In the Sniper’s Crosshairs

by Charlie Richards

  Cliff didn’t explain until they’d stepped through the doors and they were joined by Lisa. Rainy, Eion’s second eldest brother, was there, too, as well as Rainy’s mate, Travis, who happened to be Lisa’s brother. Niamh stood close to them, so Eion assumed the rest of their family was on the way.

  “What happened, Cliff?” Duncan asked.

  “Brennan was driving Eion’s Harley drunk,” Cliff stated, his soft voice gruff. “And he had a girl straddling his lap.” He shook his head as he swallowed hard enough to cause his Adam’s apple to bob. “A logging truck came around the corner, but Brennan had drifted into his lane. In his impaired state, he couldn’t correct in time.”

  Eion grimaced, guilt seeping through him. “I knew I shoulda said no.”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Castrose stated as he slid his arms around Eion from behind, announcing his presence. “You gave him guidelines, and Brennan chose to ignore them.”

  “I’m sorry.” Cliff wrapped his arms around Lisa, placing one hand protectively over her pregnant belly. “Who are you?”

  Gripping Castrose’s forearms where they crossed over his torso, Eion stated, “Everyone, this is Castrose, my mate.”

  Duncan held out his hand. “Welcome to the family. I’m Duncan MacDougal, Eion’s father.” He dipped his chin, indicating their mother. “This is Teline, his mother.”

  Castrose’s scent gave away his surprise, but he reached out and shook Duncan’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Releasing him and settling his arm back around Eion, he added, “Wish it was under different circumstances.”

  After quick introductions were done, Teline asked, “What happened to the girl? Is she all right?”

  Eion couldn’t help but smile. Trust his mother to worry about everyone.

  Cliff nodded. “Brennan protected her. She walked away with only a little bit of road rash on her thigh.” After taking a deep, obviously calming whiff of Lisa’s scent, Cliff continued. “Brennan wasn’t so lucky. Both his legs were broken as well as his left arm. He also sustained a head injury.” Cliff’s voice grew hoarse. “Doctor Carmichael has him in surgery to fix his left leg. That limb took the worst of it, shattering in a couple of places.”

  A whimper escaped Niamh, and she was immediately sandwiched between Rainy and Travis. When Teline sobbed softly, Duncan held her close and whispered words of comfort.

  Over the next thirty minutes, the rest of their siblings arrived—Cullen and his mate, Matilda, plus their other brother Rory and sister Brielle with her mate, William, as well as Niamh’s mate, Carter. They huddled in chairs, hardly talking. Each time a doctor or nurse came into the room, they would stare expectantly.

  Finally, Alpha Declan arrived with Lark. He murmured his apologies for taking so long to get there, and Eion figured the delay had something to do with the men they’d captured that day. Lark gave Teline a hug, then hustled into the back with a promise of gathering information.

  After another ten minutes, Lark reappeared dressed in scrubs. He beckoned them and guided everyone into a smaller waiting room on the third floor.

  “Brennan has just come out of surgery,” Lark explained, cuddling close to Declan’s side. “They’re moving him to an observation room. In about fifteen minutes, I can start taking you back two at a time, but they don’t expect him to wake anytime soon.” Lark hesitated an instant, then told everyone, “Right now he’s stable, and Doctor Carmichael will be out shortly to explain the extent of his injuries.”

  Once again, they waited.

  Eion couldn’t begin to describe the comfort he received from Castrose’s presence. He pressed close to his human’s side, and his mate held him with his arm around his shoulders. Castrose rested his other hand on Eion’s thigh.

  Evidently, he took the news that Eion took comfort from his scent and touch very seriously.

  Over the next hour, two at a time, they filtered through Brennan’s room. When Eion took in the wires and tubes attached to his too-pale brother, his heart skipped a beat. Only Castrose’s arm around his waist kept him on his feet.

  “It’s not your fault,” Castrose reminded him.

  Eion nodded. His mate was right, but that didn’t make it any less painful.

