Jazz woke to an empty bed. Rafe was gone. Had he left her? She pressed a fist to her chest. It hurt. She didn’t want to lose him. He was hers.
And she was his.
She groaned. Exactly. She was his true mate. He wouldn’t leave her. Why would he? She’d brought him peace. Bridged him and his cats.
She took slow breaths until the tightness in her chest eased.
He was probably taking his turn patrolling the grounds. The selfless man who’d wormed his way into her heart would probably feel guilty sleeping all night in a comfy bed while his brothers and friends were stuck in the woods.
She threw the sheet off and walked to the window. Maybe she’d catch sight of him.
Jazz scanned the yard. Devin’s SUV was parked a few feet onto the grass, and Mira stood near the tree line, gazing into the woods. No sign of Rafe, though.
She waited for another wave of self-doubt to grip her. It didn’t. Whether it was the sight of Mira alone or Jazz’s own rationalization that calmed her, she knew wherever Rafe had gone, he’d return soon.
She blew out a slow breath. Besides, Rafe said nothing was more important than her and her boys.
She made her way to the bathroom. Rafe’s bag sat in the corner, and his tooth brush rested neatly in the center of a folded washcloth. She ran her finger over the handle. A smile spread over her face. She’d have to get another toothbrush holder installed and clear out space for his things in the medicine cabinet.
If they ended up staying here.
Three generations of her family had lived in this house. She glanced at the old claw-foot tub. It’d break her heart to leave, but as with anything, she’d do what was best for her family.
A quick shower later, she slipped out of the room and checked on the kids. Even though it was almost lunchtime, both her boys and Megan slept sprawled over their beds as if they didn’t have a care in the world. The sight of them, safe and at ease, brought a smile to Jazz’s lips. With Rafe by her side, she was confident they’d stay that way.
She tiptoed down the front stairs. Her house was big, but not enough to comfortably sleep the number of people she suddenly had staying with her. The rest of Rafe’s family had camped out in her living room. She didn’t want to wake anyone. Shifter or not, they needed sleep, and if they were anything like her kids, they’d be out for another couple of hours.
At the bottom of the staircase, she reached for the banister to steady herself. A lion and a jaguar had taken over her sofas. The sheer size of them stopped her heart. Memories of accidently waking her boys returned. She carried scars from those learning experiences. The adult predators mere feet from her could do a whole lot more damage. Devin had proven that the night before with the mark he’d left on Josh.
Movement caught her eye. Josh leaned against the doorjamb with a cup of coffee in his hand. He wore a loose gray tee and sleep shorts, but it didn’t appear as if he’d slept much. Red, blurry eyes met hers. He waved her over. Her gaze strayed to the big, furry bodies separating them. Josh cocked a brow, as if asking her what she was waiting for.
He was right. She was being silly for hesitating. Her kids hadn’t known better when they’d scratched her, and she didn’t fear Rafe hurting her, not in his human form or as a big cat. His friends and brothers wouldn’t either.
She made her way around the sofas but suddenly stopped. Josh had looked tired, but not as if he’d just been dragged through the gutter. He should’ve after his fight with Devin. She flicked her gaze back to Josh.
No swollen eye or bruises, and in the place of the raw open wounds on his cheek, four scars remained. He turned, then disappeared down the hallway.
She rushed forward and tripped over something furry. She fell, but human arms banded around her and saved her from face planting onto the floor. The man holding her yanked her against his chest. His warm breath bathed her neck. A scream crawled up her throat, but he clamped his hand over her mouth before the sound escaped.
She froze.
“Settle down. I won’t hurt you,” Xander’s voice drifted to her.
Eyes closed, she concentrated on slowing her heartbeat. Once she calmed, he dropped his hand but didn’t release her. He pulled her closer.
The growing erection pressing against her back threatened to speed her pulse again, but she forced the fear deep. Rafe wouldn’t leave her in a situation where she might get hurt.
“Let me go.”
“In a minute.” He hissed out a breath. “You woke me, and now I have a beautiful woman’s body in my arms. You’ll embarrass us both if you turn around. Shifters don’t magically retain our clothes, you know, and there’s no way I can hide my stiff shaft. If your male finds out you aroused me, he’ll beat me.”
“Don’t be silly. Rafe wouldn’t do that.”
“Sure he would. He likes to fight just as much as the rest of us. Maybe more so. He’s got a lot of anger built up inside him. He’s only putting on a good face for you so he doesn’t frighten you away.” Xander gave a half-shrug she felt against her back. “Can’t blame the guy. He was unfortunate enough to be stuck with a human as a true mate.”
