Dragon Hearts (D.O.A. Book 1)

by Cree Storm

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  "I hope they have room service at this place, I'm damn well starving." Bren muttered as he looked out the window of the SUV as Rene drove them to the hotel.

  Jude snorted, "Well, from what we heard, I can't understand why. I mean, it sounded like you got plenty of protein."

  Bren didn't turn around, but knew that he was turning red from the heat that filled his cheeks and even his stupid ears.

  "We will get you a full meal even if one of us has to go get it." Rene replied, squeezing Bren's hand.

  "I could go and catch you a deer or rabbit, if you like?" Azul replied.

  Feeling his stomach turn with the image of a bloody animal presented at his feet had Bren rethinking his stomach's urge, "Uh, thanks Azul, but no. I'm sure the hotel we are going to has room service."

  "That is so fucking strange. You are talking to a voice in your head that no one else can hear." Jude replied.

  "I can." Rene quickly answered.

  Jude looked at Casper, "I thought you said that only the one carrying the mark of the maharishi could communicate with it?"

  "Apparently that isn't how it works when you mate. According to Azul, our three souls are now bound since I was marked. So long as our mating is strengthened regularly, then so is our life together." Bren explained.

  Jude sat forward in the SUV, gasping, "Wait, are you saying when you mated you had sex not just with Rene, but with the dragon, too?"

  "I did not have sex with Azul, Jude." Bren stated firmly.

  "You just said that the mark on your neck is a mating mark. Well, from what I can see that is a bite mark and it damn sure isn't a human bite mark I see. I should know, I'm a doctor." Jude argued.

  Bren gritted his teeth, "I did not have sex with Azul. He was there, and he did help me and Rene with the bite mark, but it was Rene inside──you know what, never mind."

  "So, what you're saying is it was a physical mating with Rene, but more a spiritual one with Azul?" Casper asked.

  Bren thought a moment. Remembering the Sapphire orb wrapping around them, the heat that filled his body and the energy growing until it exploded, he smiled, "That is the best way to explain it, Rance."

  "Why do you call me that?" Casper asked.

  "Because it's your name." Bren replied.

  Casper crossed his arms, saying, "Everyone calls me Casper."

  Bren turned his head, saying, "That may very well be, Rance. However, you are no ghost to me. I see you there and I see who you are. You are Casper when you need to be, but when it comes to your family and friends, you are all Rance."

  When Jude turned to Casper and gently said, "It's okay, your secret is safe with us." Bren about dropped his jaw. For the first time, Bren was seeing something that he wasn't all together sure he believed. Jude was looking at Casper with interest and Casper was making secret little glances to his friend in return. When Bren turned to Rene, his mate gave a small nod then shook his head. Bren understood the man completely. Yes, he saw it too, but stay the hell out of it.

  Pulling up to the hotel, Bren was in awe.

  "This place is fucking huge!" Jude gasped.

  Bren shook his head, "This is no hotel, Rene."

  Rene looked at the massive structure, then grabbed his phone, "This is the address Nautical texted me this morning. He said it was far more accommodating to our needs.” Putting the phone on speaker Rene pressed a button, listening to the ring, waiting for an answer.

  "Hey Pit, how was your flight?" Nautical asked with a snicker.

  "Better than any man could ask for. I called to ask if you gave me the right address to where we are staying?" Pit asked in confusion.

  Bren walked up to the massive reflecting pool that sat in front of a beautiful, light tan Italian Villa that was lined with palm trees all in a row leading to a huge glass door. The building was magnificent, but it was obviously no hotel.

  "The more I thought about it the more I knew that it was not safe for you or your new sentience to stay amongst so many. So, I purchased this property and had Ms. Riddle moved there. Boomer contacted his friend with the hardware and he assigned twelve of his best men to act as your guard." Nautical explained.

  "Guards? Why in the world would we need guards, Nautical?" Rene asked in complete bewilderment.

  Nautical didn't answer, and Rene snapped, "What the hell is going on, Nautical? You don't just change plans on a fucking whim. Now, what the hell is going on?"

  "Pit, this is Boomer. We had an incident right after you guys left. Another boy has been murdered."

