End of Night, page 23
She turned to Boone. “Who are you?”
“Boone,” he said.
“He’s Hedra’s mate,” Mateo said.
“Hedra,” Annabelle said. “Dianne’s best friend?”
“Yes,” Mateo said.
“Okay. Why is he here?” She turned to Boone. “Why are you here?”
“He thinks I’m threatening Hedra,” Mateo said.
“What?” Mateo’s mate said.
“He said I’m sending her threatening texts and cow tongues and cutting her damn brake lines because I’m mad at her about Dianne,” Mateo said.
Annabelle’s scathing look at Boone made him feel extraordinarily stupid. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?”
She handed one sleeping baby to Mateo and stepped closer to Boone. “Boone, is that your name?”
Boone nodded, and she scowled at him. “Well, Boone, I gave birth to triplets two months ago. Mateo, my husband, my mate, has not left my side since. He’s on paternity leave, and neither of us has left the goddamn house in two weeks. Not even for groceries. We have them delivered. Do you know why, Boone?”
Boone shook his head as Annabelle gave him another hot look of contempt. “Because we have triplets. We barely sleep, we hardly have time to eat, and every single minute of our lives is consumed by keeping these three baby cubs fed and clean. When the fuck do you think my mate has had time to send texts or fucking cow tongues to a woman he hasn’t seen in years?”
“I don’t… I mean, we thought…”
“I don’t give a flying fuck what you thought,” Annabelle went on relentlessly. “Mateo and I have been happily married for over a year, and his past is his past. He hasn’t been stalking Hedra. I can fucking guarantee you.”
Boone stared silently at her, and she switched the sleeping baby to her other shoulder before growling at him under her breath. “Do you believe I’m lying to you?”
“No, ma’am,” he said.
“Good, because you might think you’re some kind of tough fucking shit, but you’ve got nothing on me.” She stepped even closer, her brown eyes turning to a light jade. “I haven’t slept in nearly twenty-two hours, my nipples are cracked and bleeding, and my previously beautiful asshole is now a lumpy, painful, hemorrhoid-covered mess. You do not want to fuck with me today, tiger shifter.”
“No, ma’am,” Boone said.
“You should go before I kidnap your big lion friend there and keep him as my nanny,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Boone said. “Cooper, time to go.”
Cooper purred to the now sleeping baby he held. “I have to go, sweet baby cub. You be a good girl for your mama.”
He handed the baby to the woman. “Congratulations on your family, ma’am.”
“Thank you,” she said.
She made a ‘get out of my house’ motion, and feeling like he’d been run over by a hurtling out-of-control train, Boone opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. Cooper followed him and gave the tiny babies she held a final soft stroke across their heads before the woman shut the door in their faces.
Boone stared at Cooper. “What the fuck just happened?”
CHAPTER 27
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come over?” Shay asked, her face earnest and sincere on Hedra’s camera screen. “I can blow off work.”
“No, you can’t,” Hedra said. “You have a big meeting this afternoon.”
“Fuck, did I tell you about that?” Shay made a face as she shifted her phone a little higher.
“You did,” Hedra said.
“I’m just worried about you being alone while Boone’s off tearing this Mateo guy a new butthole,” Shay said.
“One, Boone is only talking to him, and two, Althea is here with me,” Hedra said.
“Ooh, tell her I said hi,” Shay said. “She fascinates and terrifies me.”
Hedra laughed. “I’ll tell her when she gets up from her nap. She had a bad headache, so I made her lie down.”
“So, you are alone,” Shay said.
“I’m fine, I promise,” Hedra said. “Besides, if I need company while Althea naps, I’ll text Chase to hang out with me. He’s sitting outside on security detail right now. It is kind of ridiculous for Boone to be paying for security after he installed, like, a dozen cameras outside his house this week, and it’s not like Mateo is going to do anything while Boone is at his place.”
“Unless Mateo isn’t there. He could still be here in the city,” Shay said. “Have you heard from Boone yet?”
