Callan Read online

  “Damn,” Griff muttered. “I need to send a team back out there.”

  “No. I’ll go. I had to get the woman and the baby out of there, but I know exactly where it happened. I can scout for more supers.”

  “Was the woman hurt? The baby?”

  I shook my head. “No. They are both fine.”

  “We should talk to her. Take her full report of the incident. Maybe she saw something or heard something that could give us a fresh lead.”

  I balked. “Why? I just told you everything that happened. I’ll write up the report for you. She doesn’t know anything new. Nothing we haven’t heard before.”

  Griff examined me. “Where is she? I’d like to talk to her myself. You know every detail matters right now.”

  “She’s safe, man. She’s fine,” I argued. “I think she wants to forget the whole thing happened.”

  “That’s not what I asked.” He pressed his lips together as a warning. “Did you hit your head man when you attacked the super?”

  “Damn it,” I muttered. “Does this stay between us?” I asked.

  He eyed me as if to say I was testing him.

  “Fine. It’s Nolan’s sister-in-law. Ava’s little sister is in town to help out with the cub. She was taking her out for a walk when she was attacked on the trails behind the park. She wandered too far and got lost.”

  “Holy shit. Did you call Nolan?”

  “No. And I’m not going to. That’s up to Hannah.”

  “He has a right to know a super was going after his cub. You can’t keep that from him.”

  I hung my head. “Just let them work it out as a family. I’ll talk to him about it once she breaks the news. I don’t want to get in the middle of it.”

  Griffin stared at me in disbelief. “What’s going on here? I don’t understand. He’s practically a brother.”

  I rubbed the back of my head. I wasn’t ready to admit any of it. The last thing I wanted to do was say it out loud.

  “Callan,” he growled.

  “Fuck,” I answered. “She doesn’t know. Okay? It just happened. I haven’t processed it. I haven’t figured any of it out. Our first date is tomorrow. Everything happened so fucking fast with the super.”

  Griffin’s snarl turned into a deep barreled laugh. “You’re kidding me right now. You think Ava’s sister is your mate? Is that what you’re trying to say here?”

  I glared at him. “Since when is that funny?”

  He shook his head. “Since I had the idea of you and Nolan spending Christmas mornings together in matching PJs.”

  “Come on man, what’s the difference with you and Liz? She’s your mate. You knew when you two were thrown together. It didn’t matter that she was a tiger shifter. Why are you giving me such a hard time about Hannah?”

  “I don’t work with Casey.” He couldn’t stop laughing. “I’d say that’s a pretty big fucking difference.”

  Griffin and Liz had met under unusual circumstances when her brother went missing. They moved in together and Casey didn’t support the move. It made things awkward and tense, but Liz had made up her mind. Griff was her mate.

  I knew Casey had scored points in everyone’s eyes when he saved the entire reception at Rawlings’s wedding from a super shifter who had tried to crash it. How he had kept it a secret until the bride and groom left for their honeymoon, I didn’t know. It was impressive, and I knew it was significant to Griffin.

  I growled and threw open the office door. “I shouldn’t have opened my mouth.”

  “It happens to all of us,” he called over my shoulder. “Especially when you don’t expect it. Take it from me. Hey, you want to take backup with you to the trails?”

  “No!” I shouted. “I’ve got it.” I wasn’t in the mood for mate relationship advice.

  I marched out of the station and out into the parking lot. I would never hear the end of this once it got out that I thought Hannah Lance was my mate. Never.

  * * *

  I needed time alone. Time to think about Hannah. Time to think about how this would change things with Nolan. Time to just think.

  The woods were quiet. I crouched near the tree where I had first spotted Hannah and the baby. I circled it, looking for clues from the shifter. I touched the bark and looked overhead in the branches. Usually if there was one super, there were three. They liked to hunt together. I knew I had to stay on high alert.

