Trent, page 11
I’ve been trying to contact you, child. It’s been as if I have been hitting a blank wall. Are you all right? She told him what Trent was doing and about the big wolf. Look at him and then close your eyes for me. Perhaps I can help this way. I don’t know who could be there either, but between the two of us, we should be able to figure it out for the pack.
When she did as he asked, Joe knew who they were looking at. Before she could tell Trent what she and Noah had discovered, she heard a loud scream. Looking at the wolf and what he was doing, Joe felt her belly lurch up as the animal dragged a man away by his throat.
He’s cat…panther, I think. Joe said nothing as the man was killed there in front of her. Don’t look, child. You can do nothing for him now. Just be very still and I’ll let Trent know that his alpha is in the building with him and will know that he’s close.
I have to do something. He told her to wait. I can’t wait and you know it. When he smells you or even Trent on me, he’s going to be really pissed off. Their alpha his going to kill everyone here because of me.
You don’t know that.
But she did know, and told Noah that the wolf was coming toward her, and was now standing in front of her with blood dripping off his muzzle. He could smell her, was all her mind could think about, and when he tensed up and looked to his right, she knew that Trent had entered the room. He looked back at her then, his teeth bared and the hair on his back standing up. He knew that she’d contacted Trent and the others.
She never took her eyes off the big wolf standing over her. Neither of them, it seemed, was going to be the first to look away. But when he was suddenly gone, his face just seconds from being at her throat, Joe closed her eyes for a second to let the fear of what he might have done to her wash over her. Then she opened them and stood up.
Trent had attacked the alpha, she knew that much. And she knew that he’d not looked around for the men with guns before coming to her. She had a fear that one of the others would shoot him, and Joe had to protect him.
Trent and the wolf, the alpha, were fighting now, their bodies knocking over anything and everything that was close enough to be destroyed. She saw Elijah as he made his way to her just as she broke the neck of the first gunman that she came upon.
“Lead them to the lower levels.” He shook his head at her. “I have to go and make sure that no one else is on this floor. If they get hurt over this, no one will come out a winner.”
At his indecision, she moved to the offices to her right. A gunman was just coming out of the room to no doubt see about the noise, and Joe grabbed him from behind and snapped his neck too. Elijah nodded once, as if he realized she could care for herself, and started for the group on the floor. None of them moved.
“You want them to kill you too? They will if the gunmen come here and see what’s going on. Go with him or you’ll die. I’ve no energy to try and help those that do not care to help themselves.” The sobber looked at her, then at the wolf, and whined about him biting her. “I see. So you think that a bite is so much deadlier than a bullet? It’s not. And he won’t bite you. Get up off your asses and get the hell out of here. Damn it, what is wrong with you people?”
One by one they got up. The manager was still sitting there when Elijah led the group toward the stairs. She looked at him and told him to get going. He shook his head, his face full of anger.
“What have you done?” She asked him what he meant. “They have to rob this place. Do you have any idea what they’re going to do to me when they don’t get their money? Not to mention what is going to happen to me if they get away. The higher-ups are going to think that I’ve robbed my own bank. You have to sit down and let this play out or there will be hell to pay.”
“I don’t think so. You should have thought of that before you made this bank and these people’s money your own personal pay thing.” He shook his head and she nodded at him. “You’ve taken so much money that didn’t belong to you that you’re going to be lucky if you only go to jail. These people will lynch you. Also, the authorities already know that you’re in on this. So get your slimy ass out of here and face your problems.”
He was still sitting there when she moved into the other part of the floor. Joe had enough problems right now, and not one of them was about the bank manager. The third robber was standing with his gun pointed at the alpha and Trent when she cleared her throat. He tensed but didn’t look at her just then.
“You cannot kill him, I’m afraid. It won’t work for me, you see.” He looked in her direction as he pointed the gun at her. “I don’t think that’s in your best interest either. I need for you to lower your weapon. I’m not going to hurt you too badly if you only do what I tell you.”
The pain of the shot took her breath away. But before she could take the gun from the man, he, like the alpha, was simply gone. Elijah had come back and was tearing the man’s throat out before she could move. She dropped to her knees, and Elijah came to her and whimpered quietly.
“I’m fine, I promise. The wound will be healed in a few minutes.” She put her forehead to his. “You saved me a great deal of pain. I can’t thank you enough. I never knew that it hurt so badly to be shot. Did you?”
When he licked her face, she stood up. Trent was coming toward her, and his wolf looked as fit and sexy as she’d ever seen him. Elijah stood beside her and didn’t move when she was knocked to the floor so that her back was on it and Trent was laying over her.
Are you hurt? She told him what had happened. You ever do that again and I will beat your pretty ass for you. I need you in my life.
“And I you. But there are others here that need to be taken care of. Several more that have been hurt.” He didn’t move, but Elijah did. “Trent, are you all right?”
Yes. The pause scared her a little. He’s dead. The alpha is dead. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to him, but you can bet that someone is going to be pissed off.
