First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) (13 page)

“Is that Levi?” Owen’s mother asked.

“Yeah. Allie’s kind of his girlfriend.”

Girlfriend. That was a new one for me, but the term didn’t say enough for how I already felt about her.

“Oh. Well then she’s even crazier than I thought. You’ll go get her?”

“Yes. You sure it’s at that warehouse?”

I didn’t wait to hear more before making an abrupt turn. “Call Jared and tell him to meet us there.” We wouldn’t need him, but it didn’t hurt to show up prepared.

Jared met us right outside the large industrial building. “Does your sister have a death wish, Owen?”

“I’m beginning to think so.” Owen shook his head. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

“I’m all about them being friends, but putting Allie in danger isn’t acceptable.” I instantly regretted not telling Hailey the truth about the carjacker.

“What’s the plan? Are we just flying in?” Jared was already checking out the perimeter. He’d make a great head of security when the time came.

“Yes. I don’t want her at this party a second more than necessary.” I didn’t want Allie to think I didn’t trust her, but keeping her safe was more important than worrying about that. She was human, and even with Hailey around she was far too vulnerable.

I gave both of my friends a nod, and we flew up to the roof. It only took a moment to assess the situation. A wolf was grabbing her. A Were had his dirty hands on her. He dared to touch my future mate.

“Put your damn paws on her again, and you’ll be short one.” I reached around her from behind and wrapped my arms around her waist protectively.

The Were sneered at me. “Oh, hi Levi. I didn’t realize you hadn’t had this one yet. What do you care anyway, don’t you usually go for the humans?”

I pushed Allie behind me, tucking her in between Jared and Owen. I stepped toward the idiot. “Humans are superior to you lowlifes.” But he had said usually go for humans. Did he think Allie was something else?

“You have the nerve to come to my party and insult me?”

“I can insult you anywhere I want,
dog
.” Calling a wolf shifter a dog was a sure fire way to piss them off. Even so, his anger would be nothing compared to mine. I felt my body ready to transform. I knew my eyes were turning black and my wings were prepared to break free. I was positive the others were doing the same.

Seconds later a large wolf stood in front of me. Unlike Pterons, wolf shifters change completely. Pterons are the only ones that maintain our human form.

My wings broke free. “Stay with Allie and don’t move,” I yelled at Hailey. She nodded.

A line of grey wolves joined the first, and the leader snarled at me.

My response was swift. I picked him up by the scruff of his neck and tossed him. “Anyone else going to dare to disrespect me?” I screamed, my hands balling into fists. “You do not touch our women. Do you understand?”

No one said anything.

“Let’s go!” I pulled Allie to my side and wrapped my arms around her waist before jumping off the building. I wanted her as far away from those wolves as possible.

I released her as soon as we reached the ground, and I spun on Hailey. “What the hell were you thinking? A Were party? What, you slumming it now? And you thought it was acceptable to take Allie with you? Are you dense?” I just kept picturing that wolf pawing at her.

Hailey met my gaze head on. “We were having fun until you showed up.”

“And what would you have done if that punk tried to push things further with Allie?” I seethed. I tried to go easy on Hailey when I could, but this was crossing the line.

“I would have protected her. I can take care of myself and her.”

“What, now that you have your full strength you think you’re invincible?” I didn’t bother to control my anger. She needed to learn.

“Get real, Hailey. You might be stronger than a Were, but there is nothing you could have done against a whole party of those guys.” Jared backed me up. What Hailey had done was inexcusable. If she hadn’t been Owen’s sister and a friend of Allie’s she would have been facing some serious trouble.

Allie held up her hands. “Stop it! Stop yelling at her. I decided to come with her, so it’s my fault too.”

I wrung my hands and turned to Allie. “It’s not your fault, but I do wish you had bothered to tell me where you were going.”

“Since when do I have to check in with you every time I go out?”

“Since you decided to spend time with Weres. You have no idea how dangerous they can be.” My anger was being replaced by worry. What if we’d been too late and the wolf had tried something more?

“Not as dangerous as you.”

“The difference is I’m not going to hurt you. They would.”

