by Crissy Smith
Trent glanced over to the tree Annabelle had escaped to. She still had a hard time around a lot of people. Logan was leaning back against the tree trunk laughing with Luca and Fredrick.
Their little family was growing and Trent was okay with that.
He kissed the side of Melissa’s head. If she hadn’t shown up in his town, he wouldn’t be thinking about the future like he was now. The program that Mac ran was important and they did good work, but they needed to do more to help shifters.
“Speaking of my mate,” Zak said as his phone rang. “That’s her.”
Jamie grinned. “Tell her I said hi.”
Zak nodded before strolling away with his phone in his hand.
“Abilene has been such a good influence on him,” Jamie said. “I was pretty sure we were going to lose him to the dark side before he met her.” He eyed Trent. “Sometimes what happens in the past can keep us from realizing what’s right in front of us.”
Trent nodded at the words directed to him. “Other times our past is what we need to face in order to move forward.”
“I’m glad you said that,” Jamie responded. “I asked Cody to look into your partner’s death when you were with the LAPD.”
“What?” Trent couldn’t help but tense.
Melissa grasped the back of his shirt. “Why would you do that?”
Jamie glanced from her to him. “The LAPD is not following the directions of federal agencies or laws in place. The top brass is being replaced even as we speak, but we need to take down the ones on the streets. The LAPD has the highest number of complaints and in-house death of shifters.”
“That’s a big order to fill,” Melissa stated.
“Which is why we need the two of you,” Jamie said.
“I won’t go back,” Trent declared. This was his home, his family now. As much as he wanted to make a difference, he needed to stay surrounded by his family.
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Jamie said. “But we need your help, anyway. We’re sending a team from the Coalition there.”
“What would we have to do?” Melissa asked.
Of course, she would want to help. She’d spent years trying to right every wrong the LAPD had done to shifters.
“Names, dates and cases that our agents need to be aware of,” Jamie answered. “There might be more that the field agents need, but that information would help get us started.”
Trent turned to Melissa.
“It’s up to you,” she said. “I’m here now and I’m not leaving.”
He nodded. “I can tell you about what I experienced before I left.”
“Great.” Jamie slapped him on the back. “I’m going to grab a burger.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Trent told him.
As Jamie walked away, Melissa slipped in front of Trent, putting both arms around his waist. “You sure you want to get involved with the LAPD? I can give the Coalition the information they need and keep you out of everything.”
“No.” Trent shook his head. “I want to do it together. I already let you take the brunt of what should have been my fight. I won’t leave you like that again.”
She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
He carded his fingers through her hair. “I promised you that I’d always protect you. Especially against the assholes who I really want to track down and shove my boot up their ass.”
Melissa laughed. “I love you.”
Trent turned Melissa so she was facing their friends with her back to his chest. “Look at all these people who needed us to stop someone from taking everything from them. We did that. And it’s only the beginning. We’ll help.”
Her weight felt good against him. Trent rested his chin on the top of her head. Cody had shifted and was perched on a branch not too far from where Annabelle was sitting. She was swiping at him, but by the way her tail was wagging, she was enjoying Cody’s evasive moves. Jamie was indeed stuffing his face with food beside Mac, Zak, Luca and Magnus.
The sun shone above and it felt good to no longer be hiding away.
“Come on.” Melissa tugged him toward the bar.
“Where are we going?” Trent followed behind her, though. If Melissa wanted some time alone, he was more than willing. Hell, it was a better idea then hanging out with a bunch of men, even if they were his friends. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t tease her. “I haven’t eaten yet.”
“You’ll get fed,” she said. “I promise.”
Trent let Melissa lead them back to his room. They’d eventually need to decide if they’d stay at her house or in The Den. Trent wasn’t sure which he preferred. While he liked the privacy of her house, he also needed to be around the others. He’d bring it up later. At the moment, he was just happy to go to bed with her each night and wake up with her every morning.
She paused outside his door. “I thought that we could start dividing our time between your place and mine. You need to be here on the weekends, so maybe midweek we can go back to my house.”
Guess our thoughts were on the same lines. “That’s perfect.”
“Now,” she said, pushing the door open. “I want some time alone with you.”
Trent grinned. He’d spent all night loving her and she couldn’t get enough. That was a stroke to his ego. “We have a yard full of people.”
“I don’t care,” Melissa said. “I feel like I need to make up for lost time.”
“We have the rest of our lives, but I will never turn you down.” He picked her up to carry her to the bed.
He set her down and she knelt on the mattress before reaching for him. Melissa ran her palms along his stomach, tugging his T-shirt up.
Trent leaned down and kissed her. He slipped his tongue inside her mouth, relishing her unique flavor. He was already moaning as he pushed her back and covered her body with his.
“So good,” she murmured against his lips. “Show me again how good we are together.”
“I will,” Trent promised. “This is only the beginning.”
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Bloodlines: Embrace
Crissy Smith
Excerpt
Chapter One
Kieran Smith hissed as the needle was pulled out of his arm.