She tilted her head to meet Xander’s gaze. His long hair hung in disarray around him, giving him a roguish appearance. He probably relied on his good looks to pick up dates. Or maybe that kilt he’d worn the day before did the trick. She didn’t know of any woman who wouldn’t do a double take at the sight of a shirtless man in a kilt. Because his attitude certainly wouldn’t score him many points—gorgeous or not.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Humans can’t handle the realities of shifter life or what it means to mate one of us. It puts a lot of pressure on him.”
“He seemed quite happy about it last night. He even said I bridged him and brought him peace.”
“Sure, I’d imagine it’d be nice not to have to fight with the animals we’re stuck with all the time, but that’s all he’ll get from you. It’s not like you’ll ever give him kids. But he’s old. Rafe might not care about breeding anymore.”
She stared, wide-eyed, at him. “We won’t be able to have kids?”
“No.” He sighed. “Rafe hasn’t discussed mating you yet, has he?”
She shook her head. No words would form. Xander’s confession cut her heart open. She’d never have Rafe’s kids.
Never be pregnant.
Xander cursed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been the one to tell you that.”
“But you did. Explain it to me. Please.”
“Genetics. You’re a different species.”
“Oh.” She swallowed hard.
“Like I said. Rafe’s old. If he still cared about passing on his genes, he wouldn’t be with you.” Xander awkwardly patted her arm, then turned away.
She stood there a moment more and debated whether or not to ask him more about what mating Rafe meant, but he was right. Rafe should be the one who told her. And maybe that was why he didn’t bring it up last night. He didn’t want to upset her by telling her she wouldn’t carry his kids.
Jazz pivoted and ran the rest of the way to the kitchen before her doubts could consume her. She would trust in Rafe. He’d said nothing was more important than her and her boys. Nothing.
The kitchen door banged shut behind her.
Josh stood at the counter, his fingers flying over her laptop, and a toasted bagel on a dish next to him. No sign of stiffness and no evidence of his injuries except for the scar.
“What happened to you?”
Josh raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
She crossed the room and propped a hip against the counter next to him. “Last night you looked as if you were lucky to have survived the fight. Today you’re no worse for wear.”
“Mira took care of me.” Josh continued typing on the computer.
“How?”
“It’s not important.” He ran a hand through his hair and made the ends stand in spikes. “So I guess you and I are over, huh?”
“We haven’t been an item since college.”
He captured a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger. “But you were thinking about getting back with me.”
She pulled the strands free and smoothed a hand down the length of her hair. “Let’s not talk about this right now.”
“I think we should. You and Rafe are getting serious, and I want to make sure it’s what you want. Mira implied that being with a shifter was dangerous.”
“I imagine it would be. Not everyone would be as accepting of their species differences as we are.”
“I’m talking about on a personal level. Mira said mating a human was far from easy. Dangerous is the word she used.”
“Dangerous? How?”
“She wouldn’t say.” He bent closer and caught her gaze. “But I don’t like the idea of you being with Rafe if it’s going to put you at risk.”
Well, neither did she. But how would loving Rafe be dangerous? He’d told her…
“I’m special to Rafe. His true mate. He won’t hurt me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Physically or emotionally.”
Josh sighed. “Okay, but if you have any doubts, you come to me. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“I know you’d take care of me, but this thing with Rafe is real. Different than what we had.” She inwardly cursed at her word choice. “I’m not saying that to be cruel. You were a wonderful boyfriend.” She peeked at him, then quickly lowered her gaze. “In all ways. But with Rafe, it’s—”
“It’s as if he’s the man you’ve always been waiting for. True love or something, right?”
The romantic description wasn’t something she expected from him. She studied Josh for some explanation but his neutral expression didn’t give her any clues as to the reason for his uncharacteristic words.
“Yes. Exactly. He fits me.”
Josh grunted as if that was the answer he expected. “And he was okay with your explanation of how you found Seth and Levi?”
“I haven’t told him yet.”
“You’ve got to tell him. If he doesn’t like your—”
“I didn’t steal them. I rescued them. Let’s leave it at that.”
“No, let’s not. Why did you rescue them? And from where?”
“Have you seen Rafe?” Jazz asked to change the subject.
Josh stared at her for a long moment, then exhaled roughly, obviously accepting her diversion. “He drove back to Virginia this morning to meet with some shifter agent.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “He didn’t mention he was planning to go anywhere.”
“He was in a rush when I saw him, if that makes you feel better.”
“Well, did he say why he left so early?” Without bothering to wake her.
“He got some important information out of Megan that he wanted to pass on. He didn’t go into details, but he did invite me to go with him so I don’t think it’s anything secret. I couldn’t, though.” He motioned the closed computer. “Had to deal with Tony’s stuff. Rafe promised to fill me in when he got back.”
A rock landed in her stomach. She’d been so caught up in her own crazy life that she hadn’t offered to help Josh.
