Embracing Fate: A hot paranormal shifter book (Hidden Hills Shifters 4) (8 page)

“Did you find it?” he asked.

“No, but it could mean he didn’t put it back from the last time he used it. It might still be in his truck.”

“How about we grab a bite to eat and then head on up to this lake?”

“Are you sure you have the time? You’re not working today?”

He shrugged. “I will be working—kind of. I’m trying to find the men who attacked your brother, and if Brody can give me their names, I might be able to locate them.”

A trickle of disappointment filtered through her. Piper shouldn’t have assumed that he was there just to help her. “Great.”

They doubled back through town where they grabbed some food at a drive thru and ate on the road so as not to waste time. After she finished, she leaned back against the seat and tried to enjoy just being with Cord.

“Have you and Brody always lived in Hidden Hills?” he asked, one arm on the wheel, and the other resting on his leg, looking as if this was some Saturday afternoon sightseeing jaunt.

“No. We grew up in Ohio and had a good life until Dad left. After that, Mom struggled to keep food on the table.”

His lips thinned. “That had to be tough.”

“It was. There were times when we’d move from one apartment to another without paying, keeping one step ahead of the collection agency. Perhaps that’s where my brother learned his skills of living lean.”

“How did you two end up here?”

Had he not sounded so sincere, she might have skipped the sad details. “After my mom died, Brody met a girl and fell in love. It was the first time I’d seen him really happy, but then Noelle’s parents moved to Hidden Hills. Brody didn’t find out she was a shifter until a few months later when he came down here to be with her. By that time, Noelle had found her true mate. Needless to say, he was devastated and started drinking. Noelle’s brother, Denny, felt so bad for him, that he offered him a job in his garage.”

Cord glanced at her. “That might be the reason why he called me a freak. A shifter did him wrong.”

“You may be right.”

“What made you move down here?” he asked.

Now came the ugly part. “Brody attempted suicide, and I wanted to be there for him. I was able to get a job at the hospital, and the rest is history.”

“I’m sorry.”

So was she. “Enough of my sad tale. What about you? You said you used to work for the DEA. Why the change?”

“Like Storm said, I became tired of the rat race. That, and too many crazies doing bad shit to good people.”

The bitterness in his tone took her back. “Now, it’s my turn to say I’m sorry.”

He glanced over and winked. “I’m not. I like it here.”

Her heart sputtered, hoping she was part of the reason he enjoyed the town. “Any siblings?” She wasn’t ready to hear about his parents if his situation was worse than hers.

“One older brother and a younger sister.”

She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Perhaps he wasn’t close to them or else he wasn’t ready to share. “There’s the turn off for the lake.”

Cord grew quiet, as if he was trying to think of a way to make her brother spill the names of the three assailants. “Have you been here before?” he asked.

“I came here with Brody the first summer I arrived in Hidden Hills.” She leaned forward. “That’s the beginning of the lake where he used to fish. I remember it.”

The long narrow, dirt road ended in a parking lot, and excitement sliced through her when she spotted his truck. “He’s here!”

Before Cord even cut the engine, Piper jumped out. The engine died, and Cord eased out his side. “Let’s make certain he’s alone first.”

She thought he was being over the top, but he was the cop, so she let him do his thing. “I’ll let you go first then.”

He must have sensed her resistance because he held out his hand. “We’ll go together.”

The path ended in about two hundred feet. In a small clearing on the left sat Brody’s tent. Her brother’s back was to her, and there was a fishing pole in his hand. Thankfully, no one else appeared to be around.

“Hey there,” she said.

Brody whipped around and shot his gaze between the two of them. From his narrowed eyes and tight grip on his pole, he wasn’t happy to see them. “Checking up on me?”

Much of his face had turned into one big purple-yellow bruise, and his eye was still slightly swollen, but the stitches on his chin gave him a roguish look. “Can’t a sister be worried about her brother? You didn’t show up for work.”

He shrugged and returned to his fishing. This wasn’t how she’d expected the reunion to go. Cord squeezed her hand as if to say it was his turn to try. “We found your wallet, Brody, but it was empty.”

“Figures.”

“We’re here because we’re worried those men who assaulted you might come after you again. Just so you know, they probably were the ones who tried to break into your sister’s house last night.”

He reeled in his line, set the pole on the ground, and then faced them. “You okay?” he asked her.

“Yes. They left a note. That’s all.”

He lifted one shoulder. “Well, they’ll never find me here.”

“Seems we were able to,” Cord said.

Brody pursed his lips and shook his head. “Whatever. Say your peace then leave.”

“Appreciate it if you would tell me the names of the men who mugged you. I know they were looking for money that you owed them, but since they assaulted you, I can arrest them—assuming I can find them.”

Brody winced. “Don’t know who they are.”

“Don’t know or won’t tell me?”

He looked over at Piper then back at Cord. “Only caught their first names. Got drunk one night and ended up in a card game.”

“If you lost money, I’m sure the men told you how to find them. Otherwise, how did they expect to be paid back?” he asked.

Brody glanced around and inhaled, looking as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Owen, Randy, and some guy named Flinch. They called him that because every time he had a good hand, he’d get this facial tic.”

Piper was pretty good at knowing when Brody was telling the truth, and this time he seemed to be.

