by Honor James
She couldn’t help but laugh. “And yet I was able to stay out of trouble for several years, wasn’t I?” she boasted. “But it’s all good. I happen to really enjoy being with you guys and I really love how you keep me out of trouble, now.” Before they would just pull her happy ass out of it, now they pulled her happy ass out of trouble and fucked her six ways to Sunday. Damn she was a lucky, lucky woman.
Zhubin snorted but ended up coughing. “You shouldn’t do that with food in your mouth,” Ansell said, watching him. The universal sign for what Zhubin thought of that brilliant deduction was thrown up between the two men. Ansell just chuckled and passed over a cup of coffee.
She laughed, couldn’t help herself. “Oh good lord you boys are killing me.” She teased them. “But I like it so please, feel free to continue to torment each other because it’s actually kinda funny. Just don’t get mean with each other. That’s when I will become grumpy with you boys.”
“We would never do anything to make you upset, Lace,” Zhubin said once he’d regained the ability to speak. “Unless of course we’re protecting your cute ass and, in that case, you can be upset all you want, we’d still do it.”
“I know you would. But you both also know that I can protect myself as well. Not from those from this side of the Veil as easily as humans, but you know what I mean.” And that was another reason she loved them so. They both let her carry her own weight when she wanted and needed too.
“We know what you mean.” He nodded with a smile. Setting his empty plate on the tray with the other now-empty dishes he poured more coffee before settling in at her side. “I think you could take most of those from this side of the Veil. It would be down and dirty but I think I’d put odds on you to win most of the fights.”
That had her grinning and she shook her head. “I’m happy that you have that much faith in me love, but we both know that there are simply some beings that I cannot and will not ever be able to handle. I am more than willing to admit my faults in this, babe.”
“You have faults?” he asked, overplaying it big time. A gasp, a hand to his chest and his eyes big and wide. Laughing, he shook his head and stared into her eyes. “Never, ever say so. You are absolutely perfect, Lacey, and we will not hear otherwise. Even from you.”
She began to snicker and shook her head. “Well darling, I have faults and I know that. It’s all good though because I also have you boys in my life. A woman couldn’t ask for more than that in her life. Two men that would move heaven and earth for her? Uh, yeah. I’m the lucky one.”
“Yes you are.” Ansell nodded. At her look he blinked. “What? You wanted me to deny it?” he asked and then burst out laughing. “Silly woman.” He chuckled softly, shaking his head. Even Zhubin was laughing, softly of course and trying to hide it, but it was there in his eyes.
“Oh you are too funny. Hardy, har, har.” She snorted in reaction and shook her head. “You are so bad. It’s okay, I love you and I am lucky and I damn well know it. So it’s all good. We will survive, mostly because you boys have me.” Another snicker from her made it clear that she loved to tease these men.
“Oh, now who’s the comedian?” he asked before tickling her lightly.
Chapter Thirteen
They’d been back on her side of the Veil for a week now and still digging for anything on her stalker. They were closer and, with the information that Zhubin’s fathers had dug up, going to get the bastard sooner than later. At least, that’s what she believed, had to believe just to get up and go into work each day.
There had been two more murders, both set up to take them all out, just like the others. They’d all gotten out with only minor scratches but it had become war for them. Her mates were pissed and only growing angrier and tenser with each passing hour. Something had to be found and found soon or she was going to be dealing with two very cranky Luhpynes all too soon. Not that they weren’t cranky currently but apparently, at least according to Zhubin’s mother Gennette, they could get a lot worse when their mate’s life and happiness were on the line.
Pushing Zhubin back from his desk, she took a seat on it and put her feet onto his chair, one on each side of his thighs. Passing him the letter she had just opened, she chewed her lower lip. Uncertainty and unease flooded her. She didn’t know what to think of the letter.
Handwritten and very simple, the message was clear. If she didn’t leave her mates the next to die would be her. She didn’t mind that part, she had received more than one death threat. What bothered her was that the letter was written in blood. “He’s getting very, very ballsy,” she whispered. “To send that to me here?”
