by Tigris Eden
“Don’t even attempt to make a move on her, you sick bastard, I can smell your want for her.”
Solon looked Draven in his eyes and removed one of his gloves. His hand was covered in intricate tattoos almost like the ones you see done with Henna ink only theses markings were gold, actual fucking gold in color. What the fuck was he? Draven had never seen markings like that, ever. Solon brought his hand close to the skin. The power the other man emitted clung to his nostril, and singed his hair. He snarled and glared at Solon, dared him to touch him. Just once, so he could see the bastard in pain.
“If I wanted your woman, I would have taken her long ago, just because I feel warmly towards her doesn’t mean she is the one for me. I will know when my woman reveals herself. And before you go making preconceived notions about the level of pain you think I will feel, be warned.” His blue eyes turned glacial. “Be fucking warned, because if my skin even lightly touches yours, it will be all she wrote, the fat lady will have sung and you will be no more. I don’t want to end you; it’s not your time. But there is one thing you don’t know about me.”
Draven and everyone else in the room watched him intently. There was a glassy look in the other man’s eyes.
“I touch you, I will hurt, but you wolf, will die.”
There was an icy blast that ripped through the room and Draven felt it stabbed him straight through to the marrow of his bones. He was sure everyone else in the room felt it as well, because he wasn’t the only one wincing.
Draven looked into the eyes of a man with nothing to lose. The bastard cracked a deadly smile as Draven looked him over. His hand still hovered closely to his chest. He took a step back and he felt Jesminda wrap her arms around his waist. Instantly he calmed. She was still angry with him, wore it like a protective cloak, but she still came to his aid. She was truly his mate even if she didn’t want to acknowledge it. Her body knew, her heart even knew. The only one who needed convincing was the woman herself.
“Don’t feel pity for me. Shit, don’t worry over me either. Trust me when I say my life will stay this fucked up no matter what.” Solon said in a dead voice.
* * * *
“I know where the new holding house is. Marcus has moved the vampires to a house in the Garden District. That’s the reason we are all here right? To get the vampires back?”
There was a collective nod across the room, and Bells looked over at Solon with a peculiar look on her face. Solon wouldn’t meet her in the eye as she stared at him. She was about to approach him when Royce took her by the hand and maneuvered her to the other side of the bed. Jes was a bit shocked as Belinda never let anyone lead her from her course. Maybe it had something to do with all the shit going down with the death walkers trashing her home, and then of course this new stranger, Solon, showing up at the last minute, claiming they were related. Solon told her, he’d always been there; from the beginning. All because of a smile, she didn’t know whether to be happy about that or concerned. It wasn’t like he’d stepped in to ease any of the pain that was given to her. He’d stood by and watched her slow descent into madness. Why help her now?
Draven explained they were moving out in the next hour. They were all going back to headquarters. Jes watched as he fingered his cell, and called for air support. She headed towards the restroom. She needed time to think. Things were so mixed up. Trying to figure out the time just wasn’t worth the effort. She had an hour. She’d use it to let the hot water soothe her aching muscles.
A small sniffle and Jes turned to see Faith waking up. Her daughter searched around the room with her beautiful green eyes until they landed on Draven, who was still on the phone. She watched as Faith hopped off the bed and groggily walked over to her father. She saw how his body stiffened when Faith laid her hands on his leg trying to get his attention. He bent and picked her up, but continued talking. He looked over the little girl’s head and smiled at her. They looked so good together. Jes smiled and headed for the bathroom.
The bathroom was small and stuffy. The air was stagnant and she could tell this bathroom hadn’t seen a proper cleaning in months. She looked in the shower and thought better of washing herself, she smelled like Draven and sex, and she had yuck mouth. How fucking embarrassing was that shit? Everyone knew what they were doing. Jes cursed low under her breath, and turned on the faucet. They had bigger things to worry about than finishing what he’d started. She needed to get her daughter to safety and they needed to retrieve the missing vampires. She cupped a mouthful of water and rinsed. That will have to do.
