Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

"First things first." I looked up at Jax. "Ty has a point; I don't know Kai that well. All I have is the background check we run on all our clients. There weren't any red flags. The worst thing was a blip on his credit, which I understand was because of his ex. What's your take on him? I see him as a thoughtful and caring leader to his pack. He seems like a really solid guy to me. What about you?"

Jax nodded. "I get the same impression. He's tough but fair. Charming when he wants to be. He certainly doesn't have trouble attracting attention from the female population."

"Ted Bundy was charming, too," Celia chimed in, startling me as she appeared in the chair across from us.

I shook my head at her. "Was that necessary?"

"What? Pointing out the obvious?" She buffed her fingernails. "But Jax is right. That Kai is one serious hunk of manmeat. I don't mind keeping an eye on him if you want to know what's really going on over there at the winery."

"That's a good idea," Ty said, nodding.

"It's settled then. I'll surveil the alpha and report back." Celia disappeared again with a loud pop.

Jax frowned at Ty and then at me. "You're really going to let her spy on the pack? That's awfully invasive, don't you think?"

"I don't let her do anything. Celia does whatever she wants. You know that," I said.

Jax was clearly irritated when he said, "They haven't done anything to warrant being spied on. I just don't think it's right." He glanced at Ty again. "You shouldn't have encouraged her."

Ty visibly swallowed and then grimaced. "You're right. I'm just worried about Marion is all. I didn't think it through."

"I'll keep whatever she finds confidential. And I'll do my best to make sure Celia doesn't go blabbing about anything she finds," I said. "While I can't control her, I do have some sway."

Jax nodded, but still had a frown on his face.

"Is something going on with Celia and Danny?" Charlotte asked. "She seemed awfully eager to spend her time spying on the new Alpha in town."

"I don't think so," I said, shaking my head. "You know Celia, always wanting to be in the thick of things."

"Always wanting to spy on good-looking men, you mean," Charlotte replied.

"True." I couldn't argue with that. Celia was a little sex obsessed. The entire reason she was in my life at all was because she'd hired me to be her matchmaker and then died in a tragic accident while on her way to her date. After her unfortunate demise, she showed up demanding I set her up with someone in her afterlife since her date had moved on with someone else. She'd been desperate for a ghostly boyfriend of her own.

"Jax, what else do you know about Kai? Anything that should give us pause?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Not that I can think of, but honestly, I don't know him all that well. I mostly kept to myself when I was working out my wolf side." He glanced away, and I knew he didn't want to talk about it.

"You should call my mom," Ty said. "She's known him longer."

I stared at him. "Are you sure you want her here?"

"If it will keep you safe, then yes." Ty stood up and held his hand out to Kennedy. "Thanks for dinner, Marion. I think Kennedy and I will take Paris Francine on a walk."

As the pair said their goodbyes, I stood and gave Ty a hug. "Love you."

"Love you, too," he whispered back.

When they were gone, I called Trish.

A half hour later, my former best friend walked in. She glanced around. "Ty isn't here?"

"No, he and Kennedy were here for dinner, but they've already left for the evening," I said, not sure why I was giving details. Maybe just to let her know that he was doing okay.

"I see." She looked defeated but added, "I was hoping to say hello."

"That's not a good idea," Charlotte interjected. "Give the man some space, Trish. He's already said he'd call you when he's ready to talk. Stop smothering him. It'll only push him away further."

I gave my sister a grateful smile. We both had mother issues of our own that we'd had to work through, so I was certain her words came from a place of deep understanding.

Trish threw her an irritated glance. "Of course I'm not going to bother him. He's made it abundantly clear he's not ready to talk to me. I got it, okay?" Then she stood by the door with her arms crossed over her chest. "What is this about Kai and the pack being targeted by the police?"

"Why don't you have a seat?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I'm fine here."

I suppressed a sigh and quickly explained the situation with the missing woman and how the police were already set to blame Kai despite any actual evidence, circumstantial or otherwise.

Trish frowned, looking deeply troubled. "Kai is as solid as they come. Not once have I ever seen him even act aggressive toward a female… at least not one who wasn't in wolf form while he was defending the pack. I also haven't ever even gotten that vibe off him." She met my gaze. "You know, the one that just gives you the ick , that says someone is a threat even when they haven't really done anything you can pinpoint."

I nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "That's good. So bottom line, you don't think Kai could have abducted Lacey?"

"No way." She shook her head. "I'd swear on that."

