The Protector Read online

  “Son of a fucking bitch. Are the doors locked? Are you armed?” Cole asked, raising his voice like he did when he was worried. Blair could hear his sirens turning on and his engine revving as he sped up.

  “No, I will go and lock them now. You still have a key?” Blair walked towards the back and picked up her clothes on the way. Her bra dropped, but she was in too much of a hurry to stop to pick it up. She felt her resolve crumbling, and tears started to fall as she began to cry.

  “Yes, get those fucking doors locked, and get your biggest fucking knife and kill anyone that tries to come through there. I will stay on the phone with you. If it isn’t me at the door, kill the fucker.”

  “Ok,” she said crying a bit harder. Cole’s obvious worry only heightened her own fear. Hearing the anger and fear in his tone made it all the more real that she was in a lot of danger at the moment.

  “Baby, I know you’re scared. I am almost there. I’m coming.” Cole sounded so soft and caring towards her.

  “I know you are. I’m trying to stay calm.” Blair flipped the lock on the door, then quickly put her clothes back on. She could hear Mandy crying in the kitchen. “He really banged Mandy up,” she whispered into the phone.

  “I will take care of everything once I get there. I am just outside of town right now. I was working on another case.”

  “Ok.” Blair hated feeling so needy, and like she was using Cole. She was so far over her head with this though, that she felt like she was drowning.

  She held the knife tight in her hand and walked back to Mandy. She had moved to the corner of the kitchen and was huddling on the floor, with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Blair could see the bruises were getting darker. She cringed at the dark bruising around her neck. She sat down on the floor next to her. “It’s ok, Mandy. I am on the phone with Cole. He’s on his way.”

  Mandy nodded. “Can I just go home?”

  “No,” Cole said sternly through the phone. “Both of you are to stay there. I am just a couple of blocks away. I have texted several cholan trackers that will meet me there.”

  Mandy looked up worriedly. “No. I don’t want anyone else to know.”

  Blair held her closer. “It’s ok.” She could hear Cole’s siren outside and then the screech of his brakes as he came to a stop outside.

  “Cole’s here, sweetie. That man can’t hurt you at all now.”

  They looked towards the door when it opened. Blair’s heart sped up when she saw him. His gun was out, and he held it ready to fire as he swept the building. His collar length black hair, olive complexion, and brown eyes had never looked so good to her before.

  He swept in like walking vengeance, looking at Mandy, then her. She didn’t think it was possible, but his look grew darker. His eyes moved past them to the kitchen, and took in the damage from Mandy fighting to get away from the man who attacked her. As he was finishing his sweep of the coffee shop, Aaron Thomson and Brad Embers arrived. They walked over talking to Cole, but frequently looked at Blair and Mandy.

  Blair kept her eyes on Cole, but felt Mandy shrink a little bit. Mandy had always been a shy girl, and Blair knew having this attention on her was hard for her.

  Aaron walked over to them. “Blair, I am going to take Mandy with me to see Doctor Trask.”

  Blair didn’t miss the way Mandy looked down shyly, or how Aaron watched Mandy carefully. She would have to tell Myra about this once Mandy was feeling better. Myra loved playing matchmaker, and maybe if she was busy with Mandy and Aaron, she would leave her and Cole alone.

  “Yes, good idea. Then I think you should take Mandy home. She moved out of her parents’ place a few months ago.”

  Mandy gave Blair a stunned look, but didn’t say anything. She was not trying to get Mandy and Aaron alone together. Mandy had been through a terrible shock, and the last thing she needed was to sit by herself in her apartment. At least if Aaron was there, she would not be alone and frightened.

  More cholan arrived and started taking evidence, and finding the scent of the man who attacked Mandy.

  Blair walked over to Cole once he was finished giving orders to his Cholan deputies.

  “Something happened, and I need to tell you,” Blair said with hesitation in her voice. Shifting without control was something new shifters had trouble with, not thirty-one year old women who had been shifting since they were fourteen.

  “What?” Cole asked, looking down at her.

