Drakon Unchained (Blood of the Drakon)

by N. J. Walters

  “Anytime, Mr. Henderson.” The older man pocketed the money and went back to reading his magazine.

  Both he and Oscar were silent as they rode the subway back to work, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Luther wished he knew what was on Oscar’s mind. Oscar knew a hell of a lot more about the Knights, and maybe about Caine, than he was telling anyone. While Luther respected his silence, it made it a lot harder to know if he could be trusted.

  Not that he’d truly ever trust anyone, but it got damn hard knowing no one ever had his back. And it wasn’t just his life on the line this time, but Victoria’s as well.

  Saunders was still on the front desk when they entered the foyer. “Mr. Temple wants to see you,” Saunders informed him. Luther didn’t like the man at all. He was the type who had no loyalty, would turn on his friends in a heartbeat for money or power or to save himself.

  Temple and the Knights believed hiring mercenaries, men who held no allegiance to anything but money, made them stronger. But it was their weakness. It meant that everyone had a price, anyone could be bought and their so-called loyalty stolen away.

  He removed his outer coat and handed it to the guard and then walked away without a word, leaving Oscar behind.

  “Prick,” Saunders whispered under his breath.

  Luther heard it but kept on going. He didn’t care if Saunders didn’t like him. Oscar handed in his own coat before disappearing down the hall. There were indeed hidden depths to Oscar Denning, but there wasn’t enough time to uncover them before they left. Luther only hoped he wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Saunders was.

  He had a bad feeling about this trip.

  Victoria was at her desk when he walked in, but she looked up as soon as he crossed the threshold. “Where have you been?” she muttered. She glanced toward the closed office door. “Mr. Temple has been waiting for you.”

  And Temple didn’t like to wait on anyone.

  “I’m here now.”

  She scowled at him, grabbed the phone, and dialed the internal line to Temple’s office. “Mr. Henderson is here, sir.” She pulled the receiver slightly away as Temple’s voice grew in volume. “Yes, sir.”

  She slowly lowered the phone. “He’ll be a few minutes.”

  Of course he would. Temple would keep him waiting now simply because Luther hadn’t been available when he’d wanted. That was fine with Luther. He’d just stand here and admire the view. Watching Victoria was becoming a favorite pastime.

  …

  Victoria studied Luther. He seemed unhurt, or at least his face did. He wasn’t moving like he was injured. That must mean whatever he and Oscar had done at the gym, he was fine.

  Wonder what condition Oscar is in?

  She supposed she’d find out when they all boarded the plane later today. She glanced at her watch. Almost two o’clock. This day was lasting forever. She was going to have to leave soon to go home and pack.

  She wasn’t getting much work done anyway. Her stomach was in knots over the trip. Why was Mr. Temple including her? Why now when he never had before? Was she getting in deeper with the Knights? It was what she’d wanted, but now that it was a possibility, she was scared to death.

  Then there was Luther. Once again, he was watching her, the intensity of his gaze weighing on her. Her work all but ground to a halt. She was just pretending to be productive, all the while trying to glance at Luther without him knowing.

  She wondered what he’d look like in workout gear, sweating and lifting weights or boxing or whatever it was he did to stay in such magnificent shape. Heat crept up her face.

  Her entire body felt warm, yearning for something. No, not something. Someone.

  She looked up and found him staring at her, not even trying to hide it. “Yes.” The word slipped past her lips, and she cleared her throat. “Can I help you with anything?”

  “That’s not a question you should ask me.”

  Oh God, the low timber of his voice vibrated deep in her core, making her yearn for things she’d never wanted before. She was suddenly very tired of the subterfuge, of the games, of always being alone.

  She swallowed heavily. “Then what should I ask you?” What was she doing? She could not afford to either antagonize Luther or allow him to get close to her. And she couldn’t for one second forget they were being monitored.

  Thankfully, the phone line from Mr. Temple’s office rang before Luther could answer. She grabbed the receiver like a lifeline. “Yes, sir.”

  “Send Henderson in.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And head home as soon as you’re done preparing everything I need.”

  “Yes, sir.” She hung up the phone and faced Luther. “Mr. Henderson will see you now.”

  He nodded and went into the office, closing the door behind him. Victoria wanted to heave a sigh of relief, but there was no time. She had no idea how long Luther would be, and she hoped to be gone by the time he finished.

  Totally focused, she finished a financial report on Mr. Temple’s pharmaceutical company. She’d already compiled data on his other holdings and business interests. She had no idea why he needed them, but she didn’t question it.

  Reports completed, she printed them and slid them into individual files before placing them all in a leather folder, which she left on the corner of her desk along with her laptop, as instructed.

  She was done. And since Mr. Temple had told her she could leave when she was finished, she went through the rest of her end-of-day protocols and left the office.

  She forced herself to walk when she really wanted to run. There were two men at the security desk, as always. One of them was a man called Saunders. The other one was relatively new, but she thought his name was Duke.

  “You’re leaving early today,” Saunders commented.

  “Yes.” She didn’t engage the security guards, but she didn’t particularly like Saunders. There was something about him that put her on edge.

