There was only one reason. She should have realized. Natasha bit back an angry snort and forced herself to count to ten. Titan was an asshole, that’s why he didn’t want to work with her. She grit her teeth for a moment. “It’s because I’m a woman, isn’t it?” She spoke under her breath. She paused for a moment, waiting for him to deny it. She couldn’t wait to hear his bullshit excuses.
“Yes.” He gave a nod, keeping his eyes on the door.
Her mouth fell open for a second. “What? You admit it?” That was a first. Honesty ‒ something she could actually respect, even if he was a sexist pig.
Titan finally glanced her way. “I don’t want a female on my task team.”
“Why the hell not? I’m a better marksman, I’m quicker than—”
“None of that matters.” He glanced her way for a second before looking back at the door.
“Of course it matters. I would be an asset to any team. My field experience—”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not personal.”
“Of course it’s personal. You don’t know me and yet you’ve based your decision on the fact that I pee sitting.”
His mouth twitched. The asshole thought it was funny. He could honestly go to hell. “The fact that I’m a woman isn’t important. For your information, I’m not married. I don’t have any kids.” She snorted, unable to hold back her irritation for a moment longer. “Not that it should matter.”
“I know you don’t.” Deadpan.
She felt herself frown. “How could you possibly know something like that?”
“I can scent it.”
What? “How could you …?”
“Be quiet for a moment.” His gaze flashed to her mouth before locking with her eyes.
The nerve. “No! You can’t just tell me to—” He put his hand over her mouth. His big, warm, calloused hand.
She made a muffled squeaking noise. It irritated her how good the guy smelled. As in, off the charts. Her eyes widened. She was just about to step away from him or to shake his hand off when his eyes softened.
“Please.” His pale blue orbs burned into hers. “I need to listen to what they are saying. I don’t trust them.” He looked back towards the door.
4
Her mouth was against his hand. Her lush, soft lips pressed against him. It was the first time he’d touched a female in what felt like forever.
A year and a half was how long it had really been, but it felt so much longer. Her scent was of wild roses and candy. The hard sugary kind. A treat to be savored. Anger flashed in her dark eyes. They were even more beautiful when narrowed and blazing.
“Please. I need to listen. I don’t trust them.” He removed his hand. There was no way he was touching her again. He could only pray that she actually listened to him.
The female gasped, she put her hand over her mouth for an instant. “Shit!” she whispered. “You’re not human,” she mumbled to herself.
Titan shook his head. He put a finger to his lips. “Shhhhh!”
Richard Evans returned to the hallway from a bathroom break. If he didn’t pay close attention he would miss the real agenda. Those two had a plan and Titan would bet big money it didn’t have his or his people’s best interest at heart. Titan cocked his head so that he could hear better. “Let’s move a little down the hallway. These vampires have excellent hearing,” the male said.
Yeah, we do!
The other female, Stewart, didn’t say anything. Two sets of footfalls could be heard retreating.
Not far enough, asshole.
“What’s going on?” A little softer but still audible. “Why the hell did you put Walters forward?” he spoke under his breath, his tone was abrasive.
“Sir, I know you want her out and this is the perfect way to do it,” the female paused. “Let the vampire head this whole thing up. Let him have his task force of two.” She gave a humorless laugh. “We both know this operation is a recipe for failure. I want nothing to do with it and I’m sure you feel the same.”
“The president wants this taken care of,” Evans snarled despite the hushed tone. “I can’t wash my hands of it. That bloodsucking idiot is about to get me into hot water. When this whole thing blows up, it’s my ass on the line and I’m taking you with me.”
“That’s not going to happen. We’ve been told to stand down and that’s what we need to do. The vampire wants control ‒ well, he can have it. Lock stock and barrel. When he screws this whole thing up we’ll take over and save the day. I’ll take charge with a real team of agents. Qualified agents. You said you wanted Walters gone and this is the best way to make that happen.”
“What are they saying?” the female, Natasha Walters, whispered as she stepped towards him, breaking his concentration.
