Damaged Billionaire Daddy Bear: A Paranormal Romance (Exotic Pack Shifters Book 1)

by Leela Ash

  Chapter 10

  “Admit it, Daddy, you had fun today,” Carla crowed in triumph, as Theodore guided his car toward Jessica’s lodgings.

  Theodore’s voice deepened with secret meaning as he looked over at Jessica, “I’ve never had a better time, Carla.”

  His words were meant just for her, she knew, and that knowledge warmed her from head to toe.

  As his car pulled up in front of her house, a sleepy Kal and Arizona climbed out of the backseat, rubbing their eyes with the back of their hands as they called good night to Theodore and Carla.

  Carla barely managed to grumble “G’night,” before slumping onto the backseat in a deep sleep. Apparently, she was exhausted too, Jessica thought with a fond smile at the girl’s prone form.

  Theodore also came out of the car, his eyes smiling into hers as he said in a low murmur meant only for her ears, “I had fun, Jess. I didn’t want to stop touching you for even a minute.”

  She smiled and started to respond when a tall burly man with a fierce scowl detached himself from the shadows around her house and lumbered toward them. Everything about him reeked of danger. He was handsome in a hard sort of way and was about 6’4, with wide shoulders and arms as thick as small tree trunks. His black hair was slicked back neatly away from his face and his even blacker eyes were deep fathomless depths. His nose was crooked as though it had been broken more than a few times and he had a long slashing scar, that could only have been left by a very sharp sword, running down the side of his right arm from shoulder to wrist. He looked like a bouncer; as though he could grab her in one hand and crush her without even breaking a sweat.

  His eyes blasted into hers and her heart leapt into her throat at the sheer antagonism shimmering in his eyes as he looked her over from head to toe.

  Instinctively, she moved closer to Theodore and clutched his arm.

  The other man’s lip curled in a sneer of contempt as he took in her fright, but she didn’t care. She clung all the harder to Theodore’s reassuring warmth.

  Through the inexplicable haze of fear, she realized that Theodore was only mildly surprised and not alarmed.

  “Connor? What are you doing here?” Theodore demanded.

  Connor shrugged, “Looking for you, what else?”

  Theodore frowned in doubt, “My cellphone never rang.”

  Connor looked from him to Jessica and his lip curled all the more. Jessica felt genuinely afraid. He seemed almost as though he wanted to breathe pure fire on her and burn her to ashes right where she stood. She had felt hatred from some people since coming into Angel Springs and Exotic Rescue, but none quite like this.

  Connor’s gaze flicked to Theodore, “I doubt you were taking calls when you were so… wrapped up and engrossed in entertaining staff.”

  Theodore’s voice hardened in unmistakable warning, “Jessica and I took her kids and mine out for a day by the lake to cool off.” His gaze drifted even more meaningfully to where Ari and Kal were standing on the doorstep, waiting for their mother to come to them before they entered the house. “They’re guests, and I expect them to be treated with unfailing courtesy.”

  Connor didn’t even spare the kids a glance, evident of the fact that he was already aware of their presence. His eyes were still hard as stone as he countered, “And a very fine… cooling off you must have enjoyed right there by the lake.”

  Jessica colored, resenting his innuendos, especially because he was right. He was talking almost as though he had seen them by the lake. Oh no, he hadn’t wandered by, had he?

  But a man like him was so big that he was sure to have been noticed, she thought, soothing herself.

  Right on the heels of that, she recalled that he had been standing silently in the shadows, and neither she nor Theodore had noticed him.

  A low growl sounded in Theodore’s throat and he glared at Connor, “You wanted something? Or did you just wanna test if I can still punch your lights out?”

  Jessica threw him a surprised glance. When they had been at the mall, he had stood there and let Roy call him vermin and a creature without defending himself, but now that Connor was making nasty innuendos about her relationship with him, he was willing to throw punches to shut the other man up? Never mind that Connor was so huge he positively dwarfed Theodore, despite how tall and huge Theodore himself was.

