by Tamsin Baker
I pulled the door shut before I said or did anything stupid.
I walked over to the blanket cupboard and rested my forehead on the door.
Why? Why now?
I should be bawling my eyes out, an utter mess about my father’s death. But instead I had two fated mates willing to fight by my side while we made those who were responsible pay.
If this was my dad’s—or mom’s, for that matter—idea of a good way of distracting me from the fact my life was irrevocably changed, they were doing a good job of it.
Get a move on.
I pulled open the door to the cupboard, grabbed a spare pillow and a couple of blankets, and headed back to the lounge.
Travis... Fridge, was different. My genetics didn’t recognize him the same way they did Rogan. But the fated mates link was still there.
In fact, it was almost stronger.
Our attraction was so deep I could barely think straight, and I had an intense desire to tuck myself beneath his wings and never leave him.
I shook my head just before I stepped back into the living room. I’d never felt that way with a man before.
This need to be protected, to feel safe, it was the way I had always assumed it would feel with a mate. To want to give him babies and protect them too...
Oh. My. God. Just stop it!
When I stepped back into the room, Fridge had disposed of his jeans and tank top, standing about in only a tight pair of black cotton boxers. He was every woman’s wet dream, with massive shoulders, ripped abs, and sparking green eyes in a beautiful, rugged face.
My pussy practically melted as I staggered forward, throwing the pillow and blankets that I had in my arms at him. “Here.”
He caught them and instead of holding them in front of his body like he should have, he tossed them onto the couch.
“You okay?” he asked, his brow furrowing.
I wanted to smack him in the face.
Actually, I wanted to fuck the shit out of him... but that was hardly the way to start a lifetime relationship, nor deal with the grief in my system.
“Fine. Goodnight.” I turned to move away, determined to pull my never-used vibrator out of its hiding spot in my room.
Desire and lust clawed at me like a wild animal and I wasn’t sure how I was going to cope with any of this.
Especially if these stupid men were determined to ignore the bond. They’d drive us all insane.
Fridge’s hand snaked out and grabbed my arm, turning me back around to face him.
I glared up at him and shook off his arm, my skin tingling and heating at his touch. I wanted him, desired him, need clawed at me. And he was rejecting me?
“What?” I demanded, though I was struggling to breathe with his hot skin and gorgeous face so close.
“You look... strange.” His nostrils flared, and his eyes widened.
So, he could smell me huh? Well, suffer!
Then his brilliant green eyes darkened and shifted so that his pupils changed to slit-like diamonds. His true dragon eyes.
I shivered as he pulled me closer, wrapping his other arm around my waist.
I couldn’t fight his strength, and I didn’t want to.
He dragged me closer until our thighs were pressed together and I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
“What...is...this?” he hissed, in a voice I had to assume was his shifter’s tones.
Almost snake like, the sound was creepy as much as it was lustful.
“It’s the fated mates link,” I whispered. “Whether you believe in it or not...”
Recognition flared in his eyes. Then anger and disappointment warred with his natural need to take me. Mate with me. Devour me whole in the best way possible.
Hs eyes flickered from human to dragon, and back again. His jaw clenched, his arm shook, and he snorted as though he were in a real fight.
But finally, the human side of him won, and he stumbled backwards, falling down onto the couch.
He shook his head, growling softly.
Yeah, thanks.
I let Fridge’s rejection cool the lust pouring through me.
“Sleep well, dragon,” I said, lifting my chin and storming away.
Fucking asshole.
The anger in me began to build as I made my way to my room, so I slammed the door just to see if it made me feel better. It didn’t.
Who the hell did he think he was? Rejecting our bond? Rejecting me!
And why? Because he didn’t want to believe that the Universe had a plan for us all? That fated mates was as true as he and I?
Well, he could fucking wait now!
Because he was going to have to beg on bended knee before I offered myself so blatantly to him again.
Fated mate bond, or not.
Chapter 5.
Dreams of wolves, dragons, witches, and knives tormented my night. I woke up too many times to count—sweaty, scared, aroused and annoyed.
When daybreak finally came, I was so relieved to see the end of the dark, I fell into a restful sleep.
Why the men didn’t wake me, I had no idea. But it was close to lunchtime when I finally felt rested enough to open my eyes and glance at the clock.
Damn, it’s late!
“Gah...” I groaned and stretched, reaching for my cell phone that lay on the bedside table. It was totally dead.
Of course. No wonder I’d slept until noon. No alarm. No frantic calls from my work wondering where the hell I was.
I rolled out of bed and stumbled straight into the shower. Dad had made sure we each had our own private bathrooms, as well as a powder room for guests. It was one of the best parts about this apartment.
I scrubbed myself clean of the stench of my fitful night sleep, sweat and arousal nauseatingly intertwined.
I even washed my hair. Today was going to need all my energy just to survive. Better to start the day fresh and clean.
When I got out of the steamy hot room, I felt deflated and tired, but my head was clearer, the cloud of depression lifting enough so that I could see myself getting through the day in one piece.
