by Lynn Hagen
“Maybe.”
They searched well into the night but came up empty-handed. Zeeshan was nowhere to be found, but they did manage to take down two of the escapees. One was a demon they had to kill because the son of a bitch had definitely tried to kill them. The other, a vicious bear shifter, they hauled to the prison where he was locked away…again.
By the time Pierce made it home, the sun had begun to rise. He felt older than his one hundred and twenty-eight years and was exhausted and sore all over.
To his surprise, Victor was not only awake but he had a hot bath waiting for Pierce, bubbles included.
There was also a breakfast tray sitting on the bed, filled with waffles, hash browns, and scrambled eggs.
“How did you know when I’d be home?” Pierce asked as he started to strip off his clothes.
“One of the mates knocked on the door,” Victor said. “He handed me this tray and said you and the others were on your way home.”
“Let me guess, Stuart?”
Victor nodded. “He’s such a sweet guy.”
Pierce agreed. How Stuart had ended up with Nick as his mate baffled him. They were polar opposites in personality, and he was surprised Stuart hadn’t tried to kill his snarly mate by now. But he knew Nick turned into a complete wuss when it came to Stuart, and Pierce knew how Nick felt.
There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Victor. Absolutely nothing. He gave his mate a quick kiss. “Thank you for being so considerate.”
Victor beamed as though he were a puppy who’d just gotten his tummy rubbed. Pierce gave him another kiss before he sat on the bed and devoured his breakfast. He hadn’t known just how hungry he was until he’d taken a bite of the waffles.
After he was finished, he sank down into the tub, groaning at how good the water felt soaking into his bones. Now this was pure heaven. Pierce could get used to being treated like a king after a hard night’s work. Walking all night and then fighting that demon and bear had him aching in places he hadn’t known existed.
He smiled when he saw Victor hovering just outside the bathroom door. “Gonna linger there all morning?”
“I don’t want to be a pest,” Victor said, though he hadn’t moved.
“Come in here and keep me company.” Pierce was gonna have to work on Victor’s self-esteem. It seemed living with his coven had severely damaged it, and that just wouldn’t do. He wanted his mate comfortable around him, relaxed, and smiling all the time because, damn, Victor had the most gorgeous smile Pierce had ever seen.
When Victor took a seat on the closed toilet lid, he tucked his hands between his knees and looked around, his gaze never settling on one thing.
“You’re not a pest,” Pierce said. “If you want the truth, I get anxious when you’re not at my side.”
Victor’s eyes widened as he finally looked at him. “Really?”
“Why does that shock you?” Pierce sank lower, letting the hot water work his muscles as the bubbles made that weird crinkling sound as they slowly disappeared.
“Most people don’t want me around.” Victor bit his lower lip. “They call me a pest, and that’s one of the nicer names.”
That wasn’t the first time he’d mentioned the names his fellow vampires called him, and it still enraged Pierce that Victor had had to live with such assholes.
He gave a low growl. “That’s something you don’t ever have to worry about again. You’re never going back there.” He thought his statement would relax Victor, but his mate still seemed tense. “What’s wrong?”
Victor’s right leg bounced as he shrugged. “I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me—”
“But?”
With a deep sigh, Victor said, “But I don’t like change, and as nice as Stuart was, I’m not comfortable living here.” Victor held up his hands. “Not that anyone has made me feel uncomfortable. It’s just that—”
“It doesn’t feel like home,” Pierce finished for him.
Victor nodded. “Are you mad at me?”
“For what, telling me how you feel?” Pierce snorted. “Never try to spare my feelings, got that? I want you to be happy, mouse. Don’t ever be afraid to tell me what’s on your mind.”
Finally, Victor’s shoulders sagged. Pierce hated that his mate looked so lost. He wanted to wipe that expression from his pretty blue eyes.
“Now get undressed and join me.” Pierce patted the water. “I’m lonely in here.”
With a wide smile, Victor did as Pierce asked. They didn’t fool around when Victor slid into the large tub. His mate simply lay against him. They were content to soak and enjoy each other’s company.
