An Heiress For The Bear (Sarkozy Brothers 2) (14 page)

Kat blinked. He sounded like Lukas, but her profile view obscured his face. And the black claws sprouting from his oddly shaped fingers made her certain this man was not Lukas.

But the claws... bear claws.

She barely registered the glint of the barrel of a gun as her assailant produced a weapon or his maniacal grin as he glanced at Kat, standing on trembling legs a few feet from them. His finger was already on the trigger as he aimed the weapon at her, but the large man's claw-tipped hands moved so fast it blurred. When the gun went off, the barrel was pointed at the man's own gut, his eyes wide in shock and fury.

Her rescuer had twisted the man's hand around and made him shoot himself. His fast thinking had saved Kat's life.

And for the first time in all her years, Kat almost fainted. She was surprised when warm arms closed around her and she felt herself rise from the ground, as if she was floating.

When her rescuer headed into the elevator, Kat lifted her head and stared at his face.

His gold-flecked green eyes gleamed, and Kat gasped.

She uttered only one word before she finally did faint.

"Lukas."

L
UKAS
LAY
K
AT
ON
THE
bed, unable to hide the quaking of his hands. Marek touched his shoulder, drawing him out of the room as a woman with dark, curly hair slid between them to enter the room.

"Carson will take care of her."

Marek led Lukas to the private lounge and poured him a brandy. Lukas wanted to tell Marek that he though Carson was a knockout and that his brother was a very lucky guy. He wanted to say congratulations because he knew well enough the scent of a woman carrying a bear shifter's baby.

But no words left his mouth as he downed the drink and set the crystal glass back onto the coffee table a little too hard.

"She's fine, Lukas. She's not hurt. From what Carson said, Kat is a tough girl."

Lukas glanced at his cousin, noting the fear and grief already lining his face. He'd already begun to grieve the loss of Marko. Lukas sighed. "She's unhurt, yes. But I told her the truth about us. Chances are, come morning, she's as good as gone."

Marek was shaking his head. "Trust me, brother. Whatever happens, just fight for her. Someone I know once told me to figure out if Carson was worth fighting for. I have a feeling Kat is worth it too."

Lukas stared at Marek's face, the dark hair, the strong features. He looked like a goddamned wrestler, but the man had a heart of gold. Lukas rubbed his face, pressed his fingers to his eyes.

He'd driven Kat straight to the Sarkozy Hotel suite, having no idea that Carson and Marek had made up barely an hour before. He couldn't believe that he'd left his staff vulnerable to an attack by James King. Maria's boyfriend had upped the ante with this threat.

He sighed. It wasn't the time to be thinking about getting Kat to testify that King had attacked her. Tomorrow.

Right now, he looked at Marek. "What's the update?"

Marek brought him up to speed, but nothing significant had developed, apart from the fact that half a dozen families had gone to ground already. They still needed to get themselves sorted.

"Does Delta Corps need us?"

Marek grunted during a second shot for Lukas. "Probably. But that can wait until tomorrow."

Lukas nodded and took the glass, sipping slowly this time.

Kat in danger had frightened him more than he'd ever thought possible.

Maybe it was for the best if she did leave.

At least then she'd be safe.

K
AT
OPENED
HER
EYES
AND
swallowed. Her throat almost refused the action.

She sat upright so suddenly that she felt like she was going to pass out again. But when the memories of last night's attack came flooding back, the only thing that stood out in stark focus was the claws on Lukas's bear-like hands.

He'd been telling her the truth.

The room door opened, and Alana poked her head inside, her eyebrows raised to find Kat awake. "Good. You're up," she said as she entered and shut the door behind her.

"What time is it?" asked Kat.

"Just on seven." Alana stopped at the foot of the bed and studied Kat's face. "I knew I'd seen you somewhere before. Probably why I never liked you in the first place."

"What are you taking about?" Kat asked as she pushed herself into a sitting position and shoved her hair out of her face.

"Katriona Brandon, granddaughter of Constantine Brandon."

Kat scowled. "So what about it?"

Alana folded her arms. "What are you up to? Is it some type of scam?"

"What the hell are you on about, Alana? It's too early in the morning for this shit."

"Your anonymous donor? You trying to scam your grandfather's estate by giving his money to us? I doubt your donor is legit."

Kat threw the blankets off her legs and pushed herself to her feet. Someone had removed her torn dress, and she blinked at her body, encased in the singlet and shorts she usually wore to sleep.

