by Jodi Vaughn
“I guess someone with blue balls.” Damon snorted.
Jayden growled.
“What’s going on?” Barrett walked through the kitchen and headed straight for the coffee pot.
“A couple of things.” Damon glanced at Jayden’s crotch.
Jayden flipped him the bird.
“We were wondering why you have a coffeepot that was a hand-me-down from Jesus. And we were talking about artificial vaginas that Granny is peddling and how Jayden needs one.” Braxton reached to a plate on the island and snatched one of the donuts that Ava had brought back from the bakery early that morning.
Barrett turned and stared at all three of them in disgust. “I have no interest in talking about why Jayden is requiring an artificial vagina. And the coffee pot still works so why replace it? Now having said that I’m going to the RV where I am going to try to forget we ever had this conversation.” Barrett swiped two donuts off the plate.
“And don’t eat all the fucking donuts.” He called out over his shoulder.
#
“Here’s what I got.” Barrett leaned back in his chair in the Behemoth looking at his Guardians in front of him. It was almost evening and he’d been at the computer and checking into his contacts all damn day trying like hell to close the net around this stalker.
Damon crossed his arms over his massive chest while Braxton leaned against the counter where one of the computer monitors was set up. Zane propped his hands on his hips while shooting an occasional glare at Jayden. Ignoring Zane, Jayden sat nearby resting his elbows on his knees while he waited for Barrett to speak. Lucien was out, patrolling the street as a late night jogger.
“Haley’s and the university’s Facebook hack was traced back to a building in a small town near Shreveport Louisiana.”
“So it could be someone Haley knows, like her ex-boyfriend.” Braxton crossed his tattooed arms.
“No. It’s not him.” Barrett shook his head. “I sent someone in to check it out. That building is empty and there is no name on the deed. It is a foreclosed property. Bank owned. We think that whoever it is goes in late at night with a laptop and that’s how he managed to hack her computer.”
Jayden glanced out the window. “It’s getting dark now. We should have someone waiting there.”
Barrett nodded in frustration. When would they start trusting him? He’d been here too damn long for this to still happen.
“I already sent Jaxon. He’s there now.”
Jayden nodded.
“What about CODIS? We get a hit from them yet?” Damon crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the counter in front of one of the four computers on the Behemoth.
“Not yet. But I got a feeling we’re getting close.” Barrett looked at all his men. “And when this thing goes down I don’t want any trouble.”
“What do you mean?” Damon frowned.
“I mean I want this to go smooth.” Barrett held Jayden’s gaze. “It seems like lately we’ve had anything but smooth.”
“I think we do smooth takedowns all the time. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Damon shook his head.
“I’m talking about how when we were going in after Jayden you instigated a whole bar fight in the strip club while dressed as Spartacus.”
Braxton laughed.
Barrett turned his gaze on him. Braxton quickly sobered.
“Braxton, you damn near shattered the Thorn Crown Chapel in Eureka Springs.”Jayden snorted.
Barrett looked at him. “And you, I don’t even want to think what the hell you’re going to do.” Barrett stood. He suddenly needed a drink. Something with a very strong alcohol content.
“Zane, go relieve Lucien.” Barrett met his Guardian’s gaze.
Zane nodded once and silently left the RV.
“Braxton, keep an eye on the computer in case we get a hit on CODIS. I’m going inside for a while.”
#
Braxton snorted.
Damon cut his eyes at him. “What’s so funny?”
“I was just thinking about you in that Spartacus costume. Where’d you get that thing anyway?”
“It’s his. Granny let me borrow it.” Damon stuck his thumb at Jayden.
“Yeah, and I want it back. Do you know how much that damn thing cost?” Jayden swiveled in his captain chair.
Damon rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.
Jayden narrowed his eyes. “You do still have it, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I have it back?” Jayden arched his brow.
“Come on, brother. Ava really likes that costume.” Damon grimaced.
“What?”
“Ava really likes that costume.”
“Dude, she making you wears that thing in bed?” Braxton sobered.
Damon shifted his weight uncomfortably. “Not all the time.”
Jayden looked at Braxton and they broke out laughing at Damon’s pained expression.
“Does she make you play the gladiator slave and she’s the princess?” Jayden arched his brow.
Damon froze.
“Son of a bitch. She is. You’re completely serious.” Jayden couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Maybe he could convince Haley to dress up in a naughty schoolgirl outfit.
Jayden jerked his head in Braxton’s direction. “Are you and Kate into dressing up?”
“Not yet.” Braxton sounded way too interested in going down that trail. “I wonder where the closest costume store is in Eureka Springs.”
“You can order online.”
They both looked at Damon.
“You make her wear that Little Red Riding Hood costume from the strip club?
“Sometimes.” A smile played at the corners of Damon’s mouth.
“That was one hell of an outfit.” Braxton nodded in appreciation.
Damon growled. “You two assholes better forget what she looked like in that outfit or I’ll rip both your eyes out.”
Jayden held up his hands. “Easy, Damon. Braxton is mated and I’m…”
“Yeah, what are you and Haley?” Braxton, the nosey bastard, had turned the conversation back on Jayden.
