He once more turned on his side to face her. “Making love to you just now was incredible. I want more of it.”
“Me, too.”
“I mean a lot more, but I’m not sure how much of me you want.”
Her gaze skated up and down his body. She growled softly. “I want all of you.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s not what I meant.”
She caught his chin with her hand. “Drake, I want all of you, every last piece, inside and out, what goes on in your head, your heart, your soul and of course your magnificent body.”
Her words were a wind that swept every doubt away. “I want you in the same way. You know, when I came after you like I did, it was pure instinct and a whole lot of need. What’s funny is the night you saw me challenge Donaldson, I’d been in there earlier and had intended to face him. But I got distracted, because I saw you through the glass wall of your office. You were comforting a woman who was sitting next to your desk. You even got on your knees and embraced her.
“I was moved, Verena. I didn’t know compassion existed anywhere in Five Bridges, but there it was.”
She grew very solemn, a sad light entering her eye. “I remember her. She’d just identified her daughter in the Tribunal morgue. The girl had been badly used. Amethyst flames marked her arms, neck and cheeks. She’d only been fifteen when she died. Her mother and I wept together.”
He rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Seeing you like that forced me to turn around and head back to my SUV. I didn’t want to disturb you or any of the other workers in the Trib. I tried to calm myself down. But I couldn’t leave, not without telling Donaldson what I thought of his decision to let Mellet go. So I went back in and let him have it.”
“You did the right thing,” she said. “The staff talked about what you did for days, weeks even, afterward. But do you know what surprised me? That Donaldson didn’t exact some kind of retribution on you. He could have. He’s one of the most powerful men in the Trib. That’s when my attitude toward Donaldson began to soften.”
Drake shifted his gaze away from her, his memory full of the encounter. He’d really let loose and used a fair amount of choice four-letter-words. “I don’t know why he didn’t throw me in jail. I swear I thought I was a dead man.”
Verena placed her hand on his shoulder. “I think he knew that if he did, he’d start a war. Every territorial border patrol has officers on the right side of things. And each of those has a weapons arsenal. Donaldson was smart to cut you some slack. Besides, I’ve always suspected he’s not as bad as he seems.”
Drake laughed. “You’re the only one who thinks good of him, then.”
“I know. Still, I suspect there’s more going on with Donaldson than he lets any of us know.”
He drew closer and rubbed her back. “So, you really want to go after Mellet?”
“I do.”
“What do you have in mind?”
She chuckled. “I have no idea. But I want to try. Maybe if we’re lucky enough or clever enough, we could find him and maybe even the girl he took.”
Drake lifted up on his elbow. He didn’t know how easy it would be to find Mellet, but he had plenty of contacts in Savage Territory. “We can start putting a plan together, but maybe we should think long-term. I’ve talked to Brannick a few times about his tunnel rescue operation, but he advises taking it slow. How about we work together over the next few weeks, and see what we can do?”
At that, Verena lifted up on her elbow as well. His gaze dropped to her breasts, which were now fully exposed. His thoughts grew distracted, as any man’s would, until she shoved at his shoulder.
“Yes, I know I’m naked, but Drake, I’m talking about going after Mellet tonight. If we don’t get to him in the next couple of hours, he will have moved Crystal to who the hell knows where. But I can’t do it alone and you’re the one with all the connections.”
“What do you mean my connections? I know a few people, that’s all.”
Her lips parted as though dumbstruck. “Drake, you have more friends than anyone I’ve ever known. Do you recall what happened at the bar?”
“Well, yeah, but that was—” He stopped himself. “They allowed me to go first, all of them, didn’t they?”
“It’s your gift and I’ve seen it a dozen times. You did the same thing with Joy.”
“That makes no sense.”
