by Maggie Walsh
“I have always loved you, Micah. I still love you.” Thomas had tears in his eyes as he stared into Micah’s eyes.
“I’m sorry, Thomas, but I don’t love you like that. I never have loved you in that way. I love Jesse. I’m in love with Jesse. He’s my mate. He is the man of my dreams. He is the mate I always dreamed I would have. He is the love of my life.”
“No!” Thomas lunged for Jesse. Micah shifted into his wolf so fast it was almost invisible. At the same time, he pushed Jesse behind him with his hind leg and bared his teeth at Thomas, snapping and snarling. Thomas backed up slowly as Micah crouched low and stalked his prey, ready to pounce.
“No, Micah, please,” Thomas begged. Micah lunged and knocked Thomas down. He sat on top of Thomas, snapping his jaws at him. Thomas bared his throat to Micah in submission. Micah pulled his head back and then shifted. He was standing above Thomas.
“No one threatens my mate! I don’t care who it is, I will kill anyone…anyone! who hurts my mate,” Micah snarled.
Jesse grabbed Micah’s hand and squeezed. “Don’t do it, Micah. He’s been your friend for so long. You’ll never be able to live with yourself, my love. Please.”
“How can you stop me from doing this? After everything he has done to you, all the pain he has caused you. He has betrayed his pack, his brothers. He has betrayed me. He has gone against our oath to always protect all mates. I can’t let that go, Jesse. He needs to be punished for his crimes.”
“I know, Micah. Yes, he does have to pay. I could care less about him and what happens to him. But not you, love. Please not you.” Jesse kissed his bicep.
Raith and Dante picked Thomas up off the floor where he was lying motionless as if in a trance. “We’ll take care of this, Micah. You need your rest. Stay with your mate,” Raith said.
Micah stared at Thomas for a moment and then nodded and turned around, wrapping his arms around Jesse. Turning his back on Thomas.
Raith and Dante took Thomas out of the room. He continued to stare off in a trancelike state, as they walked him down the stairs. They turned to head down the hall toward the kitchen and the whole inner pack was there. They were lined up against the walls. They all looked at Thomas with hatred in their eyes, and as he approached each one, they turned their backs on him. When they got to the end Thomas’s eyes met Gabriel’s. Gabriel’s eyes were so full of anger and sadness. He closed his eyes and turned his back to Thomas. Taylor stepped out in front of Thomas, and the three men came to a halt. Taylor spit in his face and stepped aside.
Dante and Raith took Thomas down into the basement and put him in a cell. Thomas turned to them with tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
Raith walked to him and pulled Thomas’s head into his chest with one hand, as the other went around his back. “I know, Thomas. I know.” Raith’s hand moved up to Thomas’s head. “I’m sorry, too, brother,” Raith whispered and then his claws elongated and he snapped Thomas’s neck. Thomas’s body went limp in Raith’s arms and he gently lowered Thomas to the cot.
* * * *
Micah, Gabriel, Raith, Lexi, and Sebastian, along with Dante and four of his men, walked into a club. The walls and floor were all black. The long bar to the right was a dark wood with lights around the underside lip, and mirrors behind the bar. Tables and chairs were set up around a semi-large club, about half the size of Micah’s Angel Club. A small stage was to the left about three feet off the floor, with tables and chairs surrounding it. The club was closed, but in the center of the room sat a man dressed in an all-black suit. He looked to be about five foot nine and about two hundred and fifty pounds of fat, with a bald head on top, long around the sides and pulled back into a ponytail at his nape. He had a thick mustache and a goatee. He looked to be about sixty. He was smoking a cigar as he looked up at them. Standing behind him were four large men all dressed in blue jeans and white T-shirts, with their arms crossed over their chests. Each one ranged from about six one, to six three, and from about two hundred, to two hundred and eighty pounds of muscle.
“Dante Calabrese, I presume?” the fat bald man said.
“Yes, I am. And these are my associates.” Dante motioned to the men around him.
“I thought you were only bringing two with you?” he grumbled as he flicked his cigar ash on the floor.