His nostrils flared. “It’s human,” he said, looking up at her. “We need to get that to the lab and get it tested. He’s stepping up to new levels here, Lace.” Reaching around her, he came back with an evidence bag that he dropped it into. “Grab the envelope. Maybe the bastard licked the damned thing and we’ll get DNA from it.” One of the pluses of those from the Veil having revamped all the human world systems was that everyone, human and other, were in the systems. No one was exempt.
“Let’s damn well hope so because I seriously want to catch this sick motherfucker,” she muttered. Rubbing her stomach, she felt herself sweating, and a little nauseous. “I really don’t feel so hot. How about I have Ansell take me home and you take that to the labs?”
Frowning he stood and cupped her face, staring down into her eyes. “Probably the flu, it’s going around. If you’re not feeling better by tonight we should go to the clinic and see about getting you a shot. While we won’t catch it you’ll be damned miserable for no reason.” Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Go home, sleep and drink lots of fluids. As soon as I know anything about this sick piece of work I’ll text Ansell so he can update you.”
“Sounds good.” She leaned in closer to him and closed her eyes. “You feel so lovely,” she admitted quietly. “I rather like it.” She rubbed her cheek to his and added, “If I am not feeling better when you get home we will go to the doctors but know I do it because I love you and I really, really don’t like feeling like this.”
“I know, and I intend to use that for every ounce of give I can get out of you.” Grinning he wrapped his arms around her and just held her for a few minutes. Finally, though, he drew back. “Come on. Ansell is down in the firing range. I’ll walk you down and then head to the labs and sit there with a glower on my face of ultimate pain until they give me what I need.”
That had Lacey laughing, and no sooner than they got into the hall she turned a pale color and raced for the bathroom. She tossed her stomach contents in great heaves, the kind that brought tears to her eyes. All because she could smell Studemeir’s Tuna Salad. Ick! She accepted the wet paper towels that Zhubin passed her and leaned back on him. Her eyes were closed and she whispered. “Okay. Maybe I am sick,” she muttered darkly.
Passing her a small disposable cup of water, he stroked her hair lightly. Only when she drank it and didn’t feel so shaky did he help her up to her feet. “Wash your face, you’ll feel better,” he suggested quietly as he followed on her heels. His hand was a warm and comforting weight on her back, but the odd look on his face, a mix of confused and worried, wasn’t nearly as comforting. He sort of looked like he was trying to work through a problem and only getting more questions and no answers.
“I will have Ansell take me home and I will crawl in bed and wait for you to come home for me. Then after we will go to the clinic and I will get that shot. That’s what I mean,” she muttered. “Not until I think after a nap I will feel better, but I will still go to the clinic and get the shot so that I can feel better.”
Nodding he wrapped an arm around her and hugged her to him. Once she’d washed and dried her face, she let him lead her out and toward the firing range. He pushed her into a chair in the soundproofed outer room, not that she was going to argue, and went in to get Ansell. A short discussion later and both men came out, Ansell coming right to her and pullin
g her up and into his arms gently.
“I’ll see you later,” Zhubin said, running his fingers over her cheek. “Sleep, baby, and drink lots of fluids.”
“Can do.” She hugged him again and sighed, her cheek to his chest. “Lots of fluid,” she assured him and pulled back, and easily went into Ansell’s arms. Her cheek to his chest she closed her eyes. “Take me home? I’m really not feeling so hot. When Zhubin gets home we will go to the clinic so I can get a shot but for now, just take me home?” She was repeating what Zhubin had said, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
“Absolutely,” he said quietly, holding her close. He and Zhubin spoke for a few more minutes but she didn’t really listen to the words. Just the rumble of their voices was enough to help soothe her. Then they were moving, apparently. Ansell walked her to the elevator and they rode down, him holding her close and rubbing at her back in a nice, slow pattern.
When it was finally time for them to go she kept her eyes closed and an arm around Ansell’s waist. At this point in time she didn’t care who in the station knew she was ill and leaning on her men. Hell, that’s what you were supposed to do, lean on your man when you weren’t feeling well. So she was doing it. Dammit.
