Caught Between Three Billionaire Tycoons - Willa Hart Page 0,17

job.”

Silence fell between us again, and I hear the kids bickering in the back seat. One of them said they’d be in the cabin soon and it’d be just like the old days.

The little boy said nothing could be the same “with mommy gone.”

My heart twisted in my chest. These guys didn’t have a mom. How was this possible? Did she die, or did something else happen to her?

My fears and worries all melted away into a brief fantasy of sitting around a cheery fire with Whitney and these gorgeous kids. Making cookies and stuffing our faces, filling their stockings and seeing the adorable looks on their faces when they opened up their gifts.

I reminded myself to calm down. I was writing a future that could never be. I would not stop hoping, though. I couldn’t. Not with my bear imprinted on her. In my soul, I marked her as my fated mate.

In front of us the road widened out and a huge open area fanned out before us. I brought the truck, and the ruined car into the main area, getting ready to drop it.

“Hey.” She looked out the window. “This is my boss’ place. What are doing here?”

“Yeah!” The little boy bounced in his seat. “This is daddy’s place alright.”

“Daddy, daddy!” The little girl chanted.

While everyone was happily looking toward the cabin, I felt my heart sink as my hands gripped the steering wheel.

Now I knew who Aleksy was.

Aleksy Drago. He was sitting on the porch, waving at us. He clearly had no idea who was driving because he wouldn’t be that happy with me, even though I was bringing him his children, and keeping this magnificent woman safe.

We had been locked into territory wars for as long as I had lived out here. Anything either of us wanted to build, a pool, a shed, an extension on the house—it didn’t matter. He was there blocking my improvements and I wouldn’t allow his. The perfect asshole didn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself.

He even tried to buy all the surrounding land so I couldn’t improve on it. I got an injunction. Our lawyers were still fighting that one out.

I let myself scowl, really deep inside, all the way to my bear. I hid my face so Whitney wouldn’t see it.

I would fight for her. This was one battle I could never walk away from. I imprinted on her and she was not getting away from me. Fuck that prick Aleksy. He deserved everything that was coming to him.

I wiped the nasty look from my face as I turned to Whitney, smiling lightly.

“Okay, you guys, ready to get out?”

The kids both yelled and leapt from the car. Kids were great like that. It didn’t matter how tired or fractious they got, five seconds later they would be full of energy again.

I patted Whitney’s hand, just for an excuse to touch her.

“I’ll get your things.” I sounded a lot more cheerful than I was, and I considered this to be an excellent sign. I couldn’t beat Aleksy at this game unless I was totally chill with Whitney.

I turned around and jumped out of the truck, ready to unload the car. I gave myself a thorough coaching, reminding myself that this was all about Whitney and if I was to have any success, Aleksy and I had to get along.

Hopefully the big dick himself would fuck up, and she could fall straight into my loving arms.

6

I watched the car pull up, feeling a swell of emotion. Getting ready to see my kids was always exciting, but knowing that Whitney was here, and we would spend time alone together in the wilderness gave my emotions an edge.

I hadn’t been here long, only getting in the night before. The business I had to attend to went over smoothly, so I wasn’t delayed. I didn’t have to do much setting up at the cabin, but I had been hoping to indulge my bear side a little before they arrived.

I hadn’t been expecting them yet, but it was a pleasant surprise. I just wished I had a little time to prepare—my bare feet were sinking into the cool earth where I stood just in front of the cabin steps. The grass was damp and brushed against my toes.

Even though the cold air wasn’t affecting me, I really needed to be more careful. Normally, I wasn’t the kind of guy who liked to be barefoot, and Whitney was sure to notice.

Shifters were always a little