Juan (The Juarez Pack Book 1) Page 11

  “Huh? Well I guess from your way of seeing things it’s wrong. It’s our way of life you’re ruining. They will take all of you out if they have to in order to get her and him,” he said nodding to the alpha. Jesus slapped him across the face.

  “Show respect to him. He’s our alpha and you won’t have any luck getting to him. Now tell us, who is the traitor and how did they find someone who would give them information?”

  “You really think they’d tell me that? All I know is they captured some prisoners and they found one who has family that agreed to help in exchange for his safe return.”

  “I hope they didn’t really think your people would return their wolf.”

  “Looks like they did, but no, he’s done for, may have already been dead when they made the deal.”

  “What should we do with him?” Jesus asked turning to look at Carlos.

  “Let’s keep him on ice for now. We may want to talk to him again later. Put him in jail and assign someone to him,” Carlos directed. “We’ll go over the list of whose missing and try to figure out who might be helping them.”

  “I’ll draw up a list but it’ll be a short one. We have twelve that were written off as dead and three of those we had no body. I’m guessing it’s one of them but we also had some that came in to fight that may have left or been captured. They’re not regular fighters so they lack the discipline,” Jesus explained.

  That meant they might find the culprit or they might be left hanging. Meanwhile he had to deal with these bastards. He was now certain Los Lobos were fucking nuts and it made it harder to anticipate what they might do next. The leaders probably wouldn’t risk their precious hides but they didn’t mind sending their followers to certain death. Cage wasn’t far off when he spoke of war and Carlos’ pack was right in the thick of things. Los Lobos would be sending their soldiers after him and Amee until they killed them or Carlos took out their leaders. He’d wait until the morning to call Juan and warn him but since their enemies thought Amee still with the pack, they should be safe. His biggest concern was routing traitors before they discovered Amee was gone. A decision had to be made about calling in reinforcements of their own from pack members that didn’t live on pack lands. So far, he felt safe enough but somehow he needed to get more information of the enemy numbers and what plans they might have. Someone needed to infiltrate the enemy, but who and most importantly, how?

  He’d try to sleep again, but he doubted he’d have any luck with thoughts of his family and his pack running a loop in his mind. Maybe Cage would have some good news, but he wouldn’t count on it.

  Chapter 9

  Loving Him

  Amee woke in slow degrees as awareness came to her first of the tantalizing male scent mixed with the smell of the forest. Next came the cocoon of warmth and safety that surrounded her. A low rumbling came to her notice next. She realized that Juan was all around her protecting her from harm. Her first reaction was a warmth that seeped into her giving her a sense of belonging with him. The problem came when she was fully awake and remembered what a dick he had been to her. Not just in his wild Casanova ways, but in making the decision to mate without giving her any say.

  It wasn’t that at this point she would undo the ties that had given her the babies she carried, she would walk through fire for the two little ones that lay nestled in her belly. The point was that until recently, he hadn’t treated her well and it was hard to let go of that much resentment. He’d risked his life for her and that helped to show her he did care, but was it enough? She was torn between the desire to just lay here enjoying the feeling of being loved and protected whether the feeling was real or an illusion, and the need to get away from him and think things through. If she moved, he’d wake and she would have to deal with him and his overwhelming personality. Oops, too late. His glowing eyes, a burnished gold with his wolf showing, stared at her unblinking. It was freaky and gave her the impression he could read her mind.

  “You’re thinking too hard. What we have is about feeling and I know you can feel my love,” he whispered his voice low and sexy.

  “Maybe you’ve been too much about feeling and not enough about thinking,” she snapped.

  He flinched. “Touche’ my warrior princess. You fight with words better than most wolves fight with their claws.”

  “I assure you my claws work fine too.” Amee couldn’t say why she was so irritable, but it wasn’t like he didn’t deserve a hard time. She wasn’t just going to melt in his arms like nothing bad had happened. Those other females might make it easy for him but she didn’t have to smooth his path for him.

  “My warrior mate, please save those claws for our enemies. I assure you there are enough of them after us without us destroying each other.” He had the nerve to be fighting a smile which made her want to sink her claws into him to see if he still found them so funny. She held off because she feared he would find that arousing.

  “Hmfp.” She made the noise and then attempted to extricate her legs from his which were wrapped around them. He wasn’t letting her go easily it seemed.

  “Want loose? Give me a kiss.”

  She leaned in seductively sucked his lower lip between her teeth and bit him. It was just hard enough to draw blood and get his attention. The blood aroused her, what was up with that? He growled and his chest rumbled. Wanting to get closer, she pulled back because she knew it would be her downfall.

  “If you wanted a taste, you had but to ask my love.”

  She blushed at the implication and the babies started to move around. It occurred to her that they were quiet whenever Juan touched her. Even her children seemed to be on his side. Why couldn’t anyone understand she was the wronged one here? Examining him through half closed eyes, she could admit the man was gorgeous but she wanted more than a pretty face and perfect body. It was the beauty inside that would make a relationship last and she was still deciding about what Juan’s character was made of and if it was enough.