Joe knew what should happen now. Trent had killed the alpha, and that meant he was king. If no one protested it, Trent would take his place as the pack leader. Not that she didn’t think he’d do a wonderful job at it.
There were still things they had to do before the police entered the bank. One of them was to get Trent and his brothers out. She reached out to Noah and told him what she needed. He said he’d do it with pleasure.
“Noah is going to alter the minds of the humans to keep them from telling anyone that several big wolves were here. I don’t know what they’ll tell the police, but you won’t be brought up.” He looked down at her as she continued. “We have to get the rest of the people out of here though. I’ll lead them out once the other robbers are taken care of.”
They’re all dead now. The others, my brothers, have taken care of them, as well as the cameras in the halls. She’d never thought of that and was glad that he had. But he still hadn’t moved. Dad is on his way here with clothing for us. I’ll go out in…I love you, Joe.
Then he was gone. She wanted to call him back to tell him that she loved him as well, but there were things that had to be taken care of now. Later, she told herself, she’d make him pay for running off. Smiling, she thought of all the things she wanted to do to him.
As she lay there, her mind going a million miles a minute, she heard the door opening to the front of the bank and sat up. When someone told her to put her hands on her head and not to move, Joe obeyed. There was no point in making someone else mad enough to hurt her.
The bank was secured by the police in a matter of twenty minutes. Then the questioning began.
“Are you telling me that you don’t know what happened to anyone?” She told the officer again that she didn’t know. “You were right there, in the main part of the building, and you don’t know what happened to the gunmen or the naked man in the hall.”
“No. I’ve told you several times already that I didn’t see anything, as they had us on the floor. I didn’t want to get killed.” He looked at the blood on her shirt. It was hers, but she’d told him she’d tried to help one of the other people. “I’m not going to tell you again that I don’t know what was going on other than we were told to shut up and to sit still.”
“You do know that there are six dead men in the building, not counting the naked one, that look as if someone tore them apart or broke their necks. Do you know what strength it would take to do that?” She asked him if he thought she’d done it. “No. But someone must have heard something. We have to close this case and there are no cameras to go on, and all the people there have the same story as you. They don’t know anything either.”
“And that’s my problem how?” He didn’t say anything, but she could tell he was pissed off. “Perhaps you should go and find out who the men are and see what they did to make someone so upset with them.”
When he walked away, she felt the nudge of Noah in her mind. She wanted to scream at someone, but let out a long breath when he asked her if she was all right.
I can come in there and kill him for you. Or perhaps Trent will want to do that. He is most upset with everyone. Just as his dad was showing up, he took off to the woods. Joe knew that he was upset. He’d told her that he’d come for her after he’d run off some of his anger. Is he going to be all right, my dear?
I think he was afraid for me. Noah said that was more than likely it. He killed the alpha, Noah. There will be consequences for that.
He will make a great leader, as you will his alpha-bitch. She told him she wasn’t so sure about that. I am. As are the others. TJ is about to burst, he’s so happy. I think that the man will be crowing for years to come about this. Does anyone know why he was a part of the robbery?
Not that I’ve been made aware of. But then, I’m stuck here in this room with these fools walking all over the evidence. Not that they have much need of it. The men who did it are all dead, and the manager has confessed to everything. She laughed a little. I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that, did you?
I have no idea what you might be speaking of. If he confessed, he did so because it was good for his soul. If he even has one.
She was released a few minutes later and asked to wait for someone to clear her.
You’ll be fine, my dear. Even if I have to take out the entire police force to see that you are.
As the police came in—one standing near her with a gun ready to be brought up at any moment—she reflected on what was going on. Joe could understand what he was doing. There had been a lot of death on his watch, and none of them were taking any chances that they’d get shot as well. When she was released, two of them escorted her to where the Calhouns were, and she sat down on the chair when it was offered to her. She was worried about Trent and hoped he was going to be all right with this.
I’m fine. I’m just...I’ll have to run this pack or be killed. Well, not killed, I guess, but we would have to leave the area. It’s more than I ever wanted in this life. She told him what Noah had told her. I saw my dad when I left. Elijah was telling him what had happened. I’ve never been so afraid in my life. But killing Casey was the only thing my wolf could think to do when we saw him standing over you. I think he planned to try and kill you.
He did. But you know that he wouldn’t have succeeded. He said he knew that. The manager of the bank had been stealing from here for years. He’s confessed to being one of the men in on the robbery, and to have taken some of the cash prior to this. Did you know that?
Noah said he would take care of it, so that’s more than likely the only reason that he confessed. I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I really needed to get away and think for a moment. And short of taking you out of there, I had to run. I never expected anything like that from Casey. I mean, he could be a real bastard when he wanted, but to rob the local bank? What did he hope to get from it besides money? Joe knew but for now kept her mouth closed. I’ll be home by the time you are released. Then I’ll come and pick you up. I need you.
Good. I’d like very much for you to take me hard, Trent. Just as soon as you get in the house. He said they’d never make it that far. Fine with me, so long as I can scream out my releases when you do.
