“Nothing to say,” she continued briskly. “I know most folks think I’m crazy, but I know what I see out on the streets. I know there are werewolves, vampires and other creatures out there.”
James nodded. “You’re not crazy.”
She glanced toward the stairs at the back of the room. “The thing now is to worry about the bodies upstairs. I was hoping you’d show up, but Otto and his sons are bringing some tarps and the bakery truck in a few minutes. We didn’t want to leave the bodies any longer. The smell is getting bad, even for this neighborhood.”
“Why would you do that?” James still couldn’t quite believe that, not only Divine, but also other people in the neighborhood were willing to help him. His eyes narrowed. “Does Otto know?”
“About the werewolf thing?” She didn’t wait for him to answer, but continued on. “I imagine so.” She cleared her throat. “Bill from the barbershop and Stanley from the bar also offered their help. I assume quite a few folks are aware that you’re different.” She paused. “What about Alex?”
James knew what she was asking and considering all she’d done for him he figured he at least owed her the truth. “Yeah.” Sighing, he ran his hand across his face, trying not to think about Alex. He longed to know where she was, to hold her in his arms to assure himself she was safe. “I’d hoped she’d be fully human, but there were signs. She’s reaching maturity as a female now. Somehow word got out that she existed and now single males from packs from all around all want to claim her, whether she wants it or not.”
Divine’s hand flew to her mouth. “That’s barbaric.”
James laughed, but it was a bitter sound. “That’s nature, Divine. Humans are no different. Thing is, the years haven’t been kind to the packs and their numbers are dwindling. They need females to reproduce and restore the population. The ironic thing is a hundred years or so ago they might have killed her because her bloodline is tainted because her mother was human. Now they all want her as a breeder.”
“That’s why you’re here and not with a pack?” Once again, Divine was proving to be an astute woman.
James nodded. “I wanted a different life for Alex.”
“Where is she, James?”
“Honesty, I don’t know. We split up this morning and I sent her off with the son of an old friend. He’s the only one I can trust until this mess is resolved.”
“What will you do?”
James reached out and stroked his fingers over Divine’s hair. “It’s best you don’t know but, rest assured, Alex will be taken care of.”
“I believe you.”
The sound of a truck pulling up in front of the garage had James whirling and moving in one motion.
“That should be Otto,” Divine yelled after him. He pulled out his gun and hid in the shadows, not willing to take any chances.
The door to the garage was opened enough for a truck to pull in. It wasn’t a large truck, but it had an enclosed box on the back with Bykowski’s Bakery stenciled on the side. Still, James waited in the shadows until the truck was inside and the door closed and bolted. Two younger men waited by the side of the truck while an older man opened the truck door and climbed down from the cab. “Divine,” he called. “You see any sign of James or Alex yet?”
“Hello, Otto.” He stepped from the shadows, shocking the three men who stood not four feet from him.
The older man was startled for a moment, but recovered quickly, rubbing his hand over his mostly balding head. “James.” He strode forward, hand extended. “Bad business up there,” he motioned upstairs with his free hand as he shook James’ hand with the other. “Bad business. We’ve got tarps in the back and me and my boys will make sure they get dumped in the lake far away from the neighborhood.”
“I appreciate it, Otto.” He hesitated. “I suppose you want to know what happened?”
Otto shook his head vehemently. “A man’s business is his own. You are one of us and that is all that matters.” Releasing James’ hand, he turned to his sons. “Come. We have work to do.” Both his sons were in their early twenties and were carbon copies of their father. They looked as if they were bursting with questions, but said nothing as they followed their father, tarps tucked beneath their arms.
James shook his head, feeling oddly out of control of the situation. If he hadn’t returned his neighbors would have taken care of the situation for him and he’d never have known. It was strangely humbling. He’d had no idea people felt this way about himself and Alex.
Divine started upstairs, but James put his hand on her arm, stopping her. “You don’t need to see this.”
She looked mildly surprised. “I’ve seen worse.”
“I know,” he gently replied. “But that doesn’t mean you need to see it again.”
A slow smile covered her face. This one was natural without the artifice she usually displayed. James was surprised to notice she was actually quite pretty beneath her façade. “That’s really sweet of you, James, but I want to help. I need to help.”
Nodding, he started up the stairs with her close behind him. Otto and his sons had already wrapped the two bodies in tarps. Someone had boarded the window shut. “Who did that?” James motioned to the window, noticing the glass had been swept away as well.
One of the younger men straightened. “I did. I didn’t want anyone sneaking in and stealing anything.”
“My Dominik is a good boy.” Otto beamed and his son blushed.
“Thank you.” James didn’t quite know what else to say. “Why?” He was at a loss as to understand their actions.
Otto walked over to him, his smile sad. “You think you are a loner, keeping to yourself. You think we do not know what you do. When my Anna needed medical care, there was an envelope of money left on the counter of my store with the name of a good doctor tucked inside. When Bill was having trouble with that gang that was trying to infiltrate the neighborhood, don’t think we didn’t all notice when they suddenly disappeared. This neighborhood might have its problems with petty drug dealers, but there is not the same amount of violence here. It is a good neighborhood, where decent people can make a home. Don’t think we don’t know it is because of you, James Riley.”
He’d had no idea. Over the years, he’d taken care of the neighborhood people as best he could without exposing himself or interfering in their lives too much. After all, they were human; he was not. But he was still an alpha male whether he wanted to be or not and the people around him had become his pack in a strange sort of way. He just hadn’t been aware of how much they’d known. No one had ever said anything until now.
“Thank you.”
“Bah,” Otto swiped his hand in front of him. “There is no need for thanks. My Anna is alive because of you. There is nothing my family will not do to help yours.” Motioning to his sons, they each picked up an end of one of the tarps and started back down the stairs. Otto and James took the other.
When both bodies were loaded in the back of the truck, James turned to Otto. “There’s one more in the alley to the left.”
He nodded. “We will stop outside and pick him up. They will be on the bottom of the lake within the hour and will trouble you no more.” Otto climbed into the driver’s seat while his sons opened the garage door. He eased the truck out of the building, stopping in front of the alley. As James closed and bolted the garage door, he could see both Dominik and Leon heading into the alley, tarp in hand.
“What will you do now?” Divine had come up to stand behind him.
“I have to go and meet Alex. Once I’m sure she’s safe, I’m not sure what I’ll do.”