FRACTURED (12 page)

He looked at me angrily, but I could see him processing that thought. It eased the harshness in his face ever so slightly.

“Please go on,” I urged.

“The reason we killed the last alpha isn't quite what we let on before,” he said with hesitation. “The truth is that we acquired evidence indicating that he had been selling his own to someone for testing, but testing for what and by whom we never found out. I overheard him on the phone one night. He was talking to whoever had Jemma. He told them to kill the bitch if it wasn't working. He had her murdered.” He paused for a moment, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. “The rage I felt was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I tore him to pieces with my bare hands before I even realized what I was doing.”

“And that's why you left,” I uttered as my heart fell into my stomach.

“We had no choice,” Janner offered from his place in the doorway.

“Had we stayed, the repercussions would have been immense. The next alpha couldn't have allowed that kind of mutinous behavior, so he gave us one chance to escape with our lives. We took it. It was only later that we learned that he might have orchestrated the entire event. I'm quite certain he used us.”

“If you have served your purpose to him, why are you so convinced that he will come for you?” Sean asked frankly.

“Like I said before, he has no honor. And, to be honest, I think he was a little frightened by Ali's display that night," Janner explained.

“Many of the pack saw how easily he tore through our late leader. I was there. I've never seen anything like it in all my years, though I don't think it could be reproduced on demand. He was beyond lethal. Tobias will have that weighing on the back of his mind at all times, wondering if we'll come back for him. He was Deacon's right-hand man. He's known all along what was going on and decided to play both sides of the fence while it suited his purposes. I'm afraid he's still carrying out whatever had been started. From what we've heard through the grapevine, pack members are still going missing...”

“Interesting theory, but I'm not buying it,” Cooper said, moving closer to me.

“Would you not avenge Ruby if something were to ever happen to her?” Ali asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft and distant.

Cooper growled.

“I would stop at nothing to take down anyone or anything that harmed a single hair on her head,” he rumbled threateningly. "A point that you would be wise to remember―
very
wise.”

“Then you understand how I feel, and you know it gives validity to Tobias' fear,” Alistair added. “My revenge isn't complete until all who hurt Jemma are cold and dead.
All
of them.”

Sean stirred behind me and I jumped; I'd nearly forgotten he was there.

“This Tobias,” he said, walking toward Alistair. “Do you have proof that he knew what was going on or that he's still doing it now?"

Alistair's expression went grim. “No, not directly. Everything we had obtained about Deacon's involvement was through Tobias. Even the phone call I overheard; Tobias had tipped me off to it. When we left, all that evidence was left behind, and I'm sure has been long since destroyed.

We were hoping that maybe the PC could assist us in locating some new information." Sean's eyes narrowed accusingly. “When we heard about Ruby, we also heard that she may have had some...
influence
with the PC.

We were hoping that she would help us with that as well.”

“Sean,” I said quietly, “I know you're uneasy about this, but Alistair is right. You both would go to any length to hurt someone that tried to harm me or anyone else you love. Can't you empathize with his situation?

And, really, if there's some psycho selling off pack members to God only knows what fate, can you tell me you're okay with that?" He stared at me without responding, so I pulled out the big guns. “I was sold off...,” I whispered, moving closer to him. “Please, I want to help them. You have to understand why.”

I reached up onto my toes, not caring that everyone in the room was staring, and kissed him softly. His forest green eyes penetrated mine, telling me that he was willing to concede, but less than thrilled with the idea.

“I will have one of the brothers go to London to check on matters there,” he said, speaking over top of me to Janner. "And I'll alert those already there to be on watch for anything suspicious. Perhaps a mild crackdown will strike a little fear into this Tobias' heart, if he has one.”

“That would be much appreciated,” Janner replied with great sincerity.

“Thank you,” Alistair added. He looked so vulnerable standing in the middle of my living room― young and grief-stricken.

“Cooper,” I called as I turned to face him. “Can you accept this?”

He audibly sighed.

