Andrew: Lanning’s Leap: Erotica Shapeshifter Romance (Lanning's Leap Book 5) (15 page)

“Now. Here is what’s going to happen. I’m going to ask you some questions and Andrew here isn’t going to eat you. He might yet, but for now, we’re going to get some answers. Does that sound like a plan to you?” When he didn’t answer her, she commanded him to. The power of it took his breath away. “Answer me.”

“Yes. A plan. Is he going to chase me into the sun?” Laci shrugged. “I’ll answer your questions, but don’t let him chase me. I refuse to die that way.”

“Well, that really is too bad now, isn’t it? My first question. What did Sonya tell you was the reason for her wanting me killed?” He asked her how she’d found out about that. “I’m very smart. Especially when someone tries to murder me. What was her reason?”

“She said that she didn’t want you to become mated to a Lanning.” The man seemed to just realize what she’d said earlier about her mother-in-law being a Lanning. “I guess that went to shit. But there is one more of you, so maybe I can fix that one.”

Rider felt all their eyes turn to him. His mate. The man was talking about his mate. He wanted to know what their plans for her were, but Laci spoke before he could ask.

“This other woman, what is she? Human? Something more?” He said that he didn’t know. “But you and Sonya had a plan to kill her as well? Because of this plan that she had to keep the man unmated.”

“We do plan to kill all of you eventually. But Sonya said that so long as even one of you guys didn’t have your mate, she’d won. I don’t know what it was, but the bitch pays well and that’s all I really cared about. Can you have him back the fuck up?” Martin whimpered so loudly that they all heard him when Andrew moved closer to him. “This is not helping me think. Tell him to back off.”

“You don’t need to think, moron. Just keep telling us what you know. Or I can go in your head and get it. I understand that raping a person’s head is pretty painful. I’m not any good at it, but I’m sure you won’t mind being my first, would you?” He told her to ask the fucking questions so he could go. “How very kind of you. How much magic did she give you? I’m guessing more than you needed to come and get me. And she funded you as well, didn’t she? What happens now?”

“You know about the magic too? Well, fuck. Yeah, she said it was my reward. That and fucking her. She wasn’t all that good, but she seemed to think she was.” He cupped his balls and made a fucking motion with his other hand. Rider glanced at his mom, but she was watching little Kelly instead of the goings on in front of them. He was sure she could hear him, but for now she wasn’t looking.

“I’m sure that the two of you made a lovely couple. Her a caustic bitch and you a dickless wonder. Did you know that she’s dead?” Martin nodded. “I see. And so why would you continue on trying to kill the mates to the Lanning men if you knew that?”

“There is more to come to whoever kills the last one of you cunts. It’s some sort of spell that she put out there for us to get when the last one is murdered. I was the closest running for it, by the way. There are more of us out there. I just happen to be the one closest to getting to you fuckers.” Martin grinned at her when she asked him what sort of spell. “It’s in this big fucking safe. I saw it once. Double door sucker that looks like you could hold a few bodies in it. I think I might just stuff yours in it with that other broad when I find her. It’d be fitting I think. But she had this guy load it for her. I don’t think he knew what it was for. But he was some old fucker that got a shit load of money and magic. She told me once that when this was done, she was going to enjoy killing him off and taking what should have been hers in the first place. Not sure what that meant, but I’m going to get that magic.”

Rider felt the tension around him heat up. There was magic out there, and a great deal of it for someone to kill his mate. He had to grip the railing tightly or go and kill the man. Instead of being upset, Laci laughed. He wondered what she might find so.... Christ. It occurred to him then that Laci had the magic that was supposed to go to the winner of killing his mate. Rider felt both relieved and terrified at the same time.

“You have any information on the other people coming to get us?” Martin said that there were hundreds after them. “No, there’s not. There were only four others besides you. Three of which are already dead. Just as you will be soon. Before I do this, I want to tell you thanks. Thanks to you, a great many things are now clearer to me. And we know what we have to work with. Enjoy your time in hell, you fucking asshole. And this is for Cyrus.”

Martin screamed when the tent rolled back. No one moved as the man seemed to not just catch fire but become the very flame of hell, just as Monroe had said. When his screams were cut off, Rider turned his back with the rest of his family and let the man die alone. He didn’t want to see the last seconds of his dying, no matter how afraid he was for his own mate.