  Brennan’s chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and he didn’t have a breathing tube down his throat, so his torso was evidently fine. He prayed to the gods that the bandage around Brennan’s head wouldn’t leave lasting damage. After all, due to being a wolf shifter, Brennan’s limbs would heal easily enough.

  Settling in the chair beside Brennan’s bed, Eion leaned forward. “Hey, Bren,” he murmured. He rested his hands on the sheet, taking his brother’s fingers in his own and squeezing lightly. “You got us all worried. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  Eion winced at how insensitive that sounded and felt a bit of relief that Brennan slept.

  Except, then his eyelids fluttered.

  Squeezing Brennan’s fingers again, Eion slid to the edge of his chair. “Hey, Bren. You with me?”

  “Yeah.” The word was spoken slowly, drawn-out, and in a soft hiss.

  His heart rate spiking, Eion murmured, “Do you remember what happened?”

  Once again, Brennan murmured, “Yeah.”

  Gods be praised. His head is okay.

  “We’re all worried about you, Bren,” Eion told him, rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand, avoiding the IV port. “But you should know, as soon as you get well again, I’m gonna kick your ass for scaring us like this.”

  Brennan let out a long sigh, and Eion thought he’d fallen back to sleep. But a second later, Brennan whispered, “Sorry.”

  Eion rubbed over the forearm of Brennan’s good arm. “Don’t worry. Just get better.” After a second of hesitation, he couldn’t help but add, “You can tell us why you did it later.”

  “Met my mate.” Brennan’s words were soft and slightly slurred, but Eion could still make them out.

  “What?” Wait. “The girl you were riding with is your mate?”

  “No.” Brennan’s eyelids fluttered again, then opened. He stared at him with a slightly vacant gaze. “Can’t have mate. Married. Kids.” He heaved another sigh and closed his eyes, a tear slipping from beneath it. “I’m alone.”

  Eion gaped as he watched Brennan’s breathing even out again.

  “Holy shit,” Eion whispered, his mind rolling around that information as he gripped Castrose’s hand where it rested on his shoulder. When the doctor came and told him their time was up, Eion released his brother’s hand and returned to the waiting room. “Hold up,” Eion said, lifting his hand when he saw that Niamh and her mate, Carter, were next. Seeing her questioning look, Eion beckoned for them all to huddle close. “Brennan woke up for just a second.”

  Exclamations filled the room, and Eion lifted his hands. Once everyone was quiet again, he lowered his voice and explained what his probably drugged up brother had told him. As Teline pressed her hand to her mouth, Eion realized Brennan’s sudden recklessness was beginning to make sense.

  “So, a married woman with kids,” Castrose mused, rubbing his hands up and down Eion’s upper arms. “I could take out the husband.”

  Cullen’s brows shot up. “Take him out?” His confusion was evident. “Where? Why?”

  Castrose chuckled darkly. “Not like out to dinner.”

  Peering over his shoulder, Eion spotted the way his mate glanced around quickly.

  Then Castrose leaned close and murmured, “I’m a sniper, an assassin. I would take care of the obstacle to Brennan’s mating.”

  There were a few gasps, a chuckle, a snort, and even a snicker. It was Duncan who answered, “Very thoughtful, but that’s not the way we handle those kinds of obstacles, son.”

  “Why would you even offer?” Rory asked with obvious curiosity. “You don’t even know him.”

  “True,” Castrose replied with a nod. “But Brennan is Eion’s brother. I’m Eion’s mate.” His big
shoulders lifted in a shrug. “That means Brennan is family. We take care of family above all else.”

  Eion turned in Castrose’s arms, wrapping his own around his lover’s waist. “Thank you for the offer, but we’ll find another way.”

  Gods, I hope there’s another way.

  Castrose smiled down at Eion, his blue eyes clear without a hint of guilt for what he’d just offered. He nodded. “The offer will always be on the table, handsome.”