  "Damn, who this time?" Jude asked.

  "Carl Castle. He was fishing at the Poconos Summit and while returning he was killed on Commerce Street. Same as the others." Boomer said sadly.

  Jude gasped, "Carl? Carl castle is dead?"

  Bren looked at Jude, "That name sounds familiar. Why do I know that name?"

  "We all know Carl, Bren. He's the young boy that maintains our yard." Jude replied wiping tears from his eyes.

  "Oh God! I bring him lemonade when he's mowing the lawn!" Bren said feeling sorrow for the young man's death.

  Rene pulled Bren to his side, trying to give him comfort. A smoky sapphire fog appeared and Azul was there trailing his long tail around Bren's waist and making a humming noise that brought a calmness to Bren he hadn't felt a minute ago.

  "Holy shit! Seriously? That's Azul? The dino that was on your arm?" Jude gasped.

  Bren turned to see Rylee walking forward, asking, "He's a dragon not a dinosaur. Can I touch him?"

  Taj pulled Rylee back, snapping, "Never touch another member's Maharishi."

  Rylee pulled his hand back quickly, muttering, "Sorry. It isn't like we see a dragon every day. I just wanted to see what he feels like."

  "Well, when all of this is done, I will introduce mine to you and I'm sure he will gladly allow you access if you ask him nicely." Taj said with a look Bren couldn't quite define.

  Rene gave an annoyed look to everyone around him, but Bren, saying, "Everyone quiet. I'm still trying to understand why a death over sixteen hundred miles away is cause for guards?"

  "Pit, you might want to take me off speaker." Boomer warned.

  "Whatever you have to say, I'd only have to repeat. Just spit it out, Boomer." Rene ordered.

  Bren could hear Boomer let out a long breath, saying, "Okay, but you were warned."

  "Boomer! What happened?" Rene growled.

  "The murderer left a message." Boomer immediately responded.

  Bren felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He had a feeling whatever the message, it was not going to be good.

  "It said, you have a three days doc, and then another boy dies. I don't suggest you and your friends linger in Texas too long." Boomer said softly.

  Jude gasped, "So is that directed at you or me, Bren?"

  Shaking his head, Bren replied, "I have no idea."

  Rene looked at Jude curiously, "Did you know the other boys killed as well, Jude?"

  Nodding, Jude replied, "I'm a doctor, Rene. I know just about everyone in our small town. You know how I knew Aaron, but the others were usually sports injuries. Well, not Fallon. I treated him when he was bucked off one of the horses."

  "But were you close to the other boys?" Taj asked.

  Jude thought moment, then replied, "No, not really. I mean, I treated them, but I didn't hang around with them. No offense, but they were young boys. That is so not my thing."

  "You don't like kids?" Casper asked in surprise.

  Jude snorted, "I never really thought about them. I'm a gay man. Kids are not something I see in the future for me."

  Rene made another sound of annoyance, then snarled, "I want this asshole caught, Boomer."

  "Pit, Eagle has been all over the files. We know this can't be the real ABC Killer, but damn if everything doesn't lineup." Boomer quickly said.

  Bren had a thought, "Stop matching similarities and look for the differences. If this is a copycat, then that
means something will be different. Even the smallest detail."

  "That's a good idea, Bren. I'll have Eagle get on that. Wiz and Nautical have been in contact with the locals and they are meeting with them tomorrow. Cobra is at the scene right now with Gunner and Blade. They are working with their Maharishis to see if they can find any evidence the locals might have missed." Boomer explained.

  There was a struggling sound then Wiz came on line, "Look, there is nothing you can do here. Focus on things in Texas, we're doing everything we can in the good old state of Pennsylvania. If there is any other news, we'll call you. If you need anything call us. Have a good time, guys Bye."

  The phone went dead and Rene just looked at it, then muttered, "Did one of my men just hang up on me?"

  Taj sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it, Wiz is right, Pit. There's nothing we can do from here. Let's just focus on Ms. Riddle and the fire."

  Nodding, Rene put his phone away, saying, "You're right, Myst," then he looked directly at Bren, "However, until this murdering asshole is caught, you are not to leave my side for any reason." Turning to Jude, Rene said, "And you are not to leave Casper's side for any reason as well."

