Page 80 of Bearing Secrets
“Whatareyou going to say?” she asked.
“That, my friend, is a very good question. I have no idea. I guess I’ll start with an apology and see where it goes from there?”
37
As it turned out, the apology had worked out fine. All Kirell had asked was that she come back, so that they could both talk everything over and sort it out face to face. No more hiding, no more avoiding the subject.
She’d told him she could do that, not a problem. Then he’d added that if she could also bring the car back, he’d appreciate it. She still wasn’t on the insurance. Natalia had laughed and asked him why he was being so lazy, and what had he been so busy doing for the past day that he couldn’t make one phone call?
They’d shared a laugh over that and she’d promised to come over quickly. First though, she was going to have dinner with Loren and thank her friend for beating some sense into her.
Now she was heading back to the manor house, carefully guiding the ultra-responsive car around the corners, enjoying the easy feeling of the open road. Her mind kept wandering back to Kirell. No surprise there; he’d dominated her thoughts the way he dominated any room he entered.
I told him coming back wouldn’t be a problem, but I wonder if he picked up on how much of a lie that was?
The only easy thing about going back to the manor was the way the car took the curves in the road or accelerated along a straightaway. Her insides were a tangled mess of stress, fear, anxiety, and—most confusing of all—hope.
Hope that the tiny dream festering in her head could manifest into a reality. That maybe all the craziness of the past week would calm itself down and reveal to her that she’d be able to stay with him. Living at the manor held no sway over her one way or another. The fact that he was a shapeshifter didn’t matter a lick. His wealth was nice, but unnecessary. Hell, she’d grown up in poverty; she could survive.
It was Kirell that mattered. It was the big, good-natured shifter with a solid heart and an emotional inner that he hated to reveal, that had captured her attention. More than her attention, she had to admit. Somehow, in just a few short days, he’d managed to make himself a part of her life.
That was what scared her the most, she realized. The absolute speed with which her feelings for him had gone from curiosity, to intrigue, to platonic business deal, to lust, to…caring. She wasn’t ready to use a stronger word. Not yet. Not until she knew how it was all going to play out between everything and everyone.
Cresting the last rise before the entrance to the house, Natalia slowly pressed the accelerator down, increasing her speed on the long straightaway. To her right stretched the outer property of the manor, hidden behind the stone wall and an outer ring of trees.
“What the hell?”
Frowning in confusion, she slowed. Up ahead, well in advance of the gate, was a cluster of lights and moving shapes. She slowed, coming eventually to a halt as it became clear the road itself was blocked by a pair of big SUVs, each facing up the road.
Eyes still on the scene ahead of her, she reached out with her hand to find her purse. Something was going on, and she wanted Kirell to know about it. She had no proof, but the entire thing felt ominous. The shapes she’d seen moving as she first crested the rise had disappeared, leaving only the blocked road. There was nowhere to move the car onto the shoulder and around them either.
She screamed, jumping in her seat as something tapped lightly on her window. A moment later, a flashlight shone through, illuminating her and her hand.
“GET YOUR HAND AWAY FROM THE BAG!” a voice filled with authority boomed.
Police? What the hell are police doing out here? Is something going on up at the manor?
She yanked her hand back.
“Put the car in park, turn it off and roll down the window,” the voice said, lower in volume but still commanding.
Once again Natalia did as she was told. The car fell silent around her, now an immobile block of metal instead of a high-octane hypercar.
“Is something wrong, officer?” she asked, looking out the window.
“Not at all,” Klebra grinned, sticking his head inside. “In fact, everything is proceeding according to plan.”
She yelped and reached for her purse once again, fear for her life spurring her movements. As fast as she was though, Klebra was faster. His hand wrapped around her throat and squeezed.
“Ack,” she choked out.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned conversationally. “I really wouldn’t.”
“Kfds knws iii nnn ayy kkkk.”
Klebra looked at her funny. “What?”
She tapped at his hand around her neck. He released it slightly, allowing precious air into her lungs.