  I ran my fingers over the leaves shuffled on the ground. I retraced the steps of the fight I had with the super, stopping at the edge of the cliff. I peered into the brush below. It was getting late, but I knew even from this high up that he was long gone.

  I decided to explore one of the other trails, maybe the one he had used to track Hannah and the baby. I darted into the woods, starting with a slow jog, hoping I picked up a scent soon. When I didn’t find any trace of him, I decided to work one of the trails that led to the bottom of the ravine. Maybe the best approach was to track where he went, not where he started.

  After twenty minutes of hiking the terrain, I was ready to work my way back to my car when I felt something sticky slide along my forearm. I stopped in the middle of the path and stared at my forearm. There was a smear of blood and it wasn’t mine. I scanned the foliage and found a leaf drenched with blood. When I looked down I saw more splatters on the ground by my feet. This was it. He had been here.

  I thought about what Griff said at the station. I should call for backup. But I was too close. The blood was still wet and fresh. The best chance for going after the super was to pick up the trail now, before it went cold. I couldn’t hang around waiting for someone else to join me.

  I followed the blood. It didn’t take long for the drops to dry up. The traces of it stopped. I looked around for a leaf or branch. Anything that was still fresh.

  Just as I was about to hang it up, I caught a whiff of smoke. I looked toward the sky. It was clear. Campfires in this part of the park weren’t legal. I’d let the rangers handle it if a camper was breaking the rules, but I couldn’t find smoke. The wind picked up again and I inhaled. It wasn’t smoke. It was the scent of charred logs.

  I turned away from the trail and headed deeper into the thicket. I couldn’t believe it. There was a campsite. Lying on the ground near the burned out fire was a roll of bandages soaked in blood. Who would do that? Who would patch up the super like that? He was probably healed by now.

  I kicked the logs covered in ash. I picked through the coals. There had to be something here. There was a tiny glimmer in the soot. I sifted until I my fingers landed on the silver syringe. I brushed off the handle. In fine print on the side of the syringe was stamped the word Allied.

  I had an idea who was out here. Although, she was gone now. I needed to call the station. I thought I might have our first location on the woman in black in months.

  5

  Hannah

  “I don’t know what to say.” Ava threw her arms in the air. “What am I supposed to say to all of that?” She finally stopped pacing and pivoted to look at me. Both of our glasses of wine were empty. I hoped it had a calming effect on her. So far the baby had remained asleep through the entire discussion. I had spilled every last detail. Even the part about Callan asking me out.

  “Say you forgive me. I promise I’ll never take Olivienne out again. We’ll stay right here and watch movies. Or read books. Or whatever you want me to do with her. I swear.”

  My sister paused to consider the request. “You could have been killed, Hannah. Both of you.” She sat in a nearby chair, pressing her palms to her eyes.

  “But we are fine. Callan was there.”

  She sniffed. “Callan, huh?”

  Was I blushing again? What was it about him that made me turn six shades of pink?

  “So? I thought that part of the story would make you happy. He works with Nolan, right? He’s a good guy. Perfectly capable of taking care of the situation. He made sure we arrived home in one piece.”

  She huffed. “Jus
t because he’s a cop doesn’t mean he’s automatically grandfathered into taking care of Olivienne.”

  “Oh. I thought it was the bear shifter thing that made him an auto in.”

  She glared. “You’ve been here less than one day. One day, Hannah. How is this possible?” She buried her hand in her hands.

  I crossed the room and dropped in front of her. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I wanted to get some fresh air and I read up on the trails when I was on the airplane. I thought you could sleep better with a quiet house.”

  Ava shook her head. “No. It’s my fault. I should have told you more. I should have told you how dangerous the woods are right now with the supers. I was trying to protect you too.” She wiped at her eyes. “I didn’t think you could handle all the bad stuff at once. I didn’t want you to have to deal with it on your first day here.”

  “You’ve got to stop doing that.”

  She laughed lightly. “It’s a hard habit to break.”

  “So you forgive me?”

