Chapter 5
Stealth
I was able to follow her around town without her seeing me, but when I pulled back into the parking lot, I could smell the rage, so I quickly shifted and did a perimeter check while she was carrying her boxes inside. When it dawns on me that the fucker came back, and we were only gone for a short time, I need to put my eyes on her, so I shift back and quickly dress, then knock on her door. I know immediately when she’s on the other side, so I state, “Nicole, I know you’re home, your car is in the parking lot. Let me in.”
Her sweet voice mumbles but I’m able to hear her say, “Don’t have to ask me twice,” before a ridiculous number of locks and whatnot are disengaged and she flings it open.
Seeing her face covered in tears, I can’t resist pulling her close and cupping her face in my hands as I swipe my thumbs across her cheeks in a useless move because she doesn’t stop weeping. “Why are you crying?” I ask. “What has upset you?”
Her beautiful eyes hold me captive, while my wolf wants to take over and find the threat so he can eradicate it. The fear wafting off my mate has my senses on high alert. The overwhelming stench of the man from the diner has me nearly murderous, especially since I know she’s terrified and trembling at this point.
Instead of answering, she burrows even closer to me, her arms wrapping around my waist as she breaks into hysterical sobbing. My hands are now buried in her hair while I try to soothe her so I can understand what she’s currently stammering. Granted, my wolf doesn’t want to wait for her explanation, but there’s no way I’ll go off half-cocked in a place where I’m not known. So, I murmur nonsensical things while moving my hands across her back. I barely manage to keep from growling as her scent envelops me; pumpkin pie and the smell of freshly cut grass after it rains. Both are favorites from growing up, so it’s not lost on me that perhaps Mother Earth has a sense of humor since my mate smells like home to me.
Because she is going to be your home, dumbass!
Once she calms somewhat, I ask again, “Why are you crying? Who or what has upset you?”
Instead of answering, she turns while grabbing my hand and attempts to drag me behind her. It’s nearly laughable, because of our size difference, but when I grasp that she wants me to move with her, I do so until we come to a room that looks like it was tossed on its side then righted again. “What the hell happened?”
“That’s what I want to know too!” she wails, her arms waving back and forth in front of her. “I got stuck working for a few hours today, but when I came home, I started in here since most of the rest of the place is done, only I ran out of boxes. So, I went and got more boxes, ate dinner since I was already out and about, then came home to this. I swear, Stealth, it wasn’t like this when I left!”
“I believe you, darlin’,” I reply, having already picked up the scent of the man I ‘met’ while at the diner earlier today. “How long has this been going on?” I inquire, barely keeping my anger in check because both me and my wolf are infuriated that someone was in our mate’s den.
“This is the second time,” she admits. “The other day, it was all the boxes that are now stacked up in the living room.”
“Did you call the police? Why didn’t you call and tell Tressa? We’d have been here right away.”
I watch her shoulders drop before she practically falls onto the bed, tears steadily streaming from her eyes once again. When she sits up, I know she’s ready to explain her reaction, as she swipes her hands against her cheeks while taking a few deep breaths. “Okay, so, right before Tressa left for the book signing, I had felt as though someone was coming in and moving stuff, because I might occasionally forget I’ve done something, like put up dirty dishes, you know, that kind of thing? But not all the dang time! And it was happening a lot. Then, everything happened with Tressa, and I left in a hurry, so when I got home, I figured maybe I did forget to make my bed, and shrugged it off. Now, though, I know I didn’t pack up boxes, then tear them open and throw the contents around!”
“Nicole, who would be stalking you to this extent?”
It takes everything in me to keep my temper in check. I don’t want to scare her, but someone is obviously looking for something based on the current destruction I can see. What if they decide to go after her? My wolf snarls in my chest, anxious to protect our mate.
“I don’t know! I mean, I go to work, come home, and am otherwise something of a homebody. When Tressa was here, of course, we’d go out to eat, or shopping, but since we’re getting ready to move this whole place, it makes no sense to buy more stuff that’ll have to be hauled to Zephyr Hills! So, I haven’t done any of that.”
“What about an ex of yours or hers? Any family member holding a grudge?”
I watch her scrunch her nose as she looks toward the ceiling, occasionally shaking her head as she goes through people she knows. At least, that’s my presumption, but regardless, she’s fucking adorable while she does it; she wears her emotions on her face, which bodes well for me down the road.
