He couldn’t read Anthony at all. He definitely was not the untried pup Arthur remembered, however. Anthony stood with confident ease, Gia’s hand held loosely in his. She, on the other hand, fairly strummed with tension and anger. While he watched, Anthony let her hand go and moved his to grasp the back of her neck. His thumb brushed over the mark on her neck and she calmed. He sensed their bond was new, the bite was definitely fresh, but they already seemed a strong team. Then her hand moved to the gun on her hip.
Gia understood now why Anthony had insisted on doing this hunt by himself. Her fingers flexed around the butt of her pistol, but she couldn’t do it. She didn’t believe his story for a minute, but she couldn’t kill him. For the first time in years, memories of happier times intruded. She tried to ignore them. She didn’t want to remember anything that made him look less like the monster he was.
No matter how hard she tried, however, the memories came. Him laughing at one of her mom’s stupid jokes. Teaching Gia to fight. Making breakfast and serving it to Hattie in bed on Mother’s Day. Damn it. This wouldn’t do at all.
He was watching her carefully. Expectantly. Why? What was he looking for? She turned her back on him and met Anthony’s gaze. “You’re going to have to take care of this one,” she said softly even though she knew the other two would hear her.
He watched her a long time before he moved. What did he see on her face? Was she at least hiding it from everyone else? He stepped to her side, hand gentle on her elbow as he prodded her to move with him, farther away from Arthur and Declan.
“What if he’s telling the truth?”
She was outraged. Hurt he was taking up for the werewolf who’d killed her mother.
“You can’t believe that,” she snapped.
“I don’t. But we do have an obligation to be sure.” He didn’t sound happy about it at least.
“So now what?” Declan asked when they turned back around.
Anthony took a long time to answer. “Take him home. Check out his story.”
Declan nodded. “Pack up.”
Arthur rolled up his sleeping bag, grabbed a backpack from the corner, and was ready to go. She watched through narrow eyes. Did he always travel so light? And why the hell did she care? She followed the group outside.
“You can ride with me,” Declan offered.
“No,” Anthony ordered. “He stays with us.”
Declan looked like he wanted to argue, but he kept it to himself. Arthur took the back seat, and Declan followed in his car.
“Where are we going?” she asked when they passed the welcome sign on the outskirts of their town.
“Home.”
He didn’t elaborate, and she almost asked which one. His, hers, or Julian’s? She didn’t bother. There was no point in giving Arthur any knowledge not absolutely necessary. The logical choice would be Anthony’s house, which doubled as Hunter headquarters. As a former Hunter, Arthur already knew its location. Anthony wouldn’t go to her place; he’d never expose her to danger he believed could be avoided.
No one spoke for the remainder of the drive.
At the house, they all entered his office. She could see her father’s surprise when Anthony seated himself behind the desk. Arthur hadn’t known Anthony was the leader of the Hunters then. Declan, Asa, and Clint followed them in. The four werewolves were good friends but there was no doubt who was in charge.
Anthony crooked his finger, beckoning her to come to him. Under normal circumstances, she would have laid into him and accused him of being presumptuous and sexist. But these were not normal circumstances, and she desperately needed the support she knew she’d have at his side. She needed to borrow some of his strength.
She wanted to blame it on his bite, but admitted the trust had been building for months. He’d teased her. Flirted shamelessly. Driven her crazy with need. She finally realized he hadn’t been tormenting her for his own amusement. He’d been working up to claiming her for months. Letting her adjust to his presence in her life. She wasn’t sure if she was pissed or touched. Probably both.
She walked to his desk and perched on one corner. He took her hand and nibbled on her knuckles, giving her a wicked grin in the process. Her stomach dropped like she was on a roller coaster.
He reached up and pulled her into his lap so her back was no longer to the room with four werewolves behind her. He never allowed her to feel vulnerable with anyone else. It was one of the things she loved about him. Holy shit. Was she really ready to go there? Admitting that depth of feeling for anyone? Much less a bossy werewolf who was going to do his damnedest to run her life.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered.
She shook her head, bit her bottom lip. “Nothing.”
“Not nothing.” His gaze narrowed. “But I’ll let it go for now.”
She rolled her eyes. That was exactly what she was talking about. Thankfully he turned his focus from her, and she didn’t have to punch him.
“Explain,” he demanded, pinning Arthur under his gaze.
“Gia should leave first. There are things she’s not ready to hear.”
“Like hell,” she snapped, anger pulsing through her again. Even Anthony’s soothing hands didn’t make it abate. She didn’t want to hear any of it, not one of his lies, but there was no way he was running her off. She really just wanted him gone and she didn’t care who took care of making him disappear anymore. “I have a right to hear your lies.”
Arthur looked to Anthony for a decision, acting as if she had no choice in the matter at all. “She doesn’t leave my sight.” His voice was implacable, making it damned certain Arthur didn’t have anything to do with her decisions while also making it clear Anthony
