“My strong warrior, I'm so sorry. Maybe in your father's own way, he was offering you the clan for his mistake. I don't know what your kind feels like when you find your companion, but if your father is as old as I believe he is, even I wouldn't want to go on that long without having someone beside me. Have you heard from your mother at all?”
“I found her about twenty years later. She too has found her true companion, but didn't want to interrupt the bond between my father and me. She's happy, and that is all that matters.” He lowered his head, and kissed her lips softly. “You are an amazing lady, to have so much love inside you after all that was done to you. I will try and talk to my father when we go there, but I can't promise anything. What he did was wrong, but finding you and the others, I can now see the problem he made for himself. There is no way I could ever release you, Suzanne. My heart beats just to hear yours, and my soul cries to join yours soon.”
He trailed his hand down her body, up and under her dress, then he slipped his finger into her pussy. “I can't wait till tonight when we take you, and make you ours.” He slowly fucked her pussy with his fingers. He moved his other hand moved over the butt plug, pulled it out, and gently pushed it back in.
“Granger…” She moaned. Once more he brought her body close to an orgasm, but he stopped. “Hey, that's not fair.” Suzanne pouted as he led her off the dance floor to their table, where Archer waited with a plate of food for her.
“We know what's best for you, Little Red. Now sit down and eat, before I smack that cute ass.” Granger laughed and pushed her chair in as she grabbed a piece of cheese.
Suzanne rolled her eyes and stuffed an olive into her mouth, but glanced up to see all eyes on her. “What?”
Dominic laughed and leaned over, kissing her lips. “You are amazing, that's all.”
“Of course I am, please.” Suzanne shook her head and took a bite out of the roast beef sandwich.
Blair leaned forward and stared into her face. “I would like to apologize for earlier. It was rude of us to ignore your introduction, as Dominic has so kindly pointed out to us.” He smirked, and Dominic snarled.
She patted Dominic's knee next to hers. “Don't worry about it. I'm sure I'm not what most people think Dominic, Granger, or Archer should have as a companion. Actually, I'm quite used to people's reactions to me.” Suzanne took a drink of the Diet Pepsi in front of her.
“You're perfect for us, and I'll hurt anyone who says otherwise,” Granger snapped, and sat down with his arms crossed over his chest.
“We all will, Granger.” Archer held her gaze, daring her to say anything.
“If you three want to pound your chests, go for it. Who am I to stop you? But I have a feeling we're going to be nursing bruised hands for a while until people get used to me.” She grinned at him and finished her sandwich.
“I think she's forgotten the rules; she is getting a little mouthy. What do you think, Dominic?” Archer reached over, and lifted a breast out of the dress, and squeezed her nipple.
Dominic snapped his fingers and a girl came, kneeling before him. “Marsha, go reserve the spanking bench for us. please.”
Suzanne sucked in her breath and gazed down at her hands. “I'm sorry, Master.” Her nipples hardened, and again she was wet.
“I know you are, but you still have a punishment coming. Finish your food, Suzanne.” Dominic reached into his pocket, grabbing her phone when it rang. “Here, you might as well answer it now. I'll turn it off after you're done.”
She frowned and glanced down at her neighbor's number before she answered. “Hello?”
Suzanne heard was sirens and yelling in the background, as her neighbor Sammie yelled into the phone. Suzanne got up, and made her way to the quiet of the hallway. “What's going on, Sammie?” She frowned, and sat down on the bench as Archer, Granger, and Dominic followed her.
“What do you mean, it's all gone?” Suzanne sat there, stunned. She leaned her head against the wall behind her after she hung up with Sammie, but Dominic pulled her into his arms, and held her.
“Sammie, my neighbor. The whole apartment building was set on fire. Burned to the ground.” She put her head in her hands. “I should be used to this by now. Really I should, but every time I think it's okay to relax, they destroy everything I have. Now, they have destroyed all Tonya's belongings, and all those people's lives. I knew I shouldn't have let her move in with me, but she wouldn't listen.”
Suzanne jumped off Dominic's lap and flung her phone across the hall. “I swear, if I ever see that motherfucker, I'll rip his freaking cock off and shove it up his ass. I'm done hiding from them.”
Blair, Ethan, and Thomas strolled into the hallway with Tonya and Anthony.
Tonya put her hands on her hip and turned to Dominic. “What the hell did you do to her?” she demanded before Anthony could stop her.
“Tonya, they didn't do anything. It was someone else. Honey, I told you not to move in with me. Hell, I begged you.” Suzanne shook her head, walked up to her, and hugged her. “I'm sorry Tonya, everything is gone. They destroyed everything.”
Tonya pulled back and frowned at her. “What are you talking about? Who destroyed everything?”
Suzanne glanced up at Dominic, who pulled her back into his arms and held her. “It seems your apartment building is gone, burnt to the ground tonight. Suzanne believes people from her past did it, and I'm afraid she might be right.”
Anthony growled and glanced down at Tonya, who shook her head. “Suzanne, my things can be replaced, but your friendship can't. Were any of our neighbors hurt?”
