Wicked After Dark: 20 Steamy Paranormal Tales of Dragons, Vampires, Werewolves, Shifters, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More

by Mina Carter

  “What about you?” Sam asked.

  Pepper shook her head. “We were done a long time ago, Dalton. You agreed.”

  “Um, excuse me,” Sam pressed. “When exactly did you start?”

  “We dated for a while after her twenty-first party,” Dalton ground out.

  Sam’s face went red and she crossed her arms.

  “I’m sorry, Sam,” Pepper rushed. “I didn’t want to say anything unless it went somewhere, and since it was over before it really began, it was easier just to keep it to myself.”

  Sam stood. “I need a minute. I’ll be right back.”

  Pepper tried to follow but Sam shook her head.

  “Don’t, Pepper. I’m mad enough to say something I might regret. Just stay with Dalton.”

  Pepper bit her lip, her heart breaking. The last person she wanted to hurt was Sam. She nodded and sat back in her seat and Sam left the café.

  “Are you really hurt, Dalt?” she asked.

  “Aw, baby. I’m devastated.”

  “Dalton,” she admonished. “Honestly?”

  He fiddled with the knife on the table and shook his head. “Honestly? No. Not hurt. I saw you two together back at home. But I am concerned. I mean, how much do you know about this guy?”

  “What did your background check reveal?” Pepper asked.

  He gave her his innocent look. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, please. I know you well enough to know that you would have done checks on Kade and Connall.”

  “Yeah.” Dalton laid the knife down. “They’re saints who give more money away than pretty much anyone on the planet. Which worries me even more.”

  “I love him, Dalton. From the moment I met him, I knew he was the one. That won’t ever change.”

  “I believe you. I guess I just never figured you’d end up with a billionaire playboy.”

  Pepper cocked her head. “Um, I think you’re a little mixed up. You mean Kade’s the billionaire, right?”

  Dalton chuckled. “Babe, Connall makes more money than either of his brothers. He’s worth over a hundred billion.”

  Pepper swallowed. Connall, were you planning on telling me this major piece of information?

  Eventually. Would you please tell Dalton to stop calling you “babe.”

  “You didn’t know?” Dalton asked.

  “I didn’t realize it was that much,” she said.

  Dalton chuckled. “It’s probably more with all his properties.”

  When you’ve been alive for as long as we have, you do nothing but amass money. I’m still me. Remember that.

  I’m trying, Con.

  “You okay?” Dalton took Pepper’s hand.

  She felt Connall’s irritation and quickly pulled away from him. “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just a little overwhelmed with everything right now.”

  I’m coming down.

  Don’t, baby. He’s just being Dalton. Go back to your meeting.

  She felt him relax, so she focused back on Dalton. Their order was announced and Dalton went to the counter to pick it up. Pepper’s phone pinged in her purse. She grabbed it and saw she had an email from an unknown source with a video attached.

  Watch this.

  She played the video and her blood went cold. Helen Smith was tied to a chair with a gag in her mouth and tears streaming down her face.

  Pepper’s phone rang and she grabbed it. “What are you doing to Helen?”

  “I want you to leave the café, Pepper, and do everything I say. If you do anything to alert Dalton or your boyfriend, I’ll kill her.”

  “How do I know she’s not already dead?” Pepper whispered, calming her heart to block Connall.

  “I’m still alive,” Helen whimpered. “Don’t listen to—”

  A slap sounded and Pepper heard Helen’s painful cry.

  “What do you want me to do?” Pepper asked.

  “I want you to leave the café and head down to Greenside Row. I’m watching.”

  He hung up and Pepper forced a smile as Dalton set the tray on the table. “You okay?”

  Pepper nodded. “Yes, fine. Just need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “No!” she snapped. “Um, I mean, I can go to the bathroom without you. It’s right over there.” She pointed toward the foyer. “You can watch from here, okay?”

  He frowned, but finally nodded.

  Pepper headed toward the restrooms and pushed open the door, watching as Dalton kept his eye on her. He glanced down at his food and she took the opportunity to escape his sight.

