“How much longer until we eat?” Josiah came down the hallway from the office where he’d disappeared earlier. Even with everything else happening, bills had to be paid, business emails answered, and phone calls returned, especially since they had to cancel a couple of contracts. As their money man, he oversaw daily business operations.

  “Potatoes are in the warming oven, onions and mushrooms are pretty much done, and the steaks are marinated. The garlic bread is ready to pop under the broiler.” Noah pulled several large grill pans out of the cupboard. “Should I start cooking the steaks?”

  Eli wanted to wait, but there was no telling how long she’d be. “Go ahead. If she’s not here when the food is done, I’ll go get her.”

  “Smart. We all know big brother gets short-tempered when he was hungry.” Cyrus walked behind Silas and smacked him on the back of the head. Not hard enough to hurt, but it was no love tap.

  “Thank you for pointing that out. That just earned you the midnight shift on patrol.”

  Eli and the others struggled not to laugh. Silas was more like Cyrus’s son then the rest of them, as he’d been six when their daddy passed. It wasn’t much of a punishment, since they all knew Silas was a night owl by nature. The byplay had momentarily distracted him, but his attention was pulled back to his silent vigil.

  Another few minutes passed before the door upstairs finally opened. Eli swung around and pointed at Levi, a silent warning to hold his tongue. His brother pointed at himself and feigned a lack of understanding before grinning. Praying he wouldn’t say anything to upset Kinley, Eli forced himself to stay where he was rather than go to her. Silence descended. Only the sizzling of the meat on the grill pans broke the quiet.

  She was wearing the ridiculous purple leggings with the prancing white unicorns. Because of her long legs, they didn’t quite reach her ankles, but they looked damn good on her. She’d topped it with a long-sleeved black top that clung to her every curve. Black canvas sneakers covered her feet.

  Silas broke the silence. “I see you like the unicorns.” He gave her a thumbs-up.

  “They’re fun.” Something Eli knew had been lacking in her life. She met everyone’s gaze but his. It cut him deep, even though he was the one who’d told her he had to put all emotion aside outside the bedroom. She was only following his lead.

  “Everything fits well.” Levi ran his gaze over her and gave a nod.

  Her cheeks pinkened and she self-consciously ran a hand over the top. “It does. Thank you.”

  Eli walked behind his brother and shot out his elbow, catching him in the ribs. “What?” Levi protested. “I didn’t say anything wrong.”

  “If you’re done fooling around, we have business to attend to.” Cyrus motioned them all to sit. “You holler when you need help,” he told Noah.

  “I’ve got this.” He flipped the four steaks currently grilling. “I can cook and listen.”

  Eli held a chair for Kinley and relaxed when she didn’t object to sitting beside him. For a man who claimed to need to contain his emotions, he was doing a piss poor job of it. Letting them run wild wouldn’t keep her safe. Precision and control were called for. He mentally pulled back, took a deep breath, and gave Cyrus a nod.

  Cyrus pointed at Zach. “You’re up. Where are we with the text messages?”

  Kinley leaned forward, hands fisted in her lap.

  “It’s slow going. A lot of it is Holden bragging to Ridge about how things are going to change now that he’s head enforcer.” Zach glanced at Kinley. “A lot of those changes include you.”

  “I gathered as much from what little I saw earlier. Anything about my daddy?”

  “No.” He held up his hand when she started to object. “I told you I’d give you the truth and I am. There’s a shit ton of complaining. That boy dearly loves to whine. He lays all his problems square at your daddy’s feet, but I honestly don’t believe he’d have the guts to take him on.”

  “Not by himself and not directly.”

  “You think he had accomplices? I thought wolf packs had rules for settling disagreements.” The bleakness in her eyes when she looked at him almost broke Eli.

  “They do, but Holden wouldn’t risk losing. He’d do whatever it took to maneuver the odds to favor him.”

  Living in such an environment had to take a toll on all the members of the pack. To have to always be alert around people you should be able to count on would fester until it exploded.

