Khan (Bowen Boys, #2)(11)

“It doesn’t matter. You’re to stay away from her.”

He glanced at his dad and wanted to tell him to f*ck off. But he’d seen that look before. As a child when he’d been disobedient. He didn’t remember what he’d done, but did remember the trip to the shed. He hadn’t been able to sit down for a few days.

“I’ll find her on my own.” He stood up and went to the door. “I want you to stay out of this. Please. I have to explain why we can’t be mates and show her that I’m not out of my mind.”

He was pretty sure he was for even thinking about this, but went out into the afternoon cold. She was out there somewhere and he didn’t have a clue. He looked toward Reed’s house and saw his car parked in the drive. He started there, knowing that Reed could do his computer magic and find her for him. Khan was smiling by the time he was knocking on the door.

They couldn’t make him do anything he didn’t want any more. And he wanted to talk to Monica. He wasn’t going to have sex with her, but there was no reason he couldn’t have a long talk with her. He just hoped that she’d not made good on her promise to get a gun just yet.

Reed was helpful to a point. He wasn’t thrilled about helping him until he promised to not tell Mom his secret. He had a job. A very good job and was working with Caitlynne on some very high profile cases. But he couldn’t get his desk in the house and needed help building it.

It took them nearly three hours and a case of beer to bring in the heavy boxes and put the sucker together. It might not have taken quite that long had they not gotten sidetracked talking about the current case.

“There are supposed to be bodies all over this property, but with the equipment they’re using, I can’t track it on my computer. It’s not compatible. And since I’m not allowed to go out on sites with them, I have to rely on the information they send me.”

“Where is this place?” Reed told him where it was. “That’s within flying distance. Why don’t you just fly out there, shift, and have a look around.”

That had been the perfect solution for his brother, but not for him. There wasn’t anyone registered in any of the local hotels by her name. While Khan was pulling on his coat to leave, Reed yelled that he’d found her.

“I just searched for checkin times. You told me when she left your place and when you got to Mom and Dad’s. It had to be within minutes of you getting there because Dad pulled in when you did. So she had to be close. So I found her under the name Preston Monte. I think her last name is Preston.”

More than Khan knew. He got into his truck and started for the hotel. He had no idea what he was going to say to her once he saw her, but he wanted to clear the air. He may not want her as a mate, but she didn’t have to think he was a bastard either. He pulled up in front of the hotel just as someone was peeling out. He ran to the door she was supposed to be in. It was standing ajar.

“I’ve called the police. And they said they’d be right here. I mean it. If you don’t get out of here, I swear to you I’m going to hunt you down and kill you.”

Khan looked back at the open door then at the bathroom door where her voice was coming from. It was the prick that hurt her. And he’d found her again. Khan walked to the door and knocked. She screamed and it was everything he could do not to break it down again and save her.

“It’s me. Khan Bowen. He’s gone.” She didn’t make any more threats, for which he was grateful. “Are you hurt? Did he hurt you?”

“What do you want?”

Fair enough question, he supposed, and he turned when someone stood at the door.

“I heard her scream. I have my children to think of, so she has to leave here now. I don’t want to have to call the cops.” The woman had a ball bat in her hand and looked out at the lot. “That other man, you know who he was?”

“No, ma’am. But I’ll take care of any damages he did. And Miss Preston is going to come home with me. I’ll make sure she’s all right.” The door behind him opened, and he turned to Monica. She looked terrified and pissed.

“I’m all right now. Thank you. I’ll be on my way as soon as this man leaves.”

He didn’t say anything, but nodded to the woman.

As soon as she shut the door, Khan pulled Monica into his arms and held her. When she started shaking, he picked her up and held her while she cried. Her sobbing made him hurt in more ways than he could imagine. But he didn’t let her go even when she struggled against him.

“Why do you keep showing up and dragging me to you only to push me away? I’m not a yo-yo, you know.” He let her go, but when she moved toward the door, he didn’t move. “I would very much like for you to go. I have to…I have to find somewhere to go.”

“Come back to my place with me and I’ll take care of you. I’m not particularly fond of doing it, but you are my responsibility. So gather what you need and we’ll be on our way.” He leaned back in his chair and waited for her to do as he’d told her to.

~~~

Monica closed her mouth with a snap. He actually thought that she would simply do as he told her after that comment. She waited for a full minute to see if he would tell her he was kidding, and when he didn’t, she moved to the bed and picked up her few things. Including the cell phone George had given her just in case.