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Chapter Fifteen

ARIEL

I shudder as I suck in another breath. I’m afraid I’ll start hyperventilating. The shock of seeing Perry again is wreaking havoc on my body and brain. Terror is overtaking common sense. I want to scream.

Who is this man? Why does he look just like Perry? I know Perry’s dead, but the logical side of my brain isn’t in control. All the trauma rushes into the present and I don’t know what to do.

Chomp. I need Chomp and I need him now. As my hands start to tremble, I nearly drop the plate of desserts as I slide them into the box the waitress dropped off. She says something about Chomp joining me soon, but it doesn’t seem to click.

Outside, I still see the Perry look alike and it becomes a hundred times more hellacious when he grins. He knows what his presence is doing to me and he’s enjoying it.

I can’t stay here. But I can’t leave by myself, either. I’m wrestling with my fight or flight instinct when Chomp comes back to the table. I know I probably look half-crazy as I stare at him, unable to speak, just point.

“Ariel, what’s wrong?” For just a moment, I see his eyes flash as his gator peers at me, worry evident.

“H-h-he’s out there,” I whisper, as I continue to point out the window. “B-b-but it’s not possible,” I whisper, willing Chomp to understand what I’m unable to put into words.

He throws a bunch of cash on top of the receipt that’s on the table and I instinctively know he’s given the waitress one helluva trip. “Come on, we’re going,” he decrees, taking my hand in his. I don’t want to go near the door and almost drag my feet.

This is crazy. I have to be seeing things. Perry and Ricky are dead. I saw them torn apart by Chomp’s gator. For some reason, all the shit I’ve gone through must be surfacing just when I think I’m healing. Maybe I’m going crazy, or I’m depressed, but that doesn’t make sense. A few hours ago, I was singing in the shower!

Chomp’s head swings both ways as we exit, looking for any threat. And to make matters worse, I don’t see the Perry look alike. He’s vanished.

“Ariel, do you still see him?”

He believes me, I realize. As insane as it sounds, Chomp believes my fearful response is driven by reality and not something I conjured from a trauma response. “No.” I’m shaking so hard that Chomp tugs me close.

“Baby. I need you to breathe. Can you do that for me?”

“Y-yes,” I stammer.

He leads me away from the diner and into the street, walking beside me as he keeps scanning the road, storefronts, and businesses in the central part of town. “We’re going to walk toward my house. If you feel unsafe or afraid at any time, you let me know. Okay?”

I nod, still trying to breathe without freaking out.

“Once we get to my house, you can tell me what you saw. Until then, I want you to focus on breathing. I’m right here. You’re safe. We won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. We’re going to get through this.”

It’s his confidence that helps me. That deep voice, his warmth, the comfort of his touch, they all combine to help me gain control. By the time we reach his place, I’m no longer trembling.

Chomp unlocks the door, and we enter the cabin. It looks the same as when I last set foot in it, only now I notice how it lacks a woman’s touch. He needs plants, and a blanket by the fireplace, and candles to burn in the kitchen and living room.

“Have a seat, baby. We’re gonna talk about this. I want to help.”

I park my bottom on his comfy sofa while he joins me. “I saw Perry.”

Chomp arches a brow. “Your ex? The one my gator ate?”

Okay, odd phrasing, but yes. “Um, yeah. He was staring at me through the diner’s window.”

Chomp scratches the back of his neck. “This doesn’t make sense. First, the increased odor that smells like him around that old house, and now you see someone who resembles him.” He shakes his head. “I think it’s a family member.”

“I don’t know. This looked like an exact copy, Chomp. Not a brother or uncle or something.”

A frown draws his brows together. “Okay, we’re missing something. Until I put this together and figure it out, I won’t be working. I need you to be safe, and if that means I hunt until I find this man, so be it.”

“I’m not asking you to do that.”

“You’re right. I’m telling you that I am, Ariel. I won’t let whoever this is traumatize you further. He wants to fuck with you, and I’m gonna stop him.”

I glance around his cabin and finally nod. “Okay.”

“So, here’s what we’re gonna do: stick to our evening plans. I’ll text Spike, and we’ll be sure to have everyone following us. If this stupid fucker tries to get close again, he’ll be surrounded.”

I can’t help but shudder. “Are you going to leave me alone so he’ll try?”

“Is that what you want? Because I don’t want to use you as bait. That’s not acceptable to me.”

“Me either,” I agree, mostly because I think I might actually faint or something if this guy gets close enough.

“Then I stay with you. Let me send a few texts. Plus, I’m gonna call Sly. He’s our IT guy and I wanna see if Perry had any family members you’re not aware of, okay?”

“Okay,” I mumble. Standing, I go to the refrigerator and grab two bottles of water, one for each of us. I see the bag Chomp carried from the diner, so I make myself useful while he’s on the phone talking to Sly as his fingers fly over what I presume is a club chat thread.

“Son of a bitch!” he bellows. I turn toward him and see his arms doing that thing where his gator is trying to take over, scales rippling along to erupt on his skin, but then he takes a few deep breaths before turning in my direction. With his gaze locked on mine, he says, “Get me whatever else you can find, Sly.” After disconnecting, he strides toward me. I can still see his gator peeking out at me, but I’m no longer afraid.