“We aren’t going to have time for a shower.” Draven’s voice whispered over her skin as he placed a soft kiss to her shoulder.
“I wouldn’t shower in this place anyway. When are we leaving?” She turned in his arms and stiffened. They were going back to headquarters, what would happen when they got back?
“Captain’s sending the jet to a rendezvous point so we need to leave now.” She shook her head and tried to step past him but he pulled her back into his arms and gently squeezed her to his chest. He had on the sweats Royce had given her and a gray long sleeve Henley. All man and strength, she took a deep breath. She needed to decompress, regroup. He squeezed her to him and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
“Once we land back at the headquarters, I want to talk to you. We need to make arrangements where Faith is concerned.”
“Yeah, sure arrangements.”
Draven pulled back to look down at her with a frown. “What’s the matter? My mother Mara is going to want to keep her while we finish this assignment and we need to get her into school.”
“If you think I am going to let you take control of my daughter you have another thing coming.” She pushed against his chest until Draven let her go. He had the nerve to have a hurt look on his face and she wasn’t having any of it. Panic would set in if she didn’t calm her nerves. She was in control. Not him.
“Let’s go.” He said harshly.
Faith came rushing over when Jes came out of the restroom. Her beautiful curls bouncing as she ran and leapt up into her mother’s arms. She smelled just like a little girl should, sweet and warm.
“How are you cupcake?” Jesminda asked her daughter.
“Oh fine mama I was just talking to papa about meeting Nana.” Jesminda gasped and almost choked on her tongue. She’d never told her he was her father, never got the chance. Jes looked over her shoulder at Draven and glared. He had no right to do that. It was something she was supposed to do.
“Is that right?” Jesminda said sweetly.
“Yup, and momma how come you never told me Mr. Stone was my papa wolf? I knew he was mine.” Faith said happily.
“Uh huh, let’s get going okay. We’re gonna ride on a plane baby girl, isn’t that fun?” She didn’t know what to say to her daughter. The two of them needed to have a long talk without the influence of Draven and his antics. He was trying to snowball her, push her into a corner so she couldn’t tell her daughter no. Well she’d just have to prove him wrong.
“Ooh Auntie Bells, did you hear that? We’re gonna ride on a plane, a real live plane, like in them movies you and momma won’t let me watch.” Faith hugged her so tight around her neck; she had to untangle her before she couldn’t breathe.
Draven plucked Faith out of her arms and placed a kiss on her cheek as he headed towards the door. Royce and the others followed. She’d deal with his actions later, because right now they needed to get back to headquarters.
Royce took the front seat and Solon took shotgun. Faith was sitting in between Draven and Bells when she finally made it out to the car. They were all waiting on her and she didn’t really care at the moment she was just a tad bit slow. Her entire day had come to this moment; her and her daughter would be safe from Marcus. She knew she’d be safe from everything.
“Get your ass in the car; we have a plane to catch. Kick rocks.” Royce hollered over the sound of the engine. Solon moved over, so she could get in. She was sitting next to the windo
w, which was fine with her, gave her time to think how she was going to handle Draven and his actions with her daughter. Royce leaned over Solon to glare at her. Then he hit the music on the radio and they pulled out.
Chapter 16
Dietrich was waiting for them at the agreed upon spot when Royce finally pulled the car into the garage. The man’s chocolate skin held a pale glow to it. Some people thought he was a shifter but Draven knew different. Dietrich was a secretive bastard and everyone knew it. He took Dravaggio’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” clause to a whole new level of secrecy. He always wore his shades, no matter the time of day. He looked over the passengers and sneered. He didn’t particularly care for woman and children and the man made it known to everyone. Dietrich had about three inches on Draven and he used every piece of arsenal to his advantage. Height, weight, Hell even his shade-covered glare was deadly.
“You assholes are late, another minute and I would have left you here.” Dietrich turned and headed towards the plane. He glided when he walked. Royce once told Dietrich he was smooth like butter. Dietrich’s response was to flip him the bird. He had just made it to the stairs when Bells called out to him.
