Changing Hearts (30 page)

He moved through the room and found a seat at the bar itself. His skin prickled as he slid onto the stool and he glanced around quickly. His gaze stalled on a shadowy figure in the back of the bar. He narrowed his eyes as he inhaled sharply, then he shook his head on a huff of breath.
What in the hell is Micah doing here?

Slade ordered a beer and picked up a menu, ignoring the man in the back of the bar. He felt more than heard Micah’s approach, turning his head to meet the possible threat. Micah ignored him as well, sliding onto the stool next to him and putting a half-empty coffee cup down in front of him.

“What are you doing here, Slade?” Micah’s voice came out lower than normal, his gaze fixed on the bottles that lined the back of the bar.

“None of your fucking business.” Slade’s voice was just as soft. It was obvious Micah didn’t want anyone to know they were talking.

“Don’t tell me you were stupid enough to leave Joie.” Micah glanced at him briefly then turned his attention to the dartboard where two men lazily competed.

“What I do or don’t do is no concern of yours, Micah.” Slade caught the bartender’s eye and ordered a burger and fries.

Micah tapped his coffee cup and when the bartender filled it, he turned so that he leaned against the bar. “If you left her to raise your child alone, you’re an idiot.”

“Fuck. You.” Slade picked up his beer, sipping it slowly.

Micah’s attention suddenly became focused on the doorway. Slade glanced at him then at the man who had entered the bar. His trouble sense clanged again.
Is Micah about to attack a human? This might be worth watching.

Slade moved slightly so he could see the man who now walked toward the pool tables in the back of the bar. Micah reached into his pocket and pulled a piece of paper out. He studied it for a moment then glanced at the man again. Shoving the paper back into his shirt pocket, Micah finished his coffee then tossed money on the bar.

“What are you up to, Micah?”

“Just stay out of my way.” Micah got to his feet and Slade turned so that he could keep the other man in sight. Micah’s prey, and there was no other word for him at this moment, lined up a pool shot.

Micah moved quietly around to the other side of the room. It amazed Slade that he could move that silently. Almost as though he faded into the background. For a man who stood well over six and a half feet tall and weighed over two hundred pounds, that was quite a feat.

As Slade sipped his beer again, he could feel the grin stealing across his face. He could almost feel the fight brewing. Not sure what the other man had done to incur Micah’s wrath, he was still anxious to see them go at it.

Micah now stood almost directly behind his quarry. The other man still hadn’t noticed him. Slade caught movement from the side and left the barstool before he even realized he was moving. One of the other men in the crowd wasn’t as unobservant as the man bending over the pool table.

Slade didn’t know if he was reaching for a gun or a knife but whatever it was, he wasn’t going to use it. Slade wanted to see Micah fight. He wanted to see a fair fight.

Micah waited until the other man had finished his shot before stepping closer to him. The one Slade had his eye on pulled a switchblade out of his vest pocket and moved toward Micah. Slade and Micah moved at the same time. Micah grabbed the end of the pool cue just as Slade clamped his hand on the wrist of the man with the knife.

Micah yanked his prey against his chest, pulling the pool cue out of his hand, then shoved the man facedown on the pool table. Slade held fast to his man, bending his wrist backward until the man went to his knees. Micah spared him a brief glance then ducked as the man on the table came up swinging.

Slade felt his eyes glowing as he watched Micah fight. He’d never seen anyone move that fast in human form. Micah fought much the way he did. Street fighting, jabbing and punching at the most vulnerable points on the human’s body. The one difference between them was that Slade could tell Micah pulled his punches, not inflicting as much damage as he could have.

Another man took a step forward and Slade growled at him. The other man froze as Micah subdued his prey, holding both of the man’s wrists in one hand as he reached into his front pants pocket for a strip of plastic. Slade froze.
Plastic handcuffs? What the fuck is he doing with plastic handcuffs?

“Bond Enforcement,” Micah rasped loudly, pulling the same paper out of his shirt pocket he’d had out earlier. Slade had never heard Micah raise his voice before. It sounded really odd. Shaking his head, he saw the cops in the doorway. Unsure how long they’d been standing there, he released the man he’d been holding. The guy got to his feet then moved slowly toward the back door, his gaze focused on the cops.

