Tangled

by Rebecca Zanetti

  “Hello. Why is Saul Libscombe going through back channels to reach me about Virus-27?” Emma said, her voice short. “I asked Dage, and he told me to give you a call.”

  Damn it. Theo’s chest filled. “I assume Saul wants to try and negate the mating bond I just formed with Ginny O’Toole last night.” The virus could negate a mating bond if one’s mate was dead, but it hadn’t been attempted in a living mate yet. So Saul still had plans for Ginny. Yeah. Theo was going to have to kill him. “Hey, how did Dage know about the mating?”

  “He’s the king,” Emma said simply, her voice already distracted. “I’ll make sure Saul doesn’t get his hands on the virus. Say hi to Ginny for me.” She ended the call.

  Theo lifted his shirt to look at the perfect swirls of a Celtic knot right over his heart. Ginny had marked him but good. He smiled and turned to head back into the kitchen, where he arched an eyebrow. “You know the queen?”

  A small smile played along Ginny’s mouth. “I may have done a job or two for her through the years. Stealing proprietary information she could use in her work. Maybe.”

  Jesus. Sometimes the woman really caught him off guard. He grinned. Yeah, he liked that.

  The front door opened, followed by footsteps as his brothers moved into the living room. Theo winked at Ginny and grabbed his laptop, motioning for her to stay in the kitchen. They had to keep Saul out of this plan. She blew a kiss at him as he left, warming his entire body.

  He could feel the goofy smile on his face as he approached his brothers, but there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  “Jesus. You mated. I can smell her on you.” Jared clapped him on the back, a smile creasing his wide face. “Congrats.”

  “Thanks.” Theo glanced at Chalton, who was grinning. “What?”

  “Nothing. Just congrats.” Chalton unpacked computer equipment and sat on the sofa. “I’ve figured out and have hacked into the anklet. The only way we can get it off her is to deactivate Saul’s controller. Otherwise, the thing will explode and release enough planekite in her blood to kill her.”

  Theo sat on the leather chair and motioned for Jared to take the other one. “So, I didn’t want to tell you this, but included in the Benjamin file is a series of data called the Green Rock file.”

  Jared groaned. “I thought we destroyed all of that information.”

  Chalton stiffened. “What’s the Green Rock file?”

  Theo searched for the right words. “Benny couldn’t destroy the information because parties on the other side have it. It’s a mutual opportunity for everyone to be protected from extortion and blackmail.” He’d agreed with Benny. “But here’s the deal. Ah, during the war, Benny might have, well he did, ah—”

  “Jesus. What?” Chalton snapped, his angled face losing his normal calm expression.

  “Benny collaborated with the demons. Before they became allies with the Realm. When they were, ah, killing vampires and kidnapping members of the Kayrs ruling family.” Theo leaned back and waited for Chalton to lose his mind. He was close with the Kayrs family. Very.

  Chalton paled. “Are you telling me that Benny helped facilitate the kidnapping of Jase Kayrs? My friend and the king’s brother? The one who was tortured nearly to death and took forever to return to any normal life?” Chalton’s voice darkened dangerously.

  Maybe Theo should worry about Benny and not Chalton right now. “No. Benny had nothing to do with kidnapping Jase. But he did procure and deliver weapons to demon contacts during the war, some which may have been used against the Realm and to, ah, kidnap Jase.”

  “Damn it,” Chalton said.

  “We’ll get the flash drive back,” Theo said, determination filling his chest. “It can be our secret.”

  “Secrets get out.” Chalton took his phone from his pocket and placed it on the coffee table next to the laptop.

  Jared shook his head, his dark gaze on the phone like it might blow up. “Bro, I don’t know Dage Kayrs like you do, considering you’ve worked with him for a century and I basically just met the guy. But I have heard all about him. Family is what he cares about. He’ll kill all of us for even being associated with anybody who’d harmed his younger brother. Think about this.”

  Theo swallowed. “Agreed.”

  “I don’t lie to my friends,” Chalton said, watching his phone. “It’s not who I am.” He punched a couple of buttons on his phone and then turned toward the large flat screen over the fireplace, hacking it instantly to bring up a call to the king of the Realm.

