Tempting His Mate(25)

Grant was silent for a moment, his eyes pure wolf as he looked at Asher. “The money this piece of garbage says belongs to him, he stole from someone else. There’s a large bounty on his head. We can take care of him or Rex can take him off our hands—if his employer pays for the damage to Ella’s office and home.”

“I think she deserves money for pain and suffering too,” Asher said wryly.

Grant’s lips twitched as if he was fighting a grin. “Yes. It’s up to you. Keep him or let him go?”

Asher looked back at Ella and raised his eyebrows. He was glad his alpha was giving him the choice, but when it came down to it, this was Ella’s decision. He’d flay this guy alive for coming after her. And Asher had no doubt in his mind that since he’d thought Ella had taken his money, his next move would have been physical violence against her. That alone had his wolf clawing at the surface, ready to be unleashed.

Ella’s dark eyes widened when she realized he was silently asking her. She shook her head. “I want him gone. Let the vampires deal with him.”

“Take what’s owed you for the damage, Grant,” Rex said, never taking his eyes off the vampire he was still holding tight. “I’ll take the rest back to my employer.”

“No!” The vampire struggled against Rex’s grip but it was useless as he dragged him kicking and fighting from the room.

As they left, Grant made a motion for everyone else to leave except Ella and Asher.

“Thanks for giving us the choice,” Asher murmured.

His alpha nodded. “My pack comes first.”

“So this was really all about money?” Ella asked as she came to stand next to Asher so that they were both facing Grant.

Asher ached to wrap his arm around her, but he still had some of the vamp’s blood on his hands.

Grant’s expression was grim as he nodded. “Yeah.”

It was stupid, but people, regardless of species, did dumb stuff for money and power. Asher was just glad it was an isolated incident and not part of a targeted attack on their pack. “So the previous hotel owner stole money from this vamp—who’d already stolen money from another vamp. Why did the human leave his money behind?”

Grant shook his head and muttered a curse. “He needed it hidden somewhere no one would think to look. And who would ever guess he’d leave it in a hotel he didn’t own anymore. It was behind a wall and the truth is, we never would have known it was there if we hadn’t gone looking intentionally.”

“What’s going to happen to the human?” The guy had stolen from a vampire, but that vamp was about to be punished for doing the same thing.

Grant shrugged. “Maybe nothing. Not my problem. Listen, I’ll give you guys privacy for a bit, but I’ll get some males in here later this morning to start cleaning up. It won’t take long to patch up her wall and get a new coffee table in here. The blood shouldn’t take too long to clean either. And I don’t want you worrying about a thing,” he said, focusing on Ella. “You’re also taking the next two days off. More if you need.”

She shook her head, her rumpled blonde hair swishing around her shoulders. “Grant, that’s not—”

“That’s an order. Asher, you take the next couple days off too.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.

After he’d shut the front door, Asher realized he’d never asked how Grant had even known the vamp was in Ella’s place.

“I texted him when I heard the commotion out here,” Ella said as if she’d read his mind. Her dark gaze tracked over him in concern, taking in the blood. “Are you sure you’re all right? Did he hurt you badly?” She reached out as if to stroke his side, but pulled her hand back.

Asher shook his head and swiped at the blood on his side, not that it did much other than spread it around. He tried to wipe the rest of it on the dishrag, but it was already soaked through so he used his boxers—which he’d be throwing away. “Most of this is his and I’m already mended.” The vamp had pierced him with his claws, but it had barely been a flesh wound. He was already healed thanks to his age. “Why don’t you join me in the shower while I wash off?” He dropped his voice to a low murmur.

“I’ll join you, but just to make sure you’re really okay,” she muttered, clearly not convinced. “I was so worried when I heard…” Her voice trailed off and the fear in her voice surprised him.

Screw it. He pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Now that they were alone and she was letting her guard down he scented her fear. It killed him. “We’re fine,” he murmured soothingly. He’d never let anything or anyone hurt her. He stroked a calming hand down her spine, savoring her warmth and luscious curves.