I pulled on a pair of knickers and a plain t-shirt bra, scowling as I deliberately chose an un-sexy pair out of spite.
Bloody men.
Then I stood in front of my wardrobe, dismissing all the plain corporate gear I wore every day. I was having a month off work, at least. If I went back at all. No need to wear any of that boring crap right now.
Through the night my dad’s voice had haunted me. The countless times he’d taunted me about my career not suiting me.
How he wished I’d chosen to work alongside him.
I’d never really taken him seriously when he’d said so. Even yesterday morning he’d said it, again. After all, his comments had been made in jest, hadn’t they? What man wanted his daughter to become a bounty hunter?
Well, whether he’d meant to drag me into his world or not, I was jumping in now. With both feet.
My dad had spent almost twenty years building his business, and I wasn’t about to let it go under. Not to mention the fact that his work, or one of his bounties, had to be the reason that he’d been killed.
That was no random killings. No unintentional over bleeding.
We’d all seen them on the news. A young vampire arrested for over feeding. It was always messy, and stupid and an accident.
Vampires didn’t need to drain a person to survive. A weekly meal for most vampires was barely a quart of blood.
To drain a man the size of my father... I shivered. That took not only an incredibly ravenous appetite, but precision and deliberation.
It also just wasn’t possible for a young, ravenous, inexperienced vampire to get the drop on my father.
Thanks to his natural predispositions, and my mother’s magical enhancements, his hearing and protection instincts were exceptional. He’d hunted all manner of beast, including vampires, with success.
The person... the creature, that had killed him was a professio
nal. And more than likely, extremely old. The older the vampires got, the stealthier they became.
But not necessarily did they get any hungrier. In fact, quite the opposite. So why drain him? For his blood, which was not a rare type at all, or to make sure no-one brought him back?
I added the question to my long list.
I stepped into my wardrobe looking for an outfit appropriate for battle.
I flicked through my pale jumpers, my skintight jeans.
What did I have... “Ah-ha!”
My old motor bike leathers! Perfect. I hadn’t worn them since college but fingers-crossed they still fit. I was still pretty much the same weight I was five years ago.
I pulled out the outfit and tossed it on my bed. I grabbed a white tank from the drawer, tugged that on, then set about pouring myself into the leather pants.
By the time I’d moaned and groaned my way through getting them up my thighs, they looked great, though I was pretty sure I’d need a new pair. Something comfortable to train in.
These were for intimidation purposes alone.
The jacket was too big, it always had been, so I just layered up with a see-through mesh black top over the white tank.
I’d usually do my hair and apply makeup.
Not today. I was dealing with men who didn’t want to see me as anything other than Jimmy’s daughter. Plus, the tears would come sooner or later. The last thing I wanted was to look like some horror oil painting.
I threw my hair up into a ponytail and went through my bedroom door. Now for breakfast and a plan for the day.
In the kitchen, Rogan sat at the counter, tapping away on his phone.
When he heard me, he turned with a big smile on his face. “You’re awake.”
I frowned. “You’re still here.”
His smile fell and I felt a moment of regret at snapping at him.
“Sorry.”
It wasn’t Rogan’s fault that his douche bag of a friend had rejected me so spectacularly last night.
Rogan shrugged. “Looks like you’re in the sort of mood as Fridge was this morning. Something happen with you two last night?”
The question surprised me, and I didn’t have time to put my normal straight face into place. “Ah...”
Rogan lifted a single eyebrow.
I walked forward, going straight to the fridge. “What do you mean? What was he like this morning?”
I rummaged in the fridge for something to eat. Some yoghurt, my favorite juice.
When I came back out, I plastered a smile on my face and reminded myself to keep my attitude light.
Rogan said, “He was in a shit mood. Grouchy, short tempered, and couldn’t wait to get out of here. I thought it was because he’d slept on the couch, but seeing you... I don’t think that was it.”
I shrugged, opening the yoghurt and finding a spoon. “We had a disagreement before bed. That’s all.”
“Mm... hmmm.”
I poured my juice and gestured to him. “You want something?”
He shook his head. “I’m all good. When you’re ready, I’ll escort you wherever you want to go.”
I frowned. “Escort me?”
“Yeah. We’re not leaving your side until this guy, or guys, are caught. They could be after you too.”
I huffed out a laugh. “I doubt it.”
I had nothing to do with my father’s business, I knew nothing. Plus, if they wanted to use me as leverage to get something, who were they going to threaten? There was no-one left.
Rogan gestured to my outfit. “Are you planning on taking on your dad’s business?”
I glanced down, wondering how he worked that out so fast. Smart guy.
“Yeah, why?”
“Then you definitely need our help. I’m sure Jimmy’s business is the reason they went after him.”
“They? You have an idea who it is?” I sucked on the spoon and continued eating the yoghurt, though my heart was beating too fast.
Hopefully, the unsettled feelings would stop, especially if Rogan rejected the bond also.
I needed to get back to feeling normal.
Rogan put his phone down and gave me his full attention. “Because Jimmy was a rare man, even among rare men. He had standards and integrity. He couldn’t be bought. And that pissed a lot of people off.”
