Romancing the Alpha Page 16

  “Oh Alessandro,” Frankie gave him a kiss on each cheek. “I can’t believe you still remember me!”

  “Of course! I know I didn’t have much time for you on your visit here,” he led them to the dining room, where there were other people waiting for them, standing around and chatting.

  “I went to his office and we chatted for a few minutes,” Frankie explained to Grant. “He is the Alpha, after all.”

  “And you were going to be Alpha as well,” Alessandro said.

  “But his wife took me to tea afterwards, we had a lovely time,” she frowned. “I’m sorry about your loss, Alpha,” she put a hand on his arm. “I was very sad to hear of Elia’s passing.”

  A small hint of sadness passed through the older man’s eyes. “Thank you,” he said somberly. “Now, let me introduce you to the rest of the clan.”

  Alessandro brought them around, making the necessary introductions. They were mostly members of the Rome clan, including his Beta, Antonio, who was also his heir. The Alpha didn’t have children of his own and their clan was even smaller than New Jersey, so most of them were here tonight.

  The butler announced that dinner was served and they all sat down in the magnificent dining room, with Grant and Frankie taking the place of honor on Alessandro’s right and left sides. After dinner, they all went to the terrace for coffee, where they had an amazing view of Rome at night, as well as the stars in the clear sky.

  Frankie was chatting with the women in one corner, her voice carrying over the wind, and Grant smiled as he watched her smiling and laughing, talking in Italian.

  “She’s a beautiful woman,” Alessandro remarked as he came up behind Grant.

  “She is,” Grant responded, and took a sip from the wine glass in his hand.

  “You know, I remember her from long ago. Her mother asked for permission for her to come to Rome and of course, I gave it. Back then, she seemed somewhat broken and sad. So different from now.”

  The Rome Alpha’s eyes roamed over Frankie, and Grant didn’t miss the desire there. He stifled a growl that was threatening to come out, not wanting to offend the other Alpha with his jealous tendencies.

  “I’ve thought about taking another mate, another wife,” Alessandro continued. “Francesca would make a good match, and I’m still young, we could try for pups and I can have an heir apparent.”

  Grant gripped the glass in his hand so hard, the stem broke. “Christ,” he cursed as the glass fell on the ground and shattered. At least it was just the stem and cup was still whole in his hand. Blood dripped from where the broken glass cut his fingers.

  “Here,” Alessandro handed him a white handkerchief. He gestured to one of the wait staff passing by to take the broken wine glass.

  “Thanks,” he took it and pressed it against the cut. It would completely heal in an hour or so, but he appreciated the gesture.

  Grant watched Frankie again, and this time, she probably felt his eyes on her as she turned to them and flashed him a bright smile. He smiled back and gave her a two-fingered wave.

  “So,” Alessandro chuckled as he looked at Frankie, then at him. “Do you mean to make her yours?”

  “I don’t think anyone can own her, Alessandro,” Grant said. “She’s definitely her own woman.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The trip home was uneventful, and soon, they were in the town car, driving back to her house. Clouds loomed overhead, and fat raindrops began to fall and pelt the car as they drove along the highway.

  When they reached her house, Grant helped her out of the car, umbrella in hand to make sure she didn’t get wet.

  “Well, here we are,” he said as they stood in front of her door.

  “Yeah, here we are,” she said quietly. There was a strange fluttering in the pit of her stomach.

  Grant dropped the umbrella on the porch and then wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her up for a kiss. Frankie felt breathless as his lips moved over hers in an urgent rhythm. She opened up to him, lips parting to let his tongue taste her.

  Finally, he pulled back and let her go, and she had to brace herself against the front door to stop her from melting into a puddle into the floor. No matter how many times they kissed or had sex, he still had that effect on her.

  “Wow,” she said in a befuddled voice. “Some goodbye kiss,” she joked.

  “That wasn’t goodbye,” he said, his voice low and rough.

  “Oh yeah, what kind of kiss was that?”