  He handed her boots to her. She took them and sat in the chair across from their command center. She felt his eyes on her as she removed her shoes and slipped on her outer footwear.

  “Henderson is spending a lot of time in your office lately,” he commented.

  She stood and walked back to the desk, shoes in hand. “Mr. Temple has requested his presence.” She slipped her shoes into her bag before pulling on her coat.

  Saunders smirked but didn’t say anything else. As soon as she was bundled up, Victoria left. She took what seemed like her first breath in hours. Her stomach cramped, and her chest constricted.

  She was scared to death, and rightfully so. Her boss and the people he associated with weren’t ones to double-cross. And that’s exactly what she was planning to do.

  If they found out, they’d kill her. Or rather, they’d have someone kill her.

  Would it be Luther?

  Victoria stumbled on the sidewalk, barely catching herself before she went down. Would her last glimpse of life be Luther’s blue eyes as he choked her? Or would he shoot her?

  Shivering, she picked up her pace, wanting to get home. The subway ride seemed unending, and the short walk to her apartment went on forever.

  Finally, when she was locked inside her home, a sob welled up from deep inside. She slowly slid to the floor and began to cry. A part of her wanted to grab a few things and run hard and fast. She could empty her bank account, change her name, and start over.

  They’ll find me.

  She knew that to the depths of her soul. If she suddenly disappeared, her boss would send someone after her. He would worry about what had made her run, would speculate on what she might or might not know. She was in this to the end. She’d set her course the day she’d taken the job. This was her only viable hope of finding and freeing Sergei and his Katherine.

  Her life hadn’t amounted to much in the scheme of things. She had no family, no close friends. But if she could do this one thing, it would all be worth it.

  Luther popped into her h
ead, but she shoved him out. She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted. Not anymore. He was the enemy. They all were.

  Victoria pushed herself to her feet and shrugged off her coat. She needed to shower and change into something more appropriate for travel. Then she needed to pack.

  And as much as her stomach rebelled at the suggestion, she needed to eat, if only to keep up her strength.

  She’d be spending the next few days in tight quarters with people who would kill her if they knew what she wanted to do.

  She’d also be spending a lot of time around Luther. She ignored the hot clenching of her body and made her way to the bathroom.

  …

  Oscar threw his toiletry case into his bag and zipped it shut. He hadn’t packed much beyond a couple of shirts, underwear and socks, another pair of pants, and some workout gear. He always packed light. He knew his bags would most likely be searched at some point as well.

  He was also smart enough to have a few tricks up his sleeve that might be useful if this trip went to shit, which he had a feeling it would.

  Evan Caine was a wildcard. One he needed to know more about. He took out a new prepaid phone and made a call.

  “What’s up?” Nic said when he answered.

  “I need information, and I need it fast.”

  “Who?”

  “Evan Caine.” Oscar wandered over to the bedroom window of his apartment and peered through the blinds. “We’re headed on a road trip.”

  Nic sucked in a breath. “Where and how many?”

  “To Cedar City, Utah. And there are six of us, including me.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  Even though they hadn’t spent much time together, Oscar considered Nic his friend. More than that, he was the closest thing to family Oscar had. He didn’t count his mother. They’d never been close and had lost contact after she’d remarried. She’d never known both he and his father were members of a secret society. His father had loved her, but he’d never truly trusted her.

  Oscar dropped the blind slat back into place and sat on the corner of the bed. “I don’t either, but I don’t have a choice.” He touched the bruise on his jaw. “Luther Henderson might not be what he seems.”

  “How do you mean?” Nic asked. “You can’t afford to trust anyone.”

  “I know, but if the shit hits the fan, he might be my one hope of getting out alive.” He didn’t bother mentioning the tattoo, because no matter why Luther had it, there was nothing Nic could do about the situation. It was between Oscar and Luther.

  “I still think you should run. I can help you disappear.”

  He was tempted. More tempted than he’d ever been before. He was getting tired of this life. Maybe there was some other way he could help Nic and others like him. Or maybe it was time for him to walk away and try to have a normal life. He almost snorted at that. Men like him didn’t do normal.

  “I’m going to talk to someone and get you whatever information I can.”

  “Thanks.” He stood. It was time. “Gotta go.” He ended the call and destroyed the phone. He had a new one secreted away in his coat, as well as his everyday cell in his outside pocket.

  He was as ready as he’d ever be.

  …

  Nicodemus Wilde hung up his phone and immediately placed another call.

  “What?” His brother Tarrant was his usual chatty self.

  “I need information.” Nic smiled as Constance strolled into the room. She started to leave when she saw him on a call, but he waved her over. As soon as she was near enough, he pulled her down onto his lap. He loved having her close, would never take her presence for granted. He’d spent far too many years alone.

  “On who?”

  “Evan Caine. I just spoke with Oscar, and Temple is flying out to meet the man, and he’s taking Oscar and several other men with him.”

  “Hmm.” There was tapping in the background, and Nic knew his brother was already at work. If there was anything to find out about the man, Tarrant would uncover it.

  “Is that Tarrant?” Constance asked.

