So frightening that Wallace clutched his arm to his chest as the throbbing intensified. Winnie looked from Wallace’s eyes, to his arm, and then back to his eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Hell if Wallace would admit his fears to Winnie. “The pain never fully goes away.”

  God, could he sound any angrier?

  “Is there anything I can do?” There was genuine concern in Winnie’s crystal-blue eyes.

  Wallace had snapped at his mate, and Winnie wanted to know if he could help. This relationship was new to him, twisting Wallace up inside.

  “No.” He kissed Winnie’s forehead. “But thank you for asking.”

  Chapman glanced at Wallace through the rearview mirror, puzzlement in his eyes. The guy had never seen the soft side of Wallace.

  Hell, Wallace had never seen his soft side until Winnie had entered his life.

  The drive wasn’t too bad. Winnie mostly sat there staring out the window, once in a while making a comment. When they entered the town limits, Winnie directed them to the diner.

  “I need to call my cousin,” Winnie said. “I’m sure Lenny is flipping out.”

  They grabbed a booth before Wallace gave his mate his cell phone. The move served a dual purpose. Winnie needed to make a call, and now Wallace would have Lenny’s number. It didn’t hurt to have the contact information of the one person in Winnie’s life.

  As his mate dialed, Wallace gazed at the interior of the retro-looking diner. He liked it but loved the smells wafting around him even more.

  “How can I help you fellas?” A mountainous guy stared down at Wallace. He smelled like bear. The waiter looked out of place in there. He should’ve been a lumberjack or playing on a football team, not waiting on tables.

  “Decaf coffee,” Wallace said. “Bring my mate the same, only make his regular.”

  Winnie was busy talking, and Wallace didn’t want to interrupt him.

  “Coming right up.” The waiter walked away. Wallace watched him for a moment, his lumbering body moving gracefully around.

  “Damn it!” Winnie clenched his jaw. “Don’t you dare.”

  His mate’s outburst caught Wallace’s attention. Now that he was listening, Wallace heard both sides of the conversation.

  “Too late,” Lenny said on the other end. “It’s already been done.”

  Wallace looked toward the door just as two cops walked in, their gazes landing on him.

  * * * *

  Winnie looked over his shoulder when he saw the deadly look on Wallace’s face. “I’m gonna string you up by your balls,” he said to Lenny.

  His cousin had spotted Winnie and Wallace entering the diner, and he’d dashed to the police station before talking to Winnie. He really couldn’t get mad. His cousin was just looking out for him. Winnie would’ve done the same thing if roles had been reversed.

  “You’ll thank me,” Lenny said, worry in his voice. “You got that Stockholm syndrome thingy. How else do you explain dating your kidnapper? Don’t worry. We’ll find a way to reverse your brainwashing.”

  Winnie slapped a hand over his face. “You’re so off the mark that you’re on another planet.”

  “That’s the voodoo talking. Don’t worry. I won’t let you down. The new rec center has some good counseling. So I heard. We’ll get you over there right away.”

  Deputy Burrows and Deputy Hayley approached their table. Winnie was always amazed at their huge sizes, though no one beat Moose’s colossal stature. Then again, Winnie was only five feet two, so everyone was bigger than him.

  “Could you step away from the table?” Deputy Burrows asked. “We’d like to have a word with you outside.”

  Chapman entered the diner and looked at them. He tried to move closer, but Burrows shook his head. “One step closer and you’ll be spending time in a cell.”

  “Stand down,” Wallace said to Gorilla. The bodyguard didn’t appear pleased, but he took a few steps back.

  Deputy Hayley stood there with his hand on the butt of his gun. Winnie had to defuse the situation before shit got real ugly. He didn’t take Wallace as the surrendering type.

  “There’s been a misunderstanding,” Winnie quickly said.

  Burrows kept his gaze fixed on Wallace but spoke to Winnie. “So you didn’t call your cousin and tell him you were kidnapped?”

  Technically it had been Chapman who had hijacked Winnie. “Well, yes, but—”

  “Get out of the booth,” Hayley barked at Wallace.

