by Jenny May
“What was that? Go? Okay!” He took off running at top speed.
“Cooper!” Milly jumped into action on command and they raced forward, toward the hills. And toward Dark Days. Cooper had amazing speed, and the exercising was not only good for Milly, but good for her mate, too. After they’d finished three more pictures, they were both getting antsy. Rogue had been gone now for almost two hours. He should have been back, already, shouldn’t he have?
The hills were quickly approaching and she looked up, noticing Zain and Zavier were sitting on a rock at the bottom, watching. Cooper crossed the bush they’d declared the line and he laughed. He wasn’t even breathing hard.
Zara pulled back the reins. “You cheated! Again.” She looked nervously at her brothers and climbed down. Cooper caught her stare and nodded toward them.
“I didn’t see you two there. What’s up?”
A grin came to Zain’s face. “It’s good seeing my sister smile. She’s happy. I wasn’t so sure about you at first, Cooper, but I have to say, I think I like you.”
“Thanks, I think.” Her brothers walked over. “I hear Dad’s pretty pissed at you and your mates, Zara.”
She shrugged. “He shouldn’t be. If anyone has a right to be angry, it’s me. Did you also hear what he did to my house?” Confusion covered their faces. “Well, let me fill you in. He went into my house and tore all the pictures of me and George to pieces and then piled them in the middle of the living room floor.”
“You’re kidding me,” Zain said, lowly. “You can’t be serious.”
“Would I kid about something like that?” The rage came back and she tried to calm her wolf. The more the reality of it sunk in, the more pissed she was getting. She couldn’t wait until training. It was going to be an amazing release. Nikolas could see exactly what she was made of. She might not have as much stamina as she’d had back in the day, but there was one thing she did have now that she never had before. A purpose. To see her father go down for the bad leader he was. It was going to take some serious muscle to overthrow him, and she needed all the help she could get.
Zavier rubbed his hand over his mouth. “I can’t believe he did that. I’m telling you, he’s different. I don’t even know him anymore.”
“Well, he’s the same father I’ve always known,” Zara said in disgust. “You both had it easy. He’s always been harder on me.” She shook her head. “It’s fine. Rogue’s getting three of the pictures fixed now, anyway.”
Zain and Zavier looked at each other.
“What?” She knew when they were hiding something. Knots twisted her stomach. “I asked you a question. Answer it. Now.”
Zain took a deep breath. “We just got here an hour and a half or so ago. We passed him as we were leaving the ranch. He was going in to see Dad, Z.”
Zara felt her eyes go big. “What?” She looked at Cooper. “Did you know?”
Her mate shrugged. “I assumed. And I back his decision. He’s not going there to fight, Zara. I think he’s going to talk to him.”
Anger had her stomping on a softball-size rock. It crushed under her foot. “Alphas don’t talk! They fight, god dammit. So help me. When he gets back I swear, I’m going to…to…” Hell, she had no idea what she was going to do. He was going to show up and she was going to turn to putty the moment his eyes locked on her.
“He’ll be back shortly. We have nothing to worry about. If Rogue was in trouble, we’d know it. Think about it, Zara. You know he’s okay.”
Cooper was right. Rogue wasn’t in any physical pain. They’d both be able to feel traces of it if he were. Still, that didn’t make it okay. She did not want him going to face her father without her being there. Rogue could take care of himself, but not necessarily against three to four men, plus her father.
“What do you two have planned for dinner?” Zara watched her brothers smile.
“Nothing. We were gonna hit the hamburger joint in town, but if you’re inviting us over, we’re so there.” Zavier elbowed Zain and she laughed.
Her brothers loved home-cooked food. And tonight she was making tacos and enchiladas. They were going to be in heaven, for sure. “Good. You both come over around six. Early dinner for an early night. I’m extra exhausted today.”
“Mating will do that to you, I hear.” Zain looked down. “And everyone knows you all bonded last night. Father was raving about it when we left.”
