The KinKaid Wolf Pack Trilogy (32 page)

Then the rumble ceased, and her diaphragm stalled, waiting for the next scene to unfold.

With a sudden rush of volume, the double doors to the KinKaid home burst open. Weapon-laden enforcers stood to either side of the doorway, making way for the Gregorson entourage. Rosa stood back, watching as her brother stepped forward to meet their guests. Evin stopped a few feet short of the tall male in the center of the trio.

“Stefan Gregorson, I presume,” her brother began, but his hand failed to present for a handshake. She didn’t blame him. This wasn’t an invite for tea.

“You presume, correctly,” he replied, his voice gruff. The other alpha was the same height as her brother, but stockier. Possessing dark blue eyes, Stefan wore his dark hair long, braided down his back. But the sides of his head were clean-shaven in a modified Mohawk.

Landry worked his way around the group, and Kaleb, mirroring his friend’s movements, did the same from the opposite side. Stefan lifted a brow and glanced to his right, nodding at the shorter male beside him. “My lead enforcer and brother, Arick.” Then to the shifter on his left. “Carl Tucker, brother of the male you’re holding.”

“How could I forget,” Evin stated, his tone cool.

Rosa tracked Landry and Kaleb as they surveyed the new arrivals. If trouble were on the horizon, it would be those two who would sniff it out first. Landry scanned the males, then his gaze lingered on his Gregorson counterpart, Arick. Both males assessed each other, then Landry quickly glanced to his partner. Kaleb’s expression was hard, stoic. But whether it was the current events or their last encounter putting the chill in his stare was anyone’s guess.

With a lift of his chin, Evin motioned for Landry. “My lead enforcer,” Evin said. “Landry Michaels.” Then her brother held out his hand for Mason to come forward, and when he did Evin ran his palm down the other male’s forearm. “My mate, Mason.”

“I’d heard the rumors you’d taken a male for a mate,” Stefan said. “I see that they’re true.”

Evin titled his head in response. “You have a problem with that?”

“Why would I?” Stefan smiled.

“Good answer.”

“I could care less who you fuck.”

“The feeling’s mutual.”

Suddenly, the Gregorson lead enforcer stepped from the group and aimed his gaze in Rosa’s direction. “And who might you be?”

But before he could make it a foot from his brother’s side, Landry was in his path, blocking him. At the same moment, Kaleb with a palm on the hilt of his gun stepped behind Arick, sandwiching him between Evin’s two enforcers.

“Easy,” Arick drawled, palms out to his side. “I was just wanting a closer look at the female.” Unflinching dark blue eyes held Landry’s as if begging the enforcer to make a move.

“She’s my sister,” Evin barked, the words ricocheting off the walls of the open two-story space. “Rosa. Now that all the introductions are out of the way, may I suggest you return to your pack mates, enforcer, and let’s proceed with the point of your visit.”

“Yes,” Stefan interjected. “Let’s get this done. My time is valuable as I’m sure your is as well, KinKaid.”

“Of course.” Arick’s mouth curled, and his gaze flicked to Rosa’s. “No harm intended,” he added. Landry sidestepped, his broad shoulders once more erecting a wall between Rosa and Arick. The alpha’s brother retreated, and Kaleb pivoted, allowing him to rejoin the others.

“Bring him in,” Evin commanded to his staff at the perimeter. The side door opened, and two enforcers entered, hauling the shackled Gregorson prisoner between them. Once near their guests, they stopped, awaiting Evin’s further instructions.

“Release him.”

One of the enforcers tugged a set of keys from his wide belt and worked it into the lock of the prisoner’s thick metal bracelets. They popped open and the male snarled, rubbing his wrists, his dignity apparently insulted by his capture. Too bad.

“Walter,” the one introduced as Carl called out. The other male’s attention snapped in his direction, and he strode over to his family member. Carl reached out with one thick arm, wrapped it around his brother, clapping him on the back. “Are you well?”

“Yeah. I’m good,” Walter stated in a gravelly voice.

“Now, take your pack member and get off our territory.” Evin’s dark warning had the Gregorsons cranking their heads toward the alpha. “Your male was fortunate I was in a forgiving mood when he broke into my home. But heed my warning, Stefan. Any more of your pack get the idea they’d like to fuck with me again...they won’t be so lucky.”