“We agreed I would bring two of my partners, along with guards. These are my two partners, Mr. Micah Angel, and Mr. Gabriel Angel.” Dante motioned to the two. Micah just nodded his head slightly. Gabriel remained stiff and quiet.
“So what exactly can I do for you, Mr. Calabrese? Our mutual acquaintance said you were looking for a special item.” The man smirked.
Dante stepped closer to the man as his guards spread out. “I heard that you train a certain luxury item that my associate’s and I may be interested in obtaining.”
“You’ve heard wrong, Mr. Calabrese. I have nothing of the sort. You can show yourselves out.” The man smirked at him then turned to look back down at the paperwork on the table in front of him.
Micah’s face had remained stoic and cold along with all the others, now raised the side of his lip and started to growl.
The man’s head shot up and he looked in Micah’s direction. His eyes went wide before he caught himself. Dante held his hand up to stop Micah. Micah relaxed back to his cold hard stare. Dante’s eyes never left the asshole at the table, he tilted his head and calmly spoke. “Then you are not the one I am looking for. I was told that the owner of this club was a man by the name of Nick Boone. And that he could help me with what I seek. He would be compensated greatly.”
“I’m Nick Boone, but I don’t do business with small-time pissants like you. I only deal with real clients.”
“Small-time pissants? Well, that’s a new one. Considering my partner and I”—he motioned to Micah—“have more money than god. And we each started with just the clothes on our backs. I would say that you, little insignificant slime on the ass of society, are the one who should be begging us to do business with you.” Dante’s eyes were cold and went completely black.
Nick’s eyes went wide as he looked at Dante. “What are you?”
“We are, quite literally, your worst nightmare, Mr. Boone,” Dante said in a deadly calm voice.
Dante turned and nodded at his men. The four vampire’s walked to the exits and blocked them. Dante stepped closer, Boone’s men moved closer and got into fighting stances. Dante ignored them and lowered his face to Boone’s. “Now, Mr. Boone, how many young men do you have up in your rooms?”
“S-s-seven,” Boone stammered, his eyes showing his fear. Dante nodded his head to Lexi and Bass, and they moved to go to the hall, but Boone’s men blocked them. Lexi’s lip raised into a cold smirk as he stopped right in front of one of Boone’s guards. “What are you doing? Your men can’t go up there, they’ll frighten my boys,” Boone yelled out.
“I wish to see the merchandise before I purchase them,” Dante said matter-of-factly.
“Or we can just kill all these stupid fuckers and take what we’re after,” Micah snarled.
“Wait…Wait. Okay. You can see them. But they’re five grand apiece,” Boone said.
“Let me ask you something, Mr. Boone. Do you train all your boys yourself?” Dante asked calmly.
“Yes. Me and my boys here.” Boone motioned to the four guards.
“I heard that awhile back you trained two very special boys. I’ve met them recently. That’s how we heard of you. They are exactly what I am looking for.” Dante slowly circled the table and walked toward the stage.
“Who would that be?” Boone asked in a shaking voice.
Dante turned and sat on the stage to look at Boone. Micah and Gabriel slowly approached Boone. He didn’t notice because his eyes were trained on the very intimidating man in front of him, sitting on the stage. Dante folded his hands in his lap and smiled. “Jesse and Taylor. Do those names ring a bell, Boone?”
“Yeah, cute twinks,
blond, tight asses. The one could sing, the other was clumsy as hell, kept dropping drinks. They were here a while ago,” Boone answered with a slimy smile on his face, remembering Jesse and Taylor.
“And you and your boys here,” Dante nodded his head at the guards. “Trained them?”
“Yes, we did,” Boone said with a smirk and a slight chuckle. “They were fire, too, little hell cats at first, but eventually they submitted, like everyone does.”
“And all your boys upstairs, did you and these men train them the way you trained Taylor and Jesse?” Dante asked in a cold voice, his face unreadable.
“Yes, we have,” Boone said, puffing out his chest in pride over his accomplishments.
“That’s all I needed to know,” Dante said with a feral grin and looked at Micah. “Are you satisfied?”
Without taking his eyes off Boone, Micah answered, “Almost, but not yet.”
