Page 20

Gabe

S tepping out onto the back porch, I follow Mika into the cool night air. The porch light stays off—we need the cover of darkness if Mika’s going to scout around in his wolf form. The shadows stretch long and deep as we move toward the barn, where Mika stops to strip out of his sweats and hands them to me.

“Damn, caveman,” I tease, unable to keep my eyes from roaming over his naked body. My gaze drops lower, and I can’t resist adding, “You better change fast before I decide to take advantage of you.”

The way his thick cock begins to harden as I reach out to touch it doesn’t help my self-control. My fingers are nearly brushing him when Mika groans, grabbing my hand and holding it tight.

“If you touch me,” he growls, his voice rough with need, “I am going to fuck you, and we need to focus. I need to find out if I can scent anything useful.”

I c an tell from his tone that saying no pains him almost as much as it does me. That knowledge soothes the sting a little, even if it doesn’t dampen my want. With a sigh, I pull my hand back and take a step away.

I watch as Mika drops to all fours, his body shifting with an unsettling series of pops and cracks. Even though he’s told me a hundred times that it doesn’t hurt, I wince every time I see it. Bones lengthen, muscles bunch and twist, and then—there he is, my wolf. Sleek, powerful, and completely captivating.

Mika lopes over to me and nudges my hand with his nose before giving it a quick lick. “Ready?” The thought echoes in my head through our link.

“Yeah,” I reply, glancing down at the clothes in my hand. “I’ll stash these behind the barn so you can shift back with some privacy when you’re done.”

Mika dips his head in agreement, and I jog around the barn to find a decent spot to put them. A thick patch of brush I’ve been meaning to clear out serves well enough for now. I tuck his clothes in carefully, making a mental note to come back and retrieve them later.

When I return, Mika is waiting, his ears twitching and his nose already working. “Okay,” I say. “Let’s get this done.”

Trailing behind him, I marvel at the grace in his movements. Even in wolf form, Mika is gorgeous—sleek muscles rippling under his black coat, every step exuding confidence and restrained power. My heart stutters as I catch myself thinking of him as sexy, even now. Deviant indeed, I think, shaking my head at myself.

I nearly run into him when he stops suddenly. His ears prick forward, and his head snaps up. He glances back at me briefly before trotting toward the barn entrance. I hesitate, worried about how the dogs might react, but Mika’s presence seems to calm them. Instead of barkin g or growling, they whimper softly, their confusion at the mix of Mika’s scent and his wolf form evident. Several roll onto their backs in a show of submission, but none seem frightened.

Mika moves with purpose, heading to the exact spot where Todd was found. He spends long minutes there, nose to the ground, his body still except for the occasional twitch of his tail or shift of his weight. Watching him work is mesmerizing, the way he sifts through scents, tracing trails here and there. The intensity radiating from him keeps me riveted.

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. “Anything, Mika?” I ask, my voice low but insistent. Patience might be a virtue, but it’s not one of mine.

“I’m not sure yet,” Mika replies, his mental voice tinged with frustration. “There are several scents, and I need to figure out whose is whose.”

I roll my eyes, swallowing a groan of irritation. That’s not exactly helpful. “Uh, Mika? What exactly do you mean by that?”

He lifts his head, glancing back at me, his wolfish expression somehow managing to look both amused and exasperated. “It means I can pick up several distinct scents, but I have to figure out which ones belong to people we know—like Todd, Adam, or the first responders—and which ones don’t.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling slightly less grumpy now that he’s clarified. “Well, let’s hope one of them stands out sooner rather than later.”

“Trust me, babe,” Mika reassures me, turning back to his task. “If there’s anything out of place, I’ll find it.”

Mika freezes, and I immediately stop moving, every sense on high alert. “Someone’s coming, Gabriel,” Mika thinks to me, his voice sharp and focused.

I strain my ears, and after a moment, I catch it—a faint hum of an engine. It’s distant but steadily growing louder. “I hear it,” I whisper. “I’ll slip around front. You head to the shrubs at the side of the house, okay?”

The engine slows, and the sound shifts, like the vehicle is coming to a stop. My pulse kicks up a notch.

Edging my way around the house, I dart toward the copse of trees in the front yard. From there, I peer toward the road, squinting in the darkness. Two things hit me right away. First, there are no headlights, and second, the vehicle has stopped, and the engine has been turned off. Someone is sneaking in, driving with their lights off and pulling off the road before reaching the driveway. That can’t mean anything good.