“Can we just go home?” she pleaded. Hailey now looked completely defeated and there was no reason to keep haranguing her. Luckily Allie was fine.

“Of course, I’ll take you home.”

“Flying?”

“I have my car.” For once I was glad to have the car as an excuse. I needed time alone with her and driving would take longer.

Allie turned around. “Is that okay, Hailey?”

“It’s fine.” Hailey wisely waved her on.

I wrapped my arm around Allie’s waist and led her toward my car.

As we walked away I heard Owen talking to Hailey. “You can’t talk to him like that! You have to respect him. Mom and Dad would kill you if they heard you talking that way.”

I hoped Allie wouldn’t read too much into that statement.

I pulled her into a hug, I needed her close. “Are you all right? I didn’t think to ask before.”

“I’m fine. I have a lot of questions, but I’m fine.”

“Can the questions wait?” I asked. My body was still calming down from the confrontation.

“For tonight, but you can’t put them off forever.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Completely.”

I opened her door for her before going around to my side.

Just as I pulled away from the curb she turned to me. “Okay, can I at least ask one question?”

I nodded. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“How’d you know where we were?”

“Why, are you worried I’m following you now?”

“Not exactly, I just need to know.” Not exactly? Would it have bothered her?

“It’s nothing that dramatic. Hailey left the email about the party open on her computer. Her mom found it and called Owen to get her.”

“Oh…”

“So, no more questions for tonight then?”

“Could I ask one more?”

I glanced over at her as we sat at a red light. I held her hand in her lap. “You’re a hard girl to say no to.”

“Who are you, Levi? What is it that you’re not telling me?”

I held on to her hand but turned my eyes back to the road. “No more questions. It’s late and I need to get you home.”

I knew the questions were just going to continue, but I wasn’t ready to give her all the answers yet. How long could I hold her off? The summer was flying by.

I knocked on Allie’s door, already missing her after a day. I was losing it, and there was absolutely nothing I could do.

The door opened, but it wasn’t Allie standing there.

The attractive woman bore a striking resemblance to Allie, but she was probably around twenty years older. “Well, hello there.”

“Oh, hi. Is Allie around?” I checked the room number again even though I’d already deduced the woman had to be her mom.

Allie materialized in the doorway. “Hey.”

“Hey.” I looked at her while waiting for my introduction.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us, sweetie?” Evidently her mother had the same idea.

“Oh yeah, Mom this is Levi.”

“It’s so nice to meet you Ms.—” I held out my hand at a loss for her mother’s last name. I knew her parents were divorced, and I wasn’t sure whether she’d gone back to a maiden name. That wasn’t something I wanted to mess up on our first meeting.

“It’s O’Connor but call me Diane.”

“Well it’s nice to meet you, Diane. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Have you? Funny, I haven’t heard anything about you. Unless, is this the friend I didn’t need to concern myself with?” Diane gave Allie an unmistakable look. She hadn’t even mentioned me to her mother? I tried not to let the disappointment get to me. Maybe she wasn’t the kind of girl who told her mother about her love life—but to say I was a friend? That stung.

Allie just stared at both of us with a deer in headlights look on her face.

I couldn’t just stand there. “Well, I’ll let you enjoy your time with your mother. Call me sometime. Once again, nice to meet you.”

“Wait, Levi. Do you have plans tomorrow night?” Diane turned to me. “We would love to have you join us for dinner. Allie’s father will be there as well.”

I reacted on instinct. I could make the dinner work for me. “I would love to join you for dinner. What time were you thinking?”

“Around seven o’clock down in the lobby?”

“Perfect, I look forward to it. Good night, Allie.” I made no effort to put her at ease. Calling me a friend wasn’t cool—not at all.

I waited for Allie and her parents in the lobby of the hotel the next night. I’d given her space, assuming she’d appreciate the time with her mom. For the first time in my life I was nervous about meeting someone. Meeting her mother was hard enough, but her dad? I still hadn’t talked to Allie about her failure to tell her mother about me. I figured I’d just have to take things into my own hands to move them in the right direction.

I was reading an angry email from my dad when I sensed Allie and her family approaching. I quickly pocketed my phone and took another inventory of how I looked. A collared shirt and khaki slacks seemed appropriate for the occasion.

