CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Trevor checked in with Jack by text message several times during the afternoon, to make sure everything was secure at the hotel. He had a few things to set up before he returned to his mate.
His mate. He savored that thought, hoping tonight would be the night that she’d accept him.
If she didn’t, he’d spend the rest of his days trying to convince her. Eventually, she’d give in. He had to believe that.
But he didn’t know where he stood yet. He’d been too cowardly to broach the subject with her to this point, so he wasn’t even sure if she was leaning for or against them spending the rest of their lives together. He prayed to the Goddess that the odds were in his favor.
He wanted everything to be perfect tonight. He’d asked the ladies at the bakery—after things had settled down from the battle royale that had taken place earlier in the day—to set him up with a romantic picnic dinner for two. Normally, Trevor probably would’ve hit up Zak to cook something special, but the other man had his hands full at the jail. Nothing fancy would be coming out of the Cajun bear’s kitchen today.
That was okay, though. The sisters who owned the bakery were supplying everyone with sandwiches, and it was all hands on deck in their little shop. They were more than happy to set up something nice for Trevor and Beth, once he asked.
The sisters gave him sly looks, and he realized his possible mating with Beth was probably one of the worst kept secrets in town. Only Beth, it seemed, didn’t realize his intentions at this point. It was enough to make a bear growl.
But she’d know tonight. In no uncertain terms. Trevor was going to lay his heart on the line for her and see what she did with it. He only hoped she would be gentle.
Trevor was used to battle and bleeding enemies, but putting his heart out there to be trampled on by the soft feet of his lover was something totally different. It was a lot scarier.
Beth was stiff from sitting so long by the end of the afternoon, but it had been worth it. She and Grace had begun to make inroads in tracking what Jonathan had been up to with all his shady businesses. They’d even managed to put an immediate stop to some of the worst things they had discovered. For example, they had been able to halt a huge shipment of illegal weapons before it ever left the warehouse. They’d also begun firing a lot of the unnecessary muscle her stepfather had employed.
The guards around the house on Catalina Island had been summarily sacked and replaced with some ex-Navy SEAL friends of Jack’s, who lived somewhat near in the area and were willing to help out for a few months, until things settled down. Beth didn’t want to leave her mother completely exposed in the big house, without any protection at all. The place was too much of a target. Jonathan had liked to live ostentatiously and had been conspicuous in every aspect of his consumption of Beth’s wealth.
Thank the stars that was over.
She hadn’t really had time to stop and think about what she had done, but oddly, taking Jonathan’s life—the way it had gone down—didn’t really bother her. It wasn’t like she had murdered him in cold blood. She hadn’t poisoned him, or lay in wait, or planned anything. No, he’d died as a direct result of his actions. Beth had been protecting her mate.
It was a shifter thing. Something mer, and all water shifters, understood. Protecting the mate was paramount. No one came before one’s mate.
And Beth had been a member of the hunting party long enough to understand killing and death. She’d hunted to feed and protect the pod. She’d made her share of kills.
It had been hard at first, since she’d been raised mostly on land, and had never learned the ocean skills necessary for survival in the deeps. But her sisters in the hunting party had taught her the ropes. They’d been with her for her first kills and helped her learn and grow into a viable member of their team. She loved them—each and every one of them—for their patience and the care they had taken with her when she’d been so green. They were truly her sisters, and the fact that they’d been there to help her in her hour of greatest need would never be forgotten.
She’d thought moving to the cove had meant the end of her new family, but the battle early this morning had proven the exact opposite. It wasn’t the end, but a new beginning, with a vastly expanded network of family members willing to help in times of crisis. She owed the bears a big apology for being such a pain in the ass since coming here. She realized now how patient they’d been with her and how gentle.
They could’ve torn into her at any time for some of the things she’d said and the actions she’d taken out of fear, but they’d held back. They’d given her time to figure things out. They’d acted like older siblings who knew, eventually, their recalcitrant little sister would get her shit together. She owed them all a debt of gratitude.
And now that she had her father’s money at her disposal, she might begin to repay them in more tangible terms. The bears and her pod, both. Once she had a full picture of what was left after Jonathan’s empire of evil had been dismantled, Beth planned to meet with Nansee and John to see how she could help the pod and the town with what was left.
The Catalina pod that her father had ruled was no more, but its legacy would live on in the newly-named Grizzly Cove pod. She knew her father would have been happy to finally see the wealth of his people go back to where it belonged.
“You know, judging by these bank balances,” Grace had told her late in the afternoon, once they’d cracked the online banking portion of Jonathan’s portfolio, “your stepfather actually made quite a bit of money for your trust fund. He doubled it, in fact.”
“It’s ill-gotten gains, in all likelihood,” Beth had replied.
