9781618857835FrozenFuryBeckNC (3 page)

He opened the door
quietly to see Amelia’s eyes flickering open. Anxious about how she’d respond
to him and what she’d recall, Gage made his way slowly to the side of the bed.
Their eyes locked on one another, but neither gave away their thoughts. It was
a bit too much like a standoff for Gage’s comfort.

She shot first. “What
happened to me? And where am I?” Amelia’s voice wrapped itself around his
heart. She was quick and to-the-point, a no-nonsense request with the resolute
expectation that he would reply accordingly. In other words, she couldn’t be
more perfect.

“You were shot in the
lab where I was on duty.” He’d keep it short and avoided the details that would
make anything worse.

“Why were you on duty?
Where was Leonard?”

Gage couldn’t help the
growl that rose from his throat at another man’s name on his mate’s lips.
Amelia noticed and her eyes widened. Flaring his nostrils, Gage took a few deep
breaths and attempted an answer.

“Assuming Leonard is
the standard security guard, he was out on the perimeter check. TEU was brought
in to add security for a few days at the lab.”

“TEU?”
She interrupted. Then recognition flickered in her eyes. “Shit. You’re Madden’s
little brother.”

Gage puffed up at the
indication he might be little. He might be younger but damn to them all, he was
not little anymore! He had a mate. He had the beginnings of his own family.
“I’m Gage Santucci.” He sat on the edge of the bed, no longer able to fight the
pull to be near her.

Her fingers brushed
along the side of his thigh and they both drew back at the electric shock that
ran through them. As he rubbed his leg, Amelia’s eyes flashed from her fingers
to his eyes.

“No.” She rose to get
up, but her injury prevented the movement.

“You’ve been shot. You
won’t be able to move around too well for a bit. Uh, do you know Nicolaus? He
treated you. He said a day of bed rest and you should be healed to normal.”

Amelia nodded. “Don’t
get any ideas. I know what you are. And now I want my sisters.” She looked
around. “If I’m right, I’m on the Santucci compound which means Layla is
nearby. I want to see her.”

Gage shook his head.
“Not yet. You and I need to talk first. I have to explain what happened in your
lab.”

“My lab,” Amelia’s body
tightened in concern and her voice jumped. “Is everything okay there? My
experiment I was working on?”

“Everything was left
just as it was and locked behind us.”

“Then how was I shot?
Did someone try to break in? I can’t have my research taken. It’s important.”

“Hush now,” Gage
reassured her. “It was a misunderstanding. There was no one trying to break in.
I thought there was. You see, you weren’t signed in. I should’ve been the only
one with a heartbeat in the place. When I saw your lab light on, I assumed
there was an intruder and under orders, I… I…”

“Oh
dear Goddess!
You shot me.” Amelia’s voice vibrated
off the walls as she put the events of the past night together. Gage could do
nothing more than cringe at the anger in her words. “I cannot believe this. I
get a mate only to find out he’s an idiot who shoots people.
Just
my damn luck.
Get out. Get out right now and bring me my sisters.”

Amelia’s frantic
pointing drew Gage up and away. He left the room, closed the door, and stood on
the other side. He had no idea what to do now.

Chapter Two

“No.” Amelia shook her
head at her sisters. “This is not happening. My mate shot me.”

“To be fair, it was an
accident,” Layla offered by way of comfort.

“And he is terribly
sorry,” Paige added.

They both sat in the
small seating area in the bedroom where she’d been hiding since Gage had left.
Thankfully, he’d at least conceded on her request to get her sisters. There was
nobody who could understand her like them. They’d know that even though she was
angry, below that emotion was hurt and disappointment. Amelia had quietly
dreamed of the day she would mate. This was not meeting her expectations.

“You both know how much
I’ve wanted this. I want to be mated. I’ve waited the longest and I should’ve
been first since I’m the eldest sister.” Amelia took a breath and continued, “Now,
here’s my chance and instead of courting me, my mate shoots me.” Though her
thoughts began quiet, the anger inserted itself and Amelia’s voice grew louder.

