Untamed Hunger Page 14

  “Victor.” Malone turned, standing with his hands on his hips, looking up at Victor. “Nice of you to join us. Come on down so we can talk face to face.”

  The three men moved to the rusty iron stairway, descending to the main floor, Malone watching their every move. They arranged themselves across from Claire’s group. Malone stepped forward between Gunner and Reece.

  “We’re here. Let’s get this show on the road. What do you want?”

  Victor folded his arms across his chest. “Who’s this guy?” He nodded toward Reece.

  “You know him. He owns Reece’s bike shop.”

  “Ahh, yes. Didn’t recognize him out of his element. And you…” He thrust his chin toward Claire. “You’re the whole reason we’re in this mess,”

  He looked at Gunner, his dark gaze sweeping over him from head to foot. “And you’re the bastard who killed my son. Lest you take offense, I use the term bastard with the utmost affection, since you are my bastard son as well.”

  Claire could almost see the hair rising on the back of Gunner’s neck. His voice was a low, barely controlled growl. “Your son is the bastard who tried to kill Claire. And you’re the bastard who killed my father.”

  Gunner took a step forward, fists clenched, breathing hard. Claire drew a sharp breath. She had the feeling all hell was about to break loose. But Malone’s outstretched arm held him back.

  “So both sides lost family.” Malone shrugged, his voice calm. “You know as well as I do that it happens. We live a rough life. Death is part of life for a shifter. Sorry it was your son, but he left us with no choice.”

  Victor kept his eyes on Gunner for a moment longer. “Technically, I had your father killed. But we’re splitting hairs.”

  Then he shifted his gaze back to Malone. A bit of the tension left his body, and he dropped his arms to his side.

  “Fine. Let’s talk about now, and the future. I’m in a very bad position since Adrian is dead. The future of my clan is at stake. I’m not going to be around forever, and there are things that need to be taken care of.”

  “You have no one to pass Alpha on to. I understand that.” Malone’s voice was calm, reasonable.

  “Actually, you’re wrong; I do have someone. I have him. He’s my son.” Victor tipped his head in Gunner’s direction.

  Gunner chuckled. “It’ll be a cold day in hell, Victor, before I call you my father. I don’t care about your clan. I have my family, my clan. The guys who’ve had my back all these years.” Gunner’s voice was cold. Claire glanced at Victor, trying to gauge his mood. She knew nothing pissed him off more than someone disagreeing with him.

  Victor shook his head, a cynical smile on his face. “Family. You toss the word around so easily. Do you even know what family really means? I don’t think so. It’s blood ties, and the responsibility that comes from taking care of your own. You don’t have that with these people.”

  Victor pointed toward Gunner, then clenched his fist, striking his own chest. The thud was a strangely loud, hollow sound, and it sent a shiver down Claire’s spine. “But you have that with me. We’re blood, Gunner. You can’t deny that.”

  “Victor, what are you trying to say?” Malone’s voice had lost its casual tone. There was a tense moment of silence. Claire watched, as Victor’s eyes flicked dismissively toward Malone before he looked back at Gunner.

  “What I’m saying is you’re it, Gunner. You’re my clan’s next Alpha, like it or not. It’s in the blood. It’s in your blood.”

  Gunner’s harsh laughter echoed against the walls. “You’re crazy. I’m not your clan’s next anything.”

  Victor clasped his hands behind him, looking up at the ceiling, as if this were just another clan meeting. “Don’t you think it’s a bit ironic, Gunner? You put yourself in this position. You killed my son, and as my other son, you put yourself in line to be my clan’s next Alpha. You did this all on your own.”

  Claire looked at Gunner’s profile, the narrowed eyes, the clenched jaw. She understood what Victor was saying, knowing how he looked at the world. He was cold and calculating, but it still wasn’t easy to swallow. Imagining what was going on in Gunner’s mind was impossible.

  “I didn’t kill Adrian to be your next Alpha. I killed the bastard because he was going to kill Claire. I was protecting her. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “Nothing more...” Victor took a step forward. Malone and Reece tensed, but stayed where they were.

