Wolf Mountain Peak Complete Series, page 107
part #1 of Wolf Mountain Peak Series
“Welcome over, girls,” she said, turning to face them. “Would you like anything to drink?”
“Hello. I’d kill for a beer right now,” Ava confessed taking a seat in the room.
“I knew I’d picked you for a reason,” the Alpha winked up at her, bending down towards the table. Her gaze followed his action and she spotted an open six-pack on the floor. “Here. Nice and cool,” he went on, tossing a bottle up at her.
“Excuse me, but, I for one didn’t come here for a drink,” Olivia interjected, a touch of complaint in her tone, sitting down next to her friend. “Helena, do you have any information about Davis?”
“Boy, you’re uptight,” Cliff commented, throwing a reprimanding glare up at her over his shoulder. “Relax; one thing at a time.”
“Ava, before we begin, I should tell you that Cliff is fully aware of James’s past,” Helena declared in her usual, feathery tone. “He has known since our little road trip to Cooperstown. I was really upset when I came back from your house. As we discussed your issue, I realized that I couldn’t keep this a secret. I am sorry.”
“That’s right,” Cliff nodded, standing beside the couch. “It took a lot of balls for your man to do what he did. He may have broken the law; but, for me, he didn’t hurt anybody, other than a few fat cats. Don’t worry. He’s safe from me.”
“Thank you,” Ava breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re too kind.”
“That’s my Cliff,” Helena uttered, admiration glowing within her voice. She reached her hand up to his wrist, and continued, “As an FBI agent, he chose to swallow the biggest revelation of the century, just to protect me and my loved ones. He wouldn’t hesitate to do the same for a local girl.”
“Thanks again,” Ava said with an appreciative nod, raising the bottle to her lips. “Have you discovered anything about Davis?”
“Yes,” Helena affirmed, leaning forward towards her. “Samuel Davis used to be a good-for-nothing realtor, until about three years ago. That’s when he met Wendy. His luck changed since then. He buys them both all kinds of expensive clothing, he has started collecting old paintings from famous painters, and he’s been known to have a passion for exotic cars. His latest acquisition is a brand-new Lamborghini.”
In just a few sentences, the witch had managed to shed light on Wendy’s insane desire to have James killed. Obviously, she had given the four million dollars to her newfound boyfriend. The two of them were plotting to murder him, because he was the only person in this world who knew about the origin of that money. In a split second, she felt her blood boiling in her veins, and pounding in her temples. The ex-wife was not motivated by anything noble, like protecting her child from a “criminal,” as she so used to calling him. Instead, she was being driven by greed and gluttony.
“I’m going to end that bitch myself,” Ava growled, feeling her beast roaring with rage within her. “She kicked out the father of her child, and now she’s just spending his money.”
“She kept it?” Cliff squinted down at her, surprise written all over his face.
“Yeah,” Ava replied, running her hand through her hair. “He managed to take just sixty grand, but that’s about it.”
“This has been hands down my easiest investigation so far,” Helena continued in her calm tone, staring up into Ava’s eyes. “All I’ve had to do, is teleport to Cooperstown, and wait around for her to start talking with him on the phone. I snuck into her bedroom yesterday, searching for more information. I was ready to give up, when I came across a few, old diaries. According to one of them, when Davis found out about the money, he became even greedier. He went through James’s address book, looking for the names of his accomplices, but there were more than three hundred names in there. He had to give up his search.”
“That bastard wanted to kill them, too,” Ava concluded, shaking her head in disgust.
“Yes, that is the most likely scenario,” Helena agreed. “Anyway, I’m sad to say that he’s not in New York. He’s not even in the state. He’s coming back from a business trip to L.A. in three days. Wendy wrote down date and time, during the last phone call I witnessed this afternoon: Tuesday, 10/8, 3:30pm. Ava, you should have taken my advice the other night. Her security system caught you and James on video. She’s got your plate number. She gave that information to him, and he said he’ll ‘take care of you.’ Those two are on the prowl, looking for you.”