When Laci put her hand on his arm, Rider felt the need to hug her. Pulling her into his arms, he held her tightly. Christ, he loved these women, all of them, and was thankful every day that they’d come to them.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get any more information for you.” He nodded, his heart too heavy to speak. “Rider, we’ll find her. Safely too. She’s going to come here, kick your ass, and make you very happy.”

“I’d just be happy if she were all right.” She nodded and he let her go. “Thank you for what you did. That couldn’t have been easy for you.”

She nodded and moved away from him. Rider needed a run, he decided. He was making his way to the trees behind the house when he felt someone moving toward him. Rider paused when he saw James coming out of the woods as his big wolf.

I’d like some company if you don’t mind joining me.
Rider nodded.
I’m having a day—a week really—and could use a good run with a cat. We could beat the shit out of each other too if you don’t mind.

Yeah, sounds like a plan.
Stripping off his shirt, he let his cat take him. He was tackling the big wolf even as his pants untangled from his foot. Rider needed something hard, mean, and bloody. James didn’t pull back, and the two of them fought like they were ready for murder.

After an hour of both of them giving as good as they got, they ended up by the pond at the end of the property. Rider licked a couple of his wounds clean, glad for the first time that he could heal quickly and not be killed easily. The big wolf hadn’t been kidding when he said that he wanted someone to tussle with. When James laughed, Rider asked him if he was all right now.

Better. My wife is pissed at me.
Rider didn’t ask. If James wanted him to know, then he’d tell him.
She’s working for Charlie. Well, sort of working for her. She’s been making blankets for her shop. I know that she’s having fun at it, and all I said was she should spend the money she makes on herself, not the kids.

I don’t understand. Why would that make her pissed off at you? I mean, she made the money, right? Why shouldn’t she get herself something for all her hard work?
James said that’s what he thought.
But she didn’t think so.

No.
James sat there for several more minutes, and Rider was thinking of mates and the strangeness of them.
I don’t air my problems, but I feel that if I don’t talk to someone soon, I might go over the edge. The pack is having money issues. We’ve no income coming in right now. Well, very little. The people in the pack, they’re having a hard time of it, and I’ve delayed any dues they might owe to me for a while. But my own bills are mounting up.

How bad is it?
James just lay there, and Rider could see something that he’d not noticed before. James had lost weight. And a great deal of it.
You’re suffering, and so is your wolf from worrying about this.

We all are. I’m not sleeping well. I know that Ruby isn’t either. Our own bills are just over five grand. Not a lot compared to some, I guess, but lucky for us the house is paid for and we have no car payment. But other things are beginning to come due.
Rider asked him why his pack was having money issues
. Remember that plant that came to town about fifteen years ago? The one that made those specialty boxes for stupid people with pets?

Yes. They didn’t last long. You didn’t invest in that, did you?
James said that he’d not had any money to do such a thing. Then it hit Rider what the problem was
. But your people did.

Yes, against my advice. And now that there are people suing the company for unfulfilled orders, they’re being hit hard. I know that most of them have given up their entire savings to pay them back. And as you know, while I have a large pack, they’re mostly families with young. Sitters cost money, and so do cars to go out of town to get jobs.

I can help you out.
James said that’s not why he’d told him.
I know that. Christ, man, you’re my friend and I want to help you out.

We need to have a business come to town. That would help everyone out. I mean, something that will hire a few hundred people.
Rider thought about that.
The trickle-down theory on that would help everyone, including you guys.

You mean because of the influx of money. You think that the town would prosper as well.
He nodded.
Do you have any ideas on what sort of business you think needs to come here? I’m not without contacts. Perhaps there is a business that is looking for a place to put a warehouse or something.

I don’t know.
He stood up then, and so did Rider.
My mate calls to me. I need to go back. Thank you, Rider, for letting me vent to you. I needed that a lot more than I thought. I don’t need to tell you to not tell anyone, do I? I mean, I’d rather not have your family thinking me a failure.

No one would think that, James. We’ve all been there.
James nodded and moved deeper in the woods.
I’m going to look into that. The business.

Thank you, but it’s all right, Rider. You’re a good man.
Rider didn’t feel like a good man. Making his way back to the house, he thought that he was sort of a shit. Smiling, he wondered how many of his brothers would agree with him.

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