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Stryker

If this fucker was going to mess with Stryker’s fun then Stryker would just change tactics. He didn’t need his computers. Okay, he did. Stryker really hated to be cut off from his entire lifeline. Computers were his thing and Gavin knew that.

Well, surprise-surprise, Stryker wasn’t going to let Gavin get away with anything. Staying on the opposite side of the street, Stryker watched Gavin walk into Dean’s bakery.

If Stryker was in front of his computer, he would not only be able to see inside the bakery but also hear what Gavin said to make Noah laugh. Noah was his friend first. The little familiar was hilarious and kind of a troublemaker himself. He’d also been more than happy to answer all Stryker’s questions about the paranormal world.

Pulling out his phone, Stryker texted Gavin.

One, two, I’m coming for you!

There! Let’s see what Gavin thought about that text message. Stryker had warned him that he would pay.

Inside the bakery, Gavin pulled out his cell phone and glanced at the screen. He didn’t even respond. Just said something to Noah before shoving the device into his back pocket.

Stryker growled.

That was not how to play the game. It was no fun if Gavin wasn’t a little worried about what Stryker was going to do.

He sent the next text.

Three, four, better lock the door!

Stryker smirked. He was a master thief. Sure, this expertise was more in computers, but computers also ran security systems. He’d get to Gavin then make the other man do what Stryker wanted. No more teasing!

Dean came from the back kitchen and exchanged a fist bump with Gavin. Of course Logan wasn’t far from his mate’s side.

Stryker might not understand the connection between mates, but it was obvious that there was something that drew them together. Even after Gavin was done with him, forcing Stryker to move on, Stryker was pleased with all the new information that he’d picked up from his observing of the paranormal family. No matter where Stryker ended up, he’d know what to look for when it came to spotting paranormal creatures. Not that Stryker could do that quite yet, but he was learning the quirks of a paranormal.

Maybe he’d find a nice beach house to hole up in. At least until summer was closer and those homes were utilized more.

He’d learned at an early age how to tell when a house was empty. What signs to look for, how and where to listen to conversations about upcoming vacations, and so on. Stryker might not have ever had a place of his own, but he’d only slept on the street a handful of times. Having questionable morals helped.

Living in the gray areas of life could be interesting. At least when he wasn’t being ignored. Stryker really hated being ignored. Gavin had figured Stryker out pretty well but there was no way that Gavin was aware just how close Stryker was.

Gavin had taken a mug of something, probably coffee, and sat his fine ass at a table in front of the large window. Stryker had the perfect view of Gavin but that also put him at risk of being spotted. Stryker wore his custom black utility pants, an old, faded band T-shirt, with a black cap pulled down low on his forehead. He couldn’t wear his favorite Call of Duty mask out in the open. That he had to save for video calls. The street wasn’t busy but they were in the heart of town and people both walked and drove past every few minutes.

And Gavin was still ignoring Stryker’s messages as he sat there casually sipping from his mug.

Ugh! This guy was impossible!

Stryker was reaching for his phone when one of his alerts went off. He slipped farther into the alley before he pulled his cell out and clicked his own link. Ha! Maybe Gavin didn’t want to play with him but it seemed that the private dick the RV-owning government agent had hired was finally trying to do his damn job.

“Security cameras?” Stryker muttered. He’d wiped the storage facilities cameras and had already checked that the surrounding six blocks didn’t have anything on him either. Luckily, most businesses didn’t keep footage more than a month at a time so they didn’t have to pay for extra space on their network. The private dick was just wasting time. This wasn’t even difficult! Stryker had really been hoping for a worthy opponent.

He reset his alerts and added a few misdirection just in case the private dick had any common sense before stuffing his cell back in his front pocket. Stryker peeked back around the corner of the building he was hiding behind, but Gavin was gone.

“Son of a bitch!” he muttered. This wasn’t fair. Fucker had to head into his shop. Gavin was always working. Not that Stryker minded watching Gavin getting sweaty and dirty working on bikes, but Gavin had reset that network too. The man didn’t miss a thing when he was trying to prove a point.

