A Howl for a Highlander (21 page)

“Sal’s pursuing me, not the other way around. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m happily pursuing a relationship with Duncan.”

She still thought it odd the way Kenneth had asked the question, as if he didn’t want her involved with his boss. She would have thought he’d want her to agree with whatever his boss wished.

“Tell him you’re not interested in having anything more to do with him. You obviously haven’t made that clear to him. Like you’re playing some damned cat-and-mouse game with the two men.”

She wondered if this was a personal issue. Perhaps a woman had played Kenneth for a fool—encouraging both him and someone else to take interest—and he had lost out.

Or maybe he was just worried that his boss didn’t have the wherewithal to battle someone like Duncan. That he might be a dangerous man to rile. Kenneth had seen firsthand that Duncan wasn’t one to sit back and play into anyone’s hands. Maybe he could tell that if Duncan was provoked too far, Kenneth might not have a job at all.

The bottom line was that she was worried about what Kenneth or the other men might be supposed to do to Duncan. Or her, even. “If your boss told you to kill someone, would you do it?”

Kenneth jerked his attention to her. “Hell, no. None of us do that kind of work. Is that what you thought?”

She thought the contradiction was funny. Kenneth could threaten and bully Duncan in a restaurant full of people, but when it came to taking a stand, he didn’t have the guts to do anything. He was all mouth, she thought. No real courage. But what if he had a gun? Would that give him enough nerve to put some backbone behind his threatening words?

“What am I supposed to think when you’re strong-arming Duncan like you’ve done and given him no choice in the matter? When you forcibly take Duncan to a private meeting with Sal, and then I’m left with you to guard me?”

He snorted. “It’s just so you don’t get any ideas. Go to the local police and stir up trouble, saying that we stole your boyfriend or something.” He turned his head to ask her, “How does he know Sal? My girlfriend said he has to.”

“He doesn’t. He just didn’t think that any boss should keep a man and a woman who are in love apart. Duncan told me she said she was upset because she keeps trying to get together with you and Sal keeps you from meeting up with her.”

Kenneth grunted, as if his job was more important. “She should have kept her big mouth shut.”

Hmm, the woman seemed more hung up on the worm than he was on her.

“Duncan’s one of the good guys,” Shelley said, except that his family had forced Scots off their lands. “So just like he sympathized with your girlfriend, he’s not at all pleased with Sal’s attempts to hook up with me. Wouldn’t you feel the same if some guy asked you to give up the girl you’re dating?”

Kenneth hesitated, then finally said under his breath, “For money, hell, I’d do anything.” He looked her over and sneered. “I’m sure the Scot will be asking for a lot of compensation, though. The question is: will what Sal offers be enough? What will happen when he pays it? I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes, lady.”

The threat barely registering, Shelley stared at the creep, his comment about money surprising the hell out of her. “Sal’s going to offer to buy me?”

***

Not expecting where Silverman’s men planned to take him, Duncan walked into a bar that was not open for another hour in George Town. They hadn’t taken him to Sal’s estate like he thought they would. Maybe Sal had decided on this establishment because he didn’t want Duncan anywhere near the inside of his estate.

Scowling, Sal leaned back in a leather chair, tapping his fingers on the tabletop with a sturdy rope braiding the edge. A ship’s hull with a bare-breasted mermaid masthead jutted into the room, the hull serving as a finger-food bar filled with fried chicken wings, shrimp on beds of ice, sushi, and mushrooms in a sauce, plus salad fixings. The place smelled of beer and whiskey as classical music drifted overhead.

Sal motioned for the bartender to bring them whatever Duncan wanted. “Whiskey,” he said, and Sal ordered one, too.

“Kenneth’s girlfriend said you knew me,” Sal said after the bartender served their drinks, then disappeared.

Even Sal’s henchmen who had brought Duncan there waited outside.

“How would I know anything about you? I’m here on vacation. The only thing I know about you is that you’re trying to hit on Shelley.” Duncan sounded really peeved, which wasn’t in the least put on.

