Hiram held up two fingers only one inch apart. “We were this close to killing this man for harassing my members. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but whatever money he was getting from that insurance broker is long gone. Sylas has been gambling his life away in one of my underground casinos and causing trouble, since he’s a broke motherfucker.” Hiram stood and gave us a pointed look. “I expect payment for my losses.”
Dad stood and nodded. “Send me the bill. I’ll handle it.”
The large man, who I assumed was one of Hiram’s bodyguards, dumped Sylas onto the floor. Dad and I scooped him up and carried him to the car to drive him home, sober him up, and get some fucking answers.
38
LIZA
I’d spent all of Saturday with my parents, looking at old photographs and playing more games of rummy than a girl should have to endure in one lifetime. Mom, who had no rest in her bones, insisted that I work in the garden with her, like “the good old days.” I helped her weed and prune her plants, eventually making my way inside to watch a late afternoon football game with Dad.
Even though I was a grown woman, there was something nostalgic and comforting about coming home to the house I’d grown up in and spending quality time with my precious parents.
When I was with them, I could be myself without worrying about having to impress someone. I certainly didn’t have to deal with the stares and whispers I so often received in public.
Ever since I’d been announced as Ty’s fated mate, I’d received mixed responses from the general public. Some people were generally excited for me, others were jealous. Some even believed that I wasn’t good enough to mate with the upcoming alpha of the Keller pack—not that their opinion mattered when fate was involved.
Most of the time, their comments and stares didn’t bother me. It was only once I was in the solace of my childhood home that I realized how much of a break I needed from it all.
Every now and then, I caught a glimpse of the security guard making his rounds in front of the house, which snapped me back to reality. The truth was hard to swallow, but it was the truth, no less: Castro was coming for me.
As the sun set, I stopped looking at my phone for an update from Ty. I was tempted to text him, but I didn’t want to interrupt. For all I knew, he and his dad were still in Loveska, deep in negotiations with the alpha who had Sylas.
I was more than a little worried that Ty had found himself in the middle of a bad situation, but instead of panicking, I had every confidence in Ty and his family. Someone from the Keller Estate would contact me if the meeting had gone sour.
My eyes burned from exhaustion, and as my parents watched the latest episode of some medical show they loved, I caught myself drifting off on the sofa a few times. It wasn’t long after that I finally gave up and trudged off to my childhood bedroom. With my phone next to my pillow, I curled up on the twin bed and fell asleep without having to count sheep.
I woke with a start. It was still dark out, and I immediately grasped for my phone to see if Ty had called or texted. He hadn’t, so I took a minute to fully wake up before gathering my things and quietly slipping out the front door and into the dark. As long as they didn’t hear me, my parents would be asleep for at least another two or three hours.
I wasn’t accustomed to being up that early, so it felt as though I was doing something criminal—if not criminal, then definitely unwise—as I tiptoed to my car. Even though the sun was about to rise, it seemed the entire neighborhood was asleep.
Yes, I’d promised Ty that I’d stay with my parents until he returned, but I’d expected that to be several hours prior to thesunrise. I wanted to take a shower in my own place with my own belongings. Since I hadn’t heard from him, my anxiety over Ty’s wellbeing grew exponentially, and it wasn’t any great hardship to try to justify my decision to break our promise.
On the drive home, I kept a close eye on the rearview mirror, making certain no one was following me. Of course, the security guard who had been posted right outside my parents’ house stayed close to the point of tailgating, but one could never be too cautious... especially when it came to Castro.
I tried to recall my dream from the night before, but it was hazy, and no matter how hard I tried to concentrate, I couldn’t remember what it had been about. That was the thing about dreams, they were so fleeting. The more I tried to remember, the farther away the memory fled.
Regardless, it hadn’t been a horrible, earth-shattering nightmare, so I decided to take it as a sign from the universe that everything would be okay, and Ty would return safely. He had to. I needed him too much.
I was also just relieved that my dream wasn’t another nightmare because my stress level was already at its peak. I didn’t know how much more anxiety it would take before I had a complete nervous breakdown, and I didn’t want to know. Omega or not, I had my limits.
My house was quiet and dark. I disarmed the alarm, then punched the small circular buttons to re-activate it once the door was locked behind me.
Since all this started and Ty had worked with me, I’d learned how to quickly analyze my surroundings, so I slowly moved through the house, listening and watching for any signs of an intruder. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror that I used to check my outfits in the bedroom, and it was enough to make me realize how silly I looked. The security guard had already sweptthe house while I disarmed the alarm system, but one could never be too careful. Not when Castro was in the equation.
I walked to the bedroom and tossed my bag on the bed before stripping off my clothes and walking into the shower. When I glanced down at my hands, I gasped, mortified. I still had dirt under my fingernails from gardening the day before.
As hot water cascaded down my skin, I silently pushed positive thoughts and energy out into the universe. Tywasokay. He had to be.
I forced my thoughts to the week ahead. My calendar was full of old and new clients who wanted to take advantage of my meal-planning services. I had no large events scheduled, yet, but the calls had already started coming in at the office from well-to-do socialites who wanted to get on my calendar before I was fully booked for the upcoming season. There would be many a brunch and luncheon to cater. I was thankful.
I was so lost in thought with my eyes closed and the steaming water pelting me in the face, that I didn’t hear someone enter the house, nor did I notice when the bathroom door opened and shut. A cold draft from the opened shower door snapped me out of my train of thought as I turned in time to see a hand reach around my neck.
“Fuck!” I screamed, turning with both hands raised, ready to fight—to shift if I had to—for my life.
Ty covered his face and broke into a fit of laughter. “Liza, I’m so sorry for scaring you, but you should’ve seen your face.”
I punched him in the shoulder because it was a dick move to scare me when I had so much on my mind already and so many fears near to being realized. “Why didn’t you say my name or something? I thought you were Castro. It’s not funny.”
