“Seriously?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The pack was lucky if they could get Trey to venture anywhere unless killing a Shepherd was involved. His smile confused her more than comforted her, creating more questions she was forced to put on the backburner until she could deal with them.
“Why not?”
“Okay then,” she responded, feeling as though she were in The Twilight Zone. “I’ve got everything I need. It shouldn’t take long.”
After they slid into their coats, he escorted her to the garage, held the door open and waited for her to cross. They walked through the empty area in silence, approaching the door that would take them to the street. One of the guards posted in front of the house started toward them. Normally she would have kept going, knowing whoever was on duty could either follow her or face Diskant’s wrath. Only this time, she recognized the pack member.
Dear God. Zach.
His mate, Katie, had been killed in the explosion a couple of months before. Ava had tried to help him using her ability, reaching out with her newfound pack connection to soothe his hurt. Although he looked better physically, there was a coldness in him that would never thaw, an empty space left unfilled.
When had he come back? Where had he gone when Diskant permitted him to leave New York?
Although she was tempted to slip inside Zach’s head to find out the answers, she didn’t. The man had suffered enough without her invading his privacy. Seeing him now, pulled together far more than he’d been in the past, was enough to stem her curiosity. When Diskant came home she’d ask questions, but not now.
“I’m taking her to the store.” Trey hesitated when he spoke, knowing about Zach’s history as well as she did. “We’ll be back in ten.”
Zach looked her, his dark blue eyes revealing nothing, and retrieved his cell phone. “I’ll inform our eyes in the sky.”
The need to reach out to the heartbroken man—to see if he was truly doing well or if it was a carefully constructed illusion—was too much. Ava hurried down the street without bothering to make sure Trey was following, knowing she could potentially cause Zach more harm than good if she caved in to her need to invade his mind. She knew the pack guards on the rooftops of the surrounding buildings were watching as they strolled down the street, keeping an eye on them as they traveled. The thought made her angry. Ever since the religious extremists who hunted shifters had made their mark on the city, she couldn’t even go to the store without someone watching. Knowing eyes were always on her made her uneasy, conscious of her every move.
“Wait up,” Trey yelled and ran to her side. “You’re not supposed to be alone, remember?”
“How could I possibly forget?” She glanced over at him and rolled her eyes. “I can’t take out the trash without someone watching. It’s like Big Brother, only not as entertaining.” She considered asking about Zach but decided against it. “So why did you decide to tag along? I know it’s not because you want chocolate milk or bonbons.”
Trey looked insulted. “Do I have to have a reason to protect my Alpha’s mate?”
Her curiosity shifted from Zach to the shifter next to her. A reason to protect his Alpha’s mate? Total and utter bullshit. He wanted something, and he wanted it bad enough to swallow his pride and come to her for it.
What is he up to?
“Oh yeah,” she said slowly. “You’d definitely have to have a reason.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s so.”
Trey didn’t look at her as he spoke, keeping his eyes ahead, remaining on alert. “I have something I want to ask you.”
She bit back a smirk when she found out she was right. No wonder he wanted to escort her to the store. “Okay?” She glanced at Trey, paying attention to his face, which had suddenly become serious.
“Do you remember the night before we left? When the pack met at Club Liminality?”
Not the way she wanted the conversation to go. Her face heated. She certainly remembered that night. Diskant had taken her into the bathroom after she’d pissed him off, bent her over the sink, spanked her soundly and fucked her so hard she couldn’t walk straight afterward.
“Yeah.” She cringed at how husky her voice was and quickly cleared her throat. “I remember.”
“The woman you spoke to—the vampire.” Trey’s eyes darted away from her. “How do you know her?”
The question caught Ava off guard. She didn’t really know the vampire at all, only that the beautiful blonde woman had rescued her when Shepherds tried to kill her. The memory of the night Trey was referring to was hazy but she could vividly recall their brief conversation at Club Liminality—when the vampire had shared memories with her. The woman had shown Ava where she came from. Descended from mages, the mysterious vampire had said, something she still found difficult to wrap her head around.
“I don’t.” At his frown she clarified, “Know her that is. She’s the woman who saved me the night of the bombing. When I saw her at the club I wanted to thank her. Diskant didn’t give us a lot of time to talk, if you remember. I only had the chance to say thank you and goodbye.” She tried to capture Trey’s eyes but he wouldn’t allow it. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” he replied.
He’s lying.
Time with Diskant and the pack allowed her to read lies easily. Trey’s body language and evasive answer screamed deception. She caught herself before she sought the information from his mind to discover what he was hiding. This morning was a step in the right direction for the former Alpha and invading his thoughts might cause a setback. If Trey wanted her to know what he was up to, he’d tell her. Respect was earned when it was given.
“Can you tell me anything about her?” Trey continued evading eye contact, looking at the ground, the sky, the buildings—anything but her. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
“She’s special,” Ava answered, going with her gut instinct about the vampire.
“How so?”
“I can’t really explain it. I just got the impression there’s something more to her.”
“That’s all you know?” He glanced in her direction.
“I’m afraid so.”
He didn’t ask any more questions, meaning the rest of their walk was done in silence. When they arrived at Becker’s, Trey once again opened the door like a gentleman. Ava stepped inside and hesitated when Trey took a place at the front of the store. She collected a small rectangular shopping basket and peered over at him.
“Are you coming with me or are you going to stay here?”
The tension in his shoulders eased and he cracked a smile. “I’ll wait for you. I only shop when I have to.”
Typical man. She studied the checkout line and the few people inspecting the shelves near the counter. “I’ll be right back. I only need a couple of things.”
He leaned against the wall, sliding his hands into the pockets of his leather pants. “Take your time.”
She shouldered past a bulky man in her path, walking fast in order to get what she needed. Diskant had said he wouldn’t be gone long, and he didn’t like it when she left home without him. Since they’d argued the night before, she didn’t want to cause a repeat. With one final look at Trey, she vanished around the corner in search of a carton of eggs and some freshly squeezed OJ.
Trey kept an eye on Ava until she disappeared, then he relied on his nose to follow the little hellion through the store. Although she was small as a mouse, she had the heart and temperament of a lioness. She didn’t back down from anyone or anything. The female was a perfect match for D.