The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(26)

“We should get going.”

Wes nodded. It was getting late, and if they wanted to prepare for Olivia’s mission they’d need to scout the place out first.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Stepping aside, Olivia waited for him to leave the office.

Wes locked his office door behind him and looked to his assistant, Chris and their intern, Scott.

“How much longer will you two be here?”

“Another two hours at least,” Chris said.

“Lock up when you leave. I’m heading home early today.”

“Okay,” Chris said. “Please tell Adelaide we said thank you for the brownies.”

“I will. She’ll appreciate that.”

Wes left them to their work, thinking of just how many pans of baked goods his mother had made in the past week. Adelaide only baked when under stress.

Leaving the lab early rarely happened for Wes and Olivia. They were up to a breakthrough that would change the fate of shifters around the world.

Tonight he had a different agenda. They couldn’t let Avalon have his way.

Evie was sacred. She was as precious to him as the family’s fortune.

Olivia took off her lab coat when they were in the lobby. She revealed a black skirt and a red buttoned up shirt that hugged her full bosom. When she took her hair out of its ponytail it fell over her shoulders and to her mid-back.

It was rare to see a person with such stunning eyes. Olivia looked over her shoulder at him. She’d forgotten to put her colored contacts in and revealed that she had one bright purple eye.

“Did anyone say anything to you about Hugh?” Wes led the way from the lab and to the parking deck.

“No. You know the techs are too busy focused on their work to pay attention to what’s going on in the news.”

“That’s true. It works in our favor.”

He clicked his key fob, unlocking the door to his Escalade.

Once they were both inside he locked the doors. His eyes scanned the inside of the tinted black windows and the windshield that faced the stone wall. No one could see them.

Perfect.

He pushed his seat back. “Come here,” he said to Olivia.

“What?”

“Come here,” he said again motioning to his lap.

Olivia cracked a grin as she climbed over the center console. She sat on his lap, straddling him.

Wes held her face in his hands, stroking her cheeks. He knew the danger ahead for Olivia. He also knew that she was a master at what she did.

No one would see her. She was a spider shifter and could do what he could not. For this, he found her incredibly sexy.

Olivia smiled at him. Her eyes said so much. He knew exactly what she wanted.

That woman loved him more than any other woman he’d known outside of his family.

The stakes were high, but he had faith in her.

Wes pulled Olivia close to him, kissing her full on the lips and watched her eyes close in bliss.

“I love you so much, Olivia.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful tonight.”

Her eyes welled up when she pulled back to look him in the eyes. “I can do this. I will protect our family so we can move on with our lives.”

He nodded. “I know you will.”

“Tell me everything is going to be okay,” Olivia whispered, leaning over to kiss him.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he held her close. The warmth of her body pressed against his was one of the best things he’d ever felt.

She was afraid. He could feel the fear radiating throughout her body. That was rare for Olivia. She may be quiet at times, but he knew how dangerous she was.

“Of course it will be all right,” he said. He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Unless you don’t want to do this. Do I need to take care of it myself?”

Olivia shook her head. She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “No. My stealth is what’s going to save this family.”

“You can do this. I believe in you,” he said.

A grunt of pain escaped Wes’ lips, making Olivia jump.

“Wes,” she called, her eyes widening with worry. She held his face in her hands as he tried to catch his breath. “What’s wrong?”

The pain in his back seeped into his abdominal muscles, making them burn worse and tighten so tightly that they began to twist.

He reached over to open the door. Olivia quickly climbed off as Wes stumbled out onto the concrete floor of the parking garage.

“Wes!”

He fell to his knees and coughed raggedly. The skin on the palms of his hands sloughed off when lifted them to clutch his abs.

Olivia rushed from her side of the car.

She skidded to a stop, covering her mouth with both hands.

Wes looked up.

The horror in her eyes when she looked at him sent an ice-cold shiver into his soul.

“Call Malka,” he rasped between waves of pain. “We have to break this curse.”





WES SHUDDERED. His eyes were bloodshot. Everything was sore. His head thumped like a drum, so loud that Olivia could hear it. Gooseflesh covered his arms and neck. She rubbed his skin, trying to warm him.

Sweat beaded on his forehead.

Olivia was in tears as she sat beside him in Malka’s small cottage in the woods behind the abandoned St. Dymphna’s Convent.