Shifting Positions (22 page)

“Which wolf, Matt?”

His gun arm jerked and Tess froze. “That fucking Kolter wolf. Kyle.”

“Why would Kyle want to hurt you?” she asked with pretend interest.

Matt’s eyes darted to the side and too quickly came back to Tess. “I called him. About Collins.”

Damn, Tess hated it when she was right. “And because Kyle killed Dave you think he might want to kill you as well?”

“I know he does! He tore my house apart. What sane person does that?” What sane person holds a gun to an infirm woman’s head? She wanted to shout back, and though anger and terror ripped through her, she kept her expression serene. “Do you know why Dave was in the woods at that time?”

For several heart-pounding moments, he didn’t answer. Then he shrugged. “I convinced him my ‘uncle’ who owned Stellinghouse Lumber was screwed over by the Kolter’s and it nearly destroyed his business. He was looking for a little payback. All Dave had to do was place a marker separating state owned land from Kolter’s land and he’d get ten thousand.” Tess gaped. “And he believed you?”

“Amazing what naivety and beer does to a boy, especially after I threw in Gina.” Tess worked her jaw. “What do you mean?”

Matt’s lip curled in superiority. “Kid viewed me as a stud so I told him I’d help him get Gina back. Since he had no idea I was fucking her, he jumped all over the chance to learn from the pro.”

Oh, how she wanted to say, “pro asshole,” but she restrained herself. Once that gun was away from her mother’s now angry face, Tess would rip him a new one. “Did Gina know what you were doing?”

Matt looked disgusted. “Please. That bitch is only good for one thing. Well, two maybe.” That settled it. Matt was going down, and by the black rage in her mom’s eyes, the two women might have to fight each other to be the first to put him there. First, though, Tess needed to know what Matt wanted from her. “What do you expect me to do?” He sneered and told her in explicit detail what he wanted her to do, which, thank God, was nothing sexual.

She dialed a number on her cell and lifted it to her ear, very aware that Matt watched her every move with weary intensity. The man just might pass out from lack of sleep before this was over. If he didn’t accidentally shoot someone with that shaking hand first. “It’s Tess.”

“Tess,” Caleb hissed. “This isn’t a good time. I’m in a meeting.” Nice way to put it. “Yes, I know. I’m terribly sorry to bother you,” she said, keeping her voice cool and steady.

His instantly changed. “What’s wrong?” “Matt West is currently holding a gun to my mom’s head.” She covered Caleb’s exuberant oath by adding, “And he’s seeking police protection from Kyle Kolter.”

“And this is how the stupid son of a bitch does it?”

She wanted to wince as he roared in her ear. “Yes. Please come by the house and work out a deal with him.”

“I’ll rip his beating heart out of his yellow bellied chest is what I’ll bloody well do.” Tess breathed deep and prepared to lie as Matt had instructed. “Caleb, please listen. You cannot come in through either door as he wired both with separate booms. Also, please do not try to break any windows to gain entry into the house as Matt will hear and in retaliation of your poor faith, he will shoot my mom.

“Jesus-fucking-Christ!”

Tess cleared her throat and added her own special directive. One she hoped Caleb followed. “Caleb, as I’m only allowed one phone call, please contact Kaylie and tell her what is going on and to stay away.” Matt’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And hurry.” Tess snapped the phone shut.

“What was that with about your sister?”

Tess had no qualms about lying to Matt. “She finished classes yesterday and planned on coming home this afternoon.”

Matt grunted and waved Tess over to sit on the far side of the bed. Then he walked backwards until he stood just inside the doorway and grinned. “The better to hear any breaking glass.”

Tess clenched her jaw. If Caleb got through to Kaylie, her sister would tell him about the secret entrance into the house. The one that led from the back of Tess’s closet, down through the exterior wall, under the ground, and out to a hollowed tree. She just needed to make sure Matt held his position so he wouldn’t see death coming. “Let the waiting begin,” she muttered under her breath.

After an eternity, though the bedside clock lied and showed less than fifteen minutes had past, Tess heard sirens. One minute later the sound was abruptly shut off and Caleb bellowed Matt’s name.

Her heart sank in her chest. If Caleb was outside than he must not have reached Kaylie.

He didn’t know about the secret entrance and thus couldn’t sneak in the house. Not good. Now this debacle would play out like any other hostage situation, and everyone knew how well those worked out.

