by Stormy Glenn
“Any puking?” Bax asked after a few minutes.
Beau grimaced. Puking sucked, and he had become an expert at it over the last couple of days. “Mostly when I get a whiff of underarm odor or stinky feet.”
“Mine is bad breath.” Bax shuddered. “If someone hasn’t brushed their teeth I become a hurling maniac.”
Beau pressed his hand to his stomach when the thought of someone breathing on him made his stomach roll. Lately, he didn’t know if something was going to make him puke or not. It was a fifty-fifty thing.
Beau wasn’t sure he was ready to have kits just yet. He was still getting used to being the center of someone’s world, something he’d never had before. He was terrified that when the kits came, Dario would want them more.
If he was already carrying kits, he knew he would have to buck up and deal with it. He refused to give up either his mate or his kits. He had just kind of wanted a little time to enjoy being mated before real-world problems reared their head.
It was something to think about.
The window between the cab and the cube opened about an hour later, and Basil’s head appeared. “We’re almost there. Bailey, do you sense Clay at all?”
Bailey closed his eyes, which Beau could never understand. The man couldn’t see anyway. Beau’s skin prickled. Bailey’s senses were getting so strong that the air around them vibrated with his power.
Before their eyes, Bailey’s face went from total concentration to heartbreaking sadness. His shoulders slumped and his lower lip trembled. Bailey’s large gargoyle mate swept the blind bunny shifter onto his lap and held him close.
Bailey laid his cheek against Vey’s shoulder and looked at Beau and Baxter.
Which, he really didn’t, right?
“I can’t feel Clay at all,” Bailey whispered with such sadness it brought tears to Beau’s eyes. “There’s nothing there.” Bailey pulled in a deep breath of air before letting it out. “I think he’s either unconscious or dead.” Bailey buried his face in Vey’s neck.
No, no, no…this was Clay. Big, solid as a rock, pain in the ass, wonderful Clay. The one who was always there when they needed him. Nothing could happen to him. It just wasn’t possible. Clay was a force of nature. He couldn’t die.
Beau had no idea what he would have done if the van hadn’t jerked to a stop. Maybe opened the back door and jumped out. He needed to find his brother.
An arm went around Beau’s shoulders. “Come, my darling. Let’s go find your oldest brother.”
The connection of Dario’s arm around him and the warm confidence in his voice calmed the erupting turmoil churning inside of him. Beau looked up and gave Dario a weak smile. The quick kiss he received settled his soul enough to kick in his battle rage.
It was time to find Clay.
Beau was just about to jump out of the van when Dario’s head guard came up behind him. “Back off.” He added a growl just to get his point across. Against his shoulder, Beau could feel Dario’s silent laughter. For some reason, the vampire prince seemed to like it when Beau spouted off.
Go figure.
“Do not hurt Cealio, my darling.” Dario smiled and kissed Beau’s temple. “He is here to do everything in his power to help you find Clay and get him back.”
Well, when he put it that way…
“Fine, but he needs to stay away from me or I’ll feed him his head.” That was as far as Beau was going to give in. The man could just deal with it or go take a long walk off a short pier. Beau would even give him directions.
He was sweet like that.
Beau waited until his brothers had exited the van before starting down the alley toward the street. They were lucky the clouds blocked the moon tonight. It would give them better coverage. In their black mission gear, they could fade into the dark shadows and become the myths everyone thought them.
When they reached the street, Beau pulled his head mask down over his face. Only his eyes were visible. Moving carefully through the shadows next to the building, Beau followed behind Basil as they made their way toward the lab facility.
According to the blueprints Basil had been able to download, the building was vast, covering nearly two city blocks, including an underground parking lot. The blueprints said that only the parking garage was below the building, but they all suspected there were hidden floors beneath that. There was just a little too much security on the garage, so unless they were keeping Lamborghinis down there, they had something else to hide.