I glance around for Mika but don’t see him. “Mika?” I think as clearly as I can, hoping he picks it up.

“To your left, in the brush by the road,” Mika responds instantly. “The scent matches one I picked up in the barn. I’ve separated the smells—EMS workers, the sheriff, his deputy—but this one’s familiar in a way I can’t place. That’s who I’m scenting now. Stay hidden, please, Gabriel.”

Yeah, sure. Like I’m going to let Mika handle this guy on his own because he’s a wolf. That hadn’t stopped him from getting hurt before. “For now, caveman, but there’s no way I’m hanging back and risking you getting hurt. Together, remember?”

I think I hear a low growl from the bushes. Mika might be annoyed, but too bad—I’m not budging on this. My breath catches as I hear rustling in the brush near the side of the house. Someone’s moving toward us.

It’s fully dark now, and with the outdoor lights off to help Mika stay hidden, it’s almost impossible to make out any details. A shadowy figure emerges from the brush, their silhouette faint against the night sky. M y blood runs cold when the moonlight glints off something metallic in their hand.

“Pipe,” Mika confirms, his tone grim. “I’m guessing this guy isn’t very creative when it comes to murder weapons. I’m right behind him.”

Just as Mika finishes, the man seems to sense something, spinning around with surprising speed. He lets out a high-pitched yelp when he spots Mika, a massive wolf stalking him, growling low and flattening his ears.

“Spawn of Satan! Black demon!” the man screeches, raising the pipe to strike. Mika leaps back, avoiding the blow with fluid grace.

“No!” I shout, stepping out from behind the tree. I can’t just stand there and let this asshole hurt my mate. As I move, the man swings the pipe in a wide arc, spinning completely around. I duck fast, the air from the swing brushing past the back of my head and I stumble.

Before I can recover, Mika lunges, sinking his teeth into the man’s calf. The guy howls in pain, trying to shake Mika off. His grip on the pipe wavers, but he raises it again, this time aiming for Mika.

I don’t think—I just act. Throwing myself forward, I tackle the man to the ground, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him down hard, slamming him into the ground with enough force to rattle my teeth. The pipe clatters away, and I’m on him, straddling his chest and pinning his arms with my knees.

The man thrashes wildly beneath me, yelling incoherently about demons and hellfire. His fists pound against my arms, but I hold on, digging my knees into his back to keep him pinned. Mika circles us, growling low, his hackles raised.

“Fuck! You sick, twisted bastard!” My voice comes out rough, anger fueling me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mika shift back to human form. His body moves like a blur as he lunges forward, grabbing the pipe and tossin g it far out of reach. It’s only then that I hear him, barefoot and naked, rushing to my side.

“Mika, don’t let him up!” I think frantically, struggling to keep the man down. He bucks hard, nearly throwing me off, but Mika is already there, grabbing hold, a warning growl rumbling deep in his chest.

The guy freezes for a moment, his wild eyes darting between me and Mika. His body shakes beneath me, and I press him harder into the dirt, grabbing his wrists and forcing his arms behind his back.

“I’ve got him,” I tell Mika through the link, my voice shaking with adrenaline. “We need to tie him up before he tries anything else.”

“Rope by the barn,” Mika responds. “Hurry. I’ll keep him down.”

Nodding, I grip harder for a second longer, then dash toward the barn, my heart hammering as Mika keeps the guy subdued.

“Gabe,” Mika shouts, his voice steady but sharp with urgency.

I run back with the rope, and glance down at the man beneath Mika, taking in his face for the first time. It hits me like a punch to the gut. It’s Todd’s father. I have so many bad memories of this man from growing up with Todd, and even though I haven’t seen him in years I recognize him immediately. He has a crazed glint in his eyes as he thrashes, trying to throw Mika off. Motherfucker! I rear back and slam my fist into his jaw with everything I’ve got. Pain explodes through my knuckles, and I bite back a hiss.

The guy goes limp, his head lolling to the side, and I shake out my stinging hand.

“Impressive, babe,” Mika says, his lips quirking into a grin. “Might’ve broken his jaw. Wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

“Hurt like a bitch,” I mutter, flexing my fingers. “Probably broke my damn hand instead.”

Mik a kneels next to me, taking my hand and inspecting it carefully. His touch is warm, steady, and just what I need. The knuckles are scraped raw, and I’m pretty sure there’s swelling starting.