She shook her head. “No. Sammie called to make sure we were okay, and let us know about the fire, but the fire marshall wants to talk to everyone since they know it was arson.” Suzanne glanced up at Dominic, who nodded.
“I'll call him and have him come here tomorrow, where the two of you can talk to him. I don't think it would be safe for you to go near that place right now.” Dominic kissed her cheek and glanced up at Thomas. “What is it, Thomas?”
“Do you think it's the same gang who abducted your companion?”
Suzanne sucked in her breath and glanced up at Dominic. “You told them about that?” Now they would really have something to hold against her.
Thomas stepped up to her and Dominic nodded. “Suzanne, if we are to protect you, we need to know everything, and just because a bunch of gangbangers abducted you when you were small, and made you do all those things, does not mean you're a bad person. If anything, it just shows us how much strength you really have. Now, do you believe it was the group you called the Bloods?”
She nodded. “I was told earlier they knew where I was living, so it makes sense.”
Thomas turned away from her, and pulled out his phone, punching in the numbers. “This is Thomas Wellworth. Let me speak to Michael now. No, I won't wait, and tell him to pick up the phone if he doesn't want his ass nailed to a cross.”
Suzanne glanced up at Dominic, and he smiled. “Listen.”
“Don't hello me, you little punk. What did I tell you would happen to you if you or any of your gangbangers crossed my path again?” he roared as he stepped away from the group. Blair and Ethan just smiled and leaned against the wall.
“Thomas is the gentle one.” Blair's gaze turned to hers. His eyes were a deep red, as a puff of smoke came out of his nose.
“Michael, you have twenty-four hours to find the punks who took a shot at our king's mate and burned her apartment building, and bring them here. If they're not here by then and this vendetta against her and her friends stopped, my brothers and I will personally be paying you a visit tomorrow night. Remember what happened last time you got Blair pissed off? Just imagine all three of us coming after your sorry ass. Oh, and Michael, I want this guy Lance alive when he's brought to me.”
A shiver ran up her spine as Suzanne remembered when Lance had captured her. “I've got you. It's over, Suzanne.” Dominic squeezed her tight.
“Dominic, I don
't want to see him. I always thought I could handle seeing him, but I can't.” She hugged herself, and glanced down at the floor. “I guess I'm not that strong, after all,” she whispered.
Granger and Archer knelt down in front of her. “Little Red, just because you can't face him doesn't make you weak. This man hurt you badly. You're strong to survive that kind of hurt. Not many people could do that, but you did. You just let us worry about this guy Lance. Do you really believe we would allow you in the same room with such a monster?” Granger wiped away tears she didn't even know had fallen.
She shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. “I'm tired, Granger. Can we go up to the apartment now? I just want to soak in a hot bath and relax. Maybe tomorrow we can play some more?”
Dominic swung her up in his arms. “Blair, you and your brothers can have the East Wing.” Dominic turned and glanced at Anthony. “Anthony, I offer you and your mate the guest quarters out back, for however long you need them.” Dominic made his way to the staircase, and turned to Alex, who stepped into the hall.
“Alex, we'll be retiring for the evening. Will you make sure our other guests are shown to their rooms when they are ready, and let out the dogs? No one should be out on the grounds now anyway. Oh, and Alex, thank you for your help earlier.”
Alex bowed. “It's the least I can do for you after I offended you. Again, I'm sorry, Dominic.”
Suzanne glanced at the man and smiled. “You know, you should introduce Alex to Della when she gets here. I think those two would really hit it off.” She laughed when Alex raised his eyebrow. “Just wait and see, Alex. I know I'm right, I just feel it.” Suzanne glanced up at Dominic, who shook his head. “What time will they be getting here anyway? I want to make sure I'm here when Della comes. She's going to be nervous as it is.”
Dominic turned and took the stairs two at a time, followed by Granger and Archer. “They'll be here tomorrow morning. I already have a room set up for your friend in my private wing. That way, you can be close to her.”
He stepped up to a large steel door. “I'll have your palm print programmed into the security system, along with Granger's and Archer's, tomorrow. For now, we'll use this as our home base until we can find a home that you like.” Dominic held up his hand to the large black box on the side, and the door slid across, allowing them entrance into a large living room.
“My God, this is beautiful.” Dominic lowered her feet to the floor, as she glanced around the large parlor-type room. There was a stone fireplace in one corner, a small bar next to it, and off to the right side there was a large bay window, an old antique couch, and chairs and tables decorated the room.
“I'm glad you approve. Come, let me show you to the bathroom, where you can soak. Archer, why don't you grab Suzanne a glass of the white chardonnay that's behind the bar? The bathroom is attached to the master bedroom.”
Suzanne followed Dominic down a long wide hallway. Painted portraits hung on the walls. “Are these of your family, Dominic?” She stopped in front of a beautiful woman's picture. Her smile was just like Dominic's.
“That's my mother. It was painted about two hundred years ago. She was so full of life, and gave my father such a hard time, but he loved her so much.” He sighed and took her hand, leading to a huge wooden door.
