Alliance of Shadows, Book 5: LEIF

The Flames of Loyalty

Grinning, I kissed his nose and gave him a light shove toward the door. Of all the things he could use to get out of his father’s punishment, he went and used intimacy. Chuckling, I shook my head.

"Get te work, love. I’m expectin’ Lana for about an hour this afternoon. I’m sure she’s gonna make me eat, so ye’ve got no worries, yeah?"

"Not even a little quickie?" His lips curled into a coy smile.

I burst out laughing. Had I known he’d become a regular s*x kitten, I would have taken Kaden’s strict advice and waited until our wedding night. But then, I wouldn’t have me Mate mark to proudly show off.

"Nay," I finally managed, wiping at my eyes. "Get te work before yer da gets pissed at me."

He snorted as he walked out and over the stairs. "As if, Leif. Some days I think he loves you more than me. If you were to say, I don't know, call him and tell him that we're doing okay now, he might let me off the hook."

Grabbing the mug of now cold tea from the bedside table, I followed him to the foyer, my socked feet sliding slightly on the polished floor. "Mr. Cage, are ye tryin’ to use me te slip outta trouble? Shameless, that is."

Erupting with laughter, he kissed my cheek and grabbed his keys. "I'll be home later, babe. I'm going to check in every few hours, so keep your phone nearby, okay? I'm not taking chances when we don't know where that sick prick is, and I don't want you hurt."

Shaking my head, I said something that I was probably going to end up regretting. "I'll call Kaden te come over. Yer mam's a wonderful woman, don’t get me wrong, but her temper scares the hell outta me."

"She calls it a Black mama's tough love, Leif. It's scarier than anything I have faced so far in my lifetime, minus last night." He laughed, "To this day she reminds me to go visit my birth mother's tomb on my birthday and hers every year. I forgot once, and the lecture went on for nearly an entire week."

I didn't say anything because I knew that it was fact. Celestia was one of the sweetest people I knew, but you didn't poke the sleeping wolf—ever. Like any other she-wolf, if anyone messed with her pups, she was going to let them have it.

No holds barred.

Now that I was one of those pups? She fretted and fawned over me all the time, and that was something I didn't want today. Today I needed someone capable of both kicking my ass and protecting it. Though he was a pain, Kaden was my first choice because I knew that he would both leave me alone, guard the house, and make sure I ate.

The brothers had learned fast that I could get so immersed in what I was doing that the house could burn down around me, and I would be clueless.

"I love ye," I said as he started out the door.

Dreson smirked sexily, "Not nearly as much as I love you, honey."

When the car was nothing more than a black dot on the horizon, I locked the door and went to the dining room. The papers sat in a neat pile, the pens lined up perfectly beside them.

That’s when I knew he'd lied to me.

His OCD only kicked in like that when he was stressed to the max or feeling guilty. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me. He was incapable of telling a straight-out lie, which meant he really was headed into his father’s office to sort the files—just not without the weight of whatever sat heavy on his conscience.

If I checked the home office, I knew I’d find everything in perfect order. Smiling, I wandered into the kitchen, only to see that he'd cleaned and organized it too. Not a single dish out of place.

A note was taped to the microwave. Pulling it off, I read his neat cursive. Leif, I’m sorry about last night. It won’t happen again. Breakfast is inside, and please don’t forget to eat dinner. I love you, Dre.

Gods, my man was a living angel.

Opening the door, I was pleasantly surprised to find Eggs Benedict, a side of bacon, and my favorite grain toast waiting on a covered plate. Though cold, a few seconds on high heat would bring it back to life. While the microwave did its thing, I made myself another cuppa from the still-hot water he’d boiled earlier.

Enjoying it was going to take a miracle, though.

I barely had time to sit down before someone banged on the front door, sharp and deliberate.

Kaden.

I knew his knock anywhere—but I hadn’t called him yet. Tensing, I checked the peephole, just to be safe.

"Yo, lemme in, man," Kaden called out. "There’s some sketchy people out here lookin’ like they wanna steal my wallet."

Laughing, I opened the door for him. "Ye serious?"

"Look across the road, and don’t make it obvious," he growled. "That guy’s been watching the house for a while now."

Glancing around with a frown, I pulled him inside as I spotted Seamus. He’d probably been there since before Dreson left.

"Dre called and told me to haul ass like Mom was pissed off, so I knew it had to be trouble. Who is he?" Kaden muttered as he made himself at home.

I was too exhausted to hold back the truth any longer. Shaking my head, I said, "It’s a long tale, an’ I ain’t got the mind te get into it with ye—but he’s bad news."

In true Kaden fashion, he cracked his knuckles. "He can try, but he’s gotta go through me to get to you, Leif."

Sitting down when I finally had a moment, I took a sip of my now lukewarm tea and decided it was time to put pen to paper once again.

Kaden was in the entertainment room, going head-to-head with Colton in a game of something or other. I wasn’t sure about technology, seeing as I never had much of anything growing up. Just wasn’t in me—not when my new babies were taking up most me time.

Being childhood friends with a bond strong enough to carry through to adulthood, I envied their closeness and wished I had friends like that when I was younger.

Colt had shown up at our door only because Neil had been alerted that someone was making trouble for me. To Neil, Kaden, and Colton, a strike against me was an attack on Dreson. And an attack on Dre was an act of war for the four friends.

Each of them credited him with creating their little clique back when they were only eight-year-olds. He didn’t know it, but I did.

Lana had come and gone, escorted by Colton to and from her apartment. She was safe, and that made me happy.

My cell rang, and I picked it up. Smiling at Dreson's name and picture on the screen, I hit the answer button and put the phone to my ear.

"Ye lied te me this morn," I said, trying to keep the laughter from my voice, already knowing exactly why he was calling me so early.

He groaned. "I know, I know. That's why I'm calling. I can't last the day without telling you the truth."

"I know, love," I replied. "I knew the truth as soon as I saw the way everything was arranged. Yer OCD kicked yer arse hard this mornin’."

"Yeah, no kidding. Did my brother show up?" he asked, nervous but not surprised.

Nodding, I said, "Aye, and Neil sent Colt, just in case Kaden needed the help."

"Good." He hesitated, then asked, "Did you eat?"

Grinning, I told him I had enjoyed my breakfast and was sitting down with some Ginger Snap cookies and a mug of tea. We exchanged a few more words before saying our I love you’s and hanging up.

As I turned back to the paper, the doorbell rang. I ignored it, knowing Kaden would do all the door runs for me. Sure enough, his loud "I got it!" echoed through the manor’s foyer.

A few minutes later, the door slammed, followed by Kaden calling out, "Leif, you need to see this, bro."

He walked in and dropped a note onto the table in front of me. Looking down, I felt my hands tremble as anger built in my chest at the sloppy handwriting.

"What a grand life ye be livin’, Leif. A shame it’d be if the family knew yer sweet little babes were bein’ raised by a whore."

S. M.