Moonlit Guardian Read online

  He kissed her long and hard before resting his forehead against hers. “Nobody can. I told you if we went too far I’d never be able to let you go. You don’t know how true those words were.”

  “You’re just saying that.”

  “No. I mean it. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow I plan on bringing this stalking to an end.”

  She waited for him to lie back against the pillows and snuggled in to his side again. “I feel bad about sleeping while you lay awake all night.”

  “Don’t. I don’t need sleep. Just thinking about you and what we’ve shared, I’ll be dreaming with my eyes open all night long.”

  14

  “I don’t believe it.” Kimiko stared at the papers spread before her on the coffee table, wringing her hands as she shook her head. “How could she?”

  “You’re surprised?” Draven leaned back against the kitchen island, where he’d been standing the whole time Felicia had been in the cabin showing the printed emails to Kimiko. “Kim was always trying to control you and putting you down whenever you didn’t jump to her command, and I gathered this after knowing her only a few days. She made you doubt yourself. Someone loyal to you wouldn’t do such a thing.”

  “But Kimiko has known her much, much longer than a few days, or years even,” Felicia said, eying Kimiko. “Right?”

  “Kim is my cousin. We were never especially close growing up but that was to be expected considering she’s about ten years older than me, but I still would expect my flesh and blood to be loyal.”

  Draven processed this. “Family isn’t always blood and blood isn’t always family. I’m sorry she hurt you.”

  Felicia looked at him, eyes twinkling with mischief as her mouth curved into the slightest of wicked grins. A second later she was all business, much to his relief.

  “Miss Lee, all these emails show us is that Kim was discussing taking on Britney Starr as a client and sent a few songs her way that were supposed to go to you. It definitely doesn’t paint her in a flattering light but we have nothing concrete indicating she hired that hit team. We do have something a bit more suspicious on Miss Starr.”

  Draven leaned forward as Felicia pulled another file from her briefcase and spread papers before Kimiko.

  “Britney Starr is not Britney Starr’s real name,” Felicia advised. “She was born Estelle Johnson in Podunk, Mississippi. She had a juvenile record for theft, assault and stalking.”

  “Sounds like our stalker,” Draven commented.

  “Yes, especially since we now know she performed in her high school’s production of Truest Love, a play based on a novel which, coincidentally, now has been adapted as a movie. Guess who auditioned for a role in it?”

  “I’m going to guess Britney,” Kimiko said. “What’s this movie have to do with me?”

  “The lines out of the letters you received are straight from the book.”

  Kimiko frowned. “So it was just a coincidence Rex said one of the same lines to me?”

  “Not entirely. We looked into that too. Britney Starr didn’t land a role in the movie, but Rex Ziering did.”

  “So he quoted a movie line to me?”

  “Appears so.”

  “Well, if I didn’t think he was a douchebag before, I certainly would now.”

  Felicia grinned at this. “We haven’t completely ruled him out since he used the same line as in the letters. He also arrived on the set pretty quickly after the dressing room incident and was there at the concert.”

  “So we’re in the same place we began.”

  “Unfortunately. Kim had the tracking device implanted in your phone so we are confident she is the one who sent the hit team, but it is possible either Starr or Ziering sent the letters.”

  “And the animal blood in my dressing room.”

  “I’m leaning toward Britney on that one,” Draven interjected. “The sender clearly didn’t like you dating Rex since that’s when the letters started and you dating others was mentioned.”

  “Wait.” Kimiko frowned. “Are you two saying Britney Starr is in love with me?”

  “It’s certainly possible,” Felicia answered. “Has she ever come on to you?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “She seems too infatuated with Rex,” Draven said. “I think the letters were to scare you away from him so she would have another chance with him.”

  “Why didn’t she just say to stay away from Rex?”

  “Don’t try to understand crazy people,” Felicia advised. “It’ll just drive you as crazy as they are.”

  Her phone chirped and she answered it. Draven and Kimiko waited until she paused the phone conversation to address them. “Detective Brown has found something odd in Montoya’s bank records. She’s lost a lot of money this past year. He took a look into your financial records and found a lot of strange things.”

  “Strange like what?” Kimiko asked.

  “It’s possible Montoya was skimming from you.”

  Kimiko lowered her head into her hands as Felicia finished the conversation with the detective. Once done, she set the phone down and turned to Kimiko. “Detective Brown has come up with a good idea. He suggests we go to a neutral location and have you call Kim, Britney, and Rex. Tell them you are alone and want to speak to them privately because you’ve heard disturbing news about them and want the truth. With a vague accusation like that and the tempting prize of getting you alone, they won’t be able to refuse.”

  “So you want me to invite someone who possibly wants me dead to a private conversation at a private location?”

  “I’ll be there,” Draven said. “I’d never let you do something that dangerous.”

  “We’ll all be there,” Felicia added. “We’ll just be at a distance to give the illusion that you are alone.”

  “It doesn’t take long for someone to shoot me. How far away will you be?”

  “I’ll be close,” Draven promised. “I can blend in very well.”

