Romance: Wanted by the Alpha Lion (A BBW Paranormal Suspense Romance) (Heroes of Shifter Creek Book 2) (34 page)

He sighed, rubbing the bone of his eye socket beneath his eye. “Petey stared at her and now she wants to leave.”

“Oh damn it. Leo, aren’t you with him?” Orion snapped.

“I was getting coffee. I thought if he’s sitting alone he can’t hurt anything,” Leo answered softly, trying not to arouse anyone’s interest.

“Well, you have to go with her, Little Morello,” Jones said with a long sigh. “I’ll cover you.”

Cassius stood and followed where Amy had gone. He walked slowly, giving Leo a look as he passed the coffee line. The hallway appeared darker as he entered it, but a slant of light illuminated the floor before him. He followed it, finally getting to a heavy door. It opened before he could reach for it.

“Come on, slowpoke.” Amy smiled. “We have to get out of here.”

He nodded and followed her, the sun illuminating her blonde hair. She looked like an angel with the light creating a halo around her head. The others talked in his ear, Orion stating he didn’t think Cassius should go. Jones told him to free up the channel. That didn’t work.

“Is this what you do whenever a guy stares at you?” Cassius chuckled. “I don’t think we had to leave.”

She shrugged, “The thing about small rooms full of people is that they all can hear you. I don’t want to be heard right now.”

“What’s…?”

She placed her finger over his lips and shushed him. Her fingers made his lips tingle. He stared into her eyes, unable to move. She flicked her head and motioned for him to follow. The voices in his ears continued. He matched her steps, noticing how long her legs were in the skirt she wore. She looked different in the daytime - more innocent and demure. He assumed it was the setting.

As they got further away from the coffee shop, the voices faded away. They were alone now in the wilderness behind the buildings.
Oh great.
Cassius had a gun on him, but he wasn’t prepared to use it. He felt alone and vulnerable as they silently traced a beaten trail surrounded by a field of wildflowers. She smiled at him, the wind moving her hair like she was in some idyllic photoshoot. Her hand touched his and grazed against his fingers.

“I’m a little jumpy,” she said quietly. “Something very bad happened at the bar last night.”

“Really?” he replied. “I didn’t really see anything that was troubling.”

“The girl you saw puking died. They poisoned her. Then two guys who came in after your group… they killed Gregor.”

She thinks the nameless did it.
“What? How did that happen?”

“I don’t know. It was definitely a well-planned operation. I’m afraid.”

He wasn’t sure what to say.

“I have worked for the bar for so long. And it’s all… falling apart.”

“Maybe it should.”

“Oh, it should. But I don’t know what to do.”

“I don’t either. I have an essay have to write, and I’m dead.”

She laughed. “I’m sorry to lay this on you on a first date. I just don’t really have anyone to talk to.”

“What about your brother?”

She shook her head, then gently stopped him., “It’s not safe here. The criminals in power are getting hunted down while the civilians are starving and disappearing. It’s like the good guys are coming, but Soviet Russia is still crawling in the shadows, whisking people away to the gulags.”

“That does sound scary. Maybe you should leave.”

“Where would I go?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know where I’m going.”

She smiled, stepping forward to him. He felt everything in his body shake and shiver as she lifted herself on her tiptoes and kissed him. The world spun around him as he became lost in her soft lips and her tongue entering his mouth. He wished time would stop so he could stand there with the smell of the flowers, and her hair washing over him, the tingling warmth overcoming him as the butterflies hatched inside his stomach.

She pulled away. “Can you walk me home? It’s just up here.”

He nodded, his eyes still closed. She grabbed his hand and walked slowly with him from the field into a clustering of trees. He opened his eyes to see a dilapidated shack before them.

“You live here?” he asked.

She nodded, “I move around a lot. This is just my place for the moment.”

“It looks haunted.”

“This is Russia. Everywhere is haunted.”

He nodded, just staring.

“Call me, okay? I’d love to see you again,” she grinned, kissing him on the cheek. “Also, if you know what’s good for you, don’t go to the bar on Sunday, okay? I’m not working, but something is going down.”

He nodded again. She kissed his cheek once more and jogged to the house. He watched her enter, then turned on his heel toward the coffee shop. His mind filled with daydreams of her smile and her euphoric lips.

VI.

Commander Jones was not pleased Cassius had traveled outside of range. He lectured that Cassius “could’ve been killed in a second.” Cassius didn’t think he would’ve been killed by Amy, but then again, she’d made him think things he’d never thought before. When he thought about how only days before he was willing to ask Nina if she had feelings for him, he saw himself as a naive kid. After kissing Amy, he saw himself more as a fully-feeling man.

Sure, it would have been nice if Nina liked him, but he didn’t see he her in the same way as he now saw Amy. He thought of her every free second: her soft blonde hair, her melodious voice, her kissable lips, her perfectly proportioned body. She had a ballerina body: tall and thin with small breasts; yet, she also looked stronger than a normal woman. She seemed able to handle herself in a fight if she needed to. Maybe it was the Russian in her.

Her image replaced any of the images of Hernandez dying - Amy consumed even the bad thoughts in his mind.

