Double Shift

by Amara A. Minx

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Publisher’s Note:

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author’s imagination.

  Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.

  Solstice Publishing - www.solsticepublishing.com

  Copyright 2017 – Amara A Minx

  Double Shift

  Amara A. Minx

  My first dedication is to you.

  For reading this and starting our journey together.

  Chapter One

  Gideon safe in his office, felt the wind brush past Gabriel’s fur as his wolf brother ran through the forest. He sent his twin a telepathic message.

  ‘Did you find the weapon?’

  Gabe connected instantly before abruptly severing the link.

  ‘I’m just about to enter the cellar entrance. No movement so far. Fuck off, I need to focus.’

  Gideon had been careful to keep his regular schedule. He spent the entire workday in his spacious office, predictably sending his staff home at the normal time. His appointment with Julius wasn’t for another hour. He knew the vampire would arrive early.

  Julius had been watching him for years. So, when he sent the bloodsucker an invitation to meet. He knew the leech would be unable to resist. Julius’s men had doubled their efforts to track his movements today so the monster who butchered his parents obviously intended to keep the appointment.

  Gideon caught the vampire’s feral scent of disease before Julius entered his office.

  His contemptuous gaze took in the emaciated blonde man staring back at him.

  “You’re early Julius.” He made no attempt to move. Having instructed the hooker to continue the blowjob during his client’s presence.

  “I see your tastes haven’t improved.” Julius said, taking in the female with disgust.

  Gideon gestured his chin towards a young vampire with Julius. The boy, hardly more than eighteen, wore so much makeup, he resembled a puppet.

  “Neither has yours,” Gideon said, tapping the hooker on the shoulder. She immediately stopped and sidled past the vampires, smiling as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Gideon zipped up his dress pants.

  Gabe’s thoughts interrupted him.

  ‘I have the knife. I’m heading out.’

  ‘Get back to your vehicle immediately.’ Gideon sent back. ‘I’ll stall him.’

  Julius, being an ancient, was extremely difficult to kill but Vlad the Impaler’s knife, forged using Vlad’s own blood, could kill any vampire.

  “I assure you he has his uses.” Julius smirked at the puppet.

  “Really?” Gideon sneered back.

  ‘Shit! I was spotted running back into the forest. I’m going to stash the knife, double back and remove the threat.’

  Gideon felt Gabe scratching into the damp earth, saw the rock under which he hid the blade before circling around to confront his prey.

  Julius’s phone shrilled. There was a long pause as he listened.

  “It’s not him. It can’t be him.” His eyes narrowed. “Because I’m looking at him right now, you fool. Get it back!”

  “Problem?” Gideon taunted.

  “Who is he?” Julius snapped back. “The shifter you hired?”

  “You know how rare wolf shifters are.” Gideon said. “Are you sure it’s not a real wolf?” The brothers had gone to great lengths to appear as man and dog whenever they were seen outside the penthouse. On rare occasions together, Gabe took wolf form, posing as Gideon’s pet.

  Julius squinted. “Why did you ask for this meeting?”

  “I have purchased the property on which you currently reside.” He grabbed a document from his desk and thrust it at Julius. “Here is your eviction notice.”

  Julius stared at the papers.

  Gideon tuned into Gabriel. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I just killed a vampire.’ Gabriel said. ‘His head came off easy so he must have been a newbie.’ Gideon felt Gabriel turn back to retrieve the knife. Running fast. There was a thud, a howl of pain. Silence.

  Julius flashed Gideon a look of contempt. “This isn’t over,” he said, storming out of the office with the puppet trailing behind him.

  He had bet his life that Julius still wanted him alive. He’d guessed right.

  Gideon tried several times to connect with Gabe. He had learned to suppress his emotions. And even the possibility of his brothers’ death couldn’t change that. He had several vehicles but he grabbed the keys to the black Escalade and headed to the garage.

  Gabriel’s voice was clear as Gideon inserted the key in the ignition.

