Forbidden Shadows (Lee County Wolves Book 7)

Chapter 19

Malcolm watched Clare leave and then started to follow her, but Dell stopped him. “Malcolm.”

“Shit.” He hissed under his breath, but Hunter heard him and chuckled. “Shut up, Hunter,” Malcolm warned, not wanting to hear Hunter’s mouth.

“Keep an eye on Clare,” Dell ordered as Roslyn walked up next to them. “Double your runs past her place at night to make sure no one is snooping around. Roxy thinks Ben’s father is going to come looking for them. If Tammy’s brother found Clare, then this asshole probably can also.”

Malcolm had already figured that out and planned on doing exactly what Dell was ordering. “Will do.” He answered with a nod.

“I also got a couple of cars coming in this week. No rush on them, so whenever you can get them done is fine.” Dell said, then looked at his clock. “You going to the farmhouse at seven.”

“I’m trying to finish Clare’s car. All the parts came in, but yeah, I want to see the layout of the place. I haven’t run that perimeter in a while.” Malcolm informed him wishing to fuck Dell would let him go so he could catch up with Clare. Their talk wasn’t finished, and he’d be damned if he let the issue of that kiss go any longer. Especially now after what she whispered to him. She still felt as if he had rejected her and dammit that was the furthest from the truth. He didn’t know what the woman was doing to him, but he was tired of fucking fighting it. He would lay out his past to her, and it would be her decision to accept him, flaws and all, or reject him. His wolf raced anxiously inside him at that thought. He had always heard that your wolf knew your mate before you would, and he had a feeling that is exactly what was happening.

“Malcolm.” Dell’s deep voice broke him out of his thoughts.

“Yeah?” Malcolm said, then frowned at how stupid he sounded. He didn’t even know what Dell had been saying.

“Get the fuck out of here,” Dell said, then shook his head.

He turned to leave, but Roslyn stopped him. “She was heading to her place.” She whispered with a knowing wink.

Malcolm smiled down at her. “Thanks.”

“Don’t fuck it up.” She warned then laughed when he winked at her.

For the first time in a long time, Malcolm felt as if something for someone other than mistrust, and it was a good feeling. Walking out the door, he hurried down the steps but stopped as his eyes found Clare. She was walking toward her place, and she was not alone. Brock walked beside her with Ben on his shoulders. He heard Clare’s laughter as she looked up at Brock.

Malcolm felt a pain in his heart that he never felt before. He wasn’t even angry as he watched Clare walk away from him with another man. How could he be angry about something he never had?

Devon walked down the steps beside him with Gunner, his eyes following Malcolm’s gaze. “Hey, we’re heading over to Roxy’s for something to eat. Why don’t you come and spend some time with your nephew.”

“I have to get to the shop,” Malcolm said, then grabbed Gunner from Devon, holding him up above his head, making him laugh, dodging the drool. “Maybe next time.”

They walked together as Gunner pulled on Malcolm’s hair, a favorite pastime for the kid. Once they reached Roxy’s, he handed Gunner back to Devon, acting like he was punching the kid in the tummy, making him giggle.

“You good man?” Devon asked as Malcolm headed for the shop.

“Yep,” Malcolm replied without turning around.

“If you want her, fight for her, Malcolm.” Devon called out adding, “Don’t be a dumbass and let some other dude swoop her up.”

“You’re starting to sound like my sister.” Malcolm rolled his eyes, but Devon’s words hit, and he didn’t like it. “Shut the fuck up and mind your own business.”

“You wouldn’t say that to your sister,” Devon yelled at Malcolm’s retreating back.

“Yes, I would, and I have,” Malcolm answered, walking into the shop and slamming the door closed. “Asshole,” Malcolm mumbled, walking over to where he was living, pulling off his shirt tossing it on the cot he used as a bed. Grabbing an old shirt, he slipped it on and then headed for Clare’s car. He had it torn down already. All it needed was to be put back together again. He finally got rid of the damaged part of the car because every time he saw it, he wanted to kill the son of a bitch.

As he worked, his mind kept shifting to seeing Clare walking with Brock. He seemed like a nice guy, though Malcolm couldn’t say he fully trusted him. But he seemed pretty decent, and finding his sister to take care of her and keep her safe said a lot about him.