Thankfully, Jones threw him a lifeline. The commander created a plan for Sunday to case the bar and see what nefarious activity was going on there; yet, since Amy said she wouldn’t be working, Jones thought Cassius should continue his “undercover love mission” and spend more time with her. Getting to talk to her again on the phone lifted his spirit, though he worried she may say no.

“I thought you’d never ask!” she exclaimed when he asked her to dinner Sunday night. “I was hinting I was going to be off.”

“I got busy,” he explained. “My teachers are running me ragged. I wanted to ask you earlier, but time slipped away.”

“You asked, that’s the point. I was worried you were going to try your hand at some trouble at the bar. You seem like that type that will always go after trouble if he can.”

“You’ve got me.”
Except not at all.
“I love danger.”

She laughed, “That doesn’t make you any more attractive. I prefer a cooler-headed man.”

“I guess I could be that too. If you desire it.”

“I desire everything and nothing at the same time.”

“Well, I don’t have everything, but I have nothing.”

She laughed again. “I’ll meet you at Rusenski’s across the street from the butcher and down a ways. All right?”

“All right.”

“Goodbye, Cool Hand Casey.”

He laughed. “Goodbye, Pretty Lady Amy.”

She laughed too before hanging up. Cassius sat staring at the phone with a wide, dumb grin on his face.

“How’s the wooing going, little brother?” Orion’s voice came from Cassius’s door.

“It’s going fine,” Cassius answered, his grin disappearing. “Do you have criticisms?”

He shook his head. “Who am I to criticize any courting technique?”

“Well, you have more experience than me, that’s for sure.”

“When you’re good looking and popular, you don’t have to do much. It certainly helped when they thought I was rich because of Mom and Dad.”

“That didn’t get me anywhere.”

“You weren’t very popular.”

“Not as good looking, either.”

He smiled, “I don’t know about that. We’re brothers after all. Have the same looks.”

“What do you want, anyway? Just wasting time?”

“I just want you to be careful, Cassius. You might be getting in over your head because of a pretty face.”

“I’ll be all right.”

“Love makes you do stupid, crazy things. And sometimes you think someone loves you or cares for you, and she’s only trying to get something from you.”

“Are you finished?”

“I’m just looking out for you,” he shrugged, then continued his way down the hall.

Cassius sighed.
What was that about?
He shrugged it off to free his mind for thoughts of Amy’s legs in her skirt and longing to know what’s under that skirt.

The rest of the week went slowly. They trained every day, harder than usual, and Jones kept the others in strict planning meetings. Cassius wasn’t included in those - Jones thought he should know as little as possible, just in case. Yet, in the evenings, Jones would go over techniques to recognize when Amy fished for answers.

“I don’t think she’s using me for information,” Cassius said on another briefing meeting before he left for the “undercover date.

“You’ve only met her a few times,” Jones said. “Don’t get fooled by a pretty face.”

“That’s almost exactly what Orion said.”

Jones gave a slight smile, “I think Orion has been fooled by the same pretty face over and over again and keeps coming back. A pretty face is why he’s here in the first place.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just be careful, huh kid? And don’t go out of range this time.”

Cassius nodded, watching his commander go. He had no reason to distrust Amy - she had been forthright about many things she didn’t need to be. He guessed he’d see with how the mission went. If she were setting him up, it would go terribly. He hoped she wasn’t.

He didn’t wear a wire this time. Jones thought it might be too obvious with a second date. But, Cassius wore glasses with a video camera in the lens so they could keep an eye on him. Nina and one of the nameless would be on hand in case anything happened - Jones didn’t feel comfortable having Nina come back to the bar with what happened the first time. She seemed fine with that.

Cassius arrived before Amy did. He felt nervous and dorky with the glasses. He watched people pass on the street, lost in their own conversations or in their own worlds. They appeared very serious and intent, not smiling when they talked to each other. He thought it strange to watch, but then again, it reminded him of his own parents.

“Well hello, Clark Kent,” Amy said as she strode up. She wore a pretty floral dress that moved with her as she walked. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered.

“Hello,” he answered with a smile.
Should he be more Russian and not smile?

“Let’s get some grub! I’m starving.” She grabbed his arm and led him into the restaurant. He attempted to hold the door for her, but it became an awkward back and forth. She held in her laughter to ask for a table from the hostess. They spoke amiably in Russian, the hostess laughing at some joke before seating them.

He watched Amy as she set out her napkin on her lap and picked up the menu. Her hair hung down with a natural wave, and she wore dark lipstick on her inviting lips. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her, but he didn’t think it would be appropriate. She lifted her eyes and gave a slight smile.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He opened his menu, embarrassed. “Just looking.”

“I didn’t quite give myself enough time to get ready. I thought maybe you could see my mustache or something.”

“Your mustache makes you more likable.”

“That’s what I think too. It’s a nice little lip blanket for the winter. Have you spent a winter here yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“It’s possibly worse than you could ever imagine. So cold. One day, I’m going to move somewhere warm. Where did you live in America?”

“We grew up in California, but spent a lot of time in the East too for my dad’s job. He’s in politics.”