“What else needs to be done? Just tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“Nothing. It’s all arranged. We’re having Tony cremated. We’ll have the memorial service later, after things settle down. All the financial stuff, my cousin will handle. His wife’s a lawyer. So we’re all good.” He rolled his shoulders. “Except for the moving on part.”
“He’s going to be missed by a lot of people. Tony was a good man.”
Josh grunted. “I’m not so sure about that, but I loved him. He was my brother. He also brought Megan into our lives, so I won’t judge him.”
“Judge him how?”
He flexed his hands, and the sound of his knuckles cracking fit the hard line of his mouth. “He was involved in some stuff I don’t approve of.”
“What kind of stuff?”
The angry expression he wore suggested whatever Tony had been involved in had been bad. She couldn’t imagine what, though.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
And Josh wouldn’t. The tone he used left no room for discussion.
“Okay, but if you change your mind, I’m here.” She gave his hand a squeeze.
“Thanks.”
His angry expression didn’t lessen. He stood there vibrating with rage. She wanted to push him to open up, but she knew better. He wouldn’t share things unless he knew they were facts. Pestering him would only succeed in pushing him away.
“Hey, why don’t you go back to bed? Try and get some sleep. You look tired.”
“Yeah, I think I will.” Josh walked to the hallway door without another word. It banged shut behind him.
Jazz poured a cup of coffee, then headed outside. Maybe Mira had more details about Megan and why Rafe would rush out so early.
The ringing landline stopped her. Jazz rushed to grab the phone before it woke someone. “Hello?”
“Jazz, it’s Cindy. I need to see you. Now.”
The panic in Cindy’s voice set Jazz on edge, but she knew better than to agree. It wasn’t safe for her to go anywhere.
“I can’t. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.” Cindy choked on a sob. “I’ve been…umm…having an affair…well, two. Jack found out. He left me, Jazz. Packed up the kids and left.”
Jazz pinched the bridge of her nose. “Hold on a sec.”
She moved to the deck and braced her elbows on the railing.
“Okay. How did he find out?” Jazz wasn’t going to bother asking why. Nothing could make cheating acceptable in her mind.
“He showed up here! Can you believe it? While my kids were eating cereal and watching cartoons. Jack answered the door.”
Jazz frowned. “Your lover? What did he want?”
Cindy’s bitter laugh sent a chill down Jazz’s spine.
“To see if I had some of our other lover’s things. He was afraid they’d been lost in the fire.”
Jazz sucked in a rough breath. “Tony? You were sleeping with Tony? And…and this guy?”
Cindy sniffled. “Yeah. It wasn’t serious. Just sex. A little bondage. Some role-playing stuff.” She groaned. “I didn’t mean for it to go on as long as it did. I just…I couldn’t say no. What they did to me—”
“Stop. I don’t want to know.”
Was Tony’s choice in lovers what had upset Josh? Actually, it was probably knowing Tony had been sleeping with a married woman that had angered Josh more than Tony’s multiple partners. It certainly bothered Jazz. She banked her annoyance. Despite what Cindy had done, she was still Jazz’s friend. Or as close as she had to a female friend.
“Who is this other guy? Didn’t he know you were married?”
“He was a friend of Tony’s, and yes, he knew.” Cindy sighed. “I think he wanted Jack to find out.”
“Why? So he’d leave?”
“Yes. Jonah texted me minutes after Jack drove away and told me to leave the door open for him tonight.”
“I hope you told him to forget it! I’m trying not to judge you, but if you want to keep your husband and kids, you need to end things with this guy and work things out with Jack.”
Silence stretched, and Jazz cursed. “You’re going to keep seeing him, aren’t you?”
“No. I’ll end things.”
Jazz snorted. “Just not today, right?”
“We’re going to talk. That’s all. I’m meeting him somewhere. I don’t want him here, Jazz. Not in my bed.”
Jazz bit back another curse. “Well, I don’t know what else you expect me to say. I refuse to tell you that what you’re doing is okay. It’s not. If you and Jack have problems, you need to either work it out or get separated.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“Then why did you call me?”
“To…talk to you about Megan. This thing with Jonah has just added to my guilt.”
Jazz straightened. “What about Megan?”
“She has a twin. Molly. I promised Tony not to tell anyone until he had all the details worked out, not even Jonah, and—”
“Wait a minute. A twin? Megan never mentioned having a twin. Why would the adoption agency separate them?”
“He didn’t adopt Megan legally, Jazz. I don’t know everything or why Megan never mentioned her sister to you, but I do know Tony was desperate to get Molly. Somebody from Europe was going to adopt her. He said he’d slit their throats before he let that happen. He meant it too. He was afraid for her. Said if he couldn’t scrounge up the money to adopt Molly, he’d go kidnap her himself. He promised Megan he’d save her sister. She’s…she’s special, Jazz. Both girls are.”