“I can. For now. But we're going to have to set some serious ground rules first. If it comes to a choice between our safety and theirs, those bitches are going down any day of the week."

“Cooper,” Janner said, lowering his head slightly to avert his gaze.

An act of submission. “We do not wish to bring harm to you or yours. If it becomes a situation where that is the bottom line, we will happily give ourselves up so as to divert any violence away from you both. Will that appease you?"

“It's a start...”

“Okay then,” I said, walking down the hall to the linen closet.

“Looks like we're going to have a good old-fashioned sleepover."

“No,” Cooper and Sean barked just seconds apart.

“They are not staying here,” Sean informed me. It was clear by his tone that there was no negotiating that point.

“Well, they could stay upstairs,” I offered in compromise. He looked at me dubiously. “Sean, it's late. Just for tonight. It should be fine.

It won't even be comfortable; they'll be miserable, doesn't that make you feel better?"

“Immensely.”

I loaded up my arms with every extra sheet, blanket, and comforter I could find. I didn't have extra pillows, so I stopped by the couch to swipe all the toss cushions I could find off of it. Cooper and Sean watched me intently as I did, neither one of them lifting a hand to help. It was their silent declaration that, though they had conceded to my desire to help our little stray wolves, they weren't happy about it. They were growing more and more alike every day.

“Here,” I said, loading up Alistair's arms with the bedding. “Follow me.”

I made my way out onto the landing and led the trio up to the third floor with Sean and Cooper pulling up the rear. I opened the studio up and flipped on the light. With a grand sweeping gesture, I showed my guests their accommodations.

“It's the best I can offer.”

“We're happy to take it,” Janner said, looking around the room. “I'll get everything else set up here. It's been a long night. You should get some rest."

“She doesn't need your advice,” Sean threatened.

“Of course,” Janner replied with a small bow.

With that, I was ushered down the stairs and back into my apartment, which was fine by me. The testosterone cocktail I'd been swimming in all night was starting to drown me, and I was thankful to find myself in my house with only half as much of it to deal with.

Cooper made a show of locking the door behind us before making his way over to me to give me a huge hug goodnight. Sean seemed to take it well until Cooper planted a long and gentle kiss on my cheek. It wasn't sexual at all―his energy told me as much―but he knew it would rattle Sean's cage so he did it for one last jolly before he went into his bedroom and shut his door for the night.

Sean's eyes were glued to the hallway that Cooper had just disappeared down.

“You know he just does it to rile you up, and you take the bait every time,” I informed him as I headed to the bathroom. He didn't follow. "Are you staying?” I asked while my stomach did a little flip.

He eyed me strangely in response.

“Of course, I'm staying,” he replied as though my question had been utterly ridiculous. Perhaps it was. "But I think I'll be staying out here tonight. Wouldn't want one of the boys to wander in while we all are sleeping.”

“Through the locked door?” I asked incredulously.

“Exactly,” he replied with a mischievous grin. I loved that grin.

“Suit yourself.” I shrugged and continued on my path to the washroom. “It's really too bad though. I wasn't quite ready to go to sleep."

I flashed him a mischievous grin of my own.

“Jesus Christ, you two.” Cooper's muffled voice groaned from his bedroom. “If I have to put up with this from now on, I'm moving out."

“No, you're not,” I quipped. “Who would you have to boss around all day? You know that's your favorite activity."

“Ugggh,” he lamented. “I hate it when you're right.”

“Love you too, Coop.”

I looked back to see Sean smiling at me.

“I see you two have straightened a few things out. I'm glad to see that,” he said, with an impish grin that implied he knew Cooper was my alpha. I don't know why it surprised me.

“Yep. We sure did, though it probably would have been easier had you just told me you knew.”

“I tried,” he said, suddenly right in front of me. I could never get used to how quickly he could move. "I was rudely interrupted by the Rev at the time. After that, there was always a crisis to attend to. That seems to be your gold standard, does it not?” The wattage on his playful grin turned up even further.

