Family

by Crissy Smith

“We’re not going to, are we?”

  “You can stay in the car,” he offered.

  Dakota sighed but turned the ignition off. “Make me a promise?”

  “Anything,” he vowed.

  “No matter what that man says, remember who you are,” she demanded.

  “I promise.”

  “Kieran,” she said, turning in her seat. “Kieran Smith, my mate, Remy’s partner, Jackson’s best friend, Caspar’s son. You remember who you are.”

  Kieran closed his eyes. The first time he’d seen Caspar, the human had walked through smoke into the room where Kieran’s cell had been. He’d crouched down in front of Kieran and smiled. Then he’d asked if Kieran was ready to get the hell out of there. Jackson was there in his memories. The time that they’d held hands through the bars as Kieran had struggled to breath with four broken ribs. The first time he’d met Remy. The wolf shifter had stood toe to toe with Kieran, glaring at being called a lap dog. Kieran still enjoyed needling his partner. And Dakota, standing in that dark alley, over the unconscious bodies of the men Kieran had beaten up. There’d been something in the way that she’d had her feet braced apart, hands on hips, glaring, that had shown him his life would never be the same.

  But there were more people than just those four. Alex, Jackson’s right-hand man, a good Walker and a friend to Kieran. Damon, the asshole Alpha, who’d helped both him and Dakota more times than he should have. Mitch, the young Walker, who looked up to Kieran and helped with his hijinks. Charlie, the front guard who was growing into a capable agent. James, the human who would be a real asset to the Organization. Angel, his old partner and the mutt she’d mated with.

  All those people had made an impression on Kieran, had helped mold him into the person he was. His father couldn’t touch those memories, no matter how much hate he spewed. “I swear to you that I will remember who I am.”

  Dakota nodded, although she didn’t look any less worried.

  The front door opened and Alex stepped out. He wore jeans and nothing else. He had a rag in his hand as he wiped what looked like blood from his chest.

  “I guess we should see if he’s already dead,” Dakota murmured.

  Kieran pushed his door open then walked to the front of the SUV. He waited until Dakota slipped her hand in his before he took a step forward.

  Alex walked down the steps to meet them. “You don’t have to go inside. Jackson and I can handle this.”

  “Is he dead?” Kieran asked. It was hard to get the words out.

  “No, we were just having a little fun as we waited on you.”

  “Then I’m going in,” Kieran said.

  Lights flashed over them. Kieran swung around, placing Dakota behind him. Alex stepped up to his side.

  “Uh, guys,” Dakota grumbled. “Trained agent here.”

  Kieran didn’t respond though. He watched the two vehicles pull up and park behind Dakota’s SUV.

  “Is that Caspar?” Alex growled. “Damn it.”

  “How in the hell?” Kieran asked. Not only had Caspar and Remy just arrived, but Damon and James were climbing out of the other vehicle.

  Dakota pushed through Kieran’s and Alex’s shoulders. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “I called them.”

  Kieran turned to Jackson, where he stood at the threshold of the house. “Why?”

  “Your father has information that your Organization needs to know,” Jackson told him.

  “But—” If Caspar took custody of his father, he wouldn’t be killed.

  “We made a deal,” Jackson told him. He nodded at Caspar. “It didn’t take much convincing to get your boss to agree to allowing me to keep your father after he’s been questioned.”

  Kieran didn’t understand. He glanced at his boss. The man who had been there for him when he’d had no one else. Caspar had seen him through the darkest days Kieran had suffered through after his rescue.

  “I know more than anyone what evil lives inside that man,” Caspar said, gripping his shoulder.

  “What is everyone else doing here?” he questioned.

  “We’re here for you, buddy,” Remy said.

  “Great,” Kieran snapped. “We should have ordered a pizza.”

  “Funny,” Jackson commented. “Can we take this inside before one of the neighbors gets curious?”

  “Yes,” Caspar responded. “We need to.”

