Page 14
Chapter Fourteen
Heath
“S hut up,” I hiss.
“I didn’t say anything, Boss,” Bane says from beside me in the car.
“You didn’t have to,” I grumble.
“Then I got my point across.”
“Hunter told you everything,” I guess.
“He’s my brother. We don’t have secrets,” he states firmly.
“Why hasn’t he called?” I ask. We are arriving at the location in the middle of nowhere to kill an asshole. Hunter traveled separately to be assured the asshole walks into our trap.
“He will,” he says. I park a mile from the location and shut off the car.
“I don’t want to be gone long.” I hate being away from Juliana. Bane rolls his head, raising his eyebrows.
“We could have come alone.”
“Do you want to die?” I snarl.
“Not today,” he says calmly. “Jules is surrounded by your friends. Micah alone will protect her.”
“I know.” It doesn’t matter who is with her; I’m not. It was my idea, but the bond is growing rapidly, and my snake is hissing in my head, calling me a fool. “Let’s go.” We exit the car and start walking. We’ve gone half a mile when Bane’s phone dings.
“He’s arrived,” Bane says quietly. “The asshole is waiting.”
“Good.” The faster I kill him, the faster I can be with my mate. I tighten my grip on my cane.
“He didn’t bring anyone with him,” Bane says. “Why wouldn’t he?”
“Arrogance,” I state.
“That’s not the word I would use.”
“I don’t care about his reasons. He’ll be dead soon.”
“I could call someone else arrogant.”
“You’ve seen the things I’ve done,” I growl, picking up my pace. “Is it not deserved?”
“We shouldn’t speak. He is a shifter.”
“You don’t need to answer.” We fall silent. Yes, the man waiting in the old barn is a shifter. He may sense our approach, so I lighten my steps as I move faster. The men who attacked Rylee were an interesting mix of shifters and humans. The last man was human. I am not under any delusions; I can be hurt, but it’s not likely. Any wounds I may incur will heal rapidly. I worry more about my snake pushing to be released. He will cause more destruction and won’t be easily talked into shifting back. I’ve neglected his needs. Shifting is euphoric, but I rarely let him out.
Hunter steps out of the trees to my left as the barn comes into sight. He doesn’t say anything but stays at my side. Bane and Hunter are loyal to me, not only because I am their boss. They lost someone they loved, and I killed the man who did it. I will never doubt their dedication to my safety.
I don’t pause when we reach the door. Swinging it wide, I see him quietly searching the room. His clothes are rumbled and dirty. His hands are trembling slightly, and I smile.
“Looking for someone?” I ask, keeping my gaze on him. Bane shuts the door and stands with Hunter against it.
“It’s you,” he says, slowly moving to the center of the space.
“You, who?” I smirk, holding my cane before me, cupping the handle.
“Heath.” He stands up straight, arms held loosely at his sides.
“Very good.”
“You killed Mike,” he snarls.
“Was he the fourth one or the sixth?” I ask, and he takes a step toward me.
“The last man you killed. He was my best friend.”
“Friends,” I scoff, tilting my cane back and forth. “Friends who torture together.” I take a step. “He deserved to die.”
“Fuck you.”
“Where are the rest of your friends?” I ask, and he looks away, his jaw tight. “They didn’t want to come. Are the rumors I spread scaring them?” He looks back, his eyes narrowed. “Do you think you found me because of your skill? I wanted you here, so here you are. Now what?”
“I’m going to hurt you,” he growls, a bit of his wolf entering his eyes.
“You think so?”
“Do you think it’s fair to use that?” He nods toward my cane. “I know what it can do.”
“Bane,” I say, and he steps forward. “Hold on to this for me.” I toss him my cane. “Better?”
“The men behind you will protect you,” he says.
“They won’t need to,” I whisper, and Lane scoffs. “Fine. Hunter. Bane. Do not touch Lane.”
“Yes, Boss,” Bane says.
“Sure,” Hunter agrees.
“There,” I say, taking another step. “I’ll give you the first hit.”
“Bullshit,” he grits out. I smell his fear and his need for revenge.
“Promise,” I state.
“I don’t trust you,” he says, and I take another step.
“You shouldn’t.” I keep walking until I’m a step away, and he trembles. “Where are the rest of your friends?”
“I won’t tell you,” he says.
“Why not? They let you come here to die. Are they ashamed of their actions?”
“We did nothing wrong,” he says, and I glance at his hands. He’s eager to hit me.
“You did horrible things to my sister,” I hiss, and his fist twitches.
“How is she your sister? What are you?” he asks.
“I never get sick of people asking me that,” I sigh. “She is my sister.”
“She wanted it,” he says, lifting his chin.
“Wrong thing to say,” Hunter snarls.
“You abused a woman,” I whisper, moving close. “She said no, and you and your friends ignored it. You held her captive and toyed with her. You are the worst kind of shifter. You are a disgrace. I could have killed you the moment I walked in. You are nothing but a waste of the gifts your animal gives you. I will kill your friends. I enjoyed killing Mike. He begged and cried when he saw my animal. He should have felt privileged to see what I am, but I don’t think I’ll enlighten you.”
