SWAT Team One and the Social Worker (24 page)

Sam covered her mouth and cried.

“What is it? What’s wrong, Sam?” Donny asked.

“Al is my father, not Frederick.”

Ted gasped, but Lord Crespin and Marie closed their eyes and

cried. The room fell silent until Sam rose from the couch and walked

to Marie.

Marie looked at her, the green of her eyes as bold and brilliant as

her own.

“You knew, didn’t you?” Sam whispered.

Marie nodded her head, and Sam embraced her. Lord Crespin

hugged Sam as well.

A few seconds later, Sam slowly pulled away, wiped her eyes

with the back of her hand, and pulled her cell phone out of her back

pocket.

“Who are you calling?” Dustin asked as he touched her arm.

Sam took Dustin’s hand and placed it against her cheek. She

leaned into it, closed her eyes then kissed the inside of his hand as the tears fell. “My father. I want him here.”

“Wait,” Ted stated, and everyone looked at him.

“There’s no need to. He’s already here,” Ted announced.

Sam was confused as she looked at Ted then around the room as if

Al would appear any moment.

“He’ll be here within the hour. I didn’t understand why he wanted

to come, but as soon as I told him who your father was hanging out

with and then about the hunter wolves, he insisted upon helping out

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and joining us here. I told him about what happened with you and

Frederick today. I also told him about Samara. He was pissed and said

he had some things to check out but would be here by tonight.”

Sam closed up her phone.

“This is a lot of information to process.”

Dustin pulled Sam into an embrace and kissed the top of her head.

“Lord Crespin, I think it would be a good idea if Sam takes a little

break. Perhaps we can go outside and stroll through your beautiful

gardens until Al arrives?”

Lord Crespin smiled at Dustin.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” He walked a few steps

toward Sam and kissed her cheek.

“Go, child, we will send for you as soon as your father gets here.”

She took his hand and squeezed it.

“Thank you…grandfather.” She smiled then snuggled into

Dustin’s embrace as he walked her out of the room.

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Chapter 15

Dustin remained silent as he walked Sam across the courtyard and

to the nearby gardens. He found a swinging bench and brought her

right to it to sit on.

She remained snuggling close to him as she tucked her legs under

her rear, and he held her with one arm around her shoulders.

The others were scattered about, either leaning on a paved rock

wall, or they sat on small stone benches built into the area around the garden. They were feet from where she and Dustin sat.

From the house to where they now sat, Sam’s heart had been

beating rapidly. Her body was shaking ever so slightly, but still he felt the trembling.

Now that they were sitting side by side and the others were close

by, it seemed her heart rate was slowing to a more regular beat.

He looked toward his brothers, and their eyes all remained

focused on Sam.

“It was a lot to swallow, huh?” she whispered, catching their

attention.

Dustin caressed her hair and her shoulder.

“It sure was, Sam, but you are very strong. Plus you figured out

Al is your father.”

He felt her body tremble, and then she turned into his embrace and

knelt next to him on the bench.

She cupped his face with her hands and held his gaze with her

own. She just stared at him as if she were trying to read his mind.

Then she did.

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“By the gods, I love this woman with all my heart. Please keep her
safe. Please don’t let her pull away from our love. She is strong, she
is beautiful, and she is ours.”

“I love you, too, Dustin. I love all of you. I am not feeling strong
right now. I feel…vulnerable,”
she replied through their link.

The tears rolled down her cheeks right before she leaned forward

and kissed him.

She kissed him for only a few seconds before she pulled away and

snuggled against his neck, sobbing.

Dustin pulled her all the way onto his lap. She instinctively

straddled his waist, and he rubbed her back.

Over her shoulder he looked at the others. He blocked his words

so only they could hear him.

“She needs us, not only as her mates but as warriors and wolves

defending packs and the circle. We need to find out everything we can
about Frederick. He called her back here for a reason. He’s up to

something, and we need to find out what. Also, see what we can find
out about Sam’s mother’s death. It sounds suspicious to me.”

“I agree, Dustin. You stay here with Sam. We’ll split up in twos

and see what we can gather with the pack members here and our

government connections,”
Kyle said then they each walked over to Sam.

“We’re going to leave you two alone for a little while, Sam. We’ll

be back in a bit. We love you,” Donny said then kissed her cheek. The

others followed suit then left.

Sam had her hand against Dustin’s cheek as she caressed his chin

and neck.

“Where are they really going?”

Dustin touched her chin and held her gaze. “We love you, Sam.

We are your mates, and we are your protectors. You are not in this

alone.”

Before she could respond, he kissed her softly until she cuddled

against him and closed her eyes.

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* * * *

Trey and Adam went to speak with Lord Crespin and Marie to see

what other information they had. Kyle and Donny went outside of the

Crespin home and into the village to where the Crespin and some

Valdamar resided. They were also going to see their parents, Duvoe

and Marette.

Kyle spoke into his cell phone, rambling on in Gaelic. He had a

connection in Ireland to someone working undercover. A few calls

later and the ball was in motion to find out more about Frederick and

his associates. He also had someone looking into Samara’s family

background as well as her associates.

“We heard you arrived hours ago,” Marette Valdamar exclaimed

as she embraced her sons one at a time. First Kyle then Donny.

“It’s great to see you, Mom,” Kyle added as he hugged her tight.

It had been months since they had seen her.

“Sorry we didn’t come by sooner. We’ve been busy since we

arrived,” Donny said.

“That’s understandable, you’ve been at Lord Crespin’s?” their

father Duvoe added.