  ‘She’s so soft... smells so good.’

  The contact broke. Was Gabe hallucinating? Did someone have him? A woman?

  Gideon retrieved the knife easily and followed Gabriel’s scent to the road. The stench of Gabriel’s blood was everywhere. He could see where his brother had dragged himself to the side of the road. There were no tread marks on the pavement, so whoever hit him hadn’t stopped to check the damage. However, there was a second set of tracks in the dirt.

  ‘Gabe where the hell are you!’

  ‘Fuuuck,’ came the reply. ‘What the… Oh shit. I think I’m in a veterinary clinic.’

  ‘Are you fucking kidding me! How did you get there?’

  ‘She brought me here. She’s so luscious.’

  ‘For fucks sake Gabe. Focus. Tell me which vet.’

  ‘Longview. Man she’s soft. Gentle. Beautiful.’

  Gideon had never been attracted to a woman when he was in wolf form and, to his knowledge, neither had his brother. But Gabriel continued to fawn over the women, making a fool of himself.

  Whoever she was, he would be getting Gabriel the hell away from her.

  ***

  Gideon pulled into the clinic parking lot, ran up the steps and yanked open the office door searching for his brother.

  Gabriel’s chest was covered in blood. His large black head rested in a redhead’s lap. She stroked his fur murmuring in his ear. Gideon’s heart fluttered when she raised her stunning green eyes.

  She had a petite curvy body, the kind a man would fantasize about but her multi-coloured clothing was atrocious. Still, his brother’s fascination with her was understandable. She was giving him one hell of a hard-on. “Damn it. We don’t have time for this.” Gideon said.

  Emily Green, enamoured of a beautiful black dog, whispered words of comfort in the poor beast’s ear. She had felt an overpowering compulsion to help the poor animal the moment she saw it on the side of the road. It had dragged its back legs leaving a trail of blood, making her think it would have to be euthanized but, since arriving at the animal clinic, it had stopped shaking and had calmly curled up beside her. A surprising, but healthy, sign. Maybe my evening is looking up. Then he stormed in.

  The tall, dark-haired man was the most handsome man she had ever seen. His muscles were evident beneath his tight-fitting, blue, dress shirt. The immaculate, grey suit marred only by the wet dirt on his cuffs. His eyes were beautiful. Chocolate coloured. Predatory. They seethed in anger. He was furious. With her.

  The man stared at the dog in silence. He shook his head.

  “You stupid fucker,” he said.

  His voice had an immediate effect on her body. A warm flash started in her face, working its way down to her nipples then settling in her wet pussy. Emily had never been aroused sexually before. What mad
e him so special? She continued to pet the animal’s snout nuzzled between her legs. Was that outburst meant for me?

  “Mister.” Emily’s jaw clenched. “This poor dog has been run over and abandoned. Keep your heartless comments to yourself.”

  “His name is Gabriel,” Gideon said. “And he’s not a dog. He’s a wolf.”

  “He’s yours?” The wolf had worse luck than she did.

  He seemed annoyed and indifferent to his pet’s predicament.

  “Unfortunately.”

  “Buddy. There’s no way you’re taking Gabriel. You obviously don’t give a crap about him, so he’ll be coming home with me. Oh, and if you give me any guff I will call animal services.”

  He closed his eyes for a moment and addressed her.

  “Emily.”

  She startled. “How do you know my name?”

  The wolf brought his head up, panting. Its tongue hung to the side. If she didn’t know better she would think it was laughing.

  ***

  Gideon shook his head. ‘You’re such a prick Gabe.’

  Gabriel pulled his long tongue back into his mouth and nuzzled Emily’s crotch.

  ‘You’re just pissed because I have my snout in our mate’s crotch and she thinks you’re a total asshole and yeah, dickhead, she’s right.’

  Gideon gasped. ‘What the fuck did you just say?’

  ‘You heard me. Our mate.’