“Fuck you.” He takes a swing, and I allow the punch to connect. My head swings to the side. I straighten and lick the blood from my lip. The wound seals in seconds.
“Nice swing,” I say, meeting his eyes. “Do you know I have a vampire friend? He taught me a few tricks.” I plunge my hand into his chest, and his mouth opens. His scream is stuck in his throat. “A human's body is easy to invade, but shifters have tough skin. You have to focus on your hand entering the chest. It’s an interesting sensation, holding a heart in your hand. I have the power to end your life in the next second or prolong it.” His body shakes, and blood trickles from his mouth. “I don’t need my cane. I enjoy using it. It isn’t the tool that gives me my power; I give it power. Bane is holding it but can’t use it for anything except balance. I will find your friends and hold their hearts, too. Say hello to Mike.” I rip out his heart. “Take care of his body.” I turn and drop the organ as he hits the ground. “Ride with Hunter. I need to get to my mate.” Bane tosses me my cane as I walk to the door. I’m glad I can check one more off my list.
“Rylee is with her,” Hunter says, and I look over my shoulder. “They are at a bar.”
“You and Rylee are friends now,” I say, narrowing my eyes.
“She knows,” he states.
“I see.” I face him. “You told her.”
“She overheard a conversation,” he says.
“So you had no choice but to tell her.”
“Something like that,” he mumbles.
“I knew I couldn’t hide it forever.” I wanted to wait to tell her until I killed them all. I don’t doubt she heard things not meant for her ears. Sneaky little fox. She hates secrets and can’t handle being left out. She probably gave Hunter her sweetest expression, and he caved. No one can withstand her pout. “I’ll deal with it. You deal with this. Send me their location.”
“Yes, Boss.” He smiles, and I roll my eyes. He only uses the title when he wants to remind himself that I do pay him.
As I walk to my car, I look forward to being in my mate's presence and listening to her excuses for leaving the safety of my home.
The bar is bigger than Bram’s, and the parking lot is halfway full. It’s still early, and I expect it will fill soon. I unfold from the car, clutching my cane. Her scent is floating from the front door as someone leaves, and my body sighs in relief. Being away from her for a few hours was torment. I use my speed to get to the door before it closes, and I don’t care who sees it. They will notice but think the drinks in their system are causing the unnatural action.
“Heath,” Rylee says. I stop inside the door, and she jumps out of her seat.
“Wait,” I demand and keep my gaze fixed on Juliana. I walk directly toward her and don’t stop until I’m bending over her. I spread my fingers, gripping her chin, and tilting her head. She starts to open her mouth, but I don’t let the words emerge. I kiss her. No buildup. No teasing. I take her mouth as I have been thinking about it since I left. She eagerly tangles her tongue with mine. I tighten my grip on her chin and grab the back of her chair with my other hand, my cane between the wood and my fingers. Her hands slide under my jacket and hold onto my belt.
Fuck. I want to mark her. Inside and out. I want to use my belt to tie her to my bed and never let her leave. Her body is begging for my claim; it’s her mind that has to catch up. I will help her make the right decision in any way I can. When someone clears their throat, I pull back, biting and pulling her lip slightly before I step away. Her hands fall weakly to her lap. We stare at each other, not ready to break the connection.
“Damn, Heath,” Sally breathes. “That was fucking hot.”
“Yes, it was,” Roxanne agrees.
“Jesus, Mom,” Kingston hisses.
“Gross,” Rylee mutters.
“I want that,” Gabby says.
“No,” Quinn grumbles.
“Not with him,” she snorts.
“Um…” Rylee taps my shoulder. “We need to talk.”
“Yes.” I drag my thumb over Juliana’s bottom lip. “Stay, I’ll be right back.” I turn to Rylee and motion to the door. I see Sally’s grin and wink at her as I walk by.
“You are so fucking lucky,” she whispers. My mate says nothing, but I feel her pleasure. I open the door and allow Rylee to walk through before following. We don’t speak until we are beside the bar.
“Are you killing them?” she asks, stopping to face me.
“Yes.” I lean against the building.
“Why?” She crosses her arms.
“Because they hurt you.” She frowns and looks confused.
“You’re revealing your animal to them. They could exploit you.”
“Not to all. The ones who see it are dead. You are worried about me,” I guess.
“No shit,” she growls, smacking me on the chest. “You could get hurt.”
“Hardly,” I scoff.
“You aren’t invincible.” She rolls her eyes, putting her hands on her hips.
“I’m aware,” I say dryly.
“Heath,” she sighs. I reach out and pull her next to me.
“I’m almost done. They will be dead, and we won’t have to think about them anymore.” I bump my shoulder against hers.
“Do you think I wonder about them?” she asks. I raise my eyebrows. “Shit, of course, I do. I don’t really know how to react to this.”
“Be grateful, and let me take my mate home,” I grin.
“Ass,” she says, her lips twitching.
“Let me continue to do this,” I say as if she could stop me, and she glares. “I won’t tell you any details.”
“What if I want details?” she asks.
“What do you want to know?”
“Do you make them suffer?” she whispers.
“Yes. They feel all my power.”
