by Tl Reeve
His wife, Bridget Worthington, on the other hand, clean as a baby’s bottom, as Danielle would say. She had money, influence...connections. Her father owned one of the biggest government contracting firms. No jobs went in or out of the country without going through him first. It gave her the inside track on any competition or, in their case, agencies that might want to take them down. Luckily for them, between Senator Winters and Jerome Blackhorn, they’d kept Vigilante off the books. No one knew it existed. As far as anyone was concerned, Window Rock Orphanage had been the only government-funded operation in the town of Window Rock, Arizona.
Which brought her thoughts back to the mission.
After reading all the information, she didn’t know if she could shove down all of her rage and fear to get the information they needed and make the transaction. Sure, Jerome and Kalkin wouldn’t allow them to go it alone, nor would her aunts, but even if they had a code word to get out of that situation, who knew if it would work. What if they put in dampeners or knew they were coming and were going to jump them before the auction took place? Then what?
Hayden grabbed her bottle of shampoo. All hell breaks loose. What else would you expect? She let out a breath before working the soap into a lather in her hair. If she hadn’t trained as hard as she had with Nico and taken a few self-defense classes on her own, she’d be freaking out—not that she wasn’t, she was, on a smaller scale. She turned around to wash the shampoo out of her hair when the door clicked open.
A low growl filled Nico’s chest. She didn’t have to open her eyes to know who it was. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“I can smell you in our room. You’re scared.” He placed his hands on her hips. “If you don’t think you can do this, I can go it alone.”
She shook her head then dunked her face under the water to clear whatever residual suds were left from washing her hair. “Not scared. Trying to prepare for every angle here.”
Nico crowded her, pressing her back to the cool tile of the shower. She hissed at its contact. “Oh, and what would those be?”
Since coming home, he’d become more forceful with her. His wolf rode a little closer to the surface. She thought it had to do with the full moon, but inside the store the day before, the minute Brooklyn got close to Hayden, Nico almost lost his shit. It got worse when she allowed the anger to consume her as well. “What if they know we’re coming? What if they do something to dampen our ability to call out?”
“I’m sure they know full well we’re coming, little wolf,” he answered, bending his head.
“So, why would we still go in?” She gasped when his mouth latched onto her nipple. He’d also been doing that a lot. He couldn’t keep his hands off of her. Sure, they had a healthy sexual appetite, but being in the co-ed house had made it kind of hard to do anything without the whole house hearing. At least Jackson, Bell, and Christoph had places they could go. She only had the house.
Hayden’s scored her nails across his scalp, and he growled in response. A thrill of anticipation shot through her, turning the worry in her gut to arousal in an instant. She arched to him, offering up her body. Nico took from her, alternating between both of her nipples before spinning her around.
He nipped the back of her neck. “Because if we don’t go, they’ll know we’re on to them. They’ll take all those kids they have and hide. This is our chance to liberate those children and take down part of a syndicate of shifter traffickers.” He kicked her feet apart and bent her slightly. “Let’s see if we can turn that brain of yours off for a little while.”
He entered her in one thrust. Hayden gasped. Her sex quivered and pulsed around him, half from accommodating his girth, and half from orgasming. Her eyes fluttered shut. She curled her fingers into the unyielding ceramic wall in front of her. Nico cupped her breasts and squeezed, using them as leverage as he began to move. His thrusts were harsh and demanding, never giving her a second to catch her balance or think, something he didn’t want her doing.
Instead, she gave over to the sensations. She sank into them. Allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of her mate completely taking her ability to control anything away from her. She cried out when the crest of his erection rubbed the sensitive area deep within her. His growl of approval sent a wash of pleasure through her. Somehow, her mate always knew what she needed, when she needed it.
“Good girl, give over to it.” Nico’s breath brushed against the shell of her ear. The rumbled tone of his voice added an extra kick to her bliss. “That’s my little wolf. Tonight is all about role play, baby. It’s going to be your first time becoming someone else. I’m going to be the one popping your undercover cherry, and I can’t wait.”