Joe spoke to the police once more, telling them that all she’d been doing was adding someone to her account when the men came in. No, she didn’t know who they were. And she had no idea how they’d been killed. She also told them that she’d not seen anything like a large animal at any time. The officers let her go but told her that they might need to speak to her again. That was fine by her. Joe still wouldn’t say a word as to what had really happened.
Chapter 8
Max was sitting at his desk when Jefferson came into his office and sat down in the chair across from him. He wanted to tell him that he was too busy to listen to him whine, but didn’t. He needed the man more than he might have thought possible only a few days ago. Someone had gotten into his things, and he knew they had his password information on his accounts. All of his accounts. He was still trying to figure out a way to ask him about it when Jefferson finally spoke.
“I spoke to Trent and his brother Elijah this morning.” Max glanced at the clock and saw that it was just after eight in the morning. Jefferson must have gotten up early to have done that. Max nodded, then wondered aloud how that had gone. “Fine. Trent really is leaving the company. I have heard different reasons for it, but I think it’s the romantic one that I believe. He and his new wife are going to be working on another project that has just fallen into their laps.”
When he didn’t say more, Max wanted to reach into his top drawer and pull out his gun. There were times, and right now was one of them, that he wished to Christ that he’d never taken this man on as a partner. He was driving him over the edge.
“And what sort of romantic entanglements has he gotten himself into? And what new wife? I had no idea he was even dating anyone seriously. No doubt he thinks that this woman will be the one and only true love of his life and that she’ll never cheat or lie to him.” Max didn’t like the smile that Jefferson wore and wanted to hit him. “Who on earth would want to marry into that family? I mean, they aren’t nothing more than a bunch of wolves, if I remember correctly. There is not a woman alive that would want to fuck something like them.”
“You’d be surprised.” Before Max could ask Jefferson what he meant, the man continued. “He’s found his mate. I’m sure you know what that means. Anyway, he’s also going to be the leader of their group. Pack, I think they call it. But I’m sure you knew what he was, what his family was, when you went to them about the loan we needed.”
“So? You investigate people, too, before you want to work with them. I want to know how this affects our business with him.” He’d still not mentioned to Jefferson that Trent had backed out of the deal, and wondered if Trent had told him already. Could be the reason that Jefferson was here now…he was pissed off. Max had a few things to work out, and one of them was getting Noah to give him everything that he wanted. He had a plan in the works right now that might get him more money than the deal that had fallen through with Trent.
“His brother is taking over the business. Elijah Calhoun is the man that I’ve been dealing with on things, in the event that you wondered. He and I had a long talk, and I think we’ve reached a deal that will benefit the company.” Max started to think things might be turning around for him when he realized what Jefferson said. “You, however, will not be working with me on this or any other project from now on.”
“What do you mean? This is just as much my business as it is yours. And besides, I thought we agreed that I’d take care of the banking and you were going to be the one that gathered up the deals for us. I mean, it’s been working for us for a while now.” Jefferson just stared at him. “You’re beginning to piss me off, Jefferson. What the hell has gotten into you? And what is this crap about me not being in on any of the projects?”
“For you it has been working out, hasn’t it, Max?” Max glanced at the drawer that held his gun. “I just thought it would be a nice change for me to get to know both sides of the business. And Elijah made it very easy to learn what I needed. You should probably talk to him. After you leave here, that is. He might be able to help you out too.”
“Oh, I plan on it. You just stick to what you know best and I’ll work with Elijah.” He realized how harsh that sounded and cleared his throat before continuing. “Just please let me deal with this part of the business. I feel so useless with the rest, and this is what I do best.”
Jefferson said nothing but stared at him. Max had never felt as uncomfortable around this man as he did right now. Something about him was decidedly scary, and Max didn’t like it one bit. Jefferson got up to make his way toward the door, and Max was about to call out to him to say he wasn’t going anywhere. But Jefferson stopped and turned toward him.
“I’m going to look over some things on the books today. I’m telling you this so in the event that you come looking for me, I won’t be in my office. I’m doing it at home. It’ll be much easier and with fewer distractions.” Max wanted to tell him he wasn’t fucking going to touch the books, but Jefferson smiled at him. “I got them from your office last night. I had a whim to see them and knew that you’d not mind. I mean, we are equal partners, right?”
“Yes. We are.” His mind was in a whirl from trying to figure out what else Jefferson had taken from his office. “I don’t like that you’ve been in my things, Jefferson. I’d never do that sort of thing to you, like rummage around in your personal things.”
“Wouldn’t you?” Again a cryptic message that Max didn’t understand. “Anyway, I’ve got them now, so if you go to look for them or me, you know where they are.”
As soon as the door closed behind Jefferson, Max reached into his lower drawer and saw that it was empty. Not just of the things that he’d been keeping there, but he just knew that if he pulled the drawer all the way out, he’d find that his notes were gone as well. All of them. Taking out the drawer, as he’d done a million times, he nearly sobbed when he saw that not only were his notes gone, but there was now a sticky note there. Pulling it off the wooden under-drawer, he read the little note with shaky fingers.