“The past can’t be changed,” Grace said, putting her hand over the back of Beth’s hand where it rested on the desk. “What matters is what you do with it now.”
Beth had agreed with the wisdom of her friend’s words. Even now, as she closed up the makeshift office for the night and stretched her weary muscles, she was thinking of all the ways she could help the town and the people with all that cash. Grace was right. Beth would make it her mission to do good with the money her stepfather had made.
Grace and Jack took their leave only when Ezra returned to keep watch. Beth hadn’t gotten much of a chance to talk to Ezra, and that didn’t really change for the short time he sat with her until Trevor returned. The big bear bounty hunter was really a man of few words. Try as she might, she couldn’t coax more than a few syllables out of him at a time.
Then again, he was probably just as tired as she was. Even more so. He’d been in the thick of battle and had been standing watch through the night before.
“When was the last time you slept?” she asked him now, as they sat together in the room that had been turned into her temporary office.
“I’ll sleep when Trev gets back.” That was one of the longest sentences she’d managed to get out of him so far. She counted it a victory, of sorts.
“Did you get hurt during the fight?” She had the sneaking suspicion the big bear wouldn’t admit to pain, but she couldn’t help asking.
To that question, he only shrugged. Hmm. She was right. Ezra wasn’t one to make a fuss about a little blood. Obstinate man.
“Did the doctor at least take a look at you?” She tried again.
“What for?” He shrugged again, and she thought she detected a bit of a wince, but she couldn’t be positive. “I’m fine.”
“Look, Ezra. I want to thank you for coming all this way to help me and Trevor. I can see you’re a true friend to him, and it means a lot to me that you were willing to forego the enormous bounty Jonathan had put on my head and actually help me.” She waited, but that didn’t even rate a single syllable in reply. Maybe her next words would elicit a real response. “I want to pay you.”
He seemed to perk up, but the expression on his face appeared a bit insulted, if she was any judge. Of course, he might just have indigestion for all she knew. The man was hard to read.
“I mean…like…give you a job,” she tried to clarify. “If you want it. As you can see, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me to close down all of Jonathan’s illegal operations.” She gestured to the mountain of paper she’d generated today that sat on the desk behind her. “I could use some help. Help I can trust.”
Now, he looked more interested.
“What would you want me to do?”
Well. Seven whole words, but still all single syllables. Still, it was a longer sentence, as Ezra’s sentences went, so she’d take it.
“Troubleshooter,” she answered immediately, having thought this through during the afternoon when she looked at evidence of some of the more complex operations and realized shutting them down couldn’t be done remotely. “Take this for example.” She reached behind her for a sheaf of papers. “This business looks legit on the outside, but Jonathan didn’t have a single legitimate bone in his body. There’s something fishy going on here, but it would require boots on the ground—to borrow one of Trevor’s phrases—to figure out what’s really going on and how to put an end to it.”
She handed the newly created paper file over to Ezra and paused while he flipped through it. He frowned a few times, grimaced once, but otherwise seemed interested in what she’d uncovered so far. He’d be perfect to infiltrate some of the seamier businesses and straighten them out. He had killer instinct and a rough appearance, but she’d learned a lot about him over the past hours, and she knew for certain he was one of the good guys. He’d be perfect for the job she had in mind.
At length, he sat back and closed the file. “I’m in.”
Trevor returned to the hotel just after dark to find Beth and Ezra deep in conversation over a pile of thick folders. They were still in the room he’d commandeered that morning to use as an office, and while Beth was doing most of the talking, Trevor was suitably impressed with how much Ezra was contributing to the conversation.
Somehow, his cunning little mate had found a way to draw out the most taciturn of Trevor’s friends. He had to smile, seeing them bent over the file, pointing out some sort of trail in what looked like a bank ledger. They were so engrossed in the work that Beth didn’t even realize Trevor had returned.
Ezra looked up and gave him the all clear signal, meaning Ezra had probably realized the moment Trevor had entered the building. Good man. Ezra might be a bear, but he was better than any watchdog on the planet at sensing trouble. If he was calm, Trevor knew it was safe. For now, at least.
“I brought dinner,” Trevor said, stepping into the temporary office. Only then did Beth look up, her face transformed by a bright smile when she saw him that made the whole hellish day worthwhile.
“Great. I’m starved,” she replied, standing and stretching her back. Poor baby had been sitting at that desk all day from the reports he’d received.
Trevor might’ve been running around town and making long-distance calls all day, but he’d kept up with his woman through the men who had been guarding her. First Jack and then Ezra had been sending him periodic updates via text message, unbeknownst to Beth.
Trevor hoisted two big brown paper shopping bags in the air. One was slightly larger, having been packed for two, but the other one held enough for a hungry shifter. The gals at the bakery had set up an assembly line of sorts, packing bags just like this to take out to the guys on guard duty, since the troops were spread a bit thin after the action of the morning.
