Chapter Eight
For the first time, I told these big, protective bears everything—well, everything they needed to know. I told them about Synamon Honey and what happened in my apartment in those frightening moments after the livestream went black.
And the strangest thing happened. The fear went away. They knew I was Ellie and Synamon Honey. No one gasped or judged me because I entertained millions in nothing but makeup and my underwear. They just nodded, adding in a grunt here and there that was definitely bear for we’ll handle this.
I felt light. Free.
The danger was far from gone. My revelation did nothing to change the fact that some creep had broken into my house and tried to abduct me.
Barrett furrowed his brow when I got to the end of the story. “Are you sure that someone was waiting for him in the car?”
“Absolutely positive.” I shuddered as the scene played again in my mind. “The car was already running. He had trouble getting into the passenger’s seat because of that big, stupid bear head. And they sped off so fast they nearly hit one of my neighbors who was out walking his dog.”
“Serial killers rarely work with an accomplice,” Bellamy said.
“So we’d be smart to expand our search to look at other people, in addition to the Centerfold Slasher.
You fit his preferred victim profile a little too closely for anyone’s comfort, but this guy already has an established M.O.
With these guys, it’s about the ritual. Their signature.
I know he’s been locked away for a while, but it would be very unusual for him to get someone else involved. ”
I nodded as my blood turned to ice water in my veins.
“Unless he’s realized he needs to change with the times,” Barrett said.
“But I agree with Bellamy. Chances are, this isn’t the Centerfold Slasher, unless he’s trying to throw us off the trail.
But that doesn’t erase the fact that he was spotted at The Redheaded Stepchild during your performance, and he came back after we’d thrown his ass out.
So this guy is still on our radar, but we’ve got to expand the search.
Can you think of anyone else who could be holding a grudge against you? ”
Just like that, the fear came back. I’d been careful to only tell them about Synamon Honey. After all, she was the one who’d captivated the Centerfold Slasher. No one would ever pay that kind of attention to Ellie, and I liked it that way.
You’re thinking of yourself in third person, my bear said. You’re not protecting her the way you think you are.
I met Brad’s gaze. I’d been aware of it on me ever since he’d walked into Forever Home, that big, silent, captivating presence. He’d been quiet there, letting his coworkers take the lead until I almost made a break for it.
Now he’d been broody and protective as I confessed my secret identity. I scanned the main players once again, picking up on the power dynamic at Sawtooth Security.
Brad had something to prove.
Because he’s your—
“You haven’t told me about Ellie,” Brad said before my bear had a chance to make any ridiculous proclamations about my bear in shining security.
“I am Ellie,” I said defensively. “Synamon is just a character.”
Is she? Or is Ellie the character? My bear challenged. What would it be like to give up some of that control? To let someone actually see you, not your carefully curated image?
It was the thing I would never let myself admit I’d been desperately longing for. I was tired of leading a double life. But I didn’t know how to stop.
Take the first step, my bear urged. Let them help you.
“I work as a city auditor.” Every word shook like it was afraid I’d snatch it back from the ether.
But I couldn’t. The bears leaned forward to catch every drop of my secrets.
My voice barely had volume. “It’s mostly just paperwork.
Procedure. Things that are really boring but make sure everything runs quietly in the background. ”
“What happens when it’s not just paperwork?” Bellamy asked.
I swallowed hard. “Some people have had choice words for me. Others filed lawsuits, trying to get my decisions reversed. But it’s not my decision, it’s the law.”
Barrett nodded. “Has anything else happened that you’d consider retaliation?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t ready to tell them my clan called land like that home at one time.
“Humans have taken so much from us already. So I went over that application with a fine-tooth comb until I found a problem and rejected it. And apparently, they’re not used to taking no for an answer.”
“Is that why you keep that job?” Brad asked. “To protect shifters?”
“It’s not the only reason.” I didn’t mean to be so defensive, but I wasn’t used to discussing anything about my life outside of my inner circle, which pretty much consisted of Jen, since she was the only one who knew I lived a double life.
She had to be worried sick about me. We talked almost every day.
Emotion pricked my eyes but now wasn’t the time to lose it.
