by Dannika Dark
“Laundry day.”
Claude turned his head and wrinkled his nose at Christian. “You smell like garbage… and blood… and…” He leaned in and drew a deep breath.
“And sex,” Christian finished, just as cool as could be. “Aye. It was a gory scene at the brothel on Fifteenth. Nothing but fists and fannies as far as the eye could see.”
Claude twisted his mouth as if someone had told him a brainteaser he couldn’t figure out.
And that brainteaser was why the both of us smelled like sex. I snapped my knees together beneath the table and blew the steam from my cup toward Claude. “Lots of juicers out there tonight,” I said, switching topics. “A group of them came after me.”
Claude’s golden eyes briefly pulsed black. “Did they touch you?”
Christian pinched his chin. “Worry not, lad. She touched them back.”
Once home, Shepherd dropped us off at the front door before heading to the garage to park his Jeep. I gazed up and saw Niko standing on the interior balcony on the third floor. He wasn’t paying attention to us but staring off in the distance. As soon as I opened the door, warm air touched my cold cheeks. An orange glow emanated from the study to the right of the stairs. We didn’t have central heating, but the fireplaces provided all the warmth we needed. But it was unusual to see them burning at three in the morning, especially when no one was around. Kira also hadn’t extinguished all the candles in the main foyer.
“Sleep well,” Claude said, yawning as he trudged up the stairs. His bloody shoelace from one sneaker dragged along the steps.
I gave the winged statue by the door a cursory glance before deciding not to throw my coat over it. It drove Viktor crazy. Since I was scantily clad and not wearing panties, it made more sense to leave my coat on for the time being. My boot heels knocked against the floor on my way to the dining room, Christian shadowing behind me. Odds were that if anyone was up, they were sitting in the gathering room. I wanted to see if Viktor was awake and dispel any suspicion he might have about why Christian and I were hanging out alone all night. Since we hadn’t had a chance to celebrate closing our case, that was going to be our alibi.
I passed through the empty dining area and headed into the gathering room, where a fire was roaring.
In one of the chairs facing away from me, a familiar Irish accent made me freeze in place. It wasn’t brooding or full of textures like Christian’s, but melodic, friendly, and dominating the conversation.
Viktor rose from his wingback leather chair and circled it to greet me with a reserved grip to the shoulder. “I am glad to see you’re safe on a night such as this.”
Patrick Bane rose from his seat and bowed, his pale-green eyes flicking between Christian and me with hesitation.
I wondered why a member of the higher authority would come knocking at this ungodly hour. Someone else must have died. “Were we assigned the murder case?”
“I’m afraid not, lass,” Patrick began. “I’m here on behalf of the higher authority.”
I blinked in confusion. “But you are the higher authority.”
His nervous laughter didn’t go unnoticed. “I’m only one member of a larger group.”
Viktor folded his arms. “Every organization has emergency plans, and due to the circumstances surrounding the blackout, one has been set into motion.”
Christian rested his hands on the back of the empty chair. “What circumstances?”
“We’re not able to determine the cause of the outage,” Patrick answered. “I led the investigation the moment the power shut down. We have insiders at key locations. Police departments, FBI, hotels, mental institutions, nuclear power plants—you name it. Any major infrastructure you can think of, we have a man in place. But our contact wasn’t on-site, and we can’t get him back in to see what’s happening. Either this is an unfortunate accident, or some fella set the wheels in motion to destroy our city.”
I shifted my stance. “That’s a little exaggerated, don’t you think? We saw street guardians moving into action on our way home. People go berserk when it’s dark, but it’ll be a different story tomorrow morning.”
Patrick tilted his head to the side. “Come now. Are you really that dim-witted?”
Christian stepped between us, his tone slightly menacing as he said, “She has a valid point, Mr. Bane. People settle down in the light of day. And I’ll ask you nicely to watch your sharp tongue and not cast aspersions on my partner. Next time I won’t ask nicely.”
I pinched Christian’s vest and tugged at it. Asshole or not, Patrick Bane was still an authority figure who could throw our asses in Breed jail for any reason he so desired.
“Forgive him,” Viktor said. “Christian does not mean to threaten you. It has been a long night for us all.”
I took a step left between Christian and my boss. “Naive is the word I think you were looking for,” I said to Patrick. “And I’m not that either. I’m just practical. If the power doesn’t come back on, things will get wild by sundown. But you’ll have a certain amount of order on the streets in daylight. I was just saying that it’s not the end of the world as long as you can control half the day.”
“Nevertheless,” Mr. Bane said, rocking on his heels, “we still have to follow protocol. I’m not pleased with it any more than you are.”
I looked at Viktor. “What does Keystone have to do with protocol?”
Viktor shared a look with Patrick before answering. “My contact has requested our assistance. They are calling upon a few trusted organizations such as HALO and Keystone to locate and transport members of the higher authority to safety.”
Christian put his hands on his hips, and the curve in his spine made me want to look at his firm ass in those pants again. “Why would they need us when they have Regulators?”
“They’ve disbanded,” Patrick answered. “Most are Chitah, and they’re receiving threats from their own kind about protecting those who are not.”
