Lee: Emerson Wolves—Paranormal Erotic Wolf Shifter Romance (8 page)

“I’ve been searching.” They all turned to Addie when she spoke up. “It’s something that I do when I feel an injustice has been done to someone I’ve come to admire. And you should know that not only did your mother not kill herself, but she was leaving to come to you when she was killed. Your aunt didn’t kill her, but she paid someone to do it. I just think…you should know what she’s capable of.”

“My mom was coming to me? To France?” Addie nodded at Kimber. “How did she…she had called me the week before she’d died. I…it’s all in there. She told me that she couldn’t take her aunt any longer and that she needed to cut the ties now before it was too late. I just thought she meant before she died. I never…how did my mom die?”

“Suffocation. Your aunt pulled some of her strings and had it down as natural death because of her cancer. There was one man, one that wouldn’t be bought off, that thought her accounting of your mom’s death to be wrong. He filed a report with the state. He was dead a week later. The report is still in the system. Finding it should be no problem for Jarrett.”

“She killed him too.” Luke didn’t say anything. He thought that Kimber’s statement was correct also. “What do I have to do to end this with her? I mean, we don’t have anything like hard evidence on her, but we can…I don’t know. I want her to be out of our lives once and for all.”

“I’m glad you said that.” Hunter moved forward on the couch and smiled at Kimber. “We’re going to take the old bitch down. And I think that doing it by using you is the best plan.”

“Oh no, you’re not. You’d pitch a bitch if we suggested using Sloan for something like this. I’m not allowing you to use Kimber.” Luke closed his eyes when Kimber stood up. Lee did as well while he continued to dig the hole he’d opened deeper and deeper. “You know how dangerous she is. What’s to say that she won’t try to kill you too? Or take Hannah? I think the best thing we can do is send the two of you to Dawn and Ellis’s home and hide you there until we take care of this.”

“Why? Do you think I’m incapable of taking care of me or my daughter?” Luke watched his brother, telling him through their link to just shut up and tell her he’d been wrong. “You think that because I’ve had such a shitty life because of her up until now, that I should just roll over and let someone else fix this?”

“That’s not what I meant. I just meant that you’re not as equipped to do this. We’re wolves and we’re stronger than—”

Luke winced when Lee’s head snapped back from the blow, knocking him back to the couch. Kimber had delivered her punch to his face like a real pro, and he was proud of her. When Lee started to stand, Hunter put his hand on his leg. Lee didn’t move.

“I’m sorry.” It was too little too late, Luke thought, and when Kimber stormed out of the room, no one moved. Lee looked lost, and Luke almost felt sorry for him. Almost. “I think I fucked up, didn’t I?”

“I think you’re underestimating your level of fuckery on this one, but hey, I tried to tell you.”

Lee looked like he’d lost everything. And if he didn’t fix this, it was going to be a long night for him. Luke told him to get up and get into town.

“For what?” Then he stood up. “A ring. I need…I need two of them. I have to…will you stay here until I get back? Of course you will. Thanks.”

He was out the door before anyone said anything. Hunter started laughing first. Then Luke did. He wondered aloud how far Lee was going to get before he realized he didn’t have any shoes on. Then the door slammed again and they heard him running up the stairs. Hunter laughed again.

“He is so fucked right now.”

Even Clemmie laughed that time, and soon they all were. When Lee left the house the second time, Sloan woke up. When they told her what was going on, it was all Luke could do not to go and find Jack and tell her too.

“I’ve been wondering something. I think perhaps you can help me.” Luke nodded. If he was honest with himself, he’d tell her that he was too afraid not to help Clemmie. Her laugh made him embarrassed. “You do know that I’d never hurt what I consider family. The Emerson men and women mean a great deal to me. All of you.”

“Thank you.” She nodded. “I’ll do what I can. I know that we’ve found someone to help you out with a few things, and I believe that you’re enjoying it here in my little burg.”

“I am. And that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I know that Sloan has a bee in her bonnet about opening a new restaurant. I like that idea, bringing culture here to your little burg, as you called it. But I want to bring in some art. Not the kind at the Louvre, but local and some state things. I know of a couple of struggling artists that would love it.”

“I can see about property we can…you have a place in mind?” Her nod was sort of funny, as if she were up to something. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“I’ll have to wait and let you know. I do know that the person who lives in it now will be vacating it soon. And it will be such a lovely open place to have arts displayed.” He had an idea she was talking about Kimberly’s home. Clemmie grinned. “You are a very smart boy. But let’s not say anything to Kimber. She has enough on her plate for the moment.”

When she stood up, telling him that she was going to see if there were any of Dawn’s lovely scones left, he turned back to Hunter. Then when something occurred to him, he turned back and said her name.

