Wild Nights with a Lone Wolf (7 page)

“This is about to get serious. I thought I should know your last name,” he whispered against her lips.

A door creaked open behind them. “I see the reunion is a happy one.”

Ash spun to face the man who’d barged into the dreary sort-of guest room where Sherri had been left to sleep off her sedatives. The man looked very much like Ash, actually. Clearly this one had a couple of decades on him. The other man was also broader and darker-featured but not as tall, with craggy cheeks and a nose that had evidently been broken more than once.

Ash kept a tight hold on her arm. “She was drugged and thrown in a van, Pop. This is unacceptable.”

So it
was
his father. Sherri cringed on the inside.

She couldn’t tell if the older man’s gesture was dismissive or apologetic. “A regrettable mistake. Jojo couldn’t have known she belonged to you.”

Was this guy a sociopath? “A mistake? Are you kidding me? That’s assault, kidnapping, and—” In spite of her swimming head Sherri leaned forward, ready to dig further in with her list of charges. Ash squeezed her hand fast and hard. The message came through.

“I’m taking her out of here.”

Sherri looked around. “There’s another girl. They took her somewhere else.” There had to be some way to convince them to let them both leave. If not, she would make a call the second she had a phone in her hands.

“The girl had some scrapes. She’s being seen to,” Ash’s father rumbled.

“No. No fucking way.” That Jojo asshole shoved his way in, holding a bag of ice over his eye. “I owe at least two girls when I show up to make the trade. Anyway, he’s fucking lying, Pop. If she’s his bond mate, I’m Mother Theresa.”

Ash swept his hand toward Sherri. “He’s talking out his ass. My scent is all over her. See for yourself.”

“Only cuz they hooked up at the hotel bar last night. I saw ‘em. Ain’t no way they’re bonded. Fucker gets more tail than a taxidermist.”

“You.” Ash jabbed a finger. “You saw her with me and thought you’d get even, huh? Fuck with me to get back for showing you up in public? This is so far over the goddamned line you have no idea. You got no right to make accusations, Jojo. Should we talk about the girl you mauled and left dead on my land?”

Sherri tried to back away, but there was no place to go. She’d feared that girl didn’t make it, but oh, God. Mauled? So much worse than her imagination.

Jojo pointed back. “That wasn’t me. He’s lying, Ramon.”

“Enough,” Ash’s father boomed and puffed his chest even more than it was already puffed. He stepped forward with his fingers interlaced, tapping the two pointers against his chin.

He turned first to the “Jojo” character, still holding ice on his blackened eye. Funny, she’d always considered herself an independent woman, but knowing that Ash had given the rat-bastard a shiner, and he’d done it in her defense, actually gave her a sense of appreciation.

Ramon eyeballed Jojo. “What’s this about a dead girl?”

Jojo backed up against a pegboard wall. “It wasn’t me. The go-between. When I met him at the rendezvous, the girl tried to escape. He did shit I ain’t never seen before.”

Ash growled though clenched teeth. The clear threat in that sound made Sherri jump even though it wasn’t aimed at her. “Are you hearing this fucker? We had an agreement that you would stay out of my business, and I’d stay out of yours. This asshole is grabbing women at my restaurant. Using my land to do his dirty work. I’m a fucking murder suspect!”

Ramon nodded. “Once we finish the trade, he’ll be handled.”

Ash stood. “You can’t— No. You gotta call it off, Pop.”

“I’m afraid that isn’t an option. We’re dealing with a powerful man with whom we can’t afford to tangle. The pack needs the grease with law enforcement connections. We also need the money.”

Not an option? Law enforcement connections?

Sherri looked back and forth, from Ash who was about to foam at the mouth, to his father who appeared to be coolly commenting on a golf game. So she was supposed to be some kind of gang bargaining chip? “Oh hell no. No damn way. I’m not your fucking pawn.” She shoved against Ash’s shoulder.

His father turned a sharp set of eyes her way. “Asher, control your female.”

Control his female?
These guys were too much. “Excuse me—”

Ash’s arm went across her front. “Pop. She’s not going. Even for you, trading humans is a despicable business. This is Jojo’s mess. He needs to clean it up.”

