Lone Wolf Rising (Paranormal Romantic Thriller) (The Winters Series) (24 page)

"That’s terrible.  I guess that makes you an orphan, too."
  Getting to know him was giving her insight into his self-protection mechanisms.  She was beginning to understand his sarcasm, his careless attitude, and the way he grabbed moments when he could. 

"I was until you offered me a place in your pack.
  Hopefully you’ll also consider some of the other rogues that were exiled from Tomas' pack.  Then we’ll all have another family, all of us."

Rebecca couldn’t help but notice Lucky’s knuckles turning white on the steering wheel or the tick that started near his temple.  He was holding back from the conversation and she understood why.  He was stepping back from the idea of there being more between them.  It made her sad but she couldn’t force him to jump into a real relationship with her.  She didn’t even know if she really wanted that.  Her feelings were getting jumbled up and turning her inside out.  And then there was his fiancé to think about.  Rebecca was not the home wrecking type.   

She focused her attention back to Gabriel.  Somehow Rebecca knew the conversation would wrap around to the subject of the other rogues again.  She had to admit he was loyal.  And he cared about the rest of his kind.  The more time she spent with him the more she began to like him.  He may come across as being cocky and irritating but he had more layers than she first believed.

Lucky parked the vehicle in front of the
 Rufuge's front entrance.  The street was oddly quiet during the day, nothing like the crowds that visit at night.  There were no bouncers manning the doors, but customers were slowly coming in and out because the club owners offered meals until about five o’clock in the evening.   Gabriel and Lucky both got to her door at the same time.  She simply rolled her eyes and opened the door for herself. 

"I can take care of myself, boys."
  She pushed them both aside and led them into the club/restaurant.  She didn't know what she was expecting but it wasn’t this.  From the outside it looked like a run down biker bar, but inside it was more like a rustic ski lodge; which was slightly out of place in the hot Phoenix climate.  There was a stone fireplace that took up one corner of the club.  The stage where a country-western band was performing a sound check took up another wall and a bar ran the length of the wall on the opposite side.  The rest of the bar was full of tables and chairs which circled the dance floor.  She had to admit it was larger than it looked from the outside.

G
abriel made a quick beeline to a beautiful exotic woman who was behind the bar.  Her jet black hair was long, straight, and whipping around her olive colored face from the air conditioner's breeze.  The smile that graced her face upon seeing him reached her dark eyes and Rebecca felt something twist inside her. 

Chapter Fifteen

~ "In all secrets there is a kind of guilt, however beautiful or joyful they may be, or for what good end they may be set to serve.  Secrecy means evasion, and evasion means a problem to the moral mind."

~Gilbert Parker
 

Rebecca

"Angelique, my sweet, how are you
?"  Gabriel's voice held genuine affection and Rebecca bit her tongue.  She made it perfectly clear that she wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship with Gabriel, so she had no right to feel jealous.  She decided to push the emotional burst off on the wolf.

"Gabe!"
  Angelique jumped over the bar and flew into his strong arms.  He chuckled when she planted a kiss on his cheek.  It was obvious that the two of them were
very
close.

‘
You need to claim him as he has made his claim on you, otherwise you risk losing him
.’  The wolf advised.

‘
For the last time, this isn’t your business.
’  Rebecca chided the wolf in her mind.

Angelique locked eyes with
Lucky and her smile got wider, if that was possible.  "Lucian, too?  Wow I must be a lucky woman to have you two strong men in my restaurant this afternoon."

"Hey Angel, this is
Rebecca, my..."

Angelique’s voice held a heavy Spanish accent as she turned to Rebecca and said.
  "Are you the new alpha I’ve been hearing so much about?"  Her eyes got wider.  The girl’s face was extremely expressive.  Her excitement was almost too much to handle. She reminded Rebecca of her twin only there was a darkness in her eyes that told Rebecca she could be dangerous if needed.  And while her body was sexy, she was also muscular which said a lot about what she was capable of.

Angelique
 looked to be in her early twenties which told Rebecca she probably wouldn't be much help, but she might know someone who would be. 

"All good I hope?"
  Despite the fact that Angelique was overly affectionate to the two men in Rebecca’s life she could see how easily she could like this woman.  Angelique was genuine and sweet, while harboring just enough darkness to be dangerous.

"Well, you’re a new player so no one really knows what to think of
you yet."  She smiled sweetly. "But you come from a well respected family so that counts for a lot.  Many supernatural beings count on your grandmother for help.  And two of the most honorable men I’ve ever met have allied themselves with you so that tells me you’re probably a good person."

"Did they also count on my mother and father?"
  The words escaped Rebecca’s lips before she could hold them back.  She had wanted to have this conversation for three days and her excitement was overwhelming.  The silence that followed was uncomfortable and confirmed that her line of questioning wasn’t appropriate, but now that the cat was out of the bag, there really was no reason to stop.  "I’m sorry, it’s actually the reason I came here.  My family history and how that relates to my parents and their deaths."

"Your parents, from what I hear, were revered by many, including my father.
  Unfortunately, I’m too young to really remember them well."  Angelique led us to a table.

