N. Walters - Legacy Found

“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” James’s voice was low and calm.

There was pain in his eyes and it occurred to her that she’d hurt him by moving away from him. “You didn’t. Not really.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. She was still wearing her thin dress with nothing underneath it.

She hurried to her clothing and bundled it into her arms. “I’m going to get dressed now.” Obviously. Still she felt she needed to say something. She turned to go to the bathroom before she said something even more stupid.

“This isn’t over, Shelley. We still have more to talk about.” She felt more than heard James come up behind her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and the warmth sank into her bones.

“I know. Just not now.” She was jittery, her stomach half-sick from thinking about the past. She needed a break before she went any further.

“Okay. You get ready and we’ll get some breakfast before we hit the road.” He released her and she glanced over her shoulder. He loomed behind her, large and fierce. His eyes flashed a darker golden before he turned away and headed to his duffle.

Shelley hurried into the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She yanked her makeshift nightgown over her head and fumbled into her clothing. When she was fully dressed, she used the facilities and washed her face. Her brush was in the other room.

Feeling decidedly nervous, she left the dubious safety of the bathroom. James was fully dressed in jeans and a tight white T-shirt that hugged every muscle in his torso. He’d thrown a brown plaid shirt over it, leaving it open. His duffle was zipped and sitting on the bed.

“I’m almost ready.” She stuffed her dress into her bag of belongings and dragged the brush through her hair before pulling it back into a short ponytail and anchoring it with an elastic.

“No rush. We’ll make it home today.”

Home . The word was foreign to Shelley. She couldn’t remember ever having one. She supposed she must have at some point. She’d obviously been living somewhere when Tom had taken her. His cabin was the only place she could remember and she’d never once called it home.

Shoving the brush into the bag, she closed it. James held her coat open for her and waited. She slid one arm into a sleeve and then the other and he eased it over her back. His fingers lingered, rubbing her nape. His lips brushed the top of her head before he stepped away.

He grabbed his coat, shouldered his duffle and opened the door. “Let’s go.”

Shelley grabbed the shopping bag with all her new clothing as well as the bag that held her other belongings. She stepped out into the hall, wondering what challenges and surprises today would bring.

Steve Macmillan answered his phone on the first ring, keeping his other hand on the wheel of his truck. “What have you got?” He was feeling mellow this morning. He’d hit a roadside bar and found a willing lady to take him home last night. She’d been blonde, stacked and wild in the sack. She also had a tight ass he wouldn’t forget anytime soon. He’d left her warm bed twenty-minutes ago after a quick fuck for the road. Not only had he gotten laid last night, he’d saved the money he would have had to spend on a motel.

All he needed now was coffee, food and information and he was set.

Red was already talking, so he listened, his mood growing darker with each word the man spoke. “Sawyer still ain’t been able to find out who the owner of that company is.”

“Then why are you calling me?”

“Now you know me better than that, Steve,” Red insisted. “I wouldn’t have called if I didn’t have something. That truck you saw was seen in the parking lot of a motel in North Carolina.”

Steve felt his good mood returning. “Tell me more, Red. Make me happy.”

Red chuckled. “I put out the word you were looking for this truck and Jessup phoned a few hours later. Seems he was on the road and just happened to stop at a motel last night.”

“Is he following them?” Steve’s heart began to beat faster. This could be a wild goose chase but he was willing to take that chance. There was something about the way the driver of that truck had moved. Coupled with the suspicious actions of the passenger and it was something he wanted to check out. He couldn’t shake the niggling suspicion that the woman in the passenger seat was familiar.

“Yup. Said he’s in his truck waiting for ’em to leave.” Red rattled off Jessup’s cell-phone number. “I gave him your number, but you can call him if you want. And Quinn is already in North Carolina. He said you weren’t checked into the motel last night.”

Steve smiled as he remembered the blond. “No, I got waylaid last night.”

“You want him to meet you somewhere?”

“Yeah.” Steve turned in at a fast-food place and gave Red the location. “I’m having breakfast before I hit the road. Have him meet me here.” He pulled into a parking spot and turned off the ignition. “If he’s not going to be able to get here within the next hour, have him call me.”

“Will do.”

Steve tucked his phone into his pocket and climbed out of his truck, locking it behind him. He hated leaving his weapons unattended, but he was parked close enough to keep a watch on them while he ate.

He was in the mood for pancakes. He might hate Shelley’s guts, but the bitch had made the best pancakes. Halfway across the parking lot, he suddenly stopped.

The woman from the truck. He’d finally figured out what was familiar about her. The quick glance he’d caught of her had reminded him of Shelley. She certainly had the same hair color. He was used to picturing her with her hair tied back, not down. It had thrown him off.

Probably coincidence. After all, what were the odds of him seeing a truck that had her as a passenger? Plus, what would Shelley be doing with that guy?

Steve started walking again, his brain working furiously. If that guy was a werewolf, then it would make sense. Maybe Shelley had hooked up with one of her own kind.

Maybe he was barking up the wrong tree. Not that it mattered. He planned to check out the big dude anyway. Maybe he’d get a chance to bag him a werewolf. Shelley was out there somewhere. He’d find her eventually. He’d been working on the other side of the country and hadn’t seen her in a few years, but that didn’t matter. She could dye her hair or change her appearance however she liked. He’d find her no matter how long it took.

Smiling, he pulled open the door and walked to the counter. “I’ll have the pancake special. Double the bacon. And pour me a large cup of coffee while I’m waiting.” He was hungry.

Quinn hung up his phone and his gut clenched. The game was on again. Macmillan hadn’t shown up at the motel last night and Quinn had orders to meet him at some breakfast joint within the hour. He could easily make it.

More and more, he was beginning to wonder what the hell he was doing. He didn’t even know if the hunters knew anything about his twin. But it was the only link he had.

He couldn’t give up.

He’d already eaten, so there was nothing to hold him up. But he couldn’t make himself start his truck. Not yet.

He dialed another number and breathed a sigh of relief when it was answered by a familiar voice. “Hey.”

“Where are you?”

“North Carolina.”

“Shit.”

Quinn tensed. “Talk to me, Craig.”

“I’ve been doing some research. There’s not much out there. But I managed to hack into some of the bounty hunter sites you don’t have access to.”

“Be careful, little brother.” Quinn worried about Craig. He was the strong one. Not that Craig was a slouch, but Quinn had always taken care of all of them. A familiar pain clutched his heart. He hadn’t done a good enough job or Chris would still be with them.