“We know, Amelia, but
this is the mating you’ve been given. The Goddess has reasons for all things
and this too has a reason. Maybe if you simply try to know him, you’ll find he’s
just what you need.” Layla leaned in to stroke Amelia’s arm and with her mated
powers, the sensation calmed her.

Tears welled in
Amelia’s eyes, but she batted them away and pushed herself up to stand by the
window. “It’s not fair.” Her heart was
heavy,
the
frustration that even this miracle would be tainted by her soul sin was
overwhelming. “Why do I have to deal with this anger always?”

“Soon enough, it’ll be
gone.” Paige moved to stand beside her. “But first you must find it inside
yourself to go to him freely.”

“Gage is suffering. He
has a knack to look casual in all things but he knows he’s done wrong and he’s
very worried, Amelia.” Layla implored her sister from deep within the couch. Amelia
noticed Layla’s pregnant belly was weighing her down quite a bit.

Jumping in, Paige
added, “He looked awful when he greeted us downstairs. Madden and Donovan
are
with him now. Van brought some new vaccination to help
him while you take some time to sort out your feelings.”

“No,” Amelia stomped up.
“I don’t want him to have something that takes him away from me.”

“Then you must go to
him. Otherwise, he will grow moody, twitchy, and unable to concentrate. It
isn’t fair when there are ways to treat it now. You know this for yourself.”

“I damn well know it. I
created the drug you’ve mentioned but that doesn’t mean I want it used on
my
mate!” Just the thought made Amelia
furious and she felt a power surge in her like magic. She paced to the large
window and looked out onto the vineyard.

A memory—hazy but all
too vivid to be anything but a memory—floated into her consciousness. She was
lying on the floor of her lab and a wicked pain lanced her when she tried to
sit up. Someone pushed her gently back down. Was that Gage? She could hear
hushed conversation as if someone were on the phone, but opening her eyes hurt
as much as trying to move. Goddess, her head felt as if it were split in two.
What the hell had happened to her?

Last she remembered she
was in her lab working on her private research. She’d nearly had the
confirmation on her experimental drug.
And then, nothing.
She couldn’t remember anything but a loud noise, an explosion. Her first
thoughts ran to her research no one knew about. She’d need to keep it secret,
but first she needed to find out who this man was now pacing around her and
whispering in furious tones.

Amelia listened to his
side of the conversation, trying to piece together what happened. “She’s awake.
Oh Goddess, Caedon, she’s awake. But there’s so much blood.
No,
no of course not.
Madden called for a non-kill shot. Thank the Goddess.
Who would’ve known? No one was supposed to be here. I assumed it was an
intruder. Of course, I checked. Security reports had the building empty. Fuck,
Caedon, just get Nico here.” She had a flashing recognition she was safe. This
man worked for the TEU. He knew Madden and Caedon, her sisters’ mates. The
memory ended with her eyes closing and her lethargy pulling her back into unconsciousness.

He had been so worried
for her, so kind. He’d regretted his actions and been hurt so deeply that her
words of anger must’ve cut him deeper still. Damn all that anger. Why hadn’t
she spent even a moment considering how hurt he was? Now, Amelia had to swallow
down her own self-centered behavior and focus on the gift she’d been given.

She looked back to
Layla who sat rubbing her hand over her burgeoning stomach. She allowed her
calming presence to embrace her, smiled at her sister, and nodded. “Please ask
him not to take it. I need just a bit of time. Please.”

“Let me go down,” Paige
offered as she walked briskly from the room.

* * * *

Gage listened as Paige
relayed Amelia’s message. He was relieved he hadn’t yet taken the medicine Van brought.
Even more so, he was relieved at this outward sign of her acceptance of him. He
knew he was the cause for her frustration and that this was certainly not the
way a woman wished to be mated, but he knew he couldn’t take it back.

Goddess help him though,
he still had no idea what to do to bridge the gap. He’d never had a mission
that felt as insurmountable as this. His mamma had called him as soon as she
was told by Madden. She’d cussed at him in her native Italian tongue more than
he’d ever heard. Gage didn’t need anyone else to tell him how much he’d screwed
this up. He was well aware.

