The Liger's Mark (16 page)

“You’ve seen him?”

“Yeah, he’s downstairs talking with Tah, Reno and Logan. Logan got pissed about something and took off. I’m not sure what that was about.”

Kenzie was pretty sure she did.

“He checked on you a couple times then took Tah, Abby, the professor and me to show us the medical facility he has set up here.”

“He has a facility here?” Kenzie asked.

“State of the art,” Diane said, looking excited. “Everything we need. Plus, he said there are a few doctors who travel and check back in here. I can’t wait to meet them.”

“So what do you think of Gabriel?” Kenzie asked.

“He brought you back to us,” Diane said. “I give him credit for that, but I also blame him for you leaving. So I chewed his ass out.”

“Over me?” Kenzie asked with a touch of surprise.

“Yes, you,” Diane stated. “Also about his father. I don’t like Isaac. He seems to go out of his way to make things difficult. He doesn’t want us here and doesn’t mind making sure we all know.”

“I like his father less and less the more I hear about him,” Kenzie muttered. “Don’t worry though. Gabriel will take care of his dad.”

“He said the same thing,” Diane said. “I hope he does a better job of it than his brother.”

“What’s Daniel like?” Kenzie asked.

“Not as big as Gabriel or Zane. Closer to Logan’s height. Blond hair without all the streaks Gabriel has. Pale blue eyes.”

“What’s he like?” Kenzie asked again.

Diane shook her head. “Happy-go-lucky. Always smiling. He pacifies his father, trying to smooth things over in a way that keeps Isaac happy. Still…”

“What?”

Diane shrugged. “I saw him once when he didn’t realize anyone was around. He was angry, almost enraged. It was just after his dad had upset Abby and threatened her. Tah was ready to rip Isaac’s throat out. I expected Daniel to step forward, protect his dad, intervene, something. Instead, it was Logan who did.”

“You think Daniel was mad at Tah?” Kenzie asked.

“No, that wasn’t the impression I got,” Diane countered.

“What then? You think Daniel was angry with his dad? That he wanted Tah to hurt him?” Kenzie asked.

Diane shrugged again. “I don’t know. It wouldn’t surprise me. Zane talked to Gabriel’s friend Adrian and said he got the impression Daniel and Gabriel didn’t have the best of childhoods after their mom was killed.”

“Gabriel said they were fed on a steady diet of hate and vengeance. Isaac pushed him to become the Angel. He warned me his dad wouldn’t be happy with our mating.”

“He doesn’t get a say,” Diane said, voice ripe with anger again.

“No, he doesn’t,” Kenzie agreed. “Are you okay?” she asked as she watched Diane shaking. The other woman burst into tears and hugged her again.

“I’m just so happy you’re back,” she sobbed. “You look happy. I want you to be happy.”

“I am,” Kenzie tried to reassure her friend, patting Diane’s back gingerly.

Diane sniffled then pulled back. She took Kenzie’s hands and squeezed them, a smile making her face almost glow. “I’m so happy you’re back.”

Wow,
was all Kenzie could think as she watched Diane’s mood change again.

“We should probably head downstairs. They’ve been waiting on you to wake up so they could call everyone together and discuss what’s going on,” Diane said.

“Oh,” Kenzie said, rising to her feet. “You should have said something. I didn’t mean to keep them all waiting on me.”

“I’m sorry,” Diane said and burst into tears again. “I just wanted to talk to you. I was so worried about you.”

Kenzie lifted a brow. “Pregnancy hormones, huh?”

Diane growled, face darkening with anger. “Hormones suck.”

Kenzie didn’t say anything, making a noncommittal sound as she urged Diane toward the door and down the stairs. She was afraid, too. Just in the short time they’d been together, Diane had bounced between happy, sad and angry. She was in total agreement though. Diane’s hormones appeared to suck.

Chapter Fourteen

Gabriel was still tense. He’d forced himself to leave his bed and mate, knowing they had a lot to do before the day ended. He’d unloaded the SUV, brought their stuff up to the room then had forced himself to leave again. He’d taken the box Kenzie had been given to the office and left it before going to check on Laura. He’d finally let her know her brother was part of the pride now residing with them, and she’d run off to hide out with Adrian and his family. It hadn’t been his intention to say anything to Logan, but he’d ended up doing just that.

