Chapter Two
The air hummed between them, every second stretching into eternity. The way Kia gazed up at him, the vulnerability in his green eyes, nearly broke Suero’s heart.
But Kia had already done that by disappearing, leaving Suero pining for the feline and obsessively rereading their text conversations a million times like an addict.
How often had Suero wished to see the feline just one more time? Now that he was actually here, Suero couldn’t get past the sting of rejection. He wasn’t sure how to deal with the hurt Kia had inflicted.
Yet, his stubborn heart couldn’t help but ache.
I’m such an idiot.
Right now, though, he needed to get Kia off the street—not because of his pack, but because hyena shifters had been spotted in the area, and Suero didn’t want them making an anonymous call to Xavier about his nephew being in town.
Was Xavier really eager to get rid of his nephew? If so, that was seriously messed up.
Aside from ghosting him, which hurt Suero deeply, the kitten was a sweet guy.
“We need to get moving.”
Suero scanned their surroundings to ensure no one was watching them.
“Not on your bike.”
Kia shook his head, looking at Suero like he would throw hands if forced.
“Then we’ll take your car.”
He didn’t like the idea of leaving his hog in town, but making Kia disappear was paramount.
He dropped your ass like you didn’t matter and you’re accommodating him?
That was precisely why Suero was willing to compromise. If there was any chance of moving on from Kia, he needed an explanation for the abrupt end to their relationship.
There had to be more to it than just concerns over their alphas. Matias had been hostile toward Kia, only because the cheetah had entered their territory without permission.
Besides, Suero could always run back to town in his wolf form once Kia had crossed the border. He wasn’t sure why he’d told the cat to get on his motorcycle in the first place.
“I don’t have it.”
Kia quickly averted his gaze.
Suero frowned. “What happened to your car?”
“It’s not really mine,”
he admitted, still looking at the sidewalk. “It actually belongs to my cousin.”
Suero clenched his jaw, silently counting to ten. “Is there anything else you haven’t been honest about?”
“I didn’t lie!”
Kia’s head snapped up, eyes narrowed. “I never outright said the car was mine.”
And Suero had never questioned it. He’d simply assumed the sedan was Kia’s. “We still need to get moving.”
His scowl faded. “I’m serious, Suero. I’m terrified of motorcycles.”
He shook his head and took a step back. “You can ride slowly beside me as I walk back to the border.”
He thought about the abandoned factory near the border. Kia had been damn lucky he hadn’t encountered any hyenas on his way to Blackthorn. After what they did to Diablo—a wolf shifter fully capable of defending himself—he shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to Kia.
The guy couldn’t weigh more than a buck twenty and stood around five foot three. He wouldn’t stand a chance against hyenas.
They’d boxed Diablo in, herding him to a remote location. If they hadn’t tranquilized him, no doubt Diablo would’ve killed all three of the hyenas.
Suero could handle himself, but it would be much harder to fight if he had Kia with him.
Besides, they really needed to talk. “My place is a block over.”
One of Kia’s brows arched. “You were ordered to escort me to the border. I recall vividly what Matias does to those who piss him off.”
Suero stared incredulously at him. “You think my alpha is going to put a bullet between my eyes for disobedience?”
He might kick Suero’s ass, though. Matias was all about transparency and following his orders. But Suero was only delaying those orders. If Kia refused to get on his bike, what was Suero supposed to do, hogtie him on it?
He would have to call Santiago and borrow the guy’s truck. Suero would just “conveniently”
forget to call him right away.
Plus, this way, he could take his bike instead of leaving it parked in town, where Deputy Gilmore or another crooked cop might fuck with it.
Suero would bury anyone who touched his baby.
“Stick close.”
He mounted his bike and started it up, then moved so slowly that horns blared behind him. Suero gestured for the traffic to maneuver around him.
It should’ve been obvious he wasn’t going any faster since his feet were still touching the ground, moving slower than a granny with a walker.
Kia kept glancing his way, cheeks flushed. “I can’t believe you’re actually holding up traffic.”
“Yeah, well, nobody ever said I was the sharpest furball.”