“No, not yet. But Boone said he would call me as soon as he’d talked to him.”
“And if Mateo isn’t there?” Shay asked.
“I don’t know,” Hedra sighed. “The cops are taking forever even to contact Mateo, and I honestly don’t know what Boone’s next move will be if he doesn’t find him today.”
Shay gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“Thanks, Shay. It sucks, but I keep reminding myself how much more it would suck if I didn’t have Boone, you know?”
“I do,” Shay said. There was a muffled knocking sound, and Shay glanced away before returning to the camera. “Shit, I gotta go, babe. Text me later?”
“I will,” Hedra said.
She ended the call and set her phone on the couch. She was tempted to call Boone but resisted. They’d already texted a couple of times during his drive, and he said he would call her once he’d talked to Mateo. Her bugging him wouldn’t be helpful. He didn’t need to hear the worry in her voice.
She rubbed her arm above the cast before standing up. She’d make herself a cup of tea and -
Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it, worry and relief washing over her when she saw Boone’s number. “Hi, you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Boone said. “Are you?”
“Yes,” Hedra said. “Was Mateo there?”
“He was, and I’ve got some bad fucking news.”
“Shit, tell me you’re not calling from a jail cell,” Hedra said.
Boone laughed. “They don’t let you keep your phone in jail. It’s not Mateo behind this, baby. He’s remarried, and they just had fucking triplets, and he hasn’t left the house in, like, two months. His new wife was there to back him up.”
“You’re kidding me.” Hedra sat up straight on the couch as Alfie trotted into the living room. He stared at her before jumping up and curling next to her thigh. She reached to pet him, and he bared his teeth at her in a silent growl.
She pulled her hand back. “He seriously has triplets?”
“Yes,” Boone said. “Also, Cooper is some kind of baby magician. He held all three cubs and magically purred them to sleep or some shit like that.”
She could hear Cooper’s muffled laugh, and Boone laughed, too. “I’m sending the picture to Daisy, and you’re so getting lucky tonight, Coop. You’re fucking welcome.”
He came back to the phone call. “Sorry, Hedra.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “So, I don’t… I mean, now what?”
“I know this isn’t what we expected, but don’t worry, okay? I promise I’ll find out who’s threatening you,” Boone said.
“I know you will,” she said.
“You okay?” Boone asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m confused and a little freaked out. If it isn’t Mateo, then who is it?”
“I don’t know, but I promise you, baby, I won’t let anyone hurt you. Okay?”
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too,” he said. “Are you having fun with Nan?”
“Yes. She had a bad headache, though, so I’ve made her lie down for a nap.”
“How are you feeling?”
“A little tired myself,” she said. “I think I’ll have a nap.”
“Good. You should be resting. Turn off your phone, and I’ll wake you when I get home. I won’t be more than a couple of hours,” Boone said.
“Okay. Drive safe.”
“I will,” Boone said. “I love you, little lamb.”
“I love you too.” She ended the call and stared at Alfie, who bared his teeth at her again. “If you had opposable thumbs, I would assume it’s you trying to kill me, Alfie.”
He rested his evil head on his evil paws and closed his eyes. Hedra sighed and rubbed her forehead. Her broken arm ached, and she felt overwhelmed and exhausted. All this time, she’d believed it was Mateo and now… now she didn’t know what the fuck to do. Her world had tilted on its axis, and she didn’t have a clue how to fix it. All she really knew was that she wanted Boone’s arms around her. Needed his strength and his love.
She sighed again before standing. Alfie followed her down the hallway but went to Althea’s room. Hedra headed to Boone’s bedroom and set her phone on the nightstand before carefully lying on her back. She ran her fingers along her cast as she stared at the ceiling.
It would be okay. She and Boone would figure out who threatened her, and Hedra’s life would return to normal. She closed her eyes and drifted.
The buzzing of her phone pulled Hedra from sleep. She sat up, wincing at the pain in her arm and fumbled for her cell with her good hand. She squinted at the number, her brain fuzzy with sleep, before hitting the answer button.
