Chapter 5 #2
Then he’d spent the next years listening to every Alyssa story Vic had.
Night after night, especially in the boring tundra of Alaska, regaling him with stories of Alyssa saying something smart, Alyssa being brave, Alyssa getting in trouble with a boyfriend before kicking the bastard’s ass.
If he hadn’t been interested in her before those months in Alaska, he sure as hell was afterward.
And now she was here with him. But she was different than he remembered and very different than the sassy, vibrant sister Vic told stories about.
Now she was tense, focused, and with a dark edge to her humor.
That ought to make her less appealing, but it made her more so.
Life had tempered her girlish charm into steel.
And nothing appealed to both bear and man like a beautiful woman who could stand up to him.
Who could dig out a bullet from his side and force-cajole him into coming down to Detroit.
Her choices were foolhardy, to be sure, but he had to admire the chutzpah.
More than admire, his bear was ready to declare her a mate, and that was a kettle of worms he dared not open.
Meanwhile, Alyssa drove into the parking lot of a three-story apartment building. Though the blacktop was cracked with weeds, there was a brand-new carport, and she pulled into the first space. “He built that,” she said, a note of pride in her voice. “Kept him in beer and babes for a month.”
“Only a month?” he asked.
She shot him a dry look. “He’s living here rent-free.”
“You own the building?”
She flashed him a smile. “Bought it a few years ago for a song. Detroit real estate being what it is.” Then she turned to the squat rectangle structure with a fond smile.
“It’s ugly, but it’s all mine. Laundromat on the first floor, apartments on two and three.
” Then she gestured to the brightly lit interior. “I used to work here.”
He nodded. “I remember.”
“So when old Mr. Delgado wanted to sell, I sweet-talked him into selling everything to me.”
He’d bet everything that she had negotiated like a tigress and that they’d both loved every second of it.
He would have said just that, but his senses were locking in to the city.
The noise was constant, the lights dizzying even in this poorly maintained neighborhood, and the smells made his stomach churn.
His bear didn’t like any of it, grumbling in his mental cage, but the man sorted through the sounds.
Cars, trucks. Music from down the street.
A couple arguing closer by, but not a threat.
Both man and beast hated the poisonous city smells, but it wasn’t as bad as he’d feared.
Alyssa pushed through the front of the laundromat. The space was clean, the machines well maintained though aging, and the scent of chewy brownies and caramel popcorn wafted out in a sweet puff. He heard someone inside munching and words from someone else.
“Put that away,” said a young man. “You’re going to be high as a kite while you walk home.”
“But it’s so good,” muttered a woman.
Simon stepped inside and saw a young black man lounging against a counter, his frame thin, but the muscles already bulging.
His face was all good-natured cheer as he shook his head at a middle-aged woman in a muumuu that hung on her moderate frame.
She was a large woman who’d recently lost weight, and she shoved another handful of popcorn into her mouth before firmly shutting the lid on a brown tin.
Right next to her, a dryer was going with a dizzying array of colors tumbling around inside.
“Lyssa! Good to see you,” the woman called. “I been sharing my popcorn with Malik here.”
The boy raised his clean hands and shook his head. “I ain’t touched a crumb. That’s all you, Ms. Turley.”
“Have the migraines been bad lately?” Alyssa asked as the dryer dinged and slowed.
“Plumb awful,” the woman responded as she popped the tin open again and grabbed another handful. “I could barely see to come here tonight.”
“Then you sit down and rest. Malik—”
“I’ll fold up your dresses nice and neat for you, Ms. Turley,” the boy said as he crossed to the dryer and began pulling out muumuus in a blinding array of colors and designs. Apparently, he’d done this a lot because he didn’t even blink when he shook out some very large underwear.
“Well, thank you boy. Don’t mind if—”
“And I think you should put this away for now,” Alyssa interrupted as she neatly grabbed the popcorn tin and set it out of the woman’s reach. “Save it for tomorrow.”
Which is when Simon finally remembered that scent. Cannabis on the popcorn and a baggie filled with brownies. And also from Ms. Turley’s pores. Lord, just standing near her was giving his bear a contact high.
Meanwhile, Alyssa stepped behind the counter, obviously checking on things while Malik finished with the woman’s laundry. A few minutes later, the lady was carrying a basket of muumuus and brownies out the door.
