“I will ask you again, do you have anything for me?”  Dominic said, balancing his favorite knife on his middle finger.  He knew the lawyer wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off it.  “What the fuck have you been doing?”

“I’ve been searching for her.  I promise.  Look.”  The lawyer stumbled over to him and showed him a piece of paper.  “See, I hired a private investigator and I’ve been going by the house looking for anything that would lead me to where they are located.  Just like you told me to.”  Jackson Peters was shaking as he continued to hold the piece of paper out to him.  It didn’t matter because the kid would eventually get back on to the game and he would find him.  Unfortunately, he couldn’t have any loose ends.  As soon as he found the woman and her little brother they would be gone as well.  

First, he would have some fun with her before he killed her.  No reason to give that piece up before he took care of her.  

“Looks to me like you have been sitting on your ass in your office instead of trying to find them.  You know you have a lot to lose if the wrong person finds out what you’ve been up to.”  Dominic smiled as he watched the lawyer panic.  

“But I haven’t hurt anyone or, or…”

“Or, or, or,” Dominic whimpered, mocking the lawyer.  “Man, you people.  You think you’re innocent in all of this?  Did you really think I was going to let you live?”

When the lawyer finally looked up at him, he threw the knife, hitting him in the middle of his forehead.  He knew the knife didn’t penetrate deep enough to kill him, but it put him on the ground.  Dominic walked over and straddled the man who lay on the ground.  Maybe he did kill him.  He wasn’t moving like the others.  Didn’t matter because Dominic Santora always finished the kill.  This is what he lived for.  Nobody was going to disrespect him.  Especially not a scared sweaty lawyer who would crack if the cops or Money ever question him.  He was the one who got him into this mess with the so-called computer experts.    

Jerking the knife out, he examined his blade and found little blood.  “What the hell?”

Before he could slice his throat, he was hit on the side of his head.  The last visual was the lawyer rolling away.  

* * *

Finn watched as Alex slept.  Even as she made strange noises, Alex was beautiful to him.  His wolf was still pushing him to bite her.  She would be theirs forever and she would turn just like he did and have his strength.  Nobody would ever hurt her again.  He closed his eyes shoving the wolf back.  She wasn’t ready for that yet, but his inner wolf impelled him to sink his teeth into her.  This feeling had grown stronger since the first time he touched her.  

He twisted the curl around his finger knowing he should have acted on his instinct and asked for forgiveness later.  But his right to choose was taken from him and he wouldn’t do that to her.  

As they lay there, he explained what would happen if he bit her.  Once he explained she never said anything further.  Her silence stated she wasn’t ready yet.

The longer he touched her and inhaled her scent the worse it had become for his wolf.  Add on the threat that Dominic Santora was coming for her and his wolf wanted to bite her more.  But if Dominic Santora came looking for her, he would find something he had never experienced before.  He was sure of that. 

Finn sent a text to Bane to check on Haine, knowing Alex would be worried about him when she woke.  All he got in return was a smiley face then a picture came through of Lucky and Haine in sleeping bags beside the fire.  Both were sound asleep but he could see the smiles on their faces.  Simone was sitting in a chair besides them holding a stick over the fire roasting marshmallows.  She also had a smile on her face.  

He smiled rubbing his thumb over the picture.  This was his family and Haine would now be his responsibility.  He loved kids and Haine was the best. When the time came and if Haine wanted to be changed he would need to talk to the Alpha but he was sure that he could get the go ahead to make Haine a shifter.  But if he never wanted to, he would still be part of the pack.  That’s what he loved about his family.  Even his dad was an honorary member.  

His dad was happy when he told her about Haine and Alex.  It had only been him and his dad for such a long time.  Now he would have a daughter and a grandson even though Haine was Alex’s little brother it wouldn’t matter to him.  Haine would love having him as a Papa.  That’s what he wanted him to call him.  He couldn’t shut him up once he told him.  Even now he couldn’t help but smile thinking about his dad and Haine hanging out.  

Thinking of his dad, he wondered if he had found out anything new.  Taking a chance, he sent a text asking his dad for any updates.  While he waited for his dad to text him back he glanced at Alex’s face.  She was so peaceful as she snuggled up against him.  She fit perfectly against him.  She was perfect.

“Are you watching me sleep?”  Alex replied huskily.  Her eyes were open but only partially.

“Yes.”

“Was I drooling?”

“Maybe just a little.”  He wanted to laugh when the look of pure dread came over her face.  He couldn’t tease her much.  Seeing an inch of pain, even for something like this, was not for him.  

“No, baby. I just love looking at you.  I love the sounds you make in your sleep and how at peace you are, but to be honest with you, I wouldn’t care if you did,” Finn said, leaning over kissing her on the nose.  “I would love you anyway.”  

“This is so strange for me, but I actually believe you’re telling the truth.  I don’t understand it, but I know you do care about me.”  Staring up at him, Alex asked, “Is it a shifter thing?”

“What do you mean?”  Finn pushed a fallen curl off her face.  

“Is the reason my emotions are so high is because you’re a shifter?  Because I’ve never felt like this before. It’s happened so fast. Is that normal?”

Smiling up at her, Finn stated, “Some of it, and sometimes it happens fast, but I hope that’s not the only reason you like me?”

“Maybe.”  Alex turned away but Finn saw the small curve of a smile. 

“Maybe, huh,” Finn repeated.

“Well, maybe I’ll just leave since you don’t like me enough.”  Finn started to move when he was jerked back to the bed.  

“No, you, big dope.  I may like you a lot, but I’m still thinking about it.”  Alex’s eyes swept over him and there was no doubt what she was thinking.

“Okay.  I guess I could tickle it out of you.” Finn grabbed Alex before she realized he was serious and started lightly touching her side.  The girl was moving so much she almost slipped out of his hands.  “Girl, be still while I torture you into telling me how much you love me.”

Alex stopped and stared at Finn.  Shit, he had let it slip out of his mouth.  Shit, shit, shit.  What could he say now?  “I’m sorry.  I…I—”

Grabbing his hands, Alex whispered, “Did you mean it?”

“Yeah, I do.  I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you.  I shouldn’t tell you that because…”

“Why?”

“Because I’m terrified you will leave me and I don’t want to say something stupid that will make you disappear.  Alex, I won’t say it again if you don’t feel the same way,” Finn said.  The fear of her running finally hit him in the gut.  His chest tightened thinking about Haine and her out there alone.  He leaned up and sat on the side of the bed.

“I do love you, Finn.  I don’t know how you wiggled yourself into my life but you have.  I want to stay here, too, but I won’t let my trouble hurt anyone from New Hope.”  Shaking her head, Alex moved to the side of the bed and leaned against Finn. 

“You really love me?  I thought maybe you liked me, but…but you actually love me?”

“Yeah, of course, I do, you big lug.  I do, but don’t get so high and mighty.  There are a lot of problems that come with me and my life.”  Alex played with his fingers then muttered, “And I meant it, Finn, when I said I won’t let anyone here get hurt.  I will leave before that happens.”

Finn picked her up and sat her in his lap.  “Nobody will ever hurt you or take you away from me.”