  "You mean when we're out of the house, right?" Jude asked in shock.

  Shaking his head, Rene firmly stated, "No, Jude. I mean you will eat, sleep, and even take a piss together."

  Jude opened his mouth to argue, but Pit took a step forward, and in a tone that gave no room for argument, stated, "You are one of only a few people my mate considers a sibling. That means anyone and everyone will have an assigned guard. Now, I don't know the men inside this place, that means that you will be like a limb to Casper, Rylee will be attached to Taj like butter to bread and Stephanie will be with Sparky every step she takes. There is no argument, there is only following orders and until this lunatic is caught, I will not have anyone, friend or family, dying and leaving my mate with yet another hole in his heart. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

  Nodding, Jude replied, "I will be the butter to Casper's bread. Got it. However, I will not be peeing with the man. He can wait outside the bathroom. Maybe the sound of flowing water will bring some of the tension out of him enough to pull that stick out of his ass he seems to walk with."

  "Jude, please. Just this once can you at least try to follow a directive without an argument." Bren urged.

  Sighing, Jude muttered, "Fine, but if Casper snores I get to kick him under the bed."

  "I do not snore." Casper stated firmly.

  Jude raised a brow, "I'm a doctor, trust me, a man of your size and build snores. You're asleep and just don't know it."

  Casper lifted both brows, and frostily asked, "Slept with a lot of men my size and build, have you?"

  Jude huffed and looked away. Bren could see the hurt in his friend’s eyes. However, before he could say anything the front door opened. Azul quickly disappeared and landed on Bren's arm. A tall muscular man with a bald head came walking out, "I'm Agent Denton Marley, who are you?"

  "I'm Special Agent Rene Telkin. My husband and brothers are here to see their mother." Pit replied in that deep ‘I take no shit’ tone.

  Jude started for the door. Marley stepped in front of Jude and Jude snapped, "Unless you want to be sucking on your nuts from the back of your throat, I suggest you move. My mom needs me and you damn well know who we are. Now, move or get ready to suck."

  Marley gave Jude a look and then must have realized Jude was not kidding. Marley stepped aside and Jude took off for the door with Casper and the rest of them following close behind.

  Bren didn't know about the guards, but he didn't like the fact that he had a three-day deadline or else another boy would die.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  "Pit, how did the murderer know they were all out of town?" Taj asked.

  Shaking his head, Rene replied, "I don't know. What bothers me even more is that the asshole knows where we are."

  Jude's exuberant scream of, "Mom!" Had Rene looking in the man's direction.

  Jude, Bren, and Rylee all rushed towards a pleasantly plump woman with shoulder length brown hair. She seemed familiar to Rene somehow, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

  Quickening her step to the three men running towards her, Ms. Riddle met them with her arms open wide and a large smile. Rene found it interesting that Stephanie seemed to stay back.

  Rene, Casper, and Taj stayed where they were as the four all started talking at once. The love for their mother was not just visible, it was tangible as well. Rene was thinking about how wonderful it would be to be able to hug his mother once more. Turning he could see the same thoughts on his friends’ faces as well.

  Moments later, Jude's mom looked over and went to Stephanie. Taking the young woman in her arms, she said with a slight southern drawl, "I am so sorry for your loss, Stephanie."

  Stephanie sniffled, rasping, "Thank you."

  Ms. Riddle pulled back, slanted her eyes, then firmly asked, “So, which of you men are trying to steal my son away from me?"

  Taj and Casper both pointed to Rene. Rene rolled his eyes, whispering, "Thanks a lot."

  Stepping forward, Rene replied, "I would never try and steal your son, ma'am. If anything, Bren is the thief, after all, he is the one that stole my heart."

  Taj and Casper groaned and Sparky snorted from behind them. However, Jude's mother smiled wide and walked closer, shocking the hell out of Rene when she opened her arms wide, whispering, "Welcome to the family, son."

  Rene was stiff for a moment. He didn't remember the last time he felt the arms of a mother wrapped around him. However, it didn't take long for him to relax and hug the woman back. She did surprise the hell out him though, when she drew him closer and softly said, "Hurt my boy and I swear no one will ever find your body."

