Page 22

Chapter

Twenty-One

T he ex-mayor of Smokethorn answered the door in a pair of black-and-white checked flannel pajamas trimmed with lace and a pair of fuzzy black slippers. Her hair was in rollers, she wore no makeup, and her bifocals were last in style somewhere around 1995.

“Witch Betty. To what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked, in a tone that conveyed my appearance on her doorstep was anything but a pleasure.

“Where is he, Felicia?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My face must’ve expressed my anger, because she took a step back. “Does Alpha Vincent—your alpha—know he’s here?”

“Know who’s here?”

“She asked, didn’t she?” I proceeded as if she’d told the truth. “Seems like you could get into big trouble for a lie like that.”

“Silencio, pendeja.” Felicia grabbed me by the front of my shirt and pulled me into the house. “Are you trying to get him killed?”

She gave me a hard shove from behind, and I came to a halt beside her living room coffee table. I recognized two people in the room, but everyone else was a stranger to me.

Calvin Holland and his girlfriend Jenny Perkins waved to me from the sofa.

“Finally,” Jenny said, “someone who can help.” She scowled at Felicia. “Nice to see you’re finally showing some sense.”

One of the men, a well-dressed twenty-something with military-short black hair, spoke up. “Mamá, he specifically said not to involve any witches.”

“I didn’t involve her, Mauricio,” Felicia said. “She involved herself.”

“Where is he?” I demanded.

Felicia shrugged and looked at the ceiling.

“Bring him to me right now ,” I yelled, “or I am going to pitch a fit so big you’ll be able to see it from godsdamn space!”

“Pitch a fit ? I’m hurt, bonita.” His voice was soft and deep, like a finger stroking up my spine. “Really thought you’d go with something more violent on my behalf.”

I spun around. “ Ronan .”

“Hello, Betty.” He leaned against the wall in the hallway, ankles crossed. He’d lost weight, and there was something stiff in the way he stood there, like he wasn’t leaning against the wall for effect but because he needed the support.

The relief started in my heels and spiraled upward, spinning into my head, which went weightless. I broke out in goosebumps, my skin first heating then growing icy cold. My chest felt crushed by a sudden excess of gravity, and my lumbering breath broke free with a metallic rasp.

“I am going to murder you,” I said.

“There’s a lot of that going around,” he replied.

“Where the hell have you been? Your fingers look entirely too unbroken to not have texted me back. Or phoned or, I don’t know, sent a fucking homing pigeon. How dare you. How could you?” My voice cracked. “Why didn’t you come to me? ”

Hazel eyes, more green than brown at the moment, fixed on my face. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“You said you wanted to be the one I called when I was sick or sad or lonely,” I whispered.

“I do.” He reached for me, and I backed away.

“You said we’re together and that you don’t give a damn who knows it, remember? Yet the moment things got hard, you went straight for the exit. You left me.” I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. My body didn’t know if I was angry, afraid, or so happy to see him I could die.

“No, I didn’t. Betty, we are together. Nothing about the way this went down has been planned. In fact, I had a plan in place, and it all went to shit when Floyd and the coven moved against me. I didn’t have time to do anything except survive.”

Another body blow. “You had a plan and didn’t tell me?”

“Plan might be a strong word. I told you some of what was going on that day in your garden room. What I knew at the time, anyway.” His gaze flicked to the people in the living room. “Do you want to talk about this in private?”

“What’s there to talk about?”

“Us.”

“ There is no us .”

The color dropped out of his face. It wasn’t as if there’d been much there, either. He’d spent a lot of time working the night shift lately and lost what little tan he’d once had. “Don’t say that.”

“What do we have together? When you needed help, you hid from me. You didn’t trust that I was strong enough to protect you—hell, you didn’t have enough respect to send me a message telling me you were alive .”

“I was protecting you .” His eyes flashed gold, a sure sign he was feeling emotional, which was a nicer way of saying it was a sure sign I was pissing him off.

Good.

“I don’t need protection,” I said .

“And I do?”

“Obviously, yes.” I swept my hands over the air in front of him, a gesture meant to encompass his entire body. “Look at you. You can barely stand.”