“Took him long enough,” Matt gestured with the gun. “Go over and open it. You’ll be our mediator.”

Cautiously, Tess rose and walked to the front window. Awkwardly, refusing to give Matt her back, she parted the heavy curtains and slid the glass open.

Two? She warranted only two cops? Furtively, she glanced around the surrounding area, noting the absolute stillness. Dread seeped into her pores.

“Caleb,” she called out, transferring her gaze from the single, unknown deputy who stood at his side to Caleb’s.

The anguished relief that crossed his face was palpable. Too bad this mate thing didn’t come with telepathic abilities. At the moment, it would make life so much easier.

Though his hands were clenched in tight fists and his expression watchful, his tone was soothing. “. How’re you holding up?”

Despite the situation, she nearly smiled. Caleb’s body language was at odds with his words and tone of voice and Tess knew he was up to something. She would just follow his lead until he made his move. Hopefully she would know what that move was.

She stared out into the trees where she saw something glitter in the sunlight. “Okay.”

“And Ruth?”

“You know mom. She’s just lounging around in bed.”

“Knock it off,” Matt snarled. “Tell him what I want.”

“Matt wants me to tell you he wants police protection.” She faced the opening more fully and mouthed the words “no boom.”. Caleb might not have a chance in hell seeing her lips through the screen and shadows cast by the eave, but whoever was perched in the tree at the far end of the clearing just might. If they were peering at her through a rifle scope or pair of binoculars, that is.

“We’ll give him police protection,” Caleb growled. Suddenly, and oddly, he lifted one hand to his ear.

“Great.” She glanced back at Matt. “There you go, just as you requested.” But Matt was shaking his head, his eyes no more than slits, the gun now aimed and wavering at the ceiling. “No, no. It’s not that easy. He wants a hostage first.” Great. Obviously the man nuts. But then again, what sane man who wanted police protection demanded it by taking two hostages?. “Matt, you must be exhausted and when was the last time you ate? You may not be thinking clearly…”

“Don’t tell me what I’m thinking!” Matt bellowed, sweat dotting his forehead. “Just tell the sheriff what I said.”

Tess blew out a breath, inching around until she stood sideways. She could see in her peripheral that Caleb once again raised his hand to his ear. A mini walkie-talkie, a bluetooth?

What was he planning?

Then she heard it. A very slight padding, like a cat walking.

Holy hell. Caleb got through to Kaylie, but if he was outside, who was coming down the
hall?

Desperately trying not to let anything show on her face, she purposely argued with Matt, keeping his attention on her. “Tell him what, Matt? To pick a hostage? It’s not like he’s got a lot of experience in this type of situation. Just how many hostage situations do you think occur…” A blur of black fur came out of nowhere, landing squarely on Matt’s shoulders, taking him down. The gun went off and Tess instinctively hit the floor, squeezing her eyes shut. Her mom screamed, Matt cried out, a mighty roar came from outside and the wolf howled. Then silence.

A heartbeat later, Tess sprinted to her mom’s side, just as a loud crash came from below.

“Are you okay?” Tess ran shaking hands over her mom.

“Oh,” Ruth blinked rapidly, one hand over her heart. “The gunshot just startled me, but I’m okay. I’m fine, honey. Stop. Are you okay?”

Tess nearly slumped with relief. “Yeah. I’m good.”

“Tess!” Caleb’s bellow had her turning her head to see him barreling through the door.

He didn’t stop at the speed bump made up of human and fur but leapt right over it. He pulled her into his arms and held on tight. “Oh, Christ. When that gun went off.” He shuddered and rocked her in his arms.

“I’m okay, Caleb. We’re both okay.” Extremely relieved, she clung to him, soaking in his scent, his warmth, his love. After a few moments she peered over his shoulder. “I see that you got a hold of my sister, but who is that?”

“Dean.” Caleb punctuated his words with kisses that he rained over her face. “We decided I couldn’t go through the back way or Matt would become suspicious. You are my mate, after all.”

She smiled. “Yes, I am your mate after all.”

Things happened quickly after that. Dean had tagged Matt in the shoulder of his gun arm, not only doing serious damage to the flesh and tendons, but dislocating it as well. Brandon had been the one perched in the tree with a pair of binoculars and had caught Tess’s silent words, giving the go ahead to Caleb before the gun even went off.

