Twenty-Three

Dayton

Vale fidgeted in the seat beside me, even after I reached over and wrapped my fingers around her thigh. And it wasn't sexual tension, though when we got home I had plans to distract her with plenty of lovemaking. I needed to hold her and ground myself with her. Tonight was… A lot, to say the least. More than I could have imagined, even in my boyhood dreams that had once been similar to Kale's. Mine had led me to police work while his had led him to the military.

"You okay?" I asked, tightening my fingers in a tender, hopefully reassuring squeeze.

"Not really. After everything Kale told us about Dutch, the thought of going to my house, alone, even with bodyguards watching the place, puts me on edge."

"Stay with me."

"Really?"

"Of course." Fuck, if I didn't think it was too soon to move in together, I would have suggested it already. I wanted to be in bed with Vale every night.

"Okay. Thank you. I…" Her head cocked, her brows drawing together. "My brother has super powers," she said as if she'd just realized it.

"I know."

"I didn't. You're not freaked out by it?"

"A little," I admitted. "You seem okay with it."

She lifted a shoulder. "I've lived with them for five years. They're just…them."

"Five years?"

"I don't remember anything of my life as Vale Corin before that."

"The accident?" We hadn't really talked much about it. I'd seen her scars. Some of them on her legs were vicious. And she'd mentioned being in a terrible car accident, but the topic made her uncomfortable, so I didn't pursue it. I just showed her with my mouth and touch how undeniably beautiful she was to me.

"Yeah, the accident. Afterward, every one of those guys looked after me and helped me heal. They're my honorary brothers."

I was glad she added the last because the Neanderthal part of me had wanted to demand to know exactly how they'd looked after her. Not how I planned to take care of her tonight, thank God. Not because I expected Vale to have been a nun or anything. I just didn't want to play nice with any ex-lovers.

"Brennan's home," she said when I pulled into my driveway.

"Good," I said while I scanned the area. "I need to talk to him about arrangements before bed. If he's up." It had been decided that Brennan would stay at the club until things with Dutch were cleared up. When Vale had asked about some danger Kale had mentioned to her a couple days ago, he'd claimed that was cleared up—for now—and Brennan would be safe.

For tonight, Kale's men would be watching my place and Vale's, but Kale didn't like splitting his forces that way for more than one evening.

"He's eighteen," Vale pointed out. "I'm sure he's awake. He's always been a night owl."

"What?"

"As far as I know anyway," she added quickly, at the same time as my question.

"You're right. He is." I opened my door. "Stay there while I come around."

As quickly as possible, I hustled her inside almost wishing we were all going back to the club tonight. Not for me, but for her and Brennan.

"Do you want a drink before bed?" I asked.

"No."

I nodded, feeling like an inexperienced teenager who'd snuck in a girl while my parents were out of town.

"Okay. Let me get you a shirt to sleep in then I'll go talk to Brennan."

After finding one of my white tees that would probably fit her like a nightgown, I headed off to find my brother. He was in his room, with his headset on, playing Call of Duty and yelling at his team. Deep in a mission, he ignored me until he glanced up and saw my expression. As soon as we wouldn't be heard by the other gamers, I explained the plan—and the need for secrecy.

"I'm not stupid," he said.

"I know, kid."

"Also…not a kid."

I chuckled. "Hate to break it to you, but you'll always be a kid to me. Kid."

He rolled his eyes at me and flicked some buttons on his controller. "Need to go kick ass. The guys are gonna be pissed at me for dipping out."

"See you in the morning."

He didn't answer other than a sort-of wave my way while he yelled something about a sniper.

Vale was standing in the middle of my bedroom when I entered and locked the door behind me.

"Fuck… Who would have thought one of my shirts could be so sexy?" I breathed at the sight of how it fell over her curves, the tips of her pert breasts poking against the soft fabric.

Her hands fisted in the fabric at her thighs, inadvertently giving me a peek of her supple upper legs—exactly where I'd like to get cradled all night long. "I like wearing your shirt.'

"You saying I won't need to invest in expensive lingerie?"

"Depends… Do you want to see me in cotton that covers me almost to my knees or in lace that doesn't cover much?"

"How about neither?" I growled.

"I like that plan."

"Me, too."

Closing the distance between us, I showed her how utterly unnecessary it had been for me to find her sleepwear. She didn't need it in my bed—a bed I hoped would soon be hers, as well.

Afterward, while she cuddled into my side, her tiny hand over my heart, my arms protectively around her and my ears pricked for any sound, my thoughts mulled everything I'd learned tonight. And I didn't like the directions they drifted.

Dutch was in the Marreta cartel.

The Marreta cartel had disappeared from our radar five years ago.

Dutch had showed up late to work the day Melonie was murdered then he'd taken so much time driving us to the crime scene and to the hospital—after he'd insisted on driving.

Dutch had threatened Vale.

And Kale said my ex-partner was in the wind. They couldn't find him, despite connections Kale wouldn't reveal to me.

Where was Dutch? And what did he have to do with Melonie's murder?

I felt as if I were putting together a puzzle, working blind without ever seeing the big picture.

Maybe, I wasn't cut out for this, and I didn't actually have ‘the gene' for it? Maybe, I was too close to the situation. I sure as hell had never suspected my ex-partner of being a criminal. An asshole? Yes. A member of a drug cartel? Not in a million years.

Giving up on sleep, I slipped from the bed and tucked the blankets close around Vale. After kissing her forehead, I headed into the living room to start jotting notes—anything I could remember or I'd ever suspected. Anything I knew about Dutch.

I froze at the sight of a man sitting on my couch, with the lights off. I flipped on the lamps with the wall switch, and he glared at me.

"You know if Cookie's gonna be staying here, you need more than that fake-ass security system you've got going on here."

"It's top of the line, Biter," I said, annoyed that the man had broken in to squat on my couch. I didn't care if he was one of Vale's honorary brothers. It was rude.

"Not as good as ours."

"Your superpower is being a pain in the ass, isn't it?"

"Nah, I don't swing that way," he quipped. "But if you must know, besides the standard speed and strength, I can…"

Before my eyes, he faded from view.

"Invisible," I murmured.

"And I can…" He reappeared and looked just like me.

"Don't do that," I choked.

"Is this better?" In a blink, he morphed into a replica of Vale. His eyes gave him away, though. The dark brown didn't change.

"No, it is not better. And if you turn into Vale again, I'll shoot you in the balls."

"So violent. Fine," he sighed.

"So invisibility and…shape-shifting?"

"Yeah. And acid spit. Want me to demonstrate that?" He opened his mouth, curling back his tongue.

"No!" I held up a hand. "God. You keep that shit to yourself."

"Such a wet blanket. I don't get what Vale see in you? You got any cookies?"

"Oreos in the pantry. Help yourself. Are you going to be here all night?"

"Yep. So keep it down in there." He winked, and I wanted to punch him. He'd better hope I didn't have the ‘gene' because if I did, and he kept egging me on, he and I might do a reenactment of the brawl I'd witnessed at the club tonight. But he'd lose.