“You had trouble getting a room when you first arrived,” Sal said, ignoring his comment about Shelley.

“Aye.”

“Shelley said you gave her a lift from the airport to her villa.”

So Sal was trying to verify everything that had happened between Duncan and Shelley? “She was waiting for a taxi, aye. I gave her a ride and took a couple to their hotel, as well.”

“As a good Samaritan.”

“As far as Shelley was concerned, aye. I hadn’t intended to also take the couple to their rental.”

Sal nodded. “Understandable. To attract the she-wolf, you made the effort, especially since you have nothing else going for you. Not even a room to stay at. So out of the goodness of her heart, she allowed you to stay at her villa.”

Duncan wasn’t going to deny it or tell Sal he was paying half of the cost. That wouldn’t look good when this man would have footed the whole bill, although the bastard would have been using Duncan’s people’s money.

“I’m a very wealthy man. I could give Shelley whatever she dreamed of having. Can you?” Sal asked.

Duncan raised his brows. “Monetarily, nay. In other ways, aye.”

Sal stiffened, getting the point of what Duncan was saying. “I’m interested in seeing Shelley further, and you seem to be an impediment.”

“Aye.” Duncan fought smiling. For the first time, Sal was squirming. Duncan liked to see Sal squirm since he didn’t figure the man did that often.

“How much would it take for you to leave the island and give her no further thought?”

Duncan pondered the question. If he mentioned the amount that Silverman had stolen from his clan, he predicted the man would not connect it to any one individual account. Duncan wanted to say the entire amount, plus the interest that should have accrued. He wasn’t greedy; he just believed in justice. Not that he could be bought off to leave Shelley to the snake.

But he did tell him what Sal owed him, wanting to be up front and honest with the man when Sal himself could not be. “Two hundred and fifty million pounds sterling,” Duncan said.

Sal looked aghast for only the briefest of moments. Then he had the nerve to smile, figuring Duncan was making a joke. “That’s a lot of money for one little female wolf.”

“She’s a hell of a lot of wolf.” Duncan suspected Silverman might have seen Shelley and him frolicking in the ocean. Although he couldn’t see this stiff-necked fool doing anything of the sort, who knew what Sal was capable of when it came to women?

“What makes you think I have that kind of money or that I’d want to pay it for the privilege of seeing a wolf without your interference?”

“You’re the one who said you were wealthy and asked how much it would take to buy me off.”

Sal liked money too much. Duncan didn’t think the bastard would kill him to keep the money and get the girl. He also believed Sal thought he might be able to give Duncan a pittance, and he would go away. Now the thief saw that he couldn’t.

Duncan downed his drink and rose from the table. “Two hundred and fifty million pounds,” he reiterated. “She’s worth every farthing. But even if you paid me off to leave, she would decide whether she wished to see you or not.”

Sal looked a little sick. Duncan was beginning to think Shelley was right. Because of the money and power he wielded, the man was never denied anything he wanted. For the moment, Duncan was completely dumbfounded.

He slammed the door to the bar as he exited and said to Silverman’s two thugs, “Take me to the reserve where Shelley is.”

The spokesman opened the door and said to the boss man, “Is it all right to take him to the girl at the reserve?”

“Yeah. Take him,” Sal growled, and Duncan had the feeling that this business concerning Shelley wasn’t over between him and Sal.

The situation got Duncan thinking about Sal’s mate and how she would feel if she knew he was trying to see another wolf. She might know about his interest in human females and not care, although most
lupus
garou
mates would. Maybe she was satisfied to live well and ignore his indiscretions with human women.

With a wolf? She might not be so forgiving.

***

Ian had Guthrie research everything he could about Duncan’s new she-wolf friend. It was the first time Duncan had ever been interested in a female wolf. He denied he had any long-term interest in her, but Ian knew his brother better than that. At least he thought he did. He assumed they would soon have a new American wolf living in the castle.