“Raving?” Zara looked at him confused. “You’re saying he’s not happy about the match anymore?”
The men shrugged. Zain glanced at Cooper but turned back to her. “I think he thought the two of them would be more in his pocket. Now you’re tied to two men who he feels he can’t trust. It makes him mad. Plus, he knows they don’t like him, Z. He said Rogue threatened him with his wolf. Is it true?”
Zara felt her stomach turn, sickeningly. “Yes. God, his wolf is freakishly strong. I knew Father would take offense to that. Rogue was just showing how protective he was over me, I’m sure.”
“No. He wasn’t,” Cooper said, matter-of-factly. “Sorry, Zara. Rogue wants your father to know that their time is coming. And he’s sure as shit not going to sit around and let someone disrespect or threaten you in any way. Neither of us will.”
“Nor should you,” Zain said, quietly. “I hate talking like that. He’s my father and all, but only by blood. I wouldn’t ever say he’s been much of an actual dad.”
“Hear, hear,” Zavier agreed.
It was good they were all on the same page. Zara wasn’t sure what she would have done if her brothers would have been against what her and her mates saw so clearly. Nikolas was definitely out of control. Question was, what were they going to do about it?
* * * *
It was all a test. Rogue knew that as he sat in the large office waiting for Zara’s father. He’d been there now for over two hours. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was waiting. His patience was already running thin, and if the man thought it was good to test him, he was sorely mistaken. Sitting here was only pissing him off even more.
The ticking of the large white clock on the wall pounded into his head with every second that slipped away. He was half-tempted to rip the damn thing off and smash it to pieces. Then leave this shithole and never look back. If Zara wasn’t so hell-bent on staying, he’d take her back to Dark Days. She’d be happy there. At least, he figured she’d be. What wasn’t to like? Logan was a great leader. They were never short of work in any field that they wanted. Maybe he’d talk to her about it.
Rogue absentmindedly shook his head. No. That wouldn’t work. That still meant Nikolas was alpha, and that couldn’t continue. Not with what he was doing with the human trafficking. Rogue couldn’t just walk away and pretend he didn’t know.
The door pushed open and Nikolas strolled through like he didn’t have a care in the world. As he eased behind the massive mahogany desk, his eyes never left Rogue.
“Didn’t think I’d be seeing you here any time soon.” There was absolutely no emotion on Nikolas’s face whatsoever. But it didn’t fool him. The man was a mirror image of the way Rogue was. He knew that behind the man’s stoic face rested dark thoughts. Evil ones.
Rogue pulled the pictures from his jacket and slammed them on the desk. “Little uncalled for, don’t you think?”
“I was doing you a favor. They should have been taken down a long time ago. It was disrespectful. I didn’t raise my daughter to be that way. The moment she found out she had new mates, they should have come down.”
All Rogue could do was shake his head. “Cooper and I told her we were perfectly okay with giving her time to pack them away. Don’t you see how much pain she’s been in from losing George? I do. I feel it every second since I’ve discovered her as one of my mates.” Rogue leaned forward. “Let me ask you this, Nikolas. When you discovered we’d left Triple Z territory and you went to Zara’s to wait for our return, what part of you decided to start destroying her personal property? Was it the father in
you, or the alpha?”
“I beg your pardon?” Nikolas’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of question is that?”
“A very simple one.” Rogue sat back in the chair, relaxing. “Are you a shitty alpha, or just a shitty father?”
Black began covering Nikolas’s eyes and Rogue watched as the man’s wolf surfaced.
That’s it. Show me what I’m working with. How strong are you? “You going to answer the question? Which is it?”
The darkness receded, and the man smiled. Shit. “You’ll never know. Now get out of my office. And get those damn pictures off my desk. You can toss them in the trash on your way out.”