I shook my head. “In what time period are they expecting this to be done?”
Viktor stroked his beard as if he’d already considered that fact. “Twenty-four hours.”
“Feck me,” Christian muttered.
I gave an exasperated sigh. “If there are over a hundred names on your list, it’ll take more than twenty-four hours. Have you seen the traffic situation out there?”
“Without knowing how long the outage will last, we cannot waste time,” Viktor continued. “It’s a paid assignment, but it’s also a matter of survival.”
“What’s wrong with them staying home and hunkering down?” I asked. Seemed like the logical choice.
Patrick put his hands in his pockets, looking like a debonair James Bond, except with thinning hair. “No power means no alarm systems. Some guards went home to protect their own families because of the violence spreading across the city like a rash. It’s a volatile climate, and I don’t mean the weather. We’ve recently implemented new laws that have some people upset, and there have been vitriolic attacks against city officials. There are plenty of factions who use every given opportunity to overthrow the powers that be.”
Well, this added a whole new level of fuckery to our evening. There were probably over a hundred of these officials spread all over the city. I wasn’t familiar with every street and section of town, so it would take a while to find each address unless I relied on the phone GPS.
“Can we tell everyone where to meet?” I asked. “Just give them the address of where we’re taking them and we’ll pick up any stragglers who don’t have a ride.”
Patrick chortled. “They won’t even tell me. Only two men know the safe locations, and they keep that information confidential in case someone compromises our security by revealing it to a third party. That’s how emergency plans function. We can’t even alert everyone on the panel. Security reasons and all that. I only know the plan’s underway because I was working on the outage situation.” Patrick sighed and shifted his stance. “The Regulators were supposed
to assist with the transport. Everyone knows that.”
Something occurred to me. “If Viktor’s contact is the one who alerted us of the plan, then what are you doing here?”
Mr. Bane drew in an audible breath and sighed. “I came for a favor as well. The operation doesn’t allow family members. Only representatives receive rights to sanctuary.”
Tiny footfalls sounded from the far end of the room, and a little boy emerged from the shadows.
Chapter 11
When Shepherd steered his Jeep into the parking space in their garage, his headlights illuminated the dark space. He looked at the other side and noticed a black car. Not one of theirs, unless someone had bought it in the past few hours. The van was running in tip-top shape, so that was unlikely. The plates weren’t new, either. Shepherd eyeballed it before heading up the ramp and outside. Luckily, they had solar panels to operate the door for just such occasions, so he closed it before heading toward the house.
Despite the frigid air, he unzipped his leather coat and took it off. His blood was running hot after all that excitement, and he’d never felt more alive. But something else had been pressing on his mind all evening, and that was leaving Keystone. Before the skirmish, when Claude was riding on the hood, Shepherd should have been more alert to his surroundings. But consumed with all his personal issues, he’d put a brother in danger.
With each step he took toward the mansion, Shepherd knew what he needed to do—give Viktor his resignation. Keystone was his life, his saving grace. But unless he could harness his wandering thoughts and get his shit together, he would only pose a liability. These people deserved better. He didn’t think he could live with someone’s death on his hands, all because he lacked focus.
It broke his fucking heart. Viktor had scooped him up during a bleak time in his life when he had no purpose or direction. Shepherd had fallen in with the wrong men, but Viktor saw something in him and gave him a shot at redefining his life. And Shepherd redefined it in every way, including changing his name from Samuel to Shepherd. He was no longer Samuel—never would be again. That man died the night he saw his baby cut from the womb of the woman he cherished.
Shepherd pulled a cigarette from the hard pack in his coat. He stopped for a second to strike a match and light up. That was when he glimpsed a shadow moving on the lawn. With his coat draped over his arm, he cupped the end of the cigarette, puffing slowly as he scanned the property. He couldn’t see a damn thing in the dark, only four shadows that didn’t belong. His Sensor gifts worked better while touching objects, but when the emotions were ripe, he could pick them up in close proximity.
After heading inside the house and hanging up his jacket, his ears perked up. Though as tired as fuck, he gravitated toward the dining room, where the voices were coming from.
“Who are the four douchebags hanging around the front property?” he called, swaggering into the gathering room with the cigarette between his lips.
Christian, Viktor, Raven, and Patrick Bane turned to look at him.
“Raven, let the others know,” Viktor said. “No sleeping in today.”
Raven moved past Shepherd and gave him a shrug, Christian following behind.
Every time Shepherd saw Patrick, all he wanted to do was wrap his hands around the man’s pasty throat and squeeze. Since Shepherd didn’t want Christian picking up on his racing heart, he kept his cool, patiently waiting until they left the room so he could release the breath he’d been holding.
“What’s going on?” he managed, wedging the cigarette between two fingers.
“We’ll have a team meeting soon,” Viktor informed him.
Shepherd wasn’t looking at Viktor. Wasn’t even listening, for the most part. All he could focus on was the little boy standing by the fireplace.
