Emmitt's Treasure: Judgement of the Six Companion Series, book 2 (18 page)

“I know.  But that wasn’t right.”

I ducked down a little to catch her gaze.  “Do you trust us?”

Her expression softened.  “Just three hours?”

I knew I’d won and stepped back to allow Liam and Aden to run into the apartment.

“You’re going to want something on your feet before you go down to Winifred’s.”  Humans had silly rules about shopping barefoot.

*    *    *    *

Jim and I fed the boys breakfast, then cake, before helping them with their shoes so we could go on our wildlife trek.  It was cooler in the trees than in the yard, and both boys enjoyed the freedom of running.  Their wonder over every rock, twig, and creature we pointed out reminded me of the confinement in which they’d lived before coming here.

When our time was up, we made our way back to the house and played in the yard.

“Can we do that again tomorrow?” Liam asked me.

“Any time you want.”

Jim pushed them both on the swings while I made a stack of sandwiches.  We sat in the shade of the porch and ate.  Jim stole my sandwich twice and had Aden laughing so hard the little man’s face turned red.  It was such a good day that it made my stomach hurt.  I needed to know they’d stay here forever.  That we’d always be able to keep them safe and make them laugh.  I needed Michelle to say yes to just one date.

I took everything back upstairs and was washing the dishes when I heard Winifred’s car turn onto the driveway.  Excitement coursed through me.

Did Michelle have a good time?

She enjoyed herself but had frequent bouts of worry, which I expected.  After what she’s been through, trusting her brothers with anyone had to be hard.

I wiped my hands and was just moving toward the door when I heard Michelle on the porch with Jim.

“Hold on.  You can’t sneak in without showing me,” he said.

“What are you doing?” I asked, knowing he’d hear me.  Silently, I started down the stairs.

“Very nice.  Now the dress,” he said.

“How did you know?”  Michelle sounded amused.  I wasn’t.

“Jim, you’ve ticked Nana off way too often recently for her to intervene when I start kicking your tail,” I said when I hit the second landing.

“Emmitt told me his contribution to your day.  It’s why I thought you’d want your nails done.  Better hurry, I hear him coming.”

“I don’t know if anyone will get to see me in this dress,” she said, worrying me.

“Day’s not done yet,” he said.

“We’ll see.  Thank you for the lovely day.”

I was on the last flight of stairs and saw them as she stepped forward and hugged Jim tightly.  And the ass returned the hug, giving me a thumbs-up behind her back.

I couldn’t stay silent anymore.

“You keep that up, and he’ll be treating you to spa days with Nana Wini every week.”

She released him and turned toward me. “Thank you for the dress,” she said.

Jim moved away from us and headed out to the boys, who were still regaling Nana about what they’d done.

“You’re welcome.  Just don’t let Jim see it before I do.”

I didn’t miss that she made no move to hug me.

“I think it might stay in the bag for a while.”

“I hope not.  I was wondering if you’d consider going to dinner with me.”  Her scent changed with her panic.  She probably didn’t want to leave her brothers again.

“Next Saturday,” I said, hoping it would help calm her.

“A date?” she asked, doubtfully.

“If you’re not too busy.”

She shrugged and smiled slightly.  “I’ll see what I can do.”

She moved past me, carrying her things inside.

“You coming back outside or going to research again?”

“Both.  I’ll bring the tablet out here.”

I watched her walk away, then looked toward the swing set.  Winifred met my gaze as she listened to the boys tell her about the things we’d done today.

I know,
I sent her. 
Give it time.

No.  I was going to tell you I’d keep an eye on the boys while you hand Jim his tail.

I laughed out loud and went to occupy the boys so Winifred could carry her things inside.  It didn’t take her long before she was back on the porch, sipping a glass of tea.  When Michelle reemerged, she sat next to Winifred.

Jim managed to stay inside for maybe ten minutes before boredom brought him back outdoors.  He knew he was on my shit list because he kept a healthy distance between us when he came over to play with Aden.  Still, I managed to get a few whacks in when the boys and Michelle weren’t looking.  Winifred caught every single one, but she didn’t say a word.

After a while, Michelle stood and went into the house.

“I sure am thirsty,” Jim said under his breath.