  Cyril, the owner of the diner, came out and looked at the cops and Wallace. He must’ve seen how dire the situation was because he instructed the other customers to leave, stating their meals were on him.

  Winnie’s heart thundered as he watched the place empty out. Fuck. This was getting very real, very fast. “But you don’t understand,” Winnie argued.

  Burrows grabbed Winnie by the arm and hauled him from his seat.

  That had been a big mistake.

  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Winnie was shoved toward Cyril. Wallace slung the table away, baring his sharp canines. Burrows and Hayley simultaneously drew their weapons and aimed them at Wallace.

  Shit, shit, shit. Wallace looked deadly as hell, and now his secret was out. He appeared unhinged, wild, and Winnie feared for the cops.

  “Get away from him!” Winnie struggled against Cyril’s tight hold. That enraged Wallace only further. Long, razor-like nails slid from his fingers. Hair sprouted along his visible skin. When he spoke, his voice was a pure growl.

  “Let my mate go and you just might live.”

  Burrows turned to Cyril. “Get Hayley and the other guy out of here.”

  “What the fuck did you just say?” Hayley’s face was a mask of rage. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “It’s not like they can’t see it.” Cyril released Winnie.

  That didn’t calm Wallace one bit. He stalked toward Winnie, but Hayley stepped between them. He glared at Burrows. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’re just gonna let the victim return to his abductor?”

  If Lenny only knew the can of worms he’d just opened by sending the police there.

  “I can explain everything.” Nothing came to Winnie’s mind. He’d told his cousin he’d been kidnapped. How the hell could he smooth that over?

  “I’m waiting.” Hayley still had his gun trained on Wallace.

  “Lower your weapon,” Burrows demanded.

  “Just as soon as someone gives me a good enough reason.” Hayley looked calm and steady, but that could change in a split second.

  He looked as though he wanted an excuse to shoot Wallace, and Winnie couldn’t let that happen.

  “It was a prank,” Winnie lied. “I was just fucking with Lenny.”

  Burrows looked as if he didn’t believe Winnie but didn’t say a word. His gaze kept flickering between Winnie and Wallace, occasionally at Hayley.

  “Why don’t I believe that?” Hayley studied Wallace. “What are you?”

  “Pissed off,” Wallace snarled, but his animalistic features were still prominent, reminding Winnie that Wallace wasn’t human. Mentally he knew that, but the visual aid drove that fact home.

  Winnie spotted the pain in Wallace’s eyes. That made matters worse. Pain drove people to do things they normally wouldn’t do. Combine that with the fact that Wallace was a humongous tiger shifter, and things got deadly.

  Before Hayley knew Winnie’s intentions, he ran behind the deputy and moved to stand in front of his mate. His mate. Wallace had called Winnie that, and he liked that better than the word boyfriend.

  Hayley snarled as he holstered his weapon. “Tell me what’s really going on, and don’t even think about blowing smoke up my ass. I can already see you’re one of them.”

  Burrows and Cyril looked at each other, a worried expression in their eyes. Winnie had no idea what was going on. Weren’t Burrows and Cyril human, too?

  Chapman stepped closer, as if ready to take Hayley out. It was Cyril who stopped him. “Not on my watch.”

  Hayley turned and glared at Gorilla. “I’ll shoot you before you can get to me.”

  Winnie frowned when he spotted his cousin at one of the windows, his hands cupped against the glass. Although Lenny had been only trying to help, Winnie still flipped him off.

  “Let’s talk in the kitchen,” Cyril said to Hayley. “This might take a while.”

  As soon as Hayley was gone, Burrows rounded on Wallace. “First, you’re gonna clean up this mess you made. Second, I know Winnie is your mate, but did you have to kidnap him?” He looked at Winnie. “Are you okay?”

  Lenny raced into the diner. “Why haven’t you arrested him yet?”

  Winnie rolled his eyes. He should’ve elected to stay in his room for breakfast.

  Chapter Eight

  Wallace never wanted to kill so many people in one room. He could’ve handled the questions about Winnie’s kidnapping, but the moment his mate was touched, all Wallace wanted to do was snap every person’s neck standing within a foot of his mate.