Especially when it comes to you. The guy had played him dirty, yet Suero’s wolf hadn’t stopped softly growling since spotting the kitten on the sidewalk.
When Matias had ordered him to the hardware store, Suero hadn’t known what to expect. The six pack members had left Sin & Steel just fifteen minutes earlier.
His mind had raced with all sorts of scenarios, from hyenas to Deputy Gilmore. But the last thing he’d expected was to find Kia standing there, looking so vulnerable that Suero had wanted to pull the man into his arms.
By the time they reached Suero’s place, his thighs were killing him. He’d never sat on his bike and walked it before. They circled to the back of the house where he finally parked.
The duplex served mostly as storage for his belongings since he spent most of his time at the tavern. His landlord had informed him two days ago that the unit above him had been rented out. Not that Suero expected to ever meet whoever moved in upstairs.
After unlocking the back door, he waved Kia inside. Suero headed straight to the living room, peering out the window to see if anyone was parked outside or lingering on the sidewalk.
Matias was definitely going to kill him for disobeying a direct order. So why had he done it?
Because you want to spend time with Kia. Suero couldn’t deny the longing he’d felt for weeks, reading their exchanged texts so many times he’d memorized every damn word. His pride had been the only thing that had stopped him from reaching out.
And now, the kitty cat stood in his living room, glancing around like he might bolt at any second.
“Nice place,”
he commented. “Do you live here alone?”
Moving away from the window, Suero dropped onto the couch, casually draping an arm over the back. “Are you asking if I’m involved with someone else?”
He’d tried to move on. There were plenty of guys in Blackthorn who would have happily shared his bed. But every time he tried to close a deal, he lost interest.
It was as if Kia was living rent-free in his head. More like the cat had moved all of his belongings in, kicked his feet up, and was sipping a fruity drink.
S uero felt like an idiot for letting someone he’d only dated for a few weeks affect him so deeply.
For fuck’s sake, they hadn’t even kissed yet, and here he was, defying his alpha like some love-sick puppy willing to suffer the consequences.
Pull your shit together. You’re not that lonely guy anymore. You’re a member of the Salvador pack now. Part of a brotherhood.
“No. That’s not what I was asking.”
Kia settled at the other end of the couch, hands tucked between his knees.
Suero had every right to be pissed at him, to drop him at the territory line and never look back. Yet, the guy appeared so damn lost that Suero’s resolve was weakening.
“So tell me what happened,”
he said, his voice firm, unwilling to let the man off the hook so easily.
“Reality set in,”
Kia confessed, running a hand down the front of his jeans. “The look of disgust on my uncle’s face when I asked about interspecies dating.”
Kia’s captivating green eyes met his, causing another crack in Suero’s defenses.
“So, instead of talking to me about your fears, you thought cutting off all contact was the better option?”
Suero nodded, lips pursed. “I got the answer I was looking for.”
He needed to get Kia out of there. The longer he spent time with the kitty cat, the more he wanted him to stay. Suero had already gone against Matias’s order. He didn’t want to dig a deeper hole for himself.
“You think it was easy for me?”
Kia stared at him like Suero was being unreasonable.
“Gee, I wouldn’t know since you shut me out,”
he replied sharply. “You had me thinking—”
He paused to take a deep breath before continuing. “ Me hiciste pensar que lo que compartimos no significaba nada para ti. ”
You made me think that what we shared meant nothing to you.
“ Significó todo para mí. ”
It meant everything to me.
Suero was taken aback, unsure if he was more surprised by Kia speaking Spanish or his confession. “You never mentioned you spoke my language.”
And he’d understood what Suero had said.
Kia raised his hand, his thumb and index finger a small distance apart. “Just a little. I didn’t catch everything you said, but enough to understand the gist.”
“I just don’t get why you didn’t talk to me about what you were feeling,”
Suero said.
“No one really understands what it’s like being the nephew of an alpha,”
he murmured, staring at the floor. “I lost my parents when I was pretty young. Xavier took me in and raised me. Unlike the rest of my coalition, I’m held to different standards.”
Kia pressed his lips together and slowly shook his head. “If he knew where I was right now...”