“Not happening,” I said quietly in return.  In a normal tone, I told Liam I’d be right back, then went to sit in Michelle’s spot.  Winifred saw me coming and picked up Michelle’s tablet.  She didn’t say anything to me, but started tapping on the surface of the device.

When Michelle returned, she had a glass of iced tea in her hand.

“May I have a drink?” I asked.

She smiled and held out the glass.  Our gazes met as I brought it to my mouth.  The taste of her lips still clung to the edge of the glass, a sweetness that heated my blood as I took several swallows.  She knew because she looked away after a few moments.  Then, she paled.

I turned, following her gaze, and found Winifred watching a video on the tablet.  A huge dog was mauling a man.  I frowned as I stared at the dog then realized what I was seeing.  One of our kind, killing a human in the middle of a city.  People on the sidewalks screamed and ran.  The wolf looked at the camera then leapt over a nearby fence, leaving behind the body of a middle aged man.

Michelle’s scent spiked a moment before she made an odd noise.  I caught her as she collapsed.

Liam yelled, and he and Aden came running.

“Mimi!  Mimi!”  The panic in their voices tore at me.

“Michelle,” I called, tapping her cheek.  “Come on, honey.  You’re scaring your brothers.”

“Mimi!” Aden said, reaching for her hair.

Winifred caught his hand as Michelle’s eyes fluttered. “She’s okay.  She just fainted.  Emmitt caught her.  She’s not hurt.”

“Why would they do something so obvious?” Michelle mumbled.

“I don’t know,” Winifred said.

I smoothed my hand over Michelle’s hair, and she opened her eyes for me.

“Nice catch,” she whispered.

Humor after fainting.  That was my girl.

“For you, always,” I said.

She sat up slowly, and I kept an arm around her.  The paleness in her cheeks slowly warmed as she smiled at her brothers.

“I’m okay.  Just got too warm.  I think I need to go through the sprinkler.”

Liam wasn’t buying it, but he still allowed Jim to lead them away to play.  Once they were out of earshot, I glanced at Winifred.

“I’m assuming that was Richard based on your reaction and question,” she said.

Michelle nodded, and I ached for her.  She’d just witnessed how her stepfather had been murdered.  Would she ever forgive us?

“This has gone too far.  We need to find those responsible.  They are killing, and that endangers us all.  What we saw...that is not who we are,” Winifred said sadly.

Michelle offered no objection.

Winifred rose and walked into the house.  A moment later, I heard her conferring with Sam.    After all, Michelle wasn’t the only special human.  Sam was in charge of Gabby, a young girl one of our kind had discovered years ago.  And then, there was my mom.  My mom was more than just a human-compatible Mate, though.  She could control a human.  Any human.  Since I’d been old enough to understand the danger that put her in, I’d understood the need to keep her ability a secret.

That one of our own had killed a human put us all in danger.  That one of our kind had held a potential Mate prisoner made me worry about my mom.

After Michelle and the boys went to bed, I met Jim and Winifred in Jim’s apartment.

“What did Sam say?”

“He would like to put out a call asking for the offender to step forward.  He agrees that there’s no reason to mention Michelle’s existence or connection.  It’s clear from the video that it was a werewolf.  And, had we been paying better attention to the news, we would have known about this a month ago.”

“I’d like to talk to Mom and Dad and let them know the full story before you send out the call.  Will you ask Dad to call from town?  Tonight?”

She was quiet a moment.

“He said he will call within thirty minutes.”

They stayed in Jim’s place while I went to wait for the call at Winifred’s, the number they knew.  I picked up before the phone completed its first ring.

“Hello,” I said, the universal polite way of asking who was calling.

“Emmitt, baby!” my mom said with love.  “I’ve missed you so much.  When did you return?”

“It’s been a few weeks.  Sorry for not calling sooner.”

“How was it?” Dad asked, referring to my last few months of duty.

“Good.  No issues being discharged.”

Silence hung in the air for a few moments, and I knew they were waiting for the reason behind my suddenly urgent call.

“I met someone,” I said.

“Emmitt,” my mom said on a watery exhale.

“We are so happy for you, son.  How did you meet?”

“I stopped for something to eat on my way home, and she walked into the same diner.  Before her scent even reached me, I knew she was the one.”

I could hear Mom sniffle.

“When will we get to meet her?” Dad asked.