  All thanks to Lenny.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Winnie grabbed Wallace’s hand and marched toward the door. He stopped long enough to speak to his cousin. “We’ll talk later. I promise this isn’t what you think.”

  “Don’t worry,” Lenny leaned in and whispered, “I’ll hire some guys to kidnap you and reprogram your brain.”

  Wallace heard every word and rolled his eyes. If Lenny were of any more help, Wallace would end up in prison doing a life sentence.

  Wallace was so over this day that he was the one pulling Winnie from the diner, ready to get the hell away from the cops that seemed itchy to pull their weapons again. They were damn lucky Wallace hadn’t used his weapon.

  His tiger.

  “He meant well,” Winnie said as they reached the car. Chapman slid into the driver’s seat and pulled away. “Don’t hold this against Lenny. He really is a sweet guy.”

  “I need your address.” Wallace rubbed his temples, his migraine still there, but manageable. He truly believed it was because of his mating. Too bad Winnie hadn’t been around five years ago. He would’ve saved Wallace years of pain.

  Winnie gave him the address. “Why?”

  Wallace instructed Chapman to drive to Winnie’s place. “Because,” he said to his mate, “you need your clothes and personal stuff.”

  He still planned on taking Winnie clothes shopping, but he figured having some things from home might help his transition to his new life.

  “That’s where I used to work.” Winnie pointed to a building as they passed it. “Such fond memories, right, Gorilla?”

  Chapman looked at Winnie through the rearview mirror, his eyes tight, but he didn’t say a word. He didn’t even correct Winnie about his name.

  Wallace hid his smile. He was pretty sure Chapman wouldn’t appreciate it. He’d have to remember to give the guy a bonus. He deserved it.

  They pulled in front of a brick apartment building. Wallace followed Winnie upstairs while Chapman stayed with the car. After checking the apartment to make sure it was safe, he stayed by the kitchen as Winnie gathered some things.

  Wallace texted his attorney. He needed to change his will. He’d had Lucky, and some charities, inheriting his fortune. Now he would make his mate his beneficiary but would still leave Lucky some money to live off of and a good portion to worthy causes.

  He already donated to quite a few, including a local women’s shelter that mostly dealt with domestic abuse. Wallace funded the Falls Bend recreation center and gave a huge amount to help with toys at Christmas. He firmly believed that no child should go without at least one toy under the tree.

  See, he wasn’t the complete monster everyone thought he was. But Wallace did those things in secret. He had a reputation to uphold.

  Winnie came from his room, dragging two large trash bags behind him. “I packed light.”

  Wallace arched a brow. “What do you have in there?”

  Winnie smiled. “My clothes, picture albums, personal hygiene stuff, shoes, belts, all my body sprays, ’cause that crap ain’t cheap, my favorite pillow.” He let one of the bags go and tapped his chin. “Mail I haven’t gone through yet. My ancient laptop, too. I have to update my status to ‘It’s complicated.’. Can’t fall off the social media grid. I have twenty followers who I need to stay in touch with.”

  After tucking his phone into his pocket, Wallace grabbed the bags. “Are you sure you don’t need anything else, like the kitchen sink?”

  Winnie chuckled then sobered. “I have to come back for my plants. I can’t let them die. I’ve struggled to keep them alive, so I can’t give up on them now.”

  “No goldfish in danger of going belly side up?” Wallace teased as they exited the apartment. He would get a list from his mate and send Chapman back to retrieve the items. Wallace was already late for his meeting with his financial advisor, and Jack Raperty wasn’t a man to keep waiting.

  “I did have a goldfish,” Winnie said as they descended the steps. “They have a short life span, at least with me, so I gave up on replacing them every two months.”

  The more Wallace learned about Winnie, the more his heart expanded. The little shit was just too damn adorable for words.

  As soon as they made it outside, Chapman opened the trunk and took the bags from Wallace.

  “Commit this address to memory,” he told Chapman. “You’ll be coming back for plants and dead fish.”

  “Um, yes, sir.” Chapman closed the trunk. “Should I just have his entire apartment packed and brought to the manor?”