  Smiling, Rene pulled back enough to look her in the eyes, saying, "I would gladly accept my punishment if that were the case, Ms. Riddle."

  "Clara or better yet, you can call me mom. Everyone always calls me mom." She said with a smile.

  Rene couldn't speak past the lump in his throat, so instead he nodded. She smiled and went to greet Taj, Casper, and then Sparky, "You gentlemen have been rather busy, I understand. I made us all some dinner, why don't we go into the kitchen and eat while we talk?"

  Everyone followed Jude's mom to the kitchen passing one guard after another. She didn't slow down or stop talking the entire time, "Now, this place is absolutely beautiful, but it's a little much for my taste. Hell, you could get lost going to the bathroom."

  Jude looked left and right. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting their way. Paintings hung on the walls of all styles and colors, large fancy vases were in the corners next to some odd glass shelf of some sort, "Holy shit, what the hell was Nautical and Wiz thinking with this place?"

  "He did say he picked something up quick." Taj muttered.

  Bren took his hand, and Rene felt a jolt of electricity run up his harm. Bren smiled, softly saying, "I'm so glad you and Azul are here with me."

  Leaning down, Rene kissed Bren, replying, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

  "By your side is where we always belong." Azul whispered in their minds.

  Bren's happiness was felt by Rene and Azul, as he said, "Forever and always."

  Rene looked at all the glass and crystal then as they passed a large room, he saw the dainty and delicate Italian style chairs and couches, he looked at Taj saying, "I'm scared shitless to sit on that stuff. It looks like it would break with a sneeze."

  The second they entered the kitchen, Rene felt relief. Thank goodness, the chairs and table looked sturdy enough to hold his and the others’ weight without snapping like a toothpick.

  "I was too late to have a say in the other rooms furniture, but thankfully I was able to catch your friend before he ordered the kitchen and dining area furniture. I don't know about you guys, but that other stuff scares the crap out of me. I'm terrified I'm going to break something if I walk in the
room, so I stay mostly here and in the courtyard." Clara said with that joyous laugh that had he and even Taj grinning. Casper looked confused, and Sparky looked lost.

  Jude scoffed, "I don't understand what you don't like about the furnishings. Italian decor is the in thing for mansions. This place is amazing."

  Casper gave Jude an odd look, "You want this type of home?"

  "Not as a permanent place, but to vacation in, sure. I mean, isn't that what taking a vacation is all about? Doing things and being places you don't do or see in your everyday life?" Jude replied.

  Rylee shook his head, "Maybe so, but this place is a bit much, Jude. Give me a cabin in the woods any day."

  "Mom, is that smell what I think it is?" Bren asked practically moaning.

  Nodding, Clara replied, "Of course. I know you don't get the fresh green chili in Pennsylvania, so I made up your favorite, green chili chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice. I have fried ice cream for dessert."

  "Oh, hot damn!" Jude yelled rushing to the table to sit.

  Clara raised a brow at her son, admonishing, "Young man, you will watch your mouth in my presence. I raised you with better manners. And you know the rules."

  Jude groaned as he stood back up and went to the sink, and began washing his hands, muttering, "I'm a grown man. You would think she would give me a break. I only said damn."

  Clara looked at all of them, saying, "Everyone wash up and I'll set the table."

  "Pit, we need to talk." Sparky said as they made their way to the sink.

  "What's up, Sparky?" Rene asked.

  Giving Clara a side glance, Sparky replied, "Jude's mom──I know her from somewhere."

  "That's odd, because I was thinking she looked familiar when she came in to greet Jude and the others." Rene replied.

  "She's older, Rene, but I'm sure we have crossed paths before." Sparky said still giving short glances her way.

  As Casper and Taj came up to the sink, Rene asked, "Do you guys think that we might have met Clara before?"

  Taj shrugged, as did Casper. Taj said, "I don't remember her if we did, but we don't handle every case together, either."

  "If we did, there might be some serious trouble, Pit. We can't have someone in the community that can give up our identity." Casper warned.