She giggled. She shouldn’t have, but she couldn’t help it. In a matter of seconds, he banished her wayward thoughts. “You’ve already popped my cherry.”
“Damn straight I did. This is my pussy, Hayden. Say it.” His fingers dug into the flesh of her hips when he tilted them, changing the angle of his penetration.
“Your pussy,” she whimpered.
“Yes it is. No matter what happens tonight, I will always be with you. If we get separated, I will come for you. Got me?”
She nodded.
“Say the words, Hayden. I have to hear you say it.” He kissed her back.
“We’re in this together. You’ll always come for me.”
“Always.” He lowered his hand, and the tips of his fingers brushed her hard clit. “Now, give it to me.”
He pressed down on the hard bundle of nerves and manipulated it in small circles while his strokes became stronger, harder. Hayden cried out. Her pussy tightened exponentially before everything inside of her detonated. She lost the ability to breathe. She dug her fingernails into her palm to keep from leaving marks on Nico. Behind her, Nico thrust twice more then yelped. He flexed within her, filling her with his release and tying them together.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I will always be your protector.” Nico laid his forehead between her shoulder blades.
“I know,” she replied. “You always have been.”
* * * *
Hayden stood in front of the full-length mirror and stared at her reflection. She swiped at the skirt of her dress, not sure how she felt about the length. She couldn’t run in a dress that went to the floor, but all of the cocktail dresses she tried on were too tight in the thigh. Plus, if she carried a gun, she didn’t have anywhere to conceal it. She settled on a dress that had a slit on either side to her knees and a plunging neckline. The peek-a-boo back gave her a bit of security, because at least with the straps across the back it couldn’t be ripped away with too much ease. Also, when she showed Nico, it drove him insane...in a good way.
The nervous energy that had been coursing through her earlier returned with a vengeance. Keeley had arranged for one of the beauticians from Robyn’s to come help her get ready. While one worked on her hair, the other did her makeup. When they were done, Hayden didn’t look like herself. She appeared to be an older version of herself, and as she stood there, she didn’t know if she liked it. Every bit of her screamed Raferty, but like this... She’d been the spitting image of her biological mother. The one person she hated more than the PBH and what they did to her father and her aunts.
A knock came at the door, and she frowned while fiddling with the necklace Nico gave her earlier. The small, delicate infinity symbol doubled as an exquisite piece of jewelry and a tracker. “Come on in.” She turned from the mirror as Nico stepped into the bathroom. The tux he wore fit him like a glove. Her mouth watered as she raked her gaze over him. Nico radiated power and exuded sex appeal and confidence.
No wonder Brooklyn didn’t realize Nico is my mate.
“Don’t,” he said, crowding her space. “Not tonight.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she whispered, squirming under his scrutinizing gaze.
“Didn’t have to. Your eyes are so expressive.” He cupped her cheek, tipping her head back up. “You are gorgeous. Sexy as fuck,
and my mate.” A sensual smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes swirled with lust. “The woman standing before me is the woman I knew ten years ago would become my mate. I had to be patient to get here. Now, seeing you like this, fuck it was more than worth it.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest. “Then, you don’t see my mother when you look at me?”
Nico growled, tracing his finger along the necklace. “Fuck no. Not even close, little wolf. You’re 100% Raferty. You are your father’s daughter and a mini-me to your Uncle Kalkin. No one can ever deny who you belong to.” He kissed her then. Their lips met in a soft promise of what would come later.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I needed the pep talk.”
“My pleasure.” He extended his hand to her. “It’s time.”
Hayden nodded, placing her hand in his. As they stepped into the living room their doorbell rang. She looked to Nico, who shrugged. He left her there and crossed to the door. Opening it, he stood back. Her cousin and Charisma stood before them. Charisma appeared completely uncomfortable, and Royce reminded her of a picture she saw online. A male lion sat right behind his mate, his eyes narrowed, waiting for someone stupid enough to challenge him or hurt his female. The only difference between the picture and her cousin, Royce was a Raferty wolf. Pure muscular power and dominance.