Anton walked in
carrying a large basket surrounded with lace and ribbon. “If this helps, I took
the liberty of putting together a basket of Amelia’s favorite things. Your mamma
included her soothing herbal tea and those famous lavender bath salts.” Anton
handed the large basket to Gage.

“Well, don’t just stand
there. Go and bring it to her,” Paige encouraged as she made a brushing motion
towards the stairs with her hands. “Go on. She doesn’t bite.”

“Not what I’ve heard,
Principessa,” Donovan spoke from behind her.

Paige reached around
the tap him but it was too late. Donovan had hit on his biggest fear. Gage had
no idea what to do with an angry woman. Most women he’d bedded simply fell into
his arms without any coaxing, but Amelia, she belonged to him, and the longer
she kept him waiting, the stronger his urge to take her would grow.

He didn’t want to wait
to claim her, and without the medicine Donovan had, he couldn’t wait too long.
It was against everything in his Valendite DNA to allow his newfound mate to go
unclaimed. With determination, he climbed the stairs and knocked on the door to
their bedroom.

“Come in,” Amelia’s
voice called out.

When Gage opened the
door, he saw she was kneeling at Layla’s feet with her hand on Layla’s belly.
Her green eyes were glossy as if tears were forming, but the smile on her face
stopped him where he stood. Never had he seen a more beautiful sight than his
mate’s happiness. She was shining as her dainty, thin lips pulled up in joy.
Her cheeks rounded and she looked to Layla.

“He’s moving.” Layla
smiled down at her sister and then looked at Gage across the room. “The baby is
moving. It’s the first time Amelia has felt it.” She indicated with her hand
for him to come closer, but Gage felt as if he was intruding on their moment.
He stood as a sentinel at the door.

Noticing his
discomfort, Layla turned her head as if hearing a far-off noise. “Oh, I think
that’s Madden calling for me,” she said. “Help me up and I’ll go see what he
needs. You two can talk.”

“Subtle,” Amelia
shrugged, looking as uncomfortable as Gage felt, once Layla made her way from
the room.

“Good intentioned.”
Gage still didn’t move until he realized Amelia was looking at the basket he
was carrying. “This is for you. I wanted you to have some of your favorite
things. Maybe it will bring you some comfort.”

“A
‘Sorry for Shooting You’ gift?”

Gage set the basket
back down and ran his fingers through his hair. “Damn it. What am I to say? I
could apologize one thousand times but it’ll make no difference to you. Will
it?”

“I don’t know. I’m
trying. I just cannot believe this is how it was meant to be.”

“What was meant to be?
I’m not following.”

“This.
Us.
Our mating.
It’s supposed to be
romantic, an incredible passion like Layla and Madden, Eloise and Caedon, and
my other sisters. Instead, I’m cursed with this frustratingly ridiculous way to
meet my mate.” Amelia began to pace as she spoke. Her frustration so obvious in
the way she held herself, Gage took a few steps back.

“I’m so sorry. I’d do
anything to change it if I could. I’m just so damn sorry.”

Amelia glared across
the room at him. Gage couldn’t help but consider that American phrase “if looks
could kill”. Then she walked towards him and he was lost. She was coming near
him. Their eyes locked and he held his breath until they were standing
chest-to-chest. He could smell the fragrance of her skin, allowing himself the
pleasure for just a moment before returning to her eyes. She was furious.

“Stop saying you’re
sorry. Just stop,” Amelia growled as she struck her fist against his bicep and
then his chest.

He allowed her to hit
him. Her tiny fists didn’t hurt, but it seemed to be helping her. He saw the
tiny beads of perspiration form on her forehead and could feel the fight
beginning to fade from her muscles. Then all movement stopped and she leaned
her head against his chest. Afraid to move but equally afraid to do nothing,
Gage gripped her wrists and nuzzled into her neck. He kissed every spot of skin
he could find, licking and sucking until he heard her moan and felt her body go
heavy against him.