Hunted By The Others (10 page)

“Hey love, nice to see you,” Chaz said as I froze in horror in the doorway.

He looked just as good as ever, bright eyes as blue as the summer sky, blond hair sticking up in short, gelled spikes, and utterly oblivious to the cold spring winds outside, in a tight tank top that matched his eyes and did an admirable job of showing off his slightly hairy but firmly muscled arms and chest. Everyone but Angela looked up as Sara and Arnold came to a dead stop behind me, and I could almost feel the attention riveting on Arnold the second he appeared.

My dad rescued me by standing up. I know some gears must have been turning but he showed no sign as he wrapped one of his tree-trunk arms around my shoulders.

“Glad you made it, girls. And who’s this?” He didn’t let go of me as he extended his free hand to Arnold.

Arnold didn’t flinch at putting his much smaller hand in my dad’s, and I tensed in anticipation of it getting crushed in Dad’s grip. He used to play football, worked in construction for over twenty years, and was built like a truck. His thinning yellow-reddish hair was straight but almost as long as mine. He liked to tie it back at the nape of his neck, making him look like an aging heavy metal drummer or retired Hell’s Angel or something. Thankfully, Dad generally isn’t a “mutilate first, ask questions later” kind of guy, and he didn’t destroy Arnold’s hand when he shook it.

“Mr. Waynest? I’m Arnold. I’m a friend of Shia’s.”

“Nice to meet you, Arnold,” he said, glancing down at me before hastening into introductions. “I’m Rob. That’s Chaz at the chess table, and my boys Michael and Damien on the couch. That’s Mike’s girlfriend, Angela. Why don’t you come on in and have a seat?”

They each gave a little wave, except for Chaz, who looked like he was fighting an inner battle not to launch himself across the room for Arnold’s throat. He’d always been the jealous type.

Sara immediately headed to the far end of the room, plopping into one of the recliners and watching the rest of us with interest. I felt like a bug under a microscope as Mikey and Damien scooted over on the couch, making room for Arnold and me. Mostly it was Chaz making me nervous. What the hell was he doing here? I’d told my mom we’d broken up almost two months ago.

I sat down next to Damien and we hugged. “Happy b-day, little bro.”

Damien grinned at me, a younger, thinner version of my dad with my mom’s eyes and hair. He usually kept it cropped short and bleached it a little so it wasn’t a shock of fire red ringlets like mine and Mom’s. Mikey was the one who inherited the softer, straight coppery hair and green eyes of my dad, though both of them were built like him and took after him in the sports department.

“Thanks, sis. Hey, so, Arnold,” he said, leaning forward to peer around me at the mage, “what do you do?”

My mom walked in with a tray of goodies, throwing me a pained, apologetic look as she set it down on the coffee table. That made me about ninety-nine percent sure that she was the one who invited Chaz.

Arnold reached out to grab a potato skin. “I’m in security. How about you? Oh, and happy birthday, man. I didn’t realize or I would’ve brought something.”

Damien chuckled and took a hot wing. “Don’t worry about it. Security, huh? You and Shia must be like peas in a pod then. I’m a firefighter.”

Mikey added, “I’m a lawyer. Angela here is a paralegal. She’ll probably talk your ear off about it once she wakes up.”

He and Damien shared a grin, and I couldn’t help but add to it. Angela really is a chatterbox. A very blond, very cute, and very smart chatterbox. I hope the two of them get hitched soon; they’ve been dragging things out way too long.

Chaz made a move on the chessboard and got up, heading for the snacks. His movements were even more sinuous and snakelike than I remembered. I guess when Weres thought someone was horning in on their territory, they started acting more predatory.

“Any of you boys want a drink?” my mom asked, edging away from the table.

A chorus of “yeahs” came up from around the room and my mom skittered off back to the kitchen.

Chaz didn’t take any food but stood close, next to the couch, and kept his gaze riveted on Arnold. Even with his hands pocketed in his jeans, the air of suppressed violence made me glad I was sitting between two guys, even if there was nothing they could do against an angry werewolf anyway.

“So. How long have you two been together?”

Hoo boy. This didn’t bode well.

