by Tia Didmon
Laura waved her hand. “Valen is teaching me to control the shielding. At first, it’s reactive to our emotional state. Up when we feel threatened. Down when we’re comfortable or wanting to connect. As for my gift, it’s been enhanced since my bonding with Valen.”
“Bonding strengthens your gift?”
Laura frowned. “I don’t know if stronger is the right word. Maybe, focused would be more accurate.”
“Interesting.”
Laura raised her eyebrows. “Is it?”
Jess wasn’t ready to discuss her relationship with Dante. “What animals are sheltered here? Anything exotic? Something that the Ladon would covet.”
Laura laughed. “Hardly, we have a few dogs, cats and the Moretti nemesis.”
Jessica shifted her stance. “Their nemesis?”
Laura put Astro on the worn linoleum floor. His claws clicked on the Lino as he followed her. “Come here, I’ll show you.”
Jessica couldn’t conceive of any animal that would scare Dante. She followed Laura past the cages in the shelter’s backroom.
Laura opened a rear door to a small exterior coral. “There she is.”
Jessica looked at the tiny black calf in confusion. It was curled up on a bed of hay. “There must be some mistake. That’s a baby cow.”
Laura nodded. “Yup. Tell the Moretti men to feed a bear or a baby crocodile. No problem. You say that the calf needs her bottle and suddenly they have some major crisis to attend to.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Dante says bovines are the devils spawn.”
Jessica laughed. “That’s outrageous. Did a cow bite him or...”
Laura shook her head. “They grew up on a farm in Italy. They raised milk cows for the human workers that lived on their property. When they boys were acting out their punishment was to milk the cows for a month. Apparently, the smell of fresh milk is... repugnant to demons.”
Jess looked at the sweet calf as it stood up on its skinny legs and trotted over to nuzzle her hand. “Are they holding a grudge against cows for all eternity?”
Laura laughed. “Probably.”
Jess felt her body tense. If Dante couldn’t forgive this sweet animal for something that happened hundreds of years ago. How could he forgive her? She cleared her throat. “I have to get back to the office, can you tell Dante I’m sorry?”
Laura frowned. “Did I say something to upset you?”
Jess shook her head as she opened the gate to exit the pen. “No Laura, you aren’t the problem.” I am.
Jessica walked through the lobby of the Davidson building with a weight on her chest. She stopped at the gold mailboxes for each suite, unlocking her own in a robotic fashion. Though the building was new, the gray paint had chipped off in a few spots, leaving her the impression the walls had the pox.
She didn’t want to face Darnell, so she continued to Dante’s apartment using the key he had given her and placed it on the kitchen table, hoping he would understand. She went to the washroom to wash her face. The towel was over her eyes when she felt him.
Dante’s hand slipped around her waist. “You did not wait for me at the shelter.”
Jess put the cloth in the sink. “I had some matters to attend to.” The lie felt wrong the moment it left her lips.
Dante turned her around, pulling her close to him. “You were avoiding me and you left the key for this apartment on the table. You are trying to pull away from me.”
Yes. “I have some business I need to take care of.”
“There is no I Jessica. You are mine. Tell me what you need and I will help you,” he said.
“You can’t help me with this. It’s a family matter,” she whispered.
Dante tipped her head up so she could see the flames in his eyes. “What must I do to gain your trust.”
Jessica felt like crying. She wouldn’t allow the crushing emotion to show on her face. “I do trust you.”
Dante searched her face. She could feel his frustration as he gently pushed at her mental walls. She couldn’t let him in.
He kissed her. A slow caress, nudging her lips apart to allow him access. His growl skated over her skin, heating her blood despite her intent to resist his masculine lure. “Come with me Jessica,” he whispered into her mouth.
Her eyes were closed as she nodded.
He grabbed her hand and led her from the bathroom. She knew it was a mistake but her body would not relinquish its need for the sexy demon that captured her heart. Her soul.
He escorted her to his bedroom. A plain queen size bed with white sheets, identical to the one in her apartment and matching dresser were the only furnishings besides the soft sitting chair. He had millions, probably billions of dollars yet he seemed not to care how modest his surroundings. He had a singular concern. Her. His hands went to her bomber jacket, unzipping the thin black material with the white PIA logo, as his eyes held hers.
He was daring her to say no, to resist. Nothing could have stopped her. Her body tensed with anticipation as her jacket hit the floor. His hands, tugged each small button of her white shirt before unzipping her pants and pulling them down. He removed her boots and stood leaving her in her matching white bra and panties.
His gray suit jacket landed beside hers before he removed the rest of his clothes.
She thought he would pull her to him, he back away, seating himself on a cream linen chair.
His eyes roamed her body, studying her as if she were a work of art as his hand began to stroke his long hard cock.
Her pussy clenched when he squeezed the steel shaft, allowing a drop of his essence to leak over the head. Her mouth watered as she unhooked her bra then shimmied out of her thong. All the while his eyes stayed glued to her body as if she were an apparition. Like looking away would cause her to disappear.
She wanted this. Wanted him. This one last time she would take everything she craved and more. She knelt at his feet, widening his legs so she could fit between them before nipping the inside of his thigh, forcing him to growl.
