Shifted Illusions

by C. E. Black

  Her eyes, when she looked at me, were shiny, and so bright the green irises reminded me of sparkling emeralds. I stared into them, wondering if this would be the last time. She had every right to never want to speak to me again. It would kill me, but I deserved to suffer.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered again.

  “Leo,” she sighed. “It’s not—”

  “Yes, it is. I snuck into Hawk’s office, went through his files, and uncovered an email claiming they had information on Wolford. I contacted them, gave them my personal information instead of going through the proper channels. I didn’t even think of the consequences. It’s my job to protect you, the Division… I put us all in danger for my own selfish reasons.”

  “Wanting to catch the guy who killed and tortured people is not selfish.”

  I scoffed. “My motivation was of a more personal nature,” I sneered.

  Beth ran her fingers over the scar on my face. “I understand. You made a mistake, but—”

  “A big fucking mistake, Beth. You could have died. Hawk might still.”

  “And that’s my fault,” she said. Then she laughed, and when she saw my confused expression, she laughed some more.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Us,” she sighed. “Arguing over who’s responsible for this madness. We could probably debate it for hours and neither of us would give in.”

  I chuckled. “You’re right. But it is my fault.”

  She ran her fingers over my scalp and down my neck. “How about this… I forgive you, Leo. I forgive you for putting revenge ahead of our safety. Though I don’t think you did it on purpose.”

  “No, I didn’t. I promise.” I pulled closer and pressed my lips to her forehead. “I forgive you, too, for choosing death over me.”

  A sob caught in her throat, and I held her tight. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

  “I know. I understand why, and I forgive you. Just don’t fucking do it again.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  I buried my face in her neck and breathed in her scent. I’d almost lost her. If Hawk hadn’t put his life on the line, she would have died.

  “I need you,” I whispered in her ear, and she shuddered. “Please.”

  My cock, always hard when Beth was near, throbbed with desperation. She wrapped her leg around my hips, and I rolled on top of her.

  Her finger traced the healing scratch on my cheek. “I need you just as much,” she said, her bright eyes pleading with me. “Make me feel alive.”

  I took her mouth in a frantic kiss. She clawed at my back, and I rocked my hips, wanting to be inside of her already. With a growl, I slid down her body and spread her thighs, grinning when she gasped. I planned on making her gasp dozens of times before the night was through. I dipped my tongue into her soft folds and groaned. She tasted like sex and desire. Addicting, I thought as I sucked and licked, gathering as much of her on my tongue as I could. My dick wept, begging to have his turn. He would, but first, she needed to come.

  I sucked on her clit, flicking it in hurried strokes. Her hips raised off the bed, but I didn’t let up, keeping the rhythm until her whole body seized. She gasped, and her muscles relaxed as she fell back onto the bed.

  I licked my lips, savoring her essence for a minute more while she recovered. Then I flipped her over onto her stomach and lifted her hips where I wanted them. I pushed her knees apart and spread her cheeks, lining my cock at her dripping opening. But I paused before pushing into her, worried I’d gone too far.

  Beth wiggled her hips and groaned into the pillow. “Please,” she begged. “Please fuck me.”

  “My pleasure,” I growled, thrusting into her at once. She screamed into the pillow, and I slammed into her hard. “Let me hear it,” I told her. She turned her head and whimpered. Her hips pushed back, asked for more cock, and for damn sure I gave it to her.

  I couldn’t get enough. My fingers dug into her ass as I drove my cock into her over and over. “Fuck, you’re so tight. This pussy, she’s mine. You hear me?”

  “Yes. Yes!”

  “Say it.”

  “It’s yours. I’m yours.” She cried out when I reached around to circle her clit with my finger.

  “That’s right, Beth. Mine. And whose cock is this?” I asked, driving into her deep.

  “M-mine!” She shouted.