“I don’t know. Besides, we were talking about Damon’s costume not my relationship.”
“Oh, so it is a relationship.” Damon smirked.
“You going to mate her?” Braxton asked.
“What kind of costumes are you boys talking about?” Granny peeked her gray head inside the RV. The old woman was like a damn cat. Despite her age she could sneak up on someone before you knew she was there. Everyone suddenly found some busy work that needed their undivided attention.
The door slammed shut and everyone looked up. Barrett stood there with his coffee cup halfway to his lip. He frowned.
“What are you ladies talking about or do I not want to know?” Barrett scowled.
“We were talking about if Jayden was going to mate Haley,” Damon offered.
Jayden glared at the Were.
“I thought you were talking about costumes for sex.” Granny shrugged. “That seems to be what the ladies were asking me about. They even wanted to see a catalogue.”
Damon blinked. “You have costumes?”
“Fuck my life.” Barrett threw open the door of the RV and headed back into the house.
#
Twilight was quickly melting into night. Haley stared at Jayden, listening quietly while he filled her in on how they tracked the account that had hacked her Facebook account to Louisiana. For some reason she never really expected her stalker to be from her home state and possibly someone she knew.
It just didn’t feel right.
“But the building doesn’t have someone’s name on the lease?”Jayden shook his head. “It’s a foreclosure. So it’s owned by the bank. Barrett is running checks on all the employees of the bank to see if anything comes up.”
She nodded once and glanced away. “I don’t know, Jayden. I guess I never really suspected that someone I actually know could be d
oing this.”
“Stalkers usually know their victims. He could be someone that you turned down for a date one time or someone you might have gone to high school with that had a fascination with you.”
“I didn’t really date in high school.” Her gut clenched as her childhood memories rose up. “My parents were more concerned about me keeping my grades up and getting into LSU.” She tried to recall anyone asking her out but couldn’t come up with anyone.
“Maybe it was someone who had a crush on you that you never noticed. Stalkers are usually the last person you expect.” Jayden reached for her hand. His thumb made tiny circles in her palm.
She got shivers of a different kind this time.
Only Jayden could make her forget her worries with just one touch.
She grinned.
“What?” A slow smile played at the corners of his lips.
She stepped into his embrace and ran her hands up his muscled arms to his strong shoulders. “I was just thinking that even with all this drama going on I still want to jump you right here.”His eyebrows shot up. “Really?” He tightened his grip on her shoulders. “Out here on the deck?”
She looked behind her and then back at him. “Up against the wall in that dark corner, just in case someone walks out here.”
“I like the sound of that.” Jayden leaned in and growled.
“And then maybe—” Haley froze and cocked her head.
“What is it?” Jayden looked around for some hidden danger.
“That was weird. I thought I heard my mother’s voice.” She looked at Jayden. “But that can’t be. Barrett said it would be at least tomorrow before they arrived in Fayetteville. We were going to meet in town since they didn’t know the address of the house.”
“Let’s go see.” Jayden headed inside with her following closely behind.
Jayden came to a stop, forcing Haley to run into his back just as they came around the kitchen.
“I demand to see my daughter.” The familiar voice of her mother echoed through the kitchen.
Haley peeked around Jayden’s back. Her parents were in the kitchen dressed like they were going to the ballet and addressing the Arkansas Pack Master. Braxton and Damon stood on either side of Barrett in a defensive posture. Her parents’ backs were to her.
Jayden reached behind her holding her still.
“You are in my territory now, lady. And I strongly suggest you get your finger out of my face.” Barrett’s voice was even but the undercurrents of rage were audible.
“Do you know who we are?” Her father, John Stanley Guthrie III, puffed out his chest and moved closer to Barrett.
Barrett glared down at her father and Haley was astonished at the difference in height. She knew Barrett was tall, but she didn’t realize just how tall until now.
“I know who you are. Let’s be clear, that shit doesn’t mean anything here. Here, I am Pack Master of Arkansas. Here, I am the Law. Here, you are nothing,” Barrett growled.
Haley gasped. She doubted anyone had ever spoken to her parents like that.
Everyone turned. For the first time, her parents noticed her standing there.
Their eyes widened and she expected them to run forward and pull her into their arms. She expected them to tell her they were sorry and that they missed her.
“What have you done, Haley?” Her mother turned to face her with a look of utter distain.Haley jumped back, as if she’d been slapped.
“Is it not enough that you ruin yourself with that red wolf? But to publically disgrace our family name by advertising yourself as a whore on Facebook in order to retaliate against us?” Her father’s face reddened and his narrowed eyes made her feel like she was looking at a stranger.
The room got silent. Granny and Ava were standing by the refrigerator with their mouths hanging open. While Barrett and his Guardians were snarling, their teeth bared.
And then there was Jayden. A slow torturous growl emerged from deep in his throat. Her father and mother both jumped back, their eyes wide with either fear or the fact that someone actually growled at them.
“You are both the most pathetic excuses I’ve ever seen for parents.” Jayden pointed at them.
