Death Wish (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #5)(17)

For the first time since Kale and I had met several years ago, I wondered if he had ever watched me like this. How close was he to Shya? I didn’t really know. Over the years, I had often had Kale at my side during a hunt, a constant shadow.

I visibly shuddered. Goosebumps rose on my arms, and I rubbed them uselessly. It had to be the paranoia talking. Kale would never do something so shady. Our friendship was authentic, not based on a lie.

After several minutes passed, Kale broke the strained silence. “You have your own role to play, Alexa. Only you can decide what that is. Being associated with Shya doesn’t make you anything like him. He’s not a silent force in your life anymore. You’re not a caged animal. Don’t let him make you think you are.”

“You’re right, I know that. The past month has been overwhelming. I’m still adjusting.” I blew a lock of hair out of my face. “But, thank you. You always know what I need to hear.”

Kale was quiet for a moment, contemplative. “Hey, thanks for getting Jez to see me. I know you had something to do with that.”

I shrugged as if it was no big deal. In actuality, I’d had to beg, threaten and cajole Jez endlessly before she’d agreed to meet him. “It was easy. She just needed a push.”

A few minutes passed in silence. It was a comfortable quiet though. I was relieved. It was starting to feel the way it used to with Kale, easy-going and relaxed. No need for strange tension and awkward moments. I was starting to think we could get past the events of last month.

I hesitated for just a second before deciding I had to share this. “The FPA is investigating the death of Abigail Irving. My sister is one of their agents. Not only did she survive the wolf attack, she claims Shya split us up. He got me and the FPA got her. Now, she’s hunting me, and I think she knows it.”

That got Kale’s eyes rolling. “Don’t worry about the FPA. If they come for you, then they come for me, too. We shared that kill. You’re not taking the fall for that one.”

I was surprised at how quickly he shrugged it off. “You’re not concerned? I have enough people after me. I don’t need the damn government pinning me for a murder. Oh hell no.”

“Your focus should be on the hit and finding out who you have to kill for it.” Concern lay heavy in his eyes when he looked over at me. “I can’t imagine who would want to take you out, but please promise me you’ll be careful. I think I’d die if anything happened to you.”

The discomfort we’d both been successfully battling settled over us like a heavy blanket. The love that could never be. Our story would have no happy ending; it was impossible. And yet, we were so inextricably, emotionally entangled.

I found it hard to meet his eyes and searched for any reason to break contact. “I guess this means I’m really big time now. Is this some kind of rite of passage or something?”

“Take this seriously, Alexa. We need to find out who’s got it in for you. Don’t be reckless or careless. That just makes it easy for them.”

“I know. I appreciate your concern. Really, I do.” Guilt settled in to taunt me for my suspicious thoughts a few minutes prior. How could I think he would be capable of double-crossing me?

“You know I would do anything for you.”

“Don’t get yourself killed for me. I mean it, Kale. I can handle this. I’ll deal with it somehow. But, I don’t want anyone I love getting hurt because of me.”

Strained silence settled over us as we both sat with the awareness that this was as close to acknowledging our feelings as we were going to get. Everything we could say had already been said. We had to move on.

Chapter Six

Nearing sunrise, I made the short trip down the highway from Edmonton to Stony Plain, my small but cozy hometown. Despite the insanity of my evening, my biggest worry right then was the lack of communication from Shaz. I’d expected to hear from him by now. It was driving me nuts. I couldn’t leave it this way. We had to talk.

When I saw my empty driveway and equally vacant house, my hopes took a nosedive. I parked in front of the house but didn’t turn my car off. Instead, I pulled out my phone and called Shaz. Holding my breath, I listened to the ringing in my ear, knowing he wasn’t going to answer. The call went to voicemail, and I hung up. He was purposely avoiding me.

With a sigh and a few choice curse words, I turned the car around and made Shaz’s apartment my next destination. The five-minute drive was spent attempting to come up with the right thing to say. So, when I turned into the parking lot and saw his empty parking space, I was both surprised and crestfallen.

My mind raced, conjuring up all the possible places he could be. None of them made me feel any better. Slamming a hand against the steering wheel, I turned to my phone in desperation and called Arys. It was close enough to sunrise that he should be home.

“Hello, beautiful wolf.” Arys’s voice was low and seductive. “I assume you’re looking for the pup.”

“Yes.” It was good to hear Arys’s silky smooth tone. Even through the phone, it sent a happy tickle down my spine. “He tore out of The Wicked Kiss earlier. We had a bit of an incident.”

There was a pause, and I expected Arys to start grilling me for details. So I was blown away when he said, “I know. He’s here.”

That was the last place I would have guessed Shaz to be. “Um, what the hell?”