13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Quinn

M y mate's hand is stiff in mine as we stand on the sidewalk, looking at the words written on the front of my building. Kade and Cash are standing beside us.

"Did you see anyone?" I ask without looking away.

"No," Cash says.

"Cash went to get coffee and saw it," Kade says.

"Is it real blood?" I ask, even though I can smell it. My claws threaten to emerge around Steph's phone which I still hold.

"Yes," Cash says softly. "It's human."

"Fuck." I walk closer, pulling Steph with me. I don't want her out of arm's reach, but I hate that she has to see this.

"Leave her or I'll break the bond for you."

"Quinn," Steph says. "It smells fresh."

"It is," I agree. "Asshole killed someone to write this." Rage floods through me. We have to find this fucker. "Did you take pictures?"

"Yes." Kade steps to my side.

"Send them to me now," I command. While Kade does as I ask, I hand Steph her phone. "Don't delete the message." She nods and slips it in her pocket. I let go of her hand and reach for my phone as the pictures come in. I send them to Micah and Heath and then call Bash. "I need you here now," I say and hang up.

"What are you going to do?" Kade asks.

"Clean this shit off after you lock the scents in your memory. Come inside when you're done, but keep one of the rags you use. Did anyone see it?"

"Not that we know of. I don't think it was that long ago." It's later in the evening, and most of the businesses close by are closed for the night.

"Find out. Bash will be here soon; he will change their memories. You didn't smell any kind of shifter?" I ask, lacing my fingers with Steph's.

"Nothing unusual, but we don't know all your friends here," Kade starts.

"But we did smell a coyote and a lion," Cash finishes.

"Remember them. It's been too long. I don't smell anything but human blood," I say. I unlock the front door. "Do what I said." I step into the office and use all my senses to search the building.

"Quinn?" Steph asks after I take us into my office. She has been waiting patiently.

"I have been avoiding the discussion about my past with my friends here." I lean on the front of my desk and pull her between my legs. "I don't have a choice now but to have it. I know I can protect you, but I know the more shifters on our side who know what's going on, the better chances I have of catching him."

"You don't want to, though," she guesses.

"Not at all. I went a long time here without them knowing."

"I'm sorry. I know it's difficult for you."

"I will always do what is best for you. If I have to be transparent for that to happen, I will." I cup the side of her neck. "I will do anything."

"I know," she whispers.

"Are you afraid?" I ask .

"No." She pushes closer. "As long as I'm with you, I won't be."

I kiss her forehead and close my eyes. "Your trust means everything." I feel Bash's presence enter the building, but he's not the only one. I pull on Steph's hip, turning her to my side and keeping my arm around her as we face them.

This should be interesting.

"Who are the men outside?" Bash asks. "And why is he here?" he sneers at Heath, who walks in behind him.

"He's with me," Micah offers when he catches up.

"Since when?" Bash asks.

"It's a long story." Micah leans against the wall next to me. Bash stops on the other side of Steph, his arms crossed.

"Vampire," Heath greets and sits elegantly in the chair in front of us.

"When Kade and Cash are done, we'll get started." I look at all of them sternly. "I don't want any shit. I have some things to say I don't want to say."

"Who are Kade and Cash?" Heath asks.

"They work for me." I pull up the pictures of the building. "Bash, this is why we are here." He cautiously reaches for it as Kade and Cash walk in.

"What the fuck," Bash snarls.

"I am going to give a brief summary." I hold Bash's eyes since it is mostly all new information to him. "I worked with Heath and Micah for a very long time. We were part of an organization that killed out-of-control shifters and vampires. We were very good at our jobs. I met with both of them this morning to inform them of the message I received from someone I assume is tied to my time doing those jobs. My mate has gotten two messages, the second one as we were leaving to come here. I'm pissed. I want this taken care of quickly."

Bash's only reaction is a slow blink. "Have you traced the number?"

I appreciate him cutting through to the important part. "I have my guy on it. I haven't checked in with him yet or told him about the other messages, but usually, if he finds something, he'll call."

"Who do you think it is?" Bash asks.

"I think it is a family member or friend of someone I killed," I state.

"How long is the list of the people you killed?" Bash asks.

"Too long."

"Are the calls from the same number?" Bash asks.

"No."