  Jessica watched in silence as Connor glared at Theodore. She was staring straight at his eyes, so she saw it: the flicker of fire that lit up clearly in both eyes and the low rumble that spread beneath the very earth where she stood, shaking the ground a little.

  What in the world? she thought, falling back a step in alarm.

  With a snarl that definitely sounded animal, Connor spat, “If you’re finished coddling your guests, Cade Deveraux and Joshua Cox are here. They’re heading back to Weirna tonight, so you might want to make it quick.”

  “The Damaged Pack? Here?” Theodore breathed, hushed reverence in his tone as though he’d learned that a unicorn wandered into his office. He hurriedly stepped back from Jessica and her arms immediately mourned the loss of his feel against her skin. He looked at her, “This was a great evening, Jess. I’m afraid duty calls.”

  She gave him a hesitant smile before stepping back and turning to hurry off toward her children even as she wondered what sort of group called themselves ‘The Damaged Pack’. She didn’t look back at him again, so she didn’t notice his wistful look following her until the door closed behind her and the kids.

  Theodore looked at Connor, “You were so rude just now, man. If I didn’t know better, I would say you had the hots for her.”

  “My ass,” Connor grunted as he entered the passenger side of the car Jessica had just exited. “I’m glad you do know better.”

  The drive to the office was short and swift, and he easily carried Carla in his arms and laid her in the little bedroom he had created off his office for just such emergencies. Then he traipsed into his office and stopped short when he saw that, in actual fact, two of the Damaged Pack brothers and their mentor were ensconced in different seats, waiting for him.

  He looked a question at Connor, “You didn’t mention that Drake was also here.”

  Connor met the eyes of the tall confident man who was standing by the fireplace and intense dislike sparked between both men as Connor announced crudely, “He doesn’t count.”

  Theodore sighed. Drake was the only dragon in the Damaged Pack, and Connor was the only dragon among the Exotic Pack. One would think they would get along, but they had shared bitter animosity for years on end.

  The Damaged Pack was a group of shifters, just like the Exotic Pack, but they were five in number and they stayed all the way in Weirna. In all the years Theodore had been running Exotic Rescue, Joshua Cox, the Damaged Pack’s mentor and father figure, had only come here once. If he was here tonight, and with two of his sons in tow, it must be very serious business indeed.

  Theodore bowed low to Joshua, the motion courtly and brimming with respect. “Sir, we’re very honored to have you with us tonight.”

  Joshua rose to his feet and wrapped Theodore in a warm hug, and Theodore noticed, worriedly, that the other man was getting increasingly frail and somewhat stooped with age. However, the shiny wedding ring on Joshua’s finger reminded Theodore that he had missed the wedding when Joshua had recently married. He had heard that the blushing bride had been a witch and the guardian of Drake’s, his son, wife, who was also a witch.

  As though he had read his thoughts, Connor spat, “Our kind does not marry witches. But tell that to that boy over there. He’s been panting after them ever since he had a wing to fly with.”

  It was true, there was a century’s worth of hatred between dragons and witches, but Joshua didn’t think that gave Connor the right to be so brash and disagreeable, especially in front of Joshua.

  Theodore threw a glance over his shoulder, asserting his authority without a word. Displeasure was in every line of his body, and this time, Connor real
ized he had gone too far and fell silent.

  As soon as they were all seated, Joshua began to speak without any further prompting, “I’m sure you heard about our long and arduous battle with Nabradia, the queen of the Salem witches.”

  “Dead queen,” Connor corrected.

  “Dead queen,” Joshua agreed.

  “Yes, we heard,” Theodore ventured. “Why?”

  “Well, that was quite a stink. But you have a more serious problem on your hands than that,” Joshua intoned, his face serious.

  “Oh?” Theodore enquired, raising one eyebrow.

  “Do we now?” Connor also enquired, for once without any heat.

  “Yes. The Tailan Mineral and the men who are willing to kill humans and shifters alike just to get it,” Cade said shortly.

  At the mention of the Tailan Mineral, Theodore and Connor exchanged glances. As though that were the cue he had been waiting for, Drake left his place by the fire and walked toward them.