When they reached the street the lab was located on, Basil slowed and came to a stop at the corner of a brick building. When he crouched down, Beau moved up next to him and waited. His brother would tell him when to go.
“I want Bax and Dominic to head to the parking garage and see if they can get in that way. If you can, scout around. If you find anything, let us know,” Basil said through their link. “Beau, you take your prince and go to the loading dock at the back of the building. Try to see if you can get in that way. Again, if you find anything, let us know.”
“What about me?” Bailey asked.
Basil glanced back at their youngest brother. “Bailey, you stay here with Vey and guard our retreat. If you feel anything out of place, inform us immediately.” He grimaced as he glanced at Dario’s head of security. “Cealio will come with me.”
Beau relayed their orders to his mate through their link. The less that was said out loud, the better. Dario made some sort of hand signal to Cealio. The man nodded and moved up next to Basil.
“Ten second intervals,” Basil called out silently before standing up and slipping out of the shadows.
Bax and Dominic moved up next. Beau could hear his brother counting to ten, and then he got up and sprinted toward the parking garage, Dominic holding his hand as he ran alongside him.
Beau drew in a breath as he moved up to the corner of the building. He peeked around the corner, quickly scanning the entire area before leaning back against the brick wall. There were a few guards patrolling, but it seemed as if the place was devoid of civilians. Beau preferred it that way—less chance of an innocent getting hurt.
“Now, my darling,” Dario urged through their link.
Without a word, Beau got up and sprinted across the hard concrete, heading for the far side of the building. Once he was across the street, he was easily able to merge into the shadows created between the lab facility and the building next to it.
At the end of the next block, he paused at the edge of the building. One glance over his shoulder and he couldn’t help but smile. Dario was right there with him. The vampire hadn’t even hesitated to go into battle with him.
Beau pulled his mask up until his entire face was visible. He leaned in for a quick kiss, brushing his lips over Dario’s before looking into his dark eyes. “I love you.”
Slightly embarrassed at his emotional outburst, Beau quickly yanked the facemask back down and returned to scanning his surroundings…until he felt a hand low on his back.
“We will be discussing your need to tell me things in the heat of danger that you should be telling me in the heat of our bedroom, my darling.”
Beau smiled behind his mask. “Yes, princey.”
As soon as the coast was clear, Beau started running again, keeping to the shadows cast by the tall concrete building. When he reached a high metal gate, he knew he had found the loading dock.
It was locked.
Dropping into a crouch, Beau pulled a small, black leather case out of one of the hidden pockets on his uniform. He opened it up and removed the thin metal tools he would need and then began picking the lock that held the metal chain in place.
It took less than sixty seconds.
Beau thought about that as he returned the files to their case and then placed the case back in his pocket. “This was too easy,” he told his mate. “We know they have high security here. Why have such a cheap lock on the loading dock?”
“How do you want to proceed, Beaumont?” Dario’s voice was tight
with the tension they were both feeling, but Beau was still surprised the man had taken the time to ask his opinion.
“We still need to go in,” Beau replied. “We just need to be extra careful. If anything seems out of place to you, say something.”
“My darling, there is not a bit of this that does not seem out of place.”
Beau had a hard time keeping his laughter locked behind his lips. Who knew his snooty, upper-crust vampire prince had a sense of humor?
“Come on,” Beau sent Dario silently as he pushed the gate open just enough to fit through. Once Dario had stepped through, Beau looped the chain and lock back through the metal poles on the gate. At a glance, it would look like it was still in place, but it could be moved easily if needed. Only someone trying to unlock the gate to open it would notice the difference.
Instead of running directly across the open loading dock like he wanted to, Beau followed his instincts and kept to the shadows cast by the high fence. He had almost made it to the large cargo doors leading into the building when the overwhelming scent of blood hit him.
“Dario.” Beau’s heart thundered in his chest. “Can you—”
“Over here, Beaumont.”