“Let me grab my sweats and call this in. Someone’s got to come arrest this psycho. After that, we’re getting you to the hospital, and we’ll fill Adam in while we’re there.”

Mika leans in and kisses me, his lips soft against mine, a grounding moment in the chaos. Then he’s gone, jogging toward the barn to grab his clothes.

While he’s gone, I perch on the man’s back, keeping him pinned. My heart’s still racing, adrenaline pounding through my veins. I glance down at him, anger bubbling again. What kind of sick bastard does this?

I don’t have much time to dwell on it. Sirens wail in the distance, growing louder with each second. The sharp glare of flashing lights cuts through the dark as a patrol car barrels down the road, skidding to a stop in the driveway.

Great. Kaufman. Just who I didn’t want to see.

The sheriff climbs out, one hand resting on the butt of his gun. He’s got that puffed-up stance, all chest and bravado, as he stomps toward us.

“What the fuck is going on here?” he barks, his eyes darting between me and the unconscious man beneath me.

“What the fuck does it look like?” I snap back, my voice sharper than I intended. I don’t care. My patience for Kaufman is about as thin as a strand of hair right now.

Mika steps up before Kaufman can fire off some snide remark, his tone calm but edged with steel. “We caught the guy who beat Todd. He came back tonight with the same weapon he used before.”

Kau fman’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t move. “You sure about that?”

“Positive,” Mika replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “The pipe’s right over there if you want to dust it for prints. And this,” he gestures to the man on the ground, “is Todd’s father. You going to do your job now, or do I need to call someone who will?”

I watch Kaufman closely, every fiber of me strung tight as a bowstring. Something’s off. I can see it in the way his jaw works, how his hands flex and clench by his sides. He’s hiding something, I’m sure of it.

“What are you doing here, Kaufman?” Mika’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade. “I hadn’t even placed the nine-one-one call when you came screeching down the road.”

The sheriff’s expression shifts, his sneer deepening. There’s no mistaking the challenge in his eyes.

“What, you didn’t know?” Kaufman drawls, his tone oily with mockery.

I see Mika tense beside me, his shoulders rising slightly as his wolf fights for dominance. The warning growl that rumbles from him is low, menacing, and enough to make Kaufman falter for a split second.

“Todd woke up a couple hours ago,” Kaufman says, recovering quickly. His lips curl into a smug grin. “Said his dad went nuts because his son likes to lick nu—”

Mika moves fast, stepping into Kaufman’s space before he can finish the slur. His teeth flash as he bares them, and there’s a feral edge to his voice. “I’d suggest you watch your mouth, Kaufman. I’ve already explained how easy it would be for you to lose your position.”

Mika throws a hand out behind him carefully passing the phone to Gabe, hoping the sheriff thinks they’re just clasping hands. Judging by the sneer on his face, the man thought just that. “Gabe, set it to record.”

I s lip the phone from his pocket, flipping it to the recording app with a practiced motion. My thumb taps the button, and the red icon flashes. I hold it steady, angling it just enough to catch the sheriff’s sneering face.

“A tad homophobic, Kaufman?”

Kaufman doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe he doesn’t care. His lip curls in disdain as he mutters, “Whatever, that’s just… Y’all are… It’s no wonder Todd’s father lost it. What father wouldn’t?”

The words make my blood boil. I want to step in, say something, but Mika doesn’t give me the chance.

“Any father who gives a shit about his son,” Mika says, his voice even but razor-sharp. “That’s what kind of father wouldn’t. Not that I’d expect you to understand that, as it would involve something called unconditional love. Ever heard of it?”

Kaufman puffs up like a rooster, his chest pushing forward as his fists clench at his sides. “Listen here, you fucking queer,” he spits, his voice low and venomous. “I will haul this guy off and give him tips on how to do the job right next time before I turn him loose. You do not want to fuck with me.”

I see Mika’s jaw stiffens, his fingers curling into fists.

“Gabe?” he says without turning, his voice calm but loaded.

I lift the phone, the recording still running. “Got it,” I say, loud enough for Kaufman to hear.

As if on cue, another patrol car comes tearing down the road, sirens blaring. Its lights flash, illuminating the sheriff’s pale face. His glare could peel paint, but Mika stands firm, a smug smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“What the fuck are you waving around in the air, you freak?” Kaufman’s voice is a low growl as his deputy steps out of the car and starts toward us.