  * * *

  Connall felt Pepper’s sudden panic and frowned. Pepper? Are you okay?

  Fine, baby. Go back to your meeting.

  He relaxed until he felt her panic again. Pepper, what the hell is going on?

  She didn’t respond.

  Pepper?

  Nothing. He stood, slamming his chair against the wall in his effort to get out of the room as fast as possible.

  Brodie frowned and Kade rose to his feet as well. “Gentlemen, we’ll need to reschedule. An emergency,” he said.

  Connall made a mad dash for the lifts.

  Payton stood up as he passed her desk. “What’s wrong?”

  “Pepper,” was all he could manage as he slammed his hand against the lift button. “Damn it!” Before he could put his fist through the wall, the elevator arrived and he entered the code to bypass the other floors. A beep sounded, warning him he’d entered the wrong number. “Shite!”

  “Here,” Payton offered, appearing like a guardian angel. She stepped in the elevator and entered the code. The doors closed just as Brodie rushed for her.

  Connall heard his brother’s curse as the doors closed before he could reach the lift. “You shouldn’t have done that, Pay.”

  She shrugged. “If Pepper’s in trouble, you might need my help. Brodie will find me.”

  Connall realized that for all Payton’s nonchalance when it came to his brother, she knew he’d protect her. Connall could see that assurance was something she loved about him. She may not be ready to admit her feelings until her birthday, but it was clear she loved Brodie.

  The elevator doors parted, and Connall rushed through them before they fully opened, nearly running into a woman as he sprinted to the café. “Sorry,” he called as he sailed past her.

  He saw Dalton sitting at a table, eating a muffin. “Where’s Pepper?” Connall snapped.

  Dalton nodded toward the bathroom. “In the restroom, why?”

  “I’ll check, Con,” Payton offered, and slipped in through the door, returning a moment later shaking her head. “She’s not there.”

  “Damn it!” Connall grabbed Dalton’s shirt and yanked him from the chair. “You were supposed to watch her, you son of a bitch. Where the hell is she?”

  “Get your damn hands off me,” Dalton ground out.

  Payton bent down and picked up what looked like Pepper’s watch.

  Connall released Dalton and grabbed for the watch. “The clasp never stays closed.”

  Footsteps sounded and Brodie and Kade arrived, with a guilty-looking Samantha. “What happened?” she asked. “Where’s Pepper?”

  “We can’t find her,” Dalton provided.

  “I am the worst friend.” Sam burst into tears and fell against Kade. “I let my hurt overtake my common sense.”

  “Shhh, love,” he whispered.

  Payton took Pepper’s watch from Connall and closed her eyes. Brodie shifted so he was in front of her, masking her from prying eyes.

  Connall grabbed his cell phone and punched in Alasdair’s number. “Track Pepper. Now,” he demanded and hung up. Pushing Brodie aside, he glared at Payton. “So? Anything?”

  Brodie laid his hand on Connall’s shoulder and squeezed. Hard enough to prove as a silent warning to take care with his mate.

  “Sorry,” Connall said.

  Payton frowned. “I see her heading toward Prince’s St
reet, I think.”

  “You think?” Connall pressed, receiving another squeeze. “Damn it, Brodie.” He shoved him away.

  Brodie scowled, but Payton squeezed his arm. “He’s worried. Let him be.”

  She closed her eyes again and Connall’s heart raced as her expression changed from concentration to fear. “She’s near the Balmoral.”

  Connall saw the black SUV pull up outside and made a run for it, Brodie and Kade on his heels. They jumped inside and Alasdair pulled away from the curb. “Balmoral.”

  “Aye. We have another problem,” Alasdair said. “Tavish’s son’s gone missing.”

  “When?” Connall asked.

  “Couple hours ago.”

  “Dick and Helen were traveling with Tavish and Beth. It was a short holiday for the family,” Connall provided.

  “I’ve got men on it,” Alasdair assured him. “We’ll find him.”

  They drove toward the hotel, but before they reached the building, Alasdair turned and headed away.

  “What the hell?” Connall bellowed.