A low growl reverberated off the mohawked alpha right before he surged toward Evin. The slide of metal on metal rang out off the marble. Rosa’s breath hitched at the sound. She blinked. And when she lifted her lashes, she found the muzzles of the KinKaid wolf pack’s enforcers strategically placed at not only Arick’s temples, but his entourage’s as well. In counter response, the Gregorson enforcers had matched their move and their guns were aimed in the faces of the home team.

“Everyone take a deep breath,” Evin calmly stated.

Easy for her brother to say. Rosa wasn’t sure she could inhale at the moment even under a direct order.

Stefan’s upper lip twitched, curled, showing off one long canine.

“I don’t think the alpha meant to show any aggression. Did you, Stefan?”

“Call your dogs off, KinKaid,” he growled.

“You first.”

“Just who in the hell do you think you are?” the other male snarled. “Definitely nothing like your father. That’s for sure.”

“You’re exactly right.” Evin nodded and edged forward, putting them face-to-face. “I’m...nothing like my father. I’m a wild card you’ve been dealt. Unpredictable.” Her brother tilted his head. “So if you’re as smart as you think you are, that should scare the hell out of you.”

Stefan’s expression smoothed, iced. But closer inspection revealed a slight tick in his jaw. Rosa smiled. Yes. Evin had gotten under his skin.

“Lower your weapons,” Stefan barked. His men obeyed, shoving their pistols back into their holsters.

Evin swung his head from left to right with a nod to his enforcers. Immediately, they stood down.

“That may be the case, KinKaid. We’ve never come head-to-head before now, but I assure you, the same goes for your pack. Keep them off my land, or you’ll need a shovel to retrieve what’s left of them.”

“Not a problem,” Evin answered, his tone cool.

Rosa eased forward until she had a better angle of her brother and Mason’s faces.

“I hope for your sake that’s the truth.” Stefan aimed a finger at Evin’s chest, and her brother scowled. “Because your puny-ass threats will only succeed in a war. One that you’ll
never
win.” His voice climbed in decibels. “Gregorson territory will never be yours.”

“You’re speaking in riddles, Stefan,” Evin stated, his demeanor cool. Rosa had to give her brother credit. He wasn’t easily baited into the other man’s rage. “What the hell do I want with your land?”

“Don’t insult me,” the other alpha spat. Stefan whipped around. “Let’s get out of here, Arick, before the stench of this place embeds itself in my clothes.”

“Yes! By all means...do get off my property,” Evin chewed out through his teeth. The group filed out through the door, followed by a team of KinKaid armed staff to make sure they left the grounds without incident. With a solid
thunk
, the heavy doors to the home closed behind them. Rosa joined her brother and his mate.

“What was that all about?” Mason’s gaze narrowed on her brother. “What threats?”

Evin shook his head. “This feels wrong. The blatant hostility. The talk about threats.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

Her brother had good instinct, and if he had a bad feeling about this, more than likely he was right. The front door opened once more, catching Rosa’s attention, and Landry walked in.

“Their convoy is being escorted off the grounds, sir. So far. So good.”

“The sooner they’re back on their own turf the better,” Evin stated, crossing his arms.

“Evin,” Rosa began. “The idea is revolting, but I have to ask...do you believe someone is attempting to instigate a war by trying to make Stefan think you’re out to take his pack?”

“This I know for sure, I haven’t been the one sending him threats. The last message he received from me was an invite to retrieve his pack member. So you tell me?”

“Sir.” Landry walked up beside them, and Evin looked to his lead. “When you’re free...there’s something I’d like to discuss with you—in private, if you don’t mind.”

That was Rosa’s cue to leave. The look on Landry’s face said she probably didn’t want to hear what he was about to discuss with her brother anyway.

A half hour later, she closed the back door to her house, dropped her car keys on the kitchen counter, and breathed a sigh of relief. After the morning’s events, she was exhausted and needed to regroup before she could have her own one-on-one with the alpha.