“And look at you. Unhurt and safe.” He inhaled a worrying breath that caved in his belly and lowered his voice. “Floyd isn’t going to come at me directly. He’s going to hurt the people I care about.”

“That was always going to happen. He hated me even before you came along,” I said, in the same low, whispery tone he’d used. “But this isn’t about him. It’s about you.”

He clenched his jaw and looked away.

“You promised to come for me, and I promised to come for you. Always. But the moment that promise was put to the test, you backed down.”

“I didn’t back down, damn it!”

“That’s exactly what you did.” I was furious and hurt, and I needed not to talk to him right now lest I say something regretful.

I turned away and went further into the living room. Everyone looked uncomfortable, except Jenny, who nodded at me in what I took to be a show of solidarity.

“How did this go down, Felicia?” I asked. “How did you end up with him?”

“Hard to say. Must’ve been my sweet good nature and merciful bedside manner,” the rat shifter replied drily.

“Or it was your way of getting revenge on Alpha Floyd,” Jenny drawled.

Her smile was wide and immediate. “Or that.”

“And Alpha Lydia doesn’t have a clue, right?”

Felicia’s smile faltered.

“That’s our fault,” Calvin said, indicating himself and Jenny. “We brought him here and begged her not to tell. Felicia’s the only person we know who hates Floyd more than you do, Betty. Also, she’s Jenny’s second cousin, and she trusted her to keep our secret, so?—”

“Last week you were singing Floyd’s praises, Felicia. How did they find out how much you hate him?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t break our deal, if that’s what you mean.” Felicia sniffed. “Anyway, you’d have known if I did.”

“Then how?”

“I called Jenny and had her look over the Smokethorn-La Paloma agreement, something I should’ve done in the first godsdamn place but was too prideful to ask. Jenny’s sharp as a tack. She found some pretty rotten things he’d built into the agreement.” Felicia smiled at her cousin, who tipped her head back. “Turns out, there are a lot of reasons to hate the alpha leader that have nothing to do with our deal.”

“Another reason we brought him here is because Felicia’s son is a nurse at La Paloma Regional.” Calvin thumbed in the direction of the young man with the short haircut. “Ronan was pretty banged up when we found him.”

I glanced at Ronan. “And he’s not banged up now?”

“I’m better. I was able to break away from the witches before they could do their worst,” he said.

“And who helped you break away? Or are you going to lie to me about that, too?” I asked without looking at him.

“Don’t accuse me of something I didn’t do. I haven’t told you a single lie.”

“Omission,” I said.

He growled and shuffled closer, keeping his shoulder against the wall. “A person helped me at great cost to themselves. I won’t broadcast the name because it could get them killed.”

It had to be Mason Hartman.

Again.

There was just no one else it could’ve been. Who else knew what Floyd and the witches had planned?

“Unbelievable. That lying liar.” I fisted my hands until my fingernails cut into my palms. “When I cash in the favors he owes me, I’m going to be sure to make them painful . ”

“I didn’t tell you who it was,” Ronan said then added, “He owes you favors? Why?”

I glared at him. Nope, we weren’t changing the subject. “So this anonymous person dropped you off at Calvin’s?”

“No. The person sent a man who helped me escape the witches.”

“Who?”

“No idea. Never seen him before.”

“And yet you assumed he was a friend?”

“I assumed anything had to be better than being spelled by half a coven and repeatedly stabbed.”

Gordon’s Mara blade. I felt even better about destroying the thing.

“I was able to make it to the senior apartments on my own before collapsing. Then Calvin and Jenny helped me.”

“He was bleeding all over,” Calvin said. “Almost didn’t recognize him.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Calvin looked at Ronan, who said, “I told him not to involve you.”

“Great. Wonderful. Fan-fucking-tastic idea. You’re attacked by the local coven and decide not to call your witch girlfriend, who happens to be the single most qualified person in town to help you.” I threw up my hands. “What kind of spell did the coven use?”

“Didn’t catch the name, but to be fair, I was way more focused on all the bleeding I was doing.”

“Just tell me what it did.”