  “That was an ‘I love you’ kiss.”

  Frankie’s jaw dropped so fast and so low, she thought she would have to pick it up off the floor. Grant smiled down at her, seemingly enjoying her reaction.

  “What?” she blinked.

  “I mean it. I love you, Frankie,” he swooped down and gave her another kiss.

  Her heart was beating so fast, she thought she’d expire right then and there. She put her hands and his chest and pushed him away gently. “You don’t meant that,” she frowned.

  “I do,” he insisted. “Look, you don’t have to say it back, not if you don’t feel it now.”

  Love. Was she in love with Grant? Frankie shook her head mentally. She wasn’t sure. But the last time she thought she was in love with someone, she got hurt bad.

  “I mean it, no pressure,” he kissed her knuckles. “One day at a time.”

  “Right,” she agreed, but she could tell he was disappointed that she didn’t say it back. “I…I think…I’m not sure…” She buried her face in her hands. “It’s all too fast. Can you give me some time, please?”

  “Of course,” he kissed the top of her head. “Look, I’ll call you later and we’ll make plans for tomorrow, ok? I just want to spend more time with you. As much as you can give me. I’m a patient man.”

  She nodded. “Ok, well…bye then.” She unlocked the door and went inside the house. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes, listened to Grant’s steps as they faded away, heart slamming into her chest. One day at a time.

  ***

  “Graaaannnnnnt! Fraaaaannkie!” Alynna sing-songed as she barged into Grant’s apartment, pushing a stroller into the door. Grant had given her a copy of the key while he was away, just in case, and she used the opportunity to visit as soon as she heard they were back from Italy. “Put your pants on and stop boinking!”

  Her brother was sitting by the window, watching the rain fall outside, sipping from a glass with amber liquid.

  “Hey,” he greeted and stood up to give her a kiss on the cheek. Then he picked up Mika from her stroller. The baby was awake and smiling, obviously happy she was getting some attention from her uncle. “Hey, sweetie, did you miss me?” he cooed and cradled her to his chest.

  “Grant Horace Anderson!” Alynna frowned.

  “Not my name,” he said absentmindedly as he sat down on the couch.

  “Where is Frankie? I thought you would have swept her off her feet by now!” She put her hands on her hips. “I was hoping she’d come back here with you.”

  “She had stuff to do,” Grant shrugged and stared at Mika.

  Alynna sat next to him and took Mika gently from him, then placed her back into the stroller. “Now, what happened? I thought for sure you’d be have swept her off her feet and you’d be riding off into the sunset or whatever it is Lycan Alphas do!”

  “Nothing happened,” he scratched the day-old scruff on his jaw. “And that’s the problem.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Something stupid.”

  “What?” Alynna’s eyes widened.

  “I told her I loved her.”

  Alynna squealed in delight, but stopped when Grant frowned. “Wait, she doesn’t feel the same way?”

  “Not exactly. I mean, she said she needed time,” Grant sighed.

  “Well, that’s not a rejection!” Alynna reasoned. “C’mon, you’re just gonna have to work harder and not give up!”

  He gave his sister a smile. “I’m not going to give up, I’m jus
t gonna give her some space and some time, like she asked.”

  “Wow, you must really love her, then,” she declared.

  “I do. I really do.”

  “Good boy,” she ruffled his hair. “Now, what did you bring me and Mika back from Italy?”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Fourteen hours, thirty-seven minutes, twenty seconds.

  That was how long it had been since Grant left.

  Since he said he loved her.

  Since she didn’t say it back.

  What the heck is wrong with me? Frankie sighed. She couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned in bed, trying to get comfortable. Soon, it was early morning and seeing as it was futile trying to get any sleep, she showered, got dressed and then headed into the restaurant to catch up on some paperwork.

  Now, it was past eight and she was busying herself, looking over the accounts, checking on the emails she missed, and trying to forget what happened. She let out a long sigh. Two hours after she rolled into the office and she was done. Hmmm…maybe I could go to the kitchen and straighten out the cabinets.

