Chapter Eleven

She’d puked on him. Twice. Casimir set her away from him and walked to the bathroom, stepping into the shower he’d left moments prior.

Pants and all, he stood beneath the spray. As remnants of her dinner washed from him, he thought about the two men lying out there. They had put his wife in danger.

When her scream of pure undulated fear filled the air, he’d had but one thing in mind. Defend what was his. Defend Dyana. Defend his wife.

Why am I standing in here and leaving her out there with the dead men?

Shower off, he stepped out and stripped off the wet pants. After wringing them out, he hung them on a bar, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

He opened the door and saw her on her hands and knees, cleaning up her mess, best she could. She gazed up at him, eyes widening as she took in his dress. Or lack of it. She still appeared pale and he waved her up, determined not to acknowledge the lust in her eyes.

“Go lay down,” he said gruffly. “I’ll finish.”

For a moment, he thought she’d agree. Then she shook her head. “No. I’ll clean it.”

As she continued to do so, he dressed in another pair of jeans then left the towel on the bed. “I’m going to check around. Be back in a few.”

She waved a hand without looking at him.

He went out and found their vehicle. The same SUV that had been following them earlier. Using the key he’d taken from one of them, he sat in the passenger seat and rooted through the glove box. Nothing. It was a rental and Casimir would bet his property, John Smith, wasn’t a real name. Not one of theirs anyway.

Two trips and the men were lying in the surrounding woods. They would be found eventually. Casimir withdrew his cell and placed a call.

“Yes?”

“I need—”

“I hear you’re brining your wife here. Won’t that make the girlfriend or should I call her the affianced most displeased?”

“Kraven,” he growled.

“So the rumors aren’t true?”

He punched the nearest tree trunk, wishing his second in command was in front of him so he could punch him instead. “I killed two tonight who kicked in my hotel door.”

“Who?” All elements of joviality vanished like a puff of smoke.

“Don’t know but this is the second attempt since I’ve met her.”

“Meaning?”

“Her house blew up.” Kraven gave a low whistle. “She lost her two best friends.”

“You want me to send protection? I told you, you shouldn’t go without any. I should have been with you.”

“No. I want you to make sure you keep this contained. I want no one to know. But since we’re coming there, be prepared.”

“You got it. Are you okay?”

He stared at the room door and approached. “I will be once this entire fiasco is over.” Casimir opened the door. “I’ll keep you posted.” He hung up and stared at the busted door. This was an older place and they used actual keys. Casimir backed away and approached her vehicle, before checking with his heightened senses for explosives. Nothing.

Back at the room, he entered and paused. It was all clean and he could barely pick up on the scent of blood, it had been replaced by soap. Dyana hummed from the bathroom before she left. She fell silent when she saw him.

He stared at her until she dropped her gaze. Without a word she went to her bed and sat. Casimir noticed how her attention continued to drift to the door.

“You can sleep.” Her skeptical gaze found him. “I’ll stay awake.”

She licked her lips before slipping beneath the blanket and putting her back to him. He settled on his bed, turned off the light, and got ready for a long night.

He watched her come morning as the first rays of sun penetrated the curtains and subsequently the room. She lay on her side and as innocent as she’d appeared at her house the night he slumbered beneath her window.

She didn’t slowly come awake it happened suddenly. Between heartbeats.

“Morning,” he said from where he sat in the chair across from her.

“So much for that being a nightmare.” She rolled off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom, limping. When she emerged five minutes later, her face was set and he couldn’t read her. “Let’s go.”

He rose as she hefted that large bag and case with ease then went to her car. Her bag went in the back before she slid behind the wheel.

“Would you like to eat?”

“Sure.” Her voice had no emotion.

She stopped at the office and he returned the key.

Dyana left immediately. At a gas station, she got come coffee but no food. He frowned.

“Sleep,” she said. “You were up all night.”

Casimir reclined the seat back. He was tired, he’d spent the night trying to make sense of who wanted her dead. And why. He didn’t ask her how she knew, merely closed his eyes as music filled the interior. Casimir dozed but came to when her phone rang.

Ranger calling. That’s what the car said.

“Hey, Ranger,” Dyana greeted him.

“Hey, beautiful. I heard about Regina and Shyla. Arrow, I’m so fucking sorry.”

Casimir watched her, turning his head for ease of viewing.

“Thanks. It’s been hard.” She touched a finger to the corner of her eye. “How are you?”

“Missing you.”

The smile on her face didn’t sit well with him. She made a noncommittal sound. “Miss you too.”

“I’m coming to see you in California.”

Her smile was brilliant. “Wonderful. I can’t wait to see you. It will be good to be surrounded by those I care about.”

“That goes double for me, babe.”

Casimir sat up at the familiar rumble of a male leopard in his prime. Sexual desire filled his noise and he responded. The leopard fell quiet.

“Babe?”

“Yes, Ranger.” She didn’t seem to have heard them.

“You alone?”

“Nope. Travelling to Washington with a Casimir Lars to take care of some paperwork.”

“Casimir Lars?”

“Yes. Apparently, my grandparents did some things which I have to undo and whatnot. Nothing important.”