“That may be a while yet.”  I sighed.  “She’s human, Mom, and running just like you did.  Only it’s not from humans.  One of our kind found her and kept her prisoner, and we just learned he shifted and killed her stepfather in public.”

The silence was heavy, and I knew Dad was probably conferring with Winifred via their link.

“She’s beautiful, Mom, and strong.  She’s nineteen.  The mutt who had her also kept her little brothers locked away.  They are five and four and just starting to laugh and trust us.  We’re treading carefully and not pushing for more information than she’s ready to give.  That’s why I didn’t tell you right away.  And why we might not be visiting for a while.”

“Emmitt, your first priority will be to your Mate.  But don’t forget the safety of the pack.  The fact that someone’s out there breaking rules and not reporting their infractions according to law is—”

“Unthinkable,” Dad finished for her.

And it truly was unthinkable for our kind.  One of our rules stated not to kill humans.  And the corresponding unbreakable law was that anyone responsible for breaking the rule, or a witness to the breaking of the rule, must admit the deed to an Elder.  It was a law that was essentially a direct command from an Elder, and as Jim had experienced firsthand, a direct command was unbreakable.  So how, then, did someone break it?

“Winifred filled me in.  The call is going out tonight.  Keep in touch, Emmitt.  Your Mom and I were starting to worry.”

“I’m sorry.  I’m home now and will be here if you want to ring us again.” I hung up and went back to Jim’s place.

“Mom cry?” Jim asked.

“Yeah.”

“She’s happy she’ll have a chance to spoil grand-cubs.  Well, unless you screw up again.  I wonder how many kneeings it takes to crack a nut.”

Each day following the revelation of how Richard had died, Michelle sank further into the fearful existence in which she’d lived when she arrived.  She woke often at night, walking through her apartment to check windows and doors.  During the day, she hovered over her brothers, unwilling to let them out of her sight.

Jim, Winifred, and I each tried to reassure her.  Richard had died the month before, and it had been all over the news then.  There was no reason for the mutt responsible to believe she was now safely hidden away with us.  Our words did little good.

By Thursday morning, she was once again a pale shadow of herself.  When she and the boys weren’t around to notice, I prowled my apartment in frustration.  I hated the fear that ate at her and the haunted look in her eyes.  But what more could I do to help her feel secure here?

She needed sleep.  She needed peace and comfort.

By dinner, I couldn’t stand it anymore.  She barely ate and didn’t say a word through the whole meal.  The boys, thankfully, weren’t taking their cues from her and laughed through dessert, a lopsided cake Aden and Jim had baked.  Jim and I worked hard every day so they would feel safe and loved and it seemed to be enough for them.

When Michelle drifted from the room, I went to catch her in the hallway.

She looked up at me with lost, sad eyes when I wrapped my hand around her arm to stop her from climbing the steps.

“I’ll sleep on the couch after the boys go to bed.”  I didn’t ask; I told her.  And, if me being on the couch didn’t help her sleep, then I’d lay on the bed next to her and hold her all night.

“Okay.”

Her simple acceptance told me just how bad it had gotten.

That night, I helped put the boys to bed and insisted she keep her apartment door open.  As soon as the boys were breathing deeply, I let myself in and closed the door behind me.  Michelle wasn’t in the living room.  I found her already in bed, her eyes closed and her hand tucked under a cheek as she lay on her side.

“Michelle,” I said, gently running my fingers over her hair.  “I’m here.  Everything is locked up tight.  Get some sleep.”

She nodded, keeping her eyes closed.  It didn’t take long for her breathing to even out.  I watched her for a while.  When it looked like she would stay sleeping peacefully, I went to the couch.

The whole place smelled like her.  I sat down and breathed deeply, letting myself relax.

*    *    *    *

The typical slow brightening of the room was missing when I woke.  I went to the window and eyed the dark skies.

Knowing it would be a full day of keeping the kids busy, I went to my place and quickly showered.  It didn’t take more than a few minutes before I was back in her place, folding my blanket.  The apartment stayed quiet for another hour.  Then the sky rumbled.  Liam and Aden were the first to stir.  I went into their room and said a hushed good morning, then helped them quietly dress.

“Brush your teeth then go to Nana’s.  She’ll make you breakfast,” I said as I opened the bedroom door for them.  They ducked into the bathroom and brushed their teeth quietly.