I chuckled, trying to lighten the moment, but it was the worst performance I’d given in a long time.
“Synamon Honey can’t last forever. I’ve got to think about the future. ”
“It’s not wise for you to go back to Boise while this guy—and possibly other people with motive—are on the loose,” Barrett said. “My suggestion is you stay here. With us. We have a safe house available.”
My heart dropped into my stomach. Logically, I understood he was right. But I’d been living in this fantasy bubble for so long, I was having a hard time believing it.
“How will I be safer there than in my apartment?”
“Brad will be with you twenty-four-seven,” Barrett added.
My gaze shifted to Brad, who was just as caught off guard with this news as I was.
It might not be so bad to spend some time up close and personal with the protective bear, my own animal suggested. He’s hardly a chore to look at. Maybe you can incorporate him into some of your routines…
My routines.
“So you just want me to stay in some remote cabin until you find the person who’s trying to unalive me?
” My body heat spiked, and my Ellie instincts wanted to follow her favorite script—run and hide.
But I believed that Brad would chase me.
But there were no guarantees he’d be the one to find me this time.
“What about my life? My business?” I crossed my arms defiantly.
“I won’t do it unless I can keep performing as Synamon Honey. ”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted this to be a deal breaker or not.
Barrett, Bellamy, and Brad all looked at each other, considering my bribe. I hated to admit it felt good to be around bears that didn’t bat an eyelash at the fact I had a double life.
“We have the capability of scrambling the signal,” Bellamy said. “She should be able to broadcast without anyone knowing where she is.”
“I don’t have any of my equipment.” I wasn’t sure how much of it survived the attack. I had a vague memory of things crashing to the floor. And I hadn’t locked the door on the way out, so moon only knew what was still there.
“We can reach out to Stephanie from The Real Werewives and ask if she can loan us what we need. She’s local,” Barrett said. “Make a list, because that’s out of my area of expertise.”
“What’s our endgame?” Brad asked. “Do we want Ellie to completely disappear? And what about the Centerfold Slasher?”
I couldn’t breathe. “You mean, you want people to think I’m dead? I… I need to call Jen. She’s been my best friend since we were eight years old. She’ll be worried sick if she doesn’t hear from me.”
“Jen told me your real identity without putting up much of a fight.” Brad’s words were tipped with a protective growl. “I’m not sure she’s the best person to keep your secrets.”
It took everything I had to keep my fur and claws inside my human skin. “Are you saying she’s responsible for this?”
“No, I’m saying that she’s too trusting, and maybe you are too.
” Brad met my gaze, and the fire in his eyes left no room for argument, but then he softened.
“Ellie needs to disappear for a little while. But Synamon Honey? You need to crank her to eleven. I’d suggest that we don’t scramble the system all the way. ”
Now it was Barrett and Bellamy’s turn to wear shocked expressions. I had a feeling not much rattled these bears.
But Brad had shown more than once that he was willing to take a chance to keep me safe. I wasn’t sure if it comforted me or rattled me right down to my core.
He’s your—
“You want to set a trap for the Centerfold Slasher,” Bellamy finally suggested before my bear had a chance to wax poetic about my bodyguard.
Barrett nodded. “If we’re dealing with a professional, or even a fan that’s overstepped their boundaries, they found her once. And they didn’t finish the job. They’ll be back.”
A chill went down my spine at that realization.
“Can we just do this from my apartment?” I pleaded, hoping to hold onto a shred of normalcy in my life. “I shouldn’t have to lose everything because of some creep.”
Brad got out of his chair and came over to me. Drinking in his delicious heat seemed greedy and irresponsible. But it gave me a moment of relief. It let me believe the fantasy that I was safe with him watching me.
“You’re not losing everything.” He put his hand on top of mine. “You’re still performing as Synamon Honey. You get to control the narrative. You have the power, Ellie.”
I scanned the room. All eyes were on me. These bears were all muscle, waiting on my command.
“So if I do this, we’ll find the person who’s trying to kill me?”
Barrett nodded. “I guarantee it.”
I took a deep breath. Why was I so reluctant to let these bears help me?
“I’m in.”