His father stalked forward. Ignoring Ash’s growls, he took hold of Sherri’s right hand and then the left, studying each one carefully. He then tugged her hair aside to expose her neck, checking each side and eliciting an irritated “ow” from Sherri. “She doesn’t wear your mark,” Daddy Lobo growled. “No bite, no ink.”

“Pop.” Asher thrust out his arms. “When did I last set foot on this property? A decade ago? I’ll get around to covering the pack ink someday.” He snaked a hand around her waist, pulling her close. “The markings don’t matter. Sherri belongs to me, and I only need to know it in my heart.”

For a line of bullshit, damned if it didn’t sound pretty fabulous. Some reflex reaction to his arm around hers and the fierce declaration of emotion made Sherri squeeze back. Hell, maybe she just needed someone to grab onto. Lord knew she hadn’t had anybody like that in her life. This was a stressful moment. She wouldn’t pass up having someone to squeeze.

If a dubiously trustworthy werewolf with whom you had two hot, sexy nights is now the guy you’re latching onto, you’re wandering into desperate territory, Sherri.

Well, she was out in the desert, after all.

“No human symbol either. Neither of you wear rings. No proof she’s your mate.”

This time Ash seemed to hesitate, so Sherri spoke up. “You know, that was my request. I was engaged before, and it ended badly. I felt gun-shy, and I wanted to wait.” She hugged her arm tighter around Ash’s body. “But Ash is special to me. I’ve never known anyone like him. What we have is meaningful.” Well that was all true in a certain kind of way.

Ash’s hand smoothed over her arm. She couldn’t know for sure, but it seemed he meant to offer assurance. She wished she knew he actually had any to give.

After a minute of silence, Ash’s father “hmph’ed.” “You two will go with Jojo to the handoff. Ash, find a way to negotiate an alternate deal. If everything goes through successfully, you’ll be allowed to leave unharmed, and there will be no more interference with your mate, your employees, or your land.”

Ash patted Sherri’s hand. “Thanks, Pop.”

Jojo pushed forward. “What about the deal I already promised?”

Ash’s charismatic grin turned sinister. “That’s not really my problem, is it?”

Ramon turned to go. “You two will stay until sundown. Non-negotiable.” He stopped at the door. “And since you and your mate haven’t had time, we will do the ceremony here this afternoon. I’ll leave you to rest first.”

Negotiate? Ceremony? Oh. Shit. None of that sounded good.

S
herri waited until all extra visitors had cleared the room. She took a deep breath and turned her head slowly.

There sat Ash, still with his arm around her waist, looking like he might be mentally shoring himself up for a firing squad. Good.
Good.
Because she was about to give him both barrels.

“Did that mean what it sounded like it meant?”

He pressed his lips together. “Well. You see...” Oh crap, he was talking all serious and quiet, the way people got when they were about to say, “We’re very sorry for your loss.” He took a deep breath. “The negotiation part is concerning. I have contacts. I can make another deal, a better one than Jojo. Not humans though, that’s never been my thing. There’s a chance we’ll be up against someone who doesn’t want a different arrangement, and then it gets ugly.”

He shrugged like that potential wrinkle was no big deal. “As far as the ceremony goes? The government doesn’t recognize wolf unions, so legally it wouldn’t mean anything. It’s really only for the pack.”

Uh-huh. “A ceremony that will have us married in the eyes of your family.”

His face turned hard. “I disavowed these fuckers. I wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for Jojo and his bullshit. I don’t give a damn what they think.”

“But that’s what it would mean.

“That’s what it would mean.” Ash closed his eyes and shook his head. “This is a test. I walked away with the promise that I would never again interfere in pack business, and I would also never betray the pack. If I do, I die. Bringing you into this, Jojo put me in the position of either letting you get sent across the border or putting myself in the pack’s crosshairs. If they think I’m lying or betraying them, they’ll kill us both. If I fuck up this trade, same deal.”

“Oh, my God.” Sherri grasped the edge of a rough, threadbare sheet. “That’s completely nuts.”

Ash sighed. “Family. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t get rid of ‘em without committing a felony.”

“Under other circumstances, that might be funny.”

He flashed that same winning smile he’d used to cajole her into taking a drink at the bar. “It’s sort of funny.”

Sherri rolled her eyes. “Maybe. Anyway, I have to admit I’m glad you’re here. I’d like to think I could have gotten out of this on my own, but that Jojo packs quite a wallop.”