"But your father?
  Is he here?  Would he know more about the day my parents were killed?"  Rebecca couldn’t stop her line of questioning; it was like she was possessed by a nosy detective, one who had been sitting on a lead for far too long.

"Possibly, but I thought their deaths were confirmed as a tragic
 human crime.  From my understanding, the protectors did not see any supernatural involvement."  Angelique said.

Rebecca found it odd that Angelique would be so familiar with the death of two people from ten years ago.  She decided to keep that concern to herself for the moment.  "I know.  I was told the same thing, but I’m having a hard time believing it."  Rebecca, Lucky and Gabriel sat down at the one of the tables.

Angelique gave Rebecca a small smile.  There was a level of compassion in her dark eyes.  "I can understand.  Let me get papa and we can see if he can shed some light on the situation."  Before anyone could say another word she was rushing back towards what Rebecca assumed was the kitchen. 

The place was cluttered with people running around working on various things obviously
 getting the building situated for when the club opened later that night.  The ruckus only reassured Rebecca that coming during the day was a smart choice.  Had she gone at night gaining entry into the club would have been difficult thanks to her age, but if she requested sanctuary they would have granted access because she is a supernatural. 

Angelique came out of the kitchen with a
big burly teddy bear of a man trailing behind her wiping his hands on a clean white towel.  His jeans and button down red flannel shirt were protected from food by a pristine white apron; hinting that he was the chef of the establishment. 

When he caught sight of Rebecca
 a smile spread across his face and brightened his eyes.  "Well you are a blast from the past, little one.  You’re the mirror image of your mother.  For a moment I thought I was seeing a ghost."  His accent was Americanized but it was obvious he was also from Spain, his dark hair, olive skin and dark eyes were common identifiers, proving the family relationship between himself and Angelique. 

"I’ve heard that before.
  Thank you."  It was a nice compliment.  Her mother was a beautiful woman.

He stared quietly at her for an uncomfortable moment; his eyes took on a dreamy quality.
 

Lucky cleared his throat, "um,
 Ricky, this is Rebecca Winters.  She’s here to ask..."

"Yes, yes."
  He sat down.  "Angel told me, you have some questions about the day your parents died.  I’m afraid I won't be much help.  That was a long time ago and your mother was a regular patron."

"Anything you can tell me would be beneficial.
  I fear I’ve very few leads in their deaths.  I can't explain it but I feel like their deaths were suspicious."  Rebecca prayed his seeing her would jar some lost memory.

"She thinks they were murdered by supernatural means."
  Gabriel elaborated.

Ricky ran a hand through his black hair.
  Rebecca could’ve sworn the hand shook a little.  "You’re not alone in that assumption.  However, the protectors looked into the situation and decided that their deaths were tragic accidents; that the supernaturals had nothing to do with it."  He looked at Lucky warily.  "Once they turn it over to the human police we have very little to do with it." 

Lucky shrugged, "Regardless of what we have on file, she needs to do her own investigating to set her mind at ease.
  Anything you can tell her; on or off the record, would be appreciated." 

Rebecca was beginning to think having Lucky there was a mistake
. While she trusted him, he was a protector.  She wondered if Ricky would be more forthcoming if she didn’t have the police with her.  It made logical sense.  Silently she chided herself for not thinking that might be a problem.

‘
Your carelessness is a problem.  You need to be more strategic in making decisions
.’  The wolf added her opinion.  Rebecca really hated her wolf’s know-it-all attitude.

‘
Quit judging me.  You and I are stuck with each other.  Get over it and help me or shut up!
’  Rebecca had it with the wolf’s condescending attitude.  If she could, she would have slapped her already.

The wolf simply chuckled in her mind, ‘
you will learn, young one
.’ 

Ricky
looked completely uncomfortable as he eyed everyone at the table one by one; Lucky, Gabriel, and Angel, before he settled his eyes on Rebecca.  "They were laid to rest a decade ago, perhaps it’s just better to leave them resting."

"Perhaps that’s best for other people, but not the family.
  Our family needs closure and we’ve not gotten it yet.  I promise you, Ricky, that until I do, I’ll not rest."  It’s the reason why she became a wolf, why she’s now an alpha.  She kept that morsel of knowledge to herself.  No one else needed to know about her personal demons. 

Ricky sighed.
  "I remember she was here to meet someone. Who? I’m not sure.  Your mother always met clients at the Refuge.  A smart move for someone that works on both sides of the war."

"The war between vampires and werewolves?"  Rebecca nodded her understanding.

"It would be more appropriate to call it the war between the Convent and the Authority since all supernaturals have been caught up in the crossfire."  Angel smiled softly.  There was a sadness in her
eyes
and s
omething
amazingly genuine about her, something that Rebecca couldn't quite place but that she really liked about her.  “We’ve all lost people in our lives, taken from us too soon.”

"I think Gabriel and I can
 sympathize with you on loss."  Rebecca felt that familiar recognition of connection.

"We all can.  But believe me, if the war was over there would still be loss because the lines between light and dark will always exist as long as free will exists.
  The war simply gives people an excuse to do what they want."  Lucky locked eyes with Rebecca and she realized his statement of loss was very real.  She found herself wondering who he lost.  But this wasn’t the place to ask.