  “A band of bounty hunters are being recruited in earnest, all over the US, even as we speak. Their sole mandate is to hunt down and find the mineral, or die trying. Several petitions have also been sent to the FBI and Homeland Security about alleged criminal activities going on in Exotic Rescue.”

  “What?” Connor grated, surging to his feet in a burst of angry energy. “How do you know this?” he demanded.

  “I know it because, unlike you, I don’t spend my time torturing civilians. I use my skills to gain Intel,” Drake drawled insultingly.

  “How? By flying around like a bat at night, playing Peeping Tom in witches’ windows?” Connor sneered. “Or, let me guess, you got your little witch to look in tea leaves, and now, here you are, spouting nonsense about your vigilance.”

  He didn’t get any more word out before Drake cross the room and crashed into him, the momentum carrying both of them smashing into the nearest bookshelf. It promptly broke in two and a sea of books came spilling down in an endless sea until they were both buried under it.

  Chapter 11

  “Damn it, boys, we don’t have time for this,” Joshua spat as Drake and Connor struggled out from under the pile of heavy tomes. “Stop fighting.”

  They didn’t answer him, they slammed against each other again, the sheer force of their contact shaking the building to its very foundation.

  Theodore strode over to both men and ripped them apart with one arm, his bear shifter strength showing through.

  “This ends now,” he ordered, glaring at Connor.

  Drake took a flying dive at Connor and they fell through the French windows, scattering glass in every direction as they plummeted toward the bottom of the building. Mid-air, Drake spread his arms and shifted into his dragon form; Connor did likewise.

  The two dragons landed with a crash on the grounds of Exotic Rescue and the whole terrain shook.

  Theodore threw Joshua a wry glance, “In hindsight, maybe you shouldn’t have brought Drake along.”

  Joshua shrugged, “He’s our transport. I asked him to be quiet and not make a sound and he promised to behave. Look how well he kept that promise.”

  The two dragons began to shoot raw fire at each other. Their scales protected them but their fury was so great that they didn’t care as they kept breathing huge balls of fire onto each other. Joshua raised his two hands over Exotic Rescue, holding it still for a while before dropping it and turning to Theodore, “Let those fools get it out of their system. I have spelled every living creature in a thousand mile radius; we’re the only ones awake to watch this … travesty.”

  With a snort, he returned to his seat and lit a cigar. Cade and Theodore exchanged surprised glances. Then Cade grated, “Surely, you’re not going to just sit here smoking while they tear themselves, and the rescue, to shreds.”

  Joshua sighed and put out his cigarette, “What would you have me do, Cade?”

  “Stop them,” Theodore said.

  Joshua responded, “Let’s discus why we’re here. They’ll join us when they’re done.”

  Theodore gave a tight nod.

  “Do you know a Roy Davison?” Joshua began.

  “Oh boy. Here we go. What’s that loser gone and done this time?” Theodore demanded wearily.

  Cade placed a commiserating hand on his shoulder, “He’s trying very hard to take Exotic Rescue away from you. He’s citing the presence of mineral resources on the land and he’s also saying those mineral resources are harmful to the residents of Angel Springs.”

  The door burst open just then, and Darryl and Michael rushed into the room. Joshua flicked a surprised look their way, and Theodore correctly interpreted the expression. “Your calming spell doesn’t work on them. They are immune to most spells, as am I.”

  Cade whistled, “That would be something, wouldn’t it? Joshua’s new bride is a witch. I’m always afraid to put a toe out of line in case she hexes me,” he joked.

  Joshua studied Theodore and his brothers with interest, “You would have to share your secret with me. I imagine it would drive Klyana mad to know I’m immune to her, er … skills,” he finished with a chuckle.

  “Why are you just sitting here, Theodore? Connor is tearing some dragon to shreds down there,” Michael blurted.

  Cade raised an eyebrow, “I hardly doubt Drake is being ‘torn to shreds’; he can more than hold his own.”

  Darryl stared at the three men as though they were from Mars. “You knew they were fighting and you’re taking a load off?”

  “Exotic Rescue is being attacked secretly,” Theodore announced.