  As Niamh and Carter headed to Brennan’s room, Castrose dipped his head and pressed a kiss to Eion’s lips. Eion opened easily, rubbing up and down his man’s back. As Castrose sank his tongue into his mouth, Eion reveled in the taste of his mate... a new extension of their family.

  The soft chuckles and low wolf whistles caused them to draw apart. Eion smiled as he gazed into Castrose’s eyes. He realized that anyone who threatened his family would end up in his sniper’s crosshairs.

  Eion couldn’t think of a damn thing wrong with that.

  You may also enjoy the following from eXtasy Books Inc:

  Vying for His Affection

  Charlie Richards

  Excerpt

  Rhyme had never scented blood so enticing. His stomach clenched, and his mouth watered. Need for the man before him caused his half-hard dick to thicken so fast Rhyme nearly swayed on his feet.

  Gods! Could this human be my beloved?

  “Oh, little bit,” Rhyme mumbled. “Let’s go for a moonlight ride.”

  “Really? What the hell makes you think I’d go anywhere alone with you?” the man snapped, resting his hands on his hips. “First you insult me, twice, and now you think I’m gonna give you the time of day?” He snorted as he turned away from him, then sauntered toward Murdoch. “Looks like you got a little pony ready for me, handsome.” He stopped before the animal and eyed it somewhat warily. “What’s its name?”

  Rhyme’s stomach clenched for a whole new reason. He hated being dismissed... but he hated the upset scent rolling off the sexy man even more. The human who could very well be his beloved had thought he’d been insulting him.

  Shit!

  When Murdoch glanced Rhyme’s way, a question flashing in his eyes, Rhyme mouthed, Name? His friend and fellow vampire offered an almost infinitesimal nod before turning his attention to the human.

  “This is Lily,” Murdoch told him, rubbing the mare’s nose. “And she’s not really a pony. She’s just small for a quarter horse.” Holding out his hand, he added, “What’s your name?”

  “I’m tired of people making fun of my size,” the man stated, ignoring the question and petting the horse’s neck. “You’re a pretty girl, Lily. Are you a nice girl?”

  “She is a nice girl,” Murdoch assured. “And we pulled her out to make you more comfortable, not to make fun of you.” He offered a reassuring smile as he added, “We do the same for all our guests.” Pointing at a huge behemoth of a man, Murdoch told him, “Just like our friend over there is paired up with that gelding on the end.”

  Rhyme watched the human’s eyes widen as he took in the size of the horse Murdoch had pointed out. Charlie was a seventeen-hand gelding who was part quarter horse and part friesian. They’d ended up with the animal when one of their bigger mares slipped through a broken fence and got into the pen with Gypsum’s stallion. The resulting foal ended up big. Fortunately, he’d been born with his mother’s sweet disposition.

  “You all put your foot in it,” a young woman stated from where she’d stopped beside Rhyme. She smirked at him as she held out her hand. “I’m Lilibeth. Which horse is mine?”

  “It wasn’t intentional,” Rhyme muttered, feeling his cheeks warm. Good thing his dark skin hid such things. After a quick glance over Lilibeth’s frame, he pointed toward the gelding next to Lily. “That’s Jake. He’s a nice boy.”

  “You did not just check me out,” Lilibeth said with narrowed eyes.

  Rhyme barked a laugh as he shook his head. “No, ma’am,” he immediately assured her. “Just verifying leg length and body type so I can put you in a comfortable saddle.”

  Lilibeth nodded, her stance relaxing. “Okay.” Then she headed toward the horse Rhyme had indicated.

  Over the next several minutes, Rhyme and Murdoch went through the process of assigning horses and getting everyone comfortable in the saddle. When Murdoch moved toward the little guy at the end to finish the process, Rhyme gripped his upper arm, staying the action. “This one’s mine,” he murmured upon seeing the fellow vampire’s surprise.

  “You sure?” his friend muttered back. “Doesn’t seem to want much to do with you.”

