Omega Moon Rising (Toke Lobo & The Pack) (16 page)

“I could have a sonogram,” Abby said. “Go to a doctor. There’s a good OB/GYN in Oak Moon.”

“You don’t need a doctor,” Luke snapped. “You would hurt Granny’s feelings if you went to a doctor.”

He’d been thinking about teaching Abby to drive, but now reconsidered. If she couldn’t drive, she couldn’t sneak off to a human doctor who wouldn’t know how to interpret whatever differences there were.

“I know you love your grandmother, but what if I don’t need to stay in bed as much as she wants me there? I read on-line it's better to be active during pregnancy.”

Maybe Abby needed to talk to Delilah. Tokarz’s wife had come through her half-lycan pregnancy fine, with only Granny to guide her. And Delilah had been active, too.

“Let’s talk about this later,” Luke grumbled. “You’re still going to be living here for a while, so you have a say in how the baby’s room is going to look.”

“Since when do I have a say in anything?” Abby asked. “I’m twenty-one years old and have never been allowed to make a decision in my life. But that’s about to change. This is your place. I have a house in Oak Moon, where Libby, the baby, and I will be moving when you decide to get your divorce. Or maybe I should move home now. Gary’s gone. There’s no housing council deciding what rooms should be what. If I want to paint every room in the house black, I can.”

The sun, low in the sky, crept through a window and nested in Abby’s hair.

“You won’t,” Luke said. “Black isn’t in you. There is no darkness in you. That’s one of the things that first attracted me to you. I thought you looked like a valentine.”

“Don’t,” she said in a low voice. “You made it real clear the other day. We’re temporary. And that’s okay. I don’t blame you at all. But why prolong it? Gary’s dead. I have the house in Oak Moon. Libby and I can move back. Why go through all this . . . fakery? To put on a show for your family and friends? ‘Luke got the girl pregnant, so he’s doing the right thing.’ Fine. You married me. The kid will have a last name.”

Luke winced at that.

“There’s no point in prolonging any of this. Paint your new rooms whatever color you want. Libby and I will be moving to Oak Moon in the morning.”

Abby turned as if to head back to his truck, but Luke caught her arm.

“No.” He couldn’t lose her. Not now. He wasn’t ready to go back to being single. He liked having Abby around. “You can’t move back to Oak Moon. Gary’s killer—”

Abby stopped. “You think Libby and I might be in danger?”

“I’m not willing to risk it.”

“You’re not willing to risk the baby.”

“Or you. Or your sister.” Luke’s tone was sharp. Where had Abby gotten this notion of worthlessness? “You have to stay in Loup Garou. You’re safe here.”

“You can’t guarantee that.”

“Oh, yes I can. Let me explain to you how this is going to work, darlin’.” He hated that he sounded like Tokarz had in his early days of being mated to Delilah, but now he understood why Tokarz had taken that tone.

“You’re going to pick out some colors to paint the new rooms. The housing council will do the painting. Once the fumes are gone, you and I are moving back here.”

He steered her toward the largest room in the new addition. “This is going to be our bedroom. I don’t want you climbing those steep stairs to the loft. I’m moving my computer and drums up there. I’ll be working with the FBI for a while, and the loft is going to be my home office. The room next door is going to be the nursery. I’d like to see it yellow and pink, but if you’re carrying a junior, he might not like that. Little Rosie Dawn, on the other hand, will love it. Libby is going to be in the third room. My folks love having her, like the daughter they never had, but she belongs here with you and me. You can ask her what color she wants her room painted. We’ll stop at my folks on the way back to Granny’s.”

Abby opened her mouth to argue, so Luke did what any self-respecting werewolf would do, and kissed her. He clutched her other arm and pulled her closer. He released his grasp and slid his arms around her waist. One hand cupped her oh-so-soft bottom.