“Huh, that’s interesting. For some reason, I didn’t expect that.”

“Dad wanted Ryan to get into the business too since he’s so charismatic, but Ryan wouldn’t have it. They’re not on great terms.”

“That’s too bad. I miss my dad a lot. I’m jealous of people who still have theirs.”

“My dad’s not a man to be jealous of really. He’s a politician, after all.”

“If he were a Russian politician, he probably would’ve poisoned someone, so it’s not so bad.”

“I guess that’s true. I think you’ll have to order for me. I can’t read the menu.”

“I can do that. What are your student friends doing tonight by the way?”

“Hopefully, not being poisoned.”
Is she fishing?
“Why do you ask?”

She shrugged. “I was just curious if everyone else had as full a social life as you.”

“Unlikely.”

“That’s what I figured.”

The waitress arrived with a stern look. Amy ordered for them in Russian, gesturing to Cassius and making the waitress slightly smile.

“Cassius,” Nina’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

He almost said, “What?” but kept his cool. The waitress gestured to him; Amy said something to make her actually laugh.

“Something’s going on out here. I’m going to try to contain it, but it might come into the restaurant. Be careful.”

He sucked in the stuffy restaurant air.
This is not the time for danger.

“Are you all right?” she asked. “You look worried.”

“I’m fine. Maybe just a little nervous.”

“No need to be nervous. You’re just fine. You got through one date, so you’re great.” She reached over and held his hand on the table. He smiled, feeling almost instantly better.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from outside. Her hand tightened around his as she looked toward the entrance. The staff of the restaurant rushed to the door and locked it, pulling down window blinds and closing the curtains.

“Okay, things aren’t good out here,” Nina spoke again.

“What’s going on?” Jones’s voice almost whispered. Cassius didn’t even want to imagine why he’d be whispering so softly in such an urgent situation.

Bang! Bang Bang! BANG! The restaurant goers started to become uneasy, but still ate their meals and sat in their spots. One of the waiters moved swiftly to the back of the restaurant as another bang came from outside.

“Christensen saw two suspicious men, and approached them,” Nina said, her side of the line sounding chaotic and loud. “It has gone downhill.”

“Gaddy, you mean?” Jones asked.

“I’m pretty sure his last name was Christensen.”

“They’re all Gaddy. Don’t leave the van.”

“It’s a little too late for that, Sir.”

Cassius felt vulnerable. He could hear the disaster outside, but couldn’t adequately help.
Had he been set up?
He looked to Amy, who appeared terrified. Her head lurched to the direction of every bang outside. A woman next to them held her crying child as the room became tenser.

“I think the men were on their way to the bar,” Nina now whispered. “I don’t know what he was doing. I told him not to approach. I told him not to.”

“We need to get out of here,” Amy said. “I don’t want to die in here.”

The waitress arrived with their food. Amy anxiously spoke to her, starting an urgent back and forth between them. Amy pulled some money from her purse and handed it to the waitress, who curmudgeonly walked away thereafter.

“She’s going to bring boxes,” she said. “Then we need to get out. I mostly don’t want to wait, but I paid for it so...”

BANG! BANG! She closed her eyes and said something under her breath. The waitress returned, dropping the boxes without another word. Cassius quickly packed up the meals, taking subtle deep breaths to calm his nerves. Nina hadn’t said anything for a while, and more bangs came from outside. This couldn’t be good.

“Come on,” Amy said, standing and moving toward the back of the restaurant. She maneuvered as if she knew the place already, moving down a set of stairs which had an underground exit. She peeked her head out first, then led him to an open delivery truck. She crawled into the storage area and pulled down the back door. A sigh of relief left her lips.

“They won’t mess with this truck. The owner of the restaurant and this truck does not put up with organized crime.”

“So you just want to hide in here till it’s over?”

“I don’t know. I just needed a second to be safe.”

“I’m going to go out there and see if we can get away.”
And help Nina.

“No.” She grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave me.”

“I will be back for you.”

“No. Don’t.”

“I don’t think this is as safe as you think it is. I will be back.”

“Take my gun then,” she pulled a small gun from her bag. “Please.”

“I’ll be fine.”
Why does she have a gun?

“Please, Casey.”

“I want you to keep it in case anyone tries to come in here. Okay? I’ll be back.”

Before he could exit the truck, she reached for him and pulled him in for a desperate kiss.
At least if I die, I got to kiss her one last time.
He felt light but heavy at the same time as he exited the truck. He squeezed in next to the wall as close as he could, swiftly moving toward the noises of danger and death.

“Nina, where are you?” he whispered to himself.

“Where are you, Baldwin?” Jones asked. “Are you safe now?”

“There’s still one of them,” she whispered, barely audible. “I’m hiding behind a car across the street from the restaurant. I don’t know where he is.”

Cassius prepared himself, pulling his gun from the pocket of his jacket. He peeked around the corner of the alley, and saw nothing. He advanced, again close to the wall. Another alcove stood in front of him, giving him more shelter till he could get to the car he thought Nina might be behind. He slipped into the alcove without looking, knocking into someone.