Grimm Protector (Book 2) The Grimm Dragons Series

Chapter Eleven-Alpha

Hello, Lovelies, 

I hope everyone is safe and healthy!  Thank you so much for reading Grimm Protector.  I am sorry this is late.  I live in Texas.  That snowstorm was awful but I'm getting back into a routine (I hope.)   I hope everyone else who was affected by the snowstorms are safe and well.  

I hope you enjoy this chapter.  If you do, please consider voting and/or commenting. 

-XXXX Amanda 

***********

I left my room, trying to push the thought of the kiss I had with Coralee from my mind. I shook my head, wondering how a sweet, innocent woman like her could learn to kiss like that.

I shook my head, moving down the stairs toward the office, knocking on the door. John's rough voice echoed toward me casting the thought of the kiss from my mind. I opened the door, stepping through, taking in John's stormy gaze.

"Did something else happen?" I ask, frowning.

He gave one sharp nod. "Jonathon Nichols put out a missing person on your girl. I hope she's ready to say that she chose to be here."

I shrugged. "I'm positive she is."

He was silent for a few moments before nodding. "What did you find out? You wouldn't be here if you didn't find out anything new."

I sighed sinking into the chair in front of John's desk. "Well, I'm sure Leah told you what her step-sisters told you. It seems a lawyer has been trying to reach her for years...Her mother was having an affair with him before she died. I think she was planning to leave Nichols and that was the deciding factor in her death."

John ground his teeth. "A man who would kill his own kid deserves death but because of his standing, he may not get that. We'll have to take him down another way."

"Politically?" I asked, raising a brow.

"With how dirty he is that's bound to happen anyway. We may help it a bit but the civilians won't listen to us," he shrugged his shoulders. "I was thinking that we should get in touch with that lawyer and help Coralee. There's a good chance that the lawyer is in danger. Something has kept Nichols from doing anything to him. We need to find out what that is. It might help keep Coralee safe."

A soft knock sounded at the door. I turned as Psycho opened the door allowing Coralee inside the office. Her wide eyes moved from me to John, fear clear within them.

John surprised me when he gave her a gentle smile, using the same lowered tone he used with his daughters. "Come in, Coralee. Sit down."

She blinked but she visibly relaxed as she stepped further into the office, taking a chair beside me. "Psy-Psycho, told me you sent for me."

I frowned. John must have done that shortly before I came to his office. He nodded. "You know what your sisters told us last night."

She nodded with her eyes downcast even though it wasn't a question. "Alpha told me."

"Look at me," John demanded. "I need you to understand what I'm telling you is the truth."

She raised her head, forcing her eyes to his. He sighed. "I know I was tough on you when you first got here." He ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair. "I did that to make sure my boys were safe. You see, everyone here is family. I won't let anyone hurt them." He paused, piercing her with a hard stare. "I realize you may not understand that since your father is who he is and treats you the way he does."

She frowned, shifting in her seat. "I do understand...My mother...She treated me well."

John's eyes flashed with pain. "I'm sorry about your mother. I believe she cared about you a great deal or she wouldn't have left you a way out." John raised his brow. "That's why we'll need to get in touch with the lawyer. We need to make sure that your father can't touch what's yours."

"If I do that, my father could find me." Coralee chewed on her bottom lip. "I can't let that happen. My father would tear this place apart."

"You're an adult. You have a legal right to be where you want to be." John moved toward her. "All you have to do is say you want to be here."

Her eyes moved to me before she nodded. "I can do that."

John nodded. "I'm sure you will understand that we still wouldn't want you to leave the clubhouse. We can't protect you if you're alone and if he grabs you, he could hurt you before we could reach you."

Her eyes widened and I was sure she was thinking of every amount of torture her father could give her.

John patted her shoulder. "You have to be brave for a while longer. Then, you'll have enough money to go anywhere you want to go. Your father won't be able to touch you."

I jerked my head up, meeting John's eyes. I hadn't thought of Coralee leaving. My stomach churned as my heart clenched in my chest. I rubbed my hand over it as John smirked. The bastard probably thought it meant more than it did but even as I thought it, I knew I was the one lying to myself.

Coralee's small voice broke through my mind. "I've never left this town." She shrugged. "I really have never thought of where I would go once I was away from my father."

I swallowed hard as John gave her a gentle smile. "We'll help you with whatever you choose. For now, we need that lawyer's name."

"Mark," she frowned as her eyes rolled skyward, "Mark Bishop. That's his name. He lives in Houston where my mother grew up."

"I'm sure he'll make the trip here if he's been trying to reach you. According to your sisters, he loved your mom a great deal." He shook his head. "It will be a few days more of hiding. After that, you can come out of the room but one of us will have to be with you at all times."

She nodded, silent for a few moments before raising her head to stare at John. "I know that you were suspicious of me because of my father. I hope you know that I would never hurt any of you. This club has helped me when I was alone. I can never repay you for that."

John gave her a crooked, grin, his eyes flashing with all the evil he was capable of. "Don't think I'm always the good guy, honey. The thing is...Sometimes, I'm the bad guy. It really just depends. You're family. You'll get the good side of me. I promise, if anybody tries to hurt you, they'll get the bad side of me and that is something no one ever wants to see."

John pierced me with a stare, a warning in his eyes to never hurt her. I raised my brow and nodded, making the easiest promise I had ever made because, in the end, I would never want to hurt her. Somehow, this girl had become one of the most important people in my life.