Verena compressed her lips. “You don’t see yourself the way others do. I know why you helped Joy tonight and you may have saved her life. But the reason you were able to help was because you saw her, you understood what she needed. Then you took charge and in the end got her to go to the club. That’s your true gift: You understand what people need then you deliver. You did the same for me when you took me to the U.S. Border to run on the motocross track. All of this to say that I’m convinced if you made just a handful of phone calls, you could mobilize an entire force to hunt down Mellet and that brazen car of his.”
She then rolled over and hopped off the bed. He had a clear view of her beautiful ass as she moved into the bathroom. She called back to him as she got the water running. “I’m cleaning up and heading out. Do whatever you want. But now that I can levitate, I’m going after that bastard, by myself, if I have to.”
Drake turned the opposite direction and shifted to sit on the side of the bed facing the window. He had a view of the starry night sky. He’d thought of himself as enjoying people, but never as a leader.
Maybe it was the newly formed wolf part of him however that seemed to shove at him right now. Verena was right about one thing; he had lots of connections. Fergus was one of those. But he knew officers in every territory. He could get on his phone, for instance, and call at least six Savage Territory officers right now.
What would it take to put out the word to be on the lookout for the low-riding cruiser with red flames on a black background? There couldn’t be two cars like that in all of Five Bridges.
He left the bed and found his pants. He pulled out the phone and dammit if he didn’t start making the calls.
When he had it all set up, he took his leathers and a tank from his closet and headed to the guest bath. The whole time he showered up, his mind whirred as though what he’d shared with Verena had ignited an unexpected drive within his body.
Once he was cleaned up, he didn’t find Verena in the bedroom or the master bath. Making his way to the living room, he saw that she’d blown out all the candles and put the strawberries and champagne away.
“Good thinking,” he called out.
She was looking at his Christmas tree. “I love that you decorated. It means a lot to me.” She sighed. “And it’s given me hope.”
She then looked him up and down and her brows rose. “You’re in uniform. Are you going with me?” She smiled.
“Hell, yeah.” He slid his Glock into his holster. “I made some calls and put out the word. How about we get into the air because I’m expecting info to start coming through anytime now.”
Verena smiled. “This should be fun.”
He drew close and slid his arms around her. “This could also get dangerous and you don’t have any kind of training.”
“I know. And I’ll do what you tell me to do once were airborne. But I also know when we find Crystal, I’ll be of help then.”
~ ~ ~
Verena flew slowly beside Drake as though she’d been doing it her entire life. She’d left her purse behind since she’d be in the air. But she still wore her back dress and stilettos. She could have gone back to Joy’s house and changed, but she didn’t want to waste any more time.
Instead, she headed southwest with Drake in the direction of Savage Territory where Mellet had been last seen.
Drake kept his phone either in his hand or pressed to his ear. He spoke as often with the Elegance and Revel border patrols, as he did with the shifter force, because each territory ranged next to Savage.
He’d given her the task of scrutinizi
ng the skies to make sure no one came up on their blind side. He didn’t expect trouble in the air, but he wanted to be careful. So far, the skies were clear.
As he ended yet another call, they crossed above the massive bridge that connected Shadow territory to Revel. He spoke to her telepathically. Good news. Mellet was seen not ten minutes ago crossing from Savage into Revel. Because we’re on this, those border patrol officers not aligned with the cartels now have him in their sights. They’re going to turn him back. Can you hear the sirens?
Verena’s heart leaped. If Mellet had only now gone into Revel, there was a good chance he still had Crystal with him. Yes, and I think I can see the flashing blue and red lights in the distance, not far from Blackwater Bridge. Being high in the air, gave her an extraordinary view of everything.
Has to be them, but they’re at least three miles away. Hold on. I’m getting another call.
He brought his phone back up to his ear. “No shit? Okay, we’ll will be right there.”
He met her gaze and switched back to telepathy. The Revel Border Patrol has just forced Mellet back into Savage and he’s heading into the pines. Savage was the only territory with a significant amount of trees. Years ago, out of desperation, the wolves had planted the pine forest, sustaining it with reclaimed water.