“The spell knocked me out, but only for a short time. Mostly it made me clumsy and stupid, like I was drunk. Even so, I should’ve been able to fight off three weak witches, but with every plunge of the blade, I grew more and more confused.” He shook his head. “I should’ve shifted, but when I tried, it was as if I’d forgotten how.”

“Mauricio was able to stop the bleeding and keep him from going into shock,” Felicia said, with a proud look at her son. “After a couple of days, Ronan was able to shift and heal the wounds.”

“Most of them, anyway,” Ronan grumbled. “The dagger lacerated muscle and drove into bone. It was as if the confusion wasn’t only in my brain, but in the wounds. Even after shifting several times, I’m not back to full strength.”

“Of course you aren’t,” I said. “You were stabbed with a Mara blade. You can’t heal wounds like that with human healthcare—no offense, Mauricio, I know you did your best.”

The nurse shrugged. “None taken. I’m aware of my limitations.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying.” Jenny stood and held out a hand for Calvin, who climbed to his feet with her help. I’d need to get him another charm soon. It looked like the one Cecil made to ease his arthritis stiffness was weakening. “You can’t heal a shifter with human medicine—no offense, kid, you did your best.”

“And again, none taken,” Mauricio said.

“You can ask Calvin. I said, ‘Ronan needs a witch,’” Jenny continued as if Mauricio hadn’t spoken, “‘and the coven is the enemy.’”

“The coven is dead,” I said. “The ones responsible for hurting him, anyway.”

Ronan’s head jerked up. His gaze held mine. Questioning.

“Good riddance,” Jenny said without missing a beat. “Now that you’re here, you can help him. He needs you, Betty.”

“How convenient for him,” I drawled.

Ronan scowled. “Betty, godsdamn it.”

“Hey.” Felicia held up her hands. “I’ve been telling him this all along, too. He was the one who said not to call you.”

Ronan cursed under his breath.

“There’s a lot of that going around,” I said, throwing his words from a moment ago at him.

“Come on,” he said. “I screwed up. I get it now, I really do. But my brain wasn’t sending that message to the rest of me for some reason. I swear, it won’t?—”

“No, it won’t.” I dug in my purse for his keys and tossed them to him. “Here. Your truck is at my place because I borrowed it when I was wasting time searching for you. I’ll send Margaux over to take a look at your injuries. You can trust her as much as you can trust the rest of us here. In fact, I’d say she’s got even more beef with Floyd than Felicia and me since he arranged for her to be ousted from her own coven.”

“Whoa,” Felicia said.

“Couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” Jenny muttered.

“About that. We were all kind of wrong about her.” Ouch. It really pained me to say that. Like physically hurt.

“Ousted?” Ronan frowned. He moved so that he was the only person in my line of vision.

“Floyd bribed Desmond Mace to challenge Margaux for the coven after she refused to kill you at his request. Three of the coven members lied about the winner of the challenge to get Desmond into power, which—long story short—really backfired on them when he turned around and murdered them.”

“ What ?”

“Follow along here. Your father gave a witch a cursed book as payment for killing you.”

“Cursed book ? No, wait.” He shook his head. “Floyd thought someone like Desmond Mace could take me down?”

“Hey, don’t get too cocky. The dude was powered by cursed magic. I barely defeated him, and that ended up being a joint project with the rats, the wolves, and me. I’m going to have nightmares about the sounds of all that chewing .”

“When did this happen?”

“During the time you were hiding out here trying to ‘protect me.’” I used quotation fingers, which was an annoying thing to do, but I was feeling petty. “But, hey, don’t worry. Desmond is dead, and the rats and I saved the good witches. Everything turned out just peachy. Because I handled it.” I slung my bag over my shoulder and stormed out the front door.

“Betty—”

I spun around. “I had him right fucking here, Ronan.” I opened my fist and pointed to the palm of my hand. “I could’ve ended him, and it would’ve taken no more energy than batting away a gnat. All my problems, yours, and those of anyone else your dad has screwed over would’ve gone away.”

“Why didn’t you do it?” The way he asked it, softly and without the anger of a moment before, told me he was glad I hadn’t.

