LITMIR.BIZ

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threw her arms around her cousin. She was never so thankful to see anyone in her life. “Where did you come from?” she asked, astonished that they were even there.

      “From right over there,” Ruby said, and pointed to her old maroon sedan on the other side of the parking lot.

      Celia laughed. “I see that, but what are you doing here?”

      “We were worried about you,” Jade said, stepping forward and wiping her hands on her jeans. “And with good cause, too, from the looks of things. What are you doing way out here? And why were these men attacking you?”

      Celia’s gaze slid away. “I don’t know. But I have to go home. My mom...” She couldn’t finish. Couldn’t say the awful truth. She glanced over at Malcolm, who was watching the two men on the ground, waiting for them to get back up and go at them again. “She died.”

      “Oh, no! Celia, why didn’t you tell us?” Ruby enveloped her in a big hug. Her embrace and concern had Celia’s tears threatening to fall all over again.

      “I don’t know,” Celia admitted. “Everything just happened so fast. I...I just can’t believe you are here.”

      “Us, either,” Ruby said. “But it’s a good thing we were. What was with these thugs? Why would they attack you out the blue like that?”

      “I have no idea,” Celia lied, with an uneven breath.

      “Maybe we should call the police,” Jade suggested.

      “No,” Ruby and Celia both said in unison.

      Surprised, Celia turned to Ruby. Her eyebrows rose questioningly.

      “I don’t want Mark to hear about it,” Ruby admitted on a deep breath.

      “Your stalker cop?” Celia didn’t like the sound of that. “Is that guy still causing you trouble?”

      Jade nodded. “He just called a little while ago. There is something seriously wrong with that man.”

      “That may be true. Okay, that is true,” Ruby corrected after noticing the look Jade was giving her, “but he called to tell us that someone broke into the shop. Messed it up quite a bit. So it’s actually a good thing he called. For once. He locked it up for us. I’m sorry to dump more bad news on you, Celia.”

      Celia sighed, not in the least surprised. She’d seen the Abatu enter through the back door and just hoped they hadn’t caused too much damage. “I supposed you’d better get back, then.”

      “No way. We’re coming with you. Obviously you need us.” Ruby looked pointedly at the two men on the ground.

      Celia glanced at the troubled look on Malcolm’s face and knew he had cause to be concerned. No matter how much she might welcome her cousins’ company right then, humans were not welcomed in the Colony. They couldn’t be. The Colony couldn’t take the chance that anyone would discover their secret, and a whole town full of wolves was a big secret to keep.

      “I really appreciate that,” Celia said honestly. “But I don’t know how long I’ll be. There’s a...a lot to do. If you could just get the shop back in shape and opened for when I get back, that would be awesome.”

      Ruby opened her mouth to protest, but Jade stepped forward and placed a hand on her sister’s arm. “We totally understand. You can count on us.”

      Celia sagged with relief. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.”

      “But what about these two?” Ruby asked. “Who are they? Why would they attack you, and why would someone break into our shop to begin with?”

      “I have no idea, and I really can’t think about that now.” Celia gave them each a big hug, holding on a little tighter and a little longer than she should. “I’ve really got to get going.”

      “All right, if you’re sure,” Ruby said, hesitation ringing loud in her voice.

      “I’m sure. I’ll see you soon.” Celia kissed them both on the cheek, then handed Malcolm the keys. They got into the truck and Celia waved goodbye as they drove out of the parking lot and hoped with all her might that it wouldn’t be the last time she saw her cousins.

      “You think they’ll go back to Sedona?” Malcolm asked, his voice sounding doubtful.

      “Why wouldn’t they?” Celia said, watching them until they were out of sight.

      “Because obviously they followed us here from the canyon.”

      Celia felt her eyes widen as the implications of his words set in. “You think they saw us?” she asked at length.

      “I think they saw something or they wouldn’t be here now.”

      “Blazes!” Celia thought about her and Malcolm walking out of the canyon without a stitch on. How was she going to explain that?

      “I must admit, though,” Malcolm said with a grin. “I sure am glad they were here.”

      “Me, too. Truthfully, I wish they could come back with us,” she said, her chin lifting. “They’re my family. They mean a lot to me, and I hate lying to them.”

      “You know that could never happen,” he said evenly.

      “Why not?” she shot back, her temper flaring. “Their mother was my aunt. They have just as much right to be there as any of the rest of us. They have shifter blood in them. They could change at any time. And then what? Who would be there to protect them from the Gauliacho?”

      “I understand your argument. But we can’t have humans in the Colony. If word got out... If people knew... There’d be no place for us. You know that.”

      She flinched and went stony faced, then turned toward the window. She did know. And she understood. But that didn’t mean she had to like it. “They’re the only family I have left now, Malcolm.”

      “Come here,” he said softly.

      “What?”

      He patted his shoulder. “Lean on me. You always can no matter how much you hate me. We’ve been friends forever and I’ll always be there for you. I may not be blood, but I am your family.”

      Against her better judgment, she rested her head on his shoulder. And he was right, she did feel better. And no matter how much they hurt each other, they had loved each other since they were kids. They always would be family.

      But sometimes even that wasn’t enough.

      * * *

      From his vantage point in the rest-stop parking lot, Mark watched Ruby’s cousin drive away and Ruby and Jade follow not long after. Why were they following her? And way the hell out here? He hadn’t had the chance to meet Celia, but from what he’d observed, there was something off with her from the start. He drove past the shop several times during his shifts, and the woman never seemed to leave the place. Over and over, he would see her standing at the window, staring out at the canyons. She was creepy.

      The two men picked themselves up off the ground and got back into their car. Mark had to admit watching Ruby slam that guy with the baseball bat was pretty impressive. He didn’t know she had it in her. He pulled his car behind the two men’s vehicle, effectively blocking them in. He flipped open his badge and approached the driver’s side of the car. He knocked on the window with two knuckles.

      “You mind telling me what all that was about?”

      They didn’t answer. Didn’t move. Just stared straight ahead.

      He knocked again. Harder. Finally the window came down an inch. Again, no answer.

      “I asked you a question,” Mark said through gritted teeth, trying to contain his annoyance.

      The driver turned to him, his black eyes suddenly clearing to a bright blue. What the hell? Mark took a quick step

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