  Kieran let everyone else walk up the stairs except for him and Dakota. He’d gotten a back slap from Damon and a smile from James. Now he stood staring at the entrance of the house, grasping Dakota’s hand, needing her strength.

  “We can still leave,” she told him. “No one will blame you.”

  “Tell me I’m strong enough to do this,” he requested. Kieran felt like that lost boy whose his father had first sent him away, unsure what do to and where to go.

  “You are strong enough,” Dakota stated firmly. She placed her hand over his heart. “Because of who you are, not where you came from. That man in there might have donated the seed that gave you life, but he doesn’t get to claim one delicious inch of you, and especially not your heart. That belongs to me.”

  He yanked her forward then laid his mouth over hers. He slipped his tongue inside when she opened up for him. When he pulled back, he was grinning. “This really is the last obstacle in your claiming of me. I want it to happen tonight. In our room. We could go away and stay somewhere else, but I really want to start our mated life together in the bed we share.”

  “That sounds perfect to me,” she agreed, her palm against his cheek.

  “Tonight,” he said.

  “Tonight,” she repeated.

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulder then led her up the four steps. The old rotted porch threatened to collapse under their feet.

  “I wonder where Jackson found this place,” Dakota commented.

  “I think it’s better we don’t know,” Kieran replied.

  “The house is scheduled to be torn down next week. Jackson is having a community center in its place. The center will offer after-school programs for the kids, night education for parents and free meals to whoever needs them,” Alex said as they entered.

  “Stop listening into our conversations,” Kieran grumbled.

  Alex grinned. “So Mitch was removing all the electronics we used during your investigation in the suite next to yours earlier tonight…”

  “Oh, God.” Dakota leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

  “I believe he said that phrase was yelled—”

  “Shut it,” Kieran warned with a growl.

  Alex merely beamed back.

  “I changed my mind,” Kieran told him. “I hate you.”

  “Sure, brother,” Alex said. “Sure.” He waved them forward. “The others are already inside the bedroom, waiting.”

  Kieran straightened his shoulders then strode across the room and down the hall. No one was talking, cursing or making threats as he paused in the doorway.

  His father was in a chair with his hands, ankles and waist wrapped in rope holding him secure. But it wasn’t the man he remembered from his nightmares. His father had aged, and not well, which surprised Kieran. Walkers were immortal—they could live forever if they chose to. His father wouldn’t be showing such signs unless be was abusing his power or playing with black magic.

  “That’s him?” Dakota murmured. “Not what I expected.”

  “Yeah, me neither,” Kieran responded.

  His father lifted his head and sneered. “There is nothing wrong with my hearing, boy. Now get over here and untie me.”

  Kieran wanted to laugh. He felt no fear from the man in front of him. It had nothing to do with the dry blood, bruises or wounds on his father. No, Kieran could feel his power, so his father still held some strength. But he was weak compared to him. Hell, even Jackson and Damian held more ability than his father. “Why would I do that?” He walked with calm, even steps across the room to stand before the man who’d haunted h
im.

  “Because I am your father. Look at these people in the room. They’re not your family. I am.” Then he turned his head and lifted his lip at Dakota. “I’ll even allow you to keep your pet. As long as you leash her.”

  Dakota stomped forward, but Kieran held up his hand. She stopped.

  Kieran’s father laughed. “Maybe you already have a leash on her.”

  Dakota was growling but didn’t move.

  “No, I have what’s called respect. Hers and those in this room. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” He crouched so he was even with his father. “You rule with fear and pain.”

  “I rule,” his father responded. “And you all will pay for this.”

  Kieran shook his head. “Can’t you see its over? You’re finished.”

  “Am I?” he laughed. “You think one of your little cells will hold me? Me, the Elder of the most powerful clan of Walkers?”

  Jackson strode forward. “Why don’t you tell them what you told me? About your distraction.”

  “Distraction?” Kieran asked.

  “The man behind the ritual killings,” Jackson supplied.

  Dakota gasped as Caspar joined them in a circle around his father.

  “You?” Caspar questioned.

