Chapter Six – Killian
Killian made sure his gun was loaded before tucking it into the back of his jeans. He would do better against McGrath if he could just shift and tear him to pieces, but the goal was to make sure everything was still on the level. Not to kill him and risk the Lion going after him, Ryan and Danita.
It had been almost three months since McGrath had agreed to let the two shifters buy Danita's freedom. Three months since Danita had moved out of her bedroom and onto the air mattresses in the living room with the Bears. Three months of bliss as they learned what rhythms worked best for the three of them.
And out of the blue McGrath had phoned Killian, demanding to talk about the seven hundred and fifty thousand they were to give him in person. That it corresponded exactly to the amount of money he was able to get from his trust fund couldn't be a coincidence.
If the Leopard wanted more money, could they get it? Even though Killian's trust fund would cover the cost of Danita's ransom, they had nothing else. They were counting on the farm to produce what they needed to survive the winter.
Of course, there was always the option of selling the farm. The alpacas weren't going to produce wool until the following year, and while they had been able to sell from the vegetable garden, it was going to be a rough winter. And that was even if McGrath didn't demand more money from them.
If it came down to it, though, Killian wasn't sure if Danita would sell. She loved her plot of land and her alpaca herd. This was her dream, and she'd fight tooth and nail for it.
Killian pushed aside his worries, focusing on the current situation. Find out what McGrath wanted. The Leopard sat on a bench in the only park this town had, spreading breadcrumbs to a group of pigeons. He smiled pleasantly at Killian, but the Bear saw his fangs. Not a good sign.
"Flanagan. Sit down."
Killian sat.
"Tell me, when I told you and Higgins to keep an eye on Miss Valdez, what part of that made you think it was acceptable to get her pregnant?"
It was like he had been punched in the stomach. "Pregnant?"
Danita hadn't displayed any indication of morning sickness. There was no reason for any of them to suspect she was pregnant. Killian struggled to absorb this information, his hands clenching on his knees. Was she really pregnant, or was McGrath trying to play him?
"Her doctor owes me a few favors and informed me immediately." McGrath's nostrils flared. "You should have known to keep your distance. I can forgive your interference with your attempts at fixing that little farm of hers because there is no way for her to get her plans off the ground. She has dreams, but no real way of realizing them. What I do not appreciate is you lowering her market value."
Market value. Killian clenched his jaw. His fists trembled with the desire to break McGrath's face. Danita was far more than a commodity to be sold.
"You said we could pay off her debt. We are in the process of getting the money you want for her. Surely that covers her market value."
"Well, my price just went up. Twice the amount as before, to show you just how displeased I am. And you have until the end of the month. If you don't have it then, I am going to take Miss Valdez and you will never see her again. Clear?"
Killian nodded, knowing if he moved, he would kill the Leopard. He forced himself to stay still until McGrath was no longer in sight. He made himself sit for a while longer, seething with rage.
McGrath didn't want money. Killian had already guessed that, but he had hoped that enough money would deter the Leopard from his plans. Apparently, it hadn't. He was still pretending it was about money, though, and that gave them time.
The Leopard might think that he just backed them into a corner, but he had actually given them an out.
Now they just needed an extra quarter million. Add that to the seven hundred and fifty thousand Killian was getting from his fund, and they would have a million dollars. Just enough to pay the Lion for permission to kill the Leopard.
***
As soon as he was back at the farm, Killian sought out Danita. She was feeding the alpacas, chatting to them animatedly. He strode over to her and slung her over his shoulder. They would find a way to get the rest of the money they needed to kill McGrath, but he had to make sure she was safe and far away from here.
"Hey!" she laughed and squirmed. "I'm working. You can wait until after supper, big guy."
She thought he was taking her to bed. He shook his head. "Ryan!"
"I mean it, I'm working." Danita's tone was still light and playful.
Killian pushed her into the truck and rounded to the other side. He tried to ignore the look of shock on her face that quickly turned to fear. They didn't have time. They had to get out of here and somewhere safe before McGrath decided to just come and take her.
"What's going on?" Danita's voice was high-pitched. "Kelly?"
Ryan joined them seconds later.
"Get Dani to the safe house," Killian said. "I'll be there shortly with some supplies."
Ryan didn't ask why, but Danita snatched the keys out of the truck's ignition and slid from the truck. Backing away from the two Bears, she shook her head. Her eyes were wide, but she had that set-jaw look that meant she wasn't going to back down.
"I'm not going anywhere. There's work to be done, and you're scaring me. What is happening?"
Killian glanced at his partner for help, but Ryan looked just as confused as Danita. Killian's shoulders slumped, and he told Danita everything, from the original agreement the shifters had made with McGrath and this further development. By the time he was done, Danita was swaying on the spot.
"So we have to go," Killian said, stepping towards her.
"No."
The Bear stopped. Hadn't she heard anything he just said? "Danita—"
"No. We need a quarter of a million dollars. That's only two hundred and fifty. I know my math. I have friends. Lots of friends. My foster-sister, Amelia, offered to give me a loan before I applied for my first mortgage. So I will call her up and ask for it now. And then you can kill McGrath and I don't have to sell my farm or my body to satisfy his demands. I'm sick of him and I want him out of my life."
Her hands were clenched, her chin raised in defiance. Her amber-brown eyes stared at him hard, almost challengingly. She wasn't going to back down. Killian felt a rush of love fill his heart. Beside him, Ryan chuckled low in his throat.
"Our mate is the feisty one, isn't she?"
"Yes," Killian agreed. He smiled. Maybe he hadn't been openly admitting it, but he couldn’t deny any longer that Danita was their mate. Their perfect third piece. "But it would still be best to—"
"Run, so McGrath knows that you're going to kill him?"
"Run so he can't get his hands on you."
Danita stepped forward. She clasped his hands in hers and shook his head. "That won't happen. I'll go phone Amelia right away. The sooner we get that money the better. But I can't just leave the farm. Not when I have Maria and my other alpacas to look after."
She brushed her lips against his. Killian's eyes trailed down to her stomach. In his dread of what McGrath might do, he had forgotten about one very important fact. Something that both thrilled and terrified him.
"Danita." He took a deep breath. "There's something else you need to know."