Arnold answered before I could even open my mouth. “Not long.” His tone of voice said “drop it” but it didn’t look like Chaz was about to back down. I couldn’t believe that Arnold was playing along with it like we were an item.

“Guess you two met and
sparks
flew, hmm?”

I started at that emphasis, wondering how Chaz could possibly know he was a mage. Arnold leaned back, putting one arm up on the back of the couch and the other over my shoulder. I shot him a horrified look, but I think the only person who saw it was Sara, who looked like she was trying hard not to laugh.

“Something like that,” Arnold replied, his own tones as casually biting as Chaz’s. “That’s why we’re headed out of town after this. She mentioned being tired of being up at all hours, especially with the full moon coming. Wants to get away from all the
fur
balls and fanged things coming out of the woodwork for a few days. Can’t say I blame her.”

I could have just about died right there. I could not believe a werewolf and a mage were having a pissing contest in my parents’ living room, veiled or not. Feeling this was getting way out of control, and far too fast, I cut in, a little desperately, “Um, Dad, how much longer before the barbeque? I’m starving.”

My dad looked up absently from the chessboard, though I knew he had been paying close attention to everything being said. He was a smart cookie; it would be a small miracle if he hadn’t realized what was going unsaid in the conversation just a few feet away. Mike was frowning and Damien just looked amused.

“I’ll go fire it up now. Mikey, Damien, come give your ol’ dad a hand.”

The boys got up, Mike carefully dislodging Angela so she could curl up on the couch. She stirred a bit but didn’t wake. Chaz stayed where he was, and I just sat stiffly next to Arnold, who was all too relaxed. The two Others sized each other up silently as my dad and brothers shuffled out of the room.

Once they were gone, Sara spoke up first. “Chaz, stop being a jerk. She broke it off with you two months ago. Why are you even here?”

As one, Arnold, and Chaz, and I all turned to look at Sara. I think I was more surprised than either of them.

“Carol invited me. I wasn’t about to turn down the chance to make things right with Shia.” He turned back to look at me, his gaze softening and deep voice turning faintly pleading and cajoling with that hint of a growl to it that I’d once thought sexy as hell. Now realizing the guttural quality was due to his being an Other, it just gave me the shivers. “You know I never meant to scare you like that. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

Chaz was adorable. He had a look of such contrite longing with that edge of question and desire that it was difficult to remember why I needed to say no.

Shifting while we were alone and postcoital was quite possibly the worst method imaginable he could have used to break the news. A few drinks and the afterglow did absolutely nothing to stifle my shock, not to mention my fear at having a monster straight out of a fairytale appear in my living room—even though said monster had not long before done such boyfriend-esque things as pick up tampons and watch
While You Were Sleeping
with me.

I don’t know what got into his head that he decided to spring it on me at the time. We’d worked our schedules to align so that we had that night and the whole of the next day off together. I made dinner, we had some wine, and I put a movie on in the living room we didn’t bother to watch. Afterward, he insisted he needed to tell me something that couldn’t wait. There I was, getting excited and thinking he was about to pop The Question. Instead, he got up and stood next to the couch. Before I knew it, after a short series of sickening pops and creaks and a rush of fur, there was this big, gray wolf with Chaz’s eyes staring at me.

I screamed bloody murder and had a fit. It took me a few minutes to get brave enough to grab one of the throw pillows to cover myself while I opened the door and booted him out. He didn’t do anything but whine and put his tail between his legs, skittering out of my apartment like a kicked puppy. It was rather incongruous since as a wolf he was roughly the size and dimensions of an exceptionally buff Saint Bernard. None of my neighbors had called the cops or done more than peek into the hall before slamming their doors shut.

I mailed his clothes and a few of his things he’d left at my apartment back to him a week later, and wouldn’t talk to him for over a month afterward, vowing I’d never date the lying furball again. What if there was something else he was hiding? If we were ever to sleep with each other again, I’d have to sign one of those freaky contracts binding me to him. It would leave me open to the possibility of him turning me Were—with or without my consent. His deceit throughout the entirety of our relationship made trusting him impossible.