  “Her phone’s moving,” Alasdair explained.

  Connall glanced at the screen Alasdair had on his dashboard. The green dot, indicating Pepper’s cell phone, was in fact moving.

  Connall’s phone rang and he saw his sister’s name on the screen. “Now’s not a good time, Fi.”

  “Don’t hang up,” Fiona insisted. “You need to calm yourself and focus on her emotions. The reason you can’t hear her is because you’re trying to listen to her mind. You need to listen to her emotions. That will give you the link you need.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Aye.”

  “Thanks,” he said, and hung up. Digging his fingers in his scalp, he focused on Pepper. It took a few seconds to find the path of her fear, but Fiona was right. Once he did that, he had a direct line to her. Pepper? Sweetheart, where are you? Answer me.

  Don’t give in, don’t give in, she chanted to herself. It’s not safe.

  Connall let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He could feel her. Hear her. Protect her. I can hear you, lass. And you bloody well will give in.

  How did you break through? she asked, sounding frustrated.

  Don’t you dare get pissed with me, Pepper Gunnach. You promised not to block me. Now where the hell are you?

  He has Helen. He’ll kill her if I say anything.

  We’re on our way, love. Tell me where we’re going.

  No.

  He won’t know we’re there. Tell me.

  What if he hurts her because of me?

  Connall scowled. If he touches either one of you, I’ll kill him.

  I don’t want you to get hurt, Con.

  Damn it, Pepper! So help me God, if you don’t tell me where you are, I will take Jonesy somewhere you will never find him.

  She gasped. You wouldn’t.

  Don’t test me on this.

  He held his breath for several tense seconds.

  Well, Helen’s more important than my horse, she finally said.

  Damn it, Pepper!

  Connall lost contact and squeezed his eyes shut again, in an attempt to focus.

  … museum.

  He heard only the tail end of Pepper’s scattered thoughts, but it was enough. “RSA, Ali,” Connall instructed.

  Kade dialed a number and spoke to the academy president, who assured Kade that he’d be on the lookout for Pepper, and would also allow the brothers private and secret entrance to the building.

  Alasdair pulled the car to the back of the Royal Academy of Scotland and the brothers climbed from the SUV and headed into the private door being held open by the academy president’s assistant, Jennifer.

  “Come this way,” she said, obviously understanding the urgency.

  She led the brothers to the security room. “We have cameras in every room in the museum,” she said. “This is Joseph, the head of security.”

  They took a minute to shake his hand.

  “I’ve got my men canvassing the building, but it would help to have a picture of the woman,” Joseph said. “To distribute.”

  Connall pulled out his phone and, after asking Joseph his cell number, sent one of his favorite pictures of Pepper to Joseph, who then sent it to his guards.

  “Do you have a photo of the perpetrator?” Joseph asked.

  Kade nodded and forwarded it to him.

  “Right,” Joseph said.

  I don’t know where the Scottish painter’s exhibition is.

  Connall heard Pepper’s voice in his head. “She’s headed to the Scottish painter’s exhibit,” he said. At Joseph’s questioning look, Connall waved his phone.

  Joseph nodded and grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Thomson and Clark, head to the painter’s room.” Setting down his walkie, he pulled up the camera feed.

  Kade left the room, returning minutes later with Sam, Payton, Cole, and Dalton. Brodie pulled Payton aside, a scowl on his face. Connall couldn’t focus on them, though. He was too busy watching the camera.

  “I need to get down there.”

  “You can’t, Con,” Kade said. “He knows what you look like.”

  Con scowled. “He’s knows what we all look like.”

  “He doesn’t know me,” Cole said.

  “He’s right,” Dalton said. “Cole could watch from a distance, and if it goes to hell, he can protect her.”

  “Damn it,” Connall snapped.

  “There is another option,” Sam said, and pulled Connall and Kade aside.

  “No!” Kade snapped.

  “I just need eye contact with him,” she argued in a whisper. “He’ll do whatever I tell him.”

  When Kade bound Samantha, she discovered she had the power of suggestion, which had saved them a few weeks ago.

