Focusing on the issue at hand, he addressed Orlando, “Interesting indeed. I wonder where she is getting her information. When are you meeting with her? I will need to be there to handle this.” Zander could barely contain his excitement at seeing the female again.
Santiago jumped in and answered. “Certainly. We set up the meeting with her at her house tonight to accommodate you. And, I discovered her sister is currently visiting from San Francisco so she will be there, too.”
Orlando crossed his arms over his chest. “You are only planning to erase her knowledge of the Tehrex Realm, right? I don’t want you to hurt her. She has been through enough and deserves better.”
Fuck, if Zander didn’t know better, he’d say that Orlando was smitten. Regardless of Zander’s obssession, this was a needed reminder to stay away from the female. Orlando was far better suited for the human. Zander refused to acknowledge the ache that bloomed in his chest.
“I doona have to explain my plans to you, Orlando, but rest assured I willna hurt her. I will be ready by sundown. You’re excused,” he said and motioned them to the door. When the warriors reached the hall, Zander called their attention again. “Oh, and plan for enough time so we can pick up dinner on the way to her house.”
They both shot him a confused look. He waved his hand, and with a burst of power, slammed the door on their faces.
*****
Elsie peered through her peephole and saw three huge, good looking men standing on her small stoop. Detective Trovatelli with his white-blonde hair sticking out in every direction, reminding her of Guy Fieri, stood there holding up his police badge. She opened the door but left the chain in place. Not that it would stop the hulking men from barging inside.
Their muscles rippled under their button-down shirts, and their aura screamed don’t fuck with me, which should’ve frightened her, but she felt no fear. She felt safe with them as if they would always protect her. She wasn’t sure where the sense of security came from given that she didn’t know them. She wasn’t so naïve to think a badge made them harmless.
“Hello, detectives, how may I help you?” Elsie asked.
“Hi, Mrs. Hayes,” Detective Trovatelli motioned to a familiar man with warm brown eyes and a shaved head, “Detective Reyes and I wanted to go over the case with you again. And this is our colleague, Zander Tarakesh. He has specific skills that will be beneficial to Dalton’s case.”
Her heart stopped when she looked over at Zander. The detectives were good looking but Zander was something else altogether with his sharp, masculine features and silky, shoulder-length, black hair. His broad, muscled shoulders seemed to take up all the space outside, and power radiated off him.
To say he was gorgeous was an understatement. Elsie was thrust out of her body the moment she met his captivating, sapphire-blue eyes. Something about his intense gaze was familiar. It took several moments of ogling the guy before Elsie realized she’d seen those eyes a couple of nights ago when she and her sister had picked up burritos for dinner. Embarrassingly, her reaction to him had been the same.
Arousal, hot and insistent coursed through her to pool in her core. She hid her torso behind her front door to hide her hardened nipples. It was unsettling how rapidly she lost control of her body and began aching for this man. And, it was a stab to the gut that she was drawn to this stranger. Her black hole throbbed painfully, making her sick to her stomach. Guilt and shame warred for dominance over the desire in her mind, and conflicting emotions lashed her.
Her sister and friends told her that it had been over a year and she needed to move on. That was impossible to do when Dalton was barely cold in his grave. She made a promise to avenge Dalton, and nothing would stand in her way. There was no room for anything, or anyone, else. She pushed aside her physical symptoms and held her vows to Dalton close to her heart. She loved him and always would.
CHAPTER THREE
Zander was shaking. He was standing on the cracked, concrete step outside Elsie’s apartment. Elsie…her name was delicate like her appearance. Both were at odds with how she scrutinized him. He wondered what was running through her mind and before he realized what he was doing, he tuned into her thoughts and almost staggered from the grief and loss that hit him.
Humans with their short life spans loved more fiercely and tended to hold on with all they had. This female was no different. Zander, on the other hand, knew nothing about intimate relationships. He had sex with females but it was nothing more than meeting his body’s physical demands. That made him a crass bastard but his Fated Mate’s soul had never allowed anything else. He couldn’t turn his back on that sacred presence.
Sweet honeysuckle brought his attention back to the female before him. Oddly, he wanted to erase the female’s pain. She had suffered horribly, and he found he loathed her sadness. This was another first for him. It was bad enough that he desired the human, but now he wanted to give her affection and comfort.
Suddenly, Orlando turned around and placed both hands on his shoulders. “Relax, Liege. You’re all over the place. We can’t minimize the risk she poses without you,” Orlando whispered in a voice too low for Elsie to hear.
Zander was shocked by the statement. He hadn’t been aware that his emotions were so unstable. He needed to remind himself that the empath picked up everything he was feeling and he needed to keep better control.
Zander nodded his appreciation. He heaved a heavy sigh that carried the weight of his agony. His cock ached for a taste of this female, his heart wanted to reach out to her, and his mind argued she was too fragile. He feared her human status but still wanted her. Not one part of his body agreed with the other.
“Is everything ok?” Her sultry voice struck the match to his desire, heating him further.
Elsie stood there in baggy jeans and a soft, pink sweater that hid her bare skin from his gaze. She smiled at whatever Orlando said back to her, and Zander’s world rotated.
