by Erin R Flynn
“They’re currently busy,” I promised, holding out my arms and letting them wand me. It only stopped at my ring. “It’s magic to keep me from getting images. I take it off and you have any loud broadcasters in the room and I get too much information.” I held out my hand to the guy, turning it one way and another.
“Sit,” he grunted, nodding to the chair. “What’s the folder?”
I set it on the table in front of him before sitting. “Every current law pertaining to your situation or one you will be in soon.” I gave him a moment to let that settle. “You’re not my jurisdiction. I can’t ignore crimes, and your guys were fucking stupid.” I held up my hand to hold him off. “They flashed guns at me when they saw the badge and told me to ‘keep walking bimbo.’ That’s stupid.”
“Not how I’d have told them to play it,” he muttered, studying me closely. “They gonna throw out that using your nose thing.”
“No, they won’t, and I also saw the coke from the window. That’s stupid. That’s ridiculously stupid. Vang’s out.” I smirked at him and nodded. “So is the lawyer involved in the shooting. Those weren’t your guys, but I hear you know him. Wanna ask me how I know that?”
“You were listening,” he grumbled.
I nodded. “We were. The judge is out.” I studied him this time. “You’re smart enough to know that your friends who supply you aren’t your friends. They don’t care about you. They care about money. You make them money, but so could anyone else. You’re completely expendable.”
“I know that.” He snorted as if he really knew it.
“They were pumping Vang full of lies, so let me give you some facts before you make a move you cannot come back from.” I waited until he gave a swift nod. “Nothing in New York was thrown out.” His eyes flashed shock and told me they’d fed him the same bullshit. “It was all completely fucking legal. Some sentences have been carried out. Some have not because of shit above our paygrade.”
“I don’t wanna know,” he confirmed.
“Me either, but none of it got thrown out. They’re not reversing shit.” I leaned in and rested my forearms on my knees. “And they will not be able to get you out. I don’t care what they say, you cross lines into my jurisdiction, and whatever god you believe in won’t be able to get you out. I grew up human too, and what I have seen tells me we are all guppies and just didn’t get it. I get it now.”
“And you’re telling me this why?” he asked after a few moments.
“Because I might have heard what they’re going to try and trick you into doing, promising you the sun and the moon and everything will be fine if you do it.” I nodded to the folder. “The rules are clear, and if you go after an Alpha, you’re dead.” I smiled when his eyes flashed shock. “Yeah, they want me taken out, and they don’t care about who dies with me.
“They want me broken and out of play, but you touch anyone I’ve adopted, that’s a death sentence, and it’s legal. Anyone considered ‘mine’ is protected, and that’s a bit vague, so know I consider a lot of people mine. Some of them are endangered shifters, which is a real fucking thing no matter what Vang says. No one has been enforcing these laws, probably agreeing to them thinking no one ever would.
“That’s changed, and now they’re enforced. So look them over, and don’t listen to the lies I’m sure you’ve been told that it’s all bullshit and loopholes they can all walk through.” I snorted. “You can’t. There aren’t holes—looped or otherwise—but some very clear lines that only idiots would think to cross.”
Anger filled his eyes. “It’s cheating that you Alpha and a cop then.”
I snorted again. “Right, because your side plays fair? Your team doesn’t kill witnesses or threaten people? You don’t bribe or cheat all the fucking time?”
He chilled out, and his lips twitched. “I don’t know about any of that.”
“Of course you don’t,” I snickered. “Think of it as a bit of regression to the mean.” I thought of how else to say it when he gave me a look he didn’t know what that meant. “A bit of balance has returned. It makes you have to go back to being afraid of getting caught or people not just getting shot and nothing happening. It tips the scales a bit when one side was ridiculously unbalanced.”
He sat with that again. “You know they won’t just let me do nothing or they’ll do it themselves.”
“Then they’ll end up dead just like you would have been if you’d done it. You’re not on my team, but you’re still local, and these guys aren’t. Fuck them. They’re a bit busy at the moment, so they’ll have to do their own dirty work.” I shrugged. “Maybe let them know you’re being watched and listened on and go dark before they can get you on the phone. You’ve had to wait out heat before. Sit this one out.”
I blinked, and Carter was in the house with us, focused on the boss. “Tell your guys to stand down. A few are gearing up in the garage.”
The boss did better than most would have, only swallowing loudly before looking at one of his guys. “Tell those fools to calm the fuck down. It’s just a conversation, and I’m gonna beat them later.”
“For the record, he’s just a drop in what our side has,” I told the guy. “Look over the laws and educate yourself. Maybe find new lawyers. Call some and confirm with them.”