Victor opened up and told Pierce about his childhood and funny stories he recalled from his youth, and Pierce did the same. By the time the water cooled and they were good and pruned, Pierce felt a deeper connection to his mate.
Since he’d met Victor, their soak had probably been the best time Pierce had had with his mate. In a nonsexual way, of course. Because the sex between them was amazing.
As he dried off in the bedroom, Pierce glanced at Victor. “How would you feel about having our own home?”
Victor had been sliding on a pair of pajama pants but stopped, his fingers lingering at the waistband as he gazed at Pierce. “Are you serious?”
Pierce nodded.
“And you’re not thinking about this just because I’m still getting used to living here?”
“Nope.” Pierce slid his arms around his mate and pulled him close. “I’ve been thinking about it since we came home and were surrounded by wolves who wanted to take you to prison.”
Pierce was still pissed about that.
Victor threw his arms around Pierce and hugged him tightly. “I would love that!”
Then it was settled. Come tomorrow—or later that day—Pierce would meet with the local realtor to find their new home.
Chapter Eight
“What the fuck do you mean Riley escaped?” Pierce was downstairs making a plate of leftovers when he got a call from Colton. And now his appetite was gone. He walked from the kitchen and headed up the stairs, making his way to his bedroom.
“We think his followers helped him,” Colton said. “We’ve been hearing whispers of an uprising, of vampires who want to overthrow the triplets and take over the coven.”
“How fucking lax is your security?” Pierce hurried to his bedroom and opened the door, only to find the room empty and the window wide open. “Victor’s gone.”
Colton cursed, and Pierce heard muffled voices on the other end before he came back to the line. “We’re hunting for Riley now.”
“When I find him, I’m killing him,” Pierce snapped before he ended the call. He searched his room, his heart thumping in his throat, but his mate wasn’t in the bathroom like he’d hoped.
Pierce raced downstairs, and thankfully, Matt wasn’t at the agency. He was seated behind his desk talking on his landline.
“Victor’s been kidnapped,” Pierce said as he stormed into the room. “Riley escaped and took him from our bedroom.”
“I’ll call you back,” Matt said before he hung up. He stood and rounded the desk. “I’ll send every available man to search for him.” He narrowed his eyes. “And when we find him, fuck vampire law. That bastard’s gonna die.”
Even knowing Riley’s fate, Pierce was still worried as hell. The vampire was a sadistic fuck, and there was no telling what he would do to Victor. Pierce didn’t even want to contemplate the torture Riley could be inflicting right now.
“I’m heading out.” Pierce spun on his heel and headed for the front door.
Rhys hurried from the family room and joined him. “Where’re we going?”
“You’re following me without knowing?” Pierce snatched the front door open and strode outside.
“You got that look in your eyes,” Rhys said. “Figured you might need backup.”
“Victor was kidnapped from our bedroom.” Pierce hit the fob on his keys and open
ed his car door. “I’m on the hunt for him, and the bastard who took him.”
Rhys looked toward the house. “How did they get to him?”
“Through an open window.” They got in, and Pierce started his car, shooting from the driveway and driving down Murray Hill. He had no idea where to look for Riley. There were plenty of abandoned buildings and empty homes in Mercury. There was also a forest surrounding the town.
If Riley truly wanted to hide, it might take Pierce forever to find him. And with Zeeshan on the loose, giving Riley guidance, Pierce feared what would happen to Victor.
He slammed his fist against the steering wheel as he scanned the streets. It wasn’t as if he’d gone on a hunt and left his mate at the house. Fuck, Pierce had been downstairs and Riley had still gotten to him.
Pierce pulled to the curb, got out, and shouted to the top of his lungs as he slammed his foot into the front tire. He pressed his hands against his knees, breathing heavily as Rhys got out and stood at his side.
“I can’t take this shit anymore.” Pierce straightened and scrubbed a hand over his head.