  “No more walks in the woods,” she scolded.

  “No more. I promise.”

  She pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry I didn’t warn you. I’m so sorry. So much happens here all the time. Weddings are crashed. People go missing. It’s not safe if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

  I rubbed her back. “Everything is fine. We are okay. But maybe you should tell me these stories so I can keep a better eye on my niece. Should I pour us more wine?”

  Ava pushed back into the chair. We both looked up when we heard the kitchen door rattle.

  “I think I’ll go get the baby and feed her.” She stood. “I’ll talk to Nolan, tonight. Don’t say a word.”

  I pretended to button my lips.

  She wagged a finger and walked out of the room and down the hall.

  “Where’s Ava?” Nolan asked.

  “She’ll be right back.” I smiled. “That daughter of yours is demanding,” I teased.

  “Don’t I know it.”

  I stretched my arms overhead. The last thing I wanted was to get stuck talking to Nolan about my day. How was I going to breeze over the events without flat-out lying to him?

  “I think I’m going to take a shower. Maybe go to bed early. My clock is totally screwed up after that flight.”

  “Jet lag?”

  “Yes. Something like that.” I smiled. “I had no idea it would hit me all of a sudden. I’ll get out of your way.” I tried to skirt around the chair and disappear into the hall. Ava could talk to Nolan about the super attack. She was right. It would be a lot easier if she broke the news to him. I didn’t want to be here when it happened.

  “Crazy thing happened when I was at the station,” he interrupted my quick escape to the shower. He stood on the other side of the kitchen island.

  Shit.

  “I think I hear Olivienne crying,” I lied.

  “Stop right there.” His voice was sharp.

  I cringed. “But Ava might need my help.”

  “I think Ava can handle our daughter for a few minutes while you answer some questions.”

  “Is this an interrogation?”

  “Sit.” He pointed to one of the bar stools at the island.

  I reluctantly slumped into the wooden seat. “Before you say anything, Nolan—”

  “No,” he snapped. “I just want you to imagine something.”

  I inhaled, closing my eyes. Why didn’t my sister walk in and rescue me? Maybe she knew this was going to happen. Maybe it was her way of making sure I never put Olivienne in danger again. Maybe she wanted to teach me a lesson.

  “Imagine you’re at work. You’ve been called in to work on an on-going case. Not just any case. The case. The one that’s been terrorizing your town, and the town next door. And while you’re at work, you hear that a young woman with a baby was attacked.”

  “Nolan, I can explain.”

  He held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it.” His eyes bore into my skull. “You put my daughter in danger. You both could have been ripped to shreds.”

  “We weren’t,” I groaned. “See? Not a single dangling thread on my clothing, or the baby’s. We’re good. She’s with her mother.”

  He pounded his fist on the counter. “That’s not the point. You took her into the woods. The woods are off limits. No one in their right mind goes in there.”

  “I didn’t know,” I argued. “I’m not going back there. I already promised Ava. No more hikes. I swear.”

  “Hannah, these supers are the worst most vile creatures that exist. I don’t want you or Olivienne anywhere near them.”

  “I understand.” If I just agreed with everything he said maybe I could reduce the lecture time. “It won’t happen again.”

  “From now on you need to check with us before you leave the house.”

  My eyes almost popped out of my head. “Excuse me?”

  “You were practically mauled to death. Hunter’s Lake isn’t safe for you until you’re up to speed on what’s going on here ...”

  I blinked. “I’m sorry, you have every right to set rules for your daughter, but you can’t tell me I’m under house arrest. I’m not a kid, and you aren’t my dad.”

  “I need to keep you safe. You’re under our roof, Hannah. If anything happened to you your sister wouldn’t survive.”

  I felt a pang of guilt for how much responsibility Ava had taken on since our parents had died.

  “Do I need your permission to date?” I challenged him

  “What?” Nolan’s forehead crinkled. “What does dating have to do in the middle of this? There are supers on the loose.”