She remembered when he had done the same thing to her. She had always been a fast learner, and she wanted him to know what it felt like to be sitting on that apex, unable to achieve the most pleasurable goal.
He growled low as she nuzzled his cock, before licking his balls lightly. “Jessica.” He warned.
She smiled up at him as she licked her way up his shaft. Each soft stroke of her tongue inciting the red fire reflected in his eyes.
He groaned when she sucked him deep into her mouth. The salty masculine taste mixed with the hard velvet feel combined to give her body shivers of excitement. Her hand worked in conjunction with her mouth, watching him fight for control. Waiting for him to lose it.
She worked him far into her throat, the flat head scraping her tonsils as his claws pierced his fingers. This was how she wanted to remember him, teetering on the edge of bliss, expecting her to allow him to fall. She pulled back when she thought he may go over. He inhaled sharply as she rose to her feet.
She put one leg on either side of his legs, perched above him, before lowering herself down on his strained, waiting cock.
She moaned as the thick length of him stretched her. The feeling of fullness so much it burned her from the inside out. Still, it wasn’t enough. When she had taken him to the hilt, the fight for control etched on every feature of his face, she rose, then impaled herself on his steel shaft.
His breath left him in a rush as his fingers bit into her hips. He didn’t quicken her pace or try to take control. He put his head back on the top of the chair as she continued her sensual ride.
She felt the tingling in her stomach first. The tightening of her muscles, coiled like a spring, pushed to its limits. She clutched his shoulders, grinding into his pelvis as she rolled her hips toward him. Faster. Harder.
When she was at the brink of her control she bent down and nibbled his earlobe, bearing down on him as aggressively as she could before biting his neck. She wasn’
t sure what spurned the aggressive behavior, but he came hard. Her own orgasm clamped down on him, milking him with little aftershocks as she tried to see past the fireworks behind her eyes.
She clung to him for a long time as he caressed her back. Tears formed at the beauty of the occasion, knowing it was over. That what she did next would be to protect him. She didn’t know how she could convince him to let her go. She only knew she had to try.
Her cell phone startled her. She rose slowly, feeling the cold the moment, her body no longer touched his. She recognized the ring tone. “Hey, Jenner,” she said, trying to keep the sadness from her voice.
“We’ve had another murder. We believe it was a PIA prospect,” Jenner said.
Jess closed her eyes. “Shit.”
“Yeah, can you and Greg head over to the scene. I’m in a meeting with my father.” His tone curt.
“Does he deny making the DK10’s?”
“Oh no, he admits he and Senator Baker have had this project in the works for almost five years.”
“Damn.”
“Do you think Greg knew of the death squad?”
Jenner huffed. “If he was, he wouldn’t have been allowed to tell me. If a superior tells you to keep your mouth shut an agent must do just that.”
“You want me to see if he would open up to me?”
“I doubt he will but you are welcome to try. My dad isn’t telling me anything I don’t already know.”
“I think Greg and his father may be closer than you and...”
“My father is a dick. So, yeah, we aren’t close,” he snipped.
“Sorry.”
Jenner sighed. “No, I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m frustrated. It looks like pops organized a virtual demon hit team because of my sister’s death and now he will put my other sister in harms way.”
Jess lightened her tone. “Your right. He’s a dick.”
Jenner chuckled. “Thanks Jess. I appreciate you having my back. With Kiki on the death squad and Greg’s loyalties... who knows where. I’m glad you are here.”
Jess swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’ll talk to Greg. We’ll head down to the scene.” She hung up.
She turned around to Dante holding her clothes. “I am sorry that another agent was assassinated,” he said.
She took the clothes, pulling them on as she spoke. “It wasn’t an agent. A prospect is someone the PIA is investigating. They have psychic ability and possibly some form of training but haven’t been accepted into the PIA.”
“How does the Ladon know who the PIA is considering as a prospect?”
Jessica buttoned her shirt, recalling the conversation with Draven. “I think Marcus would know if a demon was in the PIA so I’m guessing this is PURE.”
“PURE and the Ladon are the same.”
“They need human agents. I think that is PURE. They pose as the leaders of PURE while human loyalists do their bidding. All the while working for the demons they fear.”
Dante frowned. “That is very astute and likely accurate. I will discuss this with Valen while you take care of your PIA duties.”
Jessica kissed him. She wanted to remember this moment. How she would get him to let her go already forming in her mind. “Good bye Dante.”
She left the apartment with tears streaming down her cheeks.
Jess met Greg at the crime scene. The small bakery with its yellow walls, bright glass cases with decorated pastries and sweet bread smell was an unusual contrast to the woman slumped over the narrow table with a spilled coffee cup beside her hand. Jess motioned toward the woman. “They shot her right in the middle of the Bakery? With people around her.”
Greg nodded. “Snipers nest was across the street on the roof.” He handed her a card in plastic. “They found this at the site.”
Jess read the card. “Hybrid Kill Courtesy of PURE.” She gave it back to Greg. “Jenner said she was a recruit. When was her training supposed to start?”