Two hungry cubs coming your way,
I warned Winifred on my way to the kitchen to see what I could make Michelle for breakfast.

The sky rumbled loudly just as the boys opened the bathroom door.  I heard Michelle stir.  The two boys must have, too, because they ran down the hall and out of the apartment.  Michelle was out of bed and running, too.

I stepped into the hallway, ready to assure her the boys were fine.  Instead, I caught her in my arms as she barreled into me.  Spinning, I tried redirecting the force of her momentum.  It didn’t quite work.  Her face collided with my chest.

“Ow!”  She pulled her head back and squinted at me with watering eyes.

The pale, shadowy Michelle of yesterday was gone.  The woman in my arms was adorably disgruntled.

“I’m sorry.”  I leaned forward to kiss her abused nose.  Her breath caught, and her scent sweetened as I slowly closed the distance.  Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut.  The tempting sight of her lips almost redirected my aim.  Patience, I reminded myself, gently brushing her nose.

Her eyes flew open.

“I wouldn’t have stepped in front of you if I’d known you’d get hurt.”  I carefully moved a strand of hair that had fallen over her face during our collision.

“Uh.  It’s okay.”

I inhaled slowly, noting it was anything but okay.  She was anxious and confused.

“Just a minute.” She turned and closed herself in the bathroom.

I went back to what I’d been doing in the kitchen.  Taking out the eggs, I started collecting what I needed to make her a small breakfast.  When she reemerged, I had four eggs in the pan and bread in the toaster.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, looking her over.  The brief whiff of anxiety and confusion before she left had me wondering if she was still feeling unsafe here.

“Fine.  No permanent damage,” she said, misunderstanding the question.

I didn’t clarify.  If she wasn’t thinking about Blake or her stepfather, I didn’t want to remind her.  I put a single egg and a slice of toast on a plate and set it before her.  After plating up the other three eggs and remaining toast, I joined her at the island.

She ate a few bites then turned to look at me.

“What are we?”

I paused, afraid to hope I’d understood her question correctly.  Turning, I finished my bite of food as I studied her.  She sat there, calmly returning my gaze.  Surely, if she was asking about our relationship, she wouldn’t be this calm.  Every time I’d mentioned it in the past, she’d blushed or quickly found an excuse to leave the room.  And, her talk about having no room for any distractions still rang in my mind, too.

“I’m not sure I understand the question,” I said warily.

She blushed and stood.

“I get this.”

She leaned forward and planted a light kiss on my nose.

“And I get this.”

She buried her face in my neck and inhaled, trailing her nose against my skin.  I nearly lost it.  She was so close.  All she needed to do was open her mouth and plant her teeth into my skin and it would be done.  She’d be mine.  I closed my eyes and struggled to hold myself still.

“And I’m told—”

I shuddered at the feel of her breath on my skin.  She quickly pulled back, and I wanted to howl.

Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.  Did she know the animal she’d just stirred?

“I’m sorry,” she said, stepping away.

I rose, shadowing her retreat with an unwavering advance. “Don’t be.  I’m fine.  Finish your question.”

Tell me you’re ready, I pleaded silently.

She stopped moving backward.  I didn’t stop advancing, though, until I stood within six inches of her, drowning in her unique scent.

“I, uh, was just going to say that...um.”  She cleared her throat nervously.  “You said I’m yours, and that biting equals an engagement.  But, I don’t understand where that leaves us now.  What are we?”

Excitement and anticipation filled me.

“As you asked, we are friends,” I said carefully.  Then, I leaned in, covering her arms with my hands and holding her steady as I brought my mouth to her neck.  Brushing my lips over her skin, I let myself dream of more.  She helped my dreams by bringing her hands to my chest.  They didn’t roam like the night on the bike, but lay lightly on my shirt, heating me further.

“But,” I said, letting my words raise bumps on her sensitive skin, “I hope we are friends who are working their way to dating.”

I brushed my lips against her skin again, waiting for her reaction.  When she remained still, I pulled back slightly. “I’m not good at being friends.  I struggle with the boundaries of friendship.”

She swallowed hard and withdrew her hands. “What boundaries?”  The words were a bare whisper.

“Friends don’t get this close.  They don’t touch each other like I just touched you.  And, I really want to be that close.”

