’d like answered.” Duncan looked around, and Jarrett wondered if he knew that he was being watched. “You honestly didn’t think you’d get away with any of this, did you?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” His grin looked sardonic and a little mad. “I’ve been planning this for a good long time, and it’s going to come to fruition even if I have to kill the lot of you. I’ve gotten pretty good at that lately, I think.”

“I’ve heard.” Hunter crossed his arms over his chest and continued. “You killed two innocent men, and what the hell has it gotten you?”

“No one is really innocent. You of people should know that. I mean, you know that I’m here. Think you know what I did, and yet I see no cops. No one to take me in. Why is that, I wonder?” Duncan laughed. “Is it because I have outsmarted the great Hunter Emerson? Or does your wife do all your thinking for you? She does have all the money, doesn’t she?”

“She does. And I’m glad for that. It gives me the ability to do and say just about anything I want. Including being an alpha.” Duncan sneered. “Do you know who the man is that you killed today?”

“Just some ass that got in my way. And he gave me a little parting gift.” Duncan pulled out a gun and pointed it at Hunter. “I was as surprised as can be that he was armed, but then he did look like he was a man on a mission.”

“He was. And he was the brother-in-law to the pack alpha that you are currently on the land of.” Duncan asked him what the hell that meant. “Pack. As in a pack of wolves. They’re here now. Would you like to meet them?”

“Sure, Hunter, you bring out your pack of wolves.” The low growl behind Duncan had him turning, but he didn’t move. “What the fuck is that?”

“A wolf, you moron.” His dad moved to stand beside Jarrett and Hunter. “You’re a damned fool. Did you know that?”

Lee walked up behind his dad and put his hands on his shoulders. Jarrett knew that he was talking to Dad through their link, and Jarrett was afraid he was going to do the exact opposite of what Lee told him to do. But he backed up and moved to stand with Ellis and Graham. He didn’t look happy, but Jarrett was extremely relieved.

The wolf pack moved closer, their fur standing on end and their canines showing. They were pissed and out for blood, and it looked as if they were going to get it before much longer.

“This is the pack I was telling you about.” Duncan held the gun out, but he was waving it around so much that Jarrett was actually afraid that he was going to start shooting at the lot of them. “Mike is their alpha, much like I’m the alpha of my pack back home. And we’ve come to a great deal that will benefit the two of us. He’s going to kill you.”

“What?” Duncan turned and looked at them. “You can’t do that. There are laws about murder, in the event you didn’t know. You…I have money. Tell him I’ll give him all the money I have. I have a lot of it too.”

“You don’t have shit and they know it. And even if you did, I don’t think he cares all that much right now. Justice is justice to pack, you know.” Duncan started to back away and bumped into Mike, who was still in human form. Hunter laughed and introduced them to each other. “Mike Lateen, I’d like for you to meet Duncan Shepard. Duncan, I’d like you to meet the man who is going to tear you apart.”

Hunter turned to him. He looked like he was upset, and Jarrett started to ask him what else was going on but he shook his head. Then he spoke to them all through their link

We’re going to leave here now. Our business is finished.
As one they turned to leave the area.

When the first wolf howled, Jarrett nearly turned, but Hunter told him not to. As they moved away, getting further and further away from Duncan and the pack, a gun went off and Jarrett stopped moving.

The bullet hit the tree just above their dad’s head. It would have killed him but for the fact that Lee had said to Dad that he had a vine on his leg and should remove it before he tripped over it. When he bent to remove it, the bullet slammed into the tree right where his head had been. No one moved for several seconds until their dad smiled.

“Gotta love a woman that can predict when you should bend and stick your ass in the air.” They were still laughing when Duncan’s screams were silenced.

Chapter 16

The house was perfect. Addie loved everything about it. There was even a lovely cook’s house on the property just like she had wanted, as well as a pool and a large mother-in-law’s house just a few hundred yards back. She hoped to use it as an office when she needed to have meetings. Or her grannie could live in it if she wanted.

“I think we should make an offer.” Jarrett was just coming out of the study when he spoke to her. “It’s just what you wanted. And it’s close to my family and work.”

“You could work from here too with the way the Internet is set up.” It had its own hot spot that Jarrett said he could make better. The security system was a good one. There was even a gate all around the property that would keep out all but the stupidest criminals. “Do you really like it?”

“I do.” Jarrett pulled her into his arms. “I overheard Bill and Carrie a few minutes ago, and they are in love with the kitchen. We should take them out to the house and see if it’s what they need.”

“They’re already there. I sent them there with the realtor. I think we’re alone in the house.” Jarrett leaned into her throat and nipped at her flesh and had her moaning. “Jarrett, do you think you can make me come really quick while we’re alone? Just to break in the house?”

“I think I can do that.” He pulled her along with him to what was going to be the master suite. There wasn’t any furniture in the place, but there was a large window seat. He took her to that now and bent her over it. Lifting up her skirt, he jerked her panties off. “This is going to be good, baby. Just hang on.”

His cock slammed into her from behind. She’s been thinking about him fucking her for so long that as soon as he entered her, she came. It was quick as he’d said, but not nearly satisfying. When he pulled from her heat, she braced herself for the next hard punch inside of her, and screamed when he leaned in and bit her on the shoulder.

“Again. Come again.” She felt his fingers slide into her wet pussy while he fucked her. She was so close to coming the third time when he filled her. His hot cum touched off another powerful climax that had her nearly pitch forward when he bit her again.