“Be careful walking home, Ms. Turley,” Malik called.
“I will,” she called back in an exuberant singsong. “I surely will.”
The door shut behind her, but Simon listened to her tuneless humming as she walked away. Then his attention was taken by Malik, who had straightened to his full height as he looked at Alyssa. “Been a busy night down the street. About average here.”
Alyssa nodded as she shut the cash register. “Looks good,” she finally said. “Any other problems?”
“No, ma’am.” The response was as sharp as a salute and Alyssa patted his arm.
“Then keep on keeping on. We’ll be downstairs.”
The boy nodded, still standing straight as an arrow as she walked through to the back of the laundromat.
Simon followed a step behind watching everything as they stepped into the main hallway of the apartment building.
There were only two apartments on this floor.
The laundromat took up the rest. When he thought she’d go to one of the doors, she surprised him.
She headed to the back staircase and down to the basement level.
“Who’s the pot dealer? Malik? You?” he asked.
“It’s legal now or mostly, so don’t give me any attitude.”
At the moment, the attitude was all hers. He was just gathering facts. “You’re not a legal dispensary.”
She shot him a look. “And I’m not dealing. Neither is Malik.” She jerked her chin toward the street. “It’s two doors down. About half my business comes from people starting laundry here then wandering down there.”
He thought about it and understood the economics of the situation.
He also didn’t have any moral outrage. It was a complicated world and people did what they needed to get by.
Besides, there was more than enough for him to process when they pushed into the basement floor where metal cages surrounded storage.
Apartment numbers were written on small signs attached to each padlocked door, protecting boxes and old furniture in a slightly musty display.
All except one cage with the number one on it. In it was a cot and a very angry brother. Vic stood as soon as they entered, a look of fury on his face.
“What the fuck, Alyssa? You didn’t have to keep me locked up.”
She stepped onto the concrete floor and Simon slipped in beside her. She moved forward quickly, but stopped just short of his reach. “How do you feel?”
Four words but they held a wealth of meaning. Simon couldn’t understand all the undercurrents, but he guessed she was equal parts afraid of her brother and afraid for him.
“I’m fine, Lys. Really, I am.” Then his gaze caught Simon’s and relief cascaded through his features.
Vic was a large man with hard, ropy muscles, but his face was as expressive as the most innocent of children.
Every emotion flashed on his features and shocked relief screamed loud enough that even Simon could see it. “You came. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“You risked your sister’s life in sending her to me.”
Both Alyssa and Vic jolted at that. Vic opened his mouth to speak, but Simon didn’t give them the chance.
“And now that she knows what I am, my life is at risk. Many alphas would kill for such a transgression.” It was an exaggeration, but it wasn’t a lie.
Fortunately, Carl—the new leader of the Gladwin bear clan—was known to be rational.
Some even called him progressive, and among shifters, that was a rarity.
“I didn’t know, Simon.” Vic gripped the chain-link fence around his cage. “But you’re the only one who can help me. I’m changing into a monster.” His voice had tightened with fear, but Simon ignored it.
“You risked my life and hers for a lie.” He stepped right up to the fence. “You are not my friend.” He glanced over at Alyssa. “And he is a terrible brother.” With a nod to her, Simon completed his turn and began walking back to the stairs. Behind him, Vic called out.
“Wait! Simon, I’m not lying.” He rattled the edge of the cage and cursed. “Damn it, Alyssa, let me out! Simon!”
He heard the rattle of keys as Alyssa unlocked the cage. Her voice shook as she spoke. “Is he right, Vic? Is this all some kind of stunt?”
“No!” Vic’s answer was vehement, but it was Alyssa’s cry of surprise that had Simon spinning around.
He caught sight of Alyssa flying backward into the next cage, propelled by the force of Vic pushing his cage open.
Even more surprising, the metal frame of the door banged backward hard enough to bend, and the clang was deafening.
That was a surprise to everyone. Vic paused a moment, his eyes widening as his sister caught herself against the opposite cage and pulled herself upright. But then his attention spun back to Simon.
“Come back here!” Vic bellowed, the cry deeper than a moment before. And a scent pervaded the area. Thick, oily, and nauseating. It was nothing Simon had ever smelled before, and the word “wrong” screamed in his head.