“Quiet, I need to hear this,” Titan growled under his breath. She gave a quick nod.
He refocused on the conversation happening down the hall. “…to them. I like it though,” Evans said. “You’re onto something here. I mean, who does this bloodsucker think he is? How the hell is he going to find this band of thugs all on his own? He’s going to stand out like a sore thumb. Probably get himself killed in the process.” The male sighed. “What about Walters though? I like the idea of getting rid of her by bringing her onboard. It’s like killing two birds with one stone, but the vampire doesn’t seem keen on her. Can’t say I blame him. She’s been a disappointment from the start.”
“It doesn’t matter whether she works together with the vampire or not. Either way we can get her out.” The female laughed, this time, the sound was light and airy. She meant it! “If Titan chooses not to work with her, we’ll make him fill out a formal grievance. After all, he has his reasons for not wanting her as a partner. Can’t say I blame him. It’ll be the last black mark we need to get her dismissed. If he refuses to sign, he’ll be forced to take her on anyway.”
Titan made a growling noise from deep in the back of his throat.
“What is it?” Natasha Walters whispered. He ignored her, keeping his focus on the conversation outside.
“And if he brings her onboard it’s just a matter of waiting for the ticking time bomb to take care of itself.” Richard Evans laughed. “I knew there was a reason I liked you Stewart. We should grab a drink after work today.”
“I-I’m working till late. It’s the Marino Case,” Stewart sounded much less confident.
“I’m only in town for one night.”
“Still, sir, I …”
Titan turned his attention back to Natasha. “What is it? You just heard their conversation didn’t you.”
He gave a nod. “We don’t have much time. I need you to be very honest with me.”
She clenched her jaw, her eyes flashed with more of that anger from before but she gave a sharp nod.
“What happened to make Richard Evans dislike you so much?”
She frowned. “How did you know …?”
“We don’t have time to delve into this.” He could hear their conversation draw to an end. “What happened? He wants you gone.”
The female’s eyes moved to the ceiling and she pushed out a breath. “He was at my graduation ceremony and came to congratulate me personally afterwards. I thought it was because I had been assigned to his division.” She looked him in the eye. “He got handsy. I wasn’t game.”
“Handsy?” Footsteps sounded, they grew closer. “We only have seconds. Explain.”
“He put his hands on me … my ass … my …” Her cheeks turned pink as she pointed in the general vicinity of her mammary glands.
“He initiated sex?”
She nodded. “Made it clear that’s what he wanted. He invited me back to his hotel room for drinks.”
Titan clenched his jaw.
“I turned him down and he vowed to ruin my career. I’ve worked too hard for too long to have it end like this. I’m out, he’s found a way to get rid of me. I’m right aren’t I?” She chewed on her lower lip, her eyes blazed with anger and frustration.
Fuck! The last thing he needed or wanted was to partner with this female. If he didn’t take her she was out cold. She wasn’t his concern though. He needed to stick to his original plan. It did not include this female or any female for that matter.
Stewart and Evans walked back into the room and Titan had to fist his hands at his sides to stop himself from punching the smug look off of the other male’s face.
Natasha looked down at her feet. She sniffed a couple of times. Titan could tell that she was trying not to cry. Whether from sadness or anger, he wasn’t sure.
“It’s up to you, Titan. This is your show,” Stewart went on. She hooked a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you would prefer another agent to assist you, I can have some files sent to your hotel room. You would be free to interview any and all of the candidates. I’ll include Special Agent Walter’s file.” The female glanced at Natasha who lifted her chin. The female stood tall. Even in the face of defeat, she pulled herself together. Titan respected her for it.
“No.” He shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”
“No problem, I’ll send you a couple of alternates.” The other female winked at him and he had to stop himself from growling at her.
“I’ll start the paperwork as discussed.” She looked over at Evans who smiled and nodded. “You will need to sign some paperwork as to why you decided not to work with Special Agent Walters. Nothing to be concerned about. Red tape and all that. You can go Walters.” Hard as nails. The female didn’t bother looking at her subordinate as she spoke.
