by Cree Storm
“So, you don’t know if I was to do this that they would be able to call on my gifts?” Gio asked, for clarification.
Again, Taco shook his head, “Lex is the only one who is not completely human who will enter into the bond, and since he hasn’t done so, I can’t answer that question.”
“Not completely human? What is Lex if he isn’t human?” Gio asked, with a slightly shaking voice.
Lex spoke up, saying, “I’m a shifter.”
“Shifter?” Gio asked, not really understanding what that meant.
“I share my soul with a snow leopard. When I want to, I can call on him and I transform from man to cat. I am completely cognizant when I do this, so you don’t have to be concerned.” Lex explained.
Gio’s eyes went wide, “Seriously? I would love to see that one day.”
“I’ll gladly show you. Now can you explain to us what you just did, because I have to tell you that was so fucking cool.” Lex said with a wide smile.
“How do you not know about shifters? I mean, you are considered a paranormal after all. Shouldn’t you know about shifters?” Taco asked.
“My father didn’t exactly sit down and talk to me. He used me. And to answer your question, Lex, as you all know I am a multiplex elemental. That means I can call on earth, water, air, and fire. I have had to learn many things on my own, because I was not allowed to train with my grandfather, as he had his own grandfather before him. One of the times my father had beaten me was because I couldn’t do what it was he was asking of me. I didn’t know how. I was bleeding and sore all over when he left me, insisting I was to stay out there until I got it right. I was working with my fire side and when I called on it, I felt myself heating until it was like a fire poker was within my body. I collapsed to the ground and when I opened my eyes all my clothes were gone, and any signs of injury my father had inflicted were gone, and the ground around me was scorched. I felt like I could sleep for the next month. I’ve learned since then, how to control the fire to use for an attack and when to use it to heal…” Gio wiggled his blanket around him, saying, “...but as you can see, I haven’t learned to save the clothes.”
Lex snickered, “I can relate. When I shift while still being dressed, my clothing shreds. It really sucks big hairy monkey balls, but it is what it is.”
“Eww, now I have the image of you sucking hairy monkey balls and getting the hairs between your teeth and… just fucking nasty, Lex.” Jude grumbled.
Some of the men snickered, but Taco was too busy looking at Gio in horror. Gio had been smiling at Jude’s reaction, until he saw Taco. “What is it? Why are you angry? If it’s the clothing thing, I’m sorry, I really have no idea how to control them from burning off.”
“I think he’s upset because of the reason you discovered you could heal yourself. I know I am.” Boomer stated, with a slight growl at the end of his sentence.
Gio patted Taco’s clawed paws, “Don’t be angry. It was what it was and there’s nothing you or I can do to change the past, and I wouldn’t if I could.”
Taco gasped, “How can you say that? Your father is beyond a monster. He is…”
Gio quickly jumped in saying, “If not for who my father is, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and if that’s the case I wouldn’t have met you or Cobra and… and I will never be sorry for that, Taco. Yes, the hows of it all suck those hairy monkey balls Lex spoke of, but that being said, I still wouldn’t change anything. You guys think that if you had gotten my father during your raid I would never have had two more threats placed against me after that, but had that not happened I would never have been sent to Drago. That is unacceptable to me. So, let my past go, Taco. Help me focus on the here and now, and maybe when we get Cobra back, we can have a future we can all look forward to.”
“Oh, my gods, that was so beautifully said.” Jude whispered. “He is just too damn sweet.”
“Maybe he’ll rub off on you.” Boomer said with a snicker.
Casper hissed, “No one is rubbing off on my sentience but me.”
“Not unless they want to be a light snack for me.” Smoky snapped, as he lifted from Jude’s arm in that cartoony way Gio was still getting used to.
Jude rolled his eyes, asking, “Gio, if you could heal yourself why didn’t you do it after you were shot?”
“Healing takes energy and mine was depleted due to blood loss, and then the painkillers you’ve been giving me. This last time whatever you gave me wasn’t for pain, so when I awoke I wasn’t feeling drained like before.” Gio explained.