“Will Graham be happy or pissy about this new artist that you have coming to town? The reason I ask is because I don’t think Graham has it in his head that he wants or needs a mate. He’s pretty set in his ways.” She only smiled at him and left the room. Luke turned to Hunter again. “I think we might be all mated before the end of this year.”

“I hope so.” Sloan had fallen asleep again, and Hunter put his hand on her swollen belly. “I can’t tell you how happy I am. And you know what a fool I was about this whole mate business.”

“You were insane.” Hunter nodded. “There are other things we need to talk about when you have time. Not really pack related, but it might come to that.”

“Is it the warehouse renovations?” Luke told him it was. “I’ve been hearing that the renovations are going well, but they’re having some issues with squatters and the homeless. Don’t they realize that we’re doing this for them? If they don’t help out by moving to someplace until we’re finished, we can’t finish.”

“Where will they go?” Hunter said he was working on that too. “I think, and you can say no if you want, but I think that the building a street over would make a great temporary home for them. We have the cots and the blankets. Sloan got a great deal on those when this project started. But until we can do something for them, we’re going to be fighting this forever. Some of those people, Allen was telling me, have been there for years. It’s all they know.”

“I can have a crew come in today if you want.” They both looked at Sloan when she spoke. “And a temporary kitchen. Mabel said that we could use her old things that she had moved out when she renovated last month. Maybe that will go a long way into having them move.”

Luke grinned at them both. “And you know what? I think I know the perfect person to run it for us. Mabel said that Kimber is the best grill person she’s ever hired. This would go a long way in helping her transit to the restaurant you’re opening. Because you know as well as I do, she’s been the one you had in mind from the very beginning.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When Sloan stood up, she turned to Hunter as she continued. “Can you get this going for me? I’m hungry enough to eat a bear or two.”

As she left them there, Hunter laughed. “She’s always hungry. And I’m glad. At least when she has this baby, she’ll have enough strength to do it. Christ, I cannot wait until our daughter is here.”

Hunter left him then, and Luke started for the office to see if he had missed anything at the office. But instead, he heard his son laughing with his dad and Hannah, and went to find out what sort of things they were getting into. He wondered, like he had so much in the last few days, why he’d not found his mate sooner. Being in love and being loved was the greatest thing in the world.

Chapter 8

Kimberly watched her attorney, Tate Walker. The man was driving her insane the way he kept making notes, then humming. Like that was supposed to give her some clue as to what he was going to do about this ridiculous lawsuit filed against her. The nerve of some people. When he finally leaned back in his seat and looked at her, she wanted to bash his head in with her cane.

“I’m not going to ask you if any of this is true.” Well, there was that, she thought. “However, if even one thing on this list of grievances is correct, you’ll be facing jail time.”

“No, I won’t. Because you’re going to fix this. And if you don’t have the balls to do it, I will.” He sat up and leaned his arms on his desk. “Whatever it takes. You just tell me who filed this against me, and I’ll make sure that they change their minds.”

“Kimber Gray Emerson.” Kimberly felt her temper, never a good thing on the best of days, flare up to where she felt it all over her body. “And her attorney is not one I’d mess with. Shawn Connor is the best there is. And not only that, he has more money to back up his claims than you do. He works for Sloan Emerson.”

“Kimber is not married to him. Or that other man either. I made sure of that one.” He picked through the file that he’d had when she arrived and handed it to her. It was a marriage certificate stating that Kimber had married Lee Emerson, dated yesterday. When he handed her a second sheaf of papers, she only tossed them back at him “She did not have my permission to marry anyone. I want this nullified now. What am I paying you for if you’re just going to inform me of these indiscretions and not do a thing about them?”

“You know that I can’t do that. She’s over twenty-one and no longer considered your ward. Though how you managed to have that paperwork signed off on is not something I want to know about either. She’s an adult and has been for some time. And if someone were to look at the paperwork that made her your ward back then, you’d be in trouble for that as well. You’ll have to do what they want or face more prison time.” Kimberly lifted her cane. “You should also know that we’re being recorded. And if you hit me with that again, I will be adding my name to this list. Being your attorney has been bad enough; I won’t be abused by you again. In fact, here you go.”

She took the paper. Reading it over quickly, she nearly tossed it back in his face. But Kimberly smiled at him before she spoke. No one left her employment unless she said they could.

“You owe me a great deal of money. And I know that you’re unable to pay me back, so this is useless.” He handed her a check. It was made out to her, and for the amount that she knew he had borrowed from her to finish college all those years ago. “What is the meaning of this? I know that you do not have this kind of money. And if you think to give me a bad check, I’ll tack on more charges. Stop this right now. You are not leaving me until I say so or you’re dead. Would you like to know which is going to come first?”