He touched the side of her face. “I couldn’t have taken that risk.”

She found herself leaning into his palm for one Mississippi, maybe two, before it occurred to her she had no clue what came next. “So what do we do?”

“Only one exit from this room.” Ash dropped his voice to an even softer whisper. “Usually there’s a lull in activity around here before dawn. If we want to get out of here before the trade, I’ll have to disable them so we can sneak off the property.”

“Disable. Right.” That sounded cozy. “Where are we? How do we get back?”

“Unincorporated border town called Lupanar Oscuro. The pack owns everything including the town itself. It’s over an hour’s drive to Nogales, maybe less since it’s late and we’ll be driving like beasts outta hell.”

“And the chances they’ll catch up?”

He’d pressed his face close to hers so they could talk quietly, and his slow, wet swallow answered her without any need for words. “I’m certain they will,” he said. “They wouldn’t be fighting at home though, so they’d have a disadvantage.”

She looked up at the yellowed ceiling. “Well with odds like that, who needs Russian roulette?”

“Fuck.” He choked on what sounded like an almost laugh. One great, calloused hand wrapped around hers. “I’m sorry as hell about all of this, Sherri. I thought Jojo had a shady escort business. I came to the bar to make sure he kept it off my turf and met a woman who looked like she’d be a lot of fun if I could get her to let her hair down. It never occurred to me that he might come after you. I wouldn’t have spent the night with you if it had.”

Ash’s lips brushed along her jaw and the edge of her ear. “Still, I find it hard to regret our time together. That it put you in danger, absolutely. But every word, every touch of your skin? Fuck no.”

Sherri flushed with heat. She studied Ash’s face, his body language, and his apologetic assertion for signs of deception. Her gut wanted to trust him. Her gut had trusted Ryan at the expense of everything, and she didn’t want to be wrong this time.

She was as sure as she could be that he was being honest when she said, “I believe you.” At the least, working together was their best bet.

Stress and stale air coated her lungs in the small room. “So running sounds like a risky option. Maybe there’s a way we can get word to someone who can bust the handoff? What does this ‘only a ceremony’ entail?”

Ash cleared his throat. Then he did it again. Then he scooted back on the small bed, murmuring something about getting more comfortable.

“Uh-oh.” Sherri crawled toward him, wondering about the way his eyes had gone from warm but serious to guarded and dark. “That’s not a confident look. Do we have to slaughter a goat or something?”

He scoffed. “Of course not.”

“You’re worried about something. I see it on your face. You might as well tell me so we can figure out what we’re dealing with.”

Ash smiled slightly. “Typically I keep these things to myself better.” He flattened his hands against his upper thighs. “Okay. The ceremony is pretty simple: some words are said, there’s a symbolic blood exchange—”

Yeesh. “A what?”

He flipped his palm over. “A small cut on each of our hands. A blood pact. Ever do that as a child?”

She wrinkled her nose. “No, but I think I get what you mean.” That didn’t sound terrible. Exceptionally strange, but whatever. “Is that all?”

“Then we say our vows, we kiss, we go and make love.”

“Hmm.” She met his gaze. That didn’t sound terrible. She’d enjoyed being with Ash—okay, it had been the best sex of her natural life—still, doing it on command sounded peculiar, and anxiety-inducing. “Do we have to? Will they know if we don’t or something?”

He nodded. “One or more elders from the pack usually waits outside the door. They’ll know by the scent.”

Double yeesh. “Okay that’s...” Sherri drummed her fingers on her knee. “...creepy. And more than a little nerve-wracking.” Her body flashed hot and cold as she scanned his large frame. He’d come in wearing a strange uniform, some sort of shop coveralls, but she could still picture the hills and ridges she’d seen in all their glory when they’d been naked together.

She settled her hand on his arm. “All right. You know, I meant it when I said I don’t ever do what we did. I don’t sleep with guys I don’t know. I liked you, though. I liked you so much I couldn’t let you walk out of that bar and wonder ‘what if.’ Had the situation been different, I would have wanted to exchange numbers and see where things could go and all that nonsense. So as disturbing as this crazy ritual thing sounds, I’m sure we can both handle getting naked together one more time if it buys us a chance to get out of here intact.”

Ash bit his thumbnail, staring into space. “Good. That’s... good.”

“Why do you still look like we’re definitely going to be shot before dinner?”