“Yes, sir. Our mate is Lord Crespin’s granddaughter,” Kyle

announced, and both his parents’ eyes widened in surprise. Then their

mom embraced them again.

“When will we get to meet her?” Marette asked, sounding

enthusiastic. It almost made them forget how complex the current

situation was.

“Why don’t we head inside so we can explain a bit, Mom,” Donny

suggested as he took her hand and led her back inside of their home.

His father and brother followed.

Kyle’s phone rang a few times with updates and information

about Frederick and Samara. Each one caused his stomach to churn

with disgust. He and Donny explained everything that had been

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happening since meeting Samantha. Their parents were thrilled to

know that Sam’s father wasn’t Frederick. It had been a concern for

many years until her mother disappeared and Samantha hadn’t

shifted. Now that they knew Sam was a Stevenson, they exhaled and

promised to help in whatever way they could.

“I take it those calls you’re receiving are not good news, son?”

Duvoe asked Kyle.

Kyle shook his head. “I fear we will need more protection than

what is here, Father. We may need to transport Samantha elsewhere.

It appears that Frederick has been cohorting with Redalfo.”

“Redalfo? He’s an elder as well,” Donny exclaimed.

“He’s a piece of crap. The only reason he holds a position is

because of his bloodline. He’s always been a problem and only looks

out for himself. I’m not surprised at all that Frederick is keeping his company. Samara and Redalfo have always been stirring up trouble.

She’s been trying to land an Alpha for years.”

“Do you know the Prestons?” Kyle asked.

“Of course we know Ted. It was tragic how his brother Alex

died.”

“How was their relationship with Samara?” Donny asked, and

Kyle knew exactly why.

“I believe she tried to seduce both of them at one point, but when

it came to making a decision to be Alpha of the Preston pack, both

Alex and Ted declined. Alex kept reenlisting in the military, and Ted

for some strange reason joined the Dallas police department.”

Donny and Kyle locked gazes. They didn’t have to say any words.

They knew what the other one was thinking. Alex and Ted were both

in love with Sam and wanted to protect her. They felt nervous and

jealous.

“What do the Prestons have to do with your mate?” Marette

asked, and Kyle explained.

An hour later, they were antsy and felt an intense need to be by

their mate.

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“We promise to bring Samantha by tomorrow to meet you both. I

think she is overwhelmed with everything she has heard and

experienced today,” Donny said as they began to leave the house.

“That’s understandable. The poor girl must be besieged with

emotions. Be sure to bring her by. Your aunt is baking up a storm

since your cousins are visiting with you as well.”

“Sounds good, Mom, see you tomorrow.”

Kyle smiled, and then he and his brother headed back toward

Crespin’s place. On their way down the road and to the estate, they

saw Frankie and Vince.

Both SUVs sat side by side on the back road as the men talked.

“How is your mate feeling?” Vince asked from the driver’s side.

“She is hanging in there,” Kyle replied from the passenger side of

their SUV.

“Lord Crespin seemed very attentive to her. What was with his

mumbo jumbo about time to learn the truth?” Frankie asked.

Donny explained.

“Oh, shit! So you mean the five of you are going to be fucking

royalty? My ass is not bowing down to any of you,” Frankie added

with a shake of his head. Leave it to him to make a joke out of the

situation. Donny and Kyle laughed. Then they explained about Ted,

Alex, and Frederick.

“I didn’t like that asshole the second he came out with the bimbo.

She reeked, too,” Frankie stated.

“Well Kyle just got a call from one of his contacts in the

government. It seems that Frederick and Samara have been spending a

lot of time with Redalfo.”

“Shit, Donny, Redalfo is an asshole. Everyone knows that. He’s

been trying to prove he’s worthy of his position in the circle for ages.”

Donny nodded at Vince’s statement.

“Well I don’t trust Frederick, and now that Sam isn’t really his

daughter, there’s no need for them to be in contact with one another,”

Kyle added.

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“I wouldn’t let my mate near him anyway,” Vince said with

vehemence as if Sam were his mate. Then they talked a little longer

about surveillance and guards for the area. Vince and Frankie would

touch base later on tonight or tomorrow morning.

They said goodbye then headed their separate ways.

* * * *

Trey, Adam, and Ted cornered Al as he arrived at the Crespin

estate.

“So what the hell, Al? Leave out some important information

when you were suggesting that I mate with Sam?” Ted asked,

catching Adam and Trey completely off guard.

“Like that would have ever happened with us around,” Adam

stated, taking a step toward Ted.

“Okay, men, settle down and let’s discuss this situation. If anyone

is confused and upset besides Sam, it’s me and my wife,” Lord

Crespin added, eyeing Al from head to toe.

“You could have told us, Al.” Lord Crespin pointed at Al.

“How did you figure it out?” Al asked as he ran a hand through

his hair. He looked like he had little to no sleep and the rims of his eyes were red.

“We didn’t figure it out, Sammy did,” Ted stated. Al’s eyes

widened in shock.

He looked around for her. “How did she know?”

“She put it together. She recalled the connection to you and how

close you were. She also said that whenever she was in trouble or

alone that you made sure either one of us got to her or Ted knew,”

Adam replied.

“How did this happen? I mean, I know how it happened, but why

did Alexa get involved with Frederick?” Ted asked.

Al paced the living room in front of them all and tried to explain.

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“I had no idea that she was pregnant with my child. We were

together until I acted like a moron because she was hanging around

with Frederick. All of a sudden she was distancing herself from me