  The chime of a phone alert interrupted them. Zach tugged Ridge’s phone from his pocket. “Incoming.” He brought it up and began to read. “It seems everything is on schedule for the pack to arrive tomorrow. Well, well, seems our boy Holden and a few of his buddies will be here a couple of hours early to rendezvous with Ridge and check out our perimeter.”

  “Holden never listens to anyone. Not his parents, the elders, or the alpha.”

  Eli feared if she clenched her hands any tighter, she was going to snap a bone. “I thought defying the alpha was highly discouraged. There’s a lot I don’t know about the inner workings of a pack, but that’s a sure way to get a beating or worse.”

  “You’re not wrong. Duke Wright rules with an iron fist, but for some reason he gives Holden more leeway than the others. Holden sucks up to him, agrees with everything he says, and does it while subtly manipulating him. He might not be as strong as Duke, but he’s sly. Daddy warned Duke, but he refused to listen. I overheard an argument where Duke accused Daddy of being jealous.” She gave a disparaging snort. “As if.”

  Eli noted she no longer called him Uncle Duke as a way of distancing herself. The man didn’t deserve any special acknowledgement after treating her so poorly. “So, basically Holden is a backstabbing, devious son of a bitch.” It wasn’t new knowledge but a confirmation of what he’d already believed about the man. Kinley was trembling. It was subtle, but visible. He could no longer ignore her pain. When he put his arm around her, a shudder racked her from head to toe. “What is it?”

  “I know in my heart Holden had something to do with my daddy’s death.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “He might not have killed him, but I guarantee he planted the seeds in someone else’s brain. If he could figure out a way to get rid of him while not endangering himself, Holden would take it. He’s been whispering in Duke’s ears for years that I should mate with him, that we’d make strong sons for the pack. He’s the main reason Daddy and Duke argued so often.”

  “Why didn’t you leave?” Cyrus was frowning, his brows furrowed.

  “You think I didn’t want to? It wasn’t as easy as waking up one day, packing a bag, and leaving.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Cyrus?” The warning in Eli’s voice went unheeded.

  “She’s an adult. No one could legally hold her there.” He pointed an accusing finger at Kinley. “You chose not to walk away.”

  “I had nowhere to go!” Angry blotches of color marred her face. “And with what? I worked in the pack kitchens to cover my room and board. My dear Uncle Duke”—the sarcasm was unmistakable—“never failed to remind me I was expected to contribute to the pack. But I wasn’t permitted to get a job in town. For my safety, he assured me.”

  “And your father agreed?” Eli was appalled at the restrictions she’d lived under. She ignored his question, which was answer enough, and kept going.

  “The truth is it kept me dependent and under Duke’s thumb. I have a high school education, no job experience, and not many marketable skills.” She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving. “We had a household account to purchase what we needed. I’m not proud of it, but I cut corners and skimmed money from it. I took sewing jobs from other pack members and started hoarding cash.”

  “Good for you.” Eli wouldn’t have her feeling guilty about doing what she had to do. “It couldn’t have been an easy life.”

  “It was hell.” Her pain was palpable. “I knew it would break my daddy’s heart if I left, but Holden was getting more brazen by the month. It was only a matter of time until he stopped taking no for an answer. I got so I was afraid to leave the house on my own.”

  The implication of that put Eli in a killing mood and once again made him question Lincoln Wright and his decision to subject his daughter to such conditions.

  She continued, her gaze unfocused, as if peering into the past. “I wore the same clothes for years, learned how to stretch a dollar in the kitchen, ate at the pack kitchen whenever I could, and stayed up late most nights sewing. It took me years to save a couple thousand dollars.”

  His brothers were silent, the desperation of her situation sinking in. It was a childhood of abuse, pure and simple. She’d had a roof over her head, food to eat, and her daddy hadn’t laid a hand on her, but she’d never had the bedrock of love and loyalty shared by his family. She’d essentially been on her own since she was a child. Maybe her daddy meant well, but he’d put his own brother ahead of his daughter, hadn’t protected her. To Eli, that was unforgivable.