“Dietrich Johnson?” Bells walked up to him and Dietrich recoiled back as if she hurt him. He didn’t really acknowledge her as his head ducked inside.
“You’re going to act like you don’t know who I am?” Bells followed him on board as the rest of them took the stairs. Bells knowing D was a shock to everyone. The entire team thought he was pulled off the streets by Dravaggio.
“I don’t know you.” Dietrich turned sharply cornering Bells against the wall of the jet. “Seeing you once or twice doesn’t make us friends female.” He walked further into the plane towards the pit and opened the cockpit door. Bells didn’t seem to care about his disposition and followed him towards the front. The door to the pit slammed in her face, hard. It shook the plane on its wheels. Draven led Jes and Faith over to their seats. Solon and Royce followed closely behind.
The seats inside the cabin were big enough the men could stretch their legs. He should be tired, but he was hyper-aware. He wanted to watch all things, be prepared. He sat next to Jesminda and Faith, his little angel was all smiles. Solon took the seat across the aisle from them. Royce and Belinda sat across from Solon. They were strapping in when the light dinged overhead signaling they should buckle their seat belts.
“This is not your fucking captain speaking.” Dietrich’s voice squawked over the intercom. “Don’t fucking bother me. If you can’t locate the exits, well you’re shit out of luck. Head’s in the rear of the plane and I didn’t pack shit for you motherfucker's to eat so deal with it. This flight will take approximately one hour. Don’t make me crash the fucking plane. Cause I will if I deem it necessary.”
Faith stared wide-eyed and in shock. The women were angry and Royce attempted to hold back his laughter until Bells popped him in the chest. After his announcement was finished, the loud speaker began to pump music into the cabin. It was Commons, “I Use to Love Her.” Dietrich was a walking talking contradiction. As the plane took a turn to hit the runway, everyone sat back and let out a collective breath. Things were coming to a close. Soon they’d be back at headquarters. Solon would get questioned again by the captain. Jes and Faith would be safe and sound at his parents place, and they could make their move on Marcus. Faith’s hand slowly crept its way into Draven’s, it was a comforting gesture. Were’s constantly need touch for reassurance, comfort and love. Body language was their key communication as well as their sense of smell. His daughter was comforting him and her mother at the same time. Her instincts may have been hindered by being raised in such close quarters with humans, but her wolf side was still very strong. His little girl was smart. She’d have no problem adapting; her mother was an entirely different story.
When the plane finally lifted off, Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now” played over the loud speaker. Faith was bobbing her head to the beat of the music and Bells and Royce had their heads bent in conversation. He couldn’t really talk to Jes because Dietrich’s ass had the music playing loud enough to make him deaf. Faith was sitting on her lap and holding his hand and he didn’t want to ruin it. She connected them on all levels. Her strength was pouring into the both of them as they sat on the plane. Jesminda was calm and content. She kept kissing the side of her daughter’s hand, kissing the tip of her nose. Maybe she knew more about Faith’s wolf than she let on. Or maybe it was her maternal instinct. Draven felt the vibe of her affections through their daughter. It was enough for now.
He placed his hand over Jes and Faith’s hands and rubbed them both. Jes stiffened when he twined his fingers with theirs. It was a perfect combination of love, he thought. Two adult hands with one small one, interwoven together to make them whole. It was home for him. She would eventually understand he was someone she could trust not to hurt her, or lead her on a path of destruction. He was the man he was supposed to be with her. She was it for him. Anyone else paled in comparison. He brought their fingers to his mouth and first kissed Faith’s tiny fingers and then Jes’s slender ones. This was his family.
He tried to reassure her with his eyes everything was going to be fine. He had plans for his mate and his daughter and all of them ended with them coming to live with him. He wasn’t going to ask her. There was no reason to. She was his and that was that. Moron. Talk to her. As his lips lingered on their entwined fingers, he flipped their hands over to expose her wrist and placed another kiss just over her pulse. He could feel the rapid beating of her heart. She was just as affected as he was and once this dirty business with Marcus and the missing vampires was over; he was going to spend the rest of his life showing her how much she meant to him. Hopefully, watch her belly swell at least three or four more times with his young. As he lifted his head, their eyes met. Faith was there in the middle looking between them and smiling, showing her perfect dimples. His heart warmed. He loved them both and they were his beginning, middle, and end. Life would cease to exist without them.