“Hey, Chase. What’s up?”
“Hey. A woman parked in the driveway and is bringing flowers to the door. Check the doorbell cam and tell me if you recognize her.”
“Yeah, okay, one second.” She opened the app for the doorbell cam that Boone had installed and stared at the woman as she rang the doorbell. “Yes, it’s Abena Nkosi’s PA.”
“Who?” Chase said.
“The celebrity that Boone worked for. It’s her assistant.” Hedra slid off the bed and walked out of the bedroom. “It’s all good, Chase. Nothing to worry about.”
“Okay.”
Hedra ended the call and checked the time. She’d been sleeping for nearly two hours, and she tried to clear the sleep cobwebs from her brain as she stuck her phone in her bra. She glanced at Althea’s open bedroom door and slipped quietly down the hall. She glanced in. Althea was sleeping peacefully, Alfie curled up on the pillow beside her, and Hedra softly shut the door. She hurried down the hallway to the front door, opening it with her good hand. “Hi, Camilla.”
Camilla gave her a warm smile. “Hedra, hello. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” Hedra said. “Come in.”
Camilla stepped inside, and Hedra closed the door behind her. Camilla held out the lavish bouquet. “These are from Abena and me.”
“They’re beautiful, thank you.” Hedra hesitated, unsure if she could carry the bouquet in one hand.
“Let me take these to the kitchen for you,” Camilla said.
“Thank you.” Hedra led the way to the kitchen, smiling at Camilla when she sat the flowers on the table. “These are lovely.”
“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Camilla said.
“Boone mentioned he spoke with Abena yesterday and told her about the car accident. It’s so kind of you and Abena to give me flowers,” Hedra said.
“It’s the least we could do,” Camilla said.
There was an awkward silence before Camilla said. “So, you’re staying with Boone while you recover?”
“Actually, we’re living together now,” Hedra said.
“Oh, that’s right,” Camilla said with another warm smile. “Boone mentioned that before he quit working for Abena. It’s a shame he couldn’t stay on with her. Abena misses him.”
“He misses her too,” Hedra said. She had no idea why Boone’s ex-girlfriend was delivering the flowers herself and sticking around, but Hedra was already over it. “Boone isn’t home right now, but I’ll tell him you stopped by.”
“Thanks,” Camilla said. “Could I ask you for a glass of water?”
“Oh, um, sure,” Hedra said.
“I’ll get it myself. You sit down and rest that arm of yours.” She pushed Hedra lightly into a chair and started opening cupboards at random. “I suppose it doesn’t feel this way right now, but you’re so lucky it wasn’t anything more serious than a broken arm.”
She found the glasses and set two on the counter before opening the fridge. “Boone said you were knocked unconscious.”
“I was,” Hedra said.
“Thank God you weren’t alone,” Camilla said as she poured water from the pitcher into the glasses. “I shudder to think of what would have happened if Boone hadn’t been with you.”
“I would have died,” Hedra said bluntly.
Camilla nodded solemnly. “Yes, most likely.”
She set the glass in front of Hedra and smiled. “But you weren’t alone, and Boone saved you. He’s a good man, and you’re lucky to be his mate.”
“I know,” Hedra said.
“Not many tiger shifters take a human as a mate,” Camilla said. “It’s a bit unorthodox, don’t you think?”
“Maybe twenty years ago, but not now,” Hedra said.
Camilla took a sip of water. “I guess times have changed. I won’t lie. I was disappointed when Boone made it clear how serious the two of you were. I’d hoped maybe Boone and I could try again.”
“He told me,” Hedra said.
“Did he?” Camilla gave her a small smile. “I hope that didn’t upset you too badly. I know you’re the jealous type.”
“I trust Boone,” Hedra said.
“And why shouldn’t you? Boone put me through hell and back, but I never once thought he would cheat on me. That isn’t who he is, is it?”
“No,” Hedra said shortly. Where the fuck was Camilla going with this?
“You’re lucky, you know… to get this version of Boone. My version of Boone was troubled and broken.”