Stryker knew what Gavin wanted. His face. It wasn’t like Stryker was embarrassed even. He was an attractive guy if he said so himself. And he did! His black hair was a little longer than how Stryker preferred it but Stryker hadn’t had time to find a place to get it cut. His light gray eyes had gotten him some attention in the past. He didn’t currently have any blemishes or pimples. He could show Gavin his face. Stryker just wanted to make Gavin work for it. He could have at least given Stryker a few more shows before making the demand. Plus, as soon as Gavin got what he wanted, he would grow bored with Stryker, just like everyone else.

As long as Stryker remained a mystery, Gavin would play with him.

That was all Stryker wanted. To have fun. And Gavin had been fun until he’d pulled this little stunt.

It wouldn’t be long until Stryker was back behind his computer and was the one running the game.

Pulling his hat lower on his face, Stryker headed down the street to get closer to Gavin’s garage. A little in-person stalking before Stryker retreated back to his safe space where he could watch from a distance. He needed to come up with a plan to fuck with Gavin.

* * * * *

Gavin

It would set a bad precedent if Gavin grinned or laughed at the messages coming in from Stryker. Leaving his network offline at the garage was really messing with the boy.

Fresh out of the shower Gavin wrapped a towel around his waist before walking into his bedroom. Gavin glanced at the closed laptop on his desk. Stryker had no idea that Gavin had done his own stalking. He knew exactly where the boy was hiding. The expensive RV didn’t fit in with the other campers inside the state park. Gavin had spotted the vehicle a few days ago and it was still there. A little favor from Mason gave Gavin a copy of the rental agreement for the space. Thirty-day permit. Was that how long Stryker was planning on staying around or would he renew it? Gavin had questions. Like where Stryker had gotten the RV in the first place.

Gavin hadn’t been able to get close enough to the RV to get a vin number but the license plates were fake.

That was totally Stryker’s M.O.

If the boy had stolen the RV, Gavin would make him return in. If he’d bought it, with funds that hadn’t been his, Gavin would again make the boy give it back.

Dressing in black pants, shirt, and his beat-up black boots, Gavin chose his clothing with one purpose in mind. It was time for the hunter to become the hunted. Gavin had a few tricks up his sleeve. The boy had no idea what or who was coming for him.

It was past midnight. From Gavin’s lurking, he hadn’t figured out when Stryker slept. The lights were always on in the RV. The boy had to sleep, right? Except Stryker always seemed to be online to message him.

Leaving his phone behind, Gavin slipped out of his cabin. He couldn’t have Stryker tracking him. Gavin was almost certain that Stryker would have either found a workaround to the network being down or something that Gavin hadn’t even thought of. Gavin wasn’t an expert in technology. Truthfully, a lot of the advancements irritated him.

Gavin was old-school. He enjoyed getting his hands dirty and putting in a hard day of work. He left things like accounting, scheduling, and advertising to the other members of his family. Gavin just wanted to work on bikes.

When he thought about it, he and Stryker couldn’t be more different from each other. Gavin was all about protecting his family and living his life in peace. He wasn’t a fan of changes or unexpected trouble. Stryker was pure chaos and actually enjoyed messing with people. Stealing money from the witch coven could have been the end of the boy. Stryker was lucky that the witches hadn’t gotten around to sacrificing him. The boy just shrugged and took the newly gained paranormal knowledge in stride. Who did that? A crazy person! But why did Gavin want some of Stryker’s madness in his life? Was he really that bored?

Okay, being surrounded by mated couples and throuples was enough to drive anyone a little nuts. Gavin had been at loose ends until Stryker had decided that he liked calling him Papi and texting him dirty messages. Levi had been right when they’d had lunch. Gavin was intrigued by Stryker. The boy hadn’t hidden the fact that he thought Gavin was hot. Gavin enjoyed not having to guess what Stryker was thinking. The boy was very happy to share every thought that popped up in the brilliant head of his. And Gavin had no doubts that Stryker was brilliant. Too smart for his own good.