Jude muttered, “I gave you a tranquilizer to knock you out. You were hysterical, Gio. I had no other choice. I didn’t want you popping your stiches out.”
“Hysterical? Why were you hysterical?” Taco anxiously asked.
When Gio didn’t answer, Jude snorted, “Because of you, you asshat. You took off and Gio lost it. I had to calm him down before he hurt himself.”
Taco’s eyes went wide, regret quickly filling them, “I’m so sorry, Gio. I just… I was so upset that you wanted to leave Cobra and me. We’re to be soul bonded, and the thought that you would want to leave just really hurt.”
“I don’t want to leave you, Taco. I never said I wanted to leave, I said that I would probably have to leave. I figured with who I was, my history, all the secrets and lies… I just figured Pit would tell me to leave, and I figured you and Cobra wouldn’t want anything to do with me. But I don’t want to go anywhere. Drago is my home. You and Cobra… I… I don’t want to go.” Gio softly whispered.
Taco petted Gio’s hair looking at him with kindness and affection. “Pit would never ask you to leave, Gio. You’re ours. He knows this and respects the sentience bond. Even if you didn’t have a good reason for the lies, which you do, but even without it, Pit knows you belong with Cobra and me and would never make us part ways. He went to talk to Clem to see what else he may have held back and to get some information about your family.”
Gio gave a sad smile to Taco, “Even if he doesn’t find anything out about Teagan, I have a family here in Drago and I’m happy here. I just hope my father doesn’t ruin it all. But enough about all of this. We need to go and get our mate.”
“You are not going. It’s too dangerous. If there is even a small chance your father is out there I don’t want you put into harm’s way. Just wait here and we will bring him home to you.” Taj insisted.
“He’s in that jail because of me and I’m going.” Gio insisted.
Rylee turned to Taj, “They are soul bonded, love. I would want to be there as well.”
“I just worry that Gio is wanting to leave the safety of Drago. Cobra is going to be pissed...” Taj stated, with a loud sigh at the end.
“And for the record, Cobra is in that cell because of him, not you, Gio. Our sentience has a temper, especially when it comes to someone he loves or cares for. He heard what he found as a threat to you, and his instinct was to beat the shit of the person causing the threat.” Taco stated firmly.
“But if it wasn’t for the fact that the guy mentioned me…”
“He would have found another reason to beat the shit out of Loon. Let’s face it, the man’s an asshole. A big, open, hairy asshole. The kind you know that needs to we whacked, but it’s just too nasty to look at, let alone go near it.” Lex said, then laughed, “Get it, whacked instead of waxed.”
Jude gagged, “For fucks sake Lex. What the hell is it with you today. First hairy monkey balls, and now you’re talking about waxing a guy’s asshole and Loons of all things. Just nasty. I’m telling Stone and Solo you’re being nasty.”
Lex wiggled his brows, “Oh, trust me. My mates like it when I’m nasty.”
“Then I’ll tell Talpa. I bet he’d take a big bite out of your hairy ass if I tell him you’ve been talking about Loon’s butt.” Jude threatened.
Lex gave Jude the stink eye, “You wouldn’t”
Jude raised a brow, but before he could say anything, Gio said, “We really need to get a mov
e on. I don’t want Cobra to be in that place any longer than he has to be.”
“You do know that Cobra is going to be seriously pissed you left Drago, right?” Taj warned.
Gio went to the closet and started dressing himself, “Then, he can be pissed at me. I’ll have Taco with me, you and Spirit, and let’s not forget, I’m not a weak man. I just don’t like using my gifts, but if it comes down to it, I will. So, let’s go get Cobra and Sparky and bring them home. I have a bonding to get to, and I’m not getting any younger.”
CHAPTER 10
“The warden threw a party at the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail…”
“For the love of all the gods and saints above, stop singing that song.” Cobra said, with a laugh.
Sparky’s hips whipped to the left and then the right as he continued singing and dancing in their cell, “Let’s rock, everybody let’s rock, everybody in the whole cell block, was dancing to the jailhouse rock.”