He couldn’t wait for his mother and father to meet her. Mara was a kind soul and his father, well; Draven could handle the old man. It wouldn’t sit well with his father or the pack. Faith hadn’t been properly introduced. Protocol was everything to their kind. He knew Mara would see to all the details of the ceremony. His father was Alpha and naturally, he was next to guide the pack’s next generation of offspring. Melissa was officially out of the picture. Jes wouldn’t like the new developments, but he’d find the time to explain everything he could. She was human and their traditions were different. He was expected to run the pack when the time came. Pack politics were knee deep in their tradition. Human matings were not un-heard of, but were greatly frowned upon. His father’s council would have tons to say in that regard. He cringed. Dietrich and his fucking music wouldn’t let him think!
The next song that came on the loud speaker had everyone turning their heads and looking at the cockpit door. Miguel’s “All I Want Is You” came on. It wasn’t hard-core at all. It was mellow with a nice pace to it. Both women looked at each other as if they knew Dietrich’s problem. Solon and Royce looked confused. Didn’t matter what song he played as long as he turned that shit down.
He tried to relax as his mind drifted to things better left for after the assignment. He had family on his brain. Thousands of scenarios on how life would be for them played through his mind, all of them good. Did she want the picket fence life? Draven peaked over his daughter’s shoulder at Jes. Nah, she didn’t want the picket fence. She looked more like the active mom. Taking Faith to ballet maybe, or his boys to combat class? Yeah, she was a doer. She wasn’t like Melissa at all. Who complained about everything. Why didn’t he see that before? You were taking a class in Moronomics that’s why. Jes was all about family. Up until this very minute, Draven hadn’t really looked at the word family. It felt good on his tongue. Last week family wasn’t a priority. His immediate family was, but starting a family with Melis
sa always tasted bad in his mouth. He couldn’t picture kids with her, with Jes he saw an entire tribe of cubs taking over. Laughing and playing, giddy with joy. Giddy? Yeah fucking giddy. Who would have thought?
How did this woman make him feel the way he felt and didn’t know it? He knew she was thinking hard about something. When did any man know what his mate was thinking? She’d tied him up, had his feelings splayed for all to see. She’d captured his heart, held it securely in her hand. Did she even realize it?
Their linked hands became everything. It symbolized what he wanted for them. Linked together, supporting each other. No one could break them apart. Draven lifted their linked hands again and kissed the inside of her palm this time. He kissed the top of his Faith’s hand as well and she immediately gave him her winning smile. The three of them would make this work. Mother, father and child, family would always come first. When he went to put their hands back on the rest, he noticed Jes wore a confused expression. She was trying to figure him out. It would take time for them to know the other’s feelings. Wolves could read with body language and smell. It was different for humans. They came into the world confused and left still trying to figure out that quintessential question. “Why are we here?” Wolves knew their purpose from birth. Find the one you are meant to share your life with. You were given three chances and each road led you down a different path. His choice was here with these two beautiful creatures he now called his.
He couldn’t help it, had to touch her more. Draven gently leaned over Faith and kissed Jes gently on the cheek. He tried to convey with his actions that everything was going to be okay. With his eyes, he begged her to give them time. She would see how devoted he was to her and Faith. She would never suffer at anyone’s hand every again. Hands were meant for caresses and tickles between loved ones. They were meant to induce and give pleasure, never to hit or bruise the person you loved. His mark was meant as a symbol of his undying love. Not to hurt or maim. He knew there was further road the two them would have to travel. She needed to heal and Draven wanted to help her. Together they were stronger, filled with purpose and infused with strength and love. Apart they would falter at every turn. He hoped she’d soon reciprocate with words what her body and heart already conveyed. Their future was now.
