Wolf Pack (12 page)

“I called my boss this morning and asked if we could leave him in the Alpha house. What can be safer than that? Taylor has guards with him all the time,” she told him. Kendra was still pissed about the phone call earlier.

“That makes sense.” Cole leaned against the corner of the counter. “And you’ll be close by to keep an eye on him.”

“That’s what I said,” Kendra shouted. She took a deep breath. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. I just want to show him how a good pack runs.”

“I know.” Cole set his cup down then gathered her in his arms. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”

She nodded. It felt good that she could talk to someone about her work. Taylor would listen and nod before he told her she needed to do her duty.

“What exactly was said?” Cole asked.

“That being in the middle of pack territory might not be the safest place for Trent, especially with Shawn’s pack still out there. They could be watching him now and we wouldn’t know,” Kendra informed him.

“And your argument?”

“That we have enough guards to make sure Trent is safe,” Kendra said.

Cole shrugged. “Seems sensible.”

“It is.” She pouted.

“Although you could say it’s better safe than sorry,” Cole stated.

“Oh hush!” she snapped. “I know it’s sensible.”

Chuckling, he hugged her. “Do you think maybe you’ll miss him? A little at least?”

“Maybe,” she admitted.

“So get Trent settled. Make sure he has your number, mine and the Coalition’s. We don’t want him running again,” Cole advised.

“I will.” Of course Cole sounded like Taylor. She should have known better. They were so much alike.

“Also make sure he understands that he is welcome back to the pack as soon as possible.”

She sighed. “If they put in him in witness protection permanently that won’t be possible. They’ll set him up with a new identity in a place far from here.”

“Maybe.” Cole cupped her face. “Shifters work a little differently and I’ve seen some allowances made. I’ll see what I can do on my end.”

“Yeah?” She was pleased.

“If you think Taylor would be okay with it,” Cole clarified.

“I already talked to him,” she said. “Taylor is willing to bring him in. Trent has already won him over. Taylor also mentioned finding packs for the rogues if they don’t want to continue as lone wolves. Our pack can’t take them all but we’ll do what we can.”

“Taylor’s a good Alpha.”

Kendra tilted her head in confusion. She couldn’t quite place the look on his face. “He’s the best,” she told him honestly.

“I thought so.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Cole grinned. “How about we stop talking about your Alpha and let me kiss you for the few minutes we have left?”

She ran her hands down his chest. “Mmm, okay.” Kendra rose to her tiptoes and laid her lips over his. Pressing more firmly, she waited until he opened his mouth then slid her tongue inside. She could taste the coffee he’d drunk, and combined with his spicy flavor she couldn’t get enough. A moan rose up but he swallowed the sound.

“Wow.” Cole panted when they broke apart.

“So I’ll see you later?” she questioned.

“After that kiss? You can bet on it,” Cole promised.

She kissed him again before stepping away. “I’ve got to get to work. I’m heading over to the main house to get Trent—are you coming?”

“No,” he replied. “I have to head to the office to update my commander. After, we’ll meet back up with the pack and other Marshals for more tracking.”

“Be careful out there. Trent is really scared of some of Shawn’s pack members,” Kendra warned.

“Did he give you names?” Cole straightened.

“Yes, they’re in the file,” she said.

“I’ll check them out,” he promised.

“And watch your back?” she pressed.

“Yes, dear.”

Kendra took hers and Cole’s mugs to the sink and set them down before she grabbed her keys. “At least the safe house is in Lake Worth. I’ll be able to check on Trent throughout the week.”

“You need to stop worrying,” Cole told her as he opened the back door. “Now go to work.”

He stepped out and Kendra locked the door. Normally she wouldn’t be too worried about it but with so many strangers around she didn’t want to take chances. Cole was heading to his vehicle but waved before he hit the key fob to unlock the doors.

She watched him climb inside and start the old truck. Kendra strolled to her own car. Time to start the day. Hopefully she’d be able to end it in Cole’s arms.

Chapter Eight

Ten more rogues had been found but still none of Shawn’s pack other than a couple of guards had been located. Cole sighed in frustration as he kicked his front door closed. It had been a long day, made even worse since Kendra hadn’t been with him. She’d been getting Trent set up in a new safe house with twenty-four-hour Marshal protection.