  Dage took shape, wearing a long black shirt with dark pants, his dark hair ruffled and his silver eyes curious. “Chalton? What’s up?”

  Chalton stood.

  Theo faltered for a moment and then moved to stand next to his brother. Jared took point on the other side.

  Dage lifted an eyebrow. “This is interesting.”

  Chalton nodded. “Not really. Information has come into my possession regarding my family’s businesses, and more specifically, something called the Green Rock file.”

  “Oh, that.” Dage waved a hand. “Benny and Ivan, you know the guy who owns Igor’s, that bar downtown?”

  Theo swallowed. “Yes. Ivan named the bar after his deceased brother.”

  “Yep. Benny and Ivan had a small business running weapons. Worked with the demons, the shifters, and sometimes even with us. I found out about it and gave Benny a deal he couldn’t refuse.” Dage’s canines glinted. “He’s a fun guy.”

  Chalton’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “You knew about the Green Rock file?”

  “Don’t make me say it.” Dage grinned. “The king, here. Besides, why didn’t you just ask Ginny about the Green Rock file?”

  Theo stilled. The blood rushed through his ears, ringing loudly. “Ginny?” he croaked.

  Dage’s forehead wrinkled, and delight darkened the silver in his eyes. “Oh. Well. Hmmm.” He glanced to the side. “Coming,” he called out loudly.

  “Nobody just yelled for you,” Theo countered. “Tell me—”

  “Nope,” the king said cheerfully. “My regards to your mate.” The screen went black.

  Theo lifted his head. “Ginny?” he bellowed.

  Before she could respond, the front door crashed open, and a fully armed vampire dressed in combat gear stomped inside, fury on his face, his size eighteen boots cracking the tiles as he stomped.

  Ah, shit. Theo sighed. “Hi, Uncle Benny.”

  “Goddamn it. Don’t uncle me. I’m going to kill you motherfuckers.” Benny, his eyes a swirling mass of different metallic colors, lifted a green gun and pointed it at them.

  Ginny moved in from the kitchen, and Theo leaped to cover her.

  Her face brightened in a smile. “Benjamin!” Taking a leap, she rushed him, jumping for a hug.

  The massive vampire dropped his gun and caught her, swinging her around. “Ginny, girl. You sweetheart. What are you doing here?” He seemed to forget all about Theo and his brothers.

  Theo moved forward, his mind spinning and his chest heating. His woman had some serious explaining to do. “Put my mate down, Benny.”

  Benny gently set Ginny on her feet as if handling fine china, his face falling. “You mated him?”

  She nodded, her dimple twinkling. “You disappointed?”

  “Yes,” Benny said, his body relaxing and his full lips turning down. “Now I probably can’t kill him.” He paused, his eyebrows lifting. “Right?”

  Chapter 14

  Ginny tried to plaster an innocent expression on her face, but from the glowering coming from her new mate, she wasn’t successful. “I’d really appreciate it if we kept the killing to a minimum.” Including her. Theo kind of looked like he wanted to strangle her. Or Benny. Or perhaps both of them. He did have two hands. “Please?”

  Benny shuffled his humongous feet. “Oh, all right.”

  “Thank you.” She gifted him with a genuine smile.

  Benny was over a thousand years old. He had metallic eyes, long dark hair, a broad
jaw, and a barrel of a chest. Standing at about six-foot-seven, he was a huge, sweet, deadly teddy bear, and she’d considered him one of her uncles for eons, even though he truly was shockingly handsome in a totally wounded and fallen angel way. “So you stole my file,” he murmured, losing his smile.

  “Aye,” she said, sighing. “I’m sorry, but Saul has my da.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Benny asked, hurt in his eyes.

  She widened her eyes. “I tried. You’ve been in Russia, totally out of communication, Ben. I couldn’t find you.”

  Now he blanched. “Ah, darling. I’m sorry. I needed a couple of decades of alone time.” He turned a harsh glare on his nephews, seemingly uncaring that they were three of the most dangerous vampires in the world. “And you three jackasses got two of my places blown up. Destroyed. Completely turned to ash.” His voice lowered to a growl that sounded more bear than wolf.

  Theo stepped forward. “We’ve had a rough month, but we’ll pay you back.”

  “Pay me back?” Benny boomed. “Oh, hell no. You’ll overpay me until you work your fool fingers to the bone.”