I walked the few steps to meet them. “Hi Allie, Diane. Mr. Davis, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Levi.”

Her father held out his hand. “Hello, Levi, please call me Tim.”

“All right, Tim.” I accepted the firm handshake.

“So you’re the one my little girl has been spending all her time with?”

Nice. At least her dad knew about me.

I relaxed and smiled at him. “Yes, I have been monopolizing her attention all summer. I just can’t seem to get enough of her.”

“Allie told you about Levi?” Diane put a hand on her hip. The mannerism made her look so similar to her daughter.

“She didn’t have to tell me. I know what’s going on in my daughter’s life. I’m sorry she didn’t feel the need to share it with you.” Tim seemed pleased with himself. I didn’t know much about the current state of things with Allie’s parents, but there was some serious tension.

Diane pursed her lips. “She didn’t actually tell you then?”

“Not exactly,” Tim said through clenched teeth.

“So how did you hear?”

“Oy vey, Diane. You got me. No one actually told me, I only assumed.”

“Just like I thought.” Diane smiled smugly.

So much for Allie telling her Dad.

Allie gave me a fleeting ‘I’m sorry’ look. “Okay, let’s get to dinner before someone gets killed.”

“Good idea.” I put an arm around Allie as we headed toward the entrance. I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Is this okay,
friend
?”

“Please don’t start,” she pleaded quietly.

As much as I wanted to reassure her, I needed her to know I wasn’t playing games. I wasn’t just her friend, and we both knew it. I also wasn’t disappearing from her life. She’d have to let me get to know her parents eventually. “Oh, I haven’t gotten started yet, babe.”

“Lovely.”

We were given a corner table at the Palace Café. It wasn’t a bad spot, but it wasn’t the best seat in the house. If it had been just Allie and me, I would have complained, but I decided not to rock the boat with her parents. I pulled out Allie’s chair for her just as her father pulled out Diane’s. I was rewarded with a nod. Would he expect anything less of a man dating his daughter?

Allie and her mother were having some silent conversation I couldn’t quite read. I knew Allie was close to her mother, but there was definitely some strain there. I had a feeling it was about me.

Tim ordered a bottle of wine. As soon as the waiter left he looked at me. “So Levi, are you in school or have you graduated?”

“I’m about to start my senior year at Tulane.” Hopefully he wouldn’t have an issue with the age difference.

“Any plans yet for after graduation?” he asked. He was sizing me up. As a business man himself he probably wanted to make sure his daughter was dating someone ambitious.

Allie touched his arm. “Dad, you don’t need to interrogate him.”

I smiled. I had no problem with the line of questioning. “It’s fine. I don’t mind in the slightest. I’m going to be working in the family business.”

“And what kind of business is that?” Tim’s eyes brightened. I had his interest.

“It’s a large diversified corporation. We’ve got hands in a lot of places.” I kept things very broad and vague.

“Sounds a lot like my own. What did you say the name was?”

“I didn’t. It’s the Laurent Corporation.” I waited for his response. The name meant a lot in the business world.

His face reddened. “Oh wow, I had no idea.”

I smiled. I’d just gone up a few notches in his book.

“Will your business keep you in New Orleans, Levi? Any plans to spend time in the Northeast after graduation?”

“We’re very locally based, but there are some travel opportunities if I’m inclined.” I was hoping to keep Allie in New Orleans, but I’d do what I had to.

“I see.” Diane smiled lightly. I sensed she understood my feelings for Allie were nowhere near as casual as Allie had made them sound.

The waiter brought over the wine, and we ordered dinner. I wasn’t particularly hungry. I was more concerned with how Allie was responding to everything. Her whole body was tense, and I wondered why the situation had her so wound up.

Diane broke an awkward silence that had set in. “How did you two meet?”

I smiled thinking about the first few times I saw her. “Your daughter first caught my eye in the lobby of the hotel, but I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her formally until I ran into her at a karaoke bar of all places.”

“A karaoke bar?” Diane didn’t hide her surprise well. I’d been right that singing publicly wasn’t Allie’s thing.