  “Draven is all the protection you need up close. My team will be backup only, and the detective will be there to make any necessary arrests once we solve this thing. Okay?”

  Kimiko took a deep breath before nodding. “As long as Draven stays with me.”

  “Always.” He stood straight, a man of his word.

  “Good. Now that we’ve settled that, I have something for you.” Felicia picked up a shopping bag she’d set at her feet after sitting down and handed it over. “Proper attire for a superstar on the run. Go get dressed. You have a very important show to put on.”

  Nodding her understanding, Kimiko stood and walked to the bathroom, pausing just long enough for Draven to squeeze her hand reassuringly.

  He watched her until the bathroom door closed behind her and then turned toward Felicia. The redheaded werewolf stared back at him, grinning from ear to ear.

  “What is it with that grin?”

  “You.” She chuckled. “The way you’re standing over there, too scared to sit by me. Were you afraid I’d climb in your lap for a little repeat of our previous fun?”

  Draven squirmed, casting a quick glance at the bathroom door.

  “Relax, Draven. I can tell you care for that woman and she cares for you. I know a match when I see one, and just in case the gossipers haven’t told you, I like quick romps without any strings attached. Relationships make me itch.”

  “Thank you.”

  She laughed again as she collected her things and stood. “You know, there’ll be a full moon next week.”

  Now it was Draven’s turn to laugh. “That whole moon vow thing is something Zaira created for her wolves. It doesn’t apply to Imortians.”

  “You were created using the same moon magic. Why shouldn’t it apply to you? Even if the vow doesn’t come to you and your soul mate, the light of a full moon makes for a gorgeous night wedding.”

  She winked at him and left.

  “It’s done,” Kimiko said, disconnecting. The hand holding the cell phone shook. “Do you really think
they’ll buy that I’m all alone? I’m really not that great of an actress.”

  “Who told you that?” Felicia asked.

  “Oh, there’s a whole list of magazines I could give you.”

  “They’re all crazy,” Draven assured her. “You did great. They’ll come, and we’ll end all of this.”

  “And just FYI, sweetie, if you weren’t great at what you do you wouldn’t be as successful as you are.” Felicia squeezed her shoulder before turning toward Draven. “Detective Brown is on his way. I’m going to get the team assembled around the perimeter. We’ll stay at a distance where you can reach us telepathically.”

  He nodded his understanding and Felicia left, leaving Draven and Kimiko alone in the church. The building was abandoned and set in a wooded area away from heavy traffic. It was on pack land, but far enough away from their housing that they felt safe holding the meeting there without bringing unwanted attention to the pack. Abandoned for years, the only thing remaining inside was a battered piano and the pews. Stained glass windows depicting images of Jesus and angels allowed light inside.

  “You’re going to be alright,” Draven assured Kimiko as she paced the floor by the piano.

  “We don’t even know if this will work. If Kim has been helping Britney Starr, giving her songs, and having all these secret conversations with her they could have been together when the calls were placed. They’ll know I’m purposely bringing them together.”

  “If they were together all the time, there wouldn’t have been so many calls between them on those phone records,” Draven pointed out, “and if they’re guilty of doing anything to harm you I’m sure their first thoughts after you mysteriously disappeared were to steer clear of each other. The law started looking for you as soon as I snatched you off that stage, and as far as they know, nobody knows where you are.”

  “Has Kim called you?” Kimiko asked. “You’re my bodyguard. If we’re both missing at the same time, wouldn’t she be suspicious of that?”

  Draven thought about this. “She may be suspicious, but she doesn’t have a direct number for me. Her calls would be screened through the Moonlight Agency.”

  Kimiko wrung her hands. “The others are close enough to get to us quickly if needed? How can they even know what’s going on in here? I was expecting some sort of surveillance. Cameras or something.”

  “I’m here. I’m the surveillance. If we need the backup, I’ll call them and our form of communication is much faster than telephones.”

  Kimiko nodded, but her hands shook as she wrapped her arms around herself and leaned her hip against the piano. Her eyes glistened, fear radiating from them.

  “Kimiko, I promise you, it’s going to be alright.”

  “But how do you know for sure?”

  “Because you’re not alone. I’m going to be watching the whole time and you’ve seen how fast I can move.”

  “I wish you could stay here where I can see you.”

  “I have to blend in so they don’t know I’m here but I’ll be watching you the whole time, just like I was at the concert.” He walked to her and gently wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, using his thumb to tip her chin up toward his face. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” he promised before kissing her. “I must get in position now. There are likely more hitmen than the ones we took out already and if it was Kim who sent them, you’ve just given her your location. If those men are already in the area they could be almost here now.”

  Kimiko nodded. “I understand. Just don’t take your eyes off me.”

  “Never.”

  He kissed her once more, longer this time, hoping to draw the fear out of her and replace it with strength, then left the church.

  The front of the church was more worn than the inside but the ledge over the door that once held a sculpture remained. Draven shifted shape and flew to it. Once perched, he hunkered down and allowed his body to turn into stone.