  A soft noise interrupted her thoughts, and her sensitive ears perked up. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, like it did that day they left for Italy. A warning. Straining to hear, she figured out it was coming from the kitchen.

  Go! her she-wolf said, and Frankie bolted for the door. Her inner wolf was never wrong.

  She ran to the kitchen, reaching there in record time. Her nose burned with the smell of smoke.

  “What the hell?” There was smoke coming from one of the stoves. “Cazzo!”

  She looked around, the fire extinguishers they kept around were nowhere in sight. There was something definitely wrong here as they always kept extra ones in the kitchen just in case.

  The fire grew and spread quickly, and the scent of burning gas filled the air. Flames licked up the walls, consuming the curtains and the wallpaper.

  Run!

  Frankie turned and headed towards the back door. As soon as she reached it, she pushed, but it didn’t budge.

  “Help!” she cried, pushing it with all her might. The knob wasn’t locked, but it was like something was blocking the door.

  “Oh god!” She turned around, towards the dining room, but the flames blocked her way, the thick smoke slowly filling the hallway.

  Looking at the blocked doors, she realized she would have to break it down. Taking a deep breath, she let the wolf take over her body, her muscles elongating and ripping through her clothes, fur sprouting all over. Shaking her wolf head, she padded back, giving herself as much room as possible. Her Lycan body barreled into the doors, knocking it off its hinges.

  As she blasted out the doors, she rolled to the ground, landing a few feet away. Pain shot through her shoulders, and she remained on the ground.

  “Fucking hell!” a voice said. “Is that…”

  “The Alpha!” another voice answered. “I told you we should have just shot her first and made it look like a gas explosion! The fire would have gotten rid of the body.”

  Opening one eye, Frankie saw three men slowly surrounding her. She lay low, letting them think that she was down. Adrenaline pumped through her veins and when they got closer, she pounced on the closest one.

  “Damn bitch!” The man under her screamed and she could smell his fear and his scent, thick and sweet like cloves and cinnamons.

  A Lycan! She bit down on his arm, blood pouring into her mouth as the man howled in pain. She just hoped it was enough to stop him from shifting.

  “Get off of him!”

  Frankie turned to the other man and snarled. She pulled up to her full height, bristling her pelt to appear larger. Baring her teeth and gums, she stalked him, but he seemed hesitant. He would be vulnerable during the change, and that was when she would pounce. He was talking his time, backing away slowly, but she followed him.

  “Get outta there, I got him!”

  She swung her head around. No! She howled.

  The third accomplice had gotten their injured man into a vehicle and was already pulling out of the parking lot. She ran after the car, as fast as her four legs could carry her, but it was too late. The unmarked van was already speeding down Main Street. The adrenaline was slowly seeping out of her system and her shoulder began to throb. Turning back, she limped towards the remaining Lycan, but all she saw was hind legs and a bushy gray tail disappearing into the trees. From faraway, the sirens of the Barnsville fire trucks screamed their impending arrival.

  The restaurant!

  Still in wolf form, she looked back at Muccino’s, her beloved second home, and her life, as flames licked and surrounded it. She broke down in a whimper.

  ***

  Dante, Rafe, and Matt found her as she limped towards the back porch of the house, howling and calling them. Her shoulder was dislocated and she was in intense pain, which was why she couldn’t shift back. Matt held onto her tightly and Dante apologized as he popped the bone back into place. She howled in pain, but soon it was over and she changed back into human form. She cried, tears pouring down her cheeks, and she buried her face in Dante’s shoulders as he carried her back to the house before anyone saw them.

  The fire department came knocking on their door, to tell them what they already knew. They were able to put the fire out before it demolished the entire restaurant, but the inside was a mess.

  Dante went to inspect the building with them and to make a statement to the police while Matt and Rafe put Frankie to bed, placing ice on her shoulder to reduce the pain and swelling, placing her arm into a makeshift sling.