  “Good girl. Now come all over your cock, Beth. Now.” I plunged into her one last time, coming hot and hard as her sweet pussy squeezed around my cock. She screamed her release, and I leaned over, biting down on her shoulder. Her pussy rippled in response, and I groaned as another shocking orgasm rocked through my body.

  “God damn, woman,” I moaned. Then I slipped out of her and fell onto the bed, where I promptly passed the fuck out.

  25

  Beth

  Heart in my eyes, I watched Leo sleep. He faced me, chin tilted and lips parted as though seeking a kiss. I ached to place my lips against his but dared not wake him. After the day he had, he needed the rest. I, too, was exhausted, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let go of the fear I’d experience the moment I realized Henri had risked his life for mine. If he didn’t survive, I would never forgive myself. Leo needed him. And so did I.

  Not able to help myself, I ran the back of my fingers softly over Leo’s cheek. He turned his face into my palm and sighed. Smiling, I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. But Leo’s phone vibrated with an incoming call, and once again, sleep eluded me.

  “Leo,” I whispered. I placed a kiss on the tip of his nose and another on his chin. “Leo, wake up.”

  Groaning, he wrapped his arms around me and rolled until I was tucked underneath him. “Sleep,” he said.

  As much as I loved the new position, the call could be about Henri. “Your phone’s ringing. It could be the hospital.”

  As quick as lightning, he had his phone pressed to his ear. “Hello?” His brows furrowed as someone spoke on the other line, then his wide-eyed gaze connected with mine. “He’s awake.”

  I jumped from the bed and ran down to Leo’s room, where I’d left behind some clothes. Leo was right behind me. We dressed quickly and quietly, then rushed out of the house.

  Leo sped out of the driveway, and I grabbed the door handle in a white-knuckled grip. My heart pounded as he raced down the winding roads back to the hospital, holding my breath when he took a turn at full speed.

  Leo cursed, and the car suddenly slowed. “Sorry,” he murmured.

  “No, I’m okay. Just go. Get us to Henri. Go!”

  Grinning, he hit the gas, getting us to the hospital in record time.

  Leo barely managed to put the car in park once we arrived. We rushed through the doors, in a hurry to see our lover, but came to a skidding stop at the entrance to the patient ward. Tall and foreboding, Teij stood with his arms crossed, his large body taking up much of the hallway.

  “I know I have a lot to answer for,” Leo said through gritted teeth, “but I need to see Hawk first. Then you can fire me, arrest me, or whatever the fuck you’re going to do.”

  Panting, I looked back and forth between the men. Teij raised an eyebrow, and Leo cursed. “What the hell!” He threw his arms in the air. “Go ahead, get it over with.”

  “I’m not firing you, Leo. Putting you on probation for most of the foreseeable future, yes. Handling an unauthorized lead on an investigation alone was a clear violation. And that’s why I’m giving you a warning. Do it again, and I won’t be so lenient.”

  “I was the reason Hawk and Beth almost died. I don’t think probation is enough.”

  “Good thing you’re not the one in charge,” Teij answered dryly. “You’re not at fault. This time. The email you opened was a Trojan Horse. And yes, when you replied, it gave them the opening they needed to hack our systems. But you didn’t comprise Beth’s location. There was a plant in the Wyoming Division. When we contacted them, they made their move. The mole was with them when they came to question our detai
nees and fried our equipment. It’s why Roman was late with the chopper.”

  “Where’s the Wyoming Division now?” Leo asked.

  “Gone. Once they figured out what was going on, they took care of the traitor and headed back to Wyoming. I let them take James’ men with them. It’s their territory.”

  Leo put his hands on his hips and shook his head. “How the hell did someone hack into Hawk’s system with a fucking email?”

  “Alex is looking into that. I’m sure Hawk will help.”

  “When he’s recovered,” Leo replied. “Speaking of… I’d like to see him now.”

  “Just a minute.” Teij didn’t smile, but his expression softened as he turned to me. “Sorry about all the shop talk. I’m glad you’re safe, Beth.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’ll let you visit Hawk now. He’s been asking for you both. Leo, I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Leo grabbed my hand, and we rushed down the hallway. At Henri’s room, laughter floated out of the cracked door, and Leo hesitated.