“Because someone told me it would make it harder for you . That the pack wouldn’t accept you, and that you’d end up going through the same shit you dealt with back in Arizona.”

“You were protecting me. Like I pro?—”

“No. Uh-uh . We are not the same. I never lied to you.” I walked out.

Ronan yelled after me—or tried to. His voice was hoarse, weak. “Betty, don’t do this. Don’t walk away.”

“I’ve got nothing left to say.”

I was back in my Mini, key jammed in the ignition, the radio blaring Heart’s “Barracuda,” when I received an anonymous text.

Get him out of there. Now.

I looked around, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. Instead of dwelling on the feeling, I scrabbled for the car door, nearly spilled onto the street in my haste, and ran back inside. Ronan was exactly where I’d left him beside the door.

“Calvin, Jenny, go home,” I said. “Ronan, come with me. Felicia, I hope you have a protection spell on this house, because I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

“He’s coming?” Her breath caught and her eyes glimmered. I couldn’t decide if she was scared or excited. “Excellent.”

Excited, then. “You aren’t worried he might retaliate?”

“No.” She ticked off the reasons on her fingers. “Number one, I was protecting the beloved son of my good friend. Number two, I had no idea the alpha was looking for him. Number three, I might not have told Alpha Vincent that I was harboring the wolf alpha’s son, but that’s a lesser crime than Alpha Floyd attacking a member of the rat pack. For the first, I risk condemnation and, at worst, expulsion. For the second, he risks war.”

Her mean-spirited glee was contagious. I wished her success and turned to Ronan, who lurched for the front door, slamming it shut behind Jenny and Calvin. The couple hadn’t wasted any time following my advice and were already halfway to her car.

“I can’t abandon these people. Everyone here helped me when I needed it most.”

I gave him my fiercest look. “Ronan, the way the text was worded told me we don’t have time to argue about this, so I’m going to lay it out so you can start trucking your skinny butt to the car.”

One of his eyebrows arched at the skinny butt comment.

“If you stay here, you’ll not only get yourself killed, you’ll get everyone here killed, including me.” I sighed and said the thing I’d been thinking since I first saw his beautiful damn face today. “While I wouldn’t mind doing the horizontal Macarena with you and think we might have a future if you dropped that whole superior, shifter, must protect non-wolf people attitude, I don’t intend to die because in your misguided, confused brain you think facing your father and his pack while you’re injured makes you a hero.”

“Damn.” Mauricio whistled. “If you do decide to break up with him, would you consider going out with me? I appreciate a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”

Ronan growled.

“You’re too young for me, Mauricio, but thanks for the offer.” I jabbed my thumb at the door. “Move it, Pallás. Felicia’s not helpless and doesn’t need you or anyone else to ride to her rescue. The woman is mean as a snake and resourceful as hell, and you’re a distraction.”

“Thank you,” Felicia said.

“ Thanks for the offer ?” Ronan roared.

“That’s it.” I brushed past him, threw open the door, and grabbed his hand. He let me lead him through the doorway, which was when I realized exactly how hurt he was.

Something was really off with him .

“Just so we’re clear, my ass isn’t skinny.” He tumbled into the passenger seat. Fell into it, if I was being precise.

“Noted.” I slammed the door and ran around the car.

Ten seconds later, we were on the road.

A black SUV headed in the opposite direction flipped a U and ran up on my bumper. I cursed and floored the Mini. We were a minute from home.

“What’s happening?” Ronan sounded like he was underwater. “Why are you driving like the Bandit? Is there a smokey on our tail?”

Goddess, if he was referencing iconic seventies movies at a time like this, he was definitely messed up.

“Your papa’s trying to run us off the road,” I said.

“My papa’s dead. His name was Abel Williams. That’s my real last name, you know. I only took Pallás because?—”

BAM!

The Mini lurched forward. I glanced in the rearview and saw Mason behind the wheel. Floyd was in the passenger seat. He looked bloated and pale, like he hadn’t quite recovered from what I’d done to him.

Nice.

“The parking lot’s right there,” Ronan said, in the tone of a drunk trying to sound sober. “Slow down or you’re going to— holy shit !”