Natasha didn’t say a word. She kept her head held high and walked out of the room. He could hear her heart pounding, could scent her anger and her pain. The female was hurt. His own heart-rate picked up. He hated to see such injustice.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Richard Evans checking out Natasha’s ass as she walked away. The male grinned. Fucker! The dickhead was both a sexist and a bigot. His whole body vibrated with the need to pulverize the male’s face. Titan had made some mistakes in his past. He had paid, continued to pay. Guilt still tasted bitter on his tongue. This asshole didn’t see anything wrong with his actions though. It was so wrong and on so many levels.
“Um … Titan …” Kimberly Stewart looked unsure, she widened her eyes for a second. “You’re grinding your teeth. Is something the matter?”
“Yes,” he paused. “No … no,” he added, sounding like a fool. “Everything is fine. When I said that sending Agent Walter’s file wasn’t necessary, you misunderstood. I don’t need her file because I have decided to partner with her on this operation.”
The female narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure? You don’t have to take her, you know?”
“My initial feeling was that she was overqualified, but since I am only taking one person with me back to Sweetwater, I may as well take the best.”
“Actually …” Richard Evans began.
“Good thinking, Titan,” Kimberly said, using a patronizing tone. “I will inform Walters that she will be accompanying you.
What the hell was he doing? It wasn’t too late to change his mind. He couldn’t leave the female to her fate though. He couldn’t do it. Maybe it was guilt over his past actions. Whatever the reason, the outcome was still the same. Titan nodded.
The rest of his plan would remain the same. He would keep the agent ‒ it didn’t matter that she was a female ‒ busy and out of his way. He would find the bad guys and make sure they were brought to justice. Then he would go back to his kings, his castle, his people and would continue protecting the human females who came onto vampire territory. He would continue to make amends for his actions. Maybe one day it would be enough.
5
Natasha looked out the window of the Uber that had picked her up from the tiny airport. Sweetwater was quaint and not nearly as small as she’d thought. Business was booming. At least one house on each street had been converted into a bed and breakfast.
She spotted what looked like a fast food joint in the final stages of construction. They’d passed several such construction sites along the way. Even the little airport had been closed in certain sections due to refurbishments.
A few minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the Sweetwater Hotel. The driver waited a few minutes while she checked in and dumped her bags in her tiny suite. Home sweet home for the foreseeable future. She still couldn’t believe she was here. Natasha jumped back into the waiting cab … next stop: The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office.
Her boss, Kimberly Stewart AKA ‘The Ballbreaker’ had been nothing but kind to her since giving her the assignment a few days ago. Kimberly was not a kind, sweet person. Something was up. According to her supervisor, she had convinced Titan to give Natasha a chance. Natasha wasn’t sure what to believe. She didn’t trust her boss. Not one tiny bit, yet she found it hard to believe that Titan would’ve changed his mind, on his own, about taking her onboard. So, which was it? Either Titan had changed his mind about her or Kimberly had pushed him to give Natasha a chance ‒ neither seemed feasible.
It ultimately didn’t matter. This was a chance to prove herself and she was taking it with both hands. Titan was her direct superior for the immediate future. They had to work closely together. She was going to play nice. Put the past behind them and turn a new page, as her daddy would say. She felt instantly homesick. Natasha had not only given up on a family of her own, she’d also left her folks, her brother and her whole life behind to join the FBI. So far, it had been a mistake. No! A lifelong dream was not a mistake. She’d started off on the wrong foot. That was all. Richard Evans was that wrong foot. Natasha had to succeed. There was no other option. Once she proved herself, she could transfer to another division ‒ one not run by Evans ‒ and build a career putting bad guys away.
A large sign read: Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office. It showed a picture of a Sheriff’s badge. They pulled into a parking spot next to a patrol vehicle. The building was bigger than she had expected. It was modern and looked to be new. Another sign pointed out the county jail. It was a separate building on the same block.