  “I’ll have to fix that, then, won’t I?” Rhyme didn’t extrapolate. There wasn’t time. “Start the usual spiel.”

  Murdoch nodded and headed toward the front of the group, not questioning him again. As a lower-ranking enforcer for their vampire coven, his buddy wouldn’t question him. Murdoch would follow Rhyme’s orders.

  “I’m sorry you thought I was making fun of you,” Rhyme stated after stopping next to the man on Lily. He rested his hand on his knee and squeezed lightly. “It wasn’t my intention.”

  The human peered down at him with narrowed eyes. “How else should I have taken being called the little stringbean?” There was a snarl in his tenor voice. “Get your hand off me.”

  Rhyme grimaced as he lifted his hands in placation. “Okay. You’re right. That was thoughtless of me.” Scowling at his memory of their first meeting, he grumbled, “And you called me oversized, so I don’t know if you have any room to talk. I’m only six-foot-two.”

  “With a giant frame,” the man pointed out, stabbing his finger in the air at his torso. “Wide shoulders, big pecs. I bet you even have a six-pack under there. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Just adjust my stirrups and let’s get on with this bullshit company activity.”

  Swallowing hard, Rhyme tried to figure out what he could say to mend the rift that his overheard comment had created. If he’s my beloved, shouldn’t the pull to bond be working in his favor? He’d seen it happen with other vampires.

  Doing as the man had ordered, Rhyme swiftly adjusted the length of the stirrups to a more comfortable position for him. Once he was done, he couldn’t resist gripping his calf and helping him get his foot in the stirrup. He squeezed lightly along the skinny calf, rubbing his thumb over the faint muscle.

  “Damn, you’re skinny.” The words were out of Rhyme’s mouth before he could stop them. All his focus was on touching the slender man on the horse before him and how it made his blood burn and thud through his veins. “So fucking—”

  “Shut the fuck up,” the human snarled, jerking his foot away from Rhyme’s hand. “I said get your hands off me.”

  In the process, the man slammed his heel into Lily’s side. The mare jerked and shifted sideways, instantly responding to the unexpected pressure. She didn’t have far to go, considering Jake stood next to her.

  Still, it was enough.

  The man lost his balance and tumbled toward Rhyme, squeaking in alarm. On instinct, he caught the human. As luck would have it, the man knocked Rhyme’s hat from his head with his flailing limbs, then slammed one palm into his face and the other to his shoulder.

  Rhyme couldn’t help but gasp, which caused his fang to scrape over the human’s palm. The man’s blood oozed from the scratch, filling his mouth. The sweet metallic taste caused Rhyme’s vampiric instincts to flare to life as his entire body surged with hunger.

  Mine!

  “Let go of me, goddammit!”

  Coming back to himself with a mental thud, Rhyme realized that he was holding his sweet beloved around his waist. He had his face tucked against the man’s neck, and he was inhaling his scent. Rhyme even rubbed his right hand up and down his near leg, since the other one was still draped over the saddle.

  Lily had calmed. Probably thanks to Murdoch, who stood at her head, rubbing her nose. His fellow vampire stared at him quizzically.


  Unable to explain right then, Rhyme settled his beloved, the human he hoped to soon make his forever bonded love, back into the saddle. It took every damn scrap of self-control he had to release him.

  As Rhyme nodded at Murdoch and joined him before the group, he prayed his aching erection wasn’t noticeable, since his flannel over-shirt was untucked. As he listened to his fellow vampire start the instruction spiel they gave every time they took a group on a trail ride, one thought reverberated through his mind.

  I met my beloved, and I don’t even know his name.

  About the Author

  Charlie started writing fantasy when she was eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic romance at age nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now focuses on writing gay erotic romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with heroes of all kinds. With the help and support of her husband, Charlie finally fulfilled one of her life-long goals... move to acreage with her horses. You can often find her curled up with her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains of her new Oregon home on horseback, 4-wheeler, or motorcycle.

  She can be reached at ch.richards2010@yahoo.com

  Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com