Twisted (Rogues Shifter Series Book 3) (25 page)

“Rick, how are you doing these days?”

Heinrich, cocked an eyebrow and said, “Bored Garrett, if you want to know the truth. I could have helped with Kennet.”

“I thought about it, but I needed you here protecting the shifters
. I’ve been thinking about starting a security business. There’s always a need for protection. Maybe you and Sasha could run it together as equal partners. You could recruit some of Aaron’s weres or other vamps as long as they follow the rules. I’ll put up the seed money and then stay out of it, unless there’s a serious problem. The business would be all yours. I might need to hire your services on occasion myself.”

Judging by their expressions,
Sasha and Heinrich were counting up the money already. The more self reliant they became, the sooner I could let them go off on their own. Of course their independence was contingent on them sticking to their oaths to never kill, or harm an innocent. I would never unleash on the world another Eleanor or Antoine.

“Garrett, we could definitely make that work.” Heinrich’s wheels were turning and I was happy to see that he was getting into the idea of running his own business. “Once we get this office up and running, we could base one in San Francisco which could also service Silicon Valley. I’d like to move back to the city. I’ve never really been a small town kinda guy.” He looked back at me
a little sheepishly, suddenly realizing that what he was proposing was his independence, and had maybe gone a little too far.

I kept my expression blank.
"That's a subject for a future talk. Let's concentrate on getting some clients first. I’ll talk to my accountant and we’ll set it up. Some of the requests on my desk are specifically for security, so Sasha and I will look them over and we’ll make a list for you guys to call.” Heinrich nodded. “I’m going out. I’ll be back in an hour.”  I headed out to one of my donors, feeling good about what we’d discussed.

Chapter Forty-eight

Bridgett:
7:00 AM Sunday

I got up at dawn and showered. I was packed and ready to leave when Liam arrived at 6:30 so he took me to see Lady D
. before we left. She clasped my hands and told me I’d start out working with her next week. I actually hugged her, and she just laughed.

We got to the house before 7:00 AM, and so I thanked Liam
, then immediately ran up to my room, threw myself on my comfy bed and went back to sleep. A few hours later, Jackie was knocking on my door.

“Come i
n,” I mumbled. She was still in her pajamas, so she crawled into my bed, put her head on the other pillow and turned toward me. It was always a shock looking at Jackie and seeing my eyes on her face, and my smile on her mouth. Of course she was much prettier, with her gorgeous thick hair and her straight nose and 5’9” runner’s body. But it still made me happy that you could tell we were sisters.

“Bridgett, thank you for helping them find me. How do yo
u feel? Does your stomach hurt from being punched? Does your head still hurt?”

“I'm fine.
But how are
you
?”

She turned away and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t really know how I am. I had a horrible nightmare last night, I think I scared Garrett. Also I did something awful to Sinc
. I exploded and lost control.“

“What happened?”

She sighed. “Everyone’s going to know by tonight’s meeting. I punched Sinc and broke her nose.”

“What did she do to make you want to do that?”

“It doesn’t matter, It was completely wrong of me. I feel awful.”

“This was about Sasha right? Sinc was flirting with him for about a week. He didn’t really encourage her, but he
is
a guy. I don’t think he cares too much for Ethan.”

“
I think maybe we shouldn’t talk about it, it’s their business, okay?”

“Sure.” I watched her watching me and wondered if I could talk to her about William. This would be the perfect time… “
Did anyone tell you about me and William?”

She arched an eyebrow in curiosity. “Nooo. So tell me.”

“I really like him, and I think he really likes me too.”

She was grinning. “Did he kiss you?”

“Yeah, and I kissed him back.” I was blushing but grinning now too. “Did you know that when Sasha brought me here after Kennet took you, that Garrett had William give me his blood to heal me?”

“No, I didn’t know that.
Taking blood can form a bond, at least for William." She looked me over again. "Was Garrett okay with you, then? I was worried.”

“I think he
was ready to kill me, but Liam calmed him down. I let him into my head so he could see what happened and then he was cool. He even apologized for scaring me.” I leaned a little closer so I could whisper. ”He was just as scary as Kennet, but I couldn’t blame him. He was frightened for you. And then he sent me William." 

“I thin
k it’s great that you and William have gotten close. Just don’t rush anything.” She laughed suddenly and turned away again.

“So what’s funny?”

“Me telling you not to rush. I was practically throwing myself at Garrett on a daily basis.”

“You did?” I moved a little closer, not wanting to miss anything
juicy.

“I wanted him and I couldn’t figure out why he wanted us to wait. I’d gone through a lot of traumatic shit when I was living as a human, and he kept saying I wasn’t ready
and that I had to work through my feelings from the past. He was right about everything. I didn’t understand anything about real commitment: sharing everything, the good stuff and the bad. So when I was truly ready, it was perfect.”

I sighed. “Garrett is
the perfect male, isn’t he?”

“No, he’s not perfect, but he’s definitely perfect for me. Willi
am is pretty cool too.”

“He is
, isn’t he?” We looked at each other and giggled softly. Her laughter was only half-hearted and her eyes were missing their usual spark. There was no getting past the fact that I was responsible. “Jackie, I’m sorry for going out and getting you caught. It was my fault that you got hurt. I wish I could go back in time to that night and change it.”

“He would have gotten to me somehow. Garrett told me that you felt it when he whipped me and beat me.” I nodded. “That must have sucked.”

“Not as much as it sucked for you.” She turned away again and looked back up at the ceiling. “I won’t ask you about it, unless you want me to.”

“Not now.
” She squeezed my hand. “I’m hungry, you want to grab some breakfast with me? I want to talk to Liam.”

