Chapter Two

Rocky left Sully in charge of monitoring Henri while he took the time to clear his head. Henri needed to stay safe. But the mating pull was strong. He fought it the best he could, but his dragon wanted to mate. The reason they hadn’t yet was getting more ridiculous with each passing day. And none of it changed the potential danger to Henri.

Fowler might be in a shifter jail, but it didn’t mean his reach wasn’t long. If Fowler had any hope of freedom, he’d make more super soldiers. If Rocky had figured it out, then someone as devious and as smart as Fowler had figured it out, too. The problem was, Henri only was one of two people who knew how to alter a human’s DNA. Someone would come for him.

They needed to find out who had Fowler’s back. Hence the reason for the meeting tomorrow morning.

For now, Rocky needed a time out as much as Henri did. Henri wasn’t giving him permission to bond. Rocky knew why. His mate was running scared. He didn’t trust Rocky. It hurt. But Rocky understood. He didn’t know Rocky very well yet. He didn’t understand Rocky would protect Henri with his life.

Rocky was getting on his bike when Bandos followed him out. He held sheets of paper and handed the stack to Rocky. “It’s the evidence you need.”

Rocky wasn’t sure what Bandos was talking about but as he scanned them, he realized what he had. It was the transcription of a phone conversation between Jeffrey Perkins and a hired gun named Harold.

Rocky met Bandos’s gaze. “It didn’t matter to me if he gave Perkins his notes on purpose or not.”

“It might have mattered to others, namely the alpha. He’s family, Rocky. It’s what’s needed to keep him with us. With you.” It had been Bandos, Sully, and Rocky for so long they were more like brothers than work partners. And maybe it went deeper. Rocky knew who had his back. He was never alone. Not like Henri had been before they met.

“I didn’t know you investigated that.”

Bandos shrugged. “I wanted to make sure everyone knew he wasn’t a traitor. The guy doesn’t have a malicious bone in his body. He’s too smart for his own good. At least in this case. He shouldn’t be punished for it.”

“Thanks, man. This will help me make a case if needed.” Rocky thought of something else. “He doesn’t know he has a family.”

“He should by now.”

If he couldn’t confide in Bandos, he couldn’t confide in anyone. “I want him to come to me. I want to earn his trust.”

Bandos raised his eyebrows. “How’s that working for you?”

Rocky let out a breathy laugh and shook his head. “I’m going for a ride to ease the stress. It’s driving me crazy. And he’s feeling the mating pull as much as I am. It’s fucking agonizing.”

“He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met. He’ll figure out you know more than you’re letting on sooner rather than later. You might as well spill the beans now.”

“You’re right.” Rocky didn’t know what to do next. Maybe shifting and getting air under him, as well as the ride, would help him relax a little. Because all he could think about was Henri in his house across the lake.

“If it were Vaughan, he’d feel relief about not keeping something so big to himself anymore. Vaughan’s not good with stuff like that. But Echo—he could hold on to something forever. He’d let it eat away at him. And it would make him angry if I knew and let him carry it for so long.” Bandos chuckled. “He’d think about turning my brain to mush with the Pothos plant he’s growing in the kitchen.”

Rocky had seen how Echo could manipulate plant life. He’d never seen him kill with it, but Bandos had told him what he’d witnessed when they’d first rescued Echo. It was an awesome gift. But terrifying in some ways.

“He’d never hurt you.”

“I know. But it wouldn’t stop him from fantasizing about it.” Bandos met his gaze, his expression turning serious. “Don’t let Henri stew too much longer. It’ll make it worse.”

Rocky nodded. He handed the papers back to Bandos. “Want to come with?”

“Let me put this back in the office.” Bandos went inside.

While he was dropping off their evidence to exonerate Henri, Rocky started his bike. It didn’t take Bandos long, and he’d come out of the house again. He had Echo on his heels. “Can I come?”

Vaughan stood in the open door. “Next time it’s my turn.”

“Just buy a bike, baby,” Bandos said to Vaughan.

Vaughan grinned. “I like pressing against you.”

Echo chuckled. “It’s why I want to go. I like being behind you too, Wolf.”

Vaughan wiggled his eyebrows. “All the incentive I need.”

Bandos smiled. “I’ll shop around. We’ll get you a good one.”

“Not good. Sexy. I need to be sexy, Bandos.”

“You already are.” Bandos was sweet sometimes. Of course, he reserved it for Vaughan and Echo. Bandos had been a mess for many years. Being rejected by his fated mate had left scars on his soul. It had come as a relief when Bandos had found two mates who loved him and made him happy.

“I think I’ll give Sully a break and go bug the shit out of Henri. Should be fun, considering he’s probably reading.” Vaughan blew a kiss to Bandos first and then Echo before shutting the front door. He’d exit through the sliding glass door in the back.

Bandos pointed to the shelf in the open garage where they had lined up their helmets. “Grab your helmet, sweetheart.”

Echo ran to do what Bandos had told him. As soon as he had the helmet in hand, he put it on, strapping it under his chin.

They headed down the road a couple of minutes later. It was the perfect day for a ride. Saint Lakes had miles of forests and lakes with roads winding around them. It did nothing to ease the longing in his heart for Henri, but it quieted Rocky’s stress. The evidence Bandos had gathered went a long way to easing Rocky’s mind, too.