21. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Micah

“ H ow are you so fucking calm?” Ryker asks as he paces in front of my chair, and I don’t bother to open my eyes. “I was always so freaked out by how calm you were in every situation,” he continues. “My mate ran off with a plan. A total shit plan. At least she took River with her. Do not ever tell either of them I said that.”

“I won’t.” Ryker, Quinn, Heath, Bash, and Saphira haven’t left my apartment. All of them are watching me as I lounge in the living room. My hand is gripping a drink perched on my thigh.

“I think he’s lost it,” Quinn mumbles.

“He’s going to lose something if we don’t leave the fucking apartment,” Heath says.

“He’s trusting his mate,” Bash says.

“Daisy is a badass. She can handle herself,” Saphira says. “Do you men always think you have to ride to the rescue?”

“Fuck,” Ryker says. “Of course not. My mate is a warrior, but even warriors need backup.”

“When Micah says it’s time, we go,” Saphira says.

“Everyone else is waiting for him to say anything,” Ryker says.

“We aren’t going to need the rest of your crew,” Heath says.

“I still don’t like you,” Ryker points out. “I don’t like working with a shifter when I don’t know what the fuck their animal is. I’ve been around for a while, and I’ve never smelled someone like you. I don’t trust it.”

“Would you like me to show you, vampire?” Heath says silkily and taps his cane.

“Yes,” Ryker replies.

“I don’t think you do,” Heath disagrees.

“Why don’t you both just compare your dicks and be done with it,” Saphira snaps.

“If we did, all of them would be disappointed,” Quinn drawls. A rare joke from Quinn.

“Fuck off, Quinn,” Heath says, laughing.

“Men are stupid,” Saphira whispers.

I open my eyes. “I have waited six hundred years to find Daisy,” I begin softly. “Maddy was my best friend. When she died, I wanted to tear the world apart because of the injustice. She was tough, kind, smart, and loving. Then she was gone from the world, and I drank my way through humans. I lost myself for too long. I was nearing the point again the night I met Daisy.” I place my drink on the coffee table and push up. “I will never allow Daisy to be taken from me, even though I am not worthy of her.” I walk past them and stop at the door. “Daisy’s blood has mapped out her route and where she stopped. We will start at Lace’s business.”

“She’s there?” Saphira asks.

“She was,” I say, turning the knob. “She just left. I have given her enough time. We are going to trail her and kill anyone left behind. If anyone stands in her way, we kill them.” I stand in the doorway, looking at their shocked faces. “Do I have to remind you again that I have lived six hundred years as a vampire? Do not doubt my power or Daisy’s.” I clap my hands. “You’ve been bitching about not doing anything. Let’s go.” They finally move and I don’t wait for them.

I have been patient. I have been calm.

My mate needed that from me, but now it’s time to show some of my power.

Ryker and Bash are close behind as I stop outside the bookstore. I wait for them to stand beside me.

There are two coyotes inside. The scent of my mate lingers in the air and as I break the lock to open the door, it gets stronger. The two men whip around when we step inside.

“Who the fuck are you?” one of them asks with a sneer.

“Micah,” I answer smoothly. I cup my hands behind my back and move to their right. Ryker and Bash follow my lead, slowly walking to their left.

“Are we supposed to know who you are?” the other one says.

“I suppose not. What’s your name?” I ask the blonde.

“Shawn,” he answers, and his friend glares at him.

“Shawn, are you Turner’s pack?” I ask, casually looking around the room.

“How do you know Turner?” Shawn asks.

“He has something that belongs to me,” I whisper.

“Are you after the fucking coin, too?” the other one asks.

“Name?” I glance at him.

“William.”

“Well, William. I don’t want the coin.” I circle behind them, and Shawn turns, keeping me in sight. William watches Ryker and Bash as they move the opposite way.

“You want that bitch,” Shawn snarls.

“I would shut the fuck up,” Ryker warns.

“So you both lived in the same house with Daisy,” I say, winding around them again.

“Yeah, why do you care?” Shawn asks.

“Are you one of the ones who broke a finger?” I ask, stopping in front of Shawn.

“Fuck, yeah,” William says. “He wouldn’t stop whining about it. I didn’t think a woman could do so much damage.”

“Really?” I ask. “Why would she break it?”

“What is going on?” Shawn takes a step back, finally catching on to the predator in front of him.

“That’s an excellent question.” I take a step to counter his. “Why would a woman break a man's finger?” I ask Ryker.

“I would guess the man did something he had no business doing,” Ryker says. I don’t look away from my prey when the rest of them walk through the door.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Shawn says, his voice shaky.