He broke off the kiss—Abby had participated—and rested his forehead against hers. “We’re going to live here. Together. I’m going to work upstairs. You’re going to grow our baby. Now, maybe this is sexist of me, but we tend to be conscious of gender roles here in Loup Garou, so yeah, I expect you to clean and cook and stuff. Not all of it. I know how to wash clothes and put food on the table, but the majority of the housekeeping is your area.”

He was so hard in his dress slacks he thought he was going to explode. “We’re going to share a bed, and if we’re real careful, we’re having a sex life. I did some on-line research, and I think Granny’s only afraid that if you climax, the contractions will hurt the baby. So I’ll have to make sure you don’t—”

Her palm connecting with his face shocked him. First of all, it hurt. Nor had he seen it coming.

“I am not your toy,” she said, her voice shaking. “I refuse to be anyone’s plaything again. Not for pictures, not for gratuitous sex. Libby and I are moving back to Oak Moon tomorrow.”

Luke shifted his jaw back and forth. Abby certainly packed a wallop. “Yeah?” he asked. “How do you plan to get there? Because I’m not taking you. There’s not an individual in Loup Garou who will drive you and your sister to Oak Moon.”

“You’re keeping us prisoner?”

“We’re keeping you safe.” Luke insisted. “Stop being so stubborn and admit you need help.”

“I had a plan,” Abby shouted. “Sell my songs to Toke Lobo and move as far away from Colorado as the money could take me. And you thwarted that.”

If Luke hadn’t taken a few steps back, Abby might have pummeled his chest. Her face was dark pink, and not in a healthy way.

“Calm down.” Granny would have his pelt if she knew how riled Abby was. Abby would be stuck in that bed for the rest of her pregnancy.

“Don’t you tell me to calm down. You’re the one who got me into this mess.”

“I’m the one who got you out of a worse mess,” Luke reminded her. “If I hadn’t gotten you pregnant and you and your sister out of Gary’s house do you think your life would be better right now? Tokarz can’t afford to pay you enough money for your songs to get you and your sister out of Colorado. Even if he wanted them. Which he might.”

“You showed him the songs?”

“Yeah.” Luke didn’t want to think about the humiliation of that bus ride.

“You couldn’t have told me that?”

Star points of lights flashed in Luke’s vision. “I’ve had other things on my mind, wife of mine. Like seeing you naked on the Internet. Kind of wiped out everything else for a while.”

“Right. You’re an undercover FBI agent trolling porn sites for under-aged girls. How silly of me to have forgotten. Everyone in the world thinks you’re the drummer for Toke Lobo and the Pack.”

Fine line between the truth and what Luke wanted her to believe. Needed her to believe.

He clamped his jaw shut. Arguing with her wasn’t accomplishing anything except making both of them crazier than they already were.

“I don’t want to fight with you,” he said. “I’m not supposed to tell you what I’m up to, but you need to know.”

“Because of Libby.”

“Because of Gary and what he did. To you. Maybe to Libby.”

Abby flinched.

“Why do you think the cops were so eager to arrest me for his murder?”

“Because you kept saying you were going to kill him.”

“Right. Before I ever found out about the . . . pictures. Because of what he did to you. Each and every time I threatened to kill him was because he was mistreating you.”

He let her think about that for a few minutes.

His phone rang before she responded.

He checked the caller ID and turned his back on Abby before answering. It was Mitchell Jasper.

“You’ve looked through all that footage already?” Luke answered the phone.

“No. I’m giving you a heads up. The FBI obtained a warrant to talk to the kid sister.”

“We got the kid sister out of danger as soon as we were aware of the problem. I got her out before I even knew there was a problem. My wife is Libby’s legal guardian, and—”

“Your wife knew there might be a problem and didn’t do anything.”

“My wife was a victim herself.”

“It won’t work, Omega. The FBI wants Elizabeth. Tonight.”

Luke disconnected before Jasper could tell him any other details.

“Come on,” he said, grabbing Abby’s hand. “We need to see Tokarz. Now.”

Chapter 15

The whole family except Colette, who’d stayed with Libby, was gathered at Tokarz’s house. “There’s nothing I can do,” Tokarz told them.