“Boys, bring the meat down here for our guest to sample.” Boone addressed his guards.
“That won’t be necessary, I have what I want right here.” Micah smirked as his teeth extended.
Boone stood up nervously. Just then Lexi and Bass punched each of the guards in front of them and brought them to their knees. Claws extended and wrapped around the guards’ throats as two of Dante’s men came up behind the other two guards and wrapped their claws around their throats, making all the guards freeze.
“What goes on here?” Boone stammered in fear.
“You see, Mr. Boone,” Dante started to say as he stood up with his hands clasped behind his back and started walking toward Boone slowly. He stopped directly in front of Boone and lifted his clawed hand to Boone’s face. Boone stepped back but Raith grabbed him. Dante slowly dragged a claw down Boone’s cheek. “You, are a sick, twisted fuck. Who keeps young boys here against their will. You trap them by being nice, then tell them they owe you for that kindness. Then you and your men rape them and force them into being sex slaves against their will.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Those two owed me a shit load of money, they asked for everything they got.”
Micah and Gabriel started to growl as their eyes changed and their claws extended from their fingers and their teeth burst through their gums.
“What are you?” Boone asked again as his eyes bugged out and he started to shake.
“Me? I’m just a vampire, Mr. Boone. Prince Dante Calebrese. Next in line for the throne, to be King of all vampires. But these gentlemen,” he motioned to Micah and Gabriel, “are Jesse and Taylor’s mates. And they are very unhappy about how their mates were treated here. You see, we all get very angry when someone even looks at a mate wrong. But what you have done, now that just makes us all bat-shit crazy. And we all are very disgusted with what goes on here in your so-called club.”
“Mates?” Boone’s voice cracked.
“Yes, mates. You see, these gentlemen are what you would call shifters. Wolf shifters to be exact. And in our world there is nothing more important than a mate.” Boone was shaking uncontrollably.
“Damn, man, grow some balls. Big bad man here just pissed his pants,” Raith said in disgust, still holding Boone.
Dante chuckled. “Of course he did, as I suspect the other four vermin have, too.” Dante turned to look at the four guards. “It’s a whole different story when the shoe is on the other foot, now isn’t it? Like when four or more pigs hold down one small man and force him to do things he didn’t want to do.” Dante turned and looked at Micah and Gabriel. “So my friends, would you like to start with Boone and let these other four rapists watch or start with them and let Boone see his fate? The choice is yours. Sweet Jesse and sweet Taylor are your mates, it is your right to seek retribution. The rest of us will just enjoy the show, and hold them down, like what they did to your mates.”
“No way, man, no one’s taking my ass,” one of Boone’s guards cried out.
Lexi leaned down to the one who spoke, who he was holding. “As much as I like me a nice tight ass, I wouldn’t fuck you with someone else’s dick, you piece of shit.” Then he tightened his claws around the guy’s throat, puncturing skin.
“I think we should start with them. One at a time and let them each see what will happen to them. We save Boone for last. What do you think, Alpha?” Gabriel snarled.
“Sounds about right to me, brother. But when it’s Boone’s turn, no one has to hold him down. Gabriel and I like to hunt our food.”
“A-a-alpha. F-f-foo-d?” Boone’s eyes couldn’t get any larger.
“Yes, you filthy pissant. Alpha, Jesse’s mate,” Dante whispered in his ear, then laughed. “Sucks to be you.”
“Which one first, Alpha?” Bass asked.
“How about we start with Mr. Big Mouth over there that had the balls to put us in the same category as his disgusting ass?” Victor, one of Dante’s men snarled out.
“Good choice. Just let me move out of the splatter zone.” Dante laughed, then turned and walked back to the stage. The screams that came from behind him made even his blood run cold.
Chapter 10
The club was packed and Micah was seated at a table right in front of the stage. Jesse was sitting on his lap, arms wrapped around Micah’s neck, their lips were pressed tightly together, slick tongues exploring every inch of each other’s mouths.
“I didn’t know there was a private show before the show.” A silky voice chuckled.
Micah pulled slightly back from Jesse but his eyes never left Jesse’s eyes, as Micah answered back. “The private show will come later, and you’re definitely not invited asshole.”