  “Even though I had nowhere to go and had no idea how I was going to survive, I’d planned to leave. Time just ran out.” All the color had drained from her face, leaving her pale. Her eyes were dry, her shoulders hunched in defeat. Rather than turn toward him, she turned away.

  His wolf howled in pain. Something inside him cracked wide open.

  Chapter Fifteen

  If she’d been stark naked, she wouldn’t have felt more exposed. All her family’s secrets had been laid bare. She kept her eyes downcast, not wanting to see the judgement in Eli’s eyes.

  “You tried to hire Eli. How’d you plan on paying him if you’re broke?” Cyrus sounded more curious than angry.

  “I can access my daddy’s account. I couldn’t do it while he was alive.” She bit her bottom lip. “It would have been stealing. It wasn’t my money.”

  “You didn’t mind skimming from the household account,” Cyrus pointed out.

  She refused to be cowed by him and raised her chin. “I was given money to run the household. I did just that. My daddy never had any complaints. He never did without anything.”

  Her wolf whimpered inside her, not sure what was wrong but not liking it. No emotional connection outside the bedroom, she reminded herself. It wasn’t easy when she wanted to lean on Eli, if only for a short respite. The mental beating she was taking was wearing her down. While she recognized the necessity, it didn’t lessen the impact.

  “But you did.” Before she could gather her courage to face Eli, he got up from his chair and hunkered down beside her. “You went without more than new clothes and small luxuries.”

  Knowing if she tried to speak she’d start crying, she gave a curt nod.

  “Steaks are done. Let’s eat.” Noah’s announcement broke the uncomfortable silence. Kinley could have kissed him. Taking his cue, the others got busy helping Noah ferry platters from the kitchen.

  Eli was still crouched beside her. It was making her uncomfortable. “You should grab some food before it’s all gone.” When he didn’t move, she forced herself to look at him. There was no judgement, no pity on his face, only something akin to pride.

  “You’re one hell of a woman, Kinley Wright.” He lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. Stunned by his words as much as his actions, she was left speechless.

  “Leave the girl alone and let her eat.” Cyrus dumped one of the steaks onto her plate.

  Eli sighed and retook his seat. “You heard the man. You need to eat.” Without asking, he put a baked potato on her plate. Noah added a generous scoop of the mushrooms and onions. Levi added a piece of garlic bread.

  “Here’s butter and sour cream for your potato.” Zach shoved the two bowls down the table.

  “Salt and pepper are here,” Silas chimed in.

  Josiah silently handed her a napkin.

  They were taking care of her. These dangerous men, these rough and ready male wolves were treating her with a kindness she’d never experienced. A weight dropped off her shoulders. Whatever happened, she’d never regret meeting them. They were showing her the way a pack was supposed to be.

  When they all continued to hover and watch her expectantly, she offered a tentative smile. “It smells wonderful. Thank you.” They were all suddenly busy filling their own plates.

  Aware of Eli beside her, she cut a piece of steak and had her first bite. She closed her eyes as spices exploded on her tongue. A low moan escaped her. Eli chuckled. “I think she likes it.”

  “It’s amazing, Noah.” He might be a bounty hunter, but the man had serious skills in the kitchen.

  “Glad you like it.”

  The onions and mushrooms were flavorful, the potatoes perfectly cooked, the garlic bread delicious, but the steak was the star of the meal. The others were all eating, but it hadn’t escaped notice that Eli had waited for her to start before taking his first mouthful. It wouldn’t be smart to read too much into that. He felt a responsibility toward her. He kissed your hand in front of his brothers. The back of her hand tingled. She surreptitiously rubbed it against her leg as she studied the men around the table.

  The family resemblance was uncanny. They were all big men with various shades of brown hair and those distinctive black eyes. What must their parents have been like to have raised the kind of men who’d take a stranger into their midst and protect her for no other reason than they thought it was the right thing to do?

  Her daddy’s weaknesses were more apparent the longer she spent around the Sin brothers. It didn’t make her love him less. It made her wish he could have been a bit stronger. Maybe then she’d have found the strength and courage to leave before things had blown up in her face. If she had, he might still be alive.