“I’m home!” he called out.

Cocoa rushed out of the kitchen at full speed and Cole had to brace himself for the lab’s greeting. Cocoa barreled into him before Cole dropped down to rub his back and head. Chloe nudged his hand, and Cole transferred his attention to her. “Did you two miss me? I bet you didn’t. Brandy probably spoiled you rotten,” he said.

“Of course I did.”

Cole looked up to see Brandy standing in the kitchen doorway. “Hey, thanks for everything.”

She shrugged. “I enjoy the company.”

“Still haven’t talked Jamie into a pet?” he asked while standing.

“Oh, he’s all for a pet, we just can’t agree on what to get. Can you believe he wants a kitten?” she laughed. “Jamie and a tiny cat? I thought for sure that he’d ask for the meanest, ugliest dog out there.”

“The problem with that is we all know how much of a softy that Jamie really is,” Cole stated amused. Jamie might appear every bit of the big bad biker he tried to be but on the inside Jamie was loyal, kind and compassionate.

“I know,” Brandy agreed. “But I really wanted a dog.”

“Get both,” Cole suggested. “They’ll be able to play together and grow up with a friend. And you and Jamie both get what you want.”

“I hadn’t thought about that,” Brandy told him. “I’ll ask Jamie when he gets home.” She paused. “He is coming home tonight, right?”

“He headed out at the same time I did,” Cole said. “He should already be there.”

Brandy whooped. “He’s been putting in so many hours we haven’t been able to have dinner together all week.”

“Well then, why don’t you stop by that Italian restaurant you both love and pick up dinner? By the time you get there he should be fresh out of the shower. I promise not to call him tonight.”

When Brandy smiled her entire face lit up. She was a very pretty woman even if she wasn’t his type. Cole didn’t think he’d ever met anyone who was everything he’d always wanted, like Kendra was. Which reminded him that she was supposed to stop by if she could get away from Marshal business.

“I should be going if I’m to get dinner for my man.” Brandy walked to the door as she pulled out a set of keys from her pocket. “They’ve been fed food and treats, so they’ll probably be asleep soon.”

“You’re going to make my dogs fat,” he bitched. They both knew he didn’t mean it.

“I could put them on the same diet I did for Jamie,” Brandy warned.

He chuckled. Jamie had lived on liquor, fast food and soda when he’d started dating Brandy. Cole hadn’t been with the Coalition at that time but he’d heard the stories about how miserable the bear shifter had been. “I don’t think we need to get that drastic.”

Brandy waved. “Then stop your complaining. Let me know if you need me to watch them again.”

“I will. Thanks again!” Cole called.

He locked the front door behind her. After he kicked off his shoes he pulled his shirt off. It felt good to be able to unwind after a rough couple of days. “Let’s see what I can eat,” he said to the dogs. They followed behind him as he made his way to the kitchen. He opened the fridge but no magic fairy had gone shopping for him. He glanced around. Chloe had lain down on her bed but Cocoa was still at his side. “What do you say we order a pizza?” he asked.

Cocoa barked in response, which had him smiling.

“That’s settled then.” He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator then strolled to the living room. He pulled out his cell phone before he dropped down on the couch. God, it felt good to sit and relax.

He hadn’t realized how big the pack’s territory and safe zone were until every inch of it had had to be searched. Even with three teams splitting up, the hunt was taking entirely too long. Taylor was worried mostly about Shawn’s pack members who had come willingly. If they had still believed in Shawn’s mission and were still following the plan a lot of good shifters could be killed. Taylor’s own pack could be in danger. Which included Kendra.

He checked his phone but didn’t have any messages from her. Cole wanted to call but it had only been about twelve hours since they’d last spoken.

His stomach rumbled. He needed to eat, not worry about his love life. He pulled up the contact number for the closest pizza delivery and hit Call.

“Thank you for calling Dino’s pizza. How may I help you?”

“Hey, Matt, it’s Cole,” he said.

“Cole! It’s been a few days. I almost sent out a search party,” Matt, the owner’s son, teased.

“Very funny,” Cole replied. “It hasn’t been that long.”

“Okay, man,” Matt laughed. “The usual?”