  “Fuck!” Emily’s look of disbelief made Gideon add, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” Gabe was right. Emily thought he was an asshole. Her timing was the absolute worst. He’d finally found the knife to kill Julius and she was a complication he didn’t want.

  Gabriel lifted his head again and looked at him.

  ‘By the way. She’s a virgin.’

  “Fuck me,” Gideon said.

  “Oh my God! Do you speak any English or is swearing your only language.” She gently moved the wolf’s head and stood, hands on her hips, giving what Gideon supposed was her angry look. It was as intimidating as an aggravated kitten.

  Gideon caught his first pure whiff of her without Gabe’s blood overpowering the scent. Jesus, she smelled good. His cock pressed urgently against his pants. This was why Gabriel had reacted to her in wolf form. She was potent.

  Gideon rubbed his eyebrow. “I apologize, Emily. This situation is… frustrating.”

  Emily glanced back at the wolf.

  ‘You will have to take her first.’ Gideon said. ‘I am incapable of the gentleness she requires.’

  ‘Gideon, you will have to be. I won’t be able to shift for at least two days, so you must take her. Mark her and make sure she is ready for both of us. I have done everything you asked of me for twenty years. I beg this one thing. I need her. We need her.’

  Gabe was right. Since that night he had done whatever Gideon asked. He had been the one to track down the human servant so Gideon could buy Julius’s property. The one to retrieve the knife. He had been there in the dark days after the rescue. They never discussed what Gabriel saw the night he rescued him but he knew that Gabe’s colourful language and jokes were his way of showing him loyalty. Now, he was serious.

  ‘I’ll take care of it,’ he said. He locked eyes with Emily and smiled. His animal instincts triggered the anticipation of the hunt.

  Emily assessed Gideon with a puzzled look. Never trust a smiling wolf.

  Chapter Two

  Gideon smiled but Emily didn’t trust him. He said he was frustrated which was understandable, but he was angry and she wasn’t taking the chance that it was with the wolf. She would have to take Gabriel home with her. Her roommate Beth would understand. The wolf wasn’t her first stray. She just hoped the vet would accept a payment plan.

  Emily opened her mouth to speak but Gideon interrupted her.

  “I apologize for my earlier obscenities.” Gideon said, inclining his head toward the wolf. “But I didn’t expect Gabriel to be stupid enough to get his ass decimated by a semi-truck.”

  If Emily hadn’t been the only person in the room, she would have sworn he was talking to someone else. His sarcasm seemed directed at the wolf. Maybe Beth was right. The good looking ones were crazy.

  “Wow. You’re a real piece of work. You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to let you have Gabriel. Besides, if he had been hit by a semi he would have died.”

  “You want to keep Gabriel?” he said, his tone serious.

  “Yes. I’m keeping him.” What am I doing? I have no money to pay for his vet bill let alone the money to support a large animal.

  “Of course.” Gideon nodded.

  Emily kissed the wolf’s nose. Oh my God. What a callous bastard. He just agreed to let me have his pet without a second thought. Gabriel licked her hand as she grabbed her purse. The man didn’t deserve to have this beautiful animal.

  “Emily.” Gideon said. “There’s just one slight problem.”

  She rummaged for her wallet. Yeah, that had been too easy.

  “Gabriel has a brother. If you want him you will have to claim the other as well.”

  She threw her purse on the couch in frustration. “You are unbelievable. I can barely support myself and you’d make me take both your animals.”

  Gideon’s voice cracked like a whip. Pure anger. “Yes.” He paused and drew a breath. “They won’t survive without each other. As for financial consideration, it would be unfair for you to support them. I will guarantee their upkeep.”

  Emily was shocked. He was serious. He believed the brothers couldn’t survive without each other. But that was ludicrous. Litter-mates rarely grew up together but, since he insisted on supporting them, who am I to pass up the opportunity? She already loved Gabriel. He was so beautiful and gentle. Surely, his brother would be the same.

