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Giving up on getting any more sleep, Kahn opened his eyes, cursing his father once again for upending his life. Of all the days he wanted to be on top of his game, today was it—but instead, he felt like shit warmed over. Sighing, he pushed back the covers and sat up on the edge of his bed, rubbing his face in an effort to wake up. Thoughts about his father crossed his mind, but Kahn pushed them aside. He learned a long time ago that speculation was a futile exercise, guaranteed to bring nothing but confusion and doubt. Standing, he stretched out the kinks in his body from a restless sleep before heading to the bathroom. A hot shower followed by coffee would go a long way toward preparing him to meet the day.
Twenty minutes later, Kahn was dressed and ready to head downstairs. Picking up his wallet, keys, and phone, he slipped them into his pocket before leaving his bedroom. The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting up from below meant his mother was up and he hurried down the stairs, taking them two at a time. It might be the only time today he could talk to her without his sisters present since morning was not their favorite time.
Smiling at the thought, Kahn walked into his kitchen, finding his mother opening his cupboards while clucking to herself. Reaching for the cup of coffee on the island, he took a sip, savoring it before swallowing. Then setting it down, he said, “Let me guess…there’s nothing to eat…right?”
Swirling around, his mother clasped her chest when she saw her son. “Stop sneaking up on me. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist,” Kahn replied, reaching out to hug her. He chuckled, “It’s been a long time since I could get the drop on you.”
Returning her oldest child’s hug, she murmured, “I use to let you think you were surprising me.”
Leaning back, Kahn looked at his mother, finding a twinkle in her eye. “Bullshit.” He laughed.
“Mind your language, son. You aren’t too big for a spanking.”
“Ooh…that’s sounds like fun!”
Batting Kahn’s chest, his mother giggled. “Enough…the last thing your sisters need to hear is you going on about how fun a spanking can be. Knowing them, they’ll be misbehaving on purpose just to find out why.”
Shuddering, Kahn stepped back and picked up the cup of coffee, needing to focus on something other than his sisters and their curiosity about spanking. Taking a sip, he studied his mother, noticing new lines on her face. “Why are you really here, Mama? Not that I mind you visiting because I’ve missed our talks, but I don’t think Father’s absence is the real reason you decided to flee the pack in the middle of the night.”
Glancing over her son’s shoulder to make sure her daughters weren’t around, she shifted her gaze back to Kahn. “A friend warned me Rudy was planning to force your sister to marry him before your father returned.”
“Marry CeCe? What the hell? She’s only fifteen,” Kahn said, angrily, slamming down his cup. “He knows Father would never allow it!”
“I believe that is why he decided to do it now…so he can become Alpha.”
“He’s delusional…Father would never step down so Rudy could be Alpha…whether he married CeCe or not.”
“That’s just it…the rumor is your Fatherisn’tcoming back,” his mother said, quietly. “That’s why I left with your sisters. I couldn’t risk it if what she told me was true. Without your Father there to protect them…”
“It would be easy for Rudy to carry out his plan.” Thinking about it, Kahn realized they were all in danger if it was true about his father not returning. As the eldest son, becoming the next Alpha was his birthright—not that he had any intention of forcing the issue—but even if he publicly rejected it, Rudy would still view him as a threat. As he also would anyone who married his younger sister, Suzie, since her husband would have the right to challenge Rudy for the Alpha position.Fuck!The only way to stop Rudy was for his Father to return. “Does your friend know anything about Father’s whereabouts?”
“No, I asked, but she hasn’t heard anything other than what Rudy already told me.”
“What exactly did he say?”
“Your father didn’t say where he was going or why, but left Rudy in charge.”
“That doesn’t sound like Father,” Kahn mused. Then a thought hit him. “Do you think Rudy is telling the truth?”
“I didn’t smell any lies…if that’s what you’re asking.”
Nodding, Kahn asked, “Does Rudy know you’re here?”
“I…I don’t know. There wasn’t anyone following us…as far as I could see.”
“That’s good,” Kahn said, giving his mother a reassuring smile. And he meant it. It was a stroke of luck he’d closed on this condo last week; no one knew about it except his mother. As far as his father’s enforcers knew, he was still living at his studio, which reminded him. “Did Father ever tell you why he is having me watched?”
Shaking her head, his mother’s eyes filled with fear. “Rudy knows we’re here?”
“No, the enforcers left a few days ago…before I moved here, so you’re safe.” Pouring the cold coffee in his cup down the drain, Kahn poured himself another and one for his mother. Sitting down, he took several swallows, thinking about what needed to be done next. For now, his family was safe, but for how long was the question. Getting up, he walked over to a drawer, opening it and taking out some menus. “I have a meeting this morning I can’t miss, but until I can find out more about what’s going on with Father and Rudy, I don’t want you or the girls going out.”
Giving his mother the menus, Kahn continued. “Here, it’s the best I can do for the moment. These are all places I have accounts with that deliver, so order what you want and charge it to me. Also, if you could make a grocery list, I’ll go get it when I get back. Okay?” After her nod, Kahn bent down and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Love you Mama…glad you’re here…everything will be okay, you’ll see.”
Chapter 36