  “Have you seen enough?” he asked.

  He’d been aware of her perusal of his body and face. She was tired of always being embarrassed because nothing seemed to bother him. “I’m not watching you, I’m just thinking about why we had to come here.”

  “Sure you are.” Disbelief colored his words and she moved to break free but he wouldn’t let her go.

  “I’m ready to take a shower and get dressed.”

  “Is that an invitation? If it is, I would love to wash your back.”

  “It’s not an invitation and I don’t want you in there with me.” She almost blushed again as her folds moistened and she knew he could smell the arousal his suggestion had caused.

  “I know you want me and it’s only normal for mates. If you would let me, I would show you how much better it would be now that we are bonded.”

  She shook her head stubbornly, but her thoughts were that if it was better than the last time she might not survive it. The male was an excellent lover and she could find no fault there. He should be with all the experience he had.

  “My stubborn mate, unwilling to give an inch,” he observed. “When will you admit you need me?”

  “There’s nothing I need that couldn’t be provided by another male.”

  “Only if you want him dead,” Juan said his body stiff with jealousy.

  “Very funny. I’m not talking about sex, I don’t need that right now. I have enough complications caused by sex already to need anymore.”

  “Is that how you view our our-babies?”

  “No, I’m not talking about them. I mean our mating and the mess it led to like being chased by crazy criminals.”

  He didn’t say anything but he released her and distanced himself. Getting up, she noticed he was naked and although he had been hard and ready when he rose, he shriveled right before her eyes. What she said had upset him a great deal and she would admit she now regretted it. Juan went to the bathroom probably to take the first shower so he could escaped her acidic comments. A choice would
have to be made and soon. Either she would forgive him and put the terrible start to their relationship behind so they could be a family and take back some of the happiness they had denied themselves, or she would become a bitter old prune and hold his mistakes against him forever denying them both any chance at happiness.

  When things were expressed that way, everything seemed clearer. Hadn’t she already paid him back for his poor judgement? It seemed like he had learned a lesson or two and he did seem committed. If he came to her again to make peace, she would accept his olive branch as long as they moved forward slowly giving her time to adjust. Yeah, right! A wolf moving slowly was ridiculous, they had one speed and that was fast. He came out of the bathroom dressed denying her the enjoyment of drooling over his body. Once he left the room, without saying a word to her, she went in and took a slow soothing shower.

  By the time she headed to the kitchen, breakfast was on the table including the one cup of coffee Ariel had suggested as a daily limit. Amee knew she still had at least six weeks to go for the usual wolf gestation but the doctor had warned her that multiples often came early. She’d asked how early and he’d shrugged leaving her wondering if that meant anytime. The little ones were active, that was for sure. Ryker sat at the table eating and watching the TV that was nearby while Juan was nowhere to be seen. The food smelled great and she dug in like a wolf feeding two extra. Taking a bite, she savored the flavor of her cheesy eggs. Everything really was better with bacon or cheese. The bacon was next and soon her plate was empty. Sipping her coffee, she looked for a place to set up a work station. There were good people in place but it would be stupid to assume everything was going well.

  Work would come first but she’d take a break after an hour for a snack and a nap if this tiredness stuck with her. Setting up in the bedroom at the desk that was in there, she thought this would work out well. She grabbed a bottle of cold water and a cup of hot tea before going back to the bedroom to settle down to work. There were things that needed her attention and she slid into her usual tempo not realizing how long she’d been at work until Juan told her lunch was ready. Her ankles were swollen and she would need to put her feet up and she stretched her neck and shoulders to ease her bunched up muscles.

  “Are you alright?” Juan asked. He must have come back to check on her because she was taking too long.

  “Yes, I’m just a bit cramped from sitting too long.”

  “I think you need a keeper and you’re in luck, I’m available.”

  “That might not be such a bad thing.” She sighed as she admitted it.

  He smiled at her and it made her feel good. It didn’t take much to make him smile and that made her feel guilty. Taking a deep breath she resolved to try to see him in a new light, the way he’d been since he’d helped free her for Los Lobos. If she could manage that even for a few days, they might have a chance. Amee wished she wasn’t so torn and right now she wished she could learn not to hold a grudge. Juan put a plate of salad in front of her and she looked at him confused.

  “Salad is good for you. You need to eat from all the food groups,” he explained

  “It’s not that I don’t like a good salad now and then, but I’m a damn wolf and I’m craving meat. The wise thing to do would be to give me what I want,” she observed.

  “Salad first, then I have meatloaf for you,” he assured.

  “Fine,” she agreed and she ate her salad. Did he actually cook or was it takeout?

  He sat next to her and ate a salad too. No one else seemed to be around them and the suite was quiet. Once her salad was done, Juan brought both their plates to the table and her mouth watered. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and a hot roll filled her plate and she wasn’t sure where to start. She attacked like a ravenous person and ate fast as if she feared someone would take her plate away. If they tried, they’d pull back a stub.

  “Is there any more for seconds?” she asked still feeling a little hungry.