“Don’t be a baby,” Dean Westbridge taunted without sympathy. He slapped a Band-Aid onto Kieran’s wound with a smirk.
He growled at Dean, but his heart wasn’t really in the threat. Six weeks after Kieran had found out that there might be something wrong with him, there were still no answers. He needed Dean in order to figure this shit out. The doctor who had tortured and experimented on him for ten years let it out that he’d added unknown concoctions to Kieran’s DNA. Sure, Kieran had realized that he was stronger and faster than other Walkers, but he’d attributed it to his advanced agent training. Now, it turned out that he was an even bigger freak than he’d first thought.
“How’re you feeling? Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?” Dean questioned.
Kieran wished he could say for sure. Being a Day Walker already made him different from other paranormals since there were very few of his kind. There weren’t many others he knew to compare himself to. The Walkers that he did know didn’t exactly like to talk about their abilities. In response to Dean’s question, he shrugged.
Dean sighed. “I need you to tell me what’s going on.”
“I realize that,” Kieran said. “I don’t know the answer.”
The human agent walked across the room to set the vials of blood he’d taken from Kieran and placed them in a bag. Kieran wouldn’t consider Dean a friend but pretty close. Dean had been the partner of Dakota, Kieran’s lover, for many years, so that connection held them together. Kieran made an attempt to get along with Dean for Dakota’s sake.
“How’re things going with Dakota?” Dean asked from the other side of the room.
Kieran stiffened. He couldn’t help his reaction. “Why?”
“Jeez, Kieran,�
�� Dean complained. “I didn’t mean anything by the question. I just wanted to make sure the two of you are okay. There’s been a lot going on. You two moved into the new suite, right?”
“Sorry,” Kieran muttered. It hadn’t been an easy month and a half since they’d taken down the group responsible for the death, torture and kidnapping of both Walkers and shifters. Finding out that the same organization they worked for had high-powered agents involved had thrown them off their game. Trust, something that was hard for Kieran at normal time, was now nonexistent. Only his promise to Dakota had him coming to see Dean every week. If it wasn’t for his lover’s concern, Kieran would be staying far away from anyone who wasn’t part of his inner circle.
“The new place is bigger, so Dakota likes it. I enjoy staying at the hotel to remain close to Alex. I guess it’s just weird buying a suite with Dakota. Like I’m waiting for her to get tired of my bullshit and take off.” His honesty surprised him. Kieran never talked about his feelings. Especially not with someone like Dean, who he didn’t know all that well. He moaned. “Forget I said anything, please.”
“Look, man,” Dean said, “Dakota loves you. If you want to talk to me, I’m more than happy to listen. I want to help figure out what’s going on for the both of you. Just give me time.”
In response to Dean’s words, Kieran nodded. It wasn’t easy for him to rely on anyone except himself. He still held himself back from Remy, his wolf shifter partner, who he’d worked with since joining the Organization. He yanked down the sleeve of his black sweater before standing. He appreciated Dean letting him come down to his lab instead of him having to go into the medical wing. Kieran’s past with medical experiments was only one of the many issues that he had to try to deal with. If he hadn’t had the control of someone much older than he actually was, Kieran could have ended up being a danger to those around him.
Everyone around him was aware of the very thin line that Kieran walked.
Even his partner and lover knew that at any time, Kieran could fall off the straight and narrow. They loved him, anyway.
If it wasn’t for the support of the small collection of friends, his family now, Kieran probably would have gone to the dark side years ago. But, luckily for the world, Kieran had motivation to remain sane and honest.
“Okay,” Dean announced, drawing Kieran from his thoughts. “I’ll send these off and see if there’ve been any changes.”
“Thanks.” Kieran shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark-washed jeans before strolling toward the door.
“Hey, K!”
Kieran paused, although he didn’t turn.
“You’re going to be okay. I’m going to make certain.”
Without another word, Kieran left Dean’s lab. He wasn’t on shift tonight and he hated having time off. Now, he’d spend the evening thinking about Dean and his damn tests. Dean couldn’t and shouldn’t make promises that might be impossible to keep. Kieran needed a distraction. One of his favorite activities was messing with the other agents around, but, since he’d seen his boss’s vehicle outside earlier, he knew better.
Caspar might give him more leeway than anyone else, but Kieran knew when not to press his luck. Having to deal with the higher-ups of the Organization as well as the Shifter Coalition running their own investigation was leading to Caspar being in a very bad mood. While Kieran might have liked to have taken his boss’s mind off everything going on and provide some entertainment, he’d promised Dakota that he’d behave.
He was just about to reach the elevator when his cell rang. Kieran pulled the black device from his pocket and read the screen. Lettie, his former co-worker from his previous post, was calling. He still spoke to her when she decided he needed to know something, so she wouldn’t be calling for no reason.
“What’s up?” he asked in greeting.
“Your girl just called in for backup,” Lettie said. “I don’t like what I’m hearing.”
Kieran stiffened. Lettie was the best fucking hacker in the world. He didn’t know why she continued to monitor them even when she’d been assigned to a different office, but he was grateful. “Where is she?” he demanded.
