Kate Allenton (14 page)

    
“Yeah, I gave him something to help with the pain. You guys really roughed him up.”

    
He gestured to the bar stools. They both sat, neither one looking the other in the eye. “He had
it coming. He deserved worse.”

    
“That isn’t for you to decide.”

    
Ethan took a long swig of his beer and savored the cold barley taste before he replied. “Had she
been hurt by his deception, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. He’d be dead.”

    
Tessa slid off the stool and moved around the counter to face him. “Let’s get something
straight,
alpha.”
She air-quoted the word alpha. “You touch a hair on his head, and I’ll tell her

everything, and I mean everything.”

    
She wouldn’t dare. He’d kill her before she got the chance. Maybe there was a bit of Black in
him after all. He flew from the stool and had her cornered against the counter. “She’s not your
concern. Why do you care about Jonah?”

     
Tessa’s eyes narrowed. She dug her fingernails into her palms. “He’s my mate.”

     
Ethan threw his head back and laughed a full-belly laugh. “Well, isn’t this a surprise.” His grin
slipped back into a scowl. “Let’s get something straight, doc. She’s mine, and I’ll protect her, no
matter who I have to hurt. Are we clear?”

     
Tessa squared her shoulders and lifted
her chin. She spun
around and walked toward the
hallway, only stopping briefly to address him once
more.
“He’s my mate, and she’s my friend, Ethan.
You may not physically hurt her, Ethan, but mentally she’ll be devastated and I won’t let that

happen. She still has a choice. What do you think
her
answer is going to be when she realizes she
can’t trust you? She may go over to Black’s side,
but that
doesn’t mean she’ll be willing to be your
mate.”

Tessa’s folded her arms over her chest and
rubbed
her arms. “She’s a smart woman. If you
don’t tell her, she’ll figure it out all by herself, and
then
she’ll never trust you again. Chew on that,
alpha.”

     
Well hell. He was going to have to come clean,
and
before she had an opportunity to tell Cathy
anything.

     
Ethan carried his beer down the long hall to
his
office and flicked on the light. He booted up
his computer and the monitors
hanging on the wall. He turned on his high-tech
security program
and checked the perimeter of the building and his property. Besides a few woodland animals, there
was nothing in the vicinity, not yet. He sent out a series of emails to those he could trust. He was
going to need reinforcements. A few of the Bennett’s came to mind, along with the Phantoms, but if
they were being watched by Black, then he couldn’t count on them. And there was no way that
Ethan would risk Black finding out about the Bennett’s. He considered them his family, not the evil
man who had raised him.

Ethan kept the security running all night, even long after he went to bed. He lay awake mere
inches from his mate. He itched to reach for her and pull her close. He itched to do a lot more than
that. His whole body was hard with want, with a need that only she could fulfill. He wanted to kiss
her senseless. He wanted to make love to her. He wanted to explore every inch of her body with his
mouth and his tongue. He wanted to hear her scream his name as took her. He wanted to claim her.
His wolf was pacing. He wasn’t going to settle down until Ethan left his mark on her, claiming her.

Ethan adjusted his rock-hard cock and groaned his frustration. He couldn’t lie with her. Not
without touching her. And he wouldn’t touch her unless she agreed. He rolled onto his side and

propped his cheek in his hand. Her breathing was even, and the rise and fall of her chest was steady.
Her eyes were closed, and she was snuggling with a pillow. Damn lucky pillow.

    
He plopped back down on his back and closed his eyes. Sleep didn’t come quick, and it didn’t
come easy, but eventually his body gave in, allowing
him
rest.

                                                   
****

    
Cathy stirred and snuggled into the covers.
Ethan’s
scent drifted to her nose, musk mixed with
the clean smell after a morning rain. She stiffened,
and
her eyes flew open. It took a moment for her
to figure out where she was. The second unfamiliar
room
since she’d been kidnapped. Black, Ethan,
the kidnapping, none of it made sense. What did
Black
really want with her? There wasn’t anything
special about her that the notorious asshole could
want;
nothing he knew anyway. Edward’s

compound flashed in her mind, followed by Ethan
flying
a helicopter. She was at Ethan’s. Cathy’s
erratic heartbeat slowed once she’d worked out
her
whereabouts. She rolled on the bed, the big,
empty bed. Leaning up on her elbows, she glanced around the cozy, inviting room. He’d left her.

    
She slid off the bed and rubbed her eyes before glancing down at her watch. Her eyes grew big.
Ten hours, she’s slept ten whole hours. Her pulse
sped
with uncertainty. What day was it? Her mind
raced… Was it D-day? Why hadn’t she heard from
Tara
or Gracie? Had they gotten out in time?
Was she going to have to
make the decision today? Give up her life for their
safety?

Her phone. She needed her phone. Panic engulfed her. She needed to hear from her friends.
The last thread holding her tethered and grounded was about to snap. Her hand went to the pocket
holding the vials, the only defense she had against Black. Her pocket was empty.