  “I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Gunner.” Victor’s voice had dropped, taking on a confidential tone that set Claire’s teeth on edge. She knew that voice from the days when she’d been in the clan with Adrian, during all those times Victor had tried to run her life, had tried to manipulate her life.

  “There’s always something more. And in this case…” Victor took another step forward. The guys behind him both straightened, one flexing his fingers, smirking at her over Victor’s shoulder.

  “I have a bargaining chip. Or you can think of it as an incentive, a way to get you to see things from my perspective… to play this game with me.”

  “This isn’t a game, Victor.” Malone moved up behind Gunner.

  Victor dismissed Malone with a glance. “You brought it with you, Gunner. Something so precious…” His voice had dropped to a low whisper, a disgusting sound.

  “You fucking bastard. You leave Claire out of this.”

  Gunner rushed forward, fist clenched. He took a wild swing at Victor, his fist connecting with his cheek. Victor let out a bellowing roar of rage, his hand flying to his face. He moved backward, away from Gunner, leaving him to face the two thick-necked bodyguards who stood ready to take him on. There was a flurry of movement, both Reece and Malone running after Gunner, shouting at him, pulling him back.

  “Leave him! Get her!” Victor stood, hand to his face, a thick shock of silver hair hanging over his forehead.

  Claire took a step toward Gunner, but before she could move, strong hands pinioned her arms to her sides.

  27

  “Gunner!” She struggled against whoever held her, but they were too strong, and then she found her feet being lifted off the floor. Gunner spun around, body tensed, fists clenched.

  “Claire!” He charged toward her, eyes wild, but the two bodyguards were on him before he could take more than a few steps. One knocked Gunner to the ground, while the other stood over him. Reece and Malone didn’t move, both open-mouthed but rooted to the spot. What the hell were they waiting for?

  From the corner of her eye, Claire saw at least three other guys moving from behind her, advancing toward Reece and Malone.

  “I can’t leave her out of this, Gunner. She’s the center of all of it, always has been. She’s the reason you killed Adrian. She’s the reason you’re next in line to be Alpha.” Victor’s harsh laugh rang out in the dank air.

  “She was the girl who was going to change everything for me, give me healthy, strong heirs. Not sick little boys, like Adrian. She has pure blood, something that will neutralize what made Adrian so sick, and keep it from being passed on to their children. I would have had the strongest heirs imaginable. The perfect warriors for my clan.”

  “Adrian’s dead, and there will be no more heirs for your clan, from him, or from her. It doesn’t matter anymore. Let her go.” Gunner rose to a crouch, looking at Victor over his shoulder. “You’re taking the coward’s way out by using her.”

  Victor’s poise had returned. He smoothed his hair back, adjusted his tie, dabbing gingerly at the cut on his cheek with a snowy white handkerchief. He cocked an eyebrow in Gunner’s direction. “Coward? Or just playing the game?” He waved his hand, as if he were waving away flies, then shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. What does matter is I get my way.”

  “Victor, you’re a real bastard.” Reece took a step toward Victor, but one of the bodyguards stepped in front of Reece, placing his hand flat on Reece’s chest.

  “Step back, or you’ll regret it.” The burly guard pu
shed, then pushed harder. Reece raised his fists, but Malone spoke up.

  “Reece, don’t. There’s nothing we can do.

  Claire was amazed at the calmness of Malone’s voice. Her heart was hammering so fast she felt like she’d run back-to-back marathons.

  “You’re a smart man, Malone. You’re outnumbered, and out-manned. No wonder you’re Alpha.” The laugh that followed made Claire’s skin crawl.

  “Gunner, Reece…let’s go.” Malone took a step away from Victor. He reached out, pulling Gunner up from the floor. “Let’s go.” His voice was low.

  Gunner was looking at her, eyes fixed on her face, pulling against Malone. “I’m not leaving her. I can’t.”

  “You have to. We’re not going to finish this today.” Malone muttered the words, as he pulled Gunner away.

