Truth be told, she could have gone home after three weeks, maybe even two. But it was Natalia who kept the negotiations going, strangely, after remarking on Mika’s pregnancy. Had the other woman sensed her hesitation in going back to America? If that was the case, then she was grateful to her.
The last three months had allowed her to enjoy her pregnancy in peace, before the proverbial shit hit the fan. Her parents were already pissed that she missed Christmas and would be livid when they found out she kept her pregnancy a secret. They’d be happy about the baby but then they’d ask all kinds of questions. She was already dreading answering them.
Another reason she was glad for the distance was that with half a world between them, she wouldn’t have to see Delacroix. Leaving that hotel room had been difficult, and she knew if she saw him again, that longing in her chest would never go away. She couldn’t bear to be near him anymore, especially not when they acted like nothing happened between them. And certainly not when he eventually went back to his playboy ways and flirted with other females.
Surely by now, if she did see him again, her body wouldn’t react the same way. It wouldn’t ache for him as badly as it did the first few days, and she could act normal around him. And maybe her she-wolf too, wouldn’t want to see him so badly. In the first few days, it had been a difficult to manage; if it wasn’t moping around and sad, it was angry at her. Only when she reminded her animal that they had to take care of their pup now, and that was the most important thing in the world now, did it calm down. Her wolf became extra protective of her, and was distracted enough with keeping their pup safe that it didn’t whine or rage at her for leaving Delacroix behind in New York.
Now that he was assigned to Lucas’s security detail, there were less chances of seeing him. Hell, she could access his schedule anytime and make sure they never bumped into each other. Everything could stay exactly as they did now, with them living separate lives.
Though Lucas had offered to send a car to fetch her, she declined, saying it was easier to take a cab. She had asked him not to mention to her parents or siblings that she was flying back tonight, as one of them would insist on coming to get her. Dad or Nathan probably wouldn’t notice, and Amanda or Knox would just shrug, but if her mother came, she would know something was up. And after flying for sixteen hours, she wasn’t ready for that yet.
The cab stopped just outside the main entrance of The Enclave, and she accepted her suitcase from the driver with a warm thanks. She struggled to roll the suitcase along as she headed toward the glass doors. It was heavy because of all the damned souvenirs Natalia had insisted she take, and it fell over as it hit a crack in the pavement. “Fucking hell.” As she bent down to pick up her suitcase, she stopped short when she felt the back of her neck prickle.
“Welcome back, cher.”
She stood there, frozen to the spot. Slowly, she looked up to face him. Delacroix leaned by the building entrance; arms crossed over his chest. His hair had gotten slightly longer, and his beard was thicker too. He looked straight at her with those dark eyes. Ignoring the way her heart leapt into her throat at the sight of him and her wolf’s frantic, longing howls, she managed to speak. “How did you know?” She had been so careful, even opting to fly commercial instead of having the Fenrir jet pick her up in case he somehow got wind of her arrival.
“That you were coming home tonight?” That lazy smile spread across his handsome face, but she didn’t let it fool her into letting her guard down, not when she could clearly see the hardness in his eyes. “I was in the car when the Alpha picked up your call.”
Damn it! Talk about bad luck. She should have sent an email. “All right, then. I’m tired, and I’m going home.”
“I didn’t figure you for a coward, Mika.”
“Coward?” Her shoulders tensed up. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Were you so afraid to face me that morning that you had to put half a world between us?” He stalked toward her with ground-eating steps.
“Excuse me?” she shot back. “Did you think I was going to back out on our deal? You did your part, and I made sure you got transferred, right? That’s what you wanted.”
“My part?” he said incredulously. “Our deal? You think that’s what I was thinking of? What’s been hauntin’ me these last months? Why I’m here?”
“It’s not?” Her heart pounded in her chest. “Then why the hell are you here, Delacroix?”
“You fool.” He grabbed her arm. “I—”
A loud bang sounded right by her ear, followed by exploding concrete a split second later. Gunshot.
“What the—” Another shot rang out, and she howled as pain shot right in the center of her back. “Fuck!” She glanced down at her chest. The bullet must