Slade backed up a step or two himself, not wanting any attention thrown his way. Micah spoke quietly to the two police officers, showed them the paper again then yanked his prisoner up off the pool table. Slade grinned at the man’s black eye, bloody nose and swollen jaw. Micah spared a quick glance at him then answered another question posed by the cops.

The two cops left with Micah’s man and Micah started toward Slade. He stopped a foot away then held out his hand. Slade stared at the outstretched hand for a moment then slowly extended his own.

“Thank you. I didn’t see the guy with the knife.” Micah shook his hand then released it.

Slade spoke quietly, his attention on Micah’s face. “You’re a bounty hunter?”

“Part-time, yes.”

“You track humans.” Slade couldn’t stop the grin from stealing across his face. It seems he and Micah had more in common than he’d ever imagined only Micah operated on one side of the law while he’d always been on the other. His work for Tonio had involved tracking humans and making them pay. Micah did much the same thing.

“I track the worst criminals whether they’re human or shifter. That one,” Micah jerked his head toward the door, “raped and killed three children, kidnapped another one and would have killed him but the kid got away. That man escaped from jail in New Mexico about two weeks ago.”

“How did you get into that business, Micah?”

“You looking for a job, Slade?” Micah smiled then and it was almost enough to shock him into immobility. Slade had never seen Micah smile.

“No. Just curious.”

“Long story. Not one I care to share right now.” Micah turned toward the bar. “Your food’s here.”

Slade turned toward the bar, following Micah. They slid back onto their barstools and Micah caught the bartender’s eye. “Water.”

Slade picked up the greasy burger and bit into it. Nowhere near as good as Joie’s cooking but what the hell, he was hungry.

“What are your plans, Slade?”

“Don’t have any.” Slade spoke with his mouth full, not looking at Micah. “Just looking for some place to be.”

“Let me ask you a question, Slade. How many times can you reinvent yourself before you forget who you are?”

Slade froze. How could it be that
Tante
Kay and Micah had asked him much the same question? He swallowed the bite of burger, his appetite gone and his stomach threatening to toss the food right back up. He picked up his beer, sipped it then faced the other man.

“What?”

“You’ve never stuck with anything in your life, have you? Running has become a pattern with you. Haven’t you ever wanted a home?”

“The Pack was my home.”

“No. The Pack was a tool. You used them and you know it. Your home was with Joie. Your place was with her and the child she’ll bear.” Micah picked up the glass of water the bartender had set in front of him. He drank most of it before setting it back on the bar.

“Don’t you want to see your daughter, Slade?” He finished the water and put the glass down as Slade continued to stare at him. Slade shut his mouth with an audible click of his teeth.

“Dau…” Slade’s eyes widened as he stared at Micah. “How could you possibly know that?”

Micah simply let his mouth curl up into a slight smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. Tossing it onto the bar, he waved his thanks at the bartender for the water before facing Slade again. “Give me a call in eight months, prove me a liar.”

Micah turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Slade sitting there staring after him. When the door opened again to allow more people to enter the bar, Slade shook his head and shoulders.

He glanced at the hamburger and fries congealing in their own grease and blanched. Throwing money on the bar to pay for his food and the beer, he left with no clear idea of where he was going.

Tante
Kay and Micah had both suggested that he belonged with Joie. Joie had told him his home was with her. The longing hit him like a lightning bolt. He could almost smell the bayou, could almost hear the sounds of the birds and squirrels and he could almost taste Joie’s gumbo, not to mention her sweet mouth.

“What in the fuck am I doing in fucking Oklahoma?”

Slade didn’t realize he’d spoken out loud until two people stopped to stare at them. He grinned ferally at them then took off running for his bike.

“I’m going home, home to Joie.” He spoke softly under his breath as he mounted the bike. The phrase repeated itself over and over as the powerful bike started down the highway back the way he’d come.