Her parents’ mouths dropped open. Haley held her breath.
“Your daughter was kidnapped yet you blamed her. And when she is brought back to you, safe and unharmed you’re devastated because people will assume she’s been raped and ruined by your definition.” Jayden took a step closer.
“And now when a stalker hacks her Facebook account and spreads vile lies about her, you still blame her. You are both pathetic and if you ever dare say another harmful word to her or about her or look at her wrong, so help me God, I’ll end both of you and no one will ever know what happened to you.”Her father turned to Barrett with a smirk. “Your Guardian just threatened me. I insist on immediate discipline and for him to be removed from his position.”
“You’re going have to file a formal complaint,” Barrett growled. “But before I can render my verdict, I’ll take into consideration how you ignored my direct orders about going to Little Rock and filling out paperwork to request a meeting with Haley. I’ll also remember how you defied my orders of meeting tomorrow in town. After that, I will be sure to wipe my ass with your fucking complaint.”
Ava snorted and clasped her hand over her mouth.
Her mother glared at her but apparently knew enough not to say anything.
Haley fought the urge to smile. She’d never seen her parents so nervous before in her life. They made a habit of making other people squirm and now they were the ones in the hot seat.
“Now, if you want to see if Haley is willing to talk to you, then I suggest you ask, nicely. Otherwise you both can get the fuck out of my house.” Barrett stepped into her father’s space daring him to speak.
“But…” Her father made the mistake of opening his arrogant mouth.
“And Damon and Braxton will be glad to show you the door.” Barrett smiled, his white teeth glinting like shark’s teeth. Braxton and Damon stepped forward.
“Barrett, it’s okay. I’ll listen to what they have to say.” Haley stepped away from Jayden. She felt his hand at the small of her back for support. She gave him a smile.
“And whatever they have to say can be said in front of everyone here.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“I think it would be best to speak privately, Haley.” Her mother lifted her chin.
Haley shook her head. “No mother. They’re my friends and they have been a better family to me than the two of you. So I suggest you tell me what you want so you can leave.” Her heart ached at how bad things had gotten between them.
“I think you need to tell us what’s going on with this Facebook thing,” her father ordered.
“What is there to tell? Someone is targeting me and has hacked my Facebook account.”
Her father looked stunned. He glanced around the room and nodded at Jayden.
“He said something about a stalker. What is he talking about?” Her father’s cheek muscles twitched and she knew it was taking all the patience he had to control his tongue. Her father was not a patient man nor was he used to people not snapping to attention when he wanted something.
“When I moved here I started getting notes. They started out harmless but became quite aggressive. So I went to Barrett since he is my new Pack Master and asked for his help.” She glanced at Barrett who was still holding his dominant posture. If they so much as touched her she didn’t doubt he would intercede. If Jayden didn’t beat him to it.
“I see.” Still her father showed no emotion.
“Now why don’t you tell me how you found out the address to my house?” Barrett glared at her father who blinked rapidly.
“The Louisiana Pack Master gave it to me. He said he stayed here one time when LSU was playing Arkansas.”
Barrett’s eyes flashed yellow with blood lust. He was clearly surprised that the Louisiana Pack Master had given out
that information. Haley knew that whatever business had transpired between the states and their alpha leaders was top secret. But she also knew that Louisiana’s Pack Master was quite manipulative when he wanted something.
“I see. Tell me, how much money did you have to pay him to disclose that information?”
Her father’s face grew red. She knew immediately her father was guilty of bribing the Louisiana Pack Master.
“I’m sorry, Barrett,” she whispered. She had never been so ashamed of being related to her own parents as she was at that moment.
“You have no need to apologize, Haley. Your parents have put you in grave danger by coming here. And if they led your stalker here and endangered your safety I will make sure to exact my punishment as Pack Master of Arkansas.”
Haley’s stomach dropped.
“What do you mean, ‘endangered Haley’? We would never intentionally do that.” Her mother put a trembling hand to her throat, her diamond rings sparkling in the light.
“Don’t worry. I have no doubt that the stalker knows my parents have disinherited me. They would never suspect they have come to see me.” She felt Jayden step closer behind her and she drew her strength from his warmth.
“Whatever you saw on Facebook, you can be assured I did not put it there. So you can tell all your socialite friends it was hacked.”
“Well, what did you expect after that episode in October, when you were...ruined?” Her father’s voice dropped on the last word.
#
That was it. Jayden had forced himself to stand quietly by and listen to Haley’s parents’ bullshit for far too long. He should have shut them up when he saw them.
“Ruined?” Jayden’s entire body trembled with uncontrollable rage. “Is that how you see your daughter?”
“You are so blinded by what other people think. Haley is not ruined.” “Jayden, it’s okay.” She touched his arm and looked up at him. But he knew better, she wasn’t okay. She was crushed by her parents. It pissed him off.
“No, baby it’s not okay.” Jayden looked up and caught Ava giving him a soft look as she cooed as if she were watching a Hallmark commercial.
His gaze landed on her parents.