Abby still couldn’t figure out why they’d come to the mayor. They needed a lawyer, not an up-and-coming country music star. The only thing Tokarz could do was hide Libby better than she was already hidden.

“The only thing we can hope is for Abby to be with her.”

“Abby shouldn’t be stressed,” Granny said.

“Too late,” Abby muttered. A wolf howled in the distance, and she shivered.

“They’re not going to let Abigail sit in on the interrogation,” Tokarz said.

“Even more stress.” Granny was on a roll.

“I can, though,” Luke said. “I’m working this case.”

“And Restin,” Tokarz said.

“Restin doesn’t need to be there,” Luke argued.

Restin had been a quiet force at both Gary’s and her mother’s funerals. Abby didn’t understand why Luke was so adamant Restin not be involved.

“You should have gone to Restin instead of coming to me. You know I don’t do treaty work since I mated,” Tokarz said.

“You’re still my alpha.” There they went, talking in their secret code again. Mates, alphas, omegas. She remembered alpha and omega from Sunday School, but she knew without a doubt whatever Luke and Tokarz were talking about had nothing to do with religion. Luke acted as if he wanted to say more, but the doorbell rang.

A few moments later, Delilah Garnier, Tokarz’s beautiful red-haired wife knocked on the study door. “Jasper’s here,” she said in a low voice. “With a couple of FBI agents.”

Tokarz’s face gave away nothing of his feelings or thoughts. “Put them in the sitting room,” he said. “I’ll be out shortly.”

Delilah nodded and went to do her husband’s bidding.

Tokarz studied the assembled Omega family. “What do you want me to do? I can try to delay them, but Elizabeth is a minor, and we could be accused of endangering the welfare of a child. Or, I can try to negotiate someone from the family—not Abigail—to be with her while she’s questioned.”

Abby didn’t like either choice. Gary was dead. What difference did anything make? His murder  might have nothing to do with his sideline. Except everyone in Oak Moon thought he was a saint. So who else besides her would want to kill him? Abby turned to Luke. Of everyone in the room, he was the person she knew the best. Macy and Granny were great, as were Gramps and Marcus, but Luke . . . no matter what, he eventually always tried to do the right thing, and she had no choice but to trust him at that moment.

Luke kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be okay,” he murmured. “I promise.”

Tokarz called Colette and instructed her to bring Libby to his house. He’d managed to negotiate that the interrogation be held in his home rather than some sterile federal facility that might frighten Libby. She was eleven years in age, but her mind wasn’t that mature. Mama had once said something about the lack of oxygen when she was born making Libby a little slower than normal. When that was coupled with the ADHD, to say Libby could be difficult was an understatement.

While waiting for Colette to arrive, Delilah served snacks in the sitting room. The FBI agents searched Tokarz’s office for bugs.

“You shouldn’t eat the sushi,” Granny told Abby.

As if she’d touch the stuff. Luke’s family gobbled it down.

“Don’t worry,” Delilah said. “I have you covered. I remember what it’s like being pregnant and surrounded by lycans. Luke once brought me a live rabbit.”

“What?” Abby asked. “What’s a lycan?”

Instead of answering, Delilah shot a questioning look at Luke, who shook his head. The questioning look turned into a scowl, which was reflected on everyone’s face. “I have some cheese for you,” Delilah said. “And grapes and almonds.”

Abby surreptitiously unbuttoned the waist of her skirt. She was still dressed in her funeral clothes, and they were starting to get a little snug. She took the glass of water Delilah offered with a smile. One thing she’d noticed about living in Loup Garou was that everyone drank water, but not from a bottle. No one was ever drunk. She hadn’t seen a bottle or can of Moonsinger in town. The town owned Moonsinger. Funny how no one drank their own product.

She knew she was distracting herself with minutia.

Luke stood behind her, gripping her shoulders. She sat in a rocking chair in Delilah’s formal sitting room. The other members of Luke’s family were present, as well as Delilah and Tokarz’s son, Daniel, who was being passed around and cooed over as if he were the greatest thing since sliced bread.