  “Everything okay?” Eli asked.

  She’s stopped eating, her fork halfway to her mouth. “Everything is delicious. My mind wandered.” She took a bite and chewed, conscious of his attention on her. He must have been satisfied, because he returned to his own meal.

  “Two of our clients are unhappy about the last-minute cancellation, but there’s not much they can do about it.” Josiah helped himself to another potato. “I cited a family emergency.”

  What she’d eaten settled heavy in her stomach. “I can cover it.” Or she prayed she could. She had no idea what the jobs were or what the brothers charged for their services.

  “No.” Eli didn’t mince words. “We’re not taking your money.”

  She set her fork down. “My being here is a burden on you and your family. It’s the least I can do.” It would ease some of her guilt about the situation. “Nothing can compensate for the danger I’ve brought on all of you, but it’s something.”

  Eli pointed his fork at Cyrus. “Tell her.”

  Cyrus’s eyes narrowed at the order, and his brows lowered, but he nodded. “Keep your money.”

  “About that money,” Zach began.

  Eli pinned his brother with a glare. “I just said we weren’t taking it.”

  “It occurred to me that she might not be the only one with access to it.”

  Kinley’s stomach roiled and she broke out in a cold sweat. “Duke.” She stared at Eli, her hopes for a future plummeting. “I don’t know if he has access, but he’s the alpha.” And her daddy had always done what his brother wanted.

  “Where’s your bank card?”

  Driven by Eli’s urgency, she jumped up from her chair. “It’s upstairs.” It was the first time she hadn’t had it on her since she’d run. Wearing leggings meant there was no pocket for her wallet.

  “I’ll get it.” He gently pushed her back down on her chair and hurried up the stairs.

  “I need all your banking information.” Zach shoved his plate aside and grabbed his laptop—which never seemed to be far from reach—off the kitchen counter. By the time Eli returned, she’d given Zach everything he’d asked for.

  Rather than give her wallet directly to his brother, Eli gave it to her. That small gesture showed an immense amount of respect, the likes of which had been missing in her life.

  She opened the wallet and pulled out the lone bank card and handed it to Zach. “It’s for Daddy’s personal account. I always assumed it wasn’t connected to the pack one.” A huge mistake on her part.

  It was a measure of her trust that not for a single second did she even consider she was giving them the means to leave her financially destitute. They wouldn’t steal from her. They were too proud. Besides which, she owed them more than she could ever repay. If she gave them every penny, it wouldn’t be enough.

  “What about your bank account?” Zach asked as he continued to type.

  “I’ve never had one.” It was embarrassing for a grown woman to admit, but it was her reality. “I always paid cash.” It had been a godsend, as she’d been living off the money since she ran.

  A low menacing growl made the fine hairs on her arms stand on end. All his brothers, except Zach who kept typing, warily watched Eli. A muscle in his jaw flexed, as if he was grinding his teeth. “I’m not feeling very kindly to your daddy or your pack right about now.”

  Zach stopped typing. “Then you’re really not going to like this. The account was emptied a week ago.”

  Black spots appeared in front of her eyes. Everything around her began to fade. All this time, she thought she’d had a financial cushion. “He must have taken it before the body was even cold.” Only one person could have done that—Duke Wright. The world began to tilt.

  “She’s going down,” someone said.

  Strong arms caught and held her. “I’ve got you.”

  Things were fuzzy, but she’d recognize Eli’s scent anywhere. What was she doing in his lap? “You said no emotional connection outside the bedroom.” One brother snickered, another groaned, while one laughed outright.

  “I was an idiot.” He pressed his forehead against hers.

  ****

  Eli took the opened bottle of water Noah handed him and pressed the edge against Kinley’s lips. “Sip this.” The hits just kept coming.

  That she didn’t try to take the bottle from him, allowed him to hold it, was an indication of how deep her shock went. She’d been fiercely independent from the start. Now he knew why. She hadn’t had a choice. No one, not even the daddy she loved, had put her first.