I g rin, holding the phone higher. “Did you know, Sheriff,” I drawl, keeping my tone casual, “that a lot of cell phones have a record option now? It’s friggin’ amazing what these things can do. Isn’t that right, Deputy Stanish?”

The deputy pauses, his gaze flicking between me and Kaufman. “Yeah,” he says slowly, his tone carefully neutral. “Those things are amazing. That one have video and sound?”

I nod, not breaking eye contact with Kaufman. “Sure does. Top of the line.”

Kaufman’s face goes beet red, his jaw clenching so hard I half expect his teeth to crack.

Mika steps closer to him, his voice dropping low as he whispers, “And we’ve got some fucking great audio of the past several minutes. How…politically incorrect of us not to warn you. And raising a ruckus won’t get you that phone—it’ll just make Stanish suspicious.” Mika straightens, his smirk back in place. “So shut the fuck up and do your job, Kaufman.”

The sheriff stares at him, his eyes full of fury, but he doesn’t say another word.

Mika steps back, turning to me with a satisfied gleam in his eye. “Damn, that felt good. Let’s see if the fool is going to play nice now.” I can’t help but grin.

Kaufman looks ready to explode, but with Stanish standing by, he can’t risk it. For the first time all night, it feels like we’ve got the upper hand.

“So, Todd told you his father assaulted him, and you came here…why?” I ask, my voice sharp with suspicion.

Kaufman hesitates for a second, his jaw working like he’s chewing on the words. For a moment, I think he’s going to ignore me altogether. Instead, he turns to Deputy Stanish. “Cuff the prisoner and gather up wha tever evidence you can,” he barks, like that’s going to cover his ass.

Finally, he looks back at Mika. “I came because I went to search for Mr. Barton, but he wasn’t home. Mrs. Barton was afraid he’d come here, looking to take out… well, he blames Gabe for Todd being gay.” Kaufman’s lip curls slightly as he says it, but he continues. “So I hauled it on over.”

I don’t miss the emphasis he puts on hauled . Like we’re supposed to thank him for gracing us with his presence.

Mika, though, has other ideas. He thumps Kaufman on the back, good ol’ boy style, and I have to fight not to laugh because I know it’s going to piss him off.

“Well, it’s a good thing you got here when you did,” Mika says, with an edge sharp enough to cut glass. “Even if it was pretty much all over.” He tilts his head, arching a brow as Kaufman’s face flushes. “I’m sure you’ll do your damnedest to make sure Todd gets justice, seeing as how you would never—” Mika lets the words hang in the air just long enough to make Kaufman sweat. “— ever tolerate a hate crime. Right, Sheriff Kaufman?”

The sheriff’s glower could probably set fire to a tree, but he stomps over to Mr. Barton without a word. His boots hit the ground in jerky, angry stomps, and I have to bite down a laugh.

“Mika,” I say, holding my sore hand against my chest, “you are something else, you know that?” My grin feels lopsided, but it doesn’t matter. “You made my heart—and another thing or three—go pitter-patter.”

Mika’s eyes gleam with mischief as he pulls me close, his arms firm but careful of my hand. “Well, mate,” he purrs, his voice warm in my ear, “after we get your hand checked out, maybe you can show me just what thing or three you’re talking about, hmm?”

I d on’t care that Kaufman or Stanish can see us. Let them. Mika and I are a done deal, and anyone who doesn’t like it can shove it.

“How much longer y’all gonna be?” Mika asks, looking at Stanish.

The deputy shrugs, glancing at his watch. “We’re about done here. Waiting on a tow truck for Barton’s vehicle, then we’ll need your statements.”

Mika frowns, glancing down at my swollen hand. “Any chance you could swing by the hospital and get our statements there? I think Gabriel might have broken his hand when he knocked the fuck out of Barton.”

Stanish tries to hold back a smile but fails miserably. “Yeah, well, if it’s any consolation, it looks like Barton has a broken jaw. Bet you anything they wire his mouth shut, which’d be a blessing. That guy…whew.” Stanish shakes his head. “One holier-than-thou son of a bitch, let me tell you.”

I laugh despite the ache in my hand. “Oh, yeah. He was a friend of my parents. They were all pretty damn zealous.”

“Yup,” Stanish says, nodding. “Go on, I’ll come up to the hospital for the statements—after I make sure Kaufman doesn’t ‘accidentally’ screw up this investigation.” He winks, then strolls back toward the sheriff, leaving me and Mika staring at each other.

“Huh,” Mika says after a moment, looking genuinely baffled. “Who knew?”