  “Hawk?” he said, his tone full of disbelief as he pushed open the door. The room fell silent, and I wished I could see. I put a hand on Leo’s back for support.

  “We’ll let you two have a moment,” I heard a familiar voice say. Goodbyes and promises of food and other items to be delivered soon rang out. Then Leo stepped to the side, and people filed out of the room.

  I dropped his hand to move out of the way, nodding as Leo and Henri’s friends passed. Sam and Foxy each gave me a hug, and the others had welcoming smiles, but I had a hard time looking them in the eye. Leo’s forgiveness didn’t mean I wasn’t responsible for their friend almost dying.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” Sam said as though reading my thoughts. “We all are.”

  “Thanks, Sam.”

  “Girls’ night soon,” Foxy pointed at me. “Liz has insisted.”

  “Where is she?” I asked.

  “She was nice enough to watch the kids while Jordan, Alex, and I came to see Hawk. She’ll probably be by later.”

  After promising to call soon, they left me standing alone in the hall looking into Henri’s room. Leo was bent over the bed, his and Henri’s foreheads pressed together. Leo had one of Henri’s hands clasped in both of his, as he whispered apologies and loving words. Henri gazed into Leo’s eyes as though he hung the moon.

  It was an intimate moment that didn’t include me. I wasn’t jealous or hurt, and I didn’t feel left out. But I did want to give them their moment. I would get mine soon enough.

  HAWK

  My entire body ached, but the pain didn’t override the sheer happiness I felt when I saw Leo standing at the door. He strode to the bed and pressed his forehead to mine.

  “Oh, God, Hawk. I thought I’d lost you.” He grabbed my hand in both of his and held on tight. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

  “Don’t,” I whispered back. “Save the groveling for later. I just need to hold you.”

  “You got it.” He clasped my hand in both of his and sighed. “This will have to do until we can find a bigger bed.”

  “Soon,” I agreed. “Where’s Beth? They told me she was okay. Is she? I need to see her for myself.”

  “She was right here… Beth, where are you going?”

  Beth stood in the hallway, her hand on the door as though she were about to close it.

  “Giving you two a moment. I’ll be right out here when you’re ready for me.”

  “Don’t make me spank you,” Leo growled.

  I chuckled when her mouth fell open.

  “A spanking?” she sputtered. “I’m not a toddler.”

  “No, you’re a woman who’s asking for a butt whoopin’,” Leo replied. “Now, get over here.”

  With a huff, she came to stand next to the bed, and I reached for her hand before she could offer it.

  “If anyone is getting a spanking, it’s you,” she told Leo indignantly.

  Leo’s wicked grin made an appearance. “Kitten, you can spank me any time you want.”

  Beth’s exaggerated sigh was followed by a chuckle. “I swear you will drive me insane one of these days.”

  “Now you see what I’ve been dealing with all these years,” I told her.

  Beth smiled at me, and I swear it was like someone had pulled back the curtain and let the sunshine through. “You’re so beautiful,” I couldn’t help but whisper.

  Pink tinged her cheeks, and she ducked her head. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  “Yeah, I always look this good after surviving a hundred and fifty-foot drop.” I’d said it sarcastically, a joke to keep that smile on her face. Instead, it was like a dark cloud hovered over her. “Too soon?” I asked.

  She shook her head and sniffed. Tears filled her eyes, and I cursed. “Beth…”

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Kitten, we already talked about this,” Leo leaned over the bed to rubbed her arm. “It’s not your fault.”

  “What? You think it’s your fault. Beth…” I squeezed her hand.

  “I didn’t fall, Henri. I jumped.”

  “When the chopper lost control,” I acknowledged.

  She shook her no. “I made the decision to jump before that. I shoved James into the control panels then jumped. I was the reason the chopper crashed,” she whispered.