He took a short cut from the trees that lined their property heading toward the state park. Gavin hadn’t shared his plan with the rest of the family. The boys would probably appreciate Gavin’s imagination, but Gavin wasn’t ready for the teasing quite yet.

Making the trek through the forest always reminded Gavin of the horrible events that had cost him his entire birth family. The secret passage that his father had built in that old rundown cabin had led Gavin away from danger, but he’d been so very alone. Gavin had sat in the middle of those woods for three days. Scared, crying, and hungry, but Gavin had stayed for three very long days. Until he realized that no one was coming for him. His family would have shown up by the end of the third day if they were still alive. Gavin had shaken as he curled up in a ball and wept. In the morning he’d started to walk. And walk. And walk.

He'd kept to himself. His father’s teachings of how to shift and hunt for food had kept him alive. His brother had shown him how to use every survival skill they’d picked up. His mom had shown him how to sew and repair things.

For years Gavin stayed in abandoned homes, old shifter towns that had nearly been burned to the ground, or in caves hidden away from humans. Gavin had thrived being on his own. A decade passed before he noticed. He picked up supplies where he could. He constantly talked to his brother and parents, hoping that they were watching him from heaven. That they would be proud of him and how he survived.

He'd been a loner longer than Gavin had been part of his birth family.

Even when he’d first met Axel and Nate, Gavin hadn’t expected much from them. They’d shared a meal or two, exchanged information and discussed rumors but Gavin was intent on going on his way. To return to wandering the world with only what he could carry.

The world around him had changed time and time again.

People forgot about paranormal creatures but that didn’t mean Gavin was safe. He’d witnessed wars, slavery, horrible things that happened to and were caused by humans. Humans that Gavin had sworn to forever stay away from.

Fate had other plans for Gavin.

He’d run into Axel over the next decade until Gavin began to trust the dragon shifter. Sometimes Nate would be with him and sometimes someone else. The paranormal beings seemed to seek Axel out. Gavin hadn’t understood it then. Not when Axel and he were younger. Axel might have always been an alpha, born that way, but it was harder to pick up when they’d been young men.

Somehow without Gavin realizing it, he’d started to look forward to running into Axel. Gavin hadn’t been looking for family. He hadn’t expected anything. Still that was what he’d gotten, wasn’t it? Family. A chance to make a real life. A reason to stop running away.

Gavin stopped to rest his hand on one of the large oaks. Adam had given the roots a burst of nourishment, helping the struggling tree. They all needed a little assistance occasionally. He’d needed it. Now Gavin was in the position to help others. To make sure that Stryker stayed out of trouble. At least for as long as Stryker was around Gavin and his family.

Giving the tree trunk one last pat, Gavin restarted his journey away from his cabin to the center of the state park.

They hadn’t had any trouble in the last few months, but Axel still preferred for them to stay within the family land where they were more protected. With each newly added member of their family, the protection and abilities had grown. Axel, Gavin, and the others’ biggest worry was ensuring the boys would always be safe. Stryker might not be family but being outside the property lines he was still more at risk, and Gavin didn’t like that.

Not that Gavin would tell Stryker that.

Stryker had already said many times that he could take care of himself when Gavin mentioned any concerns. Stryker might be a genius but he wasn’t just dealing with pissed-off humans any longer. The paranormal community had more of a reach than local humans did. Stryker was now part of their world. He should understand that after his interaction with the witches that had imprisoned the boy.

Another ten minutes of walking off-path and Gavin reached the small round cleared area that led to the RV parking slots. Visitors to the state park could choose to bring a vehicle with access to electricity and water sites or camp in a tent. The camping areas were monitored by rangers and cameras. It didn’t surprise Gavin that Stryker had picked the RV slot farthest from the entrance where he would have the most privacy. Usually that was the last spot taken since it was an inconvenience for the visitors that wanted to take advantage of what the state park and surrounding areas offered.

Staying hidden by the trees, Gavin crouched to settle in and wait.