Phil, the deputy Tess hadn’t met before but later found out had aided in the full moon attack, and Brandon hauled an unconscious Matt up, handcuffed him and dragged him outside.

From the bedroom Tess heard her sister’s voice. “Mom? Tess?”

Surprised, Tess jumped up from the bed where she’d sat and turned to look out into the hallway.

Kaylie came to an abrupt stop at the top stair. “What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, taking in great gulps of air as she rummaged around in the big black bag she had over her shoulder. A large roll of gauze hit Brandon in the chest.

“Kaylie, we’ll get the doc to patch him up…”

“Shut up, you moron. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get blood out of wood floors? And you,” Kaylie pointed a finger at Dean who had just appeared from Tess’s room, now in human form and dressed in black slacks and a button-up black suede shirt. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

Dean lifted a sardonic brow. “Excuse me?”

But Kaylie only held up one belligerent hand to cut him off, slipped past the three men blocking the hallway and hustled to Tess.

Laughing, Tess caught her sister in a welcoming hug. “What are you doing here?”

“I was almost home when I got Caleb’s call. Shit. Let me go. I can’t breathe.” Panting, Kaylie dropped her bag and rested her hands on her thighs. “First, is anyone hurt? No? God! I waited
forever
at the foot of the driveway and then snuck up with Dean to show him the hollowed tree where the secret entrance was. Then I ran back to my car to get my medical bag just in case. I was hoofing it back up the drive when I heard the gunshot and then bolted the rest of the way. Could our driveway
be
any longer?”

Caleb walked over and lifted Kaylie’s shorter frame completely off the floor in a huge hug. “Thank you.”

A soft growl had him glancing over Kaylie’s shoulder to see Dean glaring at them, his green eyes glittering with amber. Surprised, wondering, Caleb mouthed the same words to Dean.

His alpha seemed to shake himself free of his irritation and gave Caleb a tight nod before escaping silently down the stairs.

Within the hour, Jack Hodgins, who owned the local hardware store, not only installed a new front door to replace the one Caleb had smashed through, he’d replaced the kitchen door as well, both heavy-duty steel-core no less.

Phil, who’d hung around until the women were considered secure, took off with a plastic baggie full of fresh chocolate chip cookies and a smitten wave. Men sure loved her mother’s baking.

Finally the house was restored to order and cleaned, which took three times as long as it should have because people from all over town kept coming by with casseroles and desserts to assure themselves the Gentry women were safe and sound. By five o’clock, the house was full and Tess, assured her mom and sister were in good hands with Jackie, Martin and Dolen keeping sharp eyes on everyone, took off with one of the many casseroles to Caleb’s house. He’d stripped the key off his ring before leaving earlier, asking Tess to meet him at his place.. She was more than happy to comply.

So here she was, in Caleb’s beautiful house complete with four bedrooms, a huge gourmet kitchen, a living room, a den, plus two full bathrooms and one powder room. The Jacuzzi tub in the master bath was too tempting to leave alone, so after her tour, Tess undressed and took a nice, quiet, long soak.

Which was how Caleb found her.

Eyes at half-mast with appreciation, he leaned against the door frame, slowly perusing every visible creamy inch of her skin. “Now that’s what I call the perfect way to welcome me home,” he said in a tone full of lazy appreciation.

Tess smiled, eyes closed. “I can think of a better way to welcome you home.”

“Oh?” Curious, hopeful, he raised a brow, eyes glinting hot.

“Mmm.” Tess opened one eyes and cocked a come-hither finger.

Far from stupid, Caleb undressed in record time and lowered himself behind Tess, flanking her legs with his, her ass resting against his erection. He wrapped both hands around her, one curving up to cup a breast, the other snaking between her thighs. After what seemed like eons of abstinence Tess was beyond aroused and his fingers moved like silk over the seam of her pussy, slipping with practiced eased through her soft folds.

She arched into his touch, sighing with pleasure. “I love you.” He froze. “What?”

She twisted around until she straddled his legs and took his slack jawed face in her hands.

“I love you, Caleb Bennett. I planned on telling you tonight and, well,” she glanced out the window over the tub. The obscure glass patterned with rain droplets reflected their image so that tiny Tess-and-Calebs looked back at them. “It’s tonight.”