He stood, crossing his arms over his barrel chest. “How far can you really smell coke from?”
“I’m not joining your team,” I snickered. I nodded to the folder. “That’s about the only help I’ll give, and that’s mostly because I believe in playing fair. You’re on one team, and I’m on the other. I fuck up my side for being dirty, planting shit, or not adhering to the rules. I suggest putting the word out that I’ll fuck up your team if they don’t start adhering to the rules too.”
“Like what?”
“Killing witnesses, threatening family—you know, that cartel and Bratva shit that ends with dead Chicagoans. You’re not my jurisdiction, but if people piss me off with that shit, I will make sure I can stick my nose into more. And your team does not want that.”
“I hear you, and I’ll pass the word.” He glanced at the folder. “Along with the rules no one’s telling us.”
“At least tell him that you hate pot is illegal so he doesn’t think you’ll walk around sniffing the air for weed,” Carter teased me.
“I hate pot is still fucking illegal,” I grumbled. “That’s illegal, but assault rifles are legal federally. That’s so fucking stupid. Yeah, no, care more about being high but not weapons meant for assaulting. I’ve been hunting and on busts to breach buildings. We use the assault rifles for the latter.”
“Maybe they want to take out a whole herd?” Carter snickered.
“Yeah, right,” the boss chuckled.
Yeah, see, even the other team agreed with us.
20
Carter was right that I needed to work on my anger, and it was boiling over after I got back to the office and Alan Collins still wouldn’t agree to shit, including his interrogation going public, as he was an adult. Him holding out was making UIC and others not go along with the change and progress that should have already been. He and his stupid, narcissist brain weren’t understanding this was real.
So yeah, I was angry. I was pissed and wanted to beat someone’s head in.
I had set up a sparring date with Eugene, but he’d been delayed with training given lots had been pushed back with court. He’d called someone to tag in, getting I needed it, and I was standing in front of Hagan.
He shrugged. “They get a lot of chances to be near you or something as normal as work out with you because they live here too. Now we can and not just push ourselves to stay over or drive back and forth all the time. Reagan’s with the boys, the ancients next door are home, so that’s enough, and I’m going to spend a few days here. We can switch, as we’re not always together. And we can help with pack stuff here.
“Nestor and Freddie don’t live down here, so that’s three available not in the loop and working
on pack everything, and Christos and I are here since Theon is visiting Sioux Falls to try and figure out if there are any viable Alphas for under your umbrella since it’s your pack.” He blew out a harsh breath. “Sorry, I feel like I’m pushing, and I don’t want that, but I miss you, Sera.”
“You’re not pushing,” I promised, glad he wanted to make the effort. “Sometimes it’s hard to make the pieces all fit or things line up since we don’t sit around counting our toes.”
“Yeah, it is.” He studied me carefully. “Are you okay if we stay at the apartment more than just weekends with the boys or whatever?”
“Yes, absolutely if you guys are fine with the back and forth.”
“We are. It’s fine. Guys are lower maintenance,” he teased me. “So you’re up for some sparring?”
“Yup, kinda need it.”
He nodded, probably feeling whatever was coming off of me. We started easy, dancing around each other and throwing hits, blocking them too, but keeping it closer to boxing to warm up. He was a former Marine, so he was well trained.
“I’ve missed getting a chance to do this,” he admitted. “Reagan too. It’s good for all wolves, and we’ve had too much stress as well. Plus, Betas should never get lazy.”
I snorted. “Lazy is not something I’d ever call either of you unless it’s a rare Sunday game day, and then you’re both total bums.”
“Yeah, but that’s so nice,” he joked.
I threw a kick at him, and we upped the level for the next five minutes until we were both sweating. Another five or so of that and I could tell we were both pushing. I was still getting back into it, but apparently Hagan did need to keep up with his training too. Granted, we moved so fucking fast and hit so hard that most would already have tapped out several times.
He launched at me, and I wasn’t ready, getting taken to the mats. We flipped each other a few times, and he got me face down with my arms locked. I kicked him and flipped us, trying to use my knees to get his arms trapped against his chest so I only had to worry about his legs to pin him. I was so focused on that, I wasn’t ready for his hand to reach up and yank down the front of my sports bra.
Or his hands and lips immediately on my breasts.
Okay then.
“So it’s like that?” I panted, not just from the workout anymore.
“Sorry, just—you’re so fucking hot,” he moaned, sucking on my nipple until I grabbed his arms and pinned them overhead. Except that made me straddle his head. “Fuck, your scent is so strong and amazing.” He tried to eat me out through my shorts, and I gave a long moan. “Ride my face, Sera. Please?”
“Some workout partner.”
