Chapter 2
The first light of a rare sun-filled day peeked through a break in the curtains, hitting Conner smack in the face. He’d forgotten to pull the blackout shades when he’d stumbled in last night. Now he was getting a rude wake up call.
He rolled over away from the offending light and felt the pounding in his head. Shifter metabolism or not, he’d drank more than his fair share last night. His bear only gave him a quiet chuff in his head to announce his displeasure.
“Piss off,” Conner growled back out loud. Damn he hated talking to himself. He usually only did it when he was alone, but it still annoyed him. It made him feel like he was crazy, and maybe he was. He was probably the only person in his family that ever wondered if there was such a thing as a bear-ectomy.
Knowing he’d have to get moving, he rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a thump. Goddamn, he felt like shit, he thought.
Getting up to hit the bathroom he cranked the shower on cold, stripped down, and stepped in swearing a blue streak as he did. If there was one thing he was good at, it was self-punishment.
Letting the icy water pour over him he thought about his day. He needed to slap on a happy face. Charm his sisters-in-law, if he saw them. If he didn’t, his brothers would kick his ass, jointly or take turns doing so. He really did like them, Sophie was an amazing cook and her English accent always had him laughing. Jinger was so stinking sweet, she was always screwing up words from a head injury she’d sustained a few months back.
Both of his brothers’ women had been injured in the last few months by one person. Conner’s foul mood and hangover increased as he thought of the asshole targeting his family.
They had been experiencing mysterious breakdowns in equipment. Delays that were more annoying than dangerous. Figuring it was an environmental group, Cage had Conner seek out his contacts at the local groups to see if anyone would claim responsibility for the problems. Conner actually talked to most of the groups, they wanted to be heard and keeping lines of communication open with the timber industry was the only way they had an in. They wanted people to stop cutting down trees, and the industry was unwilling to comply. It was a battle that had been going on for years.
No one came forward regarding the problems. Deciding they really were accidents or a lone agent there wasn’t much they could do about it. Then Sophie got hurt when a hose broke and hit her. She spent a night in the hospital and luckily recovered. Thinking that was the worst that could have happened, the brothers called in the police. No leads came up until Wyatt’s mate Jinger took his truck one night and the brakes failed.
Poor Jinger was left in a coma which almost drove his brother insane. She spent weeks recovering and although she was getting better every day, there was still a chance the side effects would linger. The second Wyatt found Jinger as his mate, she was family. That meant she was Conner’s responsibility as well. And no matter how disgruntled he was with his life, no one hurt his family.
They got their first break when someone had the balls to spray paint the side of Wyatt’s house. The person’s message indicated that they knew the Rochon families were shifters and that’s why they were targets.
Turning off the shower, Conner toweled off and threw his clothes back on knowing he’d have to change at home. He needed to check in with his brothers and see what was on the schedule.
Walking out into the bright sunlight, he headed towards his Jeep. His brothers drove huge trucks around, they were big guys, he figured they needed the space. His ride was an army green 1979 CJ-7, rugged, no frills, big tires, and could take the rough logging roads they cut into the forests.
Pulling out and hitting the highway, Conner let his brain turn off as he enjoyed the trees passing by. His bear was still quiet and his pounding head appreciated it.
Turning into the lot of their base camp, he parked in front of the work trailer marked ‘Office’. Jumping out, he headed in and stopped short as he saw his brother Cage sitting at his desk, with his soon to be wife Sophie in his lap. He was feeding her what appeared to be donut holes.
“Oh, sorry man, didn’t know you were, uh, occupied,” Conner threw out, turning to leave.
“No, Conner don’t leave!” Sophie squealed jumping out of Cage’s lap. Cage didn’t even attempt to keep her seated as he never denied his mate anything.
Conner prepared himself for the huge hug he knew was coming. Sophie launched herself into his arms and gave him a smacking kiss on his cheek.
“Morning, Sophie,” he murmured squeezing her back. He really did like her, and boy could she cook.
“Have you ever had a donut hole?”