Her eyes opened wide. “I never thought of it like that.”
“We search out what we lack. It’s his way of changing his childhood and making sure his children grow up never needing anything.” Kelos shrugged. “Or I could just be talking out of my ass.”
“And a nice ass it is, too.” Amber lifted her hand and waved at him as he backed the truck up and turned around. She didn’t move as he drove off down the driveway toward the road. There was a sense of loss surrounding her. She hated the thought of Kelos not being there by her side and it was all she could do not to run after him and shout for him to stop.
Conquering her desire to make a complete fool of herself, she turned on her heel and headed around the back of the house. Kelos was right about one thing—she needed to talk to Margie and make a plan.
Her hand went to her pocket and traced the outline of her phone through the fabric of her jeans before she gave in and plunged her hand inside, dragging it out.
“Fabian hasn’t called or texted me either,” Margie said when Amber entered the kitchen, her eyes on the phone screen.
“I was just checking.” Amber tapped the screen and put the phone back in her pocket as she confirmed Margie’s words.
“I’ve been checking every five minutes since we got up.” Margie’s eyes lingered on her phone on the countertop. “Nothing. I don’t think I can go another day without hearing his voice. I need to know he’s okay.”
“I’m sure he is,” Amber reassured Margie as she placed the two cups in the sink and then went through the motions of making a fresh pot of coffee.
“Then why hasn’t he called?” Margie hissed as the sound of the two children moving around upstairs filtered down to the kitchen.
“He probably doesn’t want to call with the police officers around,” Amber kept her voice quiet as she spoke to Margie. “He is under police protection. And he’s trying to protect you all, too.”
“If he doesn’t trust the police, why did he stay?” Margie asked.
“You know Fabian. He always tried to do the right thing. And testifying is the right thing to do.” Amber believed in her brother and the decision he’d made. He was a good man. A man who liked to see the best in people. He also believed in fair play. There was no way he could have turned a blind eye to criminal activity.
Even though it would have been much easier on his family if he had. But turning a blind eye to a crime was a slippery slope. One Fabian would never have started down.
However, Amber was well aware of Fabian’s feelings of guilt toward his wife and children. He would do anything to keep them safe, which was why he’d agreed to police protection. Never would he have imagined the police would betray him. This knowledge had rocked his belief system and left him feeling vulnerable and exposed.
When he’d called to ask her for help, he’d sounded desperate. A man caught up in events that were spiraling out of control around him. Ever since the last safe house was leaked, he’d sworn not to trust anyone.
This was the reason he’d called Amber and no one else. This was the reason that she’d dropped everything and come to help her brother.
Trust. He’d warned her not to trust strangers with his family. But since meeting her dragon shifter that might just change for Amber.
Chapter Seven – Kelos
“How is Shawn? I bet his head is sore after last night.” Joey met Kelos as he got out of his truck and headed toward the office where Mac would give them their jobs for the day.
“I don’t know.” Kelos looked blank for a moment. “Should I know?”
“I thought you might have spoken to him this morning.” Joey cocked his head and looked at his friend. “Are you okay? You look as if you were the one drinking last night.”
“I’m fine.” He ran a hand through his hair, his breath ragged. Shawn knew Kelos had met his mate, so it was only a matter of time until Joey and the rest of the world knew, too. It wasn’t as if it was a secret.
Or perhaps it should be a secret since Amber’s whole reason for being in Bear Creek was to keep her brother’s family safe.
“Kelos, is there something you aren’t telling me?” Joey asked. His eyes widened. “You didn’t do anything to him, did you?”
“To him? Like what?” Kelos asked in confusion.
“Oh, you know, like fly him to the top of the highest peak and leave him there.” Joey leveled his gaze at Kelos. “You threatened Shawn last night when he made a joke.” His forehead wrinkled. “Something about three dragons walk into a bar…”
“No.” Kelos chuckled. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“Then what’s got you all…” Joey leaned forward and stared at Kelos critically. “What is up with you?” His eyes widened. “Did you stumble across some other dragon’s treasure in the dead of night and claim it as your own?”
“No.” Kelos laughed. “A dragon would not do that to another dragon. At least, this one wouldn’t.” Kelos had been without his hoard for years after another dragon had taken his treasure for safekeeping. It had taken him years to track it down and get it back. It was one reason why Kelos was so obsessive about his treasure.
“Then what’s got you so preoccupied?” Joey asked as they reached Mac’s office where Hex and Beck were waiting. Fresh from their weddings and subsequent honeymoons, the three Winter brothers were looking like finding your mate was a recipe for good health.
“You’re preoccupied?” Mac asked as he got up from his desk, a piece of paper with the list of the day’s jobs in his hand.
“Have you found more treasure?” Hex asked.
“There’s no treasure greater than a mate about to give birth