Reaching out, I lightly touch his forearm, then say, “Hey, Gator, I need to talk to Chomp right now.”

Chomp grins but I watch in utter fascination as the rippling scales go back to his normal skin, complete with the intriguing tattoos he has. “Come here, baby. I need to tell you something, but I have to hold you while I tell you, okay?”

The butterflies now swarming in my belly have nothing to do with desire or fascination. No, these are the ones that come from the pits of Hell since immediately, I feel nauseous. Considering the food we ate was so delicious, I swallow the bile back down and follow Chomp to his couch. In spite of the circumstances and the dread surrounding me right now, I realize that the sectional he has must’ve been custom-made for him. It’s deep yet, the cushions are comfortable enough I can see myself napping in front of the fire.

Shaking my head, I turn my gaze to Chomp's face and ask, “What got you so upset?”

“Like I said, Sly is our IT guy, and the minute he input Perry’s name into his computer, information came pouring out. Were you aware that Perry has an identical twin named Jerry?”

“Um, no, I didn’t know that,” I reply, my body starting to tremble again at the news. “Why wouldn’t he have introduced me to his brother?”

Granted, if Jerry is anything like Perry was, maybe it was a good thing.

“Because he was in prison, baby. He apparently used to live with Perry but was arrested about eight or so years ago. He just got out and went home, only to find no sign of his brother,” Chomp replies.

“But why come after me?” I ask. “That makes no sense at all.”

“Perry told him about you. Sly was able to hack into something, don’t ask me what exactly because I don’t understand that shit at all, and listened to some of their phone calls. Ariel, it’s a damn good thing I found you when I did, because the plans they had for you weren’t pleasant at all.”

Tears start slithering down my face as I curl closer to Chomp. “Worse than what you saw?” I whisper, once again embarrassed and ashamed of the way the two of us met.

He shudders but nods. “Way worse.” His voice is gritty sounding, and I know he must be struggling to keep his gator in check again. “We’re going to find him and talk to him.”

“Will there be anything left when y’all are finished?” I ask, swiping away the tears.

He shrugs but I see the smirk he’s trying to hide and suspect his gator is behind the expression. “Can’t really say for sure. Depends on whether or not he pisses Spike off. Since my mate’s being terrorized, he may end up a pile of ash after Gator and I are through. Who knows?”

I don’t condone violence in most cases, but this is an instance where it’s warranted. “I can live with it.”

Chomp lowers his head and kisses my cheek. “Let’s go. The others are on their way.”

It’s odd given all that’s happened, but I sort of wish he kissed my lips instead. It’s the first time I’ve had that thought and now it’s lingering as we stand and Chomp interlaces our fingers, leading me toward his truck. The ride is mostly quiet because we enjoy the fading sunlight and watch the first few stars populate the sky. It’s pretty and serene and such a contradiction to what we’re experiencing, but I know we have to get through this and take care of Perry’s brother. Jerry won’t stop coming after me, especially if he suspects that Chomp or I had anything to do with Perry’s death.

Chomp drives to the store and we park low in the row, farther from the exit than I anticipate. I wonder if it’s because he hopes that Jerry will try to confront us. He can’t have more than suspicion about his brother’s death since there’s no body.

My breath comes a little easier when I see that Kodiak and Callie are pulling in next to us in Kodiak’s truck. As we all get out, Callie says, “I figured we could get groceries for the clubhouse too.”

Gotta love a friend who seems to know what someone else might need. She exudes a calming presence which is a good thing since Kodiak and Chomp both look ready to shift into their animals. That probably wouldn’t be a good thing since Callie stressed that no humans are aware of shifters unless they are a shifter’s fated mate. Then they’re told.

“Looks like you’re putting on some weight there, Kodiak,” Spike says when he joins our group at the front of the trucks.

Callie begins snickering while cupping her baby bump, which looks like it’s grown since I last saw her. “Um, he’s experiencing cravings,” she finally says. “But y’all know that his portions are far bigger than mine.”

Kodiak growls while Chomp and Spike chuckle. “It’s pregnancy weight, alright?” he snarls.

“Um, it’s been a bit since I went to school, but I seem to recall that the female gains the weight since she’s the one growing the baby,” Chomp adds.

“Shut it, fucker. Wait until your mate is carrying your child, and let’s see how you do,” Kodiak rumbles.

Chomp looks positively gleeful at the idea.

Spike huffs, and I swear I see a bit of smoke leave his nostrils. “I think I see your baby bump, Kodiak.”

I start giggling, shaking my head, and soon Callie joins me. It’s not long before everyone is laughing, even Kodiak.

He flips off Spike, but it’s more of a joke than serious.

“Well,” I say, sobering, “We should get inside and grab what we need.”

Chomp slides his arm around my shoulders and tucks me into his side as we all head toward the store. His words are whispered as we approach the entrance. “Remember, Ariel. I’m here. No matter what happens, I’m not leaving your side.”

His words are ominous, and I nod, hoping we get through this without anyone getting hurt.