“Is it my imagination or is someone spying on us?” Kirk murmured. “The back of my neck is itching something fierce.”
“I can’t see anyone,” Stig said at the supermarket as he used the big front window like a mirror to see the buildings and people behind them.
They gradually made their way to Gypsy’s, where they’d arranged to meet the others.
“How did you do?” Leif asked. “We scored two orders, which was better than I anticipated.”
“We need to pay Fiona a commission. Apart from three businesses, everyone placed an order. Fiona gave them all a ten percent discount,” Stig said.
Leif frowned. “But our prices are already rock-bottom.”
“She told them they were getting an introductory discount, but she added ten percent. We’ll be making a healthy profit on the next five or six runs.”
“Five or six?”
“Yeah.” Stig laughed. “Fiona wants a hot chocolate. Believe me, she deserves more than a hot chocolate. She also talked to Penny at the bookstore about Josef’s figurines. If Penny likes them, she’ll sell them on consignment.”
Leif grinned. “They won’t litter the kitchen counter anymore.”
“Exactly,” Stig said. “Or the floor in the middle of the night.”
Leif scanned the interior of the café. “Where is Fiona?”
“She went to the ladies’ room. She shouldn’t be much longer.”
Fiona hummed as she washed her hands. She could live here even with the cold. She liked the locals and saw their reserve as worry rather than dislike. Shifters living amongst them made them fear for their children. But now that Stig and his brothers were helping them, they’d relaxed a little. It would take time, but it was easy to imagine a happy future here. She could keep her house in Florida as a respite from the cold or perhaps sell it…
She pushed open the door and crashed into a solid body. A familiar scent filled her nostrils, and panic roared through her as she backed up a step. She swallowed, curling her nails into her palms to halt her escalating fear. “R-Robert! What are you doing here?”
Her estranged husband prowled closer, his eyes wild. His hair had grown beyond groomed to shaggy, and he hadn’t shaved for at least a week. His clothes, normally immaculate, bore wrinkles and a yellow splotch covered the right side of his jacket.
“You bitch. You cut off my access to money and made me a laughingstock. I don’t agree to a divorce.”
“Too bad. You can go to hell and fuck yourself!” Fiona straightened her shoulders and glared at him in a manner she’d never have dared in the past. “My money,” she stated and went to brush past him.
“Don’t walk away from me.” He grabbed her forearm, his fingers digging into her limb with brutal intent.
“Let me go. I have no interest in you. The divorce will go through, and I’ll never have to see you again.” She let disgust fill her gaze and wondered how or why she’d ever found him attractive. When he continued to hold her captive, she stomped on his foot, using every bit of her strength.
He let out an unearthly howl, but Fiona ignored him and rushed toward freedom and her men. Another man blocked her escape route.
He pressed a gun into her ribs and she careened to a halt. It was the dark-haired man she’d seen around town. His eyes were a cool blue and a hint of cruelty twisted his lips. “Robert isn’t done talking to you.” He pushed through the door and stepped into the main café, dragging her after him. With a curt gesture, he urged her toward the exit. “We will leave these people to their coffee.”
Fiona glanced at Leif and Stig and a family group sitting at the neighboring table. The lady behind the counter had wandered into the kitchen with an order. Where were the others? Kirk had been sitting at the table with Stig and the others hadn’t arrived yet.
“Your friends won’t help you now. Your luck has run out.” Robert backhanded her across the face, malicious victory twisting his thin lips.
The force of the blow sent her sprawling. She hit the floor hard. Pain seared up her cheek, and she tasted blood as she struggled to stand. She bit back a moan, hating to give Robert the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her.
Robert laughed. “Get moving, bitch.”
She remained in place. Did she look that stupid?
The appearance of the man with the gun had confirmed her theory about the shootings. Shehadbeen the target, and if she willingly walked outside with them, she wouldn’t live to have a future with her men. The Swenson brothers made her deliriously happy, damn it, and she hated to lose what they were building together.
She refused to follow Robert’s orders without a fight.
He’d hit her again if she dawdled, so she pretended to trip and fell against him. He backhanded her hard. She saw stars and tasted more blood. With a groan, she crumpled to the floor. She gritted her teeth. No pretense required. Her face ached and her nose felt as if it were on fire.