Her sweet honeysuckle scent rushed his senses. It wracked his body with a need for her body and her blood. Something clicked into place and, for a moment, it didn’t matter that she was human or that she had belonged to someone else. He was going to have her. He couldn’t keep her but, by the Goddess, had to be inside her before he died of unspent lust.
Zander was consumed by his desire for the frail human even though he’d never had an inkling of attraction to any human before her.
He was unnerved by his body’s uncontrollable reactions. His cock was hard as stone and only getting harder as he slowly perused Elsie’s lean runners build, full kissable lips, and perfect pert breasts that were pressing enticingly against her pink top. He marveled at the lust coursing through his veins, and his inability to control any aspect of it.
Not that he wanted to control any part of it. Zander wanted wild and mindless passion to consume them both. Typically, he was in complete control and had never experienced such sensations. He gazed at her luminescent, peaches-and-cream complexion and nearly came in his trews. Ravishing.
“Everything is fine, just tired from working long hours,” Orlando replied smoothly. “Can we come in?”
“Sure,” she agreed.
The door closed and he heard the female disengaging locks. He followed Orlando and Santiago into the small dwelling. As he passed her petite frame, he noticed her pupils dilate and heard her heart racing as if she was being pursued by a rabid wolf. Her arousal was unmistakable. Jealousy reared its head when Zander considered she might be attracted to Orlando or Santiago.
Unable to resist, he reached out for her hand. The moment their skin met, he transported to another plane. Electrical tingles hurtled through his system, and his seed rushed into his shaft. He took a deep breath to calm his frayed nerves. It was counter-productive. Her intoxicating honeysuckle scent was thick with her arousal. He was close to losing control, but his worry about her fragile body being able to handle the sensations running through her body kept him in check.
“Elsie,” he murmured as he ben
t his head and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss.
The kiss was gentle and too brief for his liking. He was a ravening beast who wanted nothing more than to devour her.
“’Tis a pleasure to officially meet you. Orlando and Santiago told me aboot your case. Between the three of us, we will find who did this and make sure they pay,” he vowed.
He heard her sharp intake of breath and caught her confused and wild thoughts. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her, but there was so much turmoil. He forced his fingers to relax and let go of her silky hand.
She met his gaze again, and a pink blush stained her cheeks before she replied, “It’s good to meet you, too. We, uh, my sister and I saw you and another guy in that restaurant last night, didn’t we?”
“Aye, you did. I remember it vividly,” Zander admitted.
The way her nipples strained against her top seared into his mind. The recollection made his shaft thicken further. Much more and he may take her right there. Good thing he liked living on the edge, he thought.
She flushed, making her even prettier. “Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable. This is my sister Cailyn,” she pointed to the female standing in the threshold between the small kitchen and living room.
He noted the cramped apartment and the meager furnishings. It was apparent Elsie didn’t have much money, and lived simply, but Zander noted she was proud of what she had and kept her space neat and clean.
He turned his attention back to her sister. They shared some features, but Elsie was prettier, in his opinion. Zander extended his hand to the female.
“’Tis a pleasure, Cailyn.” He shook her hand and gestured to Santiago. “We brought dinner with us. I hope you like Thai.”
*****
Elsie silently watched as the men set out food and chatted with her sister. Dinner? These weren’t typical police officers. She was barely acknowledged by the police before, and now these guys show up acting as though they were long lost friends. Her spine stiffened. Elsie had learned enough in the past eighteen months to know she couldn’t trust anyone.
A warm palm landed on her shoulder. She looked back at Zander and met his Sapphire-blue eyes. That one simple touch was an electric shock, followed by a searing sensation as desire scorched her. She thought her body was long dead, but he brought it back to life.
By no means was she a virgin, but the only man she’d ever been with was Dalton. And, while satisfying, they hadn’t had a very adventurous sex life. With Zander, she wanted to do wicked things.
Her inner-sex-fiend wanted to lick every inch of his body and ride him into exhaustion. It was all so confusing. She stepped away from him, needing space. His touch was too distracting.
“You are no’ eating, lass. Sit, and I will get you some food.” His Scottish brogue was delicious. There was something about a man with an accent.
“No, thanks. Are you always this bossy?”
“Aye, I am,” Zander replied with a smile that lifted one corner of his mouth. Elsie couldn’t help but smile back and stare at his lips, starving for a taste.
She was attracted to this man, despite the fact he looked like he could snap her neck with two fingers. He was tall, about six and a half feet, and built like a heavy-weight champion.
If she had to guess, she’d say he was black-ops or something similar with his fierce demeanor. There was an intensity about him that would bring grown men to their knees, yet she was inevitably drawn to him. What happened to all the training Mack and the others had given her? Apparently, it flew out the window the moment a sexy man entered her apartment.
Thoughts of Mack brought her guilt to the forefront. She would never be with this sexy, enigmatic man. She was a widow, and her heart still belonged to another. She could not, would not, open herself up to anyone ever again. To allow herself to become vulnerable to that kind of loss again was unthinkable. Besides, her heart was in pieces, and they all belonged to Dalton.