“Yeah, sure.
” I hit the bathroom and then followed her downstairs. Liam was in the kitchen talking to Samson in Fae. As soon as Jackie entered the room, her canine guardian raced over and started licking her hands and then, when she bent down, her face. She was ticklish I guess, ‘cause she was giggling.

“Hi Liam, what were you telling Samson?” I asked.

“That he shouldn’t disturb Jackie while she’s sleeping, but it appears that she’s up after all. Are you both hungry? I’ve made eggs and bacon, but I could make you whatever you’d like.”

The delicious smell of the bacon was making my mouth water.”I’m good with eggs and bacon, thanks.“  I sat down at the table, ready to consume huge platefuls
.

Jackie washed Samson’s kisses off of her hands at the sink. “That’s fine, Liam, can I help you dish it out?”

“I live to serve, Miss Jacqueline.” He did a good British accent.

We laughed again
and it felt so good. My tension from the apology ceremony, and the search for Jackie was disappearing with each silly giggle. I thought about the meeting tonight and how happy I was that Garrett was including me. William would be there. I remembered what his hand felt like in my hand and how soft his lips…”

“Are you going to eat the food or just sit there and daydream about William?” I’m sure I glared at her, thinking that she’d gone into my mind, but then I saw her smil
ing conspiratorially. “I must have looked just like that when I thought about Garrett.” I blushed and took a forkful, and then another and soon I was thinking only about the delicious food warming my belly.

“Liam, how do you think the meeting in Faerie went?”  Jackie looked a little concerned.

“It was a shock for my people. You don’t really know our history, but we’ve fought wars against demons in the ancient past. There will be an adjustment period for some of the more conservative fae. My family supports you as do the families of the other Elders, so you don’t need to be concerned.”

“Wow, Liam, you’re using con
tractions.” He gave me a sideways glance when I started to laugh.

“I’m afraid that, despite my best efforts, I’ve succumbed to the American passion for shortening and combining words until they lose their beauty and their impact. I’ve fought against it for years, but now that I spend so much time with you young shifters, I’ve given in. There are no contraction
-al abominations in the fae language.”

“So yo, Li
, wuzzup?”  Liam rolled his eyes, shook his head and went out to the patio to do some gardening while Jackie held her hand over her mouth trying not to choke. “Do you think he understood what I said?”

“Yes, but I don’t think we should push our luck. He’s been very patient with us.” She wiped the tears away with a napkin.

After we finished I said, “I’ll clean up. I know you want to go see Ethan and Kyle.” She nodded, gave me a quick hug and went back to her room to get ready. I hoped that Ethan wasn’t in bad shape over Sinc. I started clearing the table. Maybe later, I’d call Maya and fill her in on my crazy adventures.

Chapter Forty-nine

J
ackie: 2:00 PM Sunday

The drive to Kyle’s house only took me fifteen minutes, but it seemed longer because I was
completely on edge. When I pulled into the driveway with the Saab, the front door sprang open and I was pulled out of the car and held in the tightest Ethan hug ever. He clutched me and kissed my head and then pushed me away so he could look at me, as if he still wasn’t positive it was me.

“It’
s me. I’m safe, so it’s all good now.” I reached up to touch Ethan’s cheek and he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

“But how do you feel
? Oh crap, I probably shouldn't have hugged you so hard. Sorry.”

I looked at the guy across the street who was watering his lawn. “Can we go inside? I could go for a coke.”

“Sure, sure, I’m sorry. Come in. Kyle will be back in twenty minutes. His car was overdue for an oil change and I think he wanted to give us some time alone. He and Peter have been really great letting me stay here.”

Peter and Kyle's home was modern, spacious and comfortable, with large couches and chairs, soft carpeting, warm colors and lots of windows to let in the sunshine.
Ethan got me a coke and I sat at the kitchen table across from him. We just stared at each other for a few seconds, neither one of us wanting to be the first one to ask the serious questions. Ethan and I wouldn’t lie to each other, which would make the next few minutes tough.

I started. “Are you quitting the team?” I couldn’t keep the catch in my voice from betraying what I hoped his answer would be.

He looked down at his hands, then smiled a quarter smile and looked up at me again. ”I was ready to call Garrett last night to tell him I was quitting, but Kyle practically tackled me before I made it to the phone.

To quote Kyle, ‘If you fucking even think about quitting the fucking team I’ll shoot you with the fucking crossbow.’ He had a lot of other choice words for Sinc which I won’t repeat if that’s ok
ay.”

“I could have predicted that reaction
.” I laughed. "If I'd been here I might have tackled you too."

He gave me a crooked smile, a clump of his hair flopping over an eye.“
I’m sticking with it. It’ll suck hard core for awhile, working with both of them, but I’ll have to be a grownup.  I know that she did it because I’ve been pushing her so hard. She tried to tell me a few times, but I kept thinking I could change her mind. Even you warned me. So it was partly my fault.”

“You know that she doesn’t really g
ive a shit about Sasha. He was—just her way out.”

“To be honest, that upsets me more than if she actually fell for someone else. Maybe I didn’t really know her very well.”

“She doesn’t think she deserves a guy like you.”

He turned away
. “Well I can’t live that way. She thinks I’m so great and then she sticks a knife in my heart? If she decides she wants me back and then pulls the same shit again, it’ll be ten times worse for me the next time and then again the time after that. She closed the door and it’s staying closed. I still love her, but I don’t think… I don’t trust her anymore.”

There were dark circles u
nder his large golden brown eyes, probably because he hadn't slept. I decided I’d better tell him. “Did you hear what I did to Sinc?”