“That’s a personal threat, and I won’t stand for it. But the money? It’s not a personal check but a certified one. And I have the money because I borrowed it from someone.” She asked him who and he leaned back in the chair and smiled. “I’ll not accept this. You still work for me until I say differently. Now tell me what you’re going to do about this…this lawsuit that my grandniece is being forced to use.”

“I’m no longer your attorney as of the moment you took that check.” The door opened behind her and she turned to see his secretary standing there. “Mrs. Engel, could you please make sure that Miss Schroeder makes it out of the building safely? Not just her, but anyone she might encounter as well. She does have it in her nature to harm those that cross her path when she’s…upset.”

“You’ll pay for this, Tate. I won’t be treated this way. You’ll regret this.” He asked her if she was threatening him again, and she picked up her cane and slammed it over the desk. “You’re darn right I am.”

Kimberly had it in her head to hurt the girl that was showing her out. But the man standing there with his hand on his gun made her think he’d shoot her without a single bit of hesitation. Kimberly was sick to death of all of these fools, and they were going to pay for treating her this way.

When her name was shouted, like she was nothing more than a taxi driver being hailed, she turned to tell off whoever had dared call her by her first name. But she saw Tate coming toward her, and she knew a wonderful kind of pleasure. She was going to make him grovel before she allowed him to come back to her.

“You saw the error of your ways, have you? Well, don’t think that I’m going to just forget your small lapse in intelligence.” He shoved a file at her and she had no choice but to take it. “What is this? I don’t have time for your foolishness, Tate. Just say that you’re sorry and I’ll try to forgive you.”

“But I’m not sorry. In fact, I’m excited as hell that I’m free of you.” He nodded to the file in her hand. “That’s your file. When you find a new attorney, if you can find one after today, he’s going to need that. It also includes the paperwork filed against you that you asked me to look into. And again, you’re on camera, with witnesses that you received it.”

He turned and walked away from her. Kimberly wasn’t sure what was going on, but the whole world seemed to be plotting against her. Making her way to the door, she tried to wrap her mind around Kimber doing this to her. She seemed to have inherited some of her mother’s backbone that she’d finally shown at the end. Well, she’d take care of that soon enough too.

As soon as she came out of the building, she looked around. Cars had been parked in front of the building when she’d gone in, and the limo that she’d had parked behind them was nowhere to be seen. If he drove around the block and made her wait for him, she’d have him fired and everything else she could think to have done to him for making her stand here like some sort of street walker.

“Where is my car?” She turned to the guard who still had his hand on his gun. “I told him to park right here and not to move. What have you done with it? I’m not a happy person right now, so I would tread lightly with me.” He laughed and she wanted to hit him as well.

“It’s been impounded. You can’t just block the street like that. There are laws that you have to follow like everyone else does. Imagine that, huh?” He turned and moved back to the door and she stopped him. “You want to know anything about what the police did, go and talk to the mayor. Luke Emerson said he’d make time for you if you wanted, but not until tomorrow. I guess you’re just shit out of luck on all kinds of things today.”

His laughter made her want to murder him. She’d even taken a step in his direction when she saw a man leaning against the building like he knew just what she was thinking. When he moved toward her, slowly, like a man with a purpose, Kimberly felt the hair on her arm dance and fear race down her back.

“You should be afraid.” Nodding, she stared at the man. “You don’t know me, but I’m going to be getting to know you very well. I’m going to be turning up just when you think you’ve hidden deep enough. Then when you are at the last of your patience with me, I’m going to show you what I do to humans that fuck with my family.”

“Who are you?” He grinned, his mouth full of the sharpest teeth that she’d ever seen. She had to swallow twice before she could speak again. “No, you’re wrong. I didn’t do anything to your kind. I don’t even…just stay away from me.”

“Oh no, what fun would that be?” He laughed at her when she lifted her cane. He took it and broke it over his knee. “Be warned, Kimberly Schroeder. I’m Steward Thomas, and the Emersons are mine to protect.” Then he was gone.

By the time Kimberly got home, she was exhausted. She’d had to walk the entire distance because she’d had no money on her and no cell phone to call for someone to come for her. There had never been a use for it, as everyone did what she wanted when she wanted it. But she did map out her plans as she walked, and with every step she took, her plans for her grandniece and her daughter were harsher and harsher. And when she was finished with them, people were going to regret messing with her. Especially her niece.