"Do you want me to keep this to just the group in this room?" He hands me my phone back.

"No."

"No?" His eyebrow shoots up.

"I am telling you. I don't want to tell anyone else or answer any questions from anyone else. You are free to tell them."

"Can I ask personal questions?"

"You get five questions."

He looks around the room to the others, watching the exchange with interest.

He looks back at me. "Were you ever going to tell me about your connection with Heath and Micah?"

"No. Next."

"Will you share everything you know about your kills?"

"Yes."

"Can I speak to your contact?"

"No."

"Do you trust them?" He waves to the room.

"Yes. About this, I do."

"Do you trust me?" he asks .

"Yes. I want Steph protected at all times. I will be with her constantly, but if for some reason I can't, one or two of you will be," I demand. "I don't want any stupid mistakes."

"Got it," Kade says and turns to Bash. "I've heard Quinn speak about you; it's nice to meet you." No one knows they work for me; that's how good they are at their jobs.

Bash nods. "I've heard your names mentioned but had no idea what your animal was or what you looked like. I'm impressed with your skills," he says, probably the highest compliment he gives.

"Thank you." Kade turns to his brother. "Here is the rag we used." Cash holds out a plastic bag with the bloody fabric.

"The blood was human and fresh," Cash informs Bash as he takes it.

"I went through my files," Heath starts, leaning forward, his palms on his cane. "There are many prospects, but I narrowed it down to the jobs we did together." He reaches into his suit pocket and holds up a drive. "I added the information about their family members." He places it in my open palm.

"We can cross reference with my data," Micah says. "I decided on who did what jobs if we did them together. I listed every job we were together, plus the ones you did alone."

"Good." I look at Steph, who is watching me. "I'm going to have to ask all of you to do a lot of the work. I want my focus to be on my mate," I tell the men in the room without taking my attention away from her.

"As it should be," Heath says.

"We can work together," Micah says. "Right?" He looks at each of the men.

"I've worked with you before, Micah," Bash reminds him. "And still do."

"What about me?" Heath asks, tilting his head in Bash's direction .

"I've done things your little fighting club can't compare to. As long as you are on our side, I can work with anyone," Bash says, shrugging.

"I would never do anything to hurt Quinn or his mate," Heath says.

Steph tugs on my hand. "Quinn, my sister. If they knew about me, they could know she is here, too. I can't let anything happen to her."

"Shit," I mumble.

"Your sister is here?" Bash asks.

"She just surprised me," she says, glaring at Kade and Cash.

"Where is she?" Bash asks.

"With Sally," I answer.

His eyebrows shoot up. "Interesting choice," he says. "I can send Marie to protect her. She likes Sally."

"Thank you," Steph says.

"Kade and Cash, continue to monitor the area. I'm taking Steph to the apartment." I stand. "Can I trust the three of you to play nice?" I look from innocent face to innocent face.

"We are not children," Heath hisses.

Micah rolls his eyes. "We will be fine. Take care of your mate."

I toss the drive to Bash. "Bash, I'll leave them and the office in your hands." I wait for his nod before pulling Steph out of the room.

I hope the building is still standing in the morning.

As I lie in the closet waiting for Steph to come out of the bathroom, I think about the events of the day.

What a fucked-up mess.

The guilt that lives in my chest for bringing this crap into Steph's life is almost suffocating. After all the shit she has been through, she doesn't deserve to be tormented more. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her, and I wouldn't be able to go on.

In the work I did, I had to lock down my emotions. I had to appear calm at all times and show nothing of the rage or hurt I felt deep inside. I couldn't give the sick fucks an indication of weakness. My friends may have thought I was emotionless, but it was all a lie. Whoever is doing this knows I have a weakness. My mate is the one person who I would do anything to protect.

It causes an uncomfortable sensation in my gut to leave most of the search to the people around me, but the most important thing is to be close to Steph. I have been around long enough to have learned from the couples here. At some point, their mate is left alone. And shit hits the fan. I will not join their ranks.

And it's not a hardship to be with my mate. My bear has been clawing at my chest, impatient to claim her, mark her, and horde her to ourselves. He wants to run with her in our other forms; doing so is another form of bonding. I have succeeded in holding him back, but I don't know how much longer I can.

As my Little Cub leaves the bathroom, slowly walking toward me, tonight might be the night I can't hold back.