If Stryker kept to his nightly routine, he would be leaving to ride his bike to the only twenty-four-hour store in town. The boy would pick up a bag of chips, candy bar, and energy drink. The same thing every single night. Sometimes the candy bar might be a different brand but not the chips or energy drink.

Gavin would have twenty minutes to get inside the RV and leave his clue.

Each night when the boy left, he already wore his helmet before jumping onto his motorcycle. Gavin still hadn’t gotten a good look at him. By this point Gavin had to admit that Levi was right. It didn’t matter what Stryker looked like, Gavin was too intrigued to walk away. Although Noah was always quick to share how attractive Stryker was in what Noah claimed was a typical ‘bad boy’ look. Gavin didn’t have the nerve to ask since the boys always sighed heavily as they nodded. Gavin would just find out for himself.

Just as Gavin predicted, the door to the large gray and black RV opened and a dark figure stepped out. Stryker didn’t stop and look around or anything. That disappointed Gavin. The boy should always search his surroundings. Most likely Stryker relied on his cameras for his safety. He should also know that camera feeds could be tampered with. Not that Gavin had that ability but he needed to have a very serious conversation with Stryker later.

With his enhanced sight, Gavin had the perfect view when Stryker bent over to check something on his bike. The black utility pants hugged Stryker’s ass, making Gavin’s mouth water. He nearly stepped from his hiding place. The plan. Gavin needed to stick with the plan. He wanted to make sure that Stryker enjoyed the game as much as he did. Gavin was changing the rules.

Stryker swung his leg over the bike before turning on the engine. The bike rumbled in the dark of the night before the boy revved the engine and took off. Gavin waited.

The sound of the bike echoed around the trees.

Anticipation crawled up his spine.

Either Gavin was going to get his hands on Stryker before the morning light or this game between them would come to an end. He was betting that Stryker would fall right into his trap.

He set the timer on his watch.

Gavin was certain that Stryker would have cameras and security on his RV and hoped he wasn’t disappointed. The next part of the game wouldn’t be any fun if Gavin didn’t watch.

By the time the engine was too far to hear, Gavin was finding it hard to stay in place. His timer alerted him and Gavin moved. Stryker would just be getting to the small store.

Carefully stepping out of the trees, Gavin headed right to the RV door.

Unlocked.

What the fuck was wrong with the boy?

Who didn’t lock their door in a public RV park?

Shaking his head, Gavin opened the door and climbed the three steps. He walked in and looked around.

Curtains blocked Gavin’s view of the driver and passenger seat. Not that Gavin cared about that. The kitchen table had been turned into a makeshift desk.

He strolled closer to peer at the monitor showing his own face.

Yes, his boy would get an up-close look at Gavin in his place. Gavin waved.

If Stryker had a live feed connected, he would get the notification and probably haul ass back. That meant that Gavin had less than ten or fifteen minutes. He was certain that it wouldn’t take Stryker the full twenty minutes to return.

The RV was nice. Done in shades of gray, black, and blues. High-quality appliances that appeared brand new. The kitchen was spotless other than the empty cans of energy drinks in the sink.

Being nosy, Gavin began to open cabinets and drawers. Nothing unexpected. Everything was in a proper place. The boy probably didn’t even use the dishes. In the fridge he found a case of coke and several more energy drinks. The freezer was filled with bags of frozen chicken nuggets. Fuck! This boy needed a keeper in the worst way.

He checked the rest of the RV quickly. The bathroom showed that it was used. The bed was unmade. Clothes were scattered from the desk to the bedroom.

Gavin snorted. Stryker needed to pick up the place but it wasn’t what Gavin would consider dirty. Just messy. He returned to the desk and winked at the monitor before he picked up a sharpie and an empty Cheeto puff bag. He tore the bag open and wrote his message.

I’m waiting for you. You have ten minutes to find me.

He dropped the marker before setting the bag in the middle of the keyboard. He turned toward the door before getting an idea. Gavin yanked the shirt over his head and dropped the piece of clothing on Stryker’s chair. A little gift for his stalker.

Gavin hightailed it from the RV before Stryker returned.