Maximilian pulled his Hummer into the parking lot of a small three-story brick building. Not much to look at, but he thought of it as home. He had spent a lot of his young adulthood here.
A small bell tinkled when he opened the door.
“Max! Good to see you again.” A young woman, who sat behind a desk, jumped up to give him a hug when she saw him.
“Is he here?” He gave her his best smile. One that allowed him to get his way.
“Um, no.” She looked at the stairs behind her. “My brother is being a bit moody.”
Max locked gazes with her before looking up the stairs. Patrick must want to be alone. Too bad.
“Thanks.” He picked up Patrick’s scent just as he brushed past her and headed up the narrow wooden stairs at the back of the room. “Patrick?”
No answer, but he could feel Patrick’s presence nearby.
“You should know you can’t hide from me.” Max continued up the stairs. He knew Pat would have traps to keep those too stupid to listen away.
“I had to try.” Patrick’s voice floated down from the second floor.
Good. Then Patrick knew it was him and had probably removed the traps he set for anyone else.
Max stepped onto the second floor and looked around. The place hadn’t changed much in the past two hundred years.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He turned to look at Patrick.
Patrick picked up the half empty bottle of Irish whiskey and snagged the two tumblers sitting on the table. “Because you would’ve rescued me.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Max accepted the glass and sat in the large leather chair he normally occupied when he visited.
“I wanted, no, I needed to do this on my own.” He took a sip from his glass. “I knew we were in trouble before Grandma died. It all started with my father and his first wife.”
“The socialite?” Max vaguely remembered the petite woman Pat’s father fell in love with. One of the few humans who married a pack member. She never knew their secret though.
“Yes. She came from a rich family. Everyone said it was a good match. But she was used to living a certain way. A way my family never lived before. We were wealthy, but not rich.” He rolled the tumbler against the palm of his hands. “Father did everything he could to keep her happy. Including putting the business deep in debt to buy her baubles and throw her parties. By the time she disappeared we were pretty much broke.”
Max took a gulp from his glass. The whiskey slid down smoothly.
“Grams was in control at that point and she was good with the books. She knew just how to make the money stretch. She taught my dad how to do it too. They worked very hard and replaced so much of what was lost, even when the recessions set us back, but 9/11 was the crushing blow. So many lives. So many businesses.” Patrick drained his glass. “In her will Grams set a time limit for me. Three years. If I couldn’t make the business solvent by then I had to do whatever it took to fix the problem.”
“Your grandmother knew the pack would help you. I’m sure she meant that when she told you to do whatever it takes. We have to protect each other. If Sonora knew she’d jump at the chance to take everything over. I won’t let her get any more power. I can help you.”
“You are our alpha, but I need to prove myself with this.”
“So you’re selling your family’s home?” Max sat his empty tumbler on the table.
“Why not?” Patrick picked up the bottle and poured them both another. “I can live in an apartment much cheaper than rambling around in that big house.”
“And if Sonora gets wind and decides to move into it or tear it down?”
“I’ll have to live with that.” Patrick picked up his glass and stared at the amber liquid.
“Sell it to me.” Max sipped at his drink.
“No.”
“Yes. I’ll buy it for the market price and when you can, and you will, buy it back for the price I paid for it.”
“What makes you think I can buy it back?” Patrick slammed his tumbler against the table, causing the liquid to slosh over his hand.
“Because I know you.”
“And you’ve already checked.” Patrick sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“True. I am a businessman first.” Max smiled. “According to my sources you’ll be solvent in three years if you have the backing you need.”
“Max, I need to do this on my own.” He sat forward again and braced his elbows on the table.
“You will.” Max sat his glass on the table. “I’m offering to remove the burden of your bills. That’s all.”
“No strings?” Patrick held up his drink.
“No strings.” Max held his glass up too. He thrust his drink forward in a toast.
***
Alicia leaned against the doorframe to Stacey’s outer office. “Stacey, were you able to get a seat at the auction?”
“Um, no.” She clutched her pad.
“No?” Alicia stepped further into the area. Stacey’s hesitation made her nervous. What was she trying to hide?