What about the Savage Border Patrol? Are they waiting for him? Will they be able to arrest him? This was the critical question. Even if they located Mellet while in Savage, they may not get permission from their corrupt station chief to take him down.
Let me find out. He made another call, though he picked up speed as he continued to fly in a southwesterly direction. “Hey, Fergus, have any of your officers reached Blackwater Bridge on the Savage side?” He listened some more, and said a few more words that sounded very hopeful.
He relayed the info to Verena. The Savage Border Patrol is moving into position well within the pine forest, but they’re still about a mile away from Mellet. Verena, there’s a damn good chance he’d gone into Revel to drop the girl off. We may have just saved her.
I was thinking the same thing.
How fast can you fly?
She smiled. As fast as you can. I have your skills now, remember?
I do. He gestured straight ahead. Let’s go.
When he took off, adrenaline raced through Verena’s wolf system, lighting her up. She could feel the shifter part of her longing to get out and run, but she held it in check. Levitating would be faster and she wouldn’t have to worry about bridge checkpoints if she was on foot, or paw as the case would be. Each territory was separated from the other with extensive ditches full of barbed wire.
She few swiftly and caught up with Drake within a couple of seconds.
Scared? He asked.
Nope. Exhilarated.
I know the feeling well. So, is it the wolf in you that’s loving this or the vampire?
She thought for a moment. Both, I think.
Sounds about right. I’m feeling it as well.
Blackwater Bridge grew more and more distinct until they were flying well east of it. Despite the fact that it was Christmas Eve, a long line of cars waited at the human border, trying to get into Five Bridges.
They ought to close all the bridges on Christmas Eve to everyone except emergency personnel.
Drake spoke his next words sarcastically. What? And disrupt the drug and sex trade clientele for even one night? The cartels would have Donaldson’s nuts on a platter.
Vivid, but true. You’re right, of course, but it makes me so mad.
As the pine forest drew close, Drake jerked his head in a forward motion. Holy fuck! Look, they’ve got Mellet stopped a quarter mile into Revel just inside the tree line. Come on. Mellet’s a mean one. They might need my help. Besides, I want him alive to face the charges.
He put on a little more speed and Verena stayed right with him.
Verena’s thoughts became fixed on Mellet, on the suffering he’d caused so many including herself. He’d killed her husband with the intent of taking her as his mate. In her mind, he represented everything evil in Savage Territory and why she’d exiled herself to live in Elegance and work at the Tribunal.
But as they flew closer to the vehicles, suddenly the Savage SUVs began pulling away.
Mellet honked his horn repeatedly, then raised his fist out his car window. He howled long and loud, a celebratory sound.
Drake, what’s going on? Why is the Savage Border Patrol leaving?
All four vehicles had turned around and headed the opposite direction. Drake stopped her to hover in the air thirty yards away.
It’s simple. The officers got orders to let him go, probably by their corrupt chief.
But how could they do that?
He turned toward her, floating in the air. Remember that day I caught up with Mellet and saved those girls?
Of course. Everyone does.
Well, if my chief, Easton, had told me to back off, I would have. This is the world every border patrol officer must live in. If we don’t obey, we either get shit jobs or fired or worse.
But that’s so wrong, she said.
I know. However, these are the rules and we obey our chiefs. If we don’t, the cartels will come after us and anyone we care about. We lose several officers a year to the drug lords and it always follows a disobeyed order from the station.
I had no idea. She gave herself a mental shake. So, are we going to let him go?
I don’t think we have a recourse here, he said.
Wait a minute. You’re not a Savage officer and Easton isn’t here to tell you not to do something he doesn’t know you’re doing. How about we arrest Mellet’s sorry ass and take him to the Trib? Even if Donaldson lets him go, we will have saved the girl he’s got stowed in his car.
She watched Drake turn to stare at Mellet’s car. Once again, he was thinking things through.
Mellet’s car roared to life. He started making a U-turn, clearly intent on heading back into Revel.