“Let them come,” Raul interjected in his rumbling voice. “I’ve tripled the guards, and instructed them to call me, the minute they notice a car they don’t recognize. We’ll be ready for them. Ava, let’s get back to what you said about the kid’s mom. I can understand how you feel. She’s been messing up the guy’s life for years, but don’t make any rash decisions you might regret. Talk to James about it first, will you?”
“And tell him what?” Ava wondered, thrusting both arms out to the side. “That his ex is trying to kill us both?”
“You’re a smart girl, you know what I mean,” The Alpha spoke, his voice bass-deep. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Olivia assured, clenching her jaw. “I’m a little surprised, though. Wendy has threatened a pack member. What do we do, in cases like these?”
“Usually, we kill,” Raul attempted an emphatic tone, tossing a fierce glare up at her. “But now, we have to consider the kid. Think about how hard it’s going to be for him to see his mother with her throat ripped out. You look pretty serious about this guy. Do you really want to tell that boy you were responsible for his mom’s death?”
“Oh, God,” Ava let out a huff of exasperation, tearing her gaze from the Alpha to peer ceiling-ward. As much as she hated to admit it, Raul was right. Yes, Wendy had to be punished for her actions, but she was not the one to carry out the punishment, especially the one that she had in mind. “No,” she whispered, pursing her lips, “of course not.”
“That’s what I thought,” Raul lowered his tone. “Now, go home. Talk things through with him, alright?”
“Fine,” Ava said, her voice sounding tired. She rose from her seat. “Thanks a lot for the information, Helena. Goodnight.”
“Anytime, sweetheart,” the witch nodded. A polite smile burst upon her lips, “anytime.”
Chapter Seventeen
Still upset about Wendy’s intentions, Ava made her way back to her house, at the same time wondering whether she should disclose this new information to James or not. His son had brought the light back into his life. He was ecstatic; such terrible news would turn this bliss into sheer concern. Undoubtedly, he would be infuriated with his ex-wife once more. However, his reaction on this revelation was just one of the things that she had to think about where he was concerned. James was still clueless, concerning the fate of the money he had stolen. In her mind, it was his and his alone. He had to know everything about Wendy’s actions. He might want to take it back, at least what was left of it. Mainly though, Ava meant to discuss with him what her Alpha had earlier pointed out. His ex-wife’s fate was a decision that they had to agree on. It would have consequences that would follow them and little Sean, for the rest of their lives.
Nevertheless, continuing her stroll down the road, the realization came that this conversation would have to be put on hold. James’s ruined Camaro was just outside her cabin. The boy’s cheerful voice filled her ears, putting a smile on her face, long before she reached her home. Sean sounded thrilled to have spent the day with his dad, making her position even more difficult than it already was.
“How can I suggest killing his mom?” She thought to herself. “He’s found one parent, and I’m going to kill the other? God… How would I live with myself after that?”
Stopping just behind her front door, Ava reached down, and grabbed the knob. James and his son were down the hall, facing her. Much to her surprise, the boy’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the moment their gazes met.
“Ava!” Sean cheered, rushing off towards her. Her brows popped up while she watched him sprinting across her living room. Bending her knees, she held out her arms in front of her, just before the child leapt onto her. Sean thrust his own arms around her shoulders and she straightened her body. “We had lots of fun today! I wish you had come too, but daddy said you had to go to work.”
“Really?” exclaimed Ava, holding him in a tight embrace. “What did you guys do?”
“I rode the rollercoaster four times!” Sean said, his childish voice rising up an octave, his body leaning back. “We drove dodge ‘em cars. I won two teddy bears on darts. Do you want to see them?”
“Yeah; go get them,” she urged, easing the boy back down on the floor.
“He likes you a lot,” James was merely pointing out the obvious, but she appreciated his remark nonetheless. “He kept asking about you all morning. ‘Where’s the pretty lady?’ ‘I wish she could drive us up to the town, she’s a more fun driver than mom.’ Stuff like that.”