Beau was afraid to look. The tone of Dario’s voice was resigned, sad, and maybe just a bit frantic. Swallowing his fear, Beau turned. Nothing could have prevented his cry as he spotted Clay’s prone body on the ground behind a stack of wooden pallets.
Beau forgot all about trying to be quiet and stealthy as he raced over and dropped to his knees next to his brother. There was blood, but a quick search found no injuries. “Dario?”
Dario crouched down and laid his hand over Clay’s chest. After a moment, he spoke through their link. “He is breathing, my darling, but barely. We need to get him to Alberto right away. I do not know how much longer he can hold on.”
“He’s strong,” Beau whispered. “He can hold on for as long as it takes.”
“If you keep watch, I will carry him.” Dario lifted Clay up into his arms and then started back the way they had come. “Contact your brothers, my darling, and let them know we have found Barclay.”
“We’ve found Clay,” Beau sent out to his brothers. “He was hidden behind some pallets by the loading dock.”
“How is he?” Basil asked.
“I don’t know, but it’s bad, Basil. Dario says he’s breathing, but barely. We need to get him to Alberto.”
“Get to the van,” Basil said, “we’ll meet you there.”
“We’re going to need a few more minutes, Basil,” Bax said.
“We don’t have a few minutes, Bax!” Beau protested. “If we don’t get him to the doctor now, he might not make it.”
“Get to the van,” Bailey said. “Vey can fly Clay home.”
“All right,” Basil said in a terse voice that reminded Beau of Clay. “Everyone get to the van as fast as they can. Bax, do whatever it is you need to do and then hightail it out of there. I’ll leave a few surprises to keep the lab rats busy.”
“No!” Beau almost stopped when Bax shouted through their link. It was just as loud as if Bax had been standing right next to him. “Just get out. Don’t blow anything. I don’t want them to know we were here.”
“I’m pretty sure they will figure it out, Bax,” Basil griped. “This place has to be wired for surveillance.”
“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that. But even if it is, it won’t matter. Just don’t blow the place, Bax. Just this once, I think it will be better if we left it standing.”
“You’re insane!” Basil snapped.
“Dude.” Bax laughed roughly. It wasn’t a pleasant sound. “You have no idea.”
Chapter Eleven
The hallway was as silent as a tomb. Dario had noticed in times of crises that the bunny brothers huddled together and sought out one another’s comfort. This time was no different. Four brothers, still dressed in black, sat on the floor outside their big brother’s bedroom door, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Dario couldn’t tell if they were conversing mentally or just sitting there. He didn’t think they were. The air around them was so thick with emotion that Dario figured they were sending every ounce of willpower they possessed to their brother so that he would get well. It was frustrating for him, and he suspected the rest of the mates, to watch the keepers of their hearts hurting and not be able to comfort them. But that seemed to be the way of the bunny brothers.
The bedroom door opened, revealing Alberto, with Salvador at his side. As one, the brothers jumped to their feet.
“Your brother is stable. I have put him into a deep sleep. Go eat something, clean up, and rest. Tomorrow I will awaken him and I hope we can get some answers, before it too late.”
“Too late? Too late for what?” Baxter demanded.
Alberto’s gaze rested on Baxter for a moment, before he glanced at the other brothers. “Salvador and I will stay with him through the night. Tomorrow we will talk.” Alberto went to shut the door.
Basil placed his hand on the door and stopped it from shutting. “No. We want to see him.”
Behind Basil, the three other brothers stepped up, looking as if they were ready to fight their way into the room if they had to. Alberto was no match for the united front of bunnies and moved aside.
There was no way Dario was going to let his mate go into that room without him and he hurried forward, with Dominic and Vey right behind him. Apparently, they were of the same mind.
As he passed Alberto, Dario tried to speak with him through their mind link, but hit a wall. He could have pushed through but wouldn’t disrespect his brother in that way. Instead, he entered the room thinking he would find the answers to the mystery of Barclay for himself.