“It ain’t easy when it involves your mate.” Rhys leaned against the car. “I know that heart-stopping feeling, where your gut is all twisted up inside. I experienced the same thing when Stephen was kidnapped.”
“When does it ever end?” Pierce pressed his hands against his hips and looked out over the town. “Does it ever end?”
“Not as long as evil exists, but if we start giving up the fight, they’ll win.”
Pierce knew he couldn’t let that happen. They were already down one man because Hennessey had decided he wanted to be a stay-at-home dad. But his mate was the sheriff, so that balanced out the loss. Mercury couldn’t afford to lose another bounty hunter if Pierce decided he was sick and tired of feeling as though this was a never-ending battle that he wasn’t even sure they were winning. Walking away wasn’t an option.
Pierce looked behind him when a pickup parked at the curb. Raphael, Roman, and Rico LaSalle exited the truck and headed toward Pierce.
“Heard a vampire needed killing and another needed saving,” Raphael said. “We’re here to help.”
Pierce shook his hand. “Could use all the help I can get.”
“Then what’re we standing around for?” Raphael winked and headed back to his truck.
“Gotta love those bears.” Rhys chuckled.
“Or fear them,” Pierce said. It was no secret the LaSalle triplets were mercenaries, and Pierce was grateful for their skills. It seemed everyone wanted to help, and Pierce wasn’t going to turn anyone down.
Not when he needed to find Victor as soon as possible. And Pierce would never stop searching for his little vampire.
* * * *
“You’re not going to get away with this.” Victor struggled against the ropes Riley had tied around his hands and feet. He wasn’t sure where he was, either. It looked like some abandoned house, considering the inch of dust covering everything.
And Victor was lying on the living room floor, sneezing like crazy as the dust covered his clothing and hair.
“I’ve already gotten away with it.” Riley smirked. “But at least now I’ll be able to take my time with you.”
Victor lay perfectly still as Riley left the room. If he didn’t get out of there, he wasn’t sure what would happen to him. Riley was right. He finally had Victor alone, and that thought scared him to death.
Victor listened to make sure he didn’t hear Riley returning before he pushed himself up—which hadn’t been easy considering he had to use the wall for help—and then started working at the ropes bound around his ankles. His fingers had gone numb, and Victor cursed under his breath as the knot kept slipping from his hands.
When he heard footsteps approaching, Victor rolled to his side and lay there, trying to keep his breathing even and his heart from racing. He still couldn’t believe Riley had been able to creep through the second-floor window and kidnap him right out of his bedroom.
That had been a bold move that had paid off, and now Victor was at his mercy. Of which Riley had none.
The footsteps went quiet, but no one entered the room. Victor heard low, muffled talking and strained to hear what they were saying. Unfortunately he had no such luck. Whoever was talking knew how to whisper.
While on his side, Victor started to work the ropes at his ankles again, wondering if Pierce had noticed his disappearance yet. The pack house was filled with people, and his mate could’ve gotten sidetracked. That meant Victor had to formulate his own escape.
And soon.
He’d just gotten the ropes from around his sore ankles when Riley came back into the room. He glared at the loose rope around Victor’s ankles and then stomped toward him.
“You think you’re getting away that easily?” He grabbed Victor by the back of his collar and dragged him up the steps, the edges of the stairs digging into Victor’s side.
“Let me go!” Victor struggled in Riley’s grip, trying to get free, but the guy’s hold was too strong, no matter how much Victor kicked and squirmed.
Riley shoved open the door on the right and hauled Victor inside. Victor’s jaw dropped when he saw a cross in the middle of the room. There was a table next to it with a whip, a knife, and other things Victor couldn’t make out.
“No! No!” Victor renewed his struggle, desperate to get away.
“You’re gonna suffer what I suffered in Lucian’s office, and so much more.” When Riley yanked Victor to his feet, Victor lunged for the table and grabbed the knife, spinning around and slashing it at the guy.
Riley jumped back, grinning as he circled Victor. “Give it your best shot.”