  Theo’s pupils narrowed as if his temper was stretching wide awake. “For fuck’s sake, Ben. It was a penthouse and a house. Surely you had insurance.” Theo looked like he’d be just fine if Benny punched him in the face. Oh, man. Theo wanted a good fight and right now. “Would you just get over it?” He tensed, apparently ready for the blow.

  Benny looked at him. Then at Ginny. Then once again at Theo. A smile twitched on his lips. Then he threw back his head and laughed, the boisterous sound echoing in every direction. His eyes watered, and he wiped them off, finally sobering with a couple of coughs. “Oh, boy. You just have no clue what you’ve gotten into.”

  Theo cut a hard look toward Ginny. “I’m getting the idea that may be true.”

  She fought the very real urge to stick her tongue out at him. Sometimes a vampire ended up pushed to his limit, and if she had to guess, Theo had reached that point more than a few hours earlier. “I’ve never pretended to be anything but who I am.”

  Theo snorted. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Heat filled her face. “All right. I haven’t pretended since I promised you I wouldn’t.” All saints. What did he want, anyway?

  Theo turned suddenly more toward Benny. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me the king knew about the Green Rock file?”

  Benny’s broad forehead wrinkled. “Huh. Thought I had. Why do you care, anyway?”

  Red flushed across Theo’s handsome face, even reaching his ears.

  Ginny stepped in, patting Theo’s wide chest. “Um, I think perhaps Theo was concerned that the king would be angry. Considering Chalton works with the Realm, surely you can understand that concern, Benny.” She smiled at him again as if he should most certainly understand.

  He stared at her a moment. “Well, uh, yeah. I guess I do understand that now.” He cleared his throat and looked at Theo. “I, ah, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that.” His brows drew down and he looked at Ginny for confirmation. When she nodded with encouragement, his face cleared. “Yeah. Shoulda told you.”

  Theo looked down at her as if the world had started spinning backward all of a sudden. “Have you two, ah, worked together a lot?”

  Benny chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Remember that cadre of wolf shifters we—”

  Ginny held up a hand. “Oh, my.” Panic cut through her with a large swath. Theo didn’t need to know about some of the scrapes she, Benny, and her father had gotten into through the years. “We don’t want to bother Theo with that story.” Glancing to the side, she caught both of Theo’s brothers staring at her, their mouths open and their brows furrowed. Amusement glittered in Jared’s eyes, while Chalton just looked bemused.

  Theo looked like he’d been hit in the head with a concrete block. Twice. “Cadre of wolves?”

  “Wasn’t nearly as interesting as when we infiltrated the dragon island. When was that? About thirty years ago?” Benny rubbed his broad jaw, his lips quirking.

  Oh, man. Benny couldn’t catch a hint. She pressed her lips together and shook her head at him.

  “You don’t remember the dragons?” Benny asked, his brow furrowing.

  Theo swallowed. “We’ve just recently discovered that there are dragons and that they live on an invisible island. You two, ah, knew three decades ago that dragons existed?” He looked almost dazed.

  Benny laughed again, his rock-hard belly visibly clenching beneath his black shirt. “Obviously. How else would we have stolen the rubies?”

  “Rubies.” Theo wavered. “You stole rubies from dragons.”

  “To be fair, they stole them first,” Ginny rushed to say. This was going south and way too quickly. “So, Benny. In town for long?”

  Benny chewed on his lip. “Nope. Just came to get my flash drive back.”

  She cleared her throat, her stomach churning. “I can’t give it to you, Ben. I’m so sorry. But I made a deal with Saul.”

  Benny sighed loudly. Very loudly. “I understand. A deal’s a deal.” He spread his arms out and looked at the three Reese men. “Well? I can’t torture her for information. We’ve been friends for too long. Which one of you is up to the task?”

  “Nobody is torturing my mate.” Theo tucked her close into his side. His computer dinged, and he glanced over at it.

  Ginny partially turned, not even remotely worried that any of the four males would try to torture her. Please. Theo had to see through his uncle. Benny wouldn’t hurt a woman. Code flashed across the screen. Her breath caught. Theo had cracked the code on Saul’s flash drive.

  Good. Now they could finally find something to trade. She moved for it.