“It certainly is, so I'll let you off the hook this time,” I said, leaning in to kiss him gently before catching his bottom lip between my teeth and giving it a light, punishing tug.

“How gracious of you,” he replied with a whisper. “Now...how about we go and try to remedy that little sleep issue of yours."

11

With precious little sleep, I awoke the next morning only to have to drag my ass down to the shop and work. It would be my first official day back since Scarlet went AWOL with me weeks earlier; I was nervous, but excited all the same. It meant spending time with Peyta, which promised to be a double-edged sword, but she needed my help. I wanted to be there to support her like she'd always supported me.

As I made a move to slip out of bed, a large and muscular arm wound its way around my waist, pinning me down so its owner could gingerly nibble on my ear. My pulse raced instantly.

“Sean, I have to get ready to open the shop.”

“And you will,” he replied, working his way down my neck. “In a minute.”

“Nope,” I retorted, wiggling my way free. “I have a business to run, and you still have a mystery to solve, don't you? What are you going to do about what Alistair told us last night?"

He tensed slightly before answering.

“I've got someone on a plane there today.”

“Who?”

“Jay,” he replied after a slight hesitation.

“Oh...” It was all I could muster in response.

“He'll be fine, Ruby. He's a far better soldier than you―or even he―would ever give him credit for."

“It's not that,” I hedged, not wanting to spill beans that weren't mine to spill. “It's just...well, it's Peyta. She's not doing well right now, and I don't think it'll be good for her to know that Jay is in harm's way again."

He sighed.

“This is the world she lives in now, Ruby. I can't change that.”

“I know, but she isn't dealing well with it,” I added. “Putting Jay in danger isn't going to help that."

“Ruby, they will have to work through these things as we have. He loves her more than I can put into words,” he said, getting up out of the bed. I stared at the sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips. "He loves her nearly as much as I love you. They'll sort it out, I'm certain of it. And he
can
handle this mission. He hid his abilities to lead for eons because of Jer. He's not hiding them anymore. You should feel sorry for whoever is across the pond selling those wolves off. They're about to be in a world of hurt, not Jay."

“Okay,” I said, forcing a smile. He hugged me in response and kissed the top of my head firmly, letting me know it was going to be all right.

“He'll only be gone for a while, which means I'll finally have my place to myself again.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Jay's been staying in town while I was gone―while I was out searching for you and trying to find who killed McGurney."

“So, the other night when you hung up on Cooper...?”

“I was in Virginia.”

“That wasn't you in your apartment?”

“No. Why?”

I felt a rush of blood flood my cheeks.

“I...I thought it was you. You walked away from the window when I looked up at you. I thought you didn't want to see me."

“Jay was there, Ruby. Not me,” he replied softly. “I wanted to see you.”

“But you hung up on Cooper―”

“Because he called at a very bad time. I didn't have time to talk.”

“Why didn't you call back? I thought you hated me,” I whispered, averting my gaze.

“Do you still think that now?” he asked, pulling me tightly against him.

“Well, no, but―”

“I did not want to talk to you on the phone because I wanted to do it in person,” he said with a strain in his voice. "I knew that you would be at Matty's funeral. Please understand that as furious as I was with Scarlet, I never meant you harm. Watching her disappear through that door, knowing that she held you prisoner―it nearly drove me mad. I spent day and night searching for her to no avail. I can assure you, Ruby, if she had been anywhere on the face of this earth, I would have found her.

Eventually, I thought that perhaps you both did not wish to be found, and there were things that I had neglected that I could not any longer. Duty called. Duty always seems to call.” His voice was sad as he uttered his final thought.

“I would never have chosen to leave you,” I said, squeezing him tightly. “But I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that you never held what happened against me."

“Never.”

I smiled.

“Well, I'm
super
glad we just cleared that mess up,” I joked, pulling away from him.

“Agreed,” he replied dryly with a devilish grin on his face. “Now, as much as I would love to show you just how happy it makes me, I can't.