“Courtesy of the Grizzly Cove bakery,” Trevor said as he handed the bag to Ezra. “Want to eat with us? You two looked like you were deep in discussions.” Trevor wasn’t being nosy, but he had to admit to being intrigued about what Ezra and Beth could have possibly been so engrossed in.
Ezra shook his head as he stood. “Beth will tell you,” he said with characteristic brevity. “I stand watch for another hour, then I’m off for six.” It went without saying that he’d only be next door if he was needed, but Ezra wasn’t superman. He had to sleep sometime, and he’d fought hard that morning, alongside the others, then spent the afternoon sorting out bounty hunters from hired goons with the sheriff’s department. He’d put in a full day, and then some.
“Who’s on duty after you?” Trevor asked, knowing they wouldn’t be left unguarded with all the miscreants still in town, even if they were either in the clinic or the jail. Or in the morgue.
“Big John said he’d take care of it,” Ezra answered. They both knew that, if John said a thing would be done, by golly, it would be done. Nothing got past the best strategic mind Delta Force had even known.
“Fair enough.” Trevor turned his focus to his mate. “Are you about ready to head back to our room?” He’d caught her mid-yawn and tried not to grin.
“Oh, yeah. I’m done with this for the day. Let’s go.” She stood and moved toward the door, but paused on the way as she passed Ezra.
“Thanks for everything,” she said with a fond smile. “I’m glad you accepted my offer.”
“Me, too, boss lady.” Ezra actually grinned at her, and Trevor grew even more intrigued.
He’d never known stoic Ezra to take to someone so quickly. Hell, he’d known the guy for five years before he’d ever gotten more than three words out of the man. Somehow, Trevor’s sweet mate had not only gotten Ezra to talk to her, but to agree to her mysterious offer? Would wonders never cease?
Trevor tried not to laugh as he followed his mate out of the room. Ezra trailed after, locking the door behind them. The paperwork would keep until tomorrow.
Ezra checked Trevor’s room while he held back with Beth, just as a precaution. When Ezra emerged and gave the thumbs up, Trevor escorted Beth inside, waiting to make sure Ezra was safe in his own room before shutting and locking the door.
“Alone at last,” he said, turning to find Beth grinning as she attacked the big bag of sandwiches and pastries. “So, are you going to tell me what kind of offer you made to Ezra while I was otherwise engaged? Should I be jealous?” He kept his tone light, his words teasing.
He didn’t think she’d turn to another man, but their relationship was still so new and so unsure. Trevor desperately wanted her to confirm he was her one and only mate, but he was afraid. Yep. Trevor Williams, Special Operator and badass mercenary bear, was afraid the woman of his dreams would reject him.
“Jealous? Nope. Not unless you wanted the job as troubleshooter for my inherited business holdings,” she responded in the same vein, already placing wrapped sandwiches out for both of them.
He moved closer to the small table at the far end of the room. She’d set the places with the plastic knives, forks and spoons that had been packed with the sandwiches, and set cups and plates down for each of them. He liked the way she made even paper plates and plastic utensils seem special. Homey. Domestic. Like they were already a mated pair.
“You offered him a job?” Now, Trevor was really impressed.
Ezra was the kind of bear that always roamed alone. The bounty hunter lifestyle had suited him to a T. Going place to place on his Harley, hunting fugitives, never really settling anywhere. That was the life Ezra’s restless bear demanded.
Trevor knew there were reasons for that. Dark reasons. Deep scars that had made Ezra the man he’d become.
If Ezra was ready to take a steadier job, that was really something. Of course, it was hard to say no to Beth. Trevor knew that well enough. But still, this was big news and a major improvement for the bear Trevor had feared would never change from his lonely, nomadic ways.
“Well, it became clear as I was looking through the various accounts and businesses today that a lot of these things need to be handled in person. After everything we’ve been through in such a short time, I trust Ezra to be on the right side of things. He proved himself when he didn’t come after me for the price on my head. I trust him.” She set a wrapped sandwich before Trevor as they both sat at the small table. “And I don’t necessarily have the skills or the desire to travel all over the place, rooting out the bad guys and shutting down criminal enterprises. I think Ezra does. He looks just rough enough to be able to infiltrate where the bad guys are and then learn what he needs to shut them down.”
“It’s a genius idea, honey.” Trevor was proud of his clever mate.
She blushed so prettily, it was all he could do to stop himself from leaning over the table to kiss her. But he had to be patient. Eat first. Pounce on her after. That was the plan, such as it was.