    
“Shit,” she cursed as she clenched her eyes closed. She remembered them last night. She’d felt
them in her pocket on the helicopter. Cathy yanked the door open and stormed down the stairs,
taking them two at a time. The house was empty.

    
Her brows dipped. No one…she was alone. They’d left her alone.

    
The front door opened, and Ethan walked through carrying coffee, and what was that
delectable sugary smell? Was it pastries? Her mouth watered, and stomach growled. His lips curved
up into a sexy, knowing grin. Damn him.

    
He walked toward the kitchen, stopping long enough to kiss her forehead and hand her the bag.
“I believe you liked the Boston crème-filled.”

    
Cathy shrugged. Acting like the little donut waiting to be devoured was no big deal.

    
“I’m surprised you remembered.”

    
Ethan handed her one of the coffees. “I remember everything, Cathy.”

    
Her brow rose, and she narrowed her eyes. “Then you remember telling me you were coming
back. You remember telling me that everything was going to be okay.”

    
Ethan set his cup on the counter and grasped the countertop as he lowered his head.

“Everything was okay, and I did come back.” He
looked
up and turned to lean against the counter.
“I saw you before I left. You just didn’t see
me.”

    
She spoke before she could stop herself. “You’re
a
coward, Ethan Jacobs, and you never
deserved me.” She set the stuff on the counter and stomped out the front door with no destination
in sight, only the desire to get away from the man
who
knew exactly what buttons to push to piss
her off. She’d seen the lake when she’d got there.
She’d
known she wouldn’t be able to leave without
a car. Hitchhike…maybe, although that wouldn’t
be too
wise. Call Tara? Definitely, if she’d had her
phone.

    
She moved down to the shore and sat. She
didn’t
want to be here, but going back in right
now…well, that wasn’t an option either. She was
running
out of time. Maybe taking Black up on the
offer wasn’t such a bad idea. Save her friends, save
Ethan
and maybe even save herself. If she was
on the inside, maybe she could manipulate Black…get him to see things her way.

    
She wasn’t fooling herself. Her situation sucked.
She
was damned if she did and damned if she
didn’t. Cathy picked up a
rock and skipped it along the smooth, dark water.

“Nice throw.” Ethan’s deep voice washed over her. His baritone voice, the one that used to
bring her comfort, now brought only confusion.

    
Cathy let out a long sigh and rose, brushing the dirt off her pants. “I came out here to be
alone.”

    
Ethan’s eyes no longer held a jovial smile. He cleared his throat and held out his hand. “Here,
I’m sure you’re looking for these.”

Cathy took her phone and the vials from him. She shoved all of it in her pockets. “Thanks.”

    
“Before you call in the cavalry, there are a few things I need you to know.”

    
Cathy squared her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest, using it as she would a shield,
trying to block out whatever other hurt he might hit her with this time. Not going to happen, not
ever again, she repeated in her mind.

“I called Black, and he’s giving you until Sunday to make your decision. I told him I needed
more time to convince you to be with me.”

    
Cathy’s eyes widened. Her fingers balled into a fist. “You’re on his side? You want this?”

     
“We’re mates Cathy.” He stepped toward her and placed his palm on her cheek. “I have always
been and will always be on your side, baby. I bought us some more time so I could figure out how
to kill him. Believe it or not, I only stayed away because I wanted to keep you safe. I had every

intention of coming back to find you after I took
Black
out of the equation.”

     
She covered his palm with hers. “I wish
I could trust you.
I miss what we had, but I’m not sure
how we’ll ever get that back.”

Jonah appeared behind them and cleared his
throat
drawing her attention. “It’s true, Cathy.
What he’s telling you is true. He’s working in conjunction with General Lister. I’ve been working
both sides for a long time. They’d planned to infiltrate Black’s organization and take him down from
the inside out. He’d only agreed if we kept you out
of the
fight and safe. He didn’t want this for
you.” Jonah shrugged. “Well, that was the plan.”

     
“Is that what you told Black? Did he know
Lister’s
plan?”

     
Jonah lowered his head. “He knew, that’s only
one
of the reasons he wants you. The other is
for your gifts.”

     
“You son of a bitch.” Ethan bellowed.

     
Jonah stepped back and held up his hands.

     
Cathy stepped in front
of Ethan, blocking his path and holding him back.
She opened her
psyche up and absorbed what he was telling her. It was the truth. There were no lies, no half-truths.
Jonah was being straight up with her.

     
“Does he know that Ethan is playing both sides?”

     
Jonah nodded. “Yes, he knew the moment Ethan showed up at the compound.”

     
“What do you gain by telling me this?”

     
Jonah glanced back at the cabin to where Tessa was waiting on the deck before he turned back
around once more. “I was wrong and selfish and manipulative, and I just hope one day you can
forgive me. I need to fix this….starting with you.”

     
“Does the General know we’re here?”

     
Jonah gestured to her arm. “They’ve been following the GPS in Ethan’s watch you’re wearing.
If I had to guess, they haven’t come to check on us because Black has them hemmed in.”

     
Cathy gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”