Chapter 4
Cliff could only watch from the driver’s seat as Stella disappeared into the lobby of her hotel, the scent of lavender and sage lingering in the air.
He had never smelled anything as delicious as Stella Lennon.
He craved it, the moment her scent first hit his nose.
Craved her.
Fuck me.
He knocked his forehead on the steering wheel. This couldn’t be happening.
It couldn’t.
It can’t happen.
He couldn’t have the hots for Devon’s sister.
It was just too messy and complicated. He liked his life just the way it was now.
Simple and uncomplicated.
It took six years to get to this point where he wasn’t so angry at himself and the world. He’d worked too damned hard to throw it all away now.
The fallout from his last fight hadn’t gone as bad as it could have, but it still ended his career in the pros. Rumors and speculations had abounded, fueling every video blogger, sports influencer, and wannabe armchair journalist to publish their analysis of his fight with Alvarez—complete with screenshots and slowed down videos—and many concluded that Cliff had indeed thrown the fight. To his credit, Bonetti had been smart and greased the right palms because the gaming board never launched an official investigation. But the damage had been done, and no one wanted to book Cliff for future fights. Del Williams dropping him had been the final nail in the coffin.
Cliff hadn’t been to Vegas since then. Hell, he refused to even go back to the West Coast. He was just glad that after everything, he at least had his family to go back to. No one—not his parents, sisters, uncles and aunts or cousins, asked him if really did lose the fight on purpose. They all shielded him from the bad press and welcomed him back. His Uncle Killian even offered him a job at Lone Wolf Investigations and Security, which he appreciated as his assignments were often overseas. And then the mage threat popped up, and his Alpha asked if Cliff wanted to join a special task force he created—the Guardian Initiative—to fight them.
Fight their enemies, kick ass, and save the world and their kind?
Sign me up.
Despite the danger, Cliff had never felt more alive than when he tangled with the mages. Unlike when he fought in the cage, this time he had been fighting for his life and the very survival of the world.
Living on the edge and nearly seeing the apocalypse had changed his perspective—he wasn’t even angry about being forced out of the pros anymore, didn’t even miss the fame and fortune. The only regret he had about those days now was disappointing Del and the rest of his team.
If there was something he had been truly grateful for was that he had dodged the biggest bullet of all—his ex-fiancé. Cliff didn’t know what ever happened to Madelyn, and frankly, he didn’t give a shit. Her betrayal had completely destroyed him. More than losing the championship belt and his career, she’d made him swear off relationships. He hadn’t dated anyone since Madelyn, and if he were honest with himself, hadn’t truly wanted anyone else the way he’d wanted her.
At least, not until he met Stella.
I can’t go down that road again.
He couldn’t.
He won’t.
His wolf scratched at him, trying to get his attention. It had been acting weird all day for some reason. Ever since he left the pros, he’d never felt more in tune with his wolf. He’d always suspected it resented him for caging it away whenever he had a fight. After years working for Lone Wolf and the Guardian Initiative, he’d felt even more connected to his Lycan side. While in the pros, he’d forgotten what it was like to call on his wolf for strength and stamina—something he’d needed during their long battles with the mages.
But today, his normally calm wolf started acting restless, anxious even. It had eased somewhat during the long, uncomfortable drive here, but now it was acting up again.
I shouldn’t have come here. Shouldn’t have accepted this assignment in the first place.
When Devon asked him to keep an eye on his sister, Cliff didn’t think twice. Lone Wolf provided security and protection for VIPs all over the world, so it was just a regular job for him. Devon wanted to be prepared, in case the press somehow got wind of the existence of his newly-found sister and they tried to ambush her.
Cliff had been tailing her since she arrived at JFK, and as per Charley and Devon’s request, he’d kept his distance. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her, at least not from what he’d seen. He was surprised at her choice of hotel and the fact that she used the subway, seeing as Devon could have easily sprung for a room at The Plaza and a limo, but that wasn’t his business. He did as he was told—watch over her and make sure no one bothers her.
But when she had foolishly rushed to save that kid, he had no choice but to reveal himself to her. While he admired her courage, her actions nearly blew his cover. When she fell and he saw the oncoming vehicle, he hadn’t given it a second thought. Using his Lycan speed, he swiftly scooped her up off the ground and brought her back to the sidewalk.
That was when he made his biggest mistake. The second he smelled her luscious lavender and sage scent it had burned into his mind. He couldn’t bring himself to let go of her, not when her soft curves had pressed deliciously against his body. His cock had instantly hardened.
Then he had looked into those beautiful sky-blue eyes, and it was as if he’d taken a blow to the head during a fight. In that moment, he’d learned the true meaning of stunned.
Thankfully, he had managed to walk away from her before she asked any questions. But even now, his dick throbbed at the memory of having her in his arms.