  “Okay. I’ll take them both.” She nodded.

  The man’s smile was beautiful but his eyes remained cold. He took her hand and kissed it gently.

  Emily’s body glowed. A slow burn that ignited between her legs. Damn! What is wrong with me? I never drool over men like Beth does. I don’t want a man. I need to get the hell away from this one. Unfortunately, her vagina disagreed.

  Gabriel sniffed the air and whined. Oh crap. I probably smell like a bitch in heat. Thank god humans don’t have an animals’ sense of smell. How embarrassing would that be? I don’t even know the jerk’s name.

  “My name is Gideon Wright,” As if on cue the man announced, “How about we take Gabriel to my regular vet and when he’s feeling better you can have both of them.”

  Emily inclined her head. “You do know this is an animal clinic right?”

  “Yes. But I have an... expert… on my payroll who specializes in the care of wolf breeds. He is the only one I trust with Gabriel’s care.”

  Emily could tell by his clothing that he was rich but a vet on his payroll? She didn’t know this Gideon, other than him being a jerk and who had a beautiful pet. Should she really go with him? Beth would think she was nuts. No wait. Beth would have taken one look at him, had sex with him and then dumped him. Just this once, can I be like Beth?

  “Okay... I’m Emily Green.”

  Gideon gestured toward the door. “Let’s go Gabe.”

  Emily couldn’t believe it when Gabriel jumped down from the couch. He was shaky, but she’d had to support his weight when she helped him into the clinic. “That’s amazing. You don’t know how badly injured he was when we got here. Even the gashes in his fur seem better,” she said.

  Gideon smirked. “Yeah, the bastard heals quickly.”

  Gabriel shuffled over to Gideon’s designer pants, lifted his leg and pissed.

  Gideon recoiled but not before the damage was done.

  “Fuck you, Gabriel.”

  Emily tried not to laugh but was unsuccessful in keeping the humour from her voice. The funny part was, Gideon didn’t seem mad. Irritated maybe but not mad. “Maybe you should consider getting him fixed. I hear that neutering helps with... accidents.�
�

  Gideon grinned at Gabriel who started growling. “That, Miss Green, is the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”

  He didn’t even flinch when Gabriel snapped at his leg.

  Emily grabbed her purse. Gideon obviously trusted his wolf not to bite him. Maybe there is more to this strange relationship.

  ***

  “Where’s your vehicle?” Gideon said as they walked to the Escalade.

  “I don’t have one. A co-worker was driving me home from the café when we spotted Gabriel. I made him bring me here,” she said.

  Gideon wrapped Gabriel in his suit jacket and placed him in the backseat. He started up the Cadillac as Emily fastened her seat belt.

  “Do you mind if I ask you some questions? You’re taking on a large responsibility.”

  “Of course. What would you like to know?” Her expression seemed genuine.

  Gideon should feel bad if he was deceiving her but he didn’t. Emily believed his concern was for Gabe’s welfare. He needed to discover everything he could, on the short ride home to his penthouse, because she was going to feel a lot less comfortable once she found out she wouldn’t be allowed to leave. He tried to make the questions sound like he was interested in Gabe’s new living arrangements. “Where are you from? Did you grow up here? Is your family close by?”

  “I grew up in foster care,” Emily said. “We lived in California, originally, but we moved here a year ago.”

  “We?” If there is a boyfriend in the situation the bastard is a dead man.

  “Beth and I… we’re best friends. She was placed in my foster home when I was five. We’ve lived together ever since.”

  Emily’s love for her friend was obvious. Gideon leaned toward her and stopped himself. He’d almost kissed her. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m always in control.

  “What’s Beth like?” He didn’t care about her friend but he needed to distract Emilyfor a moment while he got his mind and body back in line.

  “She collects roosters. We have rooster figurines, cups and plates. You name it. And she is so funny. Her mother was Jamaican and father American so she has all these mixed sayings. I swear I’m the only one who understands her half the time.”