He would have kept this to himself, only telling his new American mate what he was thinking. But since he was sending Cearnach to be with Duncan, he wanted Cearnach to know that if he attempted to work his charms on the lass, he and Duncan might come to blows. They needed to work together, not fight over a female wolf.

“You sent for me?” Cearnach asked, stalking into Duncan’s office, his shoulders back and his countenance serious for once.

Of all the brothers, he was the most cheerful, no matter what the circumstances, so Ian figured his next eldest brother assumed Duncan was in trouble and was ready to rescue him.

“Aye. I need you to fly to Grand Cayman Island to assist Duncan. Guthrie’s arranged a flight that will get you there tomorrow night. Duncan will pick you up at the airport. You’ll be staying with him at a villa with a Shelley Campbell.”

Cearnach’s posture changed from stiff to relaxed in an instant. He took a seat across from Duncan’s desk. “Tell me about this lass. Scottish?”

“American.”

That didn’t faze Cearnach in the least. “Human?”

Ian hesitated too long to say. He knew his brothers would have words over the wolf.

Cearnach smiled broadly. “A wolf?” He didn’t say it as a question to Ian, but more to himself. He looked delighted with the prospect.

“She’s Duncan’s.”

Cearnach’s brows arched. “He’s taken her as his mate? Mother will have a conniption that she wasn’t consulted.”

“Nay, he hasn’t mated her.”

“Ah, but it’s in the making. Hmm, maybe I need to show him the error of his ways.”

Ian straightened. He didn’t need the additional aggravation. “You will do no such thing. Leave her alone. I don’t need the two of you coming to blows over the woman.”

“He’s serious, then.
Duncan
. I can’t imagine. She must be a warrior maiden to be able to handle him.”

“I believe she’s more of a maiden in peril, the way Duncan tells it.”

“Well, it will be interesting to meet her and find out all about her. I just can’t see Duncan falling all over himself for an American wolf.” Cearnach folded his arms across his broad chest. “What about Sal Silverman and our money?”

“He’s now after Shelley. Duncan hasn’t made any headway about the money.”

Cearnach’s mouth dropped open. “Bloody bastard.”

“Aye. I’m thinking we might all need to take a vacation on Grand Cayman Island. For now, I’m sending you to scout out the situation. Duncan’s getting in way over his head with this.”

Cearnach chuckled darkly. “Because of a lass.” He shook his head, stood, and added, “I take it no one knows of this latest development concerning Duncan and the lass?”

“Nay.”

“Why not, Ian? If he’s as serious as you think he is—”

“It’s his decision to let the clan know what he plans to do about her. I’m not sure he’s come to any decision of his own. Until then—”

“I have a sporting chance.”

“Do you want me to send Guthrie in your stead?” Ian asked harshly. He would not be disobeyed in this. If Cearnach even considered making a move for the wolf Duncan was interested in—

Cearnach grinned and waved his hand as if dismissing the notion. “Nay, I will keep my hands and my thoughts to myself.”

“Aye, and watch your tongue. That is the worst of it.”

Cearnach laughed, turned, and left Ian’s office. Ian was wondering again if he should send Guthrie instead.

***

When Duncan reached the reserve, he stormed down the path, trying to keep his blood pressure from going through the roof and hating that Kenneth, the mealy little bastard, was alone with Shelley. If he so much as touched an inch of her skin, Kenneth was a dead man.

One of Silverman’s goons followed Duncan, trying to keep up with his long strides to make sure Duncan didn’t kill Kenneth if he was doing something he shouldn’t to Shelley. As angrily as Shelley had looked at Kenneth at the villa, Duncan was fairly sure that she was ready to shift and take care of the creep herself.

She’d gone much farther into the forest than he’d thought she might. When he finally reached her, she was standing before some kind of tropical tree, photographing its leaves and huge gourds hanging in clusters. Kenneth was watching until he heard Duncan stalking up the path, and then he turned to see the rampaging wolf in human form headed for them.