She thanked the driver and made her way inside. The smell of fresh paint hit her nostrils. The building had to be new. That or completely refurbed.
An older woman sat behind a tall reception desk, she smiled warmly as she caught sight of Natasha. “Good morning.” She looked at her watch, her smile widened. “Nope, make that … good afternoon. It’s just gone twelve.”
“Hello. I’m looking for Sheriff Carter or …” She looked past the lady. There were several people in the room. Some were seated at desks while others seemed to be milling about. “Titan,” she finally said when she didn’t spot the man in question. Her eyes locked back with the receptionist’s.
“Oh … yeah …” the older lady giggled. She blushed. Titan was here alright. Natasha could tell by the other woman’s reaction. The receptionist nodded. “Titan’s taken the corner office. So far, he seems to keep to himself. Sheriff Carter asked that I call him the moment you arrive. He wanted to welcome you personally to Sweetwater. I’m Milly, by the way.” Her hair was neatly cut and completely grey, it fell to just past her shoulders. Despite her hair color, Milly’s face was only lightly lined. She had big blue eyes and a warm smile. “Hold just a minute and I’ll get him for you.”
Milly knocked on the door with the Sheriff plaque. Despite the modern finishes, some things were still very old school. The sheriff blustered out of his office moments later. He was an older man. Natasha guessed that he was in his late fifties. He had a well-rounded midsection and a big smile. His cheeks were rosy. Natasha decided he would make an excellent Santa Claus, just add a beard and a red suit.
She couldn’t help but smile back as he made his way over to her. “You must be Special Agent Walters.” He walked around the reception desk and clasped her hand in a big shake.
Natasha nodded. “Yup. Please call me Natasha.”
“I’m Sheriff Carter, more comm
only known as ‘Big Bear Bill’ by the locals.” He barked out a laugh, finally releasing her hand. “Welcome to Sweetwater.”
“Thank you! I have to say, it’s a whole lot bigger than I expected.” She looked around the reception area.
“Oh yeah, up until recently we had a population of under six thousand. It was just a handful of us who kept this department going. There was no crime except for the odd minor theft or domestic ...” He shifted his eyes to the side. “If you know what I mean. Things changed when the vampires decided to launch their breeding program. All hell pretty much broke loose.” He grinned broadly. “People started flocking to Sweetwater either to live here or to visit. Our tourism numbers are through the roof.”
“I’ll bet,” Natasha chimed in. No wonder there were so many bed and breakfasts all over town.
“Women love them non-humans,” he spoke softly and behind his hand. “We have extra patrols out on Shifter Night.”
Natasha raised her brows. “Shifter Night?”
Big Bear Bill nodded, he hooked his thumbs in his pant loops. “Most Saturday nights, the shifters gather to … well to …”
“Cause trouble?” she asked.
“Not exactly. Let’s just say that they are here to mingle … with the ladies … if you get my drift?” He winked at her.
“Hmmhmmm. I’m pretty sure I do.” Natasha smiled.
“It’s not the non-humans who cause the trouble though. It’s these hate groups and … I don’t know …” He shook his head. “I guess testosterone levels run high. We’re not a big town and we live close to so many non-humans. Like I said earlier, women love ’em.”
Milly giggled and blushed some more. “I think I might prefer the vampires to the shifters.” She looked pointedly at one of the closed doors that lined the far wall. The corner office.
Titan.
He was in that office. Natasha swallowed hard. The guy wasn’t that good-looking. She’d exaggerated him in her mind. Tall, built, knives strapped to his person. Okay, those things were sexy. However, overgrown hair on a man was wrong on so many levels. On him it was super masculine though, super ‒ on another level ‒ sexy. A beard on a man had never been her thing either. Yet on him … She pulled her thoughts from the gutter. She was going to be disappointed when she saw him again, she just knew it.
A Mate for Titan (The Program Book 7) Page 3