“He’s a sweet kid,” Ava agreed with a smile gracing her face. Sean stormed out of her living room, with one brown and one white teddy bear in each hand. “Wow!” she cheered, opening her eyes wide and bending down on her knees. “You must be really good at darts.”
“The funfair lady said I’m awesome,” Sean said with a grin. “Here. I want you to have the white teddy bear,” he continued, handing the stuffed animal over to her.
“Awww, Sean,” Ava tilted her head to the side, feeling her heart melt by his gesture. “That’s really sweet of you, but I can’t take this. You won it; it’s yours.”
“Yeah, and now I’m giving it to you,” the child added, his happy tone unaffected by her refusal. “Besides, I’m going to win more teddy bears. Daddy’s taking me back to the funfair next week.”
“In that case, thank you,” Ava murmured, tilting her head forward. She laid a tender kiss on the boy’s cheek when he put the toy into her hand.
“Okay, time to go to bed big man,” James urged, using a more commanding tone.
“Sweet dreams, Sean,” She whispered, feeling the child’s eyes on her as she eased back. By then, chills were racing up and down her body. Her brief interaction with the child had touched her very soul, instantly shredding nervousness and fear in its wake. More than that, those few seconds proved to her that she couldn’t be more wrong about her thoughts that morning. She didn’t need a carefree mind to spend some time with Sean. His sweetness would provide her with all the relaxation in the world.
As Ava waited for James to tuck Sean in, she couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face. Amazed by the sheer power of the emotions coursing through her, she was still struggling to believe what had happened between her and the boy. She felt like she had been enchanted by the playfulness in his eyes, along with the innocence in his heart.
“This was one the best days of my life,” James confessed, clicking the door shut behind him. “We played together, he asked me like a million questions about me… If he hadn’t brought up his mother, it would have been just perfect.”
“Speaking of whom, I have some bad news,” Ava announced, watching him saunter towards her. “I just left Helena’s place. She said that Wendy wants to have me killed, too. She found out about me from my license plate in a surveillance video.”
“I’m not surprised,” he spoke, his tone somewhat slow and disgusted. “I stopped being shocked on the night of my shooting outside David’s salon. I mean, I was supposed to be the love of her life. She wouldn’t think twice to take out a total stranger.”
“James, Helena discovered that Wendy kept the money,” Ava informed him, putting some more force in her voice. “She gave it to her boyfriend. They want you dead because you know where it came from.”
“Well…” He said on an exhale as a smile of bitterness formed on his face. “I’ve been suspecting that. I just don’t know if that’s their only motive. Maybe they’re afraid I’ll claim it. But, I don’t want to talk about them anymore. Come with me,” he requested, offering his left hand. Intrigued, Ava wrapped her fingers around his hand, just before he trotted off to the left, towards the staircase that led to her roof. His idea was not difficult to guess. Relieved that the news had not enraged him, she decided to put the matter that had been plaguing them aside. The rest of the night was going to be about the two of them, not their struggle to survive.
A view of a dark, cloudy sky greeted her when she stepped out onto her roof. The rain was just a hint stronger than before, soaking the trees on the edge of the woods, just a few yards to the right. Scarce town lights illuminated the wet road, painting it a dim shade of silver. Ava felt raindrops slithering down her scalp. Not letting go of her hand, James turned and faced her.
“You made this day possible,” he uttered, his voice a deep rasp, gazing down into her eyes.
“What, by driving you up to Cooperstown?” she wondered, her lips curving into a teasing smile. “It’s not that far.”
“No,” James snorted in amusement, leaning over towards her. “By reminding me of the man I used to be. I was never a quitter, Ava, but this whole situation had broken me up inside. You just..,” he paused; “poured your passion into my life. You woke me up. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
“I saw a broken man who needed help,” she whispered. He snaked his arms around her lower back. “I couldn’t just sit on my hands and do nothing.”