“Yes… No… Uh,” Cole said.

“Cole?” Matt grew serious.

“Sorry.” Cole was embarrassed. “Can you make that two pizzas tonight please?” Hopefully Kendra would be stopping by and she’d probably be hungry. “Just pepperoni, everyone likes pepperoni, right?”

“Well, vegetarians don’t,” Matt joked.

“Shit!” He smacked himself. “Ignore that and don’t tell your dad I was cussing again.”

“Okay.” Matt was obviously trying not to laugh again.

“So does your girl eat meat? I mean that in the cleanest way possible.”

Cole groaned. Never ask a teenager for advice. Except the night before Kendra had eaten the chicken so he figured he was safe with the topping. “Two large pepperoni pizzas please.”

“Great! We’ll have it there in thirty,” Matt said.

“Thanks.”

“Hey, Cole?” Matt asked before Cole could hang up.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have anything to drink other than beer? You know, in case she doesn’t want alcohol?” Matt questioned.

“No,” he admitted.

“I’ll throw in a liter of soda too,” Matt said before he disconnected the call.

Cole stared at his phone for a second. This was what he got for being on a first-name basis with the pizza guy. He shook his head before dropping the phone onto the cushion beside him.

While he’d been talking, Chloe and Cocoa had settled on the other side of the big sectional. She lay with her head on Cocoa’s butt, curled into him. Damn, he loved his babies.

He closed his eyes as he laid his head back. If he could take a minute to rest he would get his second wind and jump in the shower real quick. Matt would make sure that his pizza arrived on time so he didn’t have long. Cole twisted the top off his bottle and took a long drink as he sank deeper into the couch.

* * * *

The pounding on the door woke him up. “Ugh,” he sighed. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep but he really hadn’t gotten a lot in the last couple of nights.

The bell rang as he managed to stand. “I’m coming,” he hollered.

He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket as he walked toward the door. “Sorry,” he said as he opened it. “I fell…”

“Down?” Kendra guessed.

“Asleep actually, and you’re not who I was expecting,” he said.

“Oh.” Kendra frowned. “Do you want me to go?” she asked as she stepped back.

“No.” He yanked her forward. “I want you to come here!” Cole kissed her with force and passion.

She threw her arms around his neck as she pressed harder against him. Cole grabbed her waist and lifted her up. Talking was highly overrated and all they really needed to communicate with was their bodies.

“Mr. Babcock?”

Cole pulled away from Kendra to grin at the delivery boy behind her. “That is who I was expecting,” he said.

Kendra laughed. “Good, I’m starving!” She hopped down and took the boxes and drink bottle from the kid. “I’ll meet you on the couch.”

He was a little embarrassed so he gave the delivery guy an extra five-dollar tip for getting caught making out with his girlfriend. Still, he had a feeling Matt would be hearing the story soon. He might have to find a new pizza place for a while.

Cole closed and locked the door then followed the amazing aroma of sauce and cheese drifting to him from the living room.

“So good,” Kendra said around a mouthful. She’d taken off her weapon, badge and shoes and was now sitting with her legs curled up under her on his couch.

“I could bring you something more comfortable to wear?” he offered.

“Later.” She held out another slice to him. “Eat this while it’s hot.”

He strolled over and kissed her quickly before accepting the food. “Do you want a soda?”

“If you don’t have another beer that’ll be fine,” she answered.

Cole stopped on his way to the kitchen. “What kind of pizza do you usually order?” he asked.

“Meat lovers, why?”

He couldn’t stop his huge grin. Kendra was perfect—she was a meat lovers and beer kind of girl. Just what he’d been looking for.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He shook his head. He strolled into the kitchen almost bouncing. Next time he was going with his gut. Kendra would have preferred his own usual. He opened the fridge and grabbed two more cold beers before he turned to head back into the living room.

Kendra was reaching for a beer but knocked the files he’d had on the coffee table off. “Shit!” She set the beer down before dropping her half-eaten piece of pizza back in the box.

He grinned as she dropped to her knees then froze. He’d thrown the papers that Taylor had given him on there when he’d come home this morning to change.

“Cole?”

His feet did not want to move. Kendra glanced over her shoulder. “Why do you have pack business papers?”