“Honestly, he strikes me as a lonely soul,” Beth said contemplatively. “I don’t think bounty hunting is a very stable sort of profession. I get that the hunting part probably satisfies his inner predator, but not having a home territory or Clan… That’s got to be rough. This might give him some…for lack of a better word…roots.” She took a drink of her water before continuing. “I want him to feel connected to us. To our people, here in Grizzly Cove. Maybe if he knew he was welcome, he might someday think of this as a place to return to. I take it the other bears here liked what they saw of him, right? He seems to have fit right in with the others.”
“Very observant,” Trevor agreed. “He impressed the Alpha and his XO. I’m pretty sure they’d accept him into the community if he asked, but I’ll be honest. It’ll take a lot to get Ezra to ask. He’s a man with baggage, and that won’t be gotten rid of that easily.” Trevor shook his head. “But I’m really glad you’ve taken him under your wing. The job with you—and the connections—will be good for him. You’re right when you say he needs roots. He’s been drifting a long time.”
“He really is a good friend to you, isn’t he?” she asked, watching him with a gentle expression.
“Ezra is more like a brother to me than even he knows.” Trevor couldn’t really say more than that. Ezra was special. It was as simple as that.
“Then, I’m doubly glad he accepted the job,” Beth replied after a moment. Her smile was soft as she returned to her food. She’d been through an awful lot that day, and yet, she’d shown the strength he’d known she’d possessed, but hadn’t fully realized.
Dinner was pleasant enough and they talked of mostly benign stuff. All the while, Beth felt the weight of her need to claim him as her mate sitting between them. Was he feeling the same pull or was she deluding herself?
As they lingered over dessert, the conversation fell into a lull. It had a been a long, difficult, momentous, life-altering day.
“Beth…” Trevor’s uncharacteristically hesitant tone made her look up at him. “Are you really okay with what went down this morning?”
She knew what he meant. He was talking about her trident, and how it had snuffed the life out of her nemesis. The evil bastard that had called himself her stepfather. She couldn’t really feel remorse for ridding the world of such a man, though she knew her reaction was probably a little strange—or would seem that way to Trevor.
“Although I’ve never killed someone before, I’m good with what happened, I think,” she answered honestly, really thinking about her words. “I guess the predator in me recognized Jonathan as the shark that shared his soul more than a man. He lived very close to the edge. He couldn’t always control his shifts, which is why he had to live on the water with a private beach. When he lost his temper…or really, anytime at all…he would shift into his animal form uncontrollably. It wasn’t uncommon to see him running for the surf, ripping out of his hand-tailored suits.” She shook her head at the memory. She hadn’t really thought about these things in a very long time.
“If he was that out of control of his beast, he had to have been close to feral,” Trevor observed, his brows drawing together in concern.
“Now that I look back on it, I think that was the case. He put on a good show for the few humans he dealt with, but he was all shark, pretty much all the time.” It was startling to realize that she’d lived with such a monster for so long. “When I joined Nansee’s pod, I knew next to nothing about how to be mer. I couldn’t hunt. I’d never even fished in my human form. I didn’t know how to kill or dress a catch. I was like a child. But the girls in my hunting party taught me what I needed to know, and I became one of the best hunters in the group.”
She felt the need to explain her thoughts, though she would never justify her actions to anyone else. Only Trevor. He needed to know where she was coming from.
“So, killing Jonathan was like killing a shark in the ocean?” he asked.
Beth shrugged. “Not exactly, but there are parallels. I didn’t hunt him, of course. And that’s probably why my human half is okay with the way everything happened this morning. It wasn’t quite self-defense, but I was protecting your back and defending myself in the process. It’s not like I planned it. It just happened. And my mer side was cool about it. My inner predator recognized the need to take out the two-legged shark for the safety of my people—which includes you, Trevor.”
She said that last bit quietly, wondering what he’d make of her words. Would he understand that she was claiming him? That her mer half saw him as hers?
“That’s good, Beth,” he said, after some hesitation. “That’s really good.”
“Which part?” she challenged.
“The part where you called me one of your people?” He gave her a smile as he looked at her, questions in his eyes that she was starting to feel more confident about answering.
“Well, you are. I mean, you’re not just one of the people I care about…” Now or never, she told herself, taking a deep breath before continuing. “You’re the person I care about.”
“That sounds serious,” he told her, moving around the table to kneel before her chair. He took her hands in his in a move that was so romantic she thought her heart might burst. “Would it be okay to say that you’re the person I care about too?”
She nodded, her breath caught in her throat as their gazes met and held. He looked so earnest. So serious. So…hopeful. That expression gave her hope, as well.
“Would it be okay to say that you’re my mate, Beth?” he whispered, drawing closer to her as she heard words she thought she might never hear.
Her soul filled with joy as she slid out of the chair and wrapped her arms around him. They sat together, right there on the floor, clinging to each other.
“Yes, Trevor,” she whispered near his ear as she hugged him tight. “Because you’re my mate too.”