  “I wanted to see how your little group worked,” his dad said. “It was fun. Watching you all chase your tails. Fitting for a group of animals.”

  Jackson strode behind his father and yanked his head back. “Not all of us.”

  “No.” His father clenched his teeth. “But you have your own weakness, don’t you, Jackson Wickham? You think you can take care of so many people. That they appreciate it. They’re using you.”

  Jackson allowed his fangs to drop. “It must be hard to live in a world where you have to watch your back twenty-four-seven. When you can’t trust anyone.”

  “Trust?” his father spat. “What would you know about trust?”

  Kieran smiled. “Everything.” He looked over at Dakota then waved her forward. “Is there anything you want to say?”

  Dakota leaned down to hover in front of his father’s face. “He doesn’t belong to you. He never did. Kieran is the most powerful Walker in existence and it had nothing to do with you. You’ll have no legacy when you die. No one will mourn you. Because you are nothing.” Then she drew back her hand and backslapped him. Just once. “That’s for hurting my mate.”

  “Mate?” his father roared. “You can’t mate with him! He will follow my orders. Kieran, untie me now.”

  The rush of power that assaulted him barely even registered. Not only to him but everyone in the room. James sneezed then rubbed his nose.

  “What was that?” James asked.

  “A pathetic attempt to use what little power the Elder of the most powerful Walker clan has,” Damon responded. “A new-born pup could probably make you sneeze, my mate.”

  “Wait,” Dakota turned. Her back was to his father, the ultimate insult. “You mated?”

  James blushed but nodded. “Uh, yeah. Earlier tonight.”

  “Congratulations!” Dakota exclaimed.

  This time when his father pushed his power, Kieran felt it, but it was almost a tickle.

  James laughed, Remy groaned and Kieran was shocked. His father slumped with sweat pouring of his body.

  “There’s no point in fighting any longer,” Kieran advised. “You’re too weak and no one is coming to save you.”

  “I have money,” his father responded. “Put me in a cell and I’ll be out in less than twenty-four hours. Then I’ll be back, and next time, you won’t see me coming. I’ll destroy this entire city, everyone you care about, then drag you home to your rightful place by my side.”

  “No,” Kieran said. He wasn’t sad or upset. The ending of the relationship with his father meant nothing, really. Finding out that he’d used Greg, the teenage girls and an innocent young man sealed his father’s fate. He would never stop coming for Kieran, which would put those he cared about in constant danger. “That’s not going to happen. No one said anything about arresting you.”

  His father furrowed his brow.

  “You are not leaving this house alive,” Kieran said. “Once we have what we want, you. Are. Dead.”

  “You wouldn’t dare kill me. You don’t have the nerve.”

  “Well, Dad.” Kieran smirked. “You don’t know me now, do you? Or what I would do. But no, I’m not going to kill you. I have something much more important that I need to be doing. Like spending time with the woman that I love.”

  His father snorted. “Love? What a lie. She’ll leave you for one of her own kind.”

  “No, she won’t,” Kieran responded. “Because we belong together. I have faith in her.”

  “Don’t you leave me here,” his father shouted. “Think about your mother.”

  “My mother,” he repeated. “The woman who ignored me unless it was to hurl insults? That’s not going to work on me.”

  “You’ll leave her widowed? Alone in the world?”

  “Because being married to you is so much better?” Kieran asked. “Don’t worry, though, my mother has always craved more power than what she actually processed. I’m sure she’ll have you replaced in no time.”

  The words must have hit close to the truth because his father really started to struggle to get loose. He cursed, threatened and tried to wiggle out of his bindings until he exhausted himself.

  “Fine, leave me, but then you’ll never know where I got all my information on you from.”

  Kieran looked at Jackson who shook his head. Okay, so Jackson hadn’t gotten that information yet.

  “It’ll be easier on you if you just tell us,” Kieran tried. “We’ll make your death quick.”

  “Weak, you’re still so weak.”

  Kieran stepped back. He was finished with this man. “He’s all yours,” he told Caspar.