Rosa groaned. That was one conversation she’d give anything not to have. Because once that meeting was over, so was her freedom until the most difficult and important decision of her life was made. Who would be Rosa’s mate?

A beep, coming from the phone in her back pocket, pinged. Rosa plucked it free and checked the display. The number wasn’t one she recognized.

Her stomach bottomed out, and Rosa wobbled on her feet. This had to be some kind of sick prank. She tapped reply, demanding the messenger’s identity. Who did she know that would have her number and play such a devious game?

The phone beeped again.

What kind of knowledge or evidence did this person have on Landry that placed his life in jeopardy? And why her? How did she fit in the picture, and how did they know she’d even care enough about him to risk meeting a stranger off of KinKaid lands? Rosa’s mind wandered back to the last hour and Landry’s serious tone when he’d approached her brother asking for a private meeting. Did that have anything to do with this mysterious text?

If she were to make it all the way into the neighboring town of Hollows by the deadline, she’d have to leave now. This was crazy—a huge risk. What if it was a trap? The Gregorsons had just left the grounds.

Rosa’s chest tightened, her gut a quivering mass of nerves. But there wasn’t really any alternative. Whatever this was about, the sender of the text knew one of her weak spots: Landry Michaels. She couldn’t ignore the summons. His life was at stake. Rosa couldn’t risk something happening to him. Not if there was a way to prevent it. He would do no less for her.

Besides, whatever was coming her way would arrive no matter how hard she attempted to dodge destiny. Her thoughts flew to Pebbles, and her efforts to protect the puppy from his inevitable path. She’d failed then—had learned she couldn’t thwart fate. Now, if the future her vision had foretold was coming for her, it would arrive no matter how hard she attempted to dodge its grim hand.

Rosa strode into her bedroom and over to the nightstand by her bed. Yanking open the bottom drawer, she stared at the shiny dark metal object sitting in the bottom. She wrapped her fingers around the cool steel, then ejected the magazine, assessing the number of bullets lodged inside. Fully loaded. With a hard click, she popped the sleeve back inside the handle. This could all be a setup, and she couldn’t avoid what was coming for her next. But damn if she would go down easy.

Chapter Ten

––––––––

A
rick could barely sit still.

She would come.

There was no doubt. He’d observed how protective Landry had been of the female, and how the other enforcer—the same one he’d spotted at The Scene—had responded as well. The female’s gaze had followed the two males in the room. As much as it soured his gut to admit it, Carl had been right. They cared about the alpha’s sister, and she them, and it was the currency he needed to get Rosa right where he wanted her.

Staring down at the message on his cell, he couldn’t help but grin. Based on the frantic reply he’d received from the KinKaid female, the money he’d paid the hacker to track down her number had been worth every dime.

He glimpsed the time on his phone. If she’d taken the bait, Rosa’s vehicle would be rounding the curb any moment now. Meeting her in town had never been his intention. The entire message was bullshit. Why meet her in public when they could lie in wait for her on the lesser-traveled mountain road?

“Get ready,” Arick ordered his driver, and the large male cranked the SUV’s engine. Checking the rearview mirror, Arick determined the other two shifters he’d brought along for the job were alert and prepared to go. The female was petite, but she was also the alpha’s twin. A fact not to be underestimated. They would need the extra muscle. He fully expected the effort required to contain the blonde would be on the level of bringing down a feral beast.

Drumming his fingers on the door’s armrest, Arick waited. Time had slowed to a fucking snail’s pace, and his temples throbbed under his failed attempt at patience. The female had to show. The execution had been flawless. He’d stationed the retrieval team at the location they now sat to wait for his return after the meeting with Evin was completed.

He’d ridden in a separate vehicle from his brother for the return trip, since he’d planted an earlier excuse with Stefan of another engagement Arick needed to attend before returning. Then after he’d separated from the Gregorson entourage, he’d doubled back and stashed his Hummer in the nearby brush.

Stefan trusted his little brother to the end. While admirable, family loyalty and all, it was a fatal flaw in the alpha’s personality. In a position of power, a true leader trusted no one. Stefan had never learned that cardinal rule. But once everything was set into motion, Arick would personally teach his father’s “perfect” elder son a lesson Stefan could take with him to hell.