When they reached the parking level Ansell bent and scooped her into his arms. “Hold on,” he said against her hair. Long, sure strides carried them through the cool underground area and to his truck. A few moments later he had her settled into the passenger seat and mere minutes later, they were on their way home.
Lacey was snuggled up in the truck, calm and collected. Before long she was sound asleep there at his side. She shifted slightly when they pulled up into their driveway. Reaching out, she laid her hand on Ansell’s leg and stroked it gently. “Thank you for letting me nap. Maybe after a bit more sleep I will feel even better.”
“I’m sure you will,” he said with a smile. Parking the truck close to the door he turned the engine off. Sliding out of the truck he came around to her door and pulled it open. Helping her out, he scooped her up in his arms again and carried her toward the house. Walking inside, he set her on her feet only long enough to disarm the alarm and reset it for them to be in there.
“Do you want something to drink before we head upstairs?” he asked quietly. Lifting her up once more, he cocked a brow at her but didn’t move one direction or the other. Just waited for her to tell him what she needed.
“Nope. I am good, just heading up to bed. Maybe after we are in bed I will take some water but honestly I just want to sleep. I feel marginally better after the small nap coming home so I am ever hopeful that, having a nice long sleep, I would feel better than I felt earlier.”
Nodding, he carried her up the stairs and into their room. Settling her on the end of the bed Ansell knelt and pulled off her boots and socks. Straightening, he got her out of her jacket and shirt before he lifted a brow at her. “You’ll need to either stand or lay back so I can pull off your pants, love.”
“I can get them off if you want to pull back the sheets?” She grinned at him and winked. “I promise you, honey, I really can get naked on my own. I just need for you to pull the bedding back if you don’t mind?”
“Well, I did help you get part way there.” He chuckled. “Finish stripping and I’ll get the bedding ready for you.” Moving around he tugged off the decorative pillows and then drew back the heavy quilt and the sheets. Stacking the other pillows just for her he stepped back and waved a hand. “In.”
Once she was fully naked she slipped into the bed and closed her eyes. Shifting so that she was on her side Lacey was soon sound asleep, long before he climbed into bed with her. Another shuffle, another sniff and her body relaxed fully.
* * * *
A soft stroke down her cheek had her starting to wake up. “Come on, Lace,” Zhubin’s voice called to her gently. “Open up those gorgeous eyes and let’s figure out if you need to go to the doctor’s or not, darling.”
Lacey opened her eyes and smiled up at Zhubin. “Hey you.” Reaching out she pressed her hand to his cheek and stroked her thumb over his lower lip. “Do you know just how very, very much I love you?” she asked quietly. “Because I do. So very, very much. Now. I need to get up and dressed. Let’s see if I am feeling better?” There was a pause and then she asked, “The blood from the paper, did you get any leads?”
Nodding, his lips pressed together tight and became a thin line as he sat back on his heels. “Get up and dressed and we’ll talk about it while you try to drink something. We have a few things to discuss, none of which I think you will like even a little bit.”
She didn’t like how that sounded, at all. Shifting slightly, she moved so that she could get out of bed and looked to him. “Hand me my clothes?” When he passed her pants to her she slipped into those, followed by her shirt. Adjusting slightly she rose to her feet and felt the world swaying just a bit, but shook it off. “Okay, talk to me,” she asked quietly and walked toward Ansell where he was standing, waiting.
“Downstairs, you’re going to want to be sitting for this,” Zhubin said.
When she looked to Ansell he just shrugged. Obviously, he didn’t know what was going on either. Taking her hand he pulled her in close to her body as they headed through the house and downstairs.
Lacey moved to Ansell and slipped her hand into his. Once they were downstairs she snuggled on the couch in Ansell’s lap, her feet in Zhubin’s lap and a blanket around her body. Yawning she rubbed her cheek to her mate’s shoulder. Looking to Zhubin she said, “All right, we are down here, love. Talk to us?”