Four weeks into her pregnancy, morning sickness had become a reality. She’d expected Malcolm back before now. Joie brushed her hair out of her eyes as another wave of nausea hit her. She kept one arm protectively over her stomach as she retched.

When finally able, she got slowly to her feet. Staring at her reflection, she was glad Malcolm hadn’t come back. What would he think of her now? Her hair lay dull against her scalp, her eyes were glassy and she’d never looked this pasty in her life!

Joie washed her face, brushed her teeth and stepped into the shower. She let the cool water run over her body for several minutes before leaning down for the soap. Pouring soap onto the sponge, she remembered the pleasure Malcolm had taken in washing her. Joie sighed as she replaced the soap then ran the sponge slowly over her neck and shoulders.

Her breasts were slightly larger now than before. She shuddered slightly to think how big they’d really get. She washed the rest of her body then soaped her hair. The smell of the shampoo was almost enough to make her cry. She remembered this smell from the day she’d cut Malcolm’s hair.

“Joie Sue, that’s enough. He’s gone. He may never come back. Snap out of it!” Joie spoke loudly to herself, slapping her hands against the wet tile in the bathroom. She turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. Wrapping her hair in a towel, she grabbed another one to dry off with.

Dressing quickly, she made her way down the hall to the kitchen. A glass of tea and some dry toast were all she could stomach right now.
Tante
Kay came out of her room with a frown in place.

“You done made up your mind, then?”

“Yes. I just want to be by myself for a few days. The animals are all going to the vet over in LaPlace. You’ll be fine here, won’t you?”

“I been alone before, child. ‘Sides, it ain’t forever. You’ll be back soon enough.”
Tante
came forward, hugging Joie with a strength that amazed her.

“That’s right. I just need a week or so by myself, just to get some perspective. I’ll be back and then we can talk about what we’re going to do about the baby’s room.”

“Right!”
Tante
Kay thrust one arm high in the air. “We gonna have us a baby!” She clapped her hands then cupped Joie’s face and gave her a smacking kiss on both cheeks.

“You go back to the cabin and take care of yourself, rest. Boudreaux, he already opened everything up for you and all the linens are fresh. I wish you’d let us put that air conditioner in, at least in the bedroom. You know your body is gonna be warmer now that you’re breeding.”

“I know. I just want things the way they are for now. If I decide to stay more than a week I’ll let you know and then we can talk about the air conditioner.” Joie gave
Tante
a kiss of her own then finished her tea. “I’d like to get started. This early it’ll still be a little cool on the bayou.”

“You take care now, child. You got that cell phone?”

“I have it. And the extra battery.” Joie put her glass in the sink. “You take care too.”

“Don’t you be worrying about me, now.”
Tante
flapped her hands at Joie as she followed her to the door.

Joie turned back once to wave then got into the boat. The cabin held nothing but happy memories, no fear, no sadness. That’s where she wanted to be right now to decide what she was going to do.

Out of curiosity, she’d contacted the bank that held the account Malcolm had left information on. There was enough money in there to keep
Tante
Kay, Joie and the baby in comfort for several years but she didn’t want to use it. That was Malcolm’s money and if he thought he could buy forgiveness, he had another thought coming.

Joie set the boat on a straight course to the cabin, seeing but not really registering the scenery all around her. Fish and turtles jumped in the water, birds and deer drank from the banks. She saw them all but paid them no attention. Her mind focused inward on the child growing inside her and the man who had fathered her child.

She arrived at the cabin and docked the boat. Tying it securely, she picked up the small bag holding the last of her personal items. Making her way up the path, she stopped at the first sight of the cabin.

A smile formed across her face as she started up the steps and stayed there as she placed her toiletries in the bathroom then walked into the bedroom.

Joie sat on the side of the bed and opened the bag again. Withdrawing the picture frame holding her family picture and Malcolm’s, she put it on the table beside the bed then lay down on her side. Another side effect of her pregnancy was frequent napping.

She smiled again as she stared at the faces of the little girl on one side of the picture and the little boy on the other.

“Such beautiful children.” She drifted off to sleep with the picture firmly in her mind and that’s how he found her.