Going into her home, the front door slightly opened, she nearly called out to Daniel. But the woman standing there had her thinking that things might be going her way after all. Hanging up her coat and putting the file on the table near the front door, Kimberly ignored her. She was trying to get her thoughts in order when Kimber finally spoke.

~~~

“You should be aware of a few things before I leave.” Her aunt asked her why she thought she was going to be leaving at all. “Because you no longer have a hold over me. Not a single one. And I’ve been made aware of a few things since I’ve come home. Would you like to join us in the parlor?”

“You do not deem to tell me where we shall talk, young lady. This is still my house and I run—”

“No, it’s not. It’s mine.” Kimber watched her face and knew that what she’d been told about her aunt and what she’d done had been true. Buying herself some time because the pain nearly took her to her knees, Kimber moved to the parlor. When Lee stood up with Luke and Hunter, she shook her head at them. She just needed a moment, that was all.

“What is the meaning of this? You cannot come in here and state…. Who are these people and what are they doing in my home? And if you say that lie again, I shall hurt you, Kimber. I’ve had a terrible day and I’m not in the mood for you acting up.” Her aunt looked at the three men that had come with her today. “Get out. My grandniece and I have a great many things to discuss, and I do not want my privacy invaded by the likes of you.”

“This is my husband, Lee Emerson. His brothers, Luke, who I think you know, and Hunter. Cash, their father, is going to be here soon. He’s watching my daughter.” Her aunt huffed and sat down. “I heard about your day. And so you know, it’s not going to be any better when I’m finished with you. Tate is a nice man and you treated him horribly. But I don’t know why that should surprise me. You treat everyone that way, don’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re going on about. You’re going to stop this nonsense this moment. Tell these men to get out of my house and I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. I have your room prepared for you and contracts drawn up. You’ll not be leaving here again until I think you are fit. This entire ordeal has taken a toll on you, and you’ll be under my care. And don’t think I’ve not made plans for that brat of yours. She is the first thing we’re going to take care of. Her grandparents are going to take her from you as soon as they get here.” Kimber laughed. “You think this is funny? It’s not. I don’t want you here anymore than you want to be here, but it is a necessity that I care for you.”

“Yes, I heard. The same way you did my mother, no doubt. We found her will. But Hannah is staying with me. I’ve had a long…well, my new attorney has had a long talk with her grandparents. They are just tickled pink to know that a part of their son lives in my daughter. You should be very careful who you lie to, Kimberly. Things could and will come back to bite you in the ass big time.” Kimber sat down and looked at her aunt. “My mother’s will, it says a great deal more than what you said it did when she died. You lied to me, and everyone else, about it, didn’t you?”

“I did no such thing. I protected you.” Kimber asked her from what. “Men like this one that would take you for a ride then leave you with a baby in your belly. And don’t think I don’t know about your bogus marriage to him. You’ll not marry anyone until I say you can. And even then he will be someone I pick, not you. Your choice in men is rather bad, don’t you think? I’m having someone look into this supposed marriage even now. What did you think was going to happen, Kimber? That I’d simply let it go? I’m going to ruin you if you don’t do as I say.”

“I think you’ve ruined enough lives. Mine too if I hadn’t figured out, with the help of my family, what kind of person you are. Not to say that I didn’t have a hint of the monster you are, but they helped bring it to the surface.” Her aunt picked up a small bell that Kimber had noticed were all through the house. Daniel, the butler, had told her that they were never to be moved and what they were used for. “They’re not coming to help you. I’ve terminated them all. Daniel sobbed like a little boy. He said that he loved you. But the cook, she was so glad to know that you are no longer living here that she begged me to keep her on.”

“What do you think you’re doing? You have no rights that I don’t let you have. And I have never…what do you want? Money? I have plenty.” Luke cleared his throat then, and they all turned to him. “What is it you think you can add to this conversation? Nothing. There is not one thing you can say that anyone wants to hear. And I’m going to make sure that the townspeople know what sort of person you are. A wolf in my offices. Unheard of.”

“Not as unheard of as you might think. And I’m pretty sure that most of the town knows what I am anyway. If you remember, recently we had the other mayor tossed out on his ass, and he’s singing all about you and him and your little duties you had him perform. Not to mention, he kept all kinds of records about your dealings. Who would have thought you had that much power over such an idiot? But anyway, you have a lot to answer for, Kimberly. A great deal.” Luke winked at Kimber before continuing. “As for money? You don’t have any. Not even enough to get you to a decent hotel should you make it that far. So you know, you won’t. When you leave here, we have a nice cell for you to stay in. Everything, including this house and all the things in it, belong to Kimber. And in case you get any bright ideas, which under the circumstances is funny since you’ve been short on bright ideas, the accounts have all been frozen, as have any assets that you have acquired with Kimber’s money. That would include the house in France that you used to spy on your niece while she was there, as well as the restaurant that she worked at while trying her best to make a living. Shame on you for that.”