SWAT Team One and the Social Worker (21 page)

land. She knew where they were. They were about an hour out from

Wolf City.

“What the hell is going on?” Logan yelled, and when Sam turned

to glare at him, he instantly froze in place, his eyes wide, and took a step back.

Logan looked at Dustin then back at Sam.

“I thought she was human.”

“Give us a few minutes, Logan, and then we’ll get back on our

way.”

She felt Adam behind her, and then his hands touch her dress as

he zipped up the back the rest of the way. His hands moved to her

shoulders and squeezed her lovingly.

“I know you’re scared, Sam.”

Sam turned abruptly toward him, causing his arms to leave her

shoulders.

“Scared? You think I’m scared? How about pissed off? How

about so damn angry I want to—”

“We need to get you to your father’s. It’s not safe out here in the

open like this,” Donny said from a few feet away.

She raised her hands up with her palms facing them.

“I need a minute, and I am not speaking with any of you.”

Sam knew she sounded bitchy and rather closed-minded, but what

the hell was going on with her life?

The men began to get back into the vehicle when Sam looked out

over the open land one last time. She took a few deep breaths then

released them. When suddenly she felt a desire to run and be free. It

was crazy, and yes she enjoyed running as exercise in between her

martial arts. She had been an athlete most of her life and had the urge to go for a run or a jog, and that always calmed her. But this was

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different. This feeling was deep. It was just as deep as her love for the brothers.

The tears filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her waist

then headed back to the SUV.

She climbed inside and took her position between Adam and Trey.

She looked straight ahead and didn’t say a word until they arrived at

her father’s estate.

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Chapter 12

They made their way through town, and Sam tried not to look. It

was beginning to sink in. Those feelings she buried two years ago and

the reminders of Alex.

She looked out the window, saw the small town and the many

people walking around window browsing. The dirt-covered roads, the

long road in and out of town, and the many estates and farmhouses

scattered miles between one another. It was a peaceful place, but it

was where she met Alex and Ted and where she fell in love. The first

time.

Leaving Wolf City to head to Dallas for work and freedom had

taken courage and gall. She fought her daddy tooth and nail, but he

finally let her leave. He had asked her to wait until her twenty-first birthday, and she did. The next day he told her that she was free to go live wherever she wanted. She didn’t know what turning twenty-one

had to do with it, but she was ready to move on. Their relationship

wasn’t getting stronger. If anything it was getting weaker.

Dallas was a big city, and she fit in just fine. When Alex moved

into her building, she thought it was Ted’s parents’ doing. They

adored her, and she had helped Alex and Ted get along with their

family better. Then Dad called and freaked out about her and Alex

living in the same apartment building. Sam shook her head. There was

no need to go over all that. The apartment reminded her of Alex’s

death.

She swallowed hard as Dustin drove past the town and onto the

long, wooded back roads. Alex was heavily in her mind.

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As they pulled up the long dirt road, her daddy’s place came into

sight.

The ranch looked even more stunning than she remembered. Even

the men commented about the spread. She gulped her emotions, now

nervous about seeing her father.

He had been angry with her when she left. They never really

discussed her relationship with Alex. He told her over the phone a few times that she didn’t have to come back to visit, and it hurt. So the calls were fewer and farther in between. He called her last year at

nearly midnight to wish her a happy birthday. He nearly missed it

completely. Sam realized that in five more days she would celebrate

her twenty-fifth birthday. More than likely she would be doing that

celebration here.

* * * *

Donny spoke with his brothers through their link.

“
You have heard everything she has been thinking since leaving

New York. This is really hard on her, and we need to be supportive,”

Donny stated.

“Being supportive is one thing, but listening to her think about

this Alex guy and how much she cared for him is difficult for me,”

Trey responded. They all agreed.

“We need to help her through this. I’m not sure how this reunion

with her dad is going to be, never mind the fact that her eyes

changed.”

They all agreed with Trey.

“Let’s take care of our mate. She’ll open up to us eventually,”

Dustin concluded as they exited the SUV.

* * * *

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They all watched as an older man and a young woman emerged

from the front doorway. The house was a very large, old-style

farmhouse. Complete with a wide wraparound porch, covered with

hanging floral baskets. It looked like something out of a magazine.

“You didn’t say that you have any siblings,” Trey said to

Samantha.

“I don’t,” she stated through clenched teeth, and they felt her

immediate anger at seeing the young woman beside her father.

The woman had short blonde hair, was thin and dressed in a pair

of designer capris and a tank top that accentuated her thin shoulders and small, perky breasts.

Sam gave Trey a shove, apparently reading his mind. How did she

do that? Even Sam appeared surprised then a look of disgust fell over

her face. Their mate was angry.

“Sammy! Oh, my, look at you,” her father professed as he walked

quickly down the stairs and pulled her into an embrace.

Sam hugged him back, but Trey noticed her eyes remained on the

blonde woman.

“It’s nice to see you, Father.”

He looked her over then at the men behind her.

“So it is true. Well, nothing we can do about it now. Let’s come

inside, so we can catch up.”

He grabbed Sam by her hand and pulled her along with him. The

blonde remained.

“I’m Samara.” She reached her hand out to greet the brothers as

she eyed them like candy then rolled her tongue over her lips. She

smelled of wolf and something else.