  Stunned silence followed. He easily read the question in their eyes and clarified, “Roy Davison is behind it.”

  “That fucking piece of shit,” Jonathan spat from the doorway. Everyone turned and saw him supporting a bleeding Connor while Justin stood with an equally bleeding Drake leaning against him. Both men had black eyes, torn lips and more than a few slashes all over their bodies.

  Connor straightened away from Jonathan and growled as he tightened his hands into fists, “Roy, huh? In that case, he’s a fucking bastard and deserves every single thing that’s coming to him.”

  Drake scoffed, “A little girl could give you a sound thrashing. What are you gonna do?”

  Fire leapt into Connor’s eyes, but before he could respond, Theodore interrupted in a chilly tone that anyone close to him knew meant anger and danger. “If any of you so much as moves a muscle without permission in the next fifteen minutes, I’m going to personally pummel your sorry ass into the ground.”

  Connor shifted on his feet and Drake silently let Justin carry him over to the sofa.

  Joshua had a new glint of respect in his eyes as he looked at Theodore, but all he said was, “You have a problem on your hands, son. I suggest you deal with it.”

  “I fully intend to,” Theodore assured Joshua in a silky tone that betrayed no emotion whatsoever and was all the more chilling for it.

  “A good start would be herding your exchange staff back to wherever they came from. I mean, how do you know they aren’t moles or something?” Drake said.

  Connor’s eyes gleamed as he offered a cocky grin tinged with a bit of pain, “Fancy that. We actually agree on something. Hell must be dripping with icicles.”

  Drake glared at him before continuing unperturbed, “We took the liberty of studying their profiles, and we have at least five persons of interest among them.”

  Theodore gave him a dark look, “How did you get your hands on all their names, never mind their profiles. Have we been hacked?”

  “We have our ways,” Drake countered.

  Theodore’s gaze flicked between Drake, Cade, and Joshua. Then, he sat up, “You didn’t, by any chance, get the witches in your family to spell and spy on us, did you?”

  Cade gave him a dark frown, “Seriously?”

  Theodore subsided in his seat, admitting to himself that it did seem like something of a stretch.

  Justin leaned forward as he made his own observation, �
�There are eleven exchange staff in all. You’re telling us, you suspect at least half of them?”

  Drake sighed as he presented four photographs, “We’re just being cautious. But if you wanna narrow it down, we think you should pay special attention to one woman in particular.”

  “Really?” Darryl growled, balling his fists as though he wished he could squeeze whoever the suspected mole was between his large fists. “Why her?”

  “Because she was spotted with Roy Davison even before she came to Exotic Rescue. Plus, she has been researching the Tailan Mineral for years.”

  Theodore sat up straighter, “How the hell does she know about it? Humans know nothing about it.”

  “Not this human. She has piles and piles of research notes on animal gene mutation and guess what her latest studies centered on?” Cade growled.

  “Tailan?” Theodore asked with a dry throat. Why was his heart suddenly thudding in his chest? Why did he feel so betrayed? What were his instincts trying to tell him?

  “Got it in one,” Drake said dryly as he flung a couple of glossy pictures onto the table. Theodore stared down at pictures of Jessica smiling up at Roy Davison and talking to him like an old friend. He recognized the location as right outside Angel Springs. The date stamp showed that the meeting had taken place even before she entered the town.

  Theodore looked up, “Roy harassed me at the store earlier today, and Jessica thanked him for helping them the other day. Maybe they had car trouble or something, and he helped them.”

  Michael scoffed, “When have you ever known Roy to help anyone but himself?”

  Drake smoothly threw another picture on the table. “Maybe this would convince you, Theo.”

  Theodore glared at him as he corrected, “My name is Theodore.”

  Then he picked up the latest picture and felt his world stop. Jessica was crouching down somewhere close to the path leading off to the Tailan deposit, taking pictures with a long-range camera.

  His jaw ground as he thought with revulsion of how she had given herself to him with eager breathless cries by the lake earlier today. His hand crumpled the picture. It had all been an act. She had been acting. Did her kids even really like Carla, or had Jessica put them up to it?