Suero frowned. “Would he hurt you?”
The thought of anyone abusing someone so small made Suero’s wolf snarl. If Kia wasn’t safe at home, how could he let him go back?
But that wasn’t his decision to make. If Kia were anyone else, Suero wouldn’t hesitate to ask him to stay. But being related to Xavier complicated matters significantly.
So maybe Suero now understood his predicament. That still didn’t excuse the guy shutting him out.
“No,”
Kia quickly replied. “He’s just really intense sometimes.”
His brows furrowed. “Honestly, I have no idea what he would do if he found out I was here.”
Suero started to respond when he heard a loud rumbling. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
Kia placed a hand over his stomach, wincing a little. “I skipped breakfast and now I feel like I could eat a whole cow.”
“Sorry, I’m fresh out of cows.”
Rising from the couch, Suero extended his hand. His wolf softly growled when Kia took it, pulling himself up from the couch. They just stood there, gazing at each other.
He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed Kia. It felt like his world had righted itself now that his kitten stood in front of him.
Kia gazed up at him, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, his breath growing shallow. Suero had never wanted to kiss someone so much. Those perfect, heart-shaped lips just begged to be ravaged.
The rumble was even louder this time.
Spinning Kia around, Suero guided him toward the kitchen, hands firmly on his shoulders. “I don’t keep much food here since most of my time is spent—”
“At Sin & Steel.”
Kia smirked as they walked. “I remember. It’s where most of your pack hangs out. A wolf den.”
The way he smiled, all sweet and proud, had Suero grinning like a damn fool. From the moment they’d met, when Matias had tasked Suero with interrogating Kia, there had been an undeniable spark between them. At the time, Suero had ignored the feeling because he had a job to focus on.
But fuck if Kia hadn’t melted his tough exterior. The guy had been trembling, wiping away tears, insisting he wasn’t colluding with the hyenas.
Suero frowned slightly, noticing Kia’s little skip as he entered the kitchen. He had a feeling he was in deep trouble when it came to the kitty cat, whose innocence might just be Suero’s downfall.
* * * *
Jared entered Xavier’s home and saw a few coalition members talking quietly with the alpha in the living room. Since they were speaking in hushed tones, he moved swiftly toward the staircase, his steps softened by the plush carpet beneath him.
The aroma of bacon and syrup still lingered in the air, mingling with the distinct earthy scent of cheetah. He had to resist the urge to go to the kitchen and check for any leftovers.
After reaching the top of the stairs, Jared headed to Kia’s bedroom. It was unusual for his cousin to sleep late into the afternoon. By now, Kia should’ve been outside enjoying the day.
And making himself scarce since he hated politics. Xavier’s home was constantly busy, someone always there with a problem they couldn’t seem to figure out on their own.
Although Jared cared deeply for his coalition, some members acted like they didn’t have two brain cells to rub together and needed Xavier’s advice to function.
He couldn’t imagine himself running to his uncle for every decision. Xavier must’ve been tired of the constant interruptions, yet he never complained.
Not that Xavier ever would. It was his responsibility to keep the coalition running smoothly, no matter how trivial the issues. Jared would have locked his door and put up a sign that said he was on vacation if it were him. Everyone would just have to figure out their own little crises like big boys.
Without knocking, Jared entered Kia’s room. “Time to get up, lazy bones,”
he called out, trailing off as he noticed the neatly made bed.
He glanced around the brightly lit room, noticing the open windows with sheer curtains gently swaying in the breeze.
“Kia?”
Jared checked the adjoining bathroom, only to find it empty and unusually tidy. His cousin was usually messy, leaving clothes scattered everywhere.
Yet, there were no pajamas on the bathroom floor, and the toothpaste cap was actually on for once.
Turning back around, Jared’s gaze flicked toward the made bed. Since when did Kia start making his bed?
The only time he cleaned was when he was up to something he shouldn’t be. It was as if his subconscious compelled him to pick up a broom and dustpan, as though he could sweep away his guilt.
For the last few weeks, Kia had been pining over some guy. Jared had never seen him so miserable. His cousin had also made Jared promise to keep it secret since the guy was a wolf shifter.
