Electric Storm (A Raven Investigations Novel)

by Brutger, Stacey

  “Neither. There’s always a way–”

  “Not always.” She dropped her gaze, turning back toward the computer and pulled up a program that provided a back way into police records without leaving a trace. “If one pack was in trouble, would they go to another for help?”

  He answered more slowly this time. “Pack business stays within the pack. Concerns are brought to the Council of Five, the governing body for all paranormals.”

  “So you truly don’t know the workings of all the packs. One might not be as honorable as another.” The image of him shaking his head reflected in her monitor as she worked her way deeper into the system to the paranormal files officials denied existed.

  “An enforcer wouldn’t let anything happen to the pack.”

  “Then you should check that all the enforcers are alive. Or maybe they were ordered to cull the pack and decided to earn an extra buck in the process.” She envied him the strength of his convictions and the absolute protection offered by the enforcers, no matter how illusory.

  He crossed his arms, the line of his jaw uncompromising. “We don’t work that way. We’re there to protect, we’re not assassins.” He quickly switched subjects. “If I can see the list of names, I might be able to learn something.”

  “No.” She didn’t want him caught up in this business. She wouldn’t allow him to interfere.

  He continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “My guess is that the missing shifters are unregistered rogues who’ve since traveled to a new territory or died.”

  The answer was plausible, but it didn’t take away the niggling at the back of her mind that something wasn’t right. The way the corner of Dominic’s eyes tightened said he felt it, too.

  They’d both learned to sense things in the compound. It’d kept them alive long past when they were slated for death. “How can you tell the difference between a pack member and a rogue?”

  “If you’re in person, you can smell the difference. Some can mask it, but only to a certain extent. Rogues are loners and usually have a wild scent that marks them as different.”

  “Then the list of names wouldn’t help. What can you do with pictures?” With a few clicks, mug shots of three people on her list filled the screen. She squinted, trying to see if she could pick out subtle differences that would betray them as a rogue.

  Jackson leaned over her shoulder, much too close for her peace of mind and ability to breathe.

  “The look in their eyes gives them away. Wild. Dangerous. Eager for violence,” Jackson said, appearing lost in thought.

  “That describes half the shifters I know.” Raven gave him a slanted smile, ignoring the skip in her heart and the flare of heat under her skin.

  Jackson rubbed his jaw, a stall tactic if she ever saw one as he debated whether to tell her the truth or not. “Rogues have a harder time controlling their beasts. It’s why pack is so important. Most rogues have been away so long they can’t pass for normal anymore. A light color encircles their pupils as their animal gains dominance. It’s the main reason why they’re put down whenever possible.”

  Jackson’s explanation made a sick sort of sense. If they turned feral and killed, they posed a threat to both humans and pack. No one could afford to have the wars return.

  Whether beast or man, the human always remained dominant, the animal portion just an extension of that person. Memories from the labs surfaced. Of how she could tell when shifters lost control when caged or tortured too long. After a while, she sensed wild energy pouring off them as their human side receded more and more. There was usually no coming back from that. “But if they join a pack, doesn’t that help?”

  “Most of the time it’s already too late.” Jackson shook his head, completely convinced that death was the best option. She just wished she could be as sure. She glanced at Taggert, her own rogue, curious at his reaction to what could easily have been his fate, but his face gave nothing away.

  The clock chimed ten, startling her out of her first, long overdue lesson in pack law. Though reluctant, Jackson had finally opened up a little. The rest of the discussion had to wait. She closed the laptop. “If you’ll excuse me, my appointment is about to arrive.”

  Anger darkened Jackson’s face at being dismissed. The leather chair squeaked slightly as she stiffened, waiting to see what form of attack he’d take to get around her. She suspected he opposed her on purpose just to needle her.

  Dominic nodded, pushing away from the wall.

  “I’ll stay.” Jackson continued to stare at her, daring her to argue.

  She didn’t intimidate that easily. “That’s not wise.”

  He drew up at her answer, using every inch of his body to appear larger. He did an impressive job of it.

  “Why?” His calm question came as a surprise. She expected a bully, not reason.

  “Because I’m a vampire.” A hint of old world accent colored that smooth voice.

  Jackson’s whole posture stiffened. Claws burst from his fingers. Fangs descended. Between one instant and the next, Jackson and Taggert leapt in front of the desk, snarling at the trio near the door. The thin veil of humanity dropped away as their eyes gleamed yellow, the animal in them determined to protect.

  Two of the vampire’s entourage leaned forward, fangs bared, their eyes awash in black.

  Raven met Lester’s gaze, the lead vampire, and smiled at his serenity. Though she knew the elderly man exterior was a lie, his old way charm put her at ease. “I’m sorry for their behavior. If you would, please, have a seat.”

  He gave her a courtly bow and did as directed. Spice lightly scented the air, sharp and bold, but she couldn’t place it. A breeze shifted around her, and Lester looked at his two guards. Without a word exchanged, they pulled back but remained standing between the shifters and their master.

  “Jackson. Taggert. Either resume your positions or leave.” Dominic, blessedly, remained by the door and in control of his beast.