“From what I overheard,” Cord said, “they expected you to deliver the money to them. Did they say where?”

“They might have but I was too busy getting the shit beat out of me to listen. Doesn’t matter since I can’t pay them anyway.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Piper asked, pain digging deep into her.

“You got ten thousand to spare?”

Her stomach tumbled. Holy shit, no wonder the men had gone after Brody. “No, but we could have figured something out.” Tightness pressed on her chest making it hard to breathe.

Cord let go of her hand and hooked his thumbs in his jeans. “If you had this money, where would you deliver it?”

A flash of hope crossed Brody’s eyes before it evaporated. He must have recognized it was a hypothetical question. “Probably at the same place where I lost the money.”

Piper was disappointed that her brother wasn’t being more cooperative. “Where’s that, Brody?” Nagging him wouldn’t do any good, but she couldn’t help it.

“In the back room of the bowling alley.”

Really? “That place is nasty.” She’d been there once.

Brody shrugged.

“Thanks. I’ll run down their names,” Cord said.

Brody picked up his pole. “Can I get back to fishing now?”

Piper huffed out a breath. If she didn’t think he’d be in danger at work, she’d have suggested he head to the garage. “Don’t be like that. Cord’s only trying to help.”

“He can help by staying away from us.”

Piper didn’t know how to respond. Having a brother who was so prejudiced embarrassed her. Hopefully, Cord understood that it stemmed from Denny’s sister leaving him.

Cord placed a hand on her shoulder as if to give her comfort. “It’s okay. I’m going to give Dram a call. I’ll ask him to stop by and make sure the men don’t bother Brody. That way, your brother can fish in peace.”

Brody puffed out his chest. “Fuck you, man. I can take care of myself.”

Wanting to shake some sense into him, she stepped over to her brother. “Brody, you can’t fight off three men. You’re in the middle of nowhere. If they find you, they might kill you this time.”

At least he had the decency to wince. “Do what you want. I’m fishing.”

Brody always shut down when he was scared. Cord move close, cupped a hand around her waist, and drew her near. “Let’s go. I’ll call Dram from the car.”

Piper faced her brother. “If you go anywhere, can you let me know?” She softened her voice the best she could.

Brody shoulders sagged. “Sure, though my cell’s dead, remember?”

She meant when he returned home. “I know.”

When she and Cord returned to his truck, he contacted his fellow officer, who she recalled was a bear shifter, too. Cord filled Dram in on the case, asking if he could stake out the area to keep an eye out for the assailants. He then disconnected. “Dram said he can be here in an hour and fifteen.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. Once more I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“I just wanted to help.”

“So now what?” she asked.

“Your brother should be safe for now, assuming he doesn’t do something stupid, though I wouldn’t be surprised if these men try to find him—or you. Is there someone you can stay with while I check things out at the station?”

“Me? I don’t owe them money.” Only then did she remember the note. “Never mind. The note could mean that if Brody didn’t pay, they’d come after me.”

“Precisely. Besides, your window hasn’t been fixed yet, and
I’d
feel better knowing you’re safe.”

She had an idea. “You said you found his wallet, but I’m guessing there were no fingerprints on it, right?” If so, his department would’ve found the three men already.

“No. What were there were too smudged. I’ll have the department check the note, too, but I’m not hopeful.” He headed back down the road to the main drag. “I’m serious about not wanting you to be alone. Is there a friend you can stay with?”

She got along well with everyone she worked with, but she didn’t socialize with many of them. “I feel a little odd asking if I can stay with any of my coworkers. Many have families. How about I stay at your place? No one would find me there.”

A small smile lifted his lips. It was almost as if he’d been waiting for her to ask. “My place is half the size of yours. I doubt you’ll be comfortable there.”

“You’d be surprised what I’m good at.” Her pulse skipped a beat at where her thoughts were headed.

Now he smiled. “Okay, but under one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll have to wear oversized sweats and a bag over your head.”

She laughed for the first time since she’d learned her brother hadn’t gone to work. “Afraid I’ll seduce you?”

“No, I’m afraid of what I’ll do to you.”

She couldn’t wait.

Chapter Eight

B
ecause Cord didn’t
want her to stay by herself until the men were apprehended, he asked her to pack a bag. Piper needed her car to drive to and from work, so she followed him to his place. To be thorough, Cord asked another officer to keep watch on her house, not only to make sure the workers installing the window didn’t take anything, but also to make sure the note-writer didn’t return.

“Make yourself at home,” Cord said as he unlocked the door. “I shouldn’t be long. I just need to check our department’s criminal database for the names your brother gave me.”

“Don’t worry about me. I brought my e-reader and will lose myself in some erotic fantasy.”

He shook his head, and huffed out a laugh, acting as if reading didn’t interest him. “I’ll pick up us some lunch on my way home.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Cord turned halfway, and was about to go back down the stairs, when she stopped him. “How about a good bye kiss so I don’t perish?”

He laughed. “You are trouble, Piper Capshaw.”

She didn’t think he’d oblige, but at the last second, he cupped her face and kissed her. This was no ordinary peck either. She couldn’t mistake the groan or how his fingers tightened on her face.
Yes!
She was getting to him.

“Don’t answer the door for anyone but me.”