  “Absolutely not, Sam, and I’m not arguing with you about it again.”

  Connall shook his head. “Kade’s right, Sam. You’d have to get close to him, and I can’t worry about you as well.”

  Sam sighed. “Fine, but if you can’t figure something else out, I’ll have no choice.”

  “Back to the other plan, Con,” Kade whispered. “You have to remember that Jet’s not one of us. Cole will be able to deal with him. Buy you some time at the very least.”

  Connall gave Cole a nod and Cole removed his badge and FBI-issued jacket. Pulling his shirt from his pants, he rolled the sleeves up and dragged his hands through his hair to mess it up a bit.

  “How is he going to go down there and not look out of place?” Payton asked. “This guy will pick up on another man walking the museum, especially since he knows Pepper’s typically surrounded by protection.”

  “What do you suggest?” Cole asked.

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “Like hell you will!” Brodie snapped.

  “I’m the only one besides Cole this guy doesn’t know,” Payton argued. “We can be a couple taking in the museum.”

  “No,” Brodie said.

  “Well, if you want to be the reason your sister-in-law is hurt… ”

  “Damn it, Payton. You could be hurt.”

  She smiled. “With you close by? Not possible.”

  “It’s a good idea, Brodie,” Cole said. “And I promise, I won’t kiss her… much.”

  Kade stepped in front of Cole as Brodie lunged for him. Kade grasped his brother’s shoulders and pushed him back. “Cole, you’re going to get yourself killed,” Kade said over his shoulder.

  Cole grinned. “Not with you around.”

  Sam shook her head. “Cole. You’re insane.”

  Cole peered around Kade still holding Brodie back. “Ready, Payton?”

  “Yes.” She sidled past her mate and joined Cole.

  “Please be careful,” Connall said.

  Payton squeezed his arm. “We’ll find her, Con.”

  Brodie leaned down and kissed her cheek before letting her walk out the door.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  ONCE PAYTON
AND Cole left the room, Connall stood staring at the screens.

  “We got her,” Joseph said, and pointed to the screen. “She’s near the Wilkie.”

  Dalton pulled out his phone. “She’s by the Wilkie, Cole, whatever that means.”

  Joseph moved the camera and Connall watched as Cole and Payton came on the screen. Payton’s hand was looped through Cole’s arm and she was pointing to the Wilkie as though fascinated with the painting.

  The camera zoomed in on Pepper just as she caught sight of the couple. Her face went white.

  Pepper, ignore them. We’re watching you from the security room and Cole’s there to watch your back—

  Because Jet would recognize you.

  Aye. Connall watched her shoulders slump onscreen. Baby, I’ve got you.

  Okay. I love you.

  I love you too. He crossed his arms and stood vigil as Pepper walked the perimeter of the room. Then, without warning, she disappeared from the screen.

  “Where is she?” Connall demanded.

  Joseph moved the camera, but she was gone.

  “Damn it,” Connall snapped. “Where is she?”

  I’m in a back room, baby.

  Anything else you can give me?

  Jet’s texting me as I go. I don’t know where I’m ending up until I’m there. Sorry.

  Connall pretended to be reading a text. “She’s in a back room somewhere.”

  “Check the holding room,” Joseph said into his walkie.

  “I see her. She’s through another door,” Dalton said, pointing at one of the monitors.

  “Where the hell is she going?” Connall demanded.

  Joseph leaned forward. “The only thing back there is the boiler room.”

  “Show me,” Connall demanded.

  Joseph stood and led Connall out of the room. The rest of the group followed, with Kade and Sam bringing up the rear. Connall followed the security guard through back passages and anterooms, growing more and more frustrated as the journey seemed to drag on.

  Finally, Joseph opened a door and paused. “This leads to the boiler room.”

  “Stay here,” Connall said to him, and slipped through the door.

  The hallway was narrow and cluttered with large boilers, file cabinets and other discarded items. Connall was forced to hug the wall as he made his way farther into darkness. His brothers followed. A scream cut through the dark and he forced himself not to haul ass toward it.