Daniel had been the one to figure it out and let him know. Daniel had also told him Logan was a good guy and that there must be more to the story than Laura knew. So he’d been willing to give the other man the benefit of the doubt. It’d helped that Kenzie thought so highly of all of them. Gabriel had seen the look in Logan’s eyes when he’d told him what their parents had done to her. Devastation and anger. Gabriel didn’t get a chance to tell Logan she was gone before the other man was slamming out to find her.

“He’s not going to find her is he?” Tah asked.

“No,” Gabriel admitted. “She’s not ready to see him.”

“When he realizes that, he’s going to come back, demanding to know where she is,” Reno warned.

“I can’t do that,” Gabriel said. “When she’s ready, she’ll come to him. He’ll have to respect that.”

“I’d do the same,” Tah said.

“Logan’s searched for his sister for years,” Reno stated quietly. “It’s how we spent our time after leaving the Marines before we came to find you,” he said, glancing at Tah. “He won’t wait patiently.”

“She’ll come around,” Gabriel said. “She believes he abandoned her and never looked back.”

“He wrote letters,” Reno said. “He still has them. They were all returned to him.”

Gabriel nodded. “We just need to give her time. She’ll come when she’s ready. I’ll have Daniel talk to her.”

They were quiet for a moment before Tah spoke up again. “You said you needed to tell me something before everyone was gathered.”

Gabriel reached in his pocket and handed Tah the papers he’d had put together.

“What’s this?” Tah asked as he unfolded them.

Gabriel said nothing as he watched Tah skim through them. It was the only way to make things clear to his father. Isaac would never stop as long as he thought he might have a chance of persuading Gabriel to make Tah and the rest of them leave. It was also something he wanted to do for his mate. He could still hear her telling him how much her pride needed this place.

“I don’t understand,” Tah finally said. “Why would you do this?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Gabriel said. “Daniel told me about meeting you, all of you. The dynamics of how you interacted with each other, and the overwhelming love you showed. Not to mention how intrigued he was with the council you’ve formed.”

“We’re far from perfect,” Tah warned. “We argue, fight and clash just like any family.”

“Which is when his mate threatens to kick all our asses,” Reno advised with a grin.

“I hear she’s a force to reckon with,” Gabriel said.

“She’s my everything,” Tah stated.

Gabriel nodded in understanding. There was no other way to describe the bond that existed between mates. They became everything to each other.

“Does Kenzie know?” Tah asked.

“No,” Gabriel admitted. He’d been too worried on the drive here then wrapped up in other things once they’d arrived. He could have woken her to discuss it, but he’d decided against it. She’d been through a lot, some of which was his fault. She needed rest. “She’ll learn when you tell the others, but I know she’ll agree with me.”

“Thank you,” Tah said. “This means more than I can say.”

“My father will throw a fit, threaten all sorts of repercussions. Trust me when I say, there is nothing he can do about this. This land and all the property is mine to do with as I see fit,” Gabriel said.

“What about Daniel?” Tah questioned.

“His property is in town, but he was the one who suggested this option to me,” Gabriel shared. “Seems he’s a lot smarter than I’ve given him credit for.”

Laura had tried to point that out to Gabriel several times, but he’d refused to see it. Every time he looked at Daniel, all he saw was the little brother he needed to protect. It was past time he let Daniel be the man he was.

“Is it his intent to join?” Tah asked.

“Yes,” Gabriel answered. Daniel had been the first to mention it, assuming Gabriel would join his mate’s pride and wanting to do the same.

Tah nodded and held his hand out. “Welcome to the pride.”

Gabriel took the offered hand and shook it, knowing he was doing the right thing. For himself, and his mate. Probably for Daniel and Laura, as well. The only person who would feel hurt and betrayed was his father. Gabriel couldn’t let that worry him. His father had chosen his path in life, and for too long he’d been allowed to manipulate Gabriel’s life. No more. It was time for him to make more personal choices.

Reno held out his hand next. “I’m sure there’s a lot we can learn from you. Hopefully, we’ll find time soon to discuss these different faces hunters wear and what we can do about it.”

“I’m going to check on Regan,” Tah said. “Call everyone together and have them meet us in here. Send the council to my room, first. I want to discuss something real quick.”