  Enzo arrived not much later, still in his clothes from the previous night, having stayed out all night partying. He paled when he saw Frankie, and smashed his fist into the wall of her bedroom in anger.

  “What happened, Frankie?” Dante when he came back a few hours later. They were all standing around Frankie’s bed.

  “The restaurant?” she asked, wincing in pain as she tried to sit up.

  “We’ll worry about that later. We have insurance, don’t worry,” Dante said. “And, for now, we’re going to let the fire chief and the police think it was a gas explosion.”

  Frankie frowned. They did have insurance, but only the bare minimum. It was one of the costs she had to cut when things started going down. “I…I couldn’t sleep…jet lag,” she sighed. She told them the rest of the story, up until she tried chasing the other Lycan into the woods. Not finding a trace of him, she decided to walk home before the authorities saw a giant wolf or naked woman lurking about.

  “Other Lycans?” Rafe’s brows knitted. “But why?”

  “Who knows?” Frankie frowned. She searched her brain, trying to figure out who would want to hurt them. Grant had warned her about the mages, but not other Lycans.

  “Does someone want our territory?” Dante asked.

  “There’s nothing here. I mean, nothing of value,” Frankie frowned. “Why would they want to hurt us?”

  “How about Grant?” Enzo suggested. “Does someone want to hurt Grant and maybe is trying to do it through you?”

  “No,” Frankie shook her head. “I mean…” She looked up at her brothers. “There is, but not other Lycans. There’s some trouble with witches. Or he called them mages.”

  “It doesn’t make sense though,” Dante frowned. “Witches hate Lycans.”

  “I know,” she bit her lip. “It’s weird…last week while I was going into work, I thought…well, this is silly, but I thought someone was watching me.”

  “Fuck! Why didn’t you say anything, Frankie?” Enzo gritted his teeth. “You need to tell us these things!”

  “I wasn’t sure what it was, just a strange feeling!”

  “If someone is after you, then we have to protect you,” Matt said in a quiet voice. “I’m going to stay here tonight, we all are. And I’m taking the rest of the week off.”

  “Don’t be silly!” Frankie shot up in bed, ignoring the pain in her arm. Thanks to her
Lycan healing, it was already feeling much better. She removed the makeshift sling and tossed it away. “I can take care of myself. I’m fine!”

  “Jesus, Frankie, someone set fire to the restaurant, locked you in, and then threatened to shoot you! You’re not fine!” Enzo shouted, then turned to walk out of the room.

  “Where are you going?” she screamed at his retreating back. “Enzo, what are you going to do?” The look in Enzo’s eyes, wild and unpredictable, made her worry. “Don’t you dare try to find them by yourself!” Enzo would never survive against one, much less three Lycans.

  “I won’t!” he called back. “I’m just gonna make a phone call!”

  “Dante, take care of him,” she pleaded. “Don’t let him do anything stupid!”

  “Frankie, stop worrying about him, he’ll be ok,” Dante soothed. “Let us take care of you this time, ok?”

  She slumped back into bed and pouted. “Make sure everyone at the restaurant knows, ok? And Nonna Gianna! Matty, can you please go to her and make sure she’s ok? Those sirens woke up everyone, I’m sure she’s up and worried sick by now.”

  “Just get some rest, Frankie,” Rafe urged her to go back into bed. “We will take care of everything.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Your incompetence is astounding!” Stefan roared.

  “Lord Stefan, please-”

  “Silence!” Stefan pointed a finger at the man, his eyes ablaze.

  “Master,” Daric said in a calm voice. “It’s not over yet.”

  “You dare, Daric?” Stefan turned to him.

  The tall, broad-shouldered man shook his head. “Forgive me, Master. I don’t mean to be impertinent, but we shouldn’t put this plan aside. I’ve thought much about it and it’s a good plan, and viable one, still.”

  “Yes, we still have a chance!” the other man pleaded. “I can still kill her.”

  Daric turned back to the other man. “No, Grayson Charles, you will not kill her.”