Page 11 of Waste (Legendary Shifters #4)

Drew nodded and headed out. Gail’s question bugged him.

Why was he still here? What he’d said about Shelley hadn’t been wrong.

She was sweet and gentle, but that didn’t mean she was for him.

Drew doubted deep down that Shelley could manage his lifestyle.

And she certainly wouldn’t be able to handle Ghoul inside her body.

That was a bitch. To bond properly with their mates, their shifted monster form had to have intercourse with them briefly.

They only needed to shift for a few seconds, but he knew Shelley couldn’t handle that.

Their monster also had to mark their mate, usually with a bite, and that would then strengthen the bond.

It also appeared the bite then allowed their mate to share in their abilities, although not the Sin they carried.

How did Drew explain that to Shelley? Oh, hi, you’re my mate, and I have to shift into my monster form while we’re having sex and bite you. That means you too become a monster. That’s not a problem, is it? Drew thought snarkily. Shelley would jump through hoops to bond with him. Not.

Drew’s thoughts turned dark as he entered the local coffee shop and bought their drinks. When he returned, he was a little surprised to see Gail, Jake, and Charlie outside talking to a police officer.

“Thank you, Drew,” Gail said, taking the cup he offered her. The officer’s eyes burned into the back of his head, and Drew felt unwelcome attention.

“Drew Martin?” the man demanded.

“Yes. And you are?”

“I’m Detective Inspector Wilson.”

“Okay.” Drew refused to ask why he was here, as Wilson clearly wished him to. After a few moments, Wilson cracked first.

“I understand that you barely know Miss Evans.”

“That’s true.”

“Why are you still hanging around?” DI Wilson asked bluntly.

“Because I like Shelley, and I want to make sure she’s getting the best care. I’m not here all the time; I leave for meetings and to eat. And return to my hotel room in the evening,” Drew replied.

“But why are you paying?” DI Wilson pressed.

Drew studied him. “Why not? I have the funds, Shelley needs the help, and I can use my money to help her recover quicker.”

“And you expect nothing in return?” DI Wilson sneered.

“No, I’d like Shelley to go on a date with me, but I don’t think that will occur soon. However, I’m able to use this time to get acquainted with her. But if Shelley tells me to bugger off, then I’ll leave,” Drew said honestly.

“Just as simple as that?” DI Wilson continued sneering, and Drew’s anger rose.

“Before you infer something dangerous or deviant is happening, I suggest you research me. Once you’ve done that, if you wish to continue interrogating me, speak to my solicitor and make an appointment,” Drew retorted.

“Only a guilty man reaches for legal counsel,” DI Wilson baited.

Drew held Wilson’s gaze. “I pity you. I’m sorry that the job you do has made you so jaded that you can’t recognise a nice gesture when you see one.

Truly, I can’t imagine living in your world, where everything comes with strings or has a price.

People could call me a humanitarian, I guess.

I do a lot for charity, and my own charity is a project close to my heart.

Like it or not, DI Wilson, I’m a good man and strive to improve myself.

Somewhere down the line, I believe you were the same, but your career soured you. ”

DI Wilson flushed at Drew’s words, and his face turned red. “Now, look—”

“No, you look here, that’s enough,” Gail snapped with pent-up emotion. Drew and Wilson both went quiet. “Drew is welcome here. He’s correct; he’s paid a small fortune to get the best doctors for Shelley and didn’t have to. My daughter nearly died, so why aren’t you out looking for the culprit?”

Wilson sent Drew a glance, and Drew grasped its meaning. Wilson thought Drew was behind it. Well, good luck proving that. “A killer is targeting Shelley. What are you doing about it?” Charlie demanded.

“We are following several leads of inquiry…” “Oh, don’t give us the standard BS line. Do you have a viable suspect?” Jake cut Wilson off.

“We have a possible culprit and are building a case against him,” Wilson said, staring at Drew.

Drew laughed. “Then it’s a good job I can account for my whereabouts.

Before you sling mud, be warned: if you come for me, make sure you have rock-solid evidence because I am going to destroy your career.

I shall have my manager pass over my schedule for the last month.

Investigate all you want. But the hours you waste on me mean the real culprit gets away. ”

“I want your time as well,” Wilson stated.

Drew laughed. “My assistant will take care of that. I’m rather absentminded.