Detective Trovatelli broke the tense moment by laughing. “I know what you’re thinking. We know this is unprofessional, but we also know that you’ve been through so much in the past year and a half. And honestly, we’re trying to make up for your bad experience with our department. After meeting you earlier and reading through Dalton’s file, we feel as if we know you. Believe it or not, you matter to us. It’s not just about the investigation. With that being said, you’ve inherited new friends,” Trovatelli offered with a wink.
“Some of us are better than others. You’ll learn that I’m full of awesomeness. I like action movies, but am not opposed to chick flicks, and I make one mean margarita. No need to thank me for blessing you with my friendship, your stunned silence is thanks enough,” Trovatelli finished with a smile.
She let out a shaky laugh. The guy may be good-looking, but he was extremely presumptive. And yet her instincts told her these were people she could trust. Still, it was tough to embrace them with such open arms.
Before she could respond, Santiago snapped back, “You’re such a jackass. More like he’s full of shit. I’m the awesome one.” Their banter put Elsie at ease. She appreciated a smart-ass.
“Ignore him, he’s jealous,” Orlando retorted.
“Both of you are delusional. They are wee bairns most days, but they mean well,” Zander teased and winked at her, too. His wink did things to her she refused to contemplate.
None of these men were like any she had ever encountered. “You guys aren’t right, are y—”
A loud screeching meow cut her off, followed by Detective Trovatelli muttering, “Fucking Rhys.”
Elsie’s smile widened as he pulled his phone from the front pocket of his black slacks. Not a ring tone she would have pegged for a big, tough guy.
“You must have a thing for cats,” she smirked.
Zander and Detective Reyes laughed heartily, causing Detective Trovatelli to look up from his phone. He ruefully shook his head.
“A colleague of mine enjoys messing with us by changing our ring tones. He’s rather annoying, but I do have a soft spot for cats,” the detective admitted.
Goes to show you couldn’t judge a book by its cover. His Cheshire grin held a private joke, and Elsie wondered if she would ever know what that was about. She shook her head. For now, she would give them her trust. After all, she was skilled with a blade and could protect herself.
“What are the next steps, detectives?” she asked, wanting to make sure they had a plan and weren’t blowing smoke up her ass.
“First, call me Orlando, and this bonehead is Santiago,” Orlando gestured to his partner. “Second, we have some questions for you, but that can wait. Let’s eat then we can talk about the case.”
She had no idea what to think about these guys. Not only was she inexplicably drawn to one of them, but she felt an innate kinship to them, and it was disturbing. She wasn’t one to believe in fate, or instant anything, but those beliefs were challenged by the easy camaraderie with these compelling men.
CHAPTER FOUR
Elsie dumped her uneaten food in the trash. It had been more months than she cared to admit since she’d eaten a full meal, and tonight was no different. The anxiety of the upcoming conversation was killing her. She had to tread carefully. These men may seem invincible, but they had no idea of the monsters that stalked the night. They wouldn’t stand a chance against the vampires that killed Dalton and preyed on the innocent.
“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.
“We know this has been difficult for you, and we’re truly sorry for your loss,” Orlando said as his emerald green eyes held her gaze, somehow grounding her.
The sincerity in his voice told her that this man knew of gut-wrenching pain. That comforted her in a way she needed, and the tension in her body eased.
“We are following the leads involving the children from the group home. What can you tell us about them?” Santiago asked.
With those words, she felt far more compassion and caring from these men than s
he had from anyone involved in the case thus far. It was genuine concern, and told Elsie that they meant what they had said about being friends now.
Still, she had to choose her words carefully. There was so much she couldn’t share with them. They’d think her crazy if she told them about the existence of vampires. Finding and eliminating vampires would have to stay with her and other SOVA members.
“I can’t tell you much except that they were all troubled. Unfortunately, looking into them is a waste of time. Obviously, I want the one responsible for Dalton’s death to pay, but I don’t believe there is anything you can do,” she told them honestly.
“We will do everything we can to help you, but understand that at after so much time has passed, leads are lost, and it becomes much more challenging. Now, that doesn’t mean we won’t put all our efforts into finding out who did this. I can promise you that no stone will be left unturned,” Santiago assured as he walked over to crouch near her chair. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. His smile was genuine and comforting.
“Of course, you’re already giving me excuses. No surprise there. And here I thought you guys were going to be different,” she countered and crossed her arms over her chest.
She was foolish to think their approach would be any different. Truth was, there was nothing they could do to find the vampire responsible.
“Hey now,” Orlando chided. “We aren’t giving you excuses. We will find the answers—”
Zander cut Orlando off. “Elsie,” he murmured. Her name leaving his lips was a sensual caress with his Scottish accent. “I give you my word that I will put every resource at my disposal, and there are many, to find the culprit. Your husband will be avenged.” She shivered at his intense tone, and it was impossible not to believe what he said.
Her sister joined the conversation. “El, don’t be so hard on them. Hear them out before you jump to conclusions,” Cailyn urged as she played hostess to the men taking up space in her house. She loved her sister and was grateful she was taking care of her, as usual.
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