Instead, Victor turned and raced for the door, but Riley tackled him, taking Victor down. But that didn’t stop Victor from turning over and jamming the knife into the bastard’s shoulder.
Riley straddled Victor’s waist and pulled the knife out slowly, as if the sick fucker enjoyed the pain. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
Victor wished he could, but his wrists were still bound, and that limited his movements. He wasn’t giving up, though. If he did, Riley would strap him to that cross and Victor would be in deeper trouble than he already was.
When Riley got up, clearly to pull Victor to his feet, Victor used his legs to swipe Riley’s from under him. The guy went down as Victor scrambled to his feet, racing for the door.
A demonic laugh trailed behind him as Victor ran down the steps. He was so close to the front door that he could taste his freedom. When he twisted the knob, the door wouldn’t budge.
It was locked!
Victor took off through the house and ran into the kitchen, his pulse thrashing in his ears, his throat bone-dry. He tried the back door, but it was locked, too.
There wasn’t anything in the house he could use to break the glass. The house was completely empty, so Victor used the only thing he had.
His slammed his arms into the window on the door. The glass shattered, cutting him in multiple places. Victor sucked down his scream as he used the broken glass on the frame to saw at his ropes, but he wasn’t doing it fast enough.
Riley came downstairs, walking slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. Victor sawed the rope faster, cutting his wrists in the process.
“That smells so good,” Riley said as he inhaled deeply. “Fresh blood. I think I’ll snack on you before I show you what true pain really feels like.”
“Stay away from me, you sick fuck!” The ropes began to unravel but hadn’t completely broken when Riley finally reached him. Victor bent and grabbed a large piece of glass from the floor, waving it wildly in front of him.
Riley danced back and forth, playfully dodging Victor’s weapon as he smiled. He knew Riley was twisted. He just hadn’t known he was a psychopath. Humor and excitement sparkled in Riley’s eyes as he placed his hand on his stomach and outright laughed.
“You’re making this too fun,” Riley said.
&nbs
p; The glass dug into Victor’s palms as he gripped it tightly. While Riley stood there laughing like an idiot, Victor used his inhuman speed to bury the glass in Riley’s gut.
Riley backhanded Victor so hard he crashed into the wall. When he hit the floor, he watched as Riley pulled the blood-covered glass free and dropped it.
“That’s twice you’ve maimed me.” He pulled his leg back then let it swing, kicking Victor in his gut. “Lucky for me, I have a fresh supply of blood at my feet.”
Victor curled into a ball, tears stinging his eyes as he prayed his mate was looking for him. Pierce was his only hope of surviving this.
“Now, now,” a stranger said as he entered the kitchen. Victor hadn’t the first clue who this guy was. “He’s bait. We have to keep him alive long enough for the wolves to come looking for him.”
Riley glared at the newcomer. “I don’t take orders from a stinking lion shifter.”
The lion shifter curled his hand around Riley’s throat and choked him until the vampire turned a dark shade of red. “You’ll do as I say, or I’ll end your miserable life.”
While Victor watched the exchange, he continued to struggle to get the ropes off his wrists. They were loose and already halfway cut. If he could just wiggle his fingers out of them, he could run out the back door.
The stranger threw Riley to the floor and then turned his glare on Victor. “Now we wait.”
* * * *
“Are you sure?” Matt asked when he met up with Tap and Rio. “Are you positive it was Kingsley?”
“No doubt,” Tap said. “One of the residents spotted him and called me.”
Finally, Kingsley had come out of hiding. Matt didn’t give a rat’s ass about the reward money. He wanted the ex-consiglio member dead at his feet for wiping out their old council and for all the bullshit he’d pulled since then.
“If he’s at that house, then I suspect the creatures he’s let loose will be there, too,” Matt said.
“You know it’s a trap,” Tap said.
“That’s why I’m calling in reinforcements.” Matt pulled his phone out and called in every favor owed to him, handing some out, as well. If they were going to take down the elder shifter, then they needed every man available.