“Have you thought of names?” Delilah asked. She sounded sad. “We named Daniel after my brother. He died shortly after Tokarz and I met.”

“Rosie Dawn if it’s a girl,” Luke said.

“No,” Abby said.

“We decided on that this afternoon,” Luke continued as if she hadn’t spoken.

“Luke is confused,” Abby said.

“That’s a pretty name,” Macy said. “I like it a lot.”

“She’s going to look like her mother,” Luke continued. “As pretty as a sunrise.”

“I can see that,” Marcus said. “What if it’s a boy? Mom, do you still do your needle thing?”

Colette and Libby arrived before Granny could answer. Colette appeared worried, but Libby was happy to see everyone again.

“Is this a party?” she asked. Her Santa Claus pillow was tucked under her arm.

“Not really.” Abby held out her hands. Libby joined her, and Abby hugged her close. “There are some people here, friends of Toke Lobo, who want to ask you some questions.”

“Okay,” Libby said. “I like Toke Lobo. I’ll bet his friends are nice.”

“I can’t be in the room with you,” Abby explained, “but Luke will be there.”

“Great.” Libby beamed at Luke.

Luke released Abby’s shoulders. “Hey, kiddo. Abby and I were up at my house,” he said as he led Libby from the room. “What color do you want your bedroom painted?”

“Orange,” Libby replied, her voice carrying. “Orange like the moon.”

Abby sank into her chair.

“Yes,” Granny said, filling the awkward silence. “I still know how to do the needle and thread test.”

“That’s a great idea, Marcus,” Macy interjected. “Delilah, do you have a sewing basket?”

Delilah nodded and drifted off to fetch it.

“This is really scary how often Mom is right,” Macy continued, a little too loudly. “She’s better than a sonogram or amniocentesis.”

“I don’t understand,” Abby said.

“We’ll show you in a minute.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Luke?” Colette asked. “It’s his baby, too.”

“He’s already made up his mind,” Marcus said. “A girl. Rosie Dawn.”

“What a pretty name,” Colette exclaimed. “I can’t wait to hold her.”

Delilah came in, handed her sewing basket to Granny, then excused herself to tend to her baby.

“Granny got it right with Daniel, and with Hank’s wife, Michelle, too. Sometimes old wives tales are as good as modern medicine.” Macy was doing her darnedest to distract Abby.

“Can someone thread a needle for me?” Granny asked. “These old eyes don’t work so well these days.”

“Abby, you have the youngest eyes,” Macy said as she took the basket from Granny. “You thread a needle. Use about a foot of thread.”

It took a few minutes, because her hands were shaking so badly, but Abby managed to string the needle onto a length of black thread.

“Okay,” Granny said. “Now pull your top up and lie on the floor.”

“What?”

“Pull your top up and lie on the floor,” Granny repeated.

They were trying to keep her mind off what Libby might be telling the feds in the other room.

Luke’s family was so sweet.

But she wasn’t sure she wanted them to see the now yellowish-green bruises on her abdomen. Macy and Granny had seen the bruises at worst. Did Marcus and Collette need evidence of Gary’s brutality?

She got on the floor and lay on her back. Tokarz had nice ceilings in his house. She lifted the hem of her shirt to the edge of her bra. Everyone could see she’d unbuttoned the waist of her slacks.

“Maternity clothes soon,” Granny said as she knelt next to Abby. Then she read Abby’s mind. “And your bruises are barely visible. Okay, now hold perfectly still.”

Granny had tied the thread to a pencil which she balanced on the index and middle fingers of her right hand.

No one spoke. Abby couldn’t see what was happening.

“Rosie Dawn,” Macy said. “It’s a girl.”

“I thought if the needle moved up and down meant the baby was a boy,” Colette said.

“Nope. Girl,” Granny confirmed. “Luke will be pleased.”

“I thought a girl was left to right. This needle is moving in circles.”

“It’s swinging up and down. Now Abby knows what color to have the council paint the nursery.” Macy pulled Abby to her feet.