  “You can’t–”

  “I won’t ask again.” Raven sent a quick charge, zapping Jackson on the ass, using low enough voltage the vampire would assume it was alpha control. They had no reason to assume otherwise. A muscle bunched in Jackson’s jaw, and he thankfully fell silent.

  Though he hadn’t shifted completely, she could all but see Jackson’s fur ruffle. Without removing his gaze from the threat, he retreated to stand at her side. Hovering. Almost protective of her. She must be reading him wrong, seeing what she wanted to be there.

  “You’ve acquired bookends.” Humor danced in the vampire’s voice, but there was none of it in his eyes.

  Jackson’s growl rumbled deep in his throat. Raven ignored him and focused on the bigger threat. “A trial only, I assure you.”

  The vampire nodded. “Understandable. We must take care to protect ourselves.”

  Raven released the breath clogging her chest. Although the vampire’s approval didn’t mean anything to her, she was grateful he understood that she hadn’t brought the shifters there with the intention of offending him.

  “You want to hire me.”

  “My son is missing.” He gestured to one of his guards by lifting two fingers. The man carefully placed a folder on her desk and resumed his position. She gave him points for not flinching as the energy in the room swirled around her.

  A missing person complicated matters considerably considering the other case she was working on with the police and Dominic. She didn’t believe in coincidences.

  She made no move to touch the folder. She’d done her research on this master vampire and his iron fist. There were questions she needed answered first. “May I ask how you became aware of my unique services?”

  A small smile crooked his lips, revealing a hint of fangs. “You were highly recommended as someone who knows how to get things done and when to keep her mouth shut.”

  “Of course.” The fear that he came there to pry into her past eased, and she reluctantly pulled the folder closer, flipping it open. “What informati
on do you have for me that’s not in the file?”

  “Jason’s been missing for two months.”

  “And you suspect kidnapping?”

  He tipped his head slightly. “No. Someone murdered him. I want you to find out whom and tell me.”

  Raven tapped her pencil on the desk, the rhythm breaking into the little haze the vampire exuded like a fragrance, a haze that could easily wrap around a person and put them under their control.

  “Mr. Lester.” Her lips tightened. She wasn’t amused.

  The haze instantly disappeared, and he dipped his head. “My apologies.”

  “Think nothing of it.” The creature was too old not to be precisely aware of his every action, the calculating old goat. He was testing her.

  “I would think you’d have more contacts to find answers than I would. Why come to me? And why do you believe he’s dead?”

  The stillness of his face finally broke, small lines and wrinkles melted away revealing the cold, intimidating man beneath. “All vampires have a connection to the ones they created, their protégés. Ours was severed three weeks ago.”

  “But you said he’s been missing for two months?”

  “Yes.” Heat filled his eyes, his pupils dilated as anger wrestled for control.

  The vampire spice in the air became so thick with his rage she nearly sneezed.

  “It wasn’t done by one of mine. I checked personally.” No doubt those he suspected were no longer available for questioning. “I need your resources to research other...venues.” Lester’s open-ended accusations, delivered in a bland voice, left no doubt whom he suspected.

  “We don’t stoop to your level.” Jackson shot forward, his yellow eyes hard and intimidating. “This stinks of some underhanded vampire trick.”

  Lester rose, only feet separating them. “And I wouldn’t put it past a breed to be ignorant enough to start a war by murdering my son. Miss Raven, I suggest you leash your pet or I will.”

  Raven stood slowly, uncertain where she lost control of the meeting. “Mr. Lester, I’m sorry for the loss of your son. I apologize for my companions and ask that you stay.”

  Only when he seated himself did the current building in the air gradually dissipate, though it didn’t disappear completely. She could feel the pull under her skin like an addiction, urging her to take all their energy and drink it down. The need had snuck up on her, caught her unawares. It shouldn’t have if she wanted her gift to remain hidden. The last thing she needed was for the wolves and vampires to view her as a threat.

  Both sides slowly pulled back from the edge, but she could tell it was only for her benefit. If given a choice, they’d rip each other to shreds.

  “Thank you. Mr. Lester, please gather a list of people you’ve...contacted, and I’ll research this matter further.”

  “You’ll take the job.” It wasn’t a question.

  Raven hesitated, thinking about the animosity between the two races. If she said no, it would only be a matter of time before a confrontation between the two came to a head. All the work promoting to the public that the paranormals were like everyone else would go to shit. “Yes.”

  “Very good.” The man’s appearance slowly rippled, his frame bowed, his jowls sagged, and his face loosened into that of an old man once more. He picked up his cane, barely touching it to the floor as he shuffled to the door. “You’ll be amply rewarded for your time.”

  As soon as the door shut, Jackson stalked toward her with a decidedly unfriendly expression. Taggert inserted himself between them.

  “You sell yourself to the highest bidder like a whore.” The cruel gleam in his eyes convinced her he truly believed what he said.

  Raven shrugged, but couldn’t brush away the sharp sting of hurt this time. Pride refused to let it show. “I provide a service to the paranormal community that others cannot. I don’t discriminate between the races.”

  “I won’t allow you to dig into pack business on the say so of one of his kind.” He jabbed a figure at the door.