“No, actually, I’m headed over to Dark Days. I have a man there who can fix what you destroyed.” Rogue stood, picking up the pictures. He turned to leave, and paused, turning back to face the alpha. “Oh…you know, next time you decide to smuggle anything through Sunset Strip, you might want to tell your men to watch their backs. I happen to know the alpha there, and he doesn’t like wolves dealing under the table without keeping him in the loop. I believe he’ll be contacting you soon for his fifteen percent.”
A smile came to Rogue’s face as he turned around and headed for the door. The energy of Nikolas’s wolf exploded through the room. He forced the smile to vanish and turned around.
“You have no idea who you’re messing with.” Nikolas’s eyes were consumed by his wolf as he walked around the desk. “Stay out of my business, or you might end up like poor little George. Accidents have a way of finding people who have their noses where they don’t belong. Now get the fuck out of my house, and don’t you ever come back. If I so much as see you on my land, I’ll have my men shoot, and inform the police you were an intruder.”
The anger that always drove Rogue through his life surfaced, and he felt it ooze from his pores. This man’s reign was over. “Adios, Dad. See you around. Soon, I’m sure.” He left the office doing everything within his power to keep his beast at bay. Nikolas all but admitted to having George killed. How was he going to tell Zara that?
Men were standing at different locations within the house as he made his way to the entrance. The looks they gave him were mixed between soldiers who were meant to attack on command, and men who knew when it was best to avoid eye contact and pretend to be statues. They feared him, which was a good thing.
As Rogue made his way outside, he studied the grounds. Out in the distance, it looked a lot like Dark Days Ranch. There were corrals and horses. Cowboys were carrying on with their busy working routine. It could be a nice place if run properly. It’s sad what Nikolas had resorted to. The ultimate question was why? What had turned him into a bad alpha? Was it losing Zara’s mother. Or had he always been that way?
Rogue jumped on his bike and stuffed the pics back in his jacket. He’d already been gone too long. He’d have to get ahold of Miguel tomorrow. All he wanted to do was get back to his mates. With a monster like that on the loose, there was no way he was going to let them out of his sight. Now, if he could convince Zara not to do this training, he’d feel even better.
The bike roared to life and Rogue sped away from Triple Z. Within minutes he was coming down their road. As he pulled the bike to the front, he noticed his mates walking from the barn.
“You!” The anger in Zara’s walk told him only one thing. She knew where he’d gone. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to see my father?”
Rogue climbed off the bike. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Never. Ever. Hide anything from me, again. Promise me right now, Rogue. If you can’t, or you lie to me, this mating will not work. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s lies. And I hate to say that I really feel like you omitting the truth from me was just as bad.”
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen, again. You have my word.” He held his hand to her, and she threw herself into his body. The surprise must have shown on his face because Cooper grinned at him.
Zara’s arms tightened just before she pulled away. “I forgive you. Now, why don’t you come to the kitchen with me while I start dinner, and tell me what happened.”
Pain gripped his heart, and he suddenly realized it was his own. His mate was about to hurt all over again, and he was going to be the one causing it by telling her. But there was no way he could keep it from her. “There’s something I need to tell you before we go any further.”
Something flashed behind her eyes. “All right.”
Cooper walked over and grabbed her hand. Rogue was amazed how perceptive his cowboy was. He seemed to know things were bad, a lot faster than most people picked up on it.
“Can you tell me what you know of George’s accident?”
Her mouth parted, and she blinked a few times. “I…ah.” Her head shook. “Chief said it was a traffic accident. He was on his way to a call. A car ran a red light.” Confusion laced with fear engulfed Rogue, from Zara. “What are you trying to tell me, Rogue?”
How was he going to put this? “Your father and I had some pretty heated words. He made the comment that I was going to end up like George if I continued to push. That accidents happened to find a way to people who put their noses where they didn’t belong.” Rogue paused, letting her adjust to what he’d said. “Do you know if maybe George knew something he wasn’t supposed to? Maybe something concerning your dad?”
Zara’s hand pressed against her stomach, and she took a step back. If Cooper wouldn’t have been holding her hand, she might have continued walking back. “He actually said that?”