“3412 North Washington, behind a closed electronic store. The original call was for a reported sighting of a wild animal. Wolf maybe,” Lettie answered.
“And?” Kieran pressed. Dakota could handle a wolf shifter with no problem. A jaguar shifter, she was powerful, fast and smart. She was also highly trained.
“Neighbors are calling in more animal sounds and when Dakota radioed for backup, she was cut off,” Lettie explained.
He didn’t need to hear any more. Kieran went to the stairwell exit instead of waiting for the elevator. He ran down the steps two at a time. “Got it.” He hung up, needing to concentrate on getting to his lover. There were times when he hated what she did for a living. But, unlike him, Dakota wouldn’t ever be able to leave the Organization.
Centuries ago, a small group of Walkers, shifters and humans had decided to form an agency that would work in the shadows to keep the innocent and unaware humans from discovering the paranormal world. The entire Organization was staffed from the bloodlines of the original group. Because Dakota had been born the first child of a family involved, she’d been commissioned to service. She hadn’t been given a choice. From a young age, she’d been aware that she wouldn’t be raised or loved by her family. She only had one purpose—to become an agent.
As far as Kieran knew, he was the only active agent who didn’t stem from the original families. Caspar had brought him in after Kieran had been rescued. Kieran often wondered why Caspar had enfolded him into the world of the Organization, but it didn’t really matter. Kieran was an agent and he could make a choice to leave if he wanted. He wouldn’t, though. There was no way he’d leave his partner or lover behind. He was in for life, because Dakota and Remy were. There was no retirement for Organization agents. They either died in the line of service or were employed until their usefulness ran out.
He slammed through the last barrier opening up into the underground parking lot then raced through the night toward his bike, intent on getting to Dakota. As was his habit, he’d parked his Harley down the street instead of in front of the building that housed their offices.
Kieran didn’t bother with a helmet. He merely got his bike started and roared off. The area that Dakota had called from was across town. As she’d called for backup, another agent should be closer than him, but he didn’t trust anyone else to have her back. She worked with a bear shifter and human, but Kieran was a Walker. The abilities and power that he offered was unmatched by any other agent. He was the only Walker in the Las Vegas division.
Swerving in and out of traffic, Kieran sped toward Dakota.
It was a good thing that he didn’t have to be worried about being killed in an accident with the chances he took. The heavy Vegas traffic was always a hardship to get through, but at nine at night on a Friday, it was damn near impossible. This was the exact reason he rode his bike. He was able to fit through spaces and, yes, he might have used a couple of sidewalks, as well.
Flashing lights, chaos and screaming greeted him when he pulled into the parking lot of a boarded-up bar. He skidded his motorcycle to a stop, ignoring the human police officers trying to wave him away. It was obvious to Kieran that the humans would be no help in this situation.
“Sir! Get back on your bike and leave the area!” a young, freckled faced officer ordered.
Kieran had the urge to flash his fangs at the damn kid. Hell, he couldn’t be older than twenty-one. This little twerp was absolutely no competition to Kieran. He resisted scaring the crap out of the officer. “I’m with her.” He pointed toward Dakota.
“Oh, sure,” the officer replied, paling a little.
Kieran held back a smirk. The young policeman no doubt thought he was some sort of shifter. But while the shifters of the world had come out to the public several years ago, letting their existence be known, Walkers were still kept s
ecret. There was enough drama with humans knowing about shifters. Vampires, or whatever they wanted to name his species, would have the humans in a massive panic.
He stalked with care toward where Dakota was crouched peering in a hole inside the bar. Her two partners, Gabe and Dare, stood at her back, watching the crowds. While Dakota’s attention was on whatever was happening inside, they had her six. Kieran approved.
“What’s going on?” he asked, joining them.
“We think there’s an injured shifter inside,” Dare told him. “And a wolf and coyote shifter won’t let us get close enough to get a good look, though.”
Fuck, an injured shifter can cause a lot of damage if they panic.
“It’s okay,” Dakota was murmuring. “I know you’re scared, but we’re not here to hurt you.”
She’d used that tone with him when Kieran was coming out of a nightmare or an episode of his past. He’d always found it comforting. Kieran hoped whoever she was speaking to picked up the honesty in her tone.
Kieran dropped to his knees behind her. “What do you need?” he whispered. He needed to stay out sight for now. If the shifters saw him, they’d pick up on his power and things could get a lot worse.
Dakota turned her head. “You’re supposed to be off tonight.”
He shrugged. There was no reason for her to be aware that Lettie monitored her calls when she was on duty. “I was in the neighborhood.”
She scoffed. “I bet. We’ll discuss this later. I sent the other agents to see if there was any other way inside. I don’t want to force our way in if we can help it.”
Yeah, the possible bloodshed involved wasn’t good. Especially with humans close by.
“Just three inside?” he asked.
“That’s all I can smell.” She leaned back. “It’s weird—they’re really young. And how often do you see three different species together?”
“They’ve all shifted?”
“They are now. When we got here, just the bobcat and wolf were, but now the coyote has, as well. That’s probably how they feel the safest.”