  “Yes.” He kissed her cheek. She hadn’t met his family in person yet and was still nervous when any of his brothers called or video chatted. But she and Tarrant’s mate had struck up a friendship, and they often spent hours talking on the phone.

  “Tell him to tell Valeriya I’ll call her later.”

  It amused Nic that the women had seemed to bond rather quickly. He didn’t know if he and his brothers should be pleased or worried.

  “Tell Constance I’ll pass along the message.” With his preternatural hearing, Tarrant had heard her request. “As for Evan Caine, he is a reclusive businessman. He’s heavily into pharmaceuticals as well as weapons.”

  “He’s a Knight.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Good bet. I’ll need more time to dig into him and his business, but if Temple is heading his way and Oscar is worried, we should be, too.”

  Nic closed his eyes and sighed. He’d become quite fond of Oscar in the short time they’d known one another. He hated to think of anything happening to him. “Oscar mentioned they were headed to Cedar City, Utah. I don’t imagine Caine’s headquarters is there, but probably somewhere close.”

  “That narrows it down. I’ll look into property and businesses owned by Caine or one of his corporations in that area.”

  “Thanks.” They all called on Tarrant when they needed information. He was a hacker with unparalleled skills. Ferreting out information was his lifeblood.

  “Whatever you need.”

  Nic knew Tarrant meant it. No matter what happened, he had his brothers. Now he had Constance as well. He was a very fortunate man.

  “Did you dig up anything on Luther Henderson yet?”

  “There’s not a whole lot out there to find. Which makes me suspicious. You looking for anything in particular?”

  “No. Just that Oscar said he might not be what he seems.”

  “I’ll keep digging and call when I find something.”

  Nic tossed his phone onto the desk behind him. He and Constance were currently staying in a luxury suite at the Luxor on the Las Vegas strip. They were back in town for a few days to handle some business relating to the sale of Constance’s former home and a business that had been left to her by a family friend.

  She’d been nervous enough before Oscar’s call.

  Nic stood with her in his arms. “Let’s take a nap.”

  She frowned. “But I’m not tired.” She pressed her hand over his heart, which beat for her.

  “You will be,” he promised. As he’d hoped, she laughed, and her eyes turned hot as he took her down onto the large bed.

  Chapter Seven

  Luther paused just outside Victoria’s front door. He wished he were here for a totally different reason. If they were normal people, he might be here to take her out to dinner or to see a show. Not to pick her up for a trip that would most likely end up being more dangerous than she could imagine.

  What would it be like to have her open the door and smile at him? His entire body clenched, and he swallowed heavily. It wasn’t smart to want what he couldn’t have, but that didn’t stop his imagination from conjuring such thoughts.

  Temple had wanted to call up, but Luther had convinced his boss it would be quicker if he went up and got her since she’d have luggage to carry.

  Truthfully, he wanted to see where she lived, even if it was no more than the briefest glimpse. He’d missed seeing her this afternoon when he’d left his meeting with Temple.

  He took a deep breath and knocked. The door was immediately opened.

  “Oh.” Victoria took a step back as soon as she saw him. She licked her rosy lips. The lipstick she wore was muted, but it emphasized the plump curves. He wanted to kiss her. “I was expecting the driver.”

  He stepped forward, forcing her to take one back. A sense of anticipation thrummed through him. He was inside her home.

  Her apartment was as barren as his. Th
ere were no paintings hung to break up the expanse of the beige walls, no personal mementos to indicate anything about the person who lived here. The only pop of color was the throw on the back of the sofa and the pillows. Why that bothered him, he wasn’t quite sure. He’d assumed her home would have more color and life, all the things his apartment lacked.

  “Ready to go?” He had to keep things strictly business between them.

  “Yes.” She started to grab the handle of her suitcase, but he placed his fingers over hers, savoring the heat of her skin.

  “Let me.”

  She jerked her hand away and nodded. “Okay. We should go.”

  She was nervous around him. Not surprising. The sexual tension between them was palpable. Like a low-level hum that electrified the air around them. He’d always been attracted to her, but these past few days it had intensified until she was all he could think about.

  And if he could sense it, others might be able to as well.

  Luther carried her bag out into the hall and waited until she’d locked her door. They walked in silence except for the light clicking of their footsteps and the swish of their heavy winter coats. He bypassed the elevator and went directly to the stairs.

  “What are you doing?” Victoria paused in front of the elevator. She pressed the button and was waiting.

  “We need to take the stairs.” Luther figured Temple was monitoring her apartment, if not the inside, then certainly the hallway and the elevator. He wasn’t aware of the surveillance, which only meant his boss had someone else doing it.

  Temple didn’t trust anyone with everything, which made it frustratingly difficult to dig out the information Luther needed. He needed time and patience. Time he had plenty of, but his patience was running thin.

  “Okay.” Luther could tell she was humoring him, but she left the elevator and came toward him. “It’s only four floors, after all,” she muttered.

  “It’s not that far.” He held the door until she entered and then let the heavy metal panel slam shut.

  “It is if you’re wearing heels.”

  His gaze immediately went to her feet. She was wearing black slacks instead of the skirts she usually wore, but she did have on her winter boots, which had three-inch heels.