  That wasn’t a bad idea. That way Winnie could go through his belongings at his leisure. “Just personal stuff. Leave the furniture.”

  Chapman nodded, and they were off to the upscale restaurant in Falls Bend.

  “Is it okay if I invite Lenny over?” Winnie turned from the window and stared at Wallace with hopeful eyes.

  Wallace wanted to snarl, “Hell no. That troublemaker can eat a bag of dicks.” He didn’t say that, though. He gave his mate a tight smile. “We’ll see.”

  With someone in his household out to get him, Wallace wanted as few “victims” in the house as possible.

  They pulled into the parking lot of Ritz five minutes before Wallace’s scheduled meeting. He got out and waited for Winnie to join him.

  His mate gave a low whistle. “I don’t think I’m dressed for such a fancy place. I look like I’m about to go inside to beg for change. The owner might call the cops on me.”

  Wallace was the owner. “Then we’ll have that joy twice today.” He slammed the car door.

  “You really need to learn how to let things go.”

  “It happened an hour ago.” Wallace gritted his teeth. “Give me at least a hundred more years to get over it.”

  “I promise you’ll love Lenny once you get to know him.” Winnie headed for the door. “He kind of grows on you.”

  Like black mold. Wallace caught up to his mate, holding the door for him as Winnie walked inside.

  They were taken to Jack’s table right away and offered menus. The waitress asked what Winnie wanted to drink. She already knew Wallace’s choice.

  “Good to see you, Wallace.” Jack reached across the table and shook his hand. He looked at Winnie, a slight curl to his lip. “And who do we have joining us?”

  “I’m his gummy bear.” Winnie grabbed the cloth napkin from the table and tucked it into the front of his T-shirt. “You guys talk shop while I keep an eye out for the cops. I hope they don’t get here before I get my soda.”

  Jack tilted his head, staring at Winnie before he looked at Wallace. “How…charming.”

  “This is Winfred Rickman,” Wallace said.

  “Winnie,” his mate corrected. “Only my dad called me Winfred, and I hated that bastard.”

  Winnie smiled when the waitress brought him his soda. She asked if he’d had a chance to look at the menu.

  “Do you have burgers and fries?” Winnie asked. “I’ll take some chicken strips if you don’t have burgers.”

  With an elbow resting on the arm of the chair, Wallace covered his mouth to hide his grin. His mate was definitely a breath of fresh air.

  “I’m sorry.” Mandy looked at Wallace then back at Winnie. “We don’t have those items on the menu.”

  “The pork chops are amazing,” Wallace said.

  Winnie patted his flat stomach. “Since we didn’t get to eat at the diner, I’m famished. I’ll take the pork chops, but please don’t give me some fancy vegetables. I’ll just have some fries with it. And ketchup for dipping.”

  She looked at Wallace and he nodded. They didn’t serve fries, either, but he knew she would tell the chef to prepare them anyway. Boss’s orders.

  Mandy flashed a pretty smile. “Very good, sir.”

  Wallace and Jack ordered before Wallace got down to business. “I’m compiling a list of assets I want to liquidate.” He took a sip of his wine. “There are also some businesses I want to sell.”

  “May I ask why you’re doing all this?” Jack slid his gaze to Winnie when Winnie fidgeted with his napkin, which kept sliding out of his shirt.

  “I want to retire.” The words shocked Wallace. That hadn’t been what he was going to say. But one look at his mate and he knew it was true. Wallace wanted to spend all his free time with Winnie, show his mate what life had to offer, not get bogged down with work.

  Jack’s brows shot up. If Wallace wasn’t mistaken, a flash of anger shot through his eyes before he grabbed his wine glass and took a drink.

  “Aren’t you pretty young for that?” Jack asked.

  Wallace was over three hundred years old. It was about time he slowed down and took a little enjoyment for himself. Of course, Jack was human, so he, like so many other humans, assumed Wallace was in his mid-thirties.

  He waved off Jack’s concerns. “I have enough money to last me ten lifetimes. I have other interests now.”

  Winnie jumped up when he knocked his fork to the floor, hitting his knee on the underside of the table. When he bent to grab the fork, he whacked his head on the top of the table.

 

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