Heaving a sigh, he cracked his neck before looking her way. “The blood on the note was yours, Lacey. We don’t know where he got it or when, but all we could come up with is that he raided the blood bank in the building to get it. It’s the only place we could think of where any of your blood was supplied.”
Again, standard procedure for all agents, having a stock of their own blood in the event of a medical emergency. A pint here, a pint there and eventually the staff said they were good for the time being. It was stored properly and always ready should it, heaven forbid, be required.
“We went right downstairs and found one pint missing from the ten that should have been there. We checked the logs and no one signed it out, which we’d hoped for but knew that was going to be a stretch. The lab boys and girls did figure out that, best guess, it had been written about three to five days ago due to the breakdown of the cells in the one blob on the page.”
“That’s not all, is it?” Ansell said quietly, not a question, a statement.
“No, there was something in the envelope, a residue. They ran all the standard checks for things like anthrax and ricin and such, no hits. They did the drug screens as well, all the standards that is, no hits. So they are now running a full chemical breakdown in the hopes of figuring out what was on both the sheet of paper and inside the envelope. When I left they had no clue but they were not looking happy so we’re to assume it’s not going to be just baby powder.”
“Fuck,” Ansell muttered. His hold tightened around her a little and she could feel him kiss the top of her head.
“Pretty much, as well, they are testing the other nine pints of blood to ensure nothing was done to them. That was my call once we knew about the powder residue. I have a bad feeling in my gut and I listened to it on this. So they are running everything under the sun on the stored blood. Because if this psychopath did something to you that will require the blood, what better way to really get you than to tamper with it? I also told them that, no matter what, we’re not using any of those pints on you, ever. They were pulling in the appropriate blood from a blood bank on the off chance we require it.”
She felt ill from his words. Swallowing hard, she licked her too-dry lips and rested back against Ansell once more. “I really don’t like the way that this all sounds. I really do not care for the idea that this monster was so readily able to get to my blood. What if he messed not just with mine but others as well?
As much as I hate to say it, I really think that the blood all needs to go out. It needs to be tossed and a restart needs to happen.” She hated it but that was all that she could think of in that moment in time. If he had gotten to her blood, who else was at risk?
“Nothing else was touched, only the container holding yours was breached. All the others, as pristine as the day they were sealed. But I talked to the captain about it before I left and he’s going to let everyone make the choice for themselves. He won’t force any of them to do anything, one way or another. I did mention that if they do decide to get rid of the current and start a new batch, we should donate it to the blood bank for the Vhampires. Anything in the blood won’t affect them at all, disease or drugs.”
“That’s a good idea.” She sighed and shook her head. “Please tell me that the two of you will start fresh?” she asked hopefully. “Because I’m terrified he will do something to you both and that would destroy me. I can’t lose the either of you, not now. Not ever. Please?”
“We’ll ensure our reserves are donated,” Ansell said while Zhubin nodded in obvious agreement. “We’re not willing to take the risks either, Lacey. We both plan on having a nice long and very healthy life with you. So we shall get rid of the current stores and start new as soon as we can manage.”
“Thank you,” she whispered softly. “For understanding.” She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against Ansell once more. She yawned. “I’m not feeling sick to my stomach but I am feeling so very, very sleepy. I hate that, but there it is.”
“Then we will not do anything tonight. Sleep, Lacey. We can always go to the clinic in the morning or even see if Briar will take a look at you.” Ansell stroked her hair back and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You are not nearly as warm as earlier, perhaps it was nothing more than one of those twenty-four-hour type flus and you are already on the mend.”
“No. I want to go to the clinic and get the shot. I want to get past this bloody icky nasty feeling,” she said with a shrug. “The sooner we get the shot, the sooner I can feel better, right?” she asked softly. She latched onto what Ansell said and smiled. “That would be wonderful. Maybe I just need sleep. It’s very possible. I haven’t been sleeping well as you both know.” On this side of the Veil she tended to not rest, when they were on the other side it was as if she had come home and slept like the dead.