  “Listen to your Alpha, Gunner, like a good boy. Run along now. I’ll be in touch.” Victor made a shooing motion with his hand, a condescending smile on his face.

  Gunner cried out, a frustrated, painful noise, something less than a howl, and more than a growl. Malone frowned, pulling harder at Gunner’s arm.

  She realized the man holding her had lowered her feet back to the floor. But she was too numb to care, and she slumped in his grasp.

  “I love you, Claire. I’ll be back…I promise.” She watched as Malone dragged Gunner away, and her heart went cold. Gunner turned to look back at Victor, as Malone propelled him toward the door.

  “We’re not finished, Victor, not by a long shot.” Gunner’s voice rang angrily through the warehouse. “You and me…it’s between you and me now.”

  Reece was out of her line of sight, and the last thing she saw was Gunner, eyes full of anguish, being pulled away by Malone. The sound of their footsteps faded, the angry sound of Gunner’s voice the last thing she heard. She hung her head, a sob wrenching from her throat.

  “Well, Claire, you’re back with the family. Just like old times.”

  She looked up. Victor was standing in front of her. He reached out, running a finger down her cheek. She jerked her head away, then turned and spat at hum, a gobbet hitting his silk tie. He lurched away, and for a satisfying moment she watched his composure crack, his eyes widening, as he brushed at his tie.

  “Oh, we’re so brave now, aren’t we, Claire? I like this new you. There’s no point in causing you any harm. It will only make Gunner angrier, more irrational. Although…” Victor tilted his head. “You know, there’s no reason we can’t be civil to one another until this gets sorted out.” He turned away suddenly, motioning to his men. “Come on, let’s go. No point hanging around this place.”

  Victor led them out of the warehouse through a back door. The man holding her more or less carried her, her feet barely touching the concrete. In the alley behind the building, Victor’s limo waited. She was bundled into the back seat, wedged between the man holding her and Dude, or Duke. Victor sat across from her.

  “Where are you taking me?” She squirmed, trying to avoid touching, or being touched by, the men on either side of her, failing miserably. Each man jostled her, ignoring her question. She gave up, sinking back into the leather seat. Her mind spun, wondering where Gunner was, if he was coming back, when he was coming back. How would he find her? Would he come to Victor’s house?

  The limo cruised through the dark streets, taking her further from Gunner, further from the person she knew could save her. Further from the person she loved.

  28

  “So what the hell do we do now?” Gunner paced across his apartment, running his hands through his hair. He turned back to the men sitting at his kitchen table.

  “We wait to hear from Marco. Hopefully he doesn’t lose Victor. We’ll know where he’s got her.” Malone watched Gunner pace for a moment. “Gunner, we do this together. No going solo on this.”

  “I know you, Gunner. Listen to Malone. Don’t be a stubborn son of a bitch about this.” Reece added.

  Gunner heard him but turned away. The last thing he needed now was Malone or Reece telling him what to do. But they didn’t need to know that.

  “Yeah. Okay.” He dropped into a chair, sinking his head into his hands. “What the hell happened back there? I thought you said we’d have backup.”

  Malone shrugged. “He’s smart, and he lies. And he came with muscle, more muscle than we had. Jack found Dane and Morgan tied up on the roof. They said six or seven guys jumped them.”

  “Fuck. What a mess.” Reece stood up abruptly, pushing his chair away from the table. “I need a drink. Where do you keep the Scotch, Gunner?”

  “Kitchen. Above the fridge. Glasses…”

  “Not sure I’ll need one. Might just drink it straight from the bottle.” Malone frowned, as Reece banged around in the kitchen.

  “I’d like a glass, if you don’t mind,” Malone said.

  Reece set a bottle and three glasses on the table. Gunner poured them each a decent measure of the cheap Scotch, then downed his in one gulp. The warmth hit him instantly, spreading out from his stomach. He set the glass down, then poured himself another shot.

  “Jeez, Gunner, this is some cheap-ass shit.” Reece sat, eyes squeezed shut, glass clenched in his hand. Malone took a drink, his frown deepening, but he took another swallow.

  “We’re going to have to teach you to like the good stuff.” Malone pushed the glass away.