I knew that he had enemies. Dad lived like someone might come after him. Always had. Our apartment was full of hidden weapons and alarms. Strangely none of them went off last night though... something else to sort out.
“Yeah... I get that. He often told me of run ins he’d had with cops, and even solicitors who were trying to get their clients off by paying people. They tried to bribe him to stop the hunt, erase the bounty.”
Rogan nodded. “But he wouldn’t. He always got the guy. And he held us to the same high standards.”
“Really?” I asked. I’d always assumed Dad would only hire the best, but hearing it from someone on the inside was so much better. “Tell me more.”
One side of Rogan’s lips quirked up. “His interview process is vicious. In both physical combat testing, and psychological drills. His contract states that if you’re caught taking bribes or don’t report illegal activity, he’ll arrest you himself.”
I could feel my eyes getting wider and my eyebrows rising higher on my forehead. “Wow.”
Rogan laughed. “Oh yeah, he was one tough mother fucker. But he paid really well and made sure we all got along, Because of that, we were all loyal to him. All of us would have fought beside him. Any day of the week.”
He sighed, as though he’d had his heart broken yesterday too.
My logical brain was already firing with the new information. “Okay, well, if he was that tough, do you think it’s possible that it was an ex-employee, or someone who hadn’t got through the training that might have wanted him dead? A grudge maybe?”
Because my dad could piss people off like no other. He had a heart of gold, but he was a tough man, in a tough world.
“I suppose... that’s possible. But I doubt it.”
“How come?”
“Your dad didn’t hire vamps.”
Hmmm.... Interesting. I knew he had a bit of a... hatred for the species as a whole, but I would have thought he’d use their skills to his advantage.
“Really? Well, that surprises me.” I put the yoghurt away and finished my juice before reaching over and flicking the coffee machine on.
“Why?” Rogan asked.
“Well, because vamps have advantages I would have thought Dad would want. Speed, a natural affinity to the dark.”
Rogan shook his head. “Nah, he said he didn’t trust anything that didn’t age, and had no official expiry date.”
I burst out laughing, which felt so good, I couldn’t believe it.
“Ah yeah, that sounds like him.” I laughed again, enjoying the sensation of happiness that had managed to break through the steel covering I’d placed over my grief.
Rogan tapped his fingers on the top of the kitchen counter. “So, since it’s a vamp, you can probably wipe out the idea that it’s an employee... I’d look at the bounty files.”
I made myself a coffee and gestured to a second mug. “You want one?”
He nodded. “Yeah, why not. Black, please. Two sugars.”
I made him a coffee, my hands shaking a little as I poured the exact same sort of coffee I would for my dad if he was home.
Strange.
I pushed the drink over the marble countertop towards Rogan. “Here you go. Now tell me more about these bounty files.”
He took the mug, drank a little, then sighed happily.
“Thanks heaps. Well, basically, they’re client files. We get sent bounties to hunt down. Both public and private ones. They have all the details on the person, the price for their collar, and any special talents they have in case we need to fight them. Which, to be honest, ninety-nine percent of cases come down to a scrap. We aren’t chasing good guys.”
&nbs
p; I bit my lip. “Okay... so you think that it could be one of the vampires you’ve arrested and turned in. And what do you mean private bounties... is that legal?”
I’d thought bounty hunting was only for people who’d skipped bail or were wanted by the police.
Rogan grinned. “Now, that is a grey area. A line that Jimmy liked to walk that others didn’t.”
I leaned forward. “Tell me more about that.”
If my dad had been doing something dodgy, I wanted to know about it.
Rogan smiled, almost nostalgically. “When someone in the city is looking for someone who has disappeared, you can put out a private bounty for them. There are more rules of course. They aren’t allowed to be hurt, and there has to be a real reason for wanting to find them. Fraud, abusive past. But we took those. And they paid well.”
I cocked my head. So they didn’t just round up bad guys trying to skip town...
“What sort of clients put out private bounties?” I asked, chewing on my lip in thought.
Rogan shook his head. “I don’t know that so much... You’d have to check over the files.”
I had access to everything now, so I could. “But, at a guess... do you mean, lawyers maybe? Husbands looking for runaway wives?”
He shook his head. “No, more like some of the big drug running companies, or the big corporations if they thought someone had snuck off with their designs or shipments.”
My mouth dropped open. “And Dad worked with them?”
“Oh, yeah. When I mean drug running, I mean the legit ones. Big pharma. They have too many employees, too much money, and are majorly paranoid about everything.”
Now my brain began to tick. “And they’re owned by vamps, aren’t they?”
As most successful companies were, nowadays. A vampire’s ability to live forever certainly had its advantages.
“Yes. Why?”
I picked up my mug and began to plot my afternoon. I had a lot of research to do.
“I think we have somewhere to start,” I said. “I need to go into the workshop, deal with the current order of business, and then we focus on finding my dad’s killer.”
Chapter 6.
The city streets were busier at lunch time than I’d expected, but I still didn’t regret my choice to walk. I needed to stretch my legs.