Patrick clasped his hands in front of him and slowly approached Shepherd. “The situation is more dire than we could have anticipated. I’m leaving my boy in your care until this blackout blows over. I have no options as he can’t come with me, and there’s no one else to speak of I’d trust more. No one knows I’m here, which means no one knows he’s here. I realize your group will be spread thin over the next day, but Viktor assures me he’ll be safe in your care. Your home is secluded, secure, and built like a fortress.”
Viktor glanced at his watch. “Will you excuse me for just a moment? I should wake up our help so she can look after the boy.”
Both men waited until Viktor was no longer in the room.
Patrick stood before Shepherd, a twinkle in his eyes. “I have the utmost confidence that you will protect the boy. If my life is in danger, so is his.” Patrick lowered his voice. “If you do anything foolish, Keystone will be dismantled and locked up for treason. You have more to think about than just yourself.”
Shepherd could scarcely breathe. The boy… staying here? Shepherd had been two seconds away from packing his bags, but now he couldn’t go anywhere. Not with the boy under their watch. Not if his life was in danger.
“I don’t like this situation any more than you do,” Patrick admitted. “But it’s the best strategic move to protect my assets. Keystone has orders under my authority to make sure the boy is kept safe and returned to me when this is all over. If that doesn’t happen, I promise you I’ll do everything in my power to see your entire team executed for being an accessory to a crime against an official. The stakes are higher now. I’m a benevolent leader among my peers, and they won’t take kindly to someone stealing my child after I entrusted them with his safety.” Patrick held up his index finger. “Don’t trifle with me.”
Viktor returned. “Patrick, let me invite you for a drink before you go. Come. I keep the good stuff hidden away in the kitchen.”
Patrick gave Shepherd a pointed stare before leaving the room. Moments later, Kira tiptoed through the dining area and entered the gathering room. It appeared Viktor had whisked Patrick away in an effort to protect Kira’s privacy. Patrick was the sort of man who would barrage her with questions if he knew she would be the primary caretaker. Shepherd didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it sounded as if Keystone had a mission that might take him away from the boy.
His boy.
The kid was still in pajamas. Grey with white stripes… like a prisoner. They were inadequately short, as if he’d outgrown them months ago. Shepherd wondered if the kid even knew how old he was. He probably didn’t celebrate his birthday. Not that it was a big deal among Breed, but it wasn’t uncommon for parents to honor their child’s birth if they chose. At five, he was no longer a baby. But he still looked so damn little.
Shepherd’s eyes shifted to Kira. She wore her red hair pulled back in a messy braid. Her blue V-neck nightgown was neither revealing nor silky. It reached her ankles and did nothing to frame her body type. She dressed as modestly as she behaved. Kira hustled over to the little boy and squatted in front of him, a smile widening across her face. She had kind features, and her smile warmed the room as much as the fire.
The boy observed her closely. Sensors didn’t always trust facial expressions, so he touched her cheeks. When he did, he grinned. He must have sensed her genuine amusement.
Curious, Shepherd quietly watched their interaction. Kira had never spoken English. Hell, the woman barely spoke at all. So he wondered how this exchange would work. She pointed at the boy and then used her index and middle fingers to mimic legs walking. Then she pointed toward the door before crooking her finger, gesturing him to come.
He nodded and took her hand.
As easy as that, Kira led him away without having said a word. It unnerved Shepherd to witness how easily a stranger had gained the boy’s trust. Jesus. Anyone could walk up in a public place and snatch him. Shepherd suddenly felt a surge of protectiveness and wanted to give him a lecture about the dangers out there, but this wasn’t the time. And a mercenary like him had no place giving this kid life lessons.
Kira held the boy’s hand and kept a steady eye on him as they moved through the room.
“Hey, little man,” he said, greeting him with a sideways grin. Shepherd probably looked as scary as hell, and he was certain there were still bloodstains on his white T-shirt, but he didn’t care.
Kira and the boy scurried through the dining room and into the outside hall. Shepherd stepped into a shadowy corner, suddenly feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
Viktor and Patrick finally emerged from the kitchen, half-empty glasses in hand.
Patrick gripped Viktor’s arm firmly. “I appreciate the favor,” he said. “You’re a good man, and I trust he’ll be safe in your care. Can I have your word on that?”
Viktor nodded. “Keystone will look after your son as if he were our own.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Kazan. He’s precious cargo. He’s the most important possession in my life. ’Twould be a crime if you broke your promise.”
“You have nothing to worry about. I trust my team, and he is safer here than anywhere else. We have miles of land surrounding us, and someone will always be watching him. He will not leave our sight for a moment.”
As the two men walked out, Patrick glanced over his shoulder. Shepherd wasn’t certain if Patrick saw him standing in the shadows, but he felt his look just as certainly as he saw it on his smug face. It was a stern warning. To be a member of Viktor’s organization, loyalty played an important role. Patrick took advantage, knowing Shepherd wouldn’t do anything selfish if it meant sacrificing the lives of people who trusted him. A decent man couldn’t live with that on his conscience. Patrick also knew that no one else would protect that boy like his own father.
He had Shepherd by the balls.
Thoughts of leaving Keystone miraculously vanished. It became a moral imperative to stay for the duration of the boy’s visit. The blackout made things dangerous, even if they were far the fuck out of the city.