“He wasn’t broken. He was grieving the loss of his friend,” Hedra said.
“He was,” Camilla said. “And he nearly destroyed me because of that grief.”
“Then why were you so intent on dating him again?” Hedra asked.
“Because I could see how much he’d healed, and I knew Boone was ready for a relationship. Turns out I was right, but you got him first.”
Hedra didn’t reply, and Camilla took another drink before smiling at her. “It all works out how it’s supposed to, I guess. Boone has found his mate.”
“He has,” Hedra said.
“And thank God he didn’t lose you, too,” Camilla said. “It would have been difficult for him to go through that kind of grief again. Although he survived a tragic loss before, he’d survive it again.”
Okay, it was time to tell Camilla to go the fuck home. Hedra didn’t have the energy or the desire to put up with this passive-aggressive bullshit.
“It was great to see you, Camilla, but -”
“Do the police have any leads on who cut your brake lines?” Camilla asked.
Hedra stared silently at her. There was no way Boone would have told Abena about the brake lines. At most, he would have said there was a brake failure. Cold awareness settled over Hedra even as her mind tried to convince her it couldn’t be true. Sure, Camilla had a thing for Boone, but she wouldn’t try to kill Hedra.
Wouldn’t she? You don’t know her that well.
“Hedra?” Camilla prompted.
“Not yet.” Hedra stood. “Can you excuse me, please? I need to use the bathroom.”
She walked out of the kitchen on suddenly shaky legs. There was no way it was Camilla. It couldn’t be. Sure, the leopard shifter had a thing for Boone, but she wasn’t crazy obsessed with him.
Camilla was at the grocery store, remember?
Hedra froze in the hallway, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. She was, but she’d left. Hedra watched her drive away.
She couldn’t drive back after you went into the store? Stop being such an idiot, Hedra. It’s Camilla, and you know it. Call Chase right the fuck now.
Her hand shaking, she fumbled her phone out of her bra, cursing under her breath when she dropped it. She bent and picked it up, freezing in place when Camilla’s hand, her nails turned to long, sharp claws wrapped around her wrist. “Stop, Hedra.”
“Let go of me,” Hedra said. Before she could yank free, Camilla sank her claws into the soft flesh of Hedra’s wrist.
A burning pain shot up her arm, and blood dripped onto the floor. Hedra swallowed her harsh cry of agony. She didn’t want Althea to hear her. Boone couldn’t lose both Hedra and his grandmother on the same fucking day.
Camilla smiled at her before holding out her free hand. “Give me your phone, Hedra.”
“Let me the fuck go,” Hedra said before trying to pull free.
Camilla’s claws sunk deeper, and Hedra moaned softly as fresh pain lanced through her arm.
“Stop moving, Hedra. One twist of my fingers, and I’ll slice your wrist wide open. You’ll bleed out in less than five minutes.”
Hedra went still, her heart a frantic, thundering beat in her ears.
“Your phone,” Camilla said.
Hedra dropped her phone into Camilla’s hand, and Camilla dropped it on the floor before stomping on it. The screen cracked, and she stepped on it again until the frame broke and the screen shattered.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Hedra?” Camilla asked.
Determined not to let Camilla know how terrified she was, Hedra said, “I think that’s the second phone of mine you’ve ruined in a week, and you’re buying me a fucking third.”
Camilla laughed. “You can act tough all you want, but I can smell your fear, human.”
“Fuck you,” Hedra said.
“Into the living room. Move,” Camilla said.
Still clutching Hedra’s wrist, Camilla pushed her into the living room. She leaned close, her eyes a bright jade and her fangs protruding from her mouth. “I’m going to release you. Your instinct will be to run. If you do, I’ll kill you. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Hedra said as the terror thrummed inside of her like a trapped bird. “I won’t run.”
“What a good human.” Camilla released her wrist and took a step back, watching coldly as the blood dripped from Hedra’s wrist to the floor. “Humans are so fragile. I don’t understand why Boone is infatuated with you.”