  Caspar smiled at him. “I hear we’ll have something to celebrate tomorrow?”

  Kieran looked over his shoulder at Alex. He’d been the only one close enough to overhear them.

  Alex shrugged. “I was excited for you.”

  “Yes.” He turned back to Caspar. “Tonight.”

  “I’m happy for you,” Caspar told him. “So fucking happy.” He embraced Kieran.

  “Well, isn’t that sweet,” his father mocked.

  It didn’t matter, though. He gripped Caspar tightly for a moment then released him. “You sure you don’t need me to stay?”

  “We got this,” Caspar assured him. “Go and enjoy your mate.”

  Kieran led Dakota over to where Damon was leaning against the wall with James in his arms. “What exactly are the two of you doing here?” That hadn’t really been explained earlier.

  Damon stopped nuzzling James’ neck for a minute to answer. “Back up. Jackson had a feeling we needed to be here. He couldn’t explain it.”

  “Well, congratulations,” he said. Then winked at James. “Even if you cost me a hundred bucks.”

  “A hundred bucks?” James asked.

  Remy hooted. “I told you!”

  Kieran pulled out his wallet then slapped Remy’s winnings into his partner’s hand. “You two couldn’t have kept it in your pants for forty-eight hours?”

  Damon growled. “You bet on our sex life?”

  “Or lack of,” Kieran responded.

  Damon swiped out, but Kieran danced out of the way.

  “I’ll see you later?” Kieran asked Remy.

  “You supply the beer and I’ll bring the pizza,” Remy promised.

  Kieran punched Remy’s shoulder before looking back at his boss. He nodded to Caspar for the interrogation to begin then pulled Dakota along to leave.

  “I have some questions for you,” Caspar stated.

  Kieran took one last look around the room. Caspar stood tall in front of Kieran’s father with Alex and Jackson at his back. Kieran was walking away from his father, and he trusted the men in the room to make sure Kiera
n was finally safe.

  “And if I don’t want to answer?” he heard his father respond as he stepped out of the room.

  “You okay?” Dakota asked.

  “Better than okay,” he assured her. “It’s really over.”

  “Yes, yes, it is.”

  Kieran laughed then picked her up and raced to the SUV. “Shit, we’re blocked in.”

  Dakota groaned.

  “Hey!” Remy steeped out onto the porch. “Take ours.” He tossed the keys to Kieran.

  “Thanks, man,” Kieran called as Dakota threw her set to Remy.

  “Just don’t let him drive,” Remy replied. “I just got it detailed.”

  Dakota swiped the keys from him. “I don’t have a death wish.”

  Kieran grumbled but he was too happy to really complain. As he climbed into the passenger seat, Remy disappeared back into the house. Kieran tried to find some sort of compassion for what would happen to his father, but instead he could only remember the many times that he had been punished. His father’s punishments had grown more severe as Kieran had aged and too many had been undeserved. There was an entire clan that would be better off when the Elder Argent didn’t return.

  He kept his hand on Dakota’s thigh for the entire drive back to the hotel.

  They didn’t speak, much like earlier, except this time the sexual tension in the vehicle was overwhelming. Dakota had said she wanted to wait to claim him, but Kieran didn’t know if he would be able to. Now that the last link to his old life had been severed, Kieran felt free. He didn’t have to worry about his past coming back for them. Instead he could concentrate on the long future they’d have, side by side.

  Dakota pulled into the parking garage and into her assigned spot.

  “I want you to claim me as soon as we get inside,” Kieran told her. “I don’t want to wait any longer.”

  She turned to him. “I’m not sure I could hold back anyway. I want you to be mine and I want everyone to know.”

  “They will,” he vowed.

  “I’m shaking,” she said

  Kieran covered her hand with his. “Me too.”

  Dakota smiled and he knew that he would spend the rest of his days putting that happiness in her eyes. He pulled her forward to pepper gentle kisses over her chin and up to her mouth. She moaned as their lips met. This was heaven, having the taste of his beloved on his tongue.