Yanking the door handle, he quickly exited the car and took in a deep breath of the crisp autumn air. He glanced up at the hotel, counting four floors up and two windows to the right. Her curtains were closed so he couldn’t tell if she was awake or asleep.
His wolf let out a whimper, then lay down.
Folding his arms across his chest, he continued watching the window, wondering if she was already in bed. He could imagine her on top of the mattress, the sheets tangled between her legs and?—
Gritting his teeth, he went back inside the SUV. He’d been awake for more than twenty-four hours now, since she arrived last night. Lycans didn’t really need much sleep, and the longest he’d gone without it was five days during a quick job in Croatia a couple years back. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he connected it the entertainment system and put on the next episode of the podcast he had started last night. Podcasts were a good way to pass the time, especially on these overnight shifts, though tonight he was only half listening because he kept one eye up at Stella’s window.
Not like anything was going to happen.
Last night had been uneventful, and he guessed tonight would be no different. A strange protectiveness kept him on edge, though, which had not been present last night. Usually, he trusted his gut, but he couldn’t quite tell where these vibes were coming from—he only knew that he had to keep Stella safe and away from any danger.
Hours passed, and there was no movement from the window, not even a fluttering of the curtains. Dawn came, and then early morning, but he kept his vigil. The only time Cliff left was to grab a cup of coffee and a cheese and egg sandwich from the deli across the street.
By ten forty-five there was still no sign of her. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach, wondering what was going on with her.
Was she still sleeping?
Did she have breakfast or anything to eat?
What if something happened to her while she was asleep?
Panic rose in him, and he bolted out of the car. He was about to enter the lobby when he heard a familiar voice call his name.
“Cliff, you’re still here?” Charley asked as she bounded toward him.
“Charley?”
“Uh, yeah?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you okay? Did you get any sleep at all?”
“Can’t sleep, I’m on the clock,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m taking Stella out today to go sightseeing.” She frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“My job,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Didn’t anyone from the office contact you?”
“No?” At least he hadn’t checked his phone yet. “Sorry, my phone died. Plugged it in but I haven’t looked at it yet.”
“I remember when you used to be glued to your phone and obsessed with your follower count.” She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, last night, Devon told me that Stella wasn’t happy with having a security detail, and he felt terrible about having her tailed without her consent. So, he doesn’t want her followed anymore, at least not unless she really needs it. You can go home and get some shut-eye. You’ve certainly earned it.”
“I see.” Every muscle in his body tensed, as he fought the urge to argue with her. Stella had never been to New York before, and as evidenced by yesterday’s debacle on Fifth Avenue, she shouldn’t be out here on her own. He didn’t care if she wasn’t happy about it, because she certainly needed it.
But, he wasn’t the boss, and this was just a job.
“Hey, Charley! You’re here.”
Every nerve ending in Cliff’s body lit up at the sound of the sweet, melodic voice. When he turned to her, that same stunned sensation nearly knocked him on his ass. Stella looked utterly gorgeous this morning, with a blue beret on top of her head and her long blonde hair in a thick braid down one shoulder. He didn’t know anything about fashion but the simple blue dress she wore covered her from neck to ankle, and she still managed to look sexy. He wanted to wrap that braid around his hand and pull her?—
“Of course I’m here,” his sister said with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t ditch ya. You look great by the way. Love the outfit.”
“Thanks, I—” She stopped when her gaze landed on Cliff, and he did not miss the crestfallen expression on her face.
He ignored the knot that formed in his stomach.
Her lips pursing, she said, “Devon told me that he was going to stop with the security.”
“Cliff was about to head home,” Charley said in a diplomatic tone.
He shoved his hands in his pocket. “Yeah, I should get going. You guys need a ride or something?”
“Nah.” Charley waved a hand at him. “Subway’s faster and I want to take Stella on a tour of the real New York. But, thanks. For everything, I mean.” She gave him a quick hug.
Stella opened her mouth but snapped it shut.
He waited for her to say something—like, say, thank you for saving her life, which he just realized she hadn’t done at all. But as the awkward silence stretched on, he just shrugged and walked back to the SUV.
As he drove off, he took one last glance at the rearview mirror, watching as the two women walked toward the nearby subway station. He shifted his attention forward, focusing on the road ahead. After all, if there was anything Cliff had learned in the last six years, there was no use looking back on things that happened in the past.
At least he didn’t have to babysit Stella anymore, and didn’t have to be near her, at least not for a while. They would inevitably cross paths at some point in the future, as they would be forever linked through Charley and Devon, and the niece or nephew that would arrive sometime in the next months. But perhaps by then, he would have forgotten about her sky-blue eyes, her pliant curves, and her captivating scent.