  Blair’s stomach flip-flopped as she stared into his eyes. How could she ever convince herself she didn’t love him? She was terrified right now, and not about any sort of punishment, but that Cole would be disappointed in her. “I shifted in front of that human.” When Cole opened his mouth, she put a finger over his lips. “I didn’t intend to shift. It just happened. The man was fully human, no trace of magic at all with him. He ran because I turned into a fox, not because I attacked him.”

  Cole did not look angry, or even annoyed. He only pulled Blair close to him and held her. “I could have lost you, before I ever had a chance to fix things with us.”

  “Aren’t you mad? You know our laws,” Blair asked, surprised. She wrapped her arms around him and sank into the strength of his embrace.

  “No, I am thankful you are unharmed, and that you got here before Mandy was raped. It could have been so much worse. If your shifting keeps happening, we may need to see the doc to find out if it is a medical issue.”

  “Well, that’s a relief. I thought after what happened with Cassie, I was in deep shit.”

  Cole looked down at her and raised his eyebrows. “Oh, you are in trouble, my little fox. Don’t think I do not have punishment planned. You know, I figured out you were in my house all that time. You ate my pizza. I thought it was Harley.”

  Blair snuggled her face into his chest to hide her amusement. She could not stop her body from shaking as she laughed, however.

  “Oh, you laugh now. Just you wait, little fox,” Cole said with dark promise in his tone.

  “It was great pizza, but face it, even if Harley hadn’t shown up, I still would have tricked you.”

  Cole gave her a dark look but smiled. “You know how to drive me so crazy I can’t think straight.”

  “What are you going to do?” Blair asked while trying to get her laughter under control.

  “Now? I am going to throw you over my shoulder and take you home. I may tie you to my bed, so you do not sneak off again.”

  “You wouldn’t,” she said then squeaked when Cole threw her over his shoulder and walked towards the door. “You all have your orders,” he called as he walked. “I want this asshole found. He witnessed Blair shifting, so he cannot leave this territory.”

  Blair heard a murmur of “yes sirs” from the deputies before they got back to work. Blair saw Michael outside talking to Caleb. “We heard what happened while we were having a drink. Is Mandy ok?” Michael asked while Caleb watched everyone carefully.

  Cole patted Blair’s leg affectionately. “She is beat up, but Blair arrived before he could rape Mandy. He knocked her around a bit, but I am sure Doctor Trask will have her fixed up. Blair sent Aaron with her to keep an eye on her.”

  “Good, her parents are in Alaska right now, and no one can reach them. She needs someone to stay with her,” Blair heard Michael say.

  ****

  Cole held Blair over his shoulder and watched Caleb while Michael talked. He kept his hand on her to remind himself that she was safe. When the fear subsided he would think of ways to punish her. He knew Caleb was a powerful shifter in his own territory and he had worked with Michael a lot. Still, something nagged at him about Caleb. He wasn’t sure what though. Perhaps it was his own insecurity. He constantly battled the feeling that he was not good enough to take on the roles of beta, Kelach, and sheriff, even though Warren and Michael thought he was well qualified.

  Caleb looked down at Blair with an odd expression, almost as if he was planning. The reason was clear to Michael. He wanted her for hi
mself. Blair’s family had always been powerful. Even though her parents were out of communication since they moved to France she was still considered a great mate, politically speaking. He had never cared about her status, or what mating her could get him. He just wanted Blair. Caleb seemed more calculating and would try to win her. Jealousy reared up in Cole’s mind.

  He wants what is mine. Blair is mine. Everyone knows Blair is mine. Even if she ran off with Caleb, he would chase her down. Caleb had better back off if he knew what was good for him.

  “Do you mind?” Blair said while trying to smack Cole and shaking him out of his jealous thoughts. “I have better things to do than hang here while you talk to them.”

  Cole landed a hard smack on Blair’s ass making her scream and kick her feet.

  “Ouch, that hurt, dammit,” Blair yelled. “You don’t have to hit me,” she said while hitting his backside with her fists.

  Cole slapped her again. “Stop fighting or I will bend you over my rig and give you a proper punishment in front of them.”