“A misunderstanding,” I mumble, and Saphira snarls. “Do you see the woman by the door?”

He looks around my body, and I follow his gaze. “Yes,” he says. Saphira is running her fingers over a knife.

“Daisy was kind enough to let me borrow it,” she grins.

“She is just itching to cut off a dick.” I shake my head and turn back. He gulps. “Daisy promised her she could, and I hate to disappoint my mate.”

“Mate?” he whispers.

“Did I forget to mention that? Daisy is my mate.” His eyes widen as I move closer. “I don’t like hearing of someone violating her in any way.”

“It wasn’t like that,” he sputters.

“What was it like? Did she give you any indication she wanted your touch?” He stumbles back as I lean forward.

“I was just playing around. It was a misunderstanding,” he says.

“A tale as old as time,” I quip. I drop my hands, flexing my fingers. “Do you know what I am?”

“Vampire,” he whispers.

“Right,” I smile, showing my teeth. I see the plan to flee in his eyes. “Don’t run. I always catch my prey.” He takes a step, and before he takes another, my hand is around his throat, and he’s flying through the air. I slam his body to the ground and press my knee to his chest. “They never listen when I say that.”

“Please,” he begs.

I chuckle. “I never listen when they say that.”

“What do you want?” he whispers.

“Your heart. First, information.” I place my palm beside his head.

“She left with Turner,” William says, and I tilt my head. Ryker and Bash have him between them.

“She went willingly,” Shawn says, and I lock eyes with him.

“Did you touch my mate tonight?” I push my influence.

“No,” he answers.

“Did you touch her in the past?” Shawn’s mind is easy to control. My demon easily slides inside.

“Yes.”

“Did she want you to?”

“No.”

Saphira stands over me. “I’m ready whenever you are,” she says.

“She’s eager,” I mention lightly. “Before I let her have her fun, I’m going to dig into your brain. I want answers, and I don’t want to go through the torture process to get them. You’ll cry and beg and make lots of noise. My friend Ryker hates whiners, and I tend to agree. None of it will matter because this is your last day breathing.” A tear slides to the floor. “Why are all the bad guys surprised when they face their fate? You made a choice to live the way you do. I didn’t make the choice. Deal with the consequences.”

I push hard and dive into his memories. He likes to do sick things to women. Turner groomed him easily as Shawn was eager to learn his ways. I see many women's faces. Their deaths were gruesome and sad. They did nothing wrong. He took pleasure in the acts of their demise, and it makes me sick. I locate the memory from tonight and then the information Turner has told him.

My stomach turns. He doesn’t know everything. Turner tells him bits and pieces, but I can piece together the rest. My mate is going to be heartbroken.

Blood joins Shawn’s tears on the floor. He won’t last much longer.

“Saphira?”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to finish him?”

“Oh, goody. It would be my pleasure.” Her brothers have no idea what she does to cope with her past.

“He’s all yours,” I say and stand.

“Oh fuck,” William cries.

“Oh, fuck is right.” I move faster than he can track and shove my hand in his chest. “It’s amazing to hold someone's heart in your hand. Truly astonishing.” His body is locked in shock at the invasion, but he is still alive. “All I have to do is flex my fingers.” I do. His gasp joins Shawn’s cries of terror. “I don’t have time to fuck around.” I yank out his heart. His body drops. “Saph, you done?”

“Yes.”

“Daisy is going to need us.” Heath hands me a towel, as he did many times when we worked together. After I wipe my hand, I pass it to Saphira. She smiles, and pride slides through me. There is no one I would rather have by my side. “Call the others. We may not need them, but I have the feeling they have several shifters working with them.”

“A feeling? Or a memory from his brain?” Quinn asks.

“A little of both.” I walk between the two dead coyotes on my way to the back of the store. “Block the front door; we’ll clean them up later.” I open the back door. Daisy’s scent is barely noticeable and cuts off as I step out. “I won’t wait for you.”

“I’m shifting,” Saphira says.

“Someone will notice a large dragon in the streets,” I say dryly. I realize she doesn’t want to be left out, but the sight of a dragon in town can’t be brushed off. “Wait until you are out of town. If you lose our scent, Ryker or Bash will message you.”

“Fine,” Saphira grumbles.

A step later, I’m gone. Daisy’s blood shows me the way. I can feel some of her emotions. Since she left, she has felt fear, frustration, anger, and confusion. She has been in one place for a while now, and it kills me she is facing it alone. I have no doubt about her ability to handle anything, but now she doesn’t have to.

Once I have my eyes on her, she can tell me to kill or not to kill.

I’ll try to listen.