She focused on Alana. "It's really none of you business, but for the record, it's not my grandfather's money I'm donating, it's mine."

Alana laughed. "I saw the first transfer. Where would you get money like that?" she scoffed.

"I'm a Brandon, in case you didn't realize it. And virtually the old man's sole heir. I have more money than I'd ever know what to do with."

Alana's lips formed a thin, angry line as Kat's financial status sank in. She stared at Kat for a moment, then turned on her heel, heading to the door. On the threshold, she looked over her shoulder. "Lukas doesn't appreciate lies. He won't be happy to know you lied about your identity." With that, she closed the door and left Kat to fume all by herself.

Kat was furious, but she forced herself to brush her teeth, shower, and encase herself in the hotel's oversized robes. She was about to lift the phone to call the front desk and request help with obtaining clothing when the door opened and Carson tiptoed inside.

"I thought you were awake. The Ice Bitch just marched out of the suite like she had a hot poker up her ass." Carson grinned. "What did you say to her?"

Kat sighed and sank onto the mattress. "Just that I have enough money to buy and sell the Sarkozys ten times over."

Carson snorted and sat beside her. "More than ten times, woman." They laughed for a few moments, then her friend looked at her. "How you feeling?"

Giving a limp shrug, Kat said, "Sore, but I'll live. And I need clothing."

Carson jumped to her feet. "I brought some of your stuff for you. They're in the closet."

"Thanks. And please tell me that you stripped me of my clothes and got me into my pajamas?"

Carson giggled. "Yup. Unfortunately, it was me. Lukas paced and drank brandy and then had to be threatened with his grandfather's name before he went to bed. But I don't think he slept much. He's been mooching around for an hour now."

"So you know about the shifter thing?" Kat asked abruptly. She got to her feet and rummaged in the closet for something to wear.

"Yup."

"That why you left Marek?" Kat turned back to look at Carson as she pulled on tights and a long cable-knit sweater.

"Yup."

"And yet you still went back to him?"

"Yup."

"Got anything else for me beside yup?"

Carson laughed. "It took me a while, but I dealt with it. I love Marek for who he is and how he makes me feel. His species is only part of who he is."

When she caressed her slightly rounded stomach, Kat's eyes widened. "He knocked you up?"

"Yup."

Kat waved a hand at Carson's stomach and sighed. "You're going to have bear babies?"

"I'm going to have Marek's babies. That's all that matters."

Kat stiffened. "Wait a minute. Just hold the phone." She stared from Carson's pregnant belly to her face. "I thought the Sarkozy men can't have babies. Something about curses."

Carson nodded. "I love being the anomaly."

Heading for the door, Kat said, "I'm going home. I need to think about this."

"Don't take too long thinking. Things are hitting the fan big time."

Pausing with her hand on the doorknob, Kat glanced over her shoulder at Carson. "What things?"

"One of the Sarkozy cousins has been kidnapped. This isn't the first time one of their family has been taken, and they're all ripped up about it. They're terrified for their families. Everyone's been told to stay safe and to go to safe houses if possible. Marek wants to take me to Klamath, and I can't say no. I have to think about the baby."

Kat wasn't sure what to say in response to Carson's monologue.

Instead, she nodded, understanding her friend's warning to stay safe. But the problem was that Kat was no longer safe.

Not since she'd realized how in love with Lukas Sarkozy she was.

And how in love with a bear shifter she was.

L
UKAS
WAS
WALKING
OUT
OF
the private lounge when Kat sailed past him, almost knocking him off his bone-tired feet.

"Kat?" he asked as she flung the door open.

"I need to think," she said softly, hurrying down the corridor toward the bank of elevators.

"I understand that, but it's a little dangerous right now."

"Yeah, I heard." She stabbed the elevator call button.

"I'll come with you. Just to make sure you're safe," he said carefully, hoping she wouldn't bite his head off."

She didn't.

The silence as they waited for the elevator was thick enough to cut with a knife. Lukas blew his breath out through his mouth. "Marek said Alana visited. And left in a fury."

Kat crossed her arms across her chest. Tilting her head she met his eyes, glaring at him. "What? Didn't she come running to you with the truth?"

Lukas frowned, shaking his head. "Truth?"

The elevator arrived and as they stepped inside Kat huffed, shifting her gaze from his face to the brightly lit row of numbers on the panel above the doors. "I don't plan on giving her the satisfaction then." She cleared her throat then shifted to face him, holding her hand out. "Katriona Brandon-Carter, granddaughter of Constantine Brandon."