The Vampire's Mail Order Bride
Hugh got in his Jaguar and drove off. He didn’t look happy. That might be a good sign. If he’d just had a happy meeting with Piper, he’d have a smile on his face, wouldn’t he?
None of that erased the sick feeling in her belly. She walked slowly back to her car, her thoughts continuing to spin out possibilities. Maybe Piper had called him about something. Maybe she was trying to blackmail him over Delaney’s real identity. Except her real identity was basically public knowledge now.
Forcing herself not to freak, she drove back to Hugh’s and went inside.
He and Stanhill were in the middle of a heated conversation in the living room. The last thing she heard was Hugh saying, “I don’t want to tell her any of this yet.”
That didn’t sound so great. She walked in, not caring if she was interrupting. “You don’t want to tell me what?”
Hugh looked relieved to see her. “There you are. You shouldn’t have gone into town alone.”
His concern wasn’t nearly as touching as it should have been. “Why? Because I might see you meeting with Piper?”
He frowned, then shook his head. “No, but about that—”
“Yes, please explain. I’m dying to know why you didn’t tell me you were going to see Piper. I thought we were going to be honest with one another now? Especially after we just slept together.” She dropped her bag on the floor and took a seat on the sofa, kicking her feet up on the coffee table and settling in.
Stanhill made for the door.
She pointed at him. “You. Stay.”
He cleared his throat and took a seat in one of the occasional chairs.
Hugh sighed. “Our sleeping together had nothing to do with me going to see her. Not directly anyway.”
“Then why’d you go?”
“Because she threatened you.” His eyes took on a predatory gleam. “And I am not okay with that.”
“What?” All traces of frustration vanished from Delaney’s gorgeous face. “What do you mean she threatened me? How?”
Hugh sat near her on the sofa. “First things first. I know you’re mad I went to see Piper.”
“No, I’m mad you went to see her without telling me and that I had to find out about it on my own. But maybe that’s just my own insecurity talking and maybe I don’t have a right to that with you. Not yet.”
“No, you do. I know your last boyfriend cheated on you. I am not that man. Nor will I ever be.” He never wanted her to feel betrayed again, especially not because of something he’d done.
“Even better.” Her smile broadened. “Now tell me about Piper threatening me.”
“Remember when we were at Insomnia and Julian said Piper was out to get you?”
Delaney nodded. “Sure, but that’s not really a threat.”
“I didn’t think that much of it either, until I talked to Sheriff Merrow again—”
“When was that?”
“Right before lunch. You were still asleep.” Still lounging in the bed they’d shared. A bed he wished he’d stayed in longer. “Merrow came by to give me an update. His sister, Bridget, runs Howlers, a local dive bar in town and—”
“Wait. Is Bridget a werewolf too?”
“Yes.”
“Howlers? That’s not a little on the nose or anything.” Delaney grinned. “Go on.”
“Bridget had some customers come in who caused her some concern.”
“I’m not following.”
“Sheriff Merrow told her about your situation. That family is pretty close, and because of Howlers, Bridget has her finger on the pulse of this town.”
“Got it. So what about these customers?”
“They were from New York and asked where other New Yorkers tended to hang out in town.”
Delaney froze. “You mean like they were looking for me?”
He nodded. “Maybe. They paid cash so we don’t have any names, but Bridget is looking through her security footage to see if she can find a clear picture of them.”
Delaney hugged her knees to her chest. “Where does Piper fit into all this?”
“Merrow wanted me to talk to her after I told him what she’d said to Julian. He thought she was more likely to tell me what she might have done than anyone else.”
“And?”
It wasn’t good. But Delaney deserved to know. “Piper heard your name during the confrontation we had here. She researched you and found out there was a missing-persons report on you in New York.”
“What?” Delaney pressed her hand to her forehead. “That piece of—one of my co-workers texted me to say that if I didn’t show up, Rastinelli was going to call the police and tell them I’d gone missing. I thought it was just a scare tactic. I never thought he’d actually do it.”
Hugh shoved a hand through his hair. “Sounds like another indicator that he’s got some dirty cops on his payroll. Bloody hell. Those men at Howlers might actually be here looking for you.”
Hugh’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out to see a text from Sheriff Merrow. He opened it. “Bridget found some clear shots of the men. Merrow wants us to come down to the station so you can see if either of them are familiar.”
“Okay.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “What if they come after me?”
He kissed her knuckles and smiled. “Sweetheart, I don’t care how dangerous those men think they are, they’re nothing against an aged vampire and his rook.”