Sparky grabbed the cell bars swinging around and singing, and there was no way Cobra couldn’t smile and laugh at the man’s antics. No one looking at Sparky right now would know how deadly a man he could be, not when he was acting a fool and making fun at their situation. “Come on Cobra, have some fun.”
Shaking his head, Cobra watched as Sparky did all the famous Elvis moves and sang.
“I don’t know what’s worse, you dancing and singing at a time like this, or the fact that stupid song is even playing on the guards’ radio right now.”
Sparky rolled his eyes, saying, “You’re the only person I know who can’t stand Elvis. It’s just a sin you will pay for if we ever die.”
“I’ll take it up with Heck if that day ever comes. Now sit down and knock it off.” Cobra said, laughing as Sparky jerked his arm and hip on one side then the other just as Elvis always did when singing this song, and then kept right on singing and dancing.
Bringing his head back against the wall and closing his eyes, Cobra thought about his sentience and hoped Taco was watching Gio closely. Just thinking about him being in a cell right now while Gio was out there in possible danger from his father ate at Cobra. Gods, he was so stupid. How could he let that little fuck, Loon, goad him into a fight, and that’s clearly what the little fucker had done. Pit and Taj were going to kill him. Cobra could see all the shit assignments that would soon come his and Sparky’s way, but Cobra would do them because he didn’t regret knocking the shit out of that fucker, and if he saw him any time soon, he’d probably fucking kill the bastard. No one threatened his sentience and lived… no one.
Sparky continued to sing and swing his hips left and right. The man was fucking insane. They were so screwed right now, they would be lucky if all Taj did to them was give them night duty for the next year, and he was acting like he was in the club having a grand ole time. Sighing, Cobra closed his eyes once more, thinking about his mate.
“What the hell are you doing Sparky? If being in jail makes you this happy, maybe I should just leave your ass in here.” Taj rumbled, as he walked into the room with Gio right behind him.
Cobra opened his eyes, gasping in fear when he saw that man of his walking next to him, “What the hell, Taj? Gio shouldn’t be here. Besides the fact that he’s still healing, it isn’t fucking safe!”
Gio pursed his lips, raising his brow, “You think I find out my sentience is sitting in a jail cell for fighting and I’m just going to sit at home waiting like the little lady for my man to come back to me? If that’s the type of sentience you think the gods gave you, I suggest you take a second look, Cobra, because I am no woman, and when we get out of here, maybe I’ll prove it to you. Until then, stop talking out your ass. I’m healed and well, and I’m here.”
“Taco was supposed to keep you with him at all times. I swear I’m gonna…”
Taco lifted up from Gio’s neck, “I tried and I told him you’d be pissed at me and him, but he didn’t care. I would have liked to have seen you try and get him to stay home while Taj handled this. And for your information, I’ve been with Gio since you contacted me, like I said I would, and I even flew above Taj’s vehicle to watch for anyone following and make sure there wasn’t any trouble, but that’s the best I could do, Cobra. You have no idea how stubborn our sentience can be. I have a feeling he is going to keep us on our toes.”
Cobra didn’t want to hear excuses. If Gio’s father was in town, Gio needed to be safe in Drago where the man couldn’t get to him, and the man better learn that when it came to his mate’s safety, Cobra wasn’t fucking around. “I’m not kidding, Gio, it isn’t safe for you to be here. The Tiger Sharks are close, and I think your father might be working with them to get to you. From what Loon said to me outside that Bar and Grill, I don’t think your father cares if you’re taken dead or alive.” Cobra stated, then looked at Taj, “You need to get us out of here, Taj. I need to get Gio back to Drago, and we need to figure out what we’re going to do about the Tiger Sharks. They are a threat to my sentience, and I’m not going to just turn a blind eye when he is threatened.”