She is wearing my shirt.

I have kept my jeans on each night, foolishly hoping the fabric will somehow quell my urges. I have used my skill of keeping everything locked inside every minute I have been with her, just as she has used her neck-to-toe pajamas to keep the demons at bay .

Something has changed.

I watch her slide to the floor beside me, my eyes the only thing on my body tracking her progress, afraid if I move, I won't be able to stop taking her. Her heat washes over me, the scent strong and only getting stronger the closer she is.

"Do you know what it does to a man to see their women in their clothes?" I ask silkily.

"What?" she asks softly as she rolls to her side, her arm draped over her hip.

"I think you know." I turn my head. "Do you need something, Little Cub?"

"Are you tired?" she asks instead of answering.

I smile slightly. "I am not."

"Hmm…" Her fingers drum on her thigh, and I fight the laugh that wants to burst out.

She's fucking adorable. "You are taking everything really well." Unless she is hiding her emotions just as I am.

"You have the men you trust around you and Kade and Cash outside somewhere. I guess it gives me reassurance. Plus, you are here." She looks down at my body and the heat blazes.

"I am here." I turn. "If I ease your heat, I will be doing it with my cock," I warn. "I'm going to fuck you my way. Every movement will be because I demand it. If you want something else, you will ask Daddy nicely, and maybe I will grant your wish. If something scares you or makes you uncomfortable, you say your word or stop. We will talk. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she says, the air strong with her arousal.

"I will not mark you, as much as I desire to. I want us to agree when we are ready and do it at the same time." I have no problem marking her first—I am already tied to her for life—but I don't think she is ready. "Unless you are ready?"

"Maybe," she replies but hides her eyes.

"You aren't if that is the word you chose to use." My instinct is right.

"Does that upset you?" she asks, biting her lip and looking back up.

"No. I will never be mad about your choices unless you put yourself in danger," I say sternly.

"Okay."

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, Daddy." She gasps as, in one fluid movement, I'm above her, forcing her to fall to her back.

I brace myself on my palms and my toes, my body hovering over her. "Do you like my hand on your throat?" I ask, transferring my weight to my left hand, my right grasping her throat lightly.

"Yes," she groans.

"Why?" I ask.

"It makes me…" she licks her lips. "It makes me feel claimed. Stable. Safe."

"Good, Little Cub." I rub my index finger over her delicate skin, feeling her heartbeat. "Don't ever be afraid of what you want or what you like. I would never judge you for it. What we do together is between us. I will never talk to anyone about what happens when we are together. I am not a man who brags. If you want to talk to your friends, that's up to you, because I also don't give a fuck what other people think. I may squeeze—" I demonstrate, flexing my fingers. "But I will never restrict your breathing because I can't bear to cause you any real pain. Do you believe me?"

"Yes, Daddy," she breathes.

"Good." I remove my hand and push up, getting to my feet. "Take my shirt off." I watch her fingers toy with the bottom of it for a moment before she comes to a decision and quickly pulls it up and over her head. "Thank you, Little Cub." My mate is glorious. Her hair is messier than usual. The momentum of the shirt causes the strands to spread over the pillow. "You are stunning, mate," I growl.

"Thank you," she says softly, her face flushed.

I unbutton my pants as I look at her. "I have wanted you since the moment I saw you, not just because of the mating bond." I lower my zipper. "I had hoped you would like my brand of love. I'm possessive. I don't want other males near you, mated or not. I hated having you in the same room with the men in my office. I want to bundle you away, for only me to enjoy." I push my jeans down my legs, stepping out of them quickly. "I'm afraid I may scare you with my need."

"You won't," she is quick to reassure me.

"We'll see," I murmur before I surround her, laying flush against her. I close my eyes. It is the first time I have felt every inch of her skin against my body. "I love your smell," I inhale. "I love how soft your skin is." I run my hand down her arm. "Put your arms above your head," I demand and watch with satisfaction as she obeys. "Leave them there unless I tell you."

"Yes, Daddy," she says sweetly.

"Cradle me, bend your knees," I continue, and suck in a sharp breath when she does. Her pussy opens for me. "You feel so fucking good." I cup her throat, glide my nose over her cheek, and whisper in her ear. "You want Daddy to fuck you?"