I shake my head. “Not me, caveman. Not me.”

Mika places his hand at the small of my back, steering me toward the truck. His touch is warm and steady, grounding me when my thoughts are all over the place.

“Well,” he says, his voice softer now, “it makes me feel a bit better. Let’s get up to the hospital.”

I n od, leaning into his touch as we head to the truck. I want to see Todd, make sure he’s okay. But more than anything, I want this whole mess behind us so I can go home with my mate. Because Mika’s right—I owe him a demonstration of just how hard he makes my heart—and other things —go pitter-patter.

Three hours later, my hand is immobilized in a splint that runs halfway up my forearm. It aches like hell, but the pain meds they gave me are starting to kick in, softening the edges. Mika keeps a steadying hand on my elbow, probably worried about how loopy I’ll get once the pills really hit.

“Here we go, babe,” he murmurs, pushing open the door to Todd’s hospital room.

The moment we step inside, Adam leaps away from Todd’s bed, yanking his hand out from beneath the covers.

“Oh, wow.” I can’t help but snicker. “You guys turn the prettiest shade of red.”

Mika shoots me a look, his lips twitching like he’s trying not to laugh, but Adam’s glare could curdle milk. “Next time, knock,” Adam snaps.

Mika’s gaze narrows, the air around him going cold and sharp. “Watch your tone, Adam,” he says, his voice low and steady, but carrying enough weight to make the vet’s ears turn even redder. “Gabe’s hopped up on pain pills, courtesy of his fractured hand.” He glances at Todd, who’s suddenly looking sheepish. “That fractured hand, I might add, he got while breaking your father’s jaw after the man tried to bash my head in with a goddamn pipe.”

Todd’s smile vanishes like smoke in the wind. “Oh. Oh shit, I’m sorry, guys. He’s fucking crazy—” His words come out thick and garbled, and I have to work to understand him even without Mika’s wolf-enhanced hearing.

“ It’s not your fault your dad’s…uh, like that,” Adam sighs, his tone softening as he reaches for Todd’s hand. “Sorry I snapped. It’s just a little embarrassing to get caught with my hand in the cookie jar, so to speak.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Hey, man, it’s okay. Right, Mika?” I glance at him, grinning. “I mean, I plan on having my good hand in Mika’s cookie ja—”

Mika slaps his hand over my mouth before I can finish, his face heating up. Adam and Todd laugh, and I bite down on Mika’s fingers, not hard, but enough to surprise a yelp out of him. He jerks his hand away, glaring at me.

“You’ll pay for that later, mate.”

“I’m counting on it, sexy,” I shoot back, leering at him.

Adam and Todd look between us, clearly confused, and Mika shakes his head, trying to play it off. “Okay, you can put your good hand—and any other part you want—in my cookie jar when we get home,” he says, his voice light, though his cheeks are still pink.

My cock stirs at the promise in his voice, and I grin at him. “Deal.”

“Well, uh, on that note,” Adam interjects, clearly trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground, “Deputy Stanish came by and filled us in on what happened. He even mentioned you might have blackmailed the sheriff into good behavior?” He raises a brow in question.

I burst out laughing, the pain meds making everything ten times funnier. Mika sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, Stanish caught on, but it worked. Those record options on cell phones are something else, huh?”

Todd’s eyes go wide, his jaw dropping. Adam chuckles, shaking his head. “You two are something else,” he says, his voice warm, and for the first time since we walked in, he actually looks relaxed.

Tod d reaches for Adam’s hand, their fingers lacing together, and I feel a pang of something that’s not quite jealousy. More like hope—for them, for us, for all of it.

Adam leans down, murmuring something in Todd’s ear that makes his face light up. It’s a good look on him, the kind of glow that only comes from feeling truly seen, truly loved.

I glance at Mika, who’s watching me with an expression that makes my chest ache in the best way.

I purse my lips, fixing Mika with a look I know will make him squirm. “Ya know, caveman,” I say, and hear Adam and Todd burst out laughing at my pet name for him, “I bet we could have a lot of fun with that particular cell phone option.”

Mika’s eyes widen, a flicker of something between embarrassment and arousal flashing across his face. Turned on wins out—his cock jumps, and I catch him shifting to hide it. He grabs me, muttering a quick, “Later,” to the two grinning men before dragging me out of Todd’s room.

As we leave, I hear Todd chuckle behind us. “Cookie jar, huh?”

Adam groans, and I laugh all the way down the hall.