All Rogue could do was nod.
“He’s going to pay. So help me, I swear it by all that’s holy, my dad is going to answer for what he’s done. George was a damn good husband, and a fine cop.” A shuddering breath left her lips. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. If my dad was doing anything, George would have picked up on it, immediately. Now, he’s dead for it. It’s all my fault. He didn’t ask for the bonding, and yet he lost his life because of it.” Zara eased her hand from Cooper’s and leaned over, resting her hands on her knees. The deep breathing only last a few seconds before she stood.
“I’m going to training, tomorrow. And the day after. Until the time comes whenever he’s overthrown. I have to. And not just because he’ll know something is up if I don’t, but because I have to face him.”
Rogue stepped forward. “I don’t want you to go back over there. Period.”
“I’ve given myself to you every way I’ve known how to. Do not take this away from me. I need this, Rogue. I need to see his face as I push myself past the limits, and show him he can’t break me. He won’t.” She took his hand. “You know I need this.”
Rogue looked over to Cooper, who had his head down. Well, he wasn’t going to get help trying to convince her, from him. “Zara, I have to be truthful with you. It’s going to drive me crazy knowing you’re there. He has the power to do whatever he wants to you. Just the thought has my blood boiling. I saw who he really is inside. What’s to stop him from hurting you?”
“I need this,” she whispered. “Please.”
Twisting clutched at his stomach. How in the world were he and Cooper going to make it through the day knowing what she was subjecting herself to? With her in the hands of a monster? Reining in his emotions was almost impossible. The master, the alpha in him wanted to order her that she wasn’t doing it, but Rogue couldn’t. And it made him sick. “You will call me at least once during the day to let me know you’re all right. I don’t care if it’s when you finish, and you’re on your way home. If you don’t call me by ten, no, nine, at night, I’m coming over there and getting you. Now tell me you agree.”
A smile came to her face. “I agree…Sir.”
The word had his wolf purring. “Say it again.”
“Sir.”
Rogue pulled her into his arms. “Tonight, you and Cooper are mine.” He looked at his other mate. “We’re going to work on you, pet. You’re going to take me, while you fuck Zara.”
; Cooper closed his eyes, and looked down. The scent of his arousal was thick. “Yes, Sir.”
“Now, let’s go inside. I’m starving. I completely missed lunch.”
Zara’s arm tightened around his waist as they headed into the house. “Be sure to eat light. I’m making a huge dinner. My brothers are going to join us so I’ll probably start right now, that way it’ll be done by six. I’m not as tired as I told them. More excited to see what tonight brings.”
That sounded good to Rogue. He couldn’t wait to have his two mates bowing before him. The moment he finished eating lunch, he was going out to the barn and getting all of his stuff set up downstairs. It was time to make this place his home too.
The air conditioning felt good as they walked inside. He took in the taped pictures on the side tables and frowned. Miguel. Rogue took out his phone and hit his friend’s number.
“Rogue, brother. How are you?
He instantly smiled. Man, he was going to miss that guy. “I’m great. You?”
“Oh, you know. Same ol’ same. I hear you’re mated, bro. Congrats. No one deserves it more than you.”
Tingles raced down his skin, and Rogue felt the cozy feeling in his chest while he took in Zara and Cooper. “Thanks. They’re really great. I lucked out.” He walked in the kitchen getting the sandwich stuff out. “I need you to do me a favor, Miguel.”
“Name it.” The man’s tone was serious, and Rogue knew he could have asked for something so far out of reach it would have appeared impossible, and Miguel would have tried his damnedest to make it happen.
“I have some pictures that got torn to shreds. Can you fix them?”
He got quiet for a few seconds. “Surveillance photos?”
“No. Just family pics.”
Miguel cleared his throat. “Yours?”
Movement from out of the corner of his eye brought his attention to Zara. Her hands were around her waist, and she was staring at him. He noticed she did that a lot. “No. My mate’s.” The need to explain further wasn’t necessary.