The dim light in the corner of the room did nothing to alleviate the darkness encasing the room. Thick curtains covered the windows, adding to the smothering feel. The room stunk of sickness. Dario’s nose twitched from the sting. What he was smelling warred with what he was seeing.
Dario walked up behind Beau and laid his hands on his mate’s trembling shoulders. Barclay, covered with a cream sheet, appeared to be resting peacefully with the duck nestled in the curve of his arm.
It didn’t make sense. From the strong scent overpowering Dario’s nose, he expected to see hunks of rotting flesh falling off the man’s body.
Beau leaned back against Dario. Hugging Beau close and burying his face in his mate’s sweet-smelling hair helped him cope with the death pervading the room.
“I want him to wake up,” Beau whispered.
“I don’t see any injuries,” Basil commented. “Why did he have to be put into a deep sleep?’
Dario was astounded by what he was hearing. Was he the only one that was breathing through his mouth just to stay in the room?
Bailey touched Barclay’s hand and screamed. White light erupted, blinding Dario. More screams pierced his eardrums and Beau began to convulse in his arms. Gathering Beau up, Dario used his super speed to get his mate out of that room. Once in the hall, Dario crashed to the floor.
Blinking to clear the gray spots floating before his eyes, Dario saw the rest of the brothers and their mates lying on the hallway floor. Someone had grabbed Basil and pulled him from the room, as well. Dario had no idea who.
Alberto was kneeling beside Bailey and attending to his hand. Even from six feet away, Dario could see the blisters welling up from the angry red fingertips.
“Was I the only one who smelled that putrid stench?” Dario demanded through their mind link.
“Yes,” Alberto may have answered, but he never stopped applying gel to Bailey’s fingers. Dario always swore that one day he was going to see if that bag Alberto carried everywhere was as bottomless as he thought it was.
“What the hell is going on?” Dominic stood holding an ashen Baxter against his side.
Alberto dropped the tube of gel into the bag before standing and facing them. “Take my advice and get something to eat and go to bed. T
omorrow Barclay should be well enough to answer your questions.”
“What if we want some answers now?” Basil stepped toward Alberto, challenging the vampire.
Alberto’s eyes turned red and his fangs lengthened. “You will get none from me, bunny. Now leave.”
Dario lifted an eyebrow at Alberto’s lack of control but didn’t comment. Standing with Beau still in his arms, Dario carried his beloved to their room.
A hand touched his cheek. “Dario, I don’t feel so good.”
Beau indeed looked ashen. Now, Dario understood the term “green around the gills.” Beau pressed one hand to his stomach and the other over his mouth. Dario streaked to the bathroom. He managed to get Beau to the toilet not a second to soon, before his poor bunny was heaving. And heaving. And heaving.
All Dario could do was hold Beau’s long hair out of the way and press a cool cloth against the back of his neck. When the sickness finally passed, Dario helped Beau clean his mouth and took him into the shower. After washing his wrung-out mate, Dario tucked him under the covers.
Dario was glad, because of Beau’s recent tummy issues, they had taken to keeping a box of white crackers and lukewarm ginger ale next to the bed.
“Try to eat a little, my darling,” Dario urged. “It should help settle your tummy.”
“Sorry for being such a pain.” The tears glistening in Beau’s big, dark eyes almost broke Dario’s heart.
“You are nothing but a pleasure to be around, my love.” Dario kissed Beau’s temple. “I adore you.”
“I do, too.” Beau smiled weakly. “You know, the adore you part.”
Dario smiled at his beloved. “Eat, my darling.”
Beau managed to eat two crackers and a half a glass of soda before he fell asleep. Dario held Beau long into the night while he tried to figure out what he was missing in this puzzle of Barclay’s weird behavior, a shifting baby, and a duck. And why, just this morning, had he caught a glimpse of a tiger hiding on the edge of his property?
Beau stared at his brother, not believing this was actually his brother. Would the real Clay please step forward so they could throw this guy out into the gutter? Because that man sitting in that bed wasn’t the brother who Beau had known all his life.
