Not all of them. She shrugged. Ive always wanted to meet my mother. Whoever she is.
Dont worry about that anymore. Youre going to be the best mother there is one day.
I hope so.
He picked up a gla.s.s, filled it with tap water, and took a long sip. Im sorry I didnt listen to you, but I made a promise to always protect you. I couldnt do that without funds. I dont regret the path Ive chosen. I just wish I hadnt brought you into it. I was young and stupid, and before I knew it, it was too late.
She reached up and stroked the top of his head like shed always done when they were kids. Thats okay. There was no other path to take with such limited options, and I think we did well.
Im going to take Tristan up on his offer. I kinda like him better than the other guys, but dont tell him I said that, Andrew said. I dont want him to think Im soft because Im not.
Your secret is safe with me. But what do you mean? Take him up?
Im part of the Order already. I dont want out. I want a family too, just like you. This may be my only chance. Ill have the same job for a little while until I can prove myself, but Ill be transferred to Tristans crew once things are settled. It still kinda freaks me out that he can shift into an animal, but you always used to tell me the supernatural was real.
I didnt quite believe it until I saw it myself. And today was definitely an eye opener, she said.
Yeah, for me and you both. Ill just have to get used to the fangs and stuff when hes showing me the ropes.
Antonia chewed at her bottom lip recalling the speech Tristan had given over dinner. Hes a little long-winded.
Andrew chuckled. I can already tell. Hes good at what he does though, and how he uses it. He says h.e.l.l get the cops to clean up our record, so that means well no longer be criminals, but I dont knowI wore those badges proudly. Come to think of it, Ill probably earn a lot more going forward. YeahI think I might.
Antonia sighed and rolled her eyes.
This is dangerous, Andrew. Not because hes a wolf shifter, but because of who hes connected to. She tried to keep her voice down low. We knew getting involved with this group was dangerous when we did that first job for Cobra crew back in Philly. We promised each other we wouldnt make it a long-term thing.
I changed my mind, sis. I have to break that promise. Im sorry. He frowned. Ill be fine. Think of it this way. Its like the corporate world. If you dont do your job, you lose it, right? You get fired. All I have to do is my job to get paid. I like getting paid. You feel me?
Antonia leaned back and observed how far he had come. She resolved to let him be the man he wanted to be. This was his life, and he only had this one life to do with what he wanted. He needed his independence, and she needed hers. It was time they let go of their past.
She balanced herself on her tiptoes and kissed his forehead. I love you, Andrew.
I love ya back.
After the exchange, they headed out into the main living area where both Tristan and Connor were shuffling through paperwork on a coffee table.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
Antonia sat next to Connor, with her arm entwined with his. Her brother, Andrew, and Tristan sat across from them in accent chairs with their backs facing the fireplace.
Tristan guzzled down another bottle of water and then proceeded to crush the plastic between his fist. His elbows rested on the chair arms as he looked at the reports on the coffee table between them.
Tristan Arnou, Alpha to the Arnou Pack, was a well-groomed man. After the fight, he insisted on cleaning up--and he cleaned up nicely. His designer wrist watch and name brand leather jacket must have costed a fortune. He wore the clothes with a silent grace, but under the exterior, shed seen firsthand what he was capable of.
So you got news from a local cop friend of yours about a possible lead with connections to Dockhouse bar? Tristan asked Connor.
Yes. They traced bullets found on a human and a wolf to the suspect they had in custody. Connor pointed to the gun in a plastic bag on the table. Do you recognize this Lugar? This is the type of gun used to fire the bullets.
It was Antonias gun. The one Andrew had given her for protection.
Tristan picked up the bag with the gun. Yes. Most a.s.sociates are provided with this type of weapon. The serial number is likely sc.r.a.ped off and its not traceable anywhere. Whered you find this?
I gave it to Antonia. I bought it from a dealer within Cobra for Antonia, Andrew answered.
Your robbery suspectthis one-- Tristan pointed to a mugshot of a male. Hes probably an a.s.sociate of the Order. When he got himself whacked and couldnt make the drop, its likely they called on someone else to do the job. Tristan nodded toward Andrew.
I did accept the job at the last minute. They offered me bigger kickback because of it, Andrew offered.
Ive had my sights on Dockhouse Bar for quite some time. Ive warned members of the Arnou Pack to do the same and I also made Devin aware of my suspicions. Of course, there are pack members who still disobey orders despite the consequences they create for us all, Tristan said.
Why is this area still neutral territory? Connor questioned.
Its been this way for ages because the domain belongs to one of the most powerful families among our kind, the Zovics.
Other, Connor whispered, his voice low.
Yes. Tristan clasped his fingers together. When Daniel Caedmon died and right before Devin rose to Alpha, the ownership changed hands. How? I dont know, but it is within my scope to find out.
Thats why my family was voted out of the security contract for the club. We used to man it while Daniel ruled, Connor said. Its now owned by the Zovics, isnt it? Others.
U pravu si. Exactly. Tristan turned his wrist.w.a.tch over and glanced down at it.
Others? Antonia glanced back and forth between Connor.
Thats right, Connor told her. Others possess the spirit of the first Caedmon wolf, but are not wolf shifters. They cant shift. There are a few Other clans who arent exactly on good terms with the Packs, which means they no longer pledge allegiance or identify with us.
Why arent you on good terms with them? she asked.
Others were part of the human branch of the original Caedmon people up until the Great Fallout between two brothers. This happened decades ago. As a result, we had two rival Packs for the longest. Arnou and Caedmon. We are united now by an allegiance, but two separate Packs are still maintained, he replied.