What difference does it make?
Abby wanted to cry.
Luke plans to divorce me as soon as the baby is born.

But they were trying to be nice to her, so she couldn’t throw Luke’s inadequacies in their faces. She managed a smile. “Luke will be happy. But she won’t be named Rosie Dawn.”

And no pink bedrooms. No setting up her daughter as a sugar-and-spice-everything-nice victim. Abby’s daughter was going to be a strong woman. Someone who could escape the patterns set by Abby’s mother and Abby herself.

“So has Luke talked to you yet?” Marcus asked.

Abby nodded. Why did everyone think Luke working for the FBI was such a big deal? Right now, it was handy, because he was working on the case and could be with Libby while she was being questioned. About Gary. Abby closed her eyes. Please, let Gary have left Libby alone.

Luke leaned against the door, all of his senses open. Tokarz was also in the room. Restin was going to be pissed because he missed this. Tough.

Jasper was also in the room, but out of Libby’s line of vision. Two agents, one of whom was a woman specializing in child abuse cases, stood in the deepest shadows.

Luke was again struck by how open and cheerful Libby’s face and expression were. The FBI agents were taping the interview. Luke had been briefed on how to question Libby. Everyone agreed she would be more comfortable with her brother-in-law than with a stranger.

“So Libby,” Luke began. “These guys want to know some stuff about Gary. Is that okay?”

“Sure,” Libby agreed. She got out of her seat and went to the window. Pushed aside the curtain. Gazed into the darkness.

Luke followed.

“Did Gary ever take pictures of you?”

“Not as often as he took pictures of Abby. She’s the pretty one, you know. Of course you know. You’re married to her.”

Luke’s stomach knotted. He needed to be impersonal here, and now that he’d started, wasn’t sure he could do it.

“Was there anything unusual about the pictures he took of you?”

“Like what?” Libby let the curtain fall, then went to Tokarz’s desk. Picked up a stapler. Put it down again.

“Did he ask you to do certain things?”

Libby scrunched her nose. “I don’t know. I mean, he told me to smile. Say cheese.”

“Did he ever ask you to wear certain clothes?”

“He didn’t like me wearing any clothes at all.”

The pain lancing through Luke’s head caused zigzags of bluish light through his vision. But he had to continue. He needed to prove to the FBI that he would be a valuable addition to the team working this case.

“Did he ever ask you to sit a certain way?”

Libby hopped up onto the desk. “Want me to show you?”

Luke nodded.

“Can I leave my clothes on? It’s kind of cold in here.”

“Please,” Luke managed to choke out.

“I’m going to need the sofa,” Libby said.

“No problem.” Libby stood on the corner of the desk and leapt to the sofa, where she proceeded to demonstrate a couple of provocative positions. She was completely unselfconscious about what she was doing. “Like this. And this. All without my clothes. So, Tokarz, are you going to buy any of Abby’s songs?”

Luke turned away for a moment. He couldn’t let Libby see his reaction to her movements. And he used to like looking at that on the Internet.

“Probably,” Tokarz said.

“Was Gary always alone when he asked you to do these things?” Luke forced himself to look at her. To smile. To be professional. Forced out the questions the feds wanted answered.

“No. Most times, Uncle Dougie was there,” Libby said.

“Abby told me you don’t have an Uncle Dougie.”

“I don’t think he’s really my uncle,” Libby replied. She sat up. Jiggled her foot. Picked up her Santa Claus pillow from the loveseat and hugged it to her chest. “I think it’s an honorary title. That’s what Gary said. He was there a lot when Gary took pictures. And when he didn’t.”

“Do you know how he knew Gary?”

“He told me to call him Uncle Dougie. That’s all I know. Except I like him. He’s nice to me.”

“So this uncle. He was around when Gary took pictures?”

Libby frowned, as if annoyed. “I just told you.” She launched herself from the sofa to the window again. “What’s that noise?”

“Wolves,” Tokarz said.

“Why are they crying?”

“There are strangers in Loup Garou.”