“No, ma’am. I called to set the appointment to view the items and they said they had to call me back.”
“That’s not unusual.”
“The return call was.”
Alicia counted to ten. She didn’t know why Stacey was dragging this out, but she wished she would stop. “And?”
“The auction has been called off.”
“That’s okay. Just find out when they’re going to reschedule.” Alicia walked back into her office, thinking they were finished. When she turned to sit she spotted Stacey standing in the doorway. “Is there something else?”
“Not really.” Stacey took a step toward her desk. “We’re still on the same subject. They’re not rescheduling. They’ve decided against the auction altogether.”
“What? Why?” Alicia sat back in her chair.
“I asked the same question. All they could tell me was the owner contacted them and canceled everything. It looks like he found a single buyer.”
“That fast?” Alicia shrugged. “Do you know who?”
Stacey shook her head. “But I’ll start researching it right away.”
***
Max strolled back into Alicia’s office with a smile on his face. He saved one family’s heritage and got the heirloom in question as well. Patrick had been so grateful after they hammered out the negotiations he had no problem promising him the relic. It should arrive in a few minutes. Won’t Alicia be surprised.
Stacey worked at her station, tapping the keys on her computer. She didn’t notice him pass by.
When he stepped into Alicia’s office he found her the same way. She glanced up a few seconds after he entered the room. “I’ll be with you in a minute.”
He nodded as he looked around. Max eased himself into the overstuffed chair in front of her desk. “What are you working on?”
“Trying to get your statue.”
“No need.”
“Why?” She looked up for a moment before returning her attention to the laptop he had purchased for her. He had called his computer guru, explaining what he wanted and where he wanted it delivered. They were good. It had arrived before he got back, which was what he wanted.
“I’ve already acquired it.” He smiled at her as she slowly looked up at him again. Instead of joy he saw anger in her eyes. He had to ask. “What?”
“You? You’re the reason why the auction was canceled?” She rose from her chair and placed her hands on the desk.
“Yes. There is no reason for the auction now.” He paused for a minute. “And I feel you believe I’ve done something wrong.”
“How can you just waltz in there, all smug, and take over like that? Those poor people.”
“Those poor people were personal friends of mine.” He stood and placed his hands on the desk as well, his face inches from hers. “When I realized who you were trying to get the cross from I had to go and talk to them. I’ve known the Kelleys for a long time.”
“All you wanted was that cross.”
“Do you think so little of me?” He paused to keep his anger under control. “Patrick was selling the family estate so he could pay his employees, but the house has been in his family for generations and I couldn’t see him doing that. I offered a solution that lets him keep the house and pay his employees. He offered the cross to me as a gift.”
His words rang in the office. His voice loud enough to shake the rafters. Stacey stood next to the opened door. Her face showing shock. She bowed when she saw them arguing. “I’m sorry.”
Max straightened the moment he saw Stacey bow.
“What is it?” asked Alicia as she straightened as well. She couldn’t believe she got caught in a shouting match with a client. Even if it was with Max.
“There’s a call for Mr. Santos.” Stacey wouldn’t make eye contact with Alicia.
“Why didn’t you just use the intercom?”
“Um, I tried.” Stacey did look up then. “But you didn’t answer.”
Alicia glanced at the intercom and found the button blinking. Her anger at Max blocked out everything, but the sound of her blood roaring in her ears. She took a deep breath. She wasn’t going to lose her cool. “Thanks, Stacey.”
She stabbed her finger toward the phone on a side table. “Just answer it.”
He picked up the phone and spoke in low tones. His voice floated through the air. Soothing, rich. A masculine laugh escaped him and turned Alicia’s insides to jelly.
Goodness gracious, she had to work with the man. Allowing something as simple as a laugh to affect her this way wasn’t good for business. Was it because she’d been with him? Did she have some sort of schoolgirl crush? She had to be professional. Something she hadn’t been able to do around this man.
He hung up the phone and smiled at her. “What are you doing this Friday?”
“Why don’t you tell me what I’m doing?” She knew that was what would end up happening anyway.