  “I’m going out with Callan tomorrow. I’m assuming that’s okay with you?”

  I should have just kept my big mouth shut.

  Ava appeared in the kitchen, holding the baby close to her. “Everything okay in here?” she asked.

  I hopped off the bar stool. “Yes.” I smiled. “I was filling your mate in on everything that happened today.” I leaned toward her ear. “He already knew.”

  She nodded, as if she had anticipated it.

  I spun before leaving the room. “Oh, and he knows Callan asked me out for tomorrow night.”

  I thought the vein was going to burst on the side of my brother-in-law’s neck.

  “Hannah,” Ava called for me to come back, but I was already down the hall. It wasn’t a story any longer, the jet lag had caught up to me. I needed a shower and bed.

  Although, when I spied the air mattress in the corner of the nursery, I climbed on top, pulling a quilt to my chin and fell asleep before I even made it to the shower. It wasn’t long before I was dreaming about a tall, dark, and handsome detective.

  6

  Callan

  I wore my best jeans and a button-up shirt to pick up Hannah from her sister’s house. I was off again today, so I hadn’t faced the firing squad at the station. I knew by now half the guys knew I was convinced Hannah was my mate. I hoped like hell she didn’t hear it from someone else before I even picked her up for dinner.

  I pulled in the driveway behind Nolan’s truck. Fuck. He was home. So much for avoiding the awkward confrontation I was trying to put off until at least the third date.

  I slammed the door and climbed the front porch steps. I wasn’t sure what the protocol was when a couple had a new baby. Should I knock or the ring the doorbell?

  I was about to tap lightly when the door flew open.

  Nolan stared at me.

  “Hey, man.” I nodded.

  “Want to come in?” he offered.

  “Is Hannah ready?”

  “Almost. I think I heard something about changing skirts again. I don’t know. Ava’s back there helping her. I’ll tell her you’re here.”

  I followed him inside. I spotted his daughter in a small bassinet in front of the fireplace. She was asleep, sucking her thumb. It was hard to believe what almost happened to her yesterday.

  Nolan returned. “I told her
you’re here.”

  “Thanks.” I stood with my arms folded across my chest.

  “Listen, I want to thank you.” Nolan cleared his throat. “I know what you did yesterday and Ava and I are grateful. Beyond grateful.”

  “I’ll tell you what I told Hannah. I don’t need a thank you. You would have done the same thing if you had been out on that trail, man. I know you would have.”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what I would have done. You saved my daughter. Our first-born cub. I don’t take that lightly. And you saved Hannah.” I saw him try not to smile.

  “I did.” I wondered if this was the moment I should go ahead and put it out there. Should I blurt it out? Tell him his sister-in-law was my mate?

  Before I could force the words out, Hannah appeared from around the corner. I had to hold my jaw in place. She was fucking stunning.

  My bear wanted to take her in his arms and never let her go. I wanted to kiss her, taste her, caress her creamy skin. My eyes traveled from her strappy high heels up her calves and to the teasing hemline of her short skirt.

  I saw Nolan’s disapproving look. “That’s the skirt you’re wearing?”

  Ava strolled in. “She looks hot.” She slapped her mate on the chest. “Doesn’t she, Callan?”

  I swallowed. “Beautiful.” There was a chance if I latched onto the wrong word the personal relationship I needed with Nolan would unravel.

  Hannah smiled. “I just need to grab my clutch and we can go.”

  I waited by the front door.

  Her heels clicked against the floor. “Okay. I’m ready.” I saw how her eyes danced with mischief. I hoped this wasn’t all a show for her family. It didn’t feel like it, but she was definitely getting something out of making them squirm.

  “Don’t wait up.” She winked at Ava.

  I held the door open for her and offered her my arm to maneuver down the stairs.

  “Want me to drive again tonight?” she teased.

  I made sure she was securely situated in the passenger side before sitting in the driver’s seat.