  It took me a second to wrap my mind around what she’d told me. And when I did, it hurt, I wasn’t going to lie. “You tried to kill yourself?”

  “I couldn’t go with him—”

  “We would have come for you,” I admonished. “No matter what, we would have found you. We would have never let him take you.”

  “He had a buyer,” she said, causing both Leo and I to hesitate.

  “What?”

  She let out a shaky breath, and I moved over to make some room on the bed. “Climb in,” I demanded. She opened her mouth to protest, but my look said now was not the time to argue. I pulled her close as she slid in next to me, ignoring the twinges in my bruised body. I needed to feel her next to me, and I had a feeling she was in the same shape.

  Tucking her head under my chin, she sniffed. “James told me there was a man in Atlanta who had paid him money for me. That’s where he was taking me.”

  Leo cursed and marched to the door.

  “We have to tell Teij,” I said. “They could still be in Atlanta.”

  “What?”

  “Do you think we’d fucking let some asshole who tried to buy you continue to walk this earth?” Leo growled. “I think not, kitten.”

  The corner of Beth’s mouth tilted up. “I like it when you call me kitten.”

  Leo hesitated at the door, his anger draining away as he turned to grin at her. “Are you trying to distract me?”

  Beth shook her head. “No. Just wanted to tell you so you wouldn’t stop.”

  “Good to know.”

  “What about me? What do you want me to call you?” I asked.

  She leaned down and brushed my lips with hers. “Whatever you want to call me, Henri.”

  “Darlin’?” I asked.

  “Sure,” she whispered, brushing her nose against mine.

  “Sweetheart?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Oh, that is not fair,” Leo whined.

  Chuckling, I pushed out of bed.

  “Whoa, whoa,” Leo said, rushing back to me. “What are you doing?”

  “We need to talk to Teij, and I want to be there. I also need to get to the office. I trust Alex, but I need to find out who the fuck hacked into my system.”

  “I have an idea,” Beth said. “Why don’t we call Teij, put him on speakerphone. That’ll take care of one thing on your list.”

  “Smart,” Leo agreed as he pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed our boss.

  “Wait. Is that my phone?” I asked.

  Leo winked. “Just borrowing it until I can get a new one.”

  “Hello?” Teij answere
d.

  “We have some crucial information you need to hear.”

  “Shoot,” Teij replied.

  Leo sat the phone on the bed and gave Teij the run down. “James told Beth he was taking her to Atlanta to meet a buyer. Apparently, some asshole had given him money for Beth.”

  “What a coincidence,” Teij murmured, causing Leo and I to look at each other.

  “They paid enough money that my… absence caused James trouble,” Beth added.

  “This guy won’t be too happy when he finds out James isn’t coming,” I told him.

  “It’s a nice time of year to visit Atlanta,” Teij said in a tone that meant whoever this fucker was, he would pay. “And before either of you offer to join the mission, no. And that’s an order. This is too close to you. We can’t have any fuck-ups.”

  Both Leo and I closed our mouths mid-protest, and Beth giggled. Leo grumbled an appropriate acknowledgment, and I sighed. Teij was right. Unfortunately.

  “What did you mean by coincidence?” I asked. “Is there something going on we should know about?”

  Teij paused. “Actually, yes. Alex did some digging. It seems whoever sent that email was searching for something. Left traces all over our system.”

  “What were they looking for?” I asked.

  “Wolford. And they also left a lead, just as Leo suspected. Beth wasn’t the only half-breed to be sold on the black market lately.”

  Leo’s fist tightened until his knuckles shone white. “Interesting,” he growled.

  “We thought so. Alex thinks he’s followed the bread crumbs back to our hacker. I want your input, and if you agree we’ve found our guy, I’m putting Sōm on it.”

  I cut my eyes at Leo. From the sound of it, this hacker could be on our side. Sending in the scariest of us all to deal with a possible ally might be a terrible idea. “Are you sure…”

  “He can get answers faster than any of us,” he stated, his tone leaving no room for debate.