Had Kia finally given in and gone to see Suero? Oh, this was bad. If Xavier found out, shit would hit the fan. Everyone knew their alpha despised wolves.
What had Kia been thinking? Then again, his cousin had tried to infiltrate a pack of hyenas to figure out their plans.
His cousin. A man who couldn’t infiltrate a bathroom at night without stubbing a toe or smacking his hand or knee on the doorframe.
Jared slipped out of the room, gently closing the door behind him, hoping to leave without Xavier noticing he was even there.
Fat chance. His uncle noticed everything. The man’s eye was sharper than a hawk’s. Kia could’ve at least given him a heads-up that he was about to do something colossally stupid so Jared could’ve steered clear of their uncle.
He tiptoed down the stairs and headed for the front door.
“Is Kia up and about?”
Jared froze mid-step, closing his eyes briefly as he muttered a curse under his breath. Kia was going to owe him big for this. Jared was terrible at lying and even worse at acting.
“Oh, I completely forgot he had something to do.”
He turned, forcing a smile that stretched his cheeks painfully. A nervous laugh escaped him. “I’ll catch him later, I guess.”
Xavier crossed the room, leaving the men he’d been talking to standing there. “What thing? Kia didn’t mention it to me.”
You’d be surprised what he doesn’t tell you. Unlike Jared, who’d been raised by his parents, Xavier kept a tight hold on Kia. Too tight, if you asked him.
Though he understood the importance of family protection, especially with hyenas encroaching on everyone’s territory, Xavier’s strict control over Kia seemed overboard excessive.
His cousin couldn’t spend a night away without their uncle’s explicit consent. Jared was surprised Kia didn’t have to report in just to use the bathroom. It was a miracle Xavier let him outside the house without an ankle monitor and personal bodyguards.
“What thing?”
Jared echoed, scrambling for an excuse before blurting out, “He’s in a video game competition with some friends.”
Please don’t ask for details.
Xavier shook his head, as if video games were a waste of time. “Tell him to be home by dinner.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jared hauled ass, pulling out his phone to call Kia once he was safely out of earshot.
“Hello?”
“You could’ve warned me about your little adventure. I just left your house!”
Jared moved so fast, his thighs should’ve caused a friction burn and set him on fire.
“What happened?”
Kia’s voice was tense. “What did you tell Xavier?”
“I said you were in some video game competition.”
“But I don’t even play video games!”
Kia’s breathing was rapid, as if he was hyperventilating. “You couldn’t think of a better excuse?”
“Maybe if you’d clued me in on your plan,”
he replied, equally panicked. If Xavier discovered Jared’s lie, the fallout would be apocalyptic. Being on the bad side of his alpha was the last thing he wanted.
Family or not, Xavier was scary as hell when pissed off.
“He wants you back by dinner.”
Jared glanced back at the house, feeling his heart sink at just how controlled Kia’s life truly was. “Need me to come get you?”
“You’d cross into wolf territory for me?”
“Insanity clearly runs in our family,”
he replied. “I just lied to save your skin, so I’m involved now. Since I value my life, you need to get your skinny little ass home.”
Jared hurried down the street, heading straight for his house to get his car—a very old sedan that was just a few rusted parts away from being scrapped. He had to leave the driver’s window slightly open to reach in and unlock the door since the handle had fallen off months ago, and he still couldn’t recall where he’d misplaced it.
Every time he needed to get out of the car, he had to ram his arm against the door while pulling the inside handle at the same time.
But it was all he could afford right now. Jobs were hard to come by, and Jared was currently between gigs.
Fortunately, his mom always helped out with gas money when he asked.
“Take Bishop Road,”
Kia instructed. “Meet me in front of Carver’s Hardware.”
“Because I totally know where that is.”
He had never been to Blackthorn before. He needed his alpha’s approval, but since Xavier wasn’t supposed to know his wayward nephew had snuck past the border line, Jared was about to do something incredibly stupid.
Sneak into wolf territory to grab his idiot cousin and hopefully avoid sparking a war.