Chapter Nineteen
Ethan stood in his grandfather’s front yard and faced the members of his pack, his voice ringing out strong and sure. “It ends today! No more Kenwood shifters will cross into our territory without losing his life. Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye!” they chorused, anger etched on the lines of every face.
One of the pack members stepped forward. “I say we take out Old Man Foster. That should put a stop to his trespassing.”
Ethan held up a hand for silence when voices rang out in agreement. “You leave Foster to me. I have a plan for him and his son. We won’t have to worry about either of them sucking up oxygen for too much longer.”
Cheers went up through the crowd. “What about his pack?” another man called out. “Their loyalties lie with the old man.”
Shaking his head, Ethan addressed the one who’d spoken. “I firmly believe their loyalties will disappear with Foster. If they don’t, then they’ll be buried with him.”
More cheers rent the air.
A woman’s voice rang out. “Won’t starting a war cost more lives than necessary? I mean, isn’t there any way to deal with the old man besides killing him?”
Wallace answered for Ethan. “It’s past time for a purge. I should have taken care of Foster years ago. There’s far too much at stake to allow him to live now. We must band together and follow Ethan’s lead in this. He knows what he’s doing.”
“I agree,” Billy piped in from Ethan’s side. “I’ve seen what Foster is capable of. I may not be a shifter, but I’ll fight alongside any of you. And die with you, if that’s what it takes.”
The woman shifted her gaze back to Ethan. “You’re my alpha, and I will die for you as well if it becomes necessary. I am only concerned for my children.”
“A valid concern, Deloris,” Ethan responded, using her first name. “When the time comes for me to implement my plan, all women and children will be moved to the safe house. Have no fear.”
Deloris nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes.
Glancing at his watch, Ethan dismissed the large group with a promise to meet up with them in a week with further details.
“Where are you headed in such a hurry?” Billy teased, jogging up beside Ethan as he made his way to his car.
Ethan gave him a side look. “I’m going to Piper’s this evening to talk.”
Billy grinned. “To talk, huh?”
Irritated with Billy’s insinuation, Ethan picked up his pace, not stopping until he reached his vehicle. “Keep an eye on things. I don’t wish to be disturbed tonight. For anything.”
“Yes, sir.” Billy broke off to the left and jumped into his own car.
Ethan had half an hour before he was due to arrive at Piper’s. He climbed behind the wheel, started the engine, and shot forward without regard for his grandfather's gravel drive.
Pulling up in front of Piper’s house, Ethan shut down the engine and willed his wolf to calm. The damn thing seemed to claw at him anytime Piper was near. And she was definitely near. He could sense her before he cleared his car door.
Ethan took a deep breath as he sauntered up the walkway to her porch. No shifters were in the area, nor had they recently been.
He rang the bell.
The door opened a moment later, and Ethan nearly swallowed his tongue.
Piper stood there, wearing a pair of white cotton shorts and a pink tank top. Her long auburn hair hung loose around her shoulders to frame her gorgeous face.
“Hi.” She stood there, holding the door open, but hadn’t stepped back.
Ethan’s gaze traveled down her bare feet and his lips twitched. “You’re not wearing shoes.”
“I was lying on the couch,” she shot back, the look in her eyes almost challenging.
Ethan’s wolf roared from within. Damn her for tickling his dominant side. “May I come in?”
“Yes, of course.” She stepped back, waving him inside.
The second he crossed over the threshold, Ethan toed off his running shoes, eliciting a twinkle in Piper’s eyes.
“Would you care for a drink?”
Ethan nodded. “A drink would be great.”
“Wine?” Piper inquired on her way into the kitchen.
He followed close behind. “You got anything stronger?”
“I have whiskey.”
Ethan stopped next to the bar, noticing two empty glasses sitting on either side of what looked to be brownie crumbs.
Jealousy crept back in. “Whiskey works. Am I interrupting something?”
“Pardon?” She glanced at him over her shoulder.
Not sure he wanted to know the answer, Ethan nodded toward the empty brownie plate.
“Oh, no. Rhonda was here earlier. She just left about an hour ago.”
Relief was swift. “Rhonda?”
Piper handed him the glass of whiskey she’d poured and half smiled. “Rhonda’s a really good friend. My home away from home a lot of times.”
Ethan hoped like hell that Piper had stayed at Rhonda’s the night she’d run out on him. “Is that where you went the night you left the penthouse?”
Pouring herself a glass of wine, Piper raised an eyebrow. “How do you know I went somewhere that night?”
“I came to check on you, and you weren’t here.”
Piper took a sip of her wine. “Yes, I stayed the night with Rhonda. Now, I’d like to hear why you thought you could buy me.”
She pulled no punches, Ethan noted. His wolf seconded that assumption if the heat forming behind his eyes was any indication. “I wasn’t trying to buy you for the reasons you obviously assumed.”
Placing her wineglass on the bar, Piper crossed her arms over her chest. “Why then?”
Ethan took a step toward her. “It was my egotistical way of trying to bind you to me.”
The sound of Piper’s heartbeat kicking up a notch reached Ethan’s ears.
“Bind me to you?” she whispered, lowering her arms.
He took another step. “It was wrong of me, I know. But I was hoping—”
“That I would continue seeing you out of gratitude?” Piper interrupted, effectively cutting off his words.
“No. More like that you would see the extent of my feelings for you.”
Her mouth opened but no sound came out.
Ethan moved in closer. “There are things that you don’t know about me, Piper. Things I’m not proud of.”