Chapter 17
LUCY
“Take that mask off.” My words tremble. “Who are you?”
The stranger heaves for breath through the skull mask and steps closer. The railing presses at my, trapping me, and he knows it. “Jerry loved you so much it was pathetic. But now, you’re parading around with three Alphas.” The masked man stands there. “He’d be horrified if he saw you now.”
My heart squeezes at hearing Jerry’s name. With it, that damn dream comes raging across my mind. Of Jerry watching me surrounded by the three Alphas, the horror on his face before he shook his head and disappeared into the dark. My stomach hurts thinking about it.
“Shut up,” I snap.
“Struck a nerve? You know I’m right.”
Anger slices through the fear. “Take that mask off and show me who you really are.”
He chuckles, and a chill races down my spine because there’s a familiarity to it. I swear I’ve heard that laugh and voice before.
The front door suddenly swings open so hard it slams against the wall. “Get the hell away from her.”
Relief washes over me as I lift my gaze to Grayson in the doorway. Teeth are bared, shoulders squared, and for one crazy second, he scares me.
The masked man just scratches lazily at his chest. “Can’t handle another man with your girl?”
“He’s trying to tell me he knew Jerry.” My voice wobbles, and Grayson’s attention snaps to mine. Whatever he sees on my face sets him off because he charges toward the man.
He slams two hands against his chest, sending him stumbling off the steps. He lands on the gravel, but the guy catches himself from falling over.
“Who are you, coward?” Grayson marches after him.
“Fuck you.” The man swings a punch. Grayson ducks and drives his fist back up, knocking into the jaw beneath the mask with a thud. The guy drops onto the ground, one hand clasping his face. “You ass.”
I’m rushing down the steps, dread curling in my chest.
Grayson goes to grab for the mask, but the man rolls out of reach. He shoves himself upright, one hand at his back, and when it reappears, there’s a blade in his grip.
Terror flashes through me. “Watch out!”
He launches between us, forcing me farther away. “Get inside. Now.”
I should listen, but my feet are frozen in place. My attention is stuck on that knife slicing through the air feet from Grayson’s body. My heart’s clawing into my throat.
“Afraid?” The masked man sidesteps. “She’s Jerry’s girl.”
Grayson closes the distance. “You’re already finished,” he states.
The man charges.
Grayson reaches for his wrist, but he jerks away and whips back around fast. Something silver glints through the air, and the blade cuts across Grayson’s forearm. Blood taints the fabric at once.
My heart stops as Grayson hisses, flinging his arm back. “Grayson, shit!”
But he ignores the cut and charges after the masked man, who’s slashing the blade through the air.
Grayson leaps back. And the masked man is now running toward his motorbike. In seconds, Grayson’s on his heels, reaching for him, but his fingers only grasp the mask. He rips it off just as the guy swings his blade once more.
Grayson rears backward to avoid being struck, and the guy bolts. He leaps onto his bike, motor roaring, and he’s off, gravel spraying everywhere. Then he takes one last glance our way without his mask.
The porch light illuminates his face.
My knees weaken under me. “Oh, fuck!” I recognize him instantly.
Then he’s gone, the taillight engulfed by the dark trees.
I stood across from him at Rusty’s Wolf Tavern the day I came home, when he took me into the woods and called himself Roman. My blood turns to ice.
“That’s the guy. Grayson. That’s the fake Roman from the tavern. It’s the same guy.”
Grayson’s in front of me, studying me, his forehead furrowing. He glances over his shoulder into the woods where the man vanished. “What the fuck does he want with you?”
I’m shaking my head, hugging myself, dozens of questions spinning through my mind. “Why the hell would he care who I’m with? Jerry’s been gone for five years.”
Grayson turns his attention my way again, and he’s leaning close, hands on my arms. “I don’t fucking know, but we’re going to find out.
I’m not finished with that prick.” Then he drags me into his arms, embracing me tightly, and I melt against him.
And for those few seconds, as I drown in his scent, snuggled up against his muscular chest, I float away from all the chaos.
Until I remember that he’s bleeding and I quickly pull myself away.
“Your arm. Let’s get you inside and patched up.
” I take hold of his wrist, even if every inch of me is trembling.
Blood is welling across the cut, which is at least six inches long along the outside of his forearm.
“We need something to stop the bleeding.” I’m staring at myself for clothing I can use, but unless I want to take off my dress, I’ve got nothing.
Suddenly, he’s tugging his shirt up and over his head, then scrunches it up and presses it to his wound.