Jazz pressed her hand to her mouth. Cindy knew Megan was a shifter. “Where is Molly, Cindy? Please tell me. I know Megan’s secret too, and yes, Tony was right. Molly is in danger.”
Cindy choked on a sob. “I don’t know where she is. That’s the god-honest truth. Tony did give me a packet of letters from the lawyer arranging Molly’s adoption, though. Tony didn’t want Megan to see her sister’s picture and start crying. He was trying to get Molly back, Jazz. He was trying.”
Jazz scrubbed at her eyes. “Okay. I believe you, but I need those papers. I have friends that can help.”
“Oh, thank goodness. That’s why I wanted to see you. To see if you could help me somehow get Molly because I don’t have that kind of money, especially if Jack files for divorce.”
“I don’t have much money either, but we’ll figure out a way. I won’t let Molly down.”
“I wished I’d known that you were keeping Megan’s secret too.”
And that meant Cindy didn’t know Jazz’s secret. Tony had kept his word. Jazz breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes. I found out and was helping Tony deal with it. Megan’s a beautiful, sweet little girl.”
“I was hoping that was the reason you were over there so much and not because you were involved with him too. I was getting a little jealous.” Cindy choked on a sob. “Crazy right? I couldn’t help it.”
The conversation they’d had in the bar made sense in light of Cindy’s confession. Jazz softened her voice. “We were friends, Cindy. Only.”
“I guess it doesn’t much matter now. He’s gone.”
Jazz sighed. “I’m really sorry this is happening to you, but I’m glad you decided to reach out to me about Molly. You made the right choice. I promise, we’ll do everything we can to get her back. So this is what I need you to do. Take pictures of those papers, then text them to my friend’s phone. I really can’t come over now, but I will, and then we can talk more.” Jazz rattled off Rafe’s number. At least with a snapshot of the papers the shifter agents could get to work locating Molly.
“Yes, I can do that right now. Let me grab them.”
“Great.”
A sick feeling settled in Jazz’s gut while she waited for Cindy to snap the photos. Something wasn’t right. Why would Jonah show up at Cindy’s place? If he’d meant to break up her marriage, why not announce he was her lover when Jack opened the door, not ask Cindy about Tony’s belongings?
Unless…unless getting his hands on Tony’s stuff was the reason Jonah showed up, and it didn’t have anything to do with Cindy.
“Okay. They’re sent. I even included the envelope.” Cindy finally announced. Her voice was stronger, more sure of herself.
“Great. Now tell me—”
“Tony had a box in the storage unit I have for my mom’s stuff when we moved her into the nursing home. Do you want me to get it? I don’t know what’s in it. Probably—”
“Cindy?” Jazz hated cutting Cindy off but the unease churning her belly hadn’t lessened.
“Yeah?”
“Jonah. Tell me about him. What does he look like?”
“He’s tall. A little older than me. Late forties? But he’s fit, Jazz. Really fit.”
“Brown eyes?”
“Yes and brown hair. It has some gray in it, but I think it looks nice, especially with the highlights in it from being out in the sun. He’s got an amazing tan too.”
Jazz bit her lip and conjured Jon’s image from when he’d cornered her in the hotel lobby. The man Cindy described could be him or any number of guys.
“Does he ever go by a nickname? Jon, maybe?”
“No.” The confusion was clear in Cindy’s voice.
It was possible Jazz was reading into the situation, but she couldn’t ignore it, not if there was a chance Cindy might be in danger.
“Cindy, can you…” Jazz glanced at the kitchen door. She really should get Kade or someone’s permission to invite Cindy over, but after Jazz explained her worry, they’d understand. Besides, it wasn’t as if Cindy was going to walk in on a houseful of big cats. She’d only see men. Drop dead gorgeous men, but still men.
“Can you come over here? Bring those papers too?”
“Yes. I could really use a friend right about now.”
“You got it.” Jazz didn’t know what else she could do for Cindy’s personal life, but Jazz could be there for her. A good talk might help Cindy find her own way.
Cindy sniffled. “I’m going to stop by the storage unit and grab the box Tony left there, then I’ll be over.”
The line went dead. Jazz dropped her head into her hands. A twin. Megan had a twin named Molly. And she was in danger.
Please. Let us find her.
Jazz dragged in a steadying breath, then dialed Rafe’s number. He needed to know what Jazz had learned and that Cindy would be visiting. An animal’s whining stopped her from hitting send. She scanned the backyard for the source but didn’t see one.
Another whimper, louder than before came from the woods. She leaned over the rail of the deck to get a better look.
Then screamed.