“I mean, Tressa’s stepmonster loathes her, but I can’t see her doing something like this, because in her mind, Tressa’s so far beneath her, she wouldn’t stoop to something so classless, if that makes sense to you. Nancy is all about appearances, so stalking or even worse, breaking and entering, would never cross her mind. She’s the type that would spread an ugly rumor around, one likely to destroy someone, before she’d lift her own hands and dirty them.”
“Okay, doesn’t sound like something this bitch would be involved in,” I reply. “What about exes?”
“I… well, it could be one of my exes,” she slowly admits. “But why do something like this after all this time? We were through a long time ago, before I ever met Tressa, in fact. So why now?”
“Fuck if I know. Maybe he heard y’all were moving? Did he have things he left here?” My wolf gouges my insides at those words, but it’s a legitimate question; she’s a beautiful woman and didn’t know me before Tressa and Chaos got together. So, for me to expect she would remain in a locked case, chaste and untouched, is ridiculous as far as I’m concerned.
“No, I don’t think so. When he broke up with me, I gathered all his stuff, put it in bags, and then set it out by the curb.”
“Could you have forgotten something?” Because my bet’s on the ex being the one coming inside and doing what’s been done. Especially since there’s at least one television that would fetch a pretty penny at the pawn shop or be sold on the street corner for someone looking to fence stolen items. I can also see a jewelry box on her dresser which hasn’t been touched. Granted, I have no clue if it’s full of costume jewelry or not, but most burglars would just grab and go, not take the time to search through shit. Plus, she wasn’t gone all that long, which means they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pick and choose.
“Maybe? I don’t really know. He had a game system and some games, a few jackets, two hats, a pair of shoes, and some other odds and ends, but I got all of those. Except like I said, we’ve been over for years , Stealth, and I haven’t let anyone get that close again.”
“Has he tried to contact you?” I ask, while my wolf prances around at the thought she hasn’t really dated since that fucker. Why he’s acting like this is anyone’s guess but if I had to do so, I think it’s because he knows she’s not pining over someone else.
“Not that I’m aware of, but I blocked his number, so if he’s tried to call using that, I wouldn’t know.”
“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m calling Fox to let him know, then Chaos, which means Tressa will know here shortly, so brace yourself. We’re getting y’all out of here sooner than expected.”
“But I’m working out a two-week notice!” she exclaims, standing up and glaring at me.
Well, at least she’s not crying any longer, which makes my wolf happy. He’d prefer seeing her feisty and ready to fight against whoever is fucking with her.
“You need to let your boss know that shit’s changed, Nicole,” I reply, using my SAA voice. Instead of her shoulders slumping in acquiescence, I watch her square them, take a deep breath and prepare to fuss. “No, ma’am, not this time,” I retort. “Someone’s fucking with you, and since you know what I am, you gotta know, it’s fucking with my wolf. You belong to us, and he’s ready to go on a rampage through this town until he catches the scent of the fucker who is doing this so he can shred him.”
“You can’t do that,” she whispers, her eyes wide in shock. “You’ll get caught and then the club will really hate me!”
“The club doesn’t hate you, babe,” I tell her. “You gotta understand the guys aren’t really used to a lot of normal women being around, just the club girls.”
She starts giggling then says, “Yeah, don’t think I could be mistaken for one of those.”
Why do I feel as though she’s putting herself down? It pisses me off because she’s more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever met. Maybe it’s the fated mate thing, maybe not, but regardless of the circumstances, I won’t have my woman doing that to herself. Whoever fucked with her sense of self will have a lot to answer for if I ever find them. No matter their shape or size, women are beautiful, period.
“Not that I’ll ever give you the chance to find out, but woman, if you think you wouldn’t attract that kind of attention, you need to think again. Do you understand me?” I question her.
“I think you have to say that, if what Tressa told me is real,” she murmurs, no longer meeting my gaze.
“Look at me, Nini,” I command, gentling my voice as much as I can. It must work because her eyes meet mine and I continue. “If Tressa told you that you were my mate, she’s correct in that aspect. You are. That being said, we’re going to wait to deal with that until I have you safe and tucked away in Zephyr Hills. But outside of that, I don’t want to hear you bashing yourself again. If it was an ex who made you feel as though no one would want you, well, they’re an ex for a reason so fuck them. Because my opinion is the only one that matters, and I think you’re fucking perfect.”
“I’ll… I’ll try,” she replies. “But, Stealth, just to say, it’s been something I’ve heard most of my life. What he said just reinforced it is all.”