Malcolm cursed wanting to hate the fucker but didn’t. Hell, Clare could do worse. Malcolm snorted at the thought. With someone like himself, that was a fact. He had nothing to offer a woman like Clare. His eyes shot to the tiny room in the back of the garage that he was calling home. Dell paid good and he was saving his money, but what woman in the right mind would want to hook up with a fucking ‘going nowhere’ mechanic. Hell, he couldn’t even call himself that. He never had any formal education, just figured the shit out as it came to him. Being a drunk was the only thing he seemed to be good at.

Snarling, he pushed those dangerous thoughts to the back of his mind as he continued to work on the car. He had planned on going to the farmhouse, but with his dark thoughts, he felt it best he stay put and finish Clare’s car.

Malcolm worked like a maniac, keeping his thoughts on his work and nothing else. Glancing up at the clock, he noticed it was after seven. Wiping his hands, he searched for the part he was missing. His phone began to ring, but he ignored it, letting it go to voicemail. Within seconds, it began ringing again.

“Fuck!” Malcolm tossed the towel picking up the phone his eyes still searching for the damn part. “What!?”

“Where the fuck are you?” Dell’s voice growled in his ear.

“I’m at the garage working,” Malcolm answered, his tone just as unpleasant. “I have to run perimeter tonight and want to get this damn car done. Between all the meetings I don’t have time to take a piss.” Malcolm cursed figuring he probably should have kept that to himself, but fuck it. Maybe someone needed to tell Dell to chill on the damn meetings and with his mood right now it might as well be him.

“Well, this is going to be part of your fucking perimeter so get your ass up here now.” Dell’s voice trembled slightly as if he wanted to rip Malcolm’s head off. “And if you want fewer meetings, then show up when you say you’re going to show up and do what you’re supposed to be fucking doing.”

Dell hung up just before Malcolm could say anything else that would get his ass chewed out. Cursing like a madman Malcolm stomped around, wiping grease off his hands the best he could he, tossed the towel then walked out slamming the door so hard behind him the whole damn building shook. Yeah, his mood was fucking darker than it had been in a long time and he really hoped no one pissed him off because it could get really ugly.

Clare walked around with Deb,her eyes taking in everything. The inside was bigger than she imagined. “This is perfect.” She looked around the huge kitchen. “And not as much work as I thought there would be. Just a lot of cleaning.”

“There are some plumbing issues, as well as a roof with a few leaks and ceiling damage, which Brock pointed out,” Deb said as she opened the refrigerator. “And new appliances. This thing is older than I am.”

Chuckling at the look on Deb’s face, she turned when Emily walked in with Hunter. “Hunter told me what was going on,” Emily said then acted as if she was zipping her lips closed. “Won’t say a word, but I want to be involved.”

“We’re going to need it, so yes, please,” Clare said just as Brock walked into the kitchen. He gave her a nod, then looked at Deb.

“The roof is going to need to be replaced. I found the leaks, but if it’s not fixed, you will definitely have more than a few leaks.” Brock informed her giving Emily and Clare a nod.

“I figured that,” Deb replied, not looking concerned at all.

“I also found another issue.” Brock frowned.

“I told you not to look too hard,” Deb teased, then shrugged. “Lay it on me. What is it?”

Clare caught the flare in Brock’s eyes at Deb’s words. She glanced at Emily, whose eyes widened, indicating she also saw it.

“It’s better if I showed you.” Brock stepped back so Deb could pass him.

“I’ll be back, ladies.” Deb sighed, giving them a look. “Make yourselves at home. Keep an eye out for the snakes. Found two before you all got here.” She teased before disappearing out the door with Brock.

“You saw that, right?” Clare asked Emily, who was grinning from ear to ear.

“Oh, yeah,” Emily said excitedly. “I definitely saw it.”

“Saw what?” Hunter looked around a little frantic. “Saw what dammit? A snake?”

“He’s not a fan of snakes,” Emily informed her with a crooked grin and roll of her eyes.