  “Yeah. I’ll work on that.” Gunner stared at his empty glass. “So we wait?”

  “We wait.” Victor’s voice was low. Gunner sighed, slumping in his chair.

  

  The limo finally came to a stop. Through the windows, she saw the ivy-covered wall that guarded the front of Victor’s estate. She’d been here with Adrian for family dinners, which slowly turned into evenings of eternal torture as her relationship with Adrian deteriorated.

  The limo drove through the gates and up to the main house, stopping in the circular drive in front of the main door. The lights were on outside, illuminating the drive and front door.

  Someone opened the limo door, and she was manhandled out of the backseat.

  “Careful with her, Duke. She’s precious cargo.” Victor’s voice followed her, as she was pulled out of the car by the leering Duke. The other guy slid out after her, crowding close behind. They jostled her through the front door into the foyer.

  The house was the same as the last time she’d been there. Angelina had decorated the place herself using Victor’s money, but apparently she lacked any taste whatsoever. Claire always thought the place looked less like a home and more like a brothel. She stopped, momentarily blinded by the light from the overhead chandelier that dominated the small space. Duke stood behind her, his hand on the small of her back.

  “Come on, sweetheart, move that ass.” Duke’s hand slid down, and gave her a cruel pinch.

  She spun around, hand raised, but before she could do anything—slap Duke, punch him—someone grabbed her wrist, yanking her arm painfully behind her. Wrenching her head around, she looked up at Victor.

  “You’ll have to forgive Duke. He’s a little excitable.” He held her, the bones in her wrist screaming in protest. She sucked a breath through her teeth, willing herself not to cry out in pain.

  “If you promise to be a good girl, I’ll let you go. Don’t force me to have to tie you up.”

  Claire squirmed a moment, then forced herself to hold still. She remembered Victor’s temper, the way, much like Adrian, he’d suddenly snap, striking out at whoever was closest. After a moment, she nodded.

  “Good.” He released her and she rubbed her wrist. “Let’s go sit in the living room, have a talk.”

  Victor ushered her into the living room, and she took a seat on an overstuffed chair. He sat in the leather chair he’d usually sit in when they’d been here, and pulled a cigar from his pocket. From a small wooden box on the table next to the chair, he took out the small guillotine cutter she’d seen him use a hundred times.

  With precise movements, Victor went through
the ritual of cutting the end of the cigar, replacing the cutter, then lighting the cigar. She watched as he sat back, inhaling with his eyes closed, then blowing out a cloud of dense blue smoke.

  “So you’ve got a champion. Someone who’s willing to fight for you. How romantic.” He watched her for a moment through the smoke. She refused to answer him, to acknowledge he’d even spoken to her. Victor ignored her ignoring him and continued.

  “That’s the kind of determination, the single-mind drive that would make Gunner an excellent Alpha.” He drew on the cigar again.

  “He’s not going to be your next Alpha, Victor. He’ll come for me, but not to be your Alpha.”

  Victor tapped the ash from his cigar into a crystal ashtray. “He’ll come. And that’s all I care about. The reason is irrelevant.”

  

  29

  “He’s got her at his house on Mont Blanc Boulevard.” Malone snapped shut his phone, and dropped it on the table. Gunner stood up, his chair scraping across the floor. He was already at the door before Reece could speak.

  “Slow down, cowboy. Where are you going?”

  “I’m going to get Claire.”

  “Do you even know where the hell you’re going, Gunner?”

  “I know where Mont Blanc Boulevard is, and that’s all I need. I can follow her scent, find the house…”

  “And be totally overwhelmed. And most likely get your ass killed.” Reece’s voice rose. Gunner thought the old man was going to burst a vessel. He turned back, his impulse to find Claire dulled for the moment by the concern—and fear—in Reece’s voice.

  “Listen, Reece…Malone…as big and fucked up as this mess is, it’s my mess. It’s between me and Victor, like he said. He’s dragged Claire into this, and she’s my…she’s the most important thing in my life. I need to do this, whatever it is. However it works out.”