“Give my girl cuddles for me,” Reno called as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and began texting. “See if Daniel can join us. The offer will be open to Laura, too, when the time is right for her.”

Gabriel nodded. Laura would come around. He had faith in her. She was too caring of a person to do otherwise.

“I’m going to check on Kenzie,” Gabriel said. “I’ll get a hold of Daniel.”

“Tell him thirty minutes,” Reno said.

Gabriel nodded and stepped out. He heard Kenzie’s laugh and groaned with a bit of disappointment. He’d been hoping to find his mate still curled up naked in their bed. Probably a good thing she wasn’t because he would have taken a lot longer than thirty minutes to wake her up. He shot Daniel a quick text then followed the sound of Kenzie’s voice. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her with Holt. As much as it still gave him a jolt, he knew it was also something he’d need to get used to. He trusted his mate, and hard as it was to believe, he found he trusted Holt, too.

“Hey,” she said, moving toward him as soon as she saw him. “I was looking for you.”

“I delayed her,” Holt said.

“Holt was catching me up on what he’d found out today while I was playing sleeping beauty upstairs,” Kenzie said.

“I was hoping you’d still be up there,” Gabriel said, pulling her against his chest and dropping a kiss on her lips. “I had plans on how to wake you up.”

She blushed. “There’s always tomorrow.”

He dropped another kiss on her lips then another. When he glanced back up, Holt was gone.

“He probably headed to the office for the meeting Tah called,” Kenzie said. “I’m a little nervous about it.”

“Why?”

“Telling everyone what I found out, what we still don’t know. The fact I was an experiment that hunters want to get their hands back on,” she said.

“The only thing they’ll care about is that you’re safe,” he stated.

She nodded. “You’re right. I just wish I had more to share.”

“There’s something you should know about the meeting,” Gabriel began. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you before.”

“Okay,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, I—”

“I was hoping to find you before going in,” Daniel said as he walked up and joined them. He must have been close to get to the house so fast.

“Good to see you,” Gabriel said, accepting the embrace Daniel gave him then surprising them both by holding tight and squeezing back. “I’m glad you made it.”

Daniel gave him a look as if trying to figure out what was going on with him then turned his attention to Kenzie.

“You must be Kenzie.”

She nodded. “You must be Daniel.”

His younger brother grinned and offered Kenzie a hug.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Daniel said. “I’ve heard a lot about you from everyone. All good things,” he assured her.

“I’ve heard the same about you,” Kenzie told him, and Daniel gave Gabriel another puzzled look.

“Well, welcome to the family, little sister,” Daniel said then turned his attention to Gabriel again. “Did you get the papers?”

“It’s done,” Gabriel told him, and Daniel nodded.

“What’s done?” Kenzie asked.

“I was trying to tell you—” Gabriel began but was cut off again when more people arrived.

Zane was the first to reach them, pulling Kenzie in for a hug then offering Gabriel his hand. They moved toward the office with him and the moment to tell her was lost. Zane informed them Diane was lying down and wouldn’t be joining them. Gabriel could tell the other man was worried about his mate.

He stood at the back of the room with Kenzie and his brother while she pointed out everyone who entered the room. Holt was already there along with Reed and Dusty. Finn, who shared the same red hair as his brother Murphy, was the next to enter, followed a few minutes later by Gideon, who was joined by two others, a man and a woman. The woman with them was talking a mile a minute, which Gideon seemed to find amusing. Without missing a beat, Finn reached out and pulled her beside him.

“I see how it is,” he teased her. “Gideon gets back and you forget all about me.”

She rolled her eyes. “No one could forget you.”

“Is that Vic’s sister?” Gabriel asked. The two women looked a lot alike.

“No,” Kenzie said. “Vic doesn’t have a sister.”

“That’s Ariel,” Daniel said. “Griffin is the one with the short brown hair with them. From what I gathered, they showed up in Colorado with Gideon.”

“How do you know so much?” Kenzie asked.

“I listen,” Daniel offered with a shrug.

Two women walked in who Kenzie pointed out as Amia and Clara, the mates of Reno and Logan. Kenzie told him that was everyone who wasn’t on the council then asked if Laura would be joining them. Shit! Another thing he didn’t have time to tell her.