He got off light under the circumstances. Me screaming at him and kicking him out was a cake-walk compared to being jailed and, in all likelihood, killed for his indiscretion. The justice system didn’t take kindly to Others who ignored the legal requirement of Weres and vampires to contract anyone they got “intimate” with—in any sense of the word. I hadn’t filed a formal complaint, but that didn’t mean I was open to fooling around with him again. Bad enough I was about to be contracted to Royce; it was time to put my foot down.

Even though that look of his made me blush like a schoolgirl, I didn’t turn away. Instead, I took a deep breath to steady myself, eventually managing to find my voice. “Doesn’t matter. We’re done. It’s over. Move on.”

Arnold seemed immeasurably pleased at my words, though he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut. Chaz’s shoulders slumped and he trudged over to a recliner, sitting on the edge and leaning forward expectantly.

“I wish you’d reconsider. At the very least we can still be friends. It’ll kill me to see you with a mage, but as long as I still get to see you now and then, I’ll be happy.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell was this? Chaz was never the sentimental type. I was instantly suspicious, though unfortunately I couldn’t seem to suppress the growing attraction I had for him.

He’d been a sweetheart (if a bit of an egotist) before we’d split up. Not so much in the flowers-and-chocolates kind of way as the hold-the-door-and-pick-up-the-tab way. And damn but did he ever look good; he had everything I liked. Muscles, intelligence, and a touch of the bad boy—a formidable combo when it came to my hormones. At least I knew now where the hint of danger in his personality came from. It didn’t help said hormones any that he was eyeing me like he was wondering just how close Arnold and I had become and what his chances were of getting back in my pants. Yeah, I recognized that look.

Knowing he could probably smell the first stirrings of desire on me, I gave a little frustrated curse under my breath before shoving myself off the couch and walking toward the kitchen. If he’d been human, maybe,
maybe
I would have been able to sit there and bear his scrutiny, but knowing what I knew now about Others, I couldn’t deal with it. Not this soon after Royce, and especially not on less than six hours of sleep in the last forty-eight.

“Chaz, I can’t talk about this right now. Just stay here, I’ll discuss it later.” I could almost feel the three of them—Chaz, Arnold, and even Sara—starting to protest. “Don’t even get me started. All of you stay here, I’ll be back.”

I had to talk to Mom about this.

My mom was putting sodas and beer on a tray when I came in, her back to me as she rummaged in the fridge. She almost dropped the bottle in her hand when she turned around and saw me, her eyes widening with surprise and a measure of guilt.

“Oh, sweetie, you startled me. Help me carry this in to the boys.” The words were rushed, and she started to bustle around like she was going to run out of there and avoid me some more.

“Mom, hold up a sec.” I walked over and put a hand on the tray to keep her from grabbing it and rushing out. “Why did you invite Chaz over? I know I told you we broke up.”

She sighed, leaning her hip against the counter and folding her arms. “I want grandkids, Shia. You and Chaz seemed to be getting along great, and frankly I don’t see Mikey or Damien settling down before you do. Chaz is a nice boy. I can’t understand why you didn’t try to work things out with him.”

A spot of red betrayed her embarrassment, but she sounded firm and sure of herself. That was something we both shared; when backed into a corner, even if we were afraid or embarrassed, we usually came clean about what we were thinking.

“You were with him for almost five months, that’s the longest I’ve seen you with anyone since high school.”

Oh God, not this again. “So you thought by inviting him over today we’d just magically end up back together?”

I knew it came out snotty, but at that point I didn’t care. I hated it when my mom tried to set me up with someone, more still when she was sneaky about it.

“Well, I didn’t think you’d be bringing another boy over,” she said defensively. “I was starting to worry about you. Spending all your time with Sara makes people wonder, honey. I just want the best for you.”

It felt like my cheeks had suddenly caught fire. My face must have looked about as red as my hair. Even my mom thought I was into girls now? This was getting well and truly embarrassing, not to mention annoying.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I
date
, Mom, I just don’t usually bring men over! The minute you start talking grandkids, you know they’re going to run for the hills.”