I could smell she wanted that, too.

“What else?” she said.

She was tempting me.  Innocently, though.

“You’ll have to let me know,” I said, retreating for both our sakes.  “You set the boundaries.”

I went back to the island but couldn’t sit right away.  Closing my eyes, I took a few calming breaths.  Not only was I completely turned on, but the change was clawing at me.  While I struggled with myself, she quietly remained where she was.

As soon as I sat down, she joined me.  We didn’t talk again, and her anxiety didn’t disappear.  But the confusion was gone.

*    *    *    *

She stayed up in her apartment, and I went down to check on the kids.  Winifred was teaching them how to count to ten using little candies.  It made me smile.  Her methods were the same when we were cubs.  Jim had taken a long time learning how to count to ten.

“Did you have a good breakfast?” Winifred asked without looking away from Aden’s counting.

“Yes.  A good night’s sleep seemed to help.”

“Good.  Perhaps you’d be willing to play a game with these two when we’re finished so I can talk to Michelle.”

I want to be sure she understands what we’ve put into motion and why we’re concerned that it’s been a month since Richard’s death.  Perhaps, given that information, she’ll be willing to tell us more about Blake.

I nodded so Winifred knew I understood her.

“I’d be happy to play for a while.”

I helped Liam with his counting then entertained the kids while Winifred was upstairs.  It didn’t surprise me when she returned not long afterward and told me there was no news to share.

Near lunch, I excused myself from their sandwich-making fun to plan a special moment for Michelle.  She’d stayed up in her apartment the whole morning, and I didn’t want her to withdraw from me again.

Up in the rafters of the garage, a small patio table and two chairs waited from before I’d left.  I pulled them from storage, dusted them off, and carried them up to the third floor.  The rain fell softly as I set two places out on the porch.  I kept things simple with sandwiches and tea, then went to knock on her door.  Through the glass I saw her sitting in the kitchen, her head bowed over her tablet.

I knocked on the door, and she looked up in surprise.  There was no fear in her eyes, though.  I smiled and motioned for her to come out onto the porch.  When she stood and winced, I was glad I’d thought to make lunch for her.

“Hungry?” I asked as she looked at the table behind me.  She nodded, and I went to hold out a chair for her.  “I heard what Nana said about trying to find Blake.”

“I have premonitions.”

I finished pushing in her chair then sat across from her.  My first thought was that my mother wasn’t alone.  My second thought was to wonder what she had seen that had her telling me now.

“Did you see what happens if we go to your old address?”

She glanced down at her sandwich before answering.

“No, I don’t have those kinds of premonitions.  Mine are about the stock market.”

Stock market?  I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“I know,” she said.  “Not very interesting.  But think of what you could gain by controlling someone with my ability.  The money.  Power.”

“I don’t want money or power.  Just you.”

She blushed and picked a bit of meat from her sandwich.

“Blake’s tasted that power.  If your laws can’t control him, what makes you think finding him will help?  All it does is expose us.  He will go straight for Liam and Aden.  Through them, he can control me again.”

Are you listening to this?
I sent Winifred.

I am.  We need to find Blake.  But we won’t involve her any further.

“Nana won’t ask again,” I promised.  Then, to lighten the mood, I grinned and said, “Want to spike your tea?”

Winifred yelled at me from the first floor, and I chuckled.  Michelle smiled slightly, too, and picked up her sandwich, finally taking a bite.  It was only a few minutes before another question started bugging me.

“Why did you tell Sam which stock to invest in?  Why not just keep it to yourself?”

She set her sandwich down slowly.

“I don’t have a choice.  The information comes to me every seven days.  It plays in my head like a market ticker but with just one stock on repeat.  If I don’t share the information, it makes me twitchy.  The longer I hold it, the more painful it becomes until I’m a mess.  Blake figured that out.  It became another way for him to control me.  I
have
to share the information with someone.  As soon as I do, the countdown to the next premonition resets.”

The headache the first week she was here and her weird reaction on the porch when she’d overheard Winifred speaking to Sam made more sense now.

“And that’s why you didn’t want to tell me.”

The premonitions didn’t just provide wealth, they provided a way to physically control her through her own pain.  How had Blake prevented her from sharing the information?  A gag?  Tied hands?  I wanted his blood.