They instantly didn’t like her.

“Nice to meet you, Samara. We better head inside with Sam,”

Dustin stated then walked past her along with his brothers.

* * * *

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The house was overdecorated with ornate furniture and vases. It

looked cluttered and unwelcoming.

“What have you done to the place?” Sam asked as her father

poured them some brandy. To Sam, he appeared a little tipsy. Perhaps

her dad had a few drinks before her arrival.

“It’s Samara’s doing. She loves to collect.”

Sam watched as Samara eyed her then wrapped her slimy arms

around Sam’s father’s waist. Inside, Sam had a bad feeling. She hated

this woman. She had always disliked her.

Sam heard Dustin’s words.
“Be careful, mate. I feel you’re upset,

but we are here for a reason. It goes above and beyond this woman.”

Samantha cleared her throat.

“So is there something you two would like to share with me?”

Sam teased as she touched one of the vases and made it shake a little.

That caused Samara to jump from where she stood.

Sam caught the vase by the rim on top and smiled. “I got it. No

worries, Samara.”

“Samara loves to collect very expensive art and collectables.

Everything you see was purchased by Samara,” her father stated then

smiled at the blonde. Samara winked at him then rubbed her hand

down his arms. Samantha wanted to puke.

“That’s a pretty costly kind of hobby, Samara. They must be

paying you real well down in Bonham working the front desk?” Sam

replied sarcastically, and Samara looked about to retaliate.

“Listen here, Sammy. You haven’t been around for years. You left

your father to go off and do your own thing, leaving him with this big place and all alone. He has feelings, too.”

“Oh, and I’m certain that his feelings were exactly what was on

your mind when you seduced him.”

“Samantha!” her father stated in anger.

“Okay, let’s cut to the chase here. I left almost four years ago, and

you two know damn well why. In those two years you’re telling me

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that the two of you fell in love and are a couple? She’s only three

years older than I am, Dad.”

Her father looked a bit taken aback and nervous.

“That’s none of your business,” he stated firmly, and she nearly

faltered.

“Oh, really. I’m supposed to believe that you fell in love with the

biggest gold digger and slut this side of Wolf City!”

“I won’t stand for this talk, young lady,” Samara stated, nearly

shocking Sam silent.

“Who the hell do you think you are talking to? You know what?

I’ve got nothing to say to you. As a matter of fact, get the hell out of here so I can talk to my father.”

“She’s not leaving, Sam. You’re angry with her because Alex

once had a thing for her.” Sam tried to control her anger. She didn’t

want her eyes to change in front of her father, but this was getting

hairy.

“She never slept with Alex. Alex didn’t want to be with a skanky

ho like her.”

“I did sleep with him. I was supposed to bear his child, but then

you were always showing up, taking care of him and Ted.”

Everyone stared at Samara after that statement.

“Enough, Samara. Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. I would

like a few moments alone with my daughter.”

He eyed Samantha from head to toe then looked at the five large

men standing in the living room.

“You give Samara some respect. I don’t expect you to treat her

that way while you’re here.”

Samantha felt bad. She loved her dad, but she hated Samara. How

the hell could they be together?

“How did you two get involved?”

“It’s none of your concern. It happened, Sammy, and that’s it. The

past is over.”

His words were like a spear through her heart.

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The past was over. The same day Alex died her father told her to

move on and that she should have listened to him and stayed away

from Alex. He had been so cruel.

“I’m not here for her sake. I’m here for yours. You have a bit of

explaining to do.”

Her father took a step toward her and stared at her.

“Do not speak to me in that manner, young lady. I’m your father,

and you will show me respect.”

Samantha stood up from the couch.

“Where’s my respect, Dad? All those years I loved you, respected

you, and did as you told me. Then you basically kick me out. I never

heard from you once except when Alex moved into the apartment

building.”

“I called you when he died.”

She shook her head in anger and shock.

“You gave me an ‘I told you so,’ and then basically shoved me off

to New York.”

He shook his head.

“You didn’t listen to me. If you had just listened to me you

wouldn’t be in this position right now,” he stated then looked at the five men.

Sam glanced over her shoulder at the brothers. They remained

with her the entire time. At the moment, they looked about ready to

pounce on her dad. She loved them for their support.

“What do you mean ‘this position’?”

“You were with Alex when I forbid you to get involved with him.

You were with him in Dallas for over a year.”

“He lived in the same apartment building as I did, Dad, and most

of the time he was serving his country in war, amongst other things.

Which is why I am here.”

“You did not belong with him. Just as you do not belong with

these men.”

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“What?” Samantha, as well as her men, exclaimed at once. Her

father ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

He waved his hand through the air at them.

“This, this was not the future planned for you.”

“Oh, really? And what exactly was my planned future in your

eyes?”

“Frederick!”

They all turned toward Samara’s voice. She had changed into a

short evening dress and immediately Sam’s father walked over to her.

“Why don’t you take your friends over to the guest suite? You’ll

be more comfortable over there, Sammy,” Samara stated then

motioned with her head for them to leave.

Sam’s blood pressure felt as if it would explode. Kyle placed an

arm around her waist and pulled her against him as they exited the

living room.

Sam absorbed the decorations and new design of the foyer as she

exited with her men.