She shivered.
“Hey, guys,” Nico said, stepping out of the way. “Come on in.”
“You look great, Charisma.” Hayden snapped out of her stupor and greeted the woman she’d known since practically day one of moving to town. She wore a white knee-length cocktail dress. The front plunged like hers, showing off Charisma’s ample cleavage. Hayden kind of felt jealous of the other woman’s figure. What she wouldn’t give for a few more curves.
Charisma gave a shaky smile. “Thanks. Last minute choice. Penelope helped me pick it out.”
“Well, Pen did a good job. Are you going with us?”
“Kalkin thought it would be for the best,” Royce snarled. “He wanted you and Nico to have backup just in case.”
“Good thinking,” Nico replied. “I’d feel better having a Raferty watching my back, beside my mate.”
Royce grunted. “There’s a limo waiting out front for you. We’ll be behind you. Don’t make contact while inside. We’ll try to be as inconspicuous as possible.”
Okay... The tense anxious energy mixed with something else she couldn’t put her finger on, rolled off of her cousin and Charisma and swirled around Hayden. It’d been so thick it threatened to choke her. “Thanks. Uh, are you sure you’re okay, Charisma?”
She gave a short nod. “Yep. Mission time. If I’m going to work full-time for the orphanage and help in every aspect, I need to see how all of this works.”
Hayden glanced at Nico, who shrugged then looked back to her cousin. “You good with her coming?”
The wave of sadness coming from Charisma surprised Hayden. “I didn’t have a say. Kalkin dished out the order.”
Hayden frowned. The last time she actually saw Charisma at a family function had been Emma’s and her mating ceremony. She hadn’t questioned it. Now, she did. Had Nico and she missed something? Royce and she appeared to be totally in love. He clung to the woman in front of her like she’d been a lifeline. “Right. Okay. I guess we should be on our way.”
After they got into the waiting limo, she turned to Nico. “What do you think is going on with them?”
He shrugged. “Maybe it had something to do with whatever we walked in on at the station.”
“Yeah, maybe,” she said.
“Whatever it is, mate, it’s none of our business. We have to focus on our task for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll grant you permission to meddle.” Nico laced his fingers with hers. “Do you want to go over the plan one more time?”
“I think I’ve got it,” she answered. “The pendant in your tie is a camera. It will stream whatever you see back to Keeley and Kalkin who are with Jerome and Caden at Vigilante. Due to the high likelihood of Worthington having a perimeter set up around the Wildlife Preserve to keep unwelcomed guests out, our go team is farther away. Jerome will have eyes in the sky with his team of ‘invisible’ drones.”
She’d heard about the prototype for the new incarnation of his drone. The first one had been used to save Keeley. The second had helped Rapier locate Raymond when he kidnapped Bell after finally being able to bring his family home. This one had stealth technology. With a flip of a switch on his remote, the scrambling shield engaged, dampening any way to trace them or even detect them. Best part about them, they were silent. By the time they’d arrive, the sky above the Wildlife Preserve would be littered with them.
“Right. We’ll make a full circuit of the auction, gather as much intel as we can, then bid.” He looked to her. Concern filled his eyes. “Are you sure you can do this? You have to know the condition these kids and some adults will be in.”
“Yes.” Therapy in the beginning had been the only thing to help heal her. Brie, the therapist who talked with all the orphaned kids, sat down with her a few times a week in the beginning. It seemed like two different lives now. All these years later, she could look at the situations she’d been forced into and not fear the dark.
“Good. Once we’ve won a bid, we will use the go word.”
Hayden laughed. “Lions, tigers, and bears is kind of a statement, not a word.”
Nico rolled his eyes. “Thank your Aunt Danielle for it.”
“I will,” she said. “When we’ve completed the mission and we’ve freed everyone.”