  “Yes, but I also got you dessert so which would you prefer?”

  “What kind of dessert?”

  “Cheesecake or fruit?”

  “Cheesecake.”

  He got up and cut them each a piece of cake and brought it back to the table setting them down. She took a bite and let it melt in her mouth thoroughly savoring every bite. Juan watched her with a half-smile on his lips. His cheesecake disappeared faster but he seemed to enjoy it every bit as much.

  “So what do we do now?” she asked after her plate was empty.

  “Take a nap?”

  “That sounds nice, but I meant where are we going to go and how long do you want to keep hiding out?”

  “I talked to my dad and he said Los Lobos attacked with the intention of taking both you and him out. The assassin was caught in the room you stayed in and he had stabbed the bed coverings to shreds before he was taken down. Another assassin was caught in my father’s room. They’re crazy and they won’t stop until we make them. The council is tied up, we only have ourselves to rely on, and I can’t risk you or our pups.”

  “Hey, I’m not fighting you on this, I just want to know what the plan is so I can adjust to it. I need to have an in person meeting with some of my staff and I don’t think it can wait until this is over. I have a personal assistant that I spend a lot of time with normally and I’ve not seen her in months.”

  “Okay, I know your business is important to you. Can we plan the meeting here? Do you trust your people to know where you are?”

  “They wouldn’t inform on me, but someone might have listening devices on them or in their home if these people are as crazy as you say.”

  “Why don’t we have them meet at a third location, sweep for listening devices, and bring them here the next day?”

  “That would work. Eureka is close but not too close. I’ll text my assistant and have her set it up. Most of them aren’t too far away.” She felt relieved to be back on top of things or at least about to be. It also made her feel better that Juan seemed willing to let her keep her business going. Alphas were very old fashioned as a group and didn’t like their mates working.

  “Okay, I’ll let my guys know so two of them can go there and meet with them. What?” he asked as he looked at her.

  “It’s nothing really but I was going to have Tyne check things out so we could keep your guys here. Tyne handles all the security for my company already so he and his guys know them. I also wanted him to investigate these Los Lobos assholes and see if he can find out who they are and give them some trouble.”

  “Sounds like you know Tyne pretty well.”

  “Very well,” she said and Juan growled. “He’s just like family. Don’t be jealous, there’s nothing like that going on. I trust him and he looks out for everyone in my family. If he’s got something going on, it’s not with me.”

  “Okay, so call Tyne and see if he can do this.”

  Amee to work on her computer contacting her assistant first because she would contact the other people for the meeting and set up rooms. Next, she called Tyne.

  “Hello.”

  “Tyne, this is Amee.”

  “Amee, are you alright? We’ve all been so worried with all the things we’ve heard. I wanted to come search for you but the council wouldn’t let me.”

  “I was rescued by my mate and others that were with him. We’re sort of hiding but I have a job for you. Los Lobos had me but I escaped and now they’re trying to kill me. I have to keep up with my business and that means meeting with my executive level management. Juan thinks they might be under surveillance and I need you to meet them and check them for anything suspicious before they come to where we are.”

  “That sounds easy enough.”

  “I also need some information on Los lobos and their top dog.”

  “Two of my best guys just caught up on their work. I’ll turn them loose on this.”

  “Thank you, Tyne. You’re a lifesaver.”

  Tyne chuckled. “And don’t you forget that. I may
need you to put in a good word for me with one of your cousins.”

  “Which one?”

  “That’s a secret for now.”

  “Spoilsport. Okay, tell me when you’re ready.”

  “I will and I’ll get the guys on that right away.”

  Juan sat there listening to every word and when Amee hung up she raised her eyebrow at him. “Well?”

  “He seems to have an interest elsewhere.”

  “Didn’t I tell you that?”

  “I know how males are.”

  “Tyne isn’t like that.”

  “He may not be like that around you, but he’s a wolf so he’s a little like that until he mates.”

  “Sounds like that may happen soon.”

  “Good for him. I thought you might tell me a little bit about these people you work with. Are they wolves, white wolves, or witches?”

  “My assistant is a cousin, she’s a white wolf. We call her scary Carrie, it’s a nickname from her teenage years, don’t asked and don’t use it unless you want her to hate you. I am the CEO of my business, but a president deals with the everyday matters. His name is Kyler Vander Haufen and he’s a vampire. We have two vice presidents, both female cousins of mine. Lindy and Tandi divide the work based on their talents and they’ve been with me for a few years now. Sometimes they bring high level management if they feel it is beneficial. If they do, I probably won’t know them so we’ll both be meeting new people.”

  “Eventually I want to know more about your business, but this is a good start. I want to know everything about you including what is important to you and what people are close to you.”

  She was beginning to believe in his commitment to her and it probably showed in her attitude towards him. They would have two days before they met with her people most of which were relatives. Juan was her mate now and she would introduce him as such, but would they pick up on the strain in their relationship or would their relationship be much closer by then?

  “Let’s go take that nap,” he suggested as he stood and offered her his hand.