“No one is asking you to. However, I am telling you that until we have more information, you are to stand down.” Taj ordered. Cobra went to argue, but Taj held up his hand, saying, “I know you want to go kick some ass, Cobra, but we can’t act irrationally. We need to know if Gio’s dad is actually here in the Poconos, or if he is giving orders over the phone. Let us all help you, Cobra. We work this like any other case, and that means we gather as much intel as we can and go from there.”
“And what the fuck am I supposed to do until we finish gathering this intel. Loon threatened Gio’s life, Taj. They are not going to sit back and wait like you’re suggesting I do.” Cobra argued.
Gio went closer to the bars, gently taking Cobra’s hand, “I know you’re not a patient man. I mean, I don’t get the sense as to that being your style.”
Sparky snorted and Taj grunted. Gio smirked, “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Look, I’ve been hiding from my father for a very long time. I promise, if you do as Taj asks, I’ll be a good sentience and not leave Drago until we get this situation under control. Until then, we can take the time we have to get to know each other and just be together.”
“Oh, he’s good, Cobra. Hell, even I got a boner from his suggestive tone.” Sparky muttered.
Cobra turned to Sparky, hissing, “Shut the fuck up,” then turned back to Gio. “I’ll try it your way, but if the Tiger Sharks give any indication that they are going to even try and look in your direction, I’m going to kill them where they stand. I will not allow anyone to harm you again, Gio. Watching you get shot… seeing you fall to the ground… I-I thought I had lost you before I ever really found you. I never want to go through something like that again.”
“And I don’t want it to happen, Cobra, but we have to go about this in the smart way. You’re too close to the situation, and that means you have to take a step back and trust in your family. Just as many of them have had to do when they were finding their sentiences. Jude and Rylee told me about the matings with the D.O.A. None of them were easy, and you and the others pulled together to help each and every one of them. So, now it’s your turn.” Gio softly urged.
Sighing, Cobra whispered back, “Fine. I don’t like it, but I understand what you’re saying. I’ll give Taj and the others a chance to figure things out.”
“Thank you.” Gio whispered.
“Oh man, this is a lifetime moment.” Sparky said, acting as if he was wiping a tear.
“I swear, if you don’t shut up I’m gonna dye your underwear pink and burn all your clothes.” Cobra snapped.
“I like pink.” Sparky said, with a smile.
“Do you like a singed ass?” Taco asked, raising a brow.
Sparky shut up.
Cobra brought his arm through the bars, and wrapped his hand around the back of Gio’s neck, pulling him forward for a rough passion-filled kiss. Teeth clapped and tongues dueled.
If not for t
he sound of throats clearing, and Sparky hissing, “Shit that’s hot.” Cobra had no idea how far he would have tried to go with his sentience, bars between them or not.
“I really need to find my sentience soon.” Sparky murmured, as he readjusted his stiff cock that Cobra could see pushing on the zipper of his friend’s pants.
Giving Sparky a smirk, Cobra replied, “It does have its up-side.”
“Oh, that was really bad. Funny, but bad.” Gio said, with a snicker.
Cobra looked at Taj, “How long until we’re out of here?”
“Rylee said he got the charges dismissed, and they’re coming to let you out now.” Taj replied.
“Good, because if I have to keep hearing Sparky sing Elvis songs, I’m going to be here a lot longer for murder.” Cobra muttered.
Sparky snorted, “Hardy har har. I am a fabulous singer.”
“Uh huh. Maybe you should try out for The Voice. I’m sure Azul will love it.” Taco laughed.
Gio held onto Cobra’s hand, as he asked, “Is Stone going to be home when we get back?”
Taj sighed, “I really don’t know. Why?”
“I wanted to talk to him. I need to know who he took Cameron to when he was arrested.” Gio stated in a rush.
“Why? What does Cameron have to do with anything?” Cobra asked.
Gio explained, “It’s the only explanation as to how my father found me, Cobra. Taco told me that because Cameron is human he’s going through the human system, and Stone is the one that took him in. I was thinking, what if he somehow knew who I was. I mean, he and I talked about a lot of things, and family was one of them. I never told him who my father was, but maybe with some of the things I said, he figured it out? If he told someone at the FBI headquarters…”