When he opened it, Suzanne was in shock. Never had she seen such a huge bed in her life. The bed alone wouldn't have fit in her living room. The room was done in dark colors and up against one wall was a massive flat-screen TV and stereo. “Well, I guess you do like electronics, after all.” She smiled, as he opened another door, leading into the bathroom.
“Of course. I'm not totally in the dark ages, Little Red.” He swatted her ass as she stepped into the bathroom and groaned.
“I'm going to get lost in that pool. It's going to take forever to fill it with hot water. Are you sure you won't run out before it gets half full?” she teased when he leaned over starting the water.
Archer strolled into the room, carrying her wine and drinks for them. “Sweetheart, we're dragons. If we need to, we can heat the water.” Archer sat the drinks down while Granger pulled her dress off.
Chapter Six
Dominic leaned against the door frame, and watched as Granger gently lowered her into the warm water. Suzanne sighed and leaned against the little pillow he had found for her use. She was right; she could easily get lost in his big tub. He had it created for such an occasion, but for now all three of them would wait in the bedroom for her. Tonight, they would claim her, and start the change slowly. By tomorrow Suzanne would be partly in their world, and by the end of the weekend, totally. He just wished he had found his fourth.
He turned and strolled into the bedroom, and Granger and Archer followed him. “I take it that Thomas, Ethan, and Blair will be going with us to see Remi?” Granger asked, sitting down in the chair across from him as Archer sat on the bed after handing each of them a timber of scotch.
“Yes, but I haven't informed them of the meeting. I'm worried about Blair's association with Franco. After hearing what the Goddess said, Franco's activities make me wonder if he is not also in league with those creating this army we will be fighting.”
Archer leaned on his knees and took a sip of his drink. “I've known Blair for a while. Even though he reports to Franco, I believe him to be on the path of light. There have been a few times I know of that he has gone against Franco, protecting those who are innocent.”
“That's true, but until I have the blood bond with him, I will not risk Remi's family and ours until I know for sure. I have asked all three for the blood bond before we leave on our trip. If they refuse, they will not go with us. I will have only those I trust with us.” Dominic turned to Granger. “What have you heard in your travels?”
Granger crossed his legs and downed the rest of his drink. “This stays in this room, Dominic. Right now, I don't even want Suzanne to know about this. I've been in and out of the Franco's regime in the past thirty years.” He shook his head. “It's not pretty. He has killed many humans trying to turn them. I've also seen snake shifters in his rankings. They were the ugliest things. So I know Franco will be one of the problems we will face. As for Blair, in the past thirty years he has been back to Franco's once, and that was because he was summoned. I think Archer is right. Blair wants nothing to do with Franco. Matter of fact, Franco has tried to send many people to watch Blair to see if he is a traitor to him.” Granger smiled. “But I'm afraid Blair doesn't take kindly to being followed, and had them sent back in pieces. Franco won't challenge Blair because he knows if he does, he has the wrath of the Wellworth family. And believe me, no one wants that.”
There was a knock on the door and Dominic opened it to Blair, Thomas, and Ethan. They strolled into the bedroom. “How can I help you gentlemen?” Dominic asked. “Is all well downstairs? And may I ask how you got in?”
Archer stood and walked to the bathroom, gently closing the door, trying not to disturb Suzanne's bath.
Blair leaned against the wall near Granger while his brothers stood in front of him. “I want to apologize again for our behavior earlier. I'm afraid you shocked us, and for us that is unusual. You asked us earlier for a blood bond with you. We usually turn down any blood bond. We always have. That is what has kept our family secrets and kept us strong.” Ethan glanced at his brother, Blair, who nodded. “As for how we got into your apartments, let's just say it's one of our gifts.”
“But we have spoken with our father, our other brothers, and we are willing to provide you with the blood bond,” Blair said. “Just you three. We trust no others. I'm sure you are aware of what is going on around us lately?”
Dominic turned to Archer. “Archer, why don't you tell Suzanne to join us in the parlor, where we will be more comfortable with this discussion?” He glanced at Blair. “Since she is part of our group, she has a say in how we move forward. I won't keep anything from her. She's been hurt enough, and Suzanne needs to know we trust her.”
Blair stood straight, and made his way towards them. “Your mate has proven herself worthy of you and our trust. It's a shame we couldn't have stopped her abuse. If I had my way, the Bloods all would be wiped off this Earth.” Blair walked with Dominic down the hallway.
“You might get your wish sooner than you thought. Please help yourselves to a drink while we wait for our mate.” Dominic sat down on the couch and stretched his legs while everyone made themselves a drink and got comfortable.
“Tell me something, Blair. What are your connections with Franco?” Dominic watched Blair tense up, then sigh.
“So you've heard about Franco's activities. I'm not surprised. He's become more and more self-centered, not caring who finds out about his dealings. I've tried to distance myself from him while still keeping an eye on his dealings. I can assure you from now on my loyalties will be to you and your family. I've already informed Christopher, Randle, and Jared that I wouldn't be working under Franco anymore, that I'm totally committed to your family and regime.”
Dragon's Den Page 5