“We’re going to a formal dinner party.” He slid back into his chair.
Since when had she started thinking about that chair as his? All her clients sat in it. “I’m not sure I can make it.”
“I thought you cleared your schedule.” He smiled at her. A smug one, telling her she wouldn’t be getting out of this date easily. Date?
“Wait a minute—”
“Alicia? There is a package for you.” Stacey popped her head back in the office. She didn’t look happy.
“Okay.” Alicia stood. So did Max.
“That should be the cross.” Max blocked her from stepping away from her desk. “I asked them to deliver it here this morning.”
“There’s been a problem,” said Stacey.
“What sort of problem?” Max pushed past Stacey to face the delivery boy.
Alicia followed them out into her secretary’s office area. Max had crowded the young man until he was backed into a corner. The poor kid couldn’t have been older than seventeen-years-old and Max was scaring him to death. Anger rolled off of Max. The kind that would make the hairs on the back of her neck stand up if it was directed at her.
If she didn’t know better she’d swear the kid was very close to losing his throat.
Defusing this situation fast was a must. She stepped up and wedged herself between Max and the delivery boy.
“Do you mind?” She looked pointedly at Max.
Max backed off, but just a little. She could feel his hot breath slip under the collar of her blouse. She turned her attention to the young man. With a calm voice she tried to get him to talk. “Tell me what happened.”
“I…” He stared at Max and swallowed before fixing his gaze on Alicia. “I was about a block from here when a car came out of nowhere. They hit me!” Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes.
“You okay?” She turned to glare at Max.
“A little shook up.” He pulled at the front of his shirt. “The guy from the car jumped out and asked me if I was okay then gave me a hundred dollars to not say anything to anybody. He helped me back on my bike. I didn’t realize anything was missing until I stopped here to deliver the package.”
“What do you mean?” asked Alicia.
“Your package is missing.” The boy swallowed again as he glanced at Max. “He must have taken it off the bike when he helped me.”
“He, who?” asked Max. His voice much deeper than normal.
She turned to look at Max and took a step back. His lips had thinned to a small line, revealing teeth that looked too bright and sharp for a normal human.
“I… don’t know.”
“Stop scaring him,” whispered Alicia. She poked Max in the ribs. “Back down a bit and he might remember something.”
Max turned away from the young man while Alicia continued the questions. “What do you remember about the man?”
“He was tall. Really tall, like a basketball player, you know?” He relaxed under Alicia’s smile and calm demeanor. “He had a wide smile. Kinda like that dude. Oh, and blond hair.”
“Long hair?” Max mumbled.
Alicia turned and glared at him. He still had his back to them. Shoulders hunched.
“Yeah.” The kid’s voice cracked as he looked at Max’s shoulders. “Almost to his waist.”
“Can you remember anything else?” asked Alicia.
“Other than the expensive suit he wore? No.”
“Thanks.” Alicia nodded to her secretary. “Please follow Stacey to her desk and give her your contact information so we can get in touch with you if we need to. I’ll call your boss and let him know what happened so you won’t be responsible.”
“Thanks.”
Max pushed past Alicia, grumbled something incoherent and barreled through the stairwell door.
“That was rude.” Alicia pressed her hands against her hips to keep herself from pounding the door. “Why did I take this job again?”
“Because he intrigues you.” Stacey smiled at Alicia when she turned at her words. She looked at her quizzically. “What?”
“He doesn’t intrigue me.” Alicia showed her secretary her back and headed to her desk.
“Oh?” Stacey stepped into the office. “Then why do you talk about him so much?”
“I do not.” She tried to act indignant.
Stacey shrugged and checked her clipboard. “The rest of your day is clear.”
“I really hate this.” Alicia plopped into her chair.
“What? Too much time on your hands all of a sudden?”
“Too much time to think.” Alicia stood up and grabbed her jacket. “I’m going for some fresh air.”
“What if Mr. Santos comes back before you do?”
“Then he can wait for me.” Alicia took a few steps before pausing. “And I’m not attracted to Mr. Santos.”
“I never said you were.”