She can figuratively account for every minute of my day and night.

And before you ask if I have an alibi for the nights, I do and don’t.

I don’t have a girlfriend or a casual lover.

I do, however, have friends at whose places I stayed.

And if I’d snuck out of their homes, I’d have set their security systems off.

Be my guest, investigate freely and throw away your time.

” As Drew uttered the last few words, his Sin kicked its ugly head up.

Drew ruthlessly shoved Waste down and held the DI’s gaze.

“You’re awfully confident. That often comes before a fall,” DI Wilson sneered.

“As I said, go ahead. Lose valuable time looking into me. In the meantime, I’ll take steps to protect Shelley, something you’ve not yet offered,” Drew pointed out.

Wilson’s skin darkened as blood rushed to his face, and his temper rose. Drew calmly held his gaze and waited.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near your daughter,” Wilson said to Gail and Jake.

“He has a point, though, Detective Inspector. What are you doing to keep my sister safe?” Charlie demanded.

“We’re unclear—”

“In other words, nothing. In that case, your advice is worthless. If Drew is willingly letting you investigate him and cooperating by giving you his full diary, I doubt he’s the culprit. But as Drew said, waste your time on him. We’ll protect my sister,” Charlie cut the DI off.

Wilson sent him a dark stare, and Charlie returned it.

“Do you have a plan?” Charlie asked Drew.

Drew was momentarily surprised.

But Charlie hadn’t finished talking. “Wherever Shelley goes, I go too.”

Drew grinned at him. “How good are you at skiing?”

Shelley

It appeared Charlie and Drew had formed a bromance over the four days Shelley had been in hospital.

Whatever one said about her care, the other would automatically agree, and it was bugging her.

With her parents’ agreement, Drew was whisking Charlie and Shelley off somewhere safe.

When Shelley argued that Charlie had to work, both her dad and Charlie smirked.

Charlie worked for their father. Which meant Charlie could basically take whatever time off he wanted, within reason. Shelley ground her teeth as Drew and Charlie planned everything, and Jake stood by nodding.

“Is nobody going to ask me my thoughts?” Shelley demanded finally. The three men faced her in surprise.

“What?” Jake asked.

“You heard me. How dare you all discuss me as if I weren’t in the room or able to comprehend the danger!” Shelley hissed, annoyed.

“It’s not like that, darling…” Gail began.

Shelley sent her a scathing glance. She was tired and overwrought, and the DI had kept asking her the same questions. Even so, that didn’t excuse what Shelley said next.

“No, Mum? You don’t see an opportunity to marry me off and live my life the way you want?

Tied to the kitchen sink and spitting out babies?

Not my ideal, but hey, who cares what I think?

Apparently, my opinion doesn’t matter to anyone but myself.

Well, unfortunately for all of you, I’m still legally able to make my own decisions, and I refuse to play along with what you’ve planned! ”

A dead silence fell as Gail turned bright red in embarrassment. Jake’s eyebrows descended, a sure sign he was angry, and Charlie gaped like a fish. Drew, however, had faint admiration shining in his eyes.

“Don’t you ever…” Jake began, his voice rising.

“Get out! I don’t intend to listen to you berate me.

All four of you have just merrily planned my life without a word to me.

That’s rude, obnoxious, and, frankly, belittling to my intelligence.

Had a single one of you with a dick consulted me, I might have agreed.

But nope. I’ve boobs and a fanny, and that means I’m clearly a bimbo! ” Shelley continued.

Gail turned a deeper red, and Jake matched his wife in colour.

“Shelley…”

“No, Dad. I’m not interested. I need you all to get out! Like immediately!” Shelley wept, bringing a nurse rushing in.

“What’s going on?” she urged.

“I want them to leave, and they won’t!” Shelley cried.

“Out! Now! All of you. I won’t stand for you upsetting my patient,” the nurse demanded.

“We’re her parents!” Gail exclaimed.

“I don’t care if you’re the Queen of Sheba, Miss Evans has the right to determine who stays and who goes. She’s asked you to go, so please leave or I’ll call security!”

With that, the nurse ushered everyone out and shut the door firmly.

Tears streaming down her face, and not knowing why, Shelley turned her back to them and closed her eyes, silently crying. It was so unlike her to be rude and abrupt and to embarrass her parents. So, what on earth just happened?