  Theo held her still. “While nobody is going to torture my mate, I am going to get the information from her.” He pointed toward the laptop, and Chalton nodded, hustling toward it. “Excuse us,” Theo said, drawing her toward the bedroom.

  “There you go, Theo,” Benny said agreeably. “I’ll make some sandwiches while you get the info from her. You’d better have roast beef.” He started moving toward the kitchen. “Boys, start plying me with plans to repay me for your destructive last month. I came here to slice off somebody’s head, and I’m not thrilled I don’t get to play today.”

  Theo tugged her toward the bedroom.

  She stumbled, looking back at the computer. Was he serious? “I’m not going to tell you,” she said, figuring it was only fair to warn him.

  “The hell you’re not,” he said grimly, drawing her inside and shutting the door. Hard.

  * * * *

  Ginny stumbled and then drew free, backing toward the bed. Ice pricked down her back. “Listen, Theo.”

  “No. You listen.” He leaned against the door, his arms crossed. His brown hair was mussed, and a fine shadow covered his angled jaw. He looked big and broad and unbeatable. “I’m finished with this bullshit. Tell me where the flash drive is, and I’ll take it to Saul to get your father back.”

  Just looking at him made her mouth water. Why was he saying these things? “I can’t. He’s serious.” Her voice trembled. Theo seemed to have lost his mind.

  “I’m serious.” He looked implacable, as impenetrable as rock. “I’ll trade what you stole for the flash drive. But I’m done negotiating with you.” Moving for her, he manacled her hair, bringing her up on her toes.

  She gasped, panic and anger coursing through her. “Theo, you’re hurting me.”

  He blinked and loosened his hold, his voice remaining cold and rough. “I’ll hurt you a lot more if you don’t give in.” Gently, he rubbed her head. Then he winked.

  What? Oh. Of course. This was for Saul’s benefit.

  She lowered her chin. Well, then. She sniffed and let the tears fall. “Oh, Theo, I just…” She coughed several times, giving it all she had. “I’m so tired and sore. Last night we mated, and I—” Her voice rose in one of her best performances. “I’m just not strong like you.”

  He roll
ed his eyes and drew her close. “Oh, Ginny. I’m so sorry. For a moment, with all the stories, I forgot how delicate you are.” Leaning back, he shook his head, his lip quirking. “You should be protected and cosseted, and that’s my job now.” His eyes rolled so far back, it was a wonder he couldn’t see his brain.

  She grinned but forced a couple of hiccups. “I, I just need rest. Just an hour, please? We can talk after that.”

  “Okay. I’ll go eat with my brothers.” He kissed her loudly on the cheek. “Just rest, babykins.”

  Babykins? Seriously? Talk about overplaying the role. The vampire sucked at acting. She shook her head and shoved him in the gut. “Thank you so much, Theo. I do trust you to protect me.” Her voice went breathy and weak.

  “Jesus,” he mouthed. “Stay here. I’ll be back with a plan.” Turning her, he smacked her ass. She whirled back around, but he was already out the door.

  She sat down, kicking her heels. After about five minutes, she started creating escape plans from the room. Those vents were truly a gift for somebody like her. Keeping as quiet as she could, trying to make Saul think she was taking a nap or crying or something, she lifted the bedside table toward the door and the vent.

  Theo walked in. He took one look at her and spread his arms out in a “what the hell?” movement.

  She bit back a grin and pointed to the vents and obvious escape route.

  He sighed, shaking his head. Then he handed over a piece of paper.

  SAUL’S FLASH DRIVE HELD PLANS TO INFILTRATE REALM HEADQUARTERS AND TAKE BRENNA DUNNE-KAYRS. SHE’S A WITCH, AND HE PLANNED TO PUT AN ANKLET ON HER. SINCE SHE’S ON THE RULING BODY OF WITCHES, HE HAD BIG PLANS TO TAKE OVER. THE WITCHES ARE IN FLUX RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW.

  Ginny read, her mind spinning. Wasn’t Brenna pregnant? What would an anklet like that do to a pregnant witch? Ginny’s stomach rolled, and bile rose in her throat. She swallowed rapidly.

  Theo handed her another piece of paper, and she read, trying not to crinkle it or make any noise.