“Christ woman.” He kissed her on the back and helped her to stand. “You’re going to kill me one of these days. Did you have this planned when we came here?”

“No, not really. I had hoped we’d get a few minutes alone, but I never thought it would happen.” Addie turned in his arms after he helped her straighten her clothing. “I really want this house, Jarrett, and now that we’ve christened it, we have to buy it.”

“I think you might be right.”

They were still laughing about how wonderfully things had worked out for them when Bill and Carrie came into the house. Addie could see that they loved the house too, but was glad when Jarrett asked them.

“Oh sir. It’s lovely. Just lovely, and the house that we’re to use is just what we want. All the comforts of a home and so close to where we work.” Bill looked at Carrie as he continued. “Sir, we’d be happy to pay you rent on the place. With the raise you gave us, we’re more than willing to part with some to live here.”

“You are going to live here and the house is part of the deal. And should you need more space, my brother Ellis said he’d do it for you. And anything you want done in the house.” Bill looked ready to cry and nodded as Jarrett continued. “All I ask is when our family comes for a visit, you hide some of the scones from Jack before she eats them all.”

“Yes sir. It’s a deal.”

The realtor was glad to take their offer but told them that they should lower their price. The house was bank owned and they only wanted what was owed on the place just to get it off their hands. So they made the offer she suggested and it was accepted. She handed Jarrett the keys and just like that, they had a house.

Going back to his apartment seemed like such a letdown, and Jarrett suggested that they go furniture shopping over the weekend. In the meantime, they made arrangements to have Bill and Carrie’s things brought to their home. They were going to give the house a once over, whatever that meant, and were glad that they had a few days. Addie told them to hire whoever they needed as well.

They were nearly to the apartment when she remembered the meeting they had with Patrick Phillips. She reminded Jarrett of this, but there was a problem with one of the shipments that was being delivered and he had to beg off. She decided to take the meeting alone.

The restaurant they were to meet at was one of the nicer ones in town. Addie wished that they’d have made arrangements to go to the diner, but it was already set up before she thought about it. Patrick was standing at the podium when she arrived a few minutes late.

“I’m sorry. We just bought a house and I lost track of time.” They were shown to their seats and menus were left. Patrick looked around, and so did she. “I really have never been here, but I doubt they have burgers and fries like I want.”

“Where would that be?” She told him the diner down the street. “Well, I’d love a burger myself. Shall we?”

He stood up and she could see that he found the entire thing funny. Why, she had no idea, but she followed him out of the restaurant and they opted to walk to the diner. She was thinking of all the projects he had to help her with, and felt that maybe the diner was the wrong place after all.

“May I make a suggestion?” Addie nodded. “Why don’t we just get to know each other instead of jumping into work? You’ve given me the job, for which I’m grateful, but I want to know the family that I’m going to be working for.”

“All right. Luke said you were a panther. I’ve not been…we haven’t talked about me converting yet, but I have a few quirks of my own.” Patrick laughed. “Luke told you.”

“He did. He also told me that you were fresh and single minded when you wanted something. That you were very wealthy but not snotty. And that you can read my mind so I’d better not fuck with you.” Addie leaned back and looked at him when he smiled at her. “You’re thinking too hard.”

“No. I’m not. But I do think that he was right. You are brash, and are going to be a pain in my ass.” Patrick nodded. “Good. But you know that if you fuck up…steal from me…what I did to my last attorney is going to seem like child’s play in comparison.”

“All right.” He took her hand when she offered it. “I think we’re going to be a match made in heaven. Don’t you?”

“No, I think we’re going to butt heads more often than not, but we’re going to get a lot of work done.”

~~~

Ellis found himself thinking of the woman at the oddest times. He wondered if she was safe, if she was warm enough, and mostly what the hell she was doing out there in the cold. Finding himself staring at the same blueprints again without knowing what he was looking for, he turned to Dan.

“Do I know her?” He asked Dan who he meant. “The woman. She’s got you all tied up in knots. Is she your mate?”

“I don’t have a clue who she is. Just some woman that I saw while I was visiting my brother and Addie. For all I know she could have twelve children and a husband that adores her.” Dan told him that would suck. “I really don’t have any idea who she is. I just find myself thinking about her all the time. I’ve never been any closer to her than about two hundred yards.”

“You didn’t catch her scent and she has you this wound up?” Ellis shook his head and Dan whistled. “Maybe you should go and find out.”

“Find out what?” He remembered what he was looking for on the blueprints. “Yeah, there are three bathrooms on that floor. Male, female, and one for staff.” He looked at Dan when he laughed.

“Go and find her. Figure out what it is about her that has you so spaced out, and then fuck her if you can.” Ellis told him he didn’t want to do that. “Yeah, you do boss. Trust me, I can see it all over your face. You want to know this girl. In every sense of the word.”

It was nearly dark when he made his way to his own construction site. The woman kept coming in his head more and more since he’d talked to Dan, and he wanted to see her. But in addition to his own home, he had to finish the library as well as the new pack house. Soon too. They were already behind schedule by several months thanks to the company that had been assigned to do it before them.

Going back to Hunter and Slone’s house, he made his way to his suite. As he lay down, he thought about the woman again.

“Fuck it.” He started stuffing clothing in his bag as he reached for his phone. Dan said he’d watch everything while he was gone and told him good luck.

He had a feeling he was going to need it. This was by far the stupidest thing he’d ever done.