“Who the fuck is? Slimy fuckers from the depths of hell is what they are.” Hunter frowned and then gave Emily a quick kiss. “I’ll wait for you outside. Don’t call me if you see one; just run, and I’ll save you outside.”

Both women laughed at Hunter and then looked around, opening cabinets. “I haven’t been in here in years.” Emily closed a drawer only to open up another. She screamed when a mouse jumped out. “Now I know why there are snakes in here.”

“You okay?” Hunter yelled from the door.

“Just a mouse,” Emily called out, rolling her eyes again. “My hero.”

Clare chuckled, glancing out the window toward the yard where everyone was standing. Her eyes searched for one person but didn’t see him. Disappointed, she turned away from the window. “Did you know your sister bought this place?”

“Nope, it was a shock to me,” Emily said, walking toward the stairs. “Let’s go up.”

Clare followed her up the steps into a huge hallway. They began opening doors. There were five bedrooms, two and a half baths, a den, family room, kitchen, mud room/laundry room, and basement.

“I can’t believe she is letting me use this place.” Clare sighed, still wanting to pinch herself to make sure this wasn’t a dream. “She really has changed, Emily.”

Emily turned with a sad smile. “My sister has always had a good heart, but something happened that changed her,” Emily said, walking further down the hallway and opening doors. “I don’t know what happened to make her so–”

“Mean.” Clare offered the word because that’s exactly what Deb had been. A very mean-spirited woman with a huge chip on her shoulder.

“Yeah.” Emily shook her head as she turned to look at Clare. “Hunter and I saw the back lights on at the feed mill one night. I found her in the back sobbing uncontrollably. She was a mess and not making sense. She kept apologizing over and over again, sobbing to the point she was making herself sick. I sat with her all night while Hunter sat out front. I have never felt closer to my sister than I did that night. I don’t know what happened, and I don’t know if I ever will know; that is Deb’s story to tell. I’m just glad I got my sister back.”

“I’m glad also because I sure do adore this Deb, and it has nothing to do with this place,” Clare said with a smile. “I’m really glad to have finally met the real Deb Snodgrass.”

“Me too,” Emily said, then opened another door and disappeared inside. “These bedrooms are huge.”

Clare chuckled, opening a door on the opposite side and walking in. Emily was right. They were huge. Moving to the window, she looked out, her eyes scanned the open field toward the tall forest trees, and that’s when she saw him. Malcolm walked slowly, his eyes searching for something she couldn’t see. He scanned the area and stopped scanning some more before moving on. She continued to watch him, and the way he moved reminded her of an animal. She then rolled her eyes at that thought. He was a wolf shifter, so of course, he would move like one.

He was handsome, no doubt about that, but there was something more. She knew right then and there if he turned to look up at this particular window that they were connected in some way. Again, she laughed at her silly thoughts, but secretly, she hoped with all her heart he would do just that. She didn’t know exactly how long she stood there, but she heard Emily calling her name.

With a disappointed sigh, she started to back away until she saw Malcolm stop again. He was a little closer this time but still too far away to see her; at least, that was her estimation. She touched the glass running her finger from the top of his head, down his body until her finger hit wood.

She gasped as his head snapped up, and their eyes met. He had felt her and knew exactly where she was. As crazy as that sounded, she knew it to be true.

“There you are.” Emily huffed, coming into the room. “Wow, this one is bigger than the other ones. Wonder if there is a walk-in closet.”

Clare had no clue what Emily was saying. She could be screaming fire for all she cared. Right now, she couldn’t take her eyes off Malcolm. It wasn’t until Emily pulled her arm that she broke contact with him.

“Come on before it gets too dark in here, and we can’t see our way out.” Emily pulled her away from the window, where Malcolm still stared up at her. “I seriously doubt Hunter would come in to save us.”

Clare’s heart beat rapidly as they stumbled down the steps and outside. She tried to listen to Deb, Brock, and Emily, but her focus was on finding Malcolm. Seeing a shadow, she leaned her body to see Malcolm walk from the back of the house toward town. If he for one minute thought she was going to let what just happened between them go, then he didn’t know her very well. Because dammit something has been brewing between them, and something definitely happened not ten minutes ago. Nope, she was not letting this go. Maybe it was time for him to meet the real Clare Robinson.