"Good." I glanced at Charlotte. "So we start investigating tomorrow?"

"Yep."

I made a mental note to remember to talk to the coven about casting a spell to find Lacey and then got up and walked over to Trish. "Thanks for coming. I appreciate it."

"Sure. I don't want to see anything happen to the pack. While I have no plans to formally join any pack, I do sort of consider myself one of them now. It's not right what the PPPD is doing to them."

We all agreed.

Trish was on her way out when the door opened and Ty walked in, looking a little conflicted. His brows were drawn down, and he was picking at the hem of his T-shirt. But there was also a steadfastness to him when he looked at his mother and said, "You didn't come to the apartment or text me."

"You asked me not to," she said warily.

"That's true. I did," he said with a nod. "And honestly, if you had, I wouldn't be here right now."

Trish raised both eyebrows and tentatively asked, "Does that mean you're ready to talk now?"

"I think so." He looked at Kennedy, who gave him a nod of encouragement. "Can we start with lunch once a week? An hour or so on Tuesdays?"

Relief seemed to wash over Trish as she smiled at him. "Yes. I'd love to do that."

"Good. I'll text you with a time and place." He reached for Kennedy, and just like that they were gone again.

Trish turned to me. "Did you know he was going to do that?"

I shook my head, just as surprised as she was. "Nope. But he was the one who suggested I call you earlier." I knew that Ty was seeing a therapist, and the lunch idea was something she'd suggested. A neutral place for Ty and his mother to meet and try to build something new, rather than go back to old patterns from when Ty was still a teenager. But I hadn't known he was seriously considering it.

Trish sighed. "He's so different now. The boy I knew would never have behaved so distantly."

I did my best to be diplomatic when I answered. "He's a grown man now, Trish. He's grown up a lot in the past five years. He's not the teenager you remember anymore." I wanted to add that he'd also recently learned that everything he thought to be true about his family was basically a lie and she couldn't expect him to just get over it, but I kept that part to myself.

"I know that," she said, looking sad. "I just didn't expect to be walking around with a giant hole in my heart after being reunited with him. I honestly thought I was doing what was best for him at the time. Sometimes I still do, but we'll never know, and I can't change it now."

"I know you did," I said, trying to suppress my own resentment at mourning her for five years. I could have handled her secret, but she hadn't trusted me either, and that still hurt even though I knew she wasn't trying to cause any of us pain. "It was a bad situation, and maybe there wasn't a right answer. All we can do is move forward."

"Yeah. I better go." Trish started to reach for the doorhandle and paused. "Marion?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I hurt you."

Her words hung in the air. It was the first time she'd apologized that made me feel like she truly understood what we'd all gone through when we thought we'd lost her. It was a glimpse of the Trish I used to know, and I felt hopeful that maybe, just maybe, we'd find a way to get back to the friendship we had before she'd gone missing. "Thank you. I'm sorry you thought you had to make that choice."

Trish nodded and silently slipped out the door.

Charlotte and Denver stayed for a while longer after Trish left, but eventually they stood and Charlotte called for Minx. "Come on girl. We're staying the night at Denver's."

Minx just looked at her and then sat down stubbornly at Jax's feet.

"You little turncoat," Charlotte said with a soft chuckle. "Come on now, you can't stay here all the time. Aunty Marion is going to get tired of all this dogsitting she does for free."

Minx hopped up and ran around to stand behind Jax, barely poking her nose out to see if Charlotte was going to force her hand.

Charlotte sighed while Denver chuckled softly. "Stop it," Charlotte told him. "I've lost my true love to my sister's boyfriend. It's not fair."

Denver rolled his eyes at her. "Minx just missed him."

Jax reached down and scooped up the pup, who was wearing a red and white polka dot dress. "She can stay with me if it's okay with you, Charlotte. I missed her too."

"Fine," Charlotte said with a huff. She walked over to Jax and Minx, giving the dog a kiss on her head. "But tomorrow is spa day, little girl. I'll be back by eight to pick you up."

Minx wagged her tail vigorously as if she understood every word Charlotte had said and then snuggled into Jax's chest.

Denver was still laughing as the pair left.

I looked at my boyfriend and the dog who was stealing all his affection. "I've lost you, haven't I?"

He grinned. "Just until she passes out. Then I'm all yours."

Minx yawned right on cue, and we both chuckled.

"Come on," I said, tugging him toward the bedroom. "I'm next in line for those snuggles."