So these Others have powers like yours, but cant shift? She shook her head.
Correct. Tristan nodded. Others are those that possess supernatural powers like ours, but the power to shift between man and animal exists only through the wolf bloodlines. If one parent could shift, then the gift was pa.s.sed on. The Other bloodline have become diluted by decades of cross-breeding with regular humans. Its much easier for them to be welcomed into human society than us wolf shifters anyway.
I recall that your family has relation to the Zovics, Connor said, rising in his seat.
More than five decades ago, my great-grandfather Thibaud Sr. reigned as Arnou Alpha. During his reign he accepted his true mate, Natalija Zovic, and became advisor to the Boss of the network. The marriage united us in business and in bloodline since the Zovic family are Others.
The mob? Connors forehead creased.
No, we are not the mob. We are a network. We are organized. We are a business. We are an empire. Tristan grinned. There is a difference.
You could tell me anything you want about it except the truth, and I still wouldnt know that it was a lie, Connor said.
Some things arent for you to know, Tristan stated bluntly. As in, some things are better left unknown.
So youre an advisor to this Zovic family? Connor asked.
Not quite. The grandfather still lives.
Tristan and Connor exchanged a few silent glances between one another before Connor said, My dad got the deadline lifted. The timeline has been changed to unspecified, but its only a matter of time before he is forced into retirement over this. Weve put him in a place where he had to choose sidesand he did. Like myself, he fears for our existence. He fears for it more than he fears being disowned by his government. I dont know how much time you need to settle this mess, but it must be settled.
Im not a man who grants mercy to those who have tried me and threaten my kind. Tristan stood and grabbed his jacket. I have a business matter to tend to in two hours. Send my regards to your father. He will be paid tenfold for his troubles.
Andrew stood with him and Antonia knew what that meant. She rose quickly off the couch and met him halfway, sending him on his way with a hug.
Youre going?
Yeah. Ill be fine. Andrew nodded. Ill call you when I can.
She held his arms in a vice grip. Please be safe. I know you want this, but its dangerous.
Weve talked about this, sis. Andrew held her about the shoulder and held her gaze. Suck it up, all right. Youre the strongest woman I know. Dont make me change my mind. This is what Im good at. I have to leave. He sounded as if he were trying to convince himself more than anyone else. Besides, Im bad for you. Youre better here with Connor.
Antonia watched her brother walk out of the door with Tristan Arnou. Even though she was sad to see him go, she knew everything would be okay. There were times when a family network extended beyond blood and this was one of them.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
Do you like the drawings?
Connor had just joined her on the bed when hed asked this question. He laid down on his back and turned to stare at her.
Antonia was lying on her stomach, flipping through his most recent sketchbook. Mostly all of the sketches were of her. Yes. Youre talented.
Well, I get the most inspiration when I see beautiful things and beautiful people like you.
Antonia closed the book and placed it on the nightstand. Can I ask you something?
Anything at all.
Did you have second thoughts about being with me after Tristan revealed how I was connected to Cobra?
He turned over on his side to face her. Ive never had second thoughts about being with you. What Tristan said over dessert was true. There is no other woman for me. I know it might take time for you to understand that, but Ill do whatever I can to earn your love because at the end of the day, youre the only one in this world who can complete me.
Do you regret that I am who I am?
No. The only thing I regret is not finding you sooner. And for the record, I knew you had some connection with the group before Tristan revealed that information.
How?
He took her hand and his fingers intertwined with hers. What we share is more than physical attraction. Its more than s.e.xual craving or l.u.s.t or need. Its also spiritual. One of the ways a mate is introduced to a wolf on a deeper level is through coupling, either bond marking or s.e.x. We havent bonded yet, so there are limits to how in tune we are with each other. During s.e.x, I can feed off of your emotions, and if Im concentrating enough, you usually show me why those emotions are there.
The very first time we made love, I saw something. It was like a dream. I had children, two of them, and you were there. Is that what youre talking about? Was that real?
Antonia, well make it real. And yes, my wolf will begin to reveal his desires to you, and past accounts show that sometimes youll get glimpses of our future together.
Did you have the same vision?
He shook his head. Not yet. What I did capture was glimpses of your past. Very short memories, so short that it took me hours to put the pieces together. I realized then that I didnt need reports to understand you or learn more about you.
Antonia propped herself up on one elbow. So, when we have s.e.x you see my memories?
Yes, I can feed off your emotions and see your memories. Some of them, anyway.
Thats really weird. What if I dont want you to see them because theyre bad memories?
Its not something I can control. We can only work together to ensure that you have good memories from this point going forward.
So, what did you see?
I saw your brother kill a man. You were there. Its how the manslaughter charges were brought against you two then dropped. He killed this man because he was Connor shook his head.
Go ahead, say it, she urged.
Antonia Its behind me now, Connor. It never happened because the man died. And nothing like that ever happened again. Suffice to say, I no longer take the train or bus at night. So say it. Andrew slit his throat because he was trying to rape me.
Im sorry that happened.
It happened and we overcame it. After we were booked into jail, Andrew took the manslaughter charge so they would let me off the hook. The DA that was working on the case finally got the store clerk to hand over a videotape from the alley where it happened. The charges were officially dropped on both of us when they saw the evidence.
Youll make a great paralegal one day. You probably know the system like the back of your hand.
She shrugged. Well see.
Yes. He smiled. Ill see to it.
He entwined his finger in some stray curls that had fallen over her forehead and then let go, watching as they bounced back into a tight curl.
Antonia smiled. You keep playing with my hair.
Because I love it. Thats not the only thing I love playing with though.