“Have any of them expressed regret?” She lays her head on my shoulder.
“No.” I don’t like saying it.
“Then good,” she says. “How many are left?”
“Three.”
“You’ve been busy.”
“It’s getting easier to find them. They’re confident in their ability to fight me. The stories of their deaths are spreading within the group.”
“As planned,” she snorts.
“You do know me.”
She twines her arm through mine. “Thank you. I don’t care that they are dead. All I care about is you getting safely home.”
“I’m fine.”
“I like your mate.”
“Good. She’s going to be your sister.”
“I always wanted one.”
“I know.”
“I have to admit something,” she says.
“Alright.”
“I shoved her hand away in my panic. Quinn caught her.”
“Is she hurt?” I stand up straight and pull away.
“No. I apologized. I didn’t mean it.”
I nod.
“Don’t ever touch her in anger. You have to remember she is still human,” I lecture.
“I know. It won’t happen again.”
“Rylee, I want her to choose me. She will be your family.”
“I know she will. Plus, she gets a super cool sister in the deal.” She bounces away, walking backward. “If she hasn’t run yet, I doubt she will,” she says as we walk back.
“Don’t even joke about running,” I command.
“Yes, Brother.” She rolls her eyes again and opens the door. Juliana is focused on the door as I walk through, and her attention makes my ego rise.
“All good?” Quinn asks.
“Yes,” I reply, moving to the nearest chair beside my mate. I turn it to face her side and cup her hand, bracing it on my knee. “Did something happen at home?”
“No,” she says, tilting her head.
“So there wasn’t a fire or some kind of emergency that forced you to leave?” I ask, caressing her fingers.
“There was not,” she says, her lips tipping up.
“Interesting,” I whisper, and she grins.
“We’ve been getting to know your mate,” Sally says.
“She mentioned some things that made me curious,” Quinn mentions. I narrow my eyes as Juliana bites her lip.
“Really,” I drawl, smelling my mate's guilt.
“Are you giving her brother a job?” he asks.
“I offered, but he hasn’t shown up,” I answer. Juliana’s expression eases, but her scent is the same. I kiss her hand, and her desire reaches my nose.
“Jules has been saying all kinds of nice things about you,” Saphira says, and I lightly bite Juliana’s knuckle. I grin at the dragon and stop torturing my mate. Everyone can smell how turned on she is, and I would never want to embarrass her. “She is very protective of you.”
“Good.”
Saphira smiles, and I know she is happy for me.
“She is your perfect match,” Micah says, and I nod.
“I’ll be right back,” Juliana says softly, standing.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, refusing to release her hand.
“I have to use the restroom,” she mumbles, and I let her go. I watch her progression to the back of the bar and wonder if there was another reason for her quick exit.
“She’s overwhelmed,” Sally says.
“She was anxious for your return,” Rylee adds. “I could smell her fear.”
I say nothing and stand, following her. There is a long hallway with three doors off of it. Two are restrooms, and the other is for employees only. The women's bathroom is at the end, with an alcove across from it. I lean against the hidden wall and think about telling the owners how unsafe it is. This is the darkest part of the bar. Anyone could stalk the women's bathroom; at least I have good intentions.
I stand straight as she walks out. “Darling,” I say, and she jumps.
“Shit, Heath.” She runs her hands through her hair.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, grabbing her hand.
“Nothing,” she says quickly.
“Lying, mate?” I pull her into the dark, turn her back against the wall, and press close. “Tell me.” I wrap my arm around her waist and slide my hand around her hip.
“I’m fine,” she insists.
“I want honesty between us,” I say, and she avoids meeting my eyes.
“Are you alright?” she asks.
“Of course,” I whisper.
“Would you hide any injury from me?”
“Yes, but not this time.” She glares, and I grin. “Darling, I’m good. Everything happened as planned.”
“Okay,” she exhales.
“I will always come back to you,” I say, cupping her cheek. “It was difficult to be away from you.”
“It was?” she says, dropping her head back.
“I could hardly bear it,” I confess, kissing her neck.
“Fuck, it was horrible being away from you,” she groans as I travel up her neck to her ear, biting.
“I’m glad,” I breathe and pull back, hovering over her mouth. “What else?”
“I said something,” she starts and licks her lips. “Expressing my doubt about their loyalty to you.”
“Mmm…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t tell them anything else.”
“It’s alright,” I assure her. “Your defense pleases me, and it explains why I scented guilt.”
“Crap, I’ll never get used to that.” She wrinkles her nose adorably. “You aren’t mad, then?”
“No. Not at all.” I will have to talk to Quinn and Micah. I’m sure they have questions.
“I’m relieved,” she sighs.
“I think I deserve a welcome home present,” I rasp, looking at her lips.
“You think?” She lifts an eyebrow, her scent filling with anticipation and the guilt evaporating. “I did miss you.” She rises on her toes, inching closer, her breasts pressing to my chest. I wait, letting her take the first step. “I need you,” she whispers. “Mate.” She lunges, kissing me. Mate. She called me mate. I don’t care why she said it. To her, the meaning may not hold the significance it does to me. All that matters is her need to be in my arms.
Words have power, and she can’t take them back.