They pulled up to a road block, and she instantly went on alert. Two men wearing Stetsons, white long-sleeved shirts, and black vests stopped their limo. She swore the man who approached the window looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him. When he finished speaking with the driver, he strode toward their door. His loose-legged gait also reminded her of someone she knew. The man wrapped his knuckle against the window, and Nico lowered it.
The man bent down. He pushed his mirror-lensed aviators forward, and his devious brown gaze ensnared Hayden. Hauser Benefield. How in the heck? “Good evening, the driver informed me you have the invitation, sir.” He winked at Hayden.
“Fucking mountain lions...” Nico muttered, grabbing the invitation out of his jacket pocket.
“Such a mouth on you.” Hauser took the invitation from him. “There is a gun in the men’s restroom. Third stall from the left, in the tank.” He stood then whistled to the other guard. “They’re clear.” He handed the decorative card back to Nico. “Enjoy your evening.” He tipped his hat then pushed his glasses back up.
“Thanks.” Nico rolled the tinted window back up. “How the fuck?”
“I don’t think we’re ever supposed to know his tricks.” Hayden laughed. “We’re a go now.”
Nico nodded. He produced a small box from his jacket pocket. “This goes in your ear. Kalkin will be able to hear you, and you’ll be able hear him.”
Hayden took one of the ear pieces and placed it into her ear. “Done.”
“Good evening,” Kalkin said. “About time you two put those to use.”
“Sorry, it’s not something you want everyone to know about,” Nico replied.
“Look, it’s not like you’re fucking and knotting in broad daylight. No one can see them.” Kalkin sighed. “I assume you already saw Hauser?”
“Yes,” Hayden answered.
“Good, then you’re almost to the preserve. We’ll be with you the whole time.”
Nico tucked her into his side. “You’re going to do fine. It’s your first mission. If you weren’t scared or nervous, I’d worry something was about to go wrong. Everything going on in your head and your stomach is normal. It gets better every time you do this.”
“I think a part of me is excited too,” she said. “Like deep down, a righteousness is building.”
“Hold on to it. It’ll help you. Rely on your instincts. You have the best wolf genetics coursing through your
blood. Rafertys are known for them. Harness them and know I will always be close to you. No matter where we are.”
The limo slowed to the entrance of the preserve. Two valets were standing on either side of the roundabout where guests were exiting their vehicles. When it was their turn, the passenger door opened first, and she stepped out. She murmured a word of thanks, then took Nico’s hand when he joined her. They followed the others toward the archway decorated with different types of desert flowers along with a few lizards. One of the preserve workers held a leash hooked to the collar of the wolf beside her. The wolf, to Hayden’s surprise, had been muzzled. Rage burned within her. She hadn’t even stepped inside the venue and already her wolf sat up in outrage. She scented the air but found the wolf had only been a wolf.
Still, it didn’t matter. The beast shouldn’t be chained or muzzled. She approached the animal, uncaring of others. She could do this. “Oh wow, how beautiful. Look, sweetheart, a wolf.” The wolf glanced up at her. She let her wolf come to the surface, easing the animal in front of her. It gave a soft whine. “May I pet him?”
The girl grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Oscar is our ambassador.” She leaned in, so only Hayden would hear her. “I hate muzzling him. I hate having him on a chain too, but too many people and scents. It would overstimulate him.”
A bit of Hayden relaxed as she scrubbed the wolf’s head. She glanced at the girl’s name tag. “Thank you for caring for him, Nicole. How old is he?”
Nico wrapped his arm around Hayden’s middle. “I knew it, wife. You can’t stay away from the four-legged furry friends.”
“You got me,” Hayden laughed. “His name is Oscar. He’s the ambassador. His handler, Nicole, was just explaining she doesn’t like having him on a leash or with a muzzle, but she fears with all the people he would become overstimulated.”
“She’s right. Wolves have a delicate sense of smell and are always hyper aware of their surroundings. He is beautiful.”
The girl blushed. A twinkle of appreciation filled her hazel eyes. “He just turned two. I’ve helped raise him from a pup. His mother was killed by a rancher.”
