Page 43 of Protecting The Gray Wolf
Standing under the stream of hot water, her thoughts scrambled all over the place. She’d missed a day of work without calling in. There were probably more than a couple irate calls on her phone. Like it or not, she was going to have to find a safe way to check. Kade wouldn’t be happy, but this was her life. When this was over, he’d likely disappear, leaving her to pick up the pieces. It was a damn good thing she had money in the bank or she’d be freaking out. Her art career might be over before it even got started if Chelsea used her contacts to blackball her from major art galleries. Not that it would matter if she ended up dead.
“One thing at a time,” she muttered. And right now, her hair was a tangled mess. The shampoo and conditioner weren’t her brands, but she wasn’t complaining. They were better than nothing. She didn’t linger, cleaning herself from head to toe.
By the time she stepped out of the shower, she was getting a grip on things. She ran over her plan as she dried off. Get dressed. Eat. Find out what Kade had uncovered while she’d slept. Check her messages. Decide how to deal with a crazy mage and other werewolves who potentially want to capture or kill them.
She snorted under her breath. “Sure, no problem at all.” After rummaging through the vanity drawers, she came up with a comb. Working patiently, she untangled her curls. Her hair was wet, but there was no dryer. She needed a clip from her purse, or maybe an elastic band.
After hanging up the wet towel, she cracked the door open and peered out. There was no sign of Kade, but the bed was made and her clothes were laid out. And, praise the lord, her purse was right next to it.
As she tugged on her underwear and bra, she tried not to imagine him handling them. She shivered and not because she was cold. If anything, she was too warm. The leggings were next. The top was a wrinkled mess, but it was clean, and when she pulled the long sweater on over it, she barely noticed.
She dumped her purse out onto the bed. An overnight trip hadn’t been in the plans when she’d made her mad dash yesterday. She’d intended to go home, get packed, and get out of town, maybe even the country.
It was still an option. Kade would fight her all the way. “Because he feels responsible for me,” she whispered. She firmed her chin and squared her shoulders. This was his world, not hers, but she wasn’t about to allow herself to be used as a pawn. If she decided he’d be safer without her, she’d take off.
Or maybe he thinks he can use you to find Solange.
Ignoring the wrench in her heart, she picked up the clip she’d worn yesterday but tossed it aside in favor of a colorful elastic band. It took no time to braid and secure her hair. She shoved everything back into her purse. She had the important things—her wallet and her phone.
She glanced toward the doorway and then back to the phone and the battery. He’d removed it to keep them from being traced, but was that even possible? It didn’t seem likely. Sure, that stuff happened fast in the movies, but this was real life.
Not wanting to do something colossally stupid, she slung her bag over her shoulder and carried everything to the kitchen. Kade was settled at the island working on…a laptop. “How come you can use that and I can’t use my phone?”
He glanced up and ran his eye over her. She had to force herself not to squirm under his regard. “This is new, right out of the box. I set it up with a new email and linked everything through it.”
She set her purse down. “I need to check my messages.” Before he could object, she raised her hand. “I didn’t go to work today. After everything, my job is probably gone. That’s no big loss, but I need to minimize the fallout.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I know this is hard on you, but none of that will matter if you’re dead.”
“Don’t sugarcoat the situation. Tell me what you really think.” Sure, she’d had the same thought, but having him confirm it made it seem more real.
He raised an eyebrow. “Did you want me to lie?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She dumped the cell and battery on the counter. “This entire situation is out of control. I can’t use my phone for two minutes because it might lead your enemies to us.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw, but other than that, he seemed totally unmoved. “I realize this is difficult for you.”
“You think?” Damn it, she hated being bitchy. She rubbed her hands over her face. “I’m sorry. I haven’t had coffee yet. It might be evening, but I just woke up. That means its morning.”
Sighing, he got up and came to her. Without a word, he took her in his arms, and she leaned against him. “I’m scared.” She hated admitting it aloud, but he was right. This wasn’t the time to sugarcoat anything. “I’m on a merry-go-round I can’t get off of, and it keeps going faster and faster. I’m afraid I’m going to lose my grip, go flying, and crash and burn.”
His arms tightened around her. “I can’t change what’s happened. All I can do is promise to do my best to keep you alive.”
…
Kade wanted to beat his fists into a punching bag. Better still, destroy his enemies. He wanted blood, for someone to pay for the damage they’d wrought. Through no fault of her own, Luna’s life was being ripped apart. It was natural for her to be frustrated, but until he could guarantee her security, he didn’t want her out of his sight.
“I’m grateful. I am,” she insisted. “But it’s frustrating to not understand what I’m facing. I work better when I have a plan.”
He dropped a kiss on her forehead and released her. “I understand, which is why I’ve been working to put the pieces together.” After opening the refrigerator, he pulled out several containers. “There are breakfast and dinner foods. I had no idea what you’d prefer.”
“I’ll take care of it.” She rested her hand on his forearm. He cursed his enemies. But for them he’d be able to take her back to bed and spend days learning how she liked to be touched, luxuriating in her lush body. Of course, but for his enemies, they might never have met.
Fate demanded balance.
She began opening containers. “You said there’d been developments.”
Because he wanted to wrap her in his arms and keep her there, he forced himself to sit back down at the kitchen island. “Did you know Chelsea doesn’t fully own the gallery? She’s part owner.”