  Blair stopped moving instantly. Cole could feel her shaking, and he knew she was getting mad. He didn’t mind. She had not behaved very well.

  “Was Blair able to identify the man that attacked Mandy?” Michael asked.

  “I am right here,” Blair yelled. Cole could feel her moving so she could see Michael. Cole swatted her ass again. “Hush. Blair, you’re in enough trouble.”

  Blair flinched and squeaked, but didn’t say anything else. She was frightened and had a bad habit of getting mouthy to cover her fear. She needed to calm down before she got herself into more trouble.

  Cole then turned to Michael and said, “No, and both Brad and Aaron could scent a human male. What is troubling is it is slightly familiar, which means either he or a family member has been tracked before by them. Agent David Mannis sent a message that he is on his way. The FBI will be taking over the child kidnapping part of the case. Until we know, I am ordering you to stand down from your law enforcement duties, Cole.”

  Cole opened his mouth to argue, but Michael held a hand up. “No. You know as well as I do that when you get emotionally involved your senses can decrease significantly and your reason is off.” Cole could only nod. No one said Warren’s name, but the way Aaron looked at him, he knew Aaron was thinking of Warren as well. He had a cool head and excellent tracking skills, until he knew a loved one was in extreme danger. As much as Cole hated to admit it, Michael was right. His not noticing Blair in his own home was embarrassing enough, although she did cheat on that.

  “When this human is found, I want to question him. Make sure Agent Mannis knows this. If this human has come here to harm shifters, then we will deal with him, quickly.” Michael paused, and Cole saw him looking at Blair. “Cole, take Blair home. Travis is in charge while you take care of Blair. David will be here shortly, and he will take charge of tracking Stacy. If anyone needs anything they know where to find you.”

  Cole nodded silently.

  “Any news on that missing girl?” Caleb asked.

  “No sign of her. Her trail stops at the highway. Agent Mannis is an expert panther tracker and has far more resources through the FBI than we have. ”

  Caleb gave Cole a worried look. “Goddess, I hope we don’t have a problem like there was in California.”

  “What happened in California?” Blair asked. Cole looked over at her to make sure she was comfortable. She was looking worriedly over at Michael and Caleb.

  “They had a crazy fucker hide in the shifter territory of the California Mountains. The man started attacking shifters, and even saw a couple shift. He told other humans, and it caused a huge problem.” Caleb moved closer to Blair making Cole jealous again.

  Cole kept his eyes on Caleb but glanced over when she moved her strawberry blonde hair out of her face. “So you think we have someone who was killing people elsewhere, here?”

  Cole didn’t want Blair any more frightened than she needed to be. He ran his hand on Blair’s backside. “I need to get my naughty fox home and secured. I have Brad and Travis keeping me updated, so I will make sure you stay updated.”

  Chapter Five

  Cole walked over to his SUV and dropped Blair into the passenger seat. He smiled at her, then stroked a hand gently down her face.

  “I love you so much.”

  Blair looked into his dark eyes, and he thought he saw her acceptance.

  “I love you, too,” Blair said, and she smiled. Cole felt his heart lighten. He was not imagining her accepting his love and care for her.

  “I know you do, my sweet fox. That is why I won’t let you hide from me anymore. When you run, whether it is emotionally or physically, I will chase you and drag you back to me.”

  Cole closed the passenger side door to his patrol car and walked around the front of it to the driver’s side. He had a mix of rage, fear, and relief battling for control in his head. When he first got the call, he thought for a second that Blair had come around and was ready to come home where she belonged. As soon as he heard her tone of voice he’d known that something was wrong. Her frightened voice on the edge of breaking down had hit Cole in the heart. For those terrifying moments when he was trying to get to her he imagined the worst. Knowing she’d walked in on a potential serial killer attacking Mandy, and she had attacked him, made Cole’s heart grow cold with fear. If that man had a gun, he could have shot Blair, and still attacked Mandy. Now that he had her, and she was safe, he was never letting go.