  It was cool out, but his gargoyle body ran hot. Wind blew through the trees, but his exceptional hearing allowed him to tune the gusts out and focus on what was important. He could hear the team Felicia had put together several miles out. He heard their collective breath as they held their positions around the perimeter, heard her giving orders. Using his power, he pushed out his field of vision, widening the circle until he not only saw Kimiko in the church, but saw Felicia at the perimeter.

  Can you hear me? He sent the telepathic question her way, testing the frequency.

  I hear you, Draven. Are you in position?

  Yes. Your team is ready?

  We are. Your woman is in good hands.

  The tinkling sound of piano keys came from within the church and Draven focused on that sound. He watched as Kimiko, clad in black leggings, her thigh high boots, and a black, oversized sweater which covered her curves, sat at the dusty old piano and tapped out a melody. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back and opened her mouth. The sound that came out of it was pure beauty. Her voice, crystal clear, high and lilting, hit high notes that sent chills of awe down his spine before dipping down into a deep, throaty alto that erupted vibrations in his chest.

  Draven? Is that her singing?

  Yes.

  She has the voice of an angel. Why do her songs on the radio not sound like this?

  Draven thought about that, recalling all the self-deprecating things she’d said about her singing and acting. Because, he answered, if she knew how amazing she was, she’d be impossible to control and that is exactly what Kim Montoya has been trying to do.

  Well, she didn’t succeed and pretty soon, she’s going to find out just how badly she’s failed.

  15

  Two hours and several gospel songs later, Kimiko heard a noise outside. Her heart stilled as her fingers froze over the keys. She’d ruled out a hit team coming over an hour ago so this had to be one of her three invited guests. If a hit team had come, the pack should have stopped them. She hoped.

  “Draven,” she whispered.

  She didn’t receive a response but an unexplainable feeling of comfort and security washed over her and she knew it was him.

  Footsteps drew closer. No heels. That ruled out Kim. The woman would hike in high heels rather than wear anything else. Kimiko held her breath, fighting the impulse to run away as the footsteps neared. The door opened as a male voice called her name.

  “Rex.” She breathed a little easier as he stepped through the door. Of the three she’d invited, he was the one she feared the least.

  “Kimiko! Thank God you’re alright.” He rushed toward her and she instinctively stood up and held her hand out, palm side up.

  “Don’t come any closer.”

  He stopped, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion. “Kimiko, what’s going on here? You just vanish off the stage right in front of thousands of people with no explanation and now you contact me with some wild story, wanting to see me alone? What the hell?”

  “I could ask you the same.”

  “What does that mean?” He held his hands out at his sides, palm up, questioningly. “What is it you think I’ve done?”

  “You told me I was the missing piece of the puzzle to true happiness.”

  He frowned a moment before smiling. Kimiko could see the moment he turned on the charm. “Well, yeah, babe. I meant it too.”

  “That line is from the movie you’ve been signed on to film.”

  The dumbstruck look on his face nearly made Kimiko laugh. If the situation wasn’t so dangerous, she would have.

  “Yeah, well, just because I didn’t write it doesn’t mean I didn’t mean it. We’re not all writers, you know.”

  “Several lines from the book that movie is based on are in the letters I received from my stalker.”

  His face went slack. “Oh, no, no ,no. You don’t think I sent you threatening letters? Me? Come on, babe.”

  “Quit calling me babe. It turns my stomach.”

  “Fine, fine.” He held his hands up in surrend
er. “I won’t, but just, trust me. I might trick you into a dinner by using the ploy of needing to read lines, but I’d never harm or threaten you. Hell, the dinner wasn’t even really my plot. It was Kim’s. After you were shot at the day before, she called me, telling me it was my chance to play the hero. She thought after the recent scare you would be more open to renewing our relationship.”

  “Kim said that?”

  “Yeah. She called me right after the shooting, wanting me to go to you. I was busy and couldn’t break away, but I sent my bodyguard to watch over you. He stayed outside your hotel that night, just in case there was trouble. I’ve offered his services to you because I want to keep you safe. See? I care about you. I’d never hurt you.”

  The sound of clapping caught Kimiko’s attention and she looked to see Britney Starr standing just inside the door. “How sweet. I thought you two were over. More lies, I see.”

  Rex rolled his eyes. “What the hell are you even doing here, Britney? I told you I was going to file stalking charges against your psychotic ass if you kept following me around.”

  “She’s not stalking you,” Kimiko advised. “She’s stalking me.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, whatever gave you that idea?” the blonde asked, venom dripping from her words as she slowly approached.

  “I know you’re familiar with the book, Truest Love. I know you starred in a play based on it, and that you auditioned for the movie. I know you wrote the stalker letters, Estelle.”

  Britney’s eyes burned with rage. “Estelle Johnson is dead. I am Britney Starr!”

  “You’re a lunatic,” Rex snarled. “I can totally see you sending crazy letters to Kimiko. I bet you shot at her too!”

  “I don’t even know how to shoot a gun, smartass, and if I killed her it wouldn’t be by shooting her from across the street, then speeding off. It would be up close and personal so I could watch her die.”