“Well, I’m the one who’ll knock those reinforcements down so much they’ll look like toothpicks. Now, you go call your boss while I get in touch with the club.”
* * *
I head outside for privacy and call Fox. “Yeah?”
“Hey, listen, we need to move them in the next few days. Gonna need some more muscle because something hinky’s happening, Brother,” I say.
“What’s going on, Stealth?” His voice is more alert, which I’m grateful for since I need my president’s head in the game. I may be the club’s SAA, but he earned his position due to his ability to think multiple steps ahead of any situation. He’s always one chess piece ahead of the board which is why he wins against his opponents no matter what the stakes are. “Should I call the brothers in and have church?”
“Naw, you can share the info once we’re off the phone. Gonna call Chaos next, though. What’s happening is someone is stalking Nicole and probably has been for quite some time. My wolf picked up on the rancid scent of hate around their place, but when she came back this evening with more boxes and I realized the scent was strong again, I knocked on the door. The fucker was inside, Brother,” I growl out, my anger building once again. “And it wasn’t the first time, either. It happened after she got back, but before that, she had occasionally noticed stuff appeared to be moved, only she chalked it up to having done it herself, or even Tressa having done it.”
“Do you know who the dead motherfucker is?” Fox asks once I give him a break to speak.
“Funny you should ask that, Fox. I was eating at a diner and actually bumped into the asshole. No clue what his name is, but it doesn’t matter in the long run, does it?” I counter.
“No, not really. Okay, I’ll let everyone know, including Chaos. You keep your woman safe, and we’ll be there probably tomorrow afternoon. I know I’ve overheard Tressa talk about donating shit, but at this point, I’d feel better if we were on our own turf. They can give away shit once we have them safe behind our own walls, Brother.”
“I agree. I’ll help her fix shit and let her know what the plan is,” I reply. “Y’all ride safe, Brother, see you tomorrow.”
Disconnecting the call, I check around the property once again, before I head back inside, making sure I lock the door behind me. “Nicole?” I call out since she’s not in the living room. My gaze sweeps the room, but it looks as though she’s got everything packed out here except for the furniture and the television. I smirk when I see the throw at the end of the couch; her scent emanates from that area, so I know it’s ‘her spot’ and mentally promise to create a haven for her in our rooms, my wolf rumbling his approval.
“I’m back here,” she replies.
Technically, I have no problem finding her, since her scent is like a beacon on a lighthouse, calling to me and showing me my way home, but I need to remember that she’s human and I need to behave accordingly. Well, she’s human right now. Once I claim her, I’m looking forward to meeting her wolf. I suspect she’s going to be a gorgeous chocolate brown, maybe with some red highlights. I shake my head at my current thoughts; the priority right now is keeping her safe until my brothers arrive.
“What are you doing?” I ask, stepping across the threshold of her room.
“I’m getting my clothes packed into suitcases. Makes it easier to move them,” she says.
“Glad you’re still packing. How did your boss take your call?”
“She wasn’t happy, but she understood. I gave her the address for the clubhouse for my last paycheck. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s more than fine, darlin’,” I state. “Spoke to Fox, they’ll be here tomorrow at some point with the truck. We’ll get it all loaded up and then head back to Zephyr Hills.”
“But… but Tressa said it wasn’t going to be a quick trip like that, we’d have time to donate what we didn’t want to keep,” she replies.
“Fox figures since there’s a stalker, it’s better to pack it all up, then worry about what’s going to be donated when we get back home,” I advise. I see some of the tension ease from her shoulders and realize she’s far more afraid and tense than I was aware.
“Maybe that’s for the best,” she murmurs before she turns to her dresser and starts putting clothes inside the opened suitcase once again.
“Tell me what you want me to take care of,” I instruct. She grins at me and goes over to the boxes that were torn open.
“Can you make me new boxes to replace the ones that were destroyed? Some will be able to be used, but I don’t want Tressa worrying, so figured I’d toss any of them that were damaged.”
“You won’t be able to keep it from her forever, Nini,” I warn.
“I’ll do what I can for the time being,” she retorts. “Once I’m done with the dresser, I’ll start repacking the stuff. Since it sounds like they’ll be here at any time, and now I don’t have to work tomorrow, I don’t have to worry about stopping at a particular time to go to bed.”
“You’re not staying up all night, Nicole. We’ll get it done so you can get some rest.”
“Whatever, Stealth,” she sasses. “I’ll stay up as long as I need to in order to make sure it’s taken care of and that’s that.”
“We’ll see.”