Marc (Bowen Boys, #4)(20)
“I didn’t say you couldn’t go. I just wish you wouldn’t.” He loved his mate very much, but she was very strong minded. When she grinned at him, Khan knew that she’d heard his thoughts.
“Caitlynne will get them here. And I’m betting the bad guys won’t even know it.” His mom sat sandwiches in front of Monica and him. “And don’t think because I love this idea that I’m not still mad at you about my house and car.”
Khan nodded and smiled to himself. She may be acting all pissy about it, but he knew she was having fun with the decorators. He loved having her and Dad at his house too. Maybe too much; he was worried about what the contractors were going to say tomorrow when he met with them. The house was getting very old and somewhat unsafe.
His house phone rang and he got up to answer it. He turned to look at Monica when she asked him who it was. He told her it was Caitlynne.
“I have things on this end set up. And Dylan is going to meet me at the airport in two hours. Can you have Monica there?” He told her that he could. “She’s going to be our secondary man, so she’ll be very safe. I just need two medics on the team, and she’s going to be controlling Mr. Thomas.”
“Controlling him? I don’t understand. Why do you need him to be controlled?” He looked at Monica. “I don’t like this, Caitlynne. If you’re going to get my mate hurt, you—”
“I won’t, and I need her to control John because he’s going to be dead.”
Khan was nervous to be staying at home with Jonny, but he promised his brother that he’d keep her safe. And her going could be a problem on the other end. He glanced at her as the car left the drive.
“They’ll be fine. Caitlynne is very good at her job.” Jonny nodded and walked away toward the living room. Khan thought it might be a good time to get to know her a little better while his family was gone and his mom and dad were with the children, his and Walker’s. He sat down beside her on the couch.
“Can you give me a little more information on what Dawson had you do in the house when you got inside? I mean, what sort of stuff did he have you steal?” She glanced at him, then back at the fire. “I’m guessing that only the very wealthy can afford exotic animals.”
“He had a profile on them before we had to go in.” Her voice was clipped, but he had been told by Marc that she still didn’t trust him completely.
“I would imagine he has people doing that for him. I wonder how much that would cost. I would suppose it would be worth it if the jewels and stuff were high priced enough. Could be—”
“I’m not going to do it.” He looked at her, confused. “I’m not going to pretend to be an animal so I can rob your friend’s houses. I didn’t want to do it for him, and I most certainly won’t do it for you. Find another way to make some quick bucks. I’m not helping.”
Anger surged through him, and he stood when she did. “Sit down.” His voice was full of compulsion, and she fought it, but in the end sat. He took several deep breaths before he spoke, but she did first.
“I don’t know what you just did to me, but you’ll not do it again. I’m not a child to be ordered around like I’m stupid. I also won’t be a thief, not for anyone.”
“If you don’t want to be treated as a child, then stop acting like one. I asked you a question to try and figure out an angle on making this person pay for what he’s done to you and others. I don’t need to rob other people’s homes, and if that was my plan, I could simply shift into a bigger cat and do it myself.” She glanced at him. “Look at me, Jonny, please.”
She looked at him for a second, then away. He knew she’d look back, and he waited. When she did, he held her chin as he looked into her eyes. She was in pain and a great deal of it. She’d been abused and threatened since she’d been a child. The only people she trusted at all were her parents. He let her go when she pulled back.
“Marc said you don’t know a great deal about your own kind,” he said. “He said that you have very little knowledge about what you really are as well.” She didn’t answer, but then he didn’t think she would admit to not knowing something. “I can answer any questions you have. I’m sure there are going to be plenty over the next few years. Do you understand that you and Marc are mates?”
“He told me. I don’t know why he wants me, but he seems to.” She glanced at him again. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“He won’t, not with all the rest of them there. Caitlynne is my sister-in-law, yours too, I suppose, in a way. She’ll kick his ass if he gets hurt. She’s somewhat of a pain in my ass, but I don’t have to live with her. Walker does.” He’d tried for a joke, but it failed miserably. “Marc is a good man. He’ll protect you.”
“I don’t really need him to protect me. I’ve been doing just fine on my own.” He raised a brow at her. “Okay, I really haven’t, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I was doing all right.”
“You kept yourself alive, that’s a plus.” She snorted and he laughed. “My mom does that too. She is gonna love you. And my dad…you should ask someone before you believe anything he tells you. He doesn’t really lie so much as he likes to stir up trouble.”