Greg’s eyes roamed over her body. “In two weeks.”
Jess faked a warm smile. “How are they finding the recruits? Do we have another mole?”
Greg looked around the bakery. “None of the people exposed in the last raid had access to that intel. Only the senior directors know who is being considered or recruited.”
Jess nodded. “And the senators responsible for their territory. I mean Senator Davidson would have known she was a recruit.”
Greg tensed. “Yeah, he should have known.”
Jess leaned toward Greg and whispered. “Jenner is talking to his dad right now. He is furious he didn’t know about the death squad, that one of his own agents was being recruited for it. Can you imagine a father throwing his son under the bus like that? His dad must be a total asshole.”
Greg’s lip twitched. “I knew they didn’t get along, but I thought his quick promotion in the PIA came because of his father. I don’t envy Jenner one bit now though. One sister killed by a demon and another married to one with a target on her head.” He huffed. “Nope, don’t envy him at all.”
Jessica let his words play through her mind. “Me either. Can you imagine your dad doing something like that to you?” She made the comment hastily as if she didn’t expect him to answer.
Greg’s eye twitched. “No, my dad would never do that.”
Jess heard the words, but she wasn’t sure Greg believed them. “Did Kiki confide in you about the squad? I know you; Kiki and Laura were a team.”
Greg frowned. “Laura, Kiki and Jenner were a team. I just went where they told me. So, no she didn’t tell me she was training on the DK10’s.” He looked at Jess. “I’m glad you are here Jess. We will make a very good team.”
Her stomach rolled as she smiled. “Yes, we will.”
Greg motioned the older man in the corner talking to the officers. “That’s the owner. Let’s finish with the witness interviews then I will take you for dinner.” He walked away before she could respond.
She swallowed hard, pushing the feeling of betrayal away. She had never made Dante any promises. This was the ideal scenario to get him to move on and get any intel Greg may have from his father. Yet, as she talked to the baker workers and patrons. The pit in her stomach got heavier and heavier. She moved and spoke like a robot. Going through the motions of being the perfect PIA agent while inside she crumbled.
The sun was going down when Greg joined her at the entrance of the bakery. “You ready to head out?”
She glanced at all the fancy pastries as they rolled the body in front of the display case and out the door. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He put his hand on the small of her back as she exited the bakery. It was all she could not to pull her gun.
He led her down the street to quaint Italian restaurant. The red and white checkered table clothes combined with the smell of pasta and tomato sauce a welcome change. He pulled a chair out for her then took an opposite one for himself beside the window with large gold lettering.
Jess looked around. “This is cute. I’ve never been here before.”
Greg nodded. “My dad is friends with Cam. He owns this place. He makes an excellent fire house pizza.”
Jess smiled. “You had me at pizza. Throw in a beer and pretzels and I’m in heaven.”
Greg returned her smile. “Done.” He motioned the waiter in a white shirt and black pants over to them. He ordered as Jess felt the familiar shimmer in her mind.
Jessica. Dante said.
I’m working Dante. She could hear the ache in her own voice.
You are sad. Did you recognize the woman who was killed?
How did you know it was a woman?
I saw a flash of the crime scene before you shut me out.
Her shields had always been up unless she thought to bring them down. Now he was in her mind before she could shut him out. She needed it to stop. We can’t see each other any more Dante. She forced conviction she didn’t feel into her voice.
Jessica, why are you pulling away? What has happen
ed?
Nothing. I just can’t be with you.
Where are you? Dante growled.
I am having dinner with my partner now go away.
There was a moment of silence before he returned. Jenner is with his father.
Jenner is my boss. Greg is my partner.
Agent Baker is not your partner. You have made a mistake Miss Johnson.
Jess felt his anger before he cut the link. It slammed shut cutting her soul to the core as much as the impersonal way in which he used her last name. She had wanted him to back off. Needed it. Yet as she watched, the waiter put down the cold beers. She felt her stomach heave.
Greg frowned. “Jess you okay?”
She smiled wanly. “Sorry, just thinking about that poor young woman. She had her whole life ahead of her and then wham, it’s over just like that.”
Greg nodded. “It sucks, for sure.”
She looked at Greg, unsure if he felt any empathy for the dead woman in the bakery. “Do you know how Kiki ended up in the death squad? I mean it seems hard core.”
Greg huffed. “Most people will think it’s because of her graduating top of her class but I know several members of her squad have had... history with the demon race.”
Jess leaned forward. “What kind of history?”
Greg looked around, making sure no one was close enough to hear. “That guy that had his DK10 stolen. A demon that could shift into some sort of huge monster wolf murdered his twin.”
“Like a werewolf? I never saw that report.”
Greg rubbed his jaw. “There have been lots of incidents that remain in house.”
“Within the PIA headquarters of that city or within the entire agency?”
Greg looked her over. “The PIA is not running as a unified agency yet Jess. Each city is running independently. My father and Senator Davidson are trying to fix that.”
Jess frowned. “How can that be? Every director reports to his senator and the senators meet to make major decisions together.”
Greg flicked the label on his beer. “Let’s just say that some senators have more sway than others.”