She watched Drake put his phone away, though his movements were slow. You know something? You’re right. Easton doesn’t know where I am right now.
Exactly.
Okay, Verena, now listen to me. He drew his Glock. I’m going in strong and there will probably be gunfire. Stay in the air. In fact, you’d be smart to rise another thirty yards. I want you out of danger. You good with this?
I am. Go get the bastard. And if you don’t do anything else, wipe that sick-ass grin off his face.
Drake grabbed for her and pulled her close for a split-second, just long enough to plant one on her lips. He then smiled. Now get going.
As she rose in the air, Drake descended.
Drake fired a shot at the hood of Mellet’s car, then another.
Mellet slammed on his brakes. The dirt road, of which there were numerous in Savage, sent clouds of dust into the air.
When Mellet open the car door, she sharpened her vision. He had a pistol aimed at Drake. She heard several gunshots and watched Drake whip around in the air with amazing, calculated moves to avoid getting hit. He fired back, but either toward the hood or wide of the vehicle.
Verena understood his thinking. Bullets could travel through a window and hit Crystal.
Mellet was crouched behind the door of his vehicle. He kept firing, but in a haphazard manner, unwilling to expose his body to Drake’s return fire.
When her wolf’s ears detected trigger pulls but no resulting shots, she watched Drake swoop in. He came down on top of Mellet and dragged him to the dirt.
She flew closer and watched Drake pick up the smaller man and deliver repeated blows to his face.
Verena took this as her cue and levitated down to the car on the opposite side, landing near the back seat. She looked inside; the girl wasn’t there. Maybe the trunk.
Mellet still fought back but Drake had taken the fist-fight away from the car. She opened the front passenger door, lunged for the keys, then headed straight to the trunk.
By t
his time, her heart was pounding hard.
She popped the lid and emitted a soft wolf’s howl. The girl was curled up in the trunk and had a faint red-and-green Christmas flame marking on her cheek. Best part? She was breathing.
Crystal moaned softly and craned her neck to look up at Verena. “Where are you taking me?”
Verena smiled. “How does home sound, sweetheart?”
~ ~ ~
Drake drew his phone from his leathers and called Sophie who eventually got him connected to Donaldson.
“What do you want, Drake? It’s Christmas Eve and I’m at a party. Sophie said it was an emergency. I’ll tell you right now, it had better be.”
Drake stared down at Mellet who lay flat on his back in the dirt, and whose face was a shapeless bloody mass. Drake smiled. “I’ve got Mellet here with another human teen. He’d tried to take her into Revel, but the Border Patrol turned him back. The Savage chief called off his own men as well, but since I happened to be in the area, I took the bastard down myself.
“Don’t worry, he’s still alive, but tell me what to do with him. I won’t fight you, Donaldson, but you should know that we have a video feed of Mellet flipping off the girl’s very human mother and calling her a dumb bitch.”
Donaldson got very quiet. In a subdued voice, he said, “Let me get back to you. It won’t be but a minute or two. I think I can help on this one.”
Drake remained right where he was. If Mellet so much as breathed funny, he’d knock him out with the butt of his gun. But Mellet didn’t move a muscle.
Drake called out to Verena. “How we doin’ over there?”
Verena moved out from behind the open trunk lid and smiled at him. “She’s alive, conscious and unharmed except for some bruising from having traveled in the back of this low-rider over Savage’s terrible roads.”
He dipped his chin and smiled back. “Glad to hear it.” He lifted his phone. “Just waiting for Donaldson’s orders.”
Verena frowned. “You called him? I thought maybe we could tunnel-run her out of here.”
“She’s going home. Make no mistake. But if Donaldson is smart, he’ll figure out something else for Mellet.”
Alphas Unwrapped: 21 New Steamy Paranormal Tales of Shifters, Vampires, Werewolves, Dragons, Witches, Angels, Demons, Fey, and More Page 28