The owner of that silky voice laughed as he sat down and joined them. Micah gave Jesse a quick kiss then turned to their guest. “Glad you could make it Dante.” Micah reached out and shook Dante’s hand.
Jesse turned and smiled at Dante. “Hello, Dante.”
Dante smiled and winked at Jesse. “Hi, Jesse. Are you really sure you want to stay with this lug? I could make you very happy.” Dante smirked to show he was teasing.
“Hey, asshole. Stop trying to steal my man.” Micah growled.
Jesse and Dante both laughed. Jesse watched Dante as he and Micah started to talk. He couldn’t understand how this beautiful creature was alone. Prince Dante Calabrese. Next in line to be the king vampire. Okay, sure, he was a vampire, but he was a nice guy, and hot as hell. Soft jet-black hair that went to just below his shoulders, eyes as black as midnight, perfect pearly white teeth, with the face of an angel. He looked to be about the same age as Micah. About thirty. But as with Micah, looks could be deceiving. Micah told him that Dante was a lot older than him, so Dante must be pretty old. But, the man looked like he could be on the cover of every magazine around the world. He stood about six feet five inches and about two hundred and thirty pounds of lean muscle. Jesse really liked him.
“Baby, did you hear me?” Micah asked, bringing Jesse out of his thoughts.
“What? I’m sorry, I missed that.” Jesse shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts.
Micah chuckled. “I said, isn’t that your cue?” Micah pointed up motioning toward the music.
“Oh shit. Yes, sorry. I have to go.” Jesse jumped up and gave Micah a quick kiss then turned and headed off backstage. Micah chuckled and smiled at him as he watched Jesse go.
“So how is he doing after everything that’s happened?” Dante motioned in the direction Jesse just went.
“He has a lot of nightmares since the attack. They got pretty bad the first few days after Thomas…well, you know.” Micah shrugged.
“I’m sure it’s going to take some time. It’s only been a week since…you know.”
“Thanks for your help with that. And with the New York garbage.” Mica looked at him pointedly.
“Not a problem, it was something that definitely needed to be done,” Dante said with a look of disgust on his face. “So, how are you after the whole Thomas thing?”
“When I woke up and heard Raith and Jesse talking
about everything that was going on, I just couldn’t believe it. But I had to help prove it or disprove it. Having you in the dark room, was a good move. But, I still don’t know how Thomas couldn’t smell you,” Micah said.
“I’m sorry it turned out to be Thomas, man. I don’t even know what to say. I trust your boys as much as I trust my own. We’ve all been together a long time. To have one of them betray you, to betray all of us, after all these years. It’s just too hard to believe. But I’m glad your mate is safe now. I don’t know if Raith and I would have been able to save you if you lost Jesse.”
“You’re probably right. I think it’s going to take awhile for me to fully wrap my mind around it.” Micah sighed.
“You know my coven and I are always here for you and your pack.” Dante patted Micah’s shoulder.
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, man. And you know the same right?” Micah asked.
Dante nodded his head in acknowledgment. “So is Jesse going to keep working here or are you going to talk to him about stopping? This is too dangerous for an Alpha mate. For any leader’s mate. It’s too exposed and we have too many enemies,” Dante questioned.
“I know, I’ll be talking to him. I just can’t ask him to give it up right now,” Micah answered.
The lights went down and the club went quiet. Raith and Gabriel walked over and joined Micah and Dante. The music started and there it was, the most beautiful voice Micah had ever heard in all his life, and it was all his. The spotlight went on and Jesse started to talk. “I’d like to dedicate this song to the man of my dreams, the love of my life, the only one for me, I love you, Micah.” Jesse looked at Micah and smiled. He stared into Micah’s eyes then sang Saving Abel’s “Addicted.”
* * * *
Micah and Jesse walked hand in hand and headed up the stairs to their bedroom. Before Micah opened the door he turned to Jesse and cupped his cheek. His eyes were soft and full of love as he looked into Jesse’s eyes. He leaned down and gave Jesse a soft kiss, “You were incredible tonight, baby. I can listen to you sing forever.”