  He put his hand on the door handle when his radio lit up. He pulled it out of its cradle on his utility belt. “What have you got for me?”

  “Hey boss, it’s Aaron. Mandy has some cracked ribs, and a lot of deep bruising. They are keeping her overnight for pain control.”

  “Was she raped?” Cole was sure Blair had gotten there in time, but there was a chance he’d assaulted before Blair arrived.

  Aaron paused, making Cole lower his head against the door frame. Mandy was a sweet girl that everyone liked. She was also quite a shy girl. If the perp had raped her, then Cole had even more reason to rip the throat out of the fucker that attacked her.

  “No, the doctors say there is no sign of a sexual assault, and Mandy has said he didn’t rape her.”

  Cole let out a breath of relief. That was one less trauma Mandy had to try to recover from. He knew Aaron had a crush on Mandy, and he was only fifteen years older than she was. The way shifters aged, that was not a long time. Shifters had fifteen to twenty years longer life than humans. Shifters who were fifty years old looked like a human in their thirties.

  Cole thought being straight up with a girl was the way to go, but Aaron was shy with the ladies, and Mandy was friendly enough, but just as shy.

  That’s what he loved about Blair. He didn’t scare her even though he knew he was very intimidating. She stood up to him, regularly, and it got his wolf howling when she did. Nothing got him hot like Blair showing off her spunk to him. Even better was when he got to have fun planning her punishment, like right now.

  “All right. This is the plan. You are to stay with Mandy. Do not let her out of your sight. You are to guard her with your life.”

  “I will, I won’t let her out of my sight, I promise,” Aaron replied.

  “I know. Make her feel safe. Either Brad or myself will be guarding Blair. If you need anything call my cell phone.”

  “I will. Michael came by and talked to Mandy about her role in helping Blair hide, and her punishment.” Aaron paused. “I will be taking care of that. When she is feeling better she will come and apologize to you and Michael for disobeying.”

  “All right. I will look forward to it.” Cole put his radio back in its holder and stared out into the night. Blair was back with him and safe. That was all he cared about.

  Cole picked up his phone and called his chief deputy, Travis. “Is there anything to report?”

  “I have our cholan tracking in the woods, and an FBI team handpicked by David is here.”


  “Ok, I can call in Brad and come in.”

  “No. You heard Michael. Blair is your priority now. She has been through her own trauma tonight. She needs you.”

  Cole knew Blair was finally softening to him, but there was a kidnapped child out there. David and his team are here. Travis is highly trained as well. Take care of Blair.

  “I know your responsibility is weighing on you, sir, but Blair needs to be protected. You are the best shifter for the job. David is here and brought his FBI team. We have this covered,” Travis said echoing his own thoughts. “The slightest development comes up and we will inform you.”

  “All right. I will have my phone on me. I don’t care how late it gets. Call or text me if anything develops. I want Brad out here to cover the outside of the house. When I am called out, I do not want her left alone.” He knew he needed to help Blair realize how much he loved her before taking off for the night. Knowing his cholan, they would find traces of the girl’s scent, and he could be gone for the next twenty-four hours. Taking this bit of time now would not hurt.

  “I will, Cole,” Travis said with sincerity. “You have trained the cholan well. If there is any trace of her out there, they will find her.”

  “Keep in touch.”

  He opened the passenger side door. Blair was looking at him with a worried expression on her face. “Mandy is being kept overnight, just to be safe. She insists she was not raped, and the doctors found no evidence of sexual assault,” Cole told her before she could ask.

  “Oh, thank Ilithyia,” Blair breathed out in a relieved tone. “I was so worried he had already raped her, and I arrived as he was getting ready to have another go at her.”

  Cole grabbed her hand gently and leaned over to kiss her, “No, sweetheart. You got there in time. You did good.”

  Cole started the car and pulled out of the alley behind the coffee shop. Blair let him keep his hand wrapped around hers, which again had his wolf howling. It was like he’d already won Blair back. He would be the man and wolf she needed this time and not send her away. He wished more than anything he could go back and undo the hurt he had caused Blair.