“This will do for now. And I’ll be fine,” he grumbles, but I’m already hauling him inside by his elbow.
Indoors, there’s laughter in the dining area from our guests, so I drag him upstairs, my sights set on my private quarters.
We make it six steps up before a low whistle drifts across the main room behind us. “Where are you two rushing off to in such a hurry?”
I glance back to Roman standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Just a small incident,” Grayson states. “I’ll survive.” He lifts his injured arm.
Roman’s grin drops. “Fuck. What happened?” He takes the stairs two at a time to reach us.
“It’s nothing,” Grayson insists.
“It’s bleeding badly. He got cut with a blade,” I press, while Grayson just rolls his eyes.
“Turns out that shithead stripper was your doppelg?nger,” Grayson says. “He’d pretended to be you and took Lucy into the woods when she first got into town.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Roman’s face reddens. “Where is he?”
“Long gone,” I add. Then Grayson gives him a fast rendition of what just happened outdoors, and Roman’s in my face.
“Are you okay, gorgeous? You’re not hurt, are you?” His fingers caress my arms where he holds me.
I shake my head. “Just furious and confused, is all.”
“Go get him patched up.” Roman strokes my cheek. “I’ll bring Wolf up to speed and make sure the lodge is locked down tight.”
I take Grayson’s elbow and tow him the rest of the way to my bathroom, as it’s large and well stocked.
I grab the seat from the vanity and place it by the bathroom sink. “Okay, sit.”
“So bossy. I like this side of you.”
It’s impossible to be serious around him. I drop to the cabinet under the sink and start searching. Soon enough, I grab the antiseptic, some gauze, a roll of fabric bandage, and a towel.
I can’t stop shaking, but I remind myself to focus on Grayson right now, on his wound.
I soak the towel in the warm tap water, then lay his forearm across the edge of the sink. “Let me know if it hurts,” I say, wiping the blood away from the cut. It doesn’t look deep enough for stitches.
He studies me. “A man could get used to having you as a nurse.”
“You just got slashed, and your head goes right to the gutter again, hey?” I apply more pressure with the towel to the cut.
“If you must know, I’m still picturing you on your hands and knees in front of me. Any idea how hot that is?”
I laugh out loud. “You have incredible focus.”
“What can I say?” Behind his grin, there’s not a shred of shame. “That’s the impact you have on me.”
I uncap the antiseptic. “Okay, sure. Now, this next part actually stings.” I squeeze it over the cut, and he sucks in a sharp breath.
“The good stuff.”
I laugh as I spread the gauze on the injury. Next, I tear open the bandage packet with my teeth, and he’s watching me way too closely. “Sexy as fuck.”
“You’re clearly an unwell man.” I can’t stop smiling as I begin wrapping the bandage around his forearm, tight enough to maintain the pressure. “Almost done.”
Finally, I tuck the end under. “Done. You’ll survive.” That’s when I bring over the second seat over and sit across from him. My knees are between his, and I stare up at the gorgeous man who saved me earlier.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue outside,” I say.
“When I saw you head outside with the guy, and then you were alone with him too long for my liking, I had to investigate.” His thumb traces along my jaw.
“Thanks for patching me up. I’ll be sure to use you for all my nurse needs going forward.
” He’s grinning, the small creases at the corners of his mouth deepening.
“Wish I had you with me in prison for all my wounds back then.”
He’s still smiling, but I wonder how much of that brings back terrible memories. “Must have been horrible in prison.”
“Yeah, I don’t recommend it. I slept with one eye open most of the time, and the guards really didn’t give a shit about inmates. But things improved once I met up with Roman and Wolf. Three of us standing together turned out to be something no one in there wanted to challenge twice.”
“You found your pack,” I say.
He reaches over and takes my hand in his, then kisses my knuckles. “I found my family. Well, almost a complete family, but it’s coming together now.” His eyebrow rises in that knowing, cheeky way because he’s as subtle as a sledgehammer.
“You want to know the truth? I never assumed I’d get a chance at a family again. Figured I didn’t deserve it, and then I met the guys and you.” His mouth curves upward. “I’m a lucky bastard.”
He’s shirtless, and captivating. And resisting him hasn’t been easy for me, so I tell myself to stop bothering.
Edging forward in my seat, I brush my fingers into his blond hair and over the ink on his throat.
He takes my hand and draws me onto my feet and closer.
Now, I’m standing between his spread thighs as he stares into my eyes, so close that I’m breathing quickly.
His hands are sliding up on the outside of my thighs.
His touch slips under my dress, fingers curling under the lace of my thong. Then he chuckles.