“Yes, you could have, but you didn’t,” he disagreed, the corners of his lips quirking up in a sad smile. “You could have walked away, but you stayed with me. You can shift into a dinosaur for all I care,” he continued, putting a huge grin on her face. “You’ll never stop being the girl who stood by me.”
His kind words made her heart melt in her chest. Ava lifted her hands up to his neck, tilting her head up as he pulled her close. A sizzling flash of lightning lit up the world around her, just before she closed her eyes. Feeling the softness of his lips on her mouth, she pressed herself into him, while his hand traveled up her back. Once again, the tenderness in his kiss sent her senses reeling, pulling her entire being into a dance of flying emotions. Her heart was slowly following his lead, getting deeper and deeper into a hypnotic trance; his wet chin brushed her cheeks. The sweetness of his scent was not just flowing within her. It had surrounded her form, covering everything else while their kiss grew in intensity. A jagged fork of lightning shot across the sky above them, shattering the peace and tranquility of the neighborhood. Yet, neither of them was in the least distracted. Feeling small drops of water racing down her forehead and her cheeks, she glided her hands over the sides of his neck. He threaded his fingers through her curls. James pressed his fingers into Ava’s scalp, while the moisture on his skin drenched her hands. A few vapors from his breath flowed upwards, and he moved his lips up to the tip of her nose. Resting his forehead onto hers, he let out a quick chuckle. She rolled her eyelids up. One more smile lit up her face as she watched raindrops rolling off his cheeks.
“My God…” A breathless whisper escaped her; their gazes met. “Hold me,”
“Yes, ma’am,” He responded, his baritone going down an octave. James gently held her nearer, planting one more kiss on her forehead. Finding herself in his warm embrace, Ava shut her eyes yet again, relishing more than just the closeness between them. There was a connection, a bond that she felt growing stronger with each passing day. She could tell by the kindness in his eyes. The tenderness in his touch was saying more words than he dared to utter. The deep softness in his voice was tantalizing her, preparing her for better moments yet to come. And Ava couldn’t wait to live every one of them, believing that they would simply be the reward for her courage and her persistence.
Chapter Eighteen
A light sensation on her lips, along with a mix of his scent and menthol woke Ava up the following morning. Opening her bleary eyes, she caught a glimpse of his clean-face, barely an inch away from hers. Her initial thought was to grab him and kiss him back, but, then, it occurred to her that she had made a major mistake the night before. Intoxicated by his kiss, she had neglected to discuss with him her greatest concern: Wendy’s fate.
“I’m sorry for waking you. I didn’t mean to do that,” James whispered, easing back.
“It’s okay. What time is it?” She asked in a hoarser tone than usual.
“Ten to seven,” He responded, lifting his gaze up to stare at her bedroom door. “Sean wants to see where I work. I guess I’d better go wake him up.”
“James, wait,” Ava spoke, slightly raising her voice. “I forgot to talk to you about something last night. I have no problem in taking care of Davis and his goons, but…” she faltered; “what are we going to do about your ex?”
“I can’t deal with this right now,” James muttered, rising from the couch. “I’m going to be late for work.”
“I just need five minutes of your time,” she claimed as she sat up. “Please, don’t go just yet, okay?”
“Fine,” he sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “What about her?”
“I’m in a dilemma here,” Ava said, tension creeping into her voice, bringing her knees up to her chest. “She wants us both dead, but she’s still the boy’s mom. I can’t deprive him of his mother. What’s your opinion on this?”
“It’s not all that different,” James declared, lightly shaking his head. “I don’t want him to lose his mother, either. But, she’s been pushing her luck. The stunt Helena pulled didn’t affect her one bit. And, now she’s coming after you, too. I really hope she puts an end to this madness somewhere along the way, because, if she doesn’t?” He drew in a sharp breath. “Then, we’ll have no choice.”
“Perhaps you should talk to her,” she suggested, her voice almost bass-deep. “Maybe she’ll remember what you guys used to have, and call the whole thing off.”