She gave me a pitying look and I remembered again why I never brought boys over to the house. “It’s okay, I believe you. Just remember, you’re not getting any younger and neither are me or your dad. We want to see you safe and happy with a family of your own, that’s all.”

Safe? With a werewolf? I remembered guiltily that I hadn’t told her that part about the breakup, and it made me feel even worse since I couldn’t say anything about it now. She’d have conniptions if she found out there was a Were in the house. My parents aren’t so déclassé as to be White Hats or part of the less vocal, but just as obnoxious, Concerned Human Citizens. However, they aren’t exactly supportive of the equal rights movement for the Others either. As long as none of them moved into the neighborhood and they stayed out in the city, my parents would tolerate them, but that was about it.

“Yeah, well, Arnold’s a great guy, too. He’s looking out for me.”

I truly hoped I wasn’t digging myself a deeper hole by telling her this. If she somehow found out later that Arnold was a mage, she’d kill me. Probably not so much because he could do magic but because, even if we somehow ended up together, the chances of us having kids was slim to none. Not that I was considering
actually
dating him. Yikes.

“You should let him take care of you, then. Your line of work is dangerous, honey. Dealing with monsters should be left to the experts, like the police. That stunt last month almost gave your dad a heart attack.”

That made me cringe. I hadn’t realized they knew about the thing at the Embassy.

She continued, “The last thing we want is to see you or Sara get hurt.”

I reached over to grab one of the beers, feeling more than shitty about having to hide what was really going on in my life. I just couldn’t see a way around it; the truth really
would
give my parents a stroke. Especially if they found out about Royce and the papers. My dad would probably try to stake Royce himself if he found out. Who knows what my mom might do.

Keeping my gaze off her own, I held the cold beer to my forehead for a few seconds, hoping to cool the burning heat of embarrassment while I also tried to swallow down the guilt and think of something useful to say. That’s when I remembered I was supposed to leave my car here and had a cover story to match.

“That’s part of why I’m going out of town. We’re going to take a vacation in the Hamptons for a week.” God, I was so going to burn for this later, I just knew it. “Look, I know my job is dangerous but it
is
my job, and I can’t just fob off the dangerous stuff on someone else. I won’t ask Sara to take the dangerous stints for me.”

She frowned, busying herself with the cans and bottles again. “I don’t want you to give all the dangerous jobs to Sara either, I want you to give them to the cops where they belong.”

I threw my free hand up, trying to convey my exasperation. “The cops won’t take the jobs we take, Ma. That isn’t what cops do. We track people down and do surveillance, not arrest them. Most of the time I never even talk to the people I’m tailing. It’s not as bad as you think.”

Most of the time. Except when dealing with magi, Weres, and vamps, it wasn’t that dangerous at all.

“All right, all right. No need to get in a huff about it.” Finally, she was backing down. “I only bug you about it because I care about you.”

Twisting the cap off the beer, I took a swig and stared out the window. There was a fat squirrel on the bird feeder in the elm tree, stuffing itself silly on stolen birdseed.

“Can I leave my car here in the garage until I get back? I don’t want someone breaking in again.”

That much was true, at least. I had just spent a ridiculous sum fixing the broken window and replacing the stolen radio and would hate to have to go through that hassle again.

“Sure, that’s fine. I just wish you’d think about a career change. You know your dad and I would be more than happy to help put you back through school if you want to do something different.”

“I like my line of work, Ma. I’m going to stick with it.” Turning my gaze back to her, I smiled to soften the blow I knew those words were trying to make light of it. “At least I’m not a cop, right?”

She laughed, obviously heartily amused by the thought. Yeah. Funny.

I felt really bad about hiding things from her, especially how dangerous my job had actually become in the last few days, but at least she was nodding agreement now instead of badgering me about my love life.

“You always were headstrong, doing things your own way.” Her wry grin of amusement dragged one out of me in return. “Got it from me, you know.”

I chuckled, feeling another pang of guilt, fear, and heartache that I wished more than ever I could share with her. Especially since, after next Monday night, I might never see her again. Tears stung in my eyes, and I turned away so she wouldn’t see.

“Yeah, Mom, I know.”