  Her patience grew thin with his damn holier than thou attitude. “Then I’ll make sure you’re not aware of my business in the future.” His expression looked like she’d asked him to chew glass.

  “There are other possibilities besides pack.” Dominic’s voice floated from her right.

  Did he say that for Jackson’s benefit or hers? She couldn’t tell and it bothered her more than she cared to admit. Could the presence of other wolves be reminding him of everything he’d been denied by staying with her? A little part of her trembled at the thought of losing him.

  “I’ve never doubted it, but it’s my job to research all the angles. I don’t choose sides; I find the problem and fix it.” When Jackson didn’t say a word, she glanced at Dominic and knew she’d been had. “I know what you’re thinking. Stay out of my business.”

  “They could be connected.” He pushed away from the wall, running a hand through his thick mop of wavy hair. “It wasn’t too long ago that this very thing happened. People missing from both pack and clan communities and each race too stubborn to work together. So much could’ve been prevented if the scientists had been stopped.”

  “Now you’re jumping to conclusions.” She gave up on men. Needing a little peace from the testosterone in the room, she strode toward the door. “Just because it was a vampire doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take the case. It doesn’t mean shifters are automatically the perpetrator. It doesn’t mean that humans are stealing people to do testing.

  “If I want your help, I’ll ask for it.”

  “What if it’s a trap?” Taggert’s question pulled her up short; there was something in his tone that made the back of her skull tingle. When she turned, she only found concern on his face.

  “I’ll find out the truth. I won’t accuse the wolves or anyone else until I have proof.”

  Taggert shook his head, his gaze unrelenting. “A trap for you.”

  He didn’t seem to care about the argument. His first concern had been her. That took her aback. “Why would they come after me?”

  “You’re unique. Something about you draws attention. I noticed it last night at the club. Though he might not admit it, Jackson noticed. So did Durant. Do you have the same appeal to vampires?”

  A dangerous question that. One she didn’t know how to answer truthfully.

  Dominic’s gaze on her sharpened. “It’s worse around the dead, isn’t it?”

  Unnerved at how close he was to the actual truth about her lack of control, Raven lifted her chin, prepared to be just as stubborn. “Leave it be, Dominic.”

  “What did they do to you that makes you so dangerous?” Jackson’s soft question did nothing to alleviate the anger that vibrated in the air.

  Though the anger wasn’t directed at her, she jumped under the lash of it anyway. The force of it left her little doubt why Jackson made such a fantastic enforcer for his people. No, neither of them could be allowed to know the truth about her birth or the injections forced on her in the labs that made her a crossbreed. It was too dangerous for everyone. “I’m not something you can fix.”

  “No, but I can try to protect you if you’d let me.”

  Her throat tightened at Jackson’s softly spoken words. She could see him shuffling through his thoughts, categorizing her and adding up the facts, concluding that she was a lot more than human.

  But if he knew, why was he being so nice to her now? What changed? She gathered up her laptop and hugged it to her chest. “It would only get you killed.” With deliberate steps, she turned and left. She had research to do without being distracted by the people invading her life.

  The desire to slip out the front door taunted her. Escape whispered in her ears. But she wouldn’t walk blindly into this mess without the proper research.

  The basement door opened on silent hinges and lights flickered on at her movements. As she flipped the computer open, she lost herself in the world of reports and statistics.

  She didn’t know how lo
ng she sat there reviewing the photos Scotts had sent of mutilated victims when her senses picked up on the intruder.

  Jerking to her feet, she yanked the power from the room and dumped them in darkness.

  “Please don’t leave.”

  “Taggert?” Relief made her control waver, and the lights flickered then brightened. She picked up the gloves by the computer and tugged them over her naked hands, feeling very exposed.

  “What are you doing down here?” She closed her eyes and severed the connection to her core as hard as possible and all that lovely energy slowly melted back into her bones.

  “It’s late. You aren’t sleeping.” He sounded hesitant, clearly expecting to be reprimanded for daring to voice an opinion. It was the only reason she didn’t snap at him to mind his own business.

  “I don’t sleep often. Go on to bed. I’ll come later.”

  He didn’t move. “You need to rest.”

  She tipped her head to the side, confused at his actions. He appeared pale. A light sheen coated his skin, and a slight tremor passed through his frame. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s worse at night.” There was no fear in his voice, only acceptance. Those strange eyes, like warm chocolate, focused on her.

  “What is?”

  “Taggert, go to bed.” Jackson’s harsh voice echoed in the cement room. He stepped out of the shadows wearing a pair of shorts and nothing else. His skin gleamed in the fractured light.

  When she didn’t say anything, Taggert turned and headed past Jackson and toward the stairs.

  “Maybe it’s about time you tell me what the hell’s going on.” Raven leaned against the table and crossed her arms. “He’s going through drug withdrawal, but there is something else neither of you are telling me.”

  A stubborn look settled on Jackson’s face. “It’s pack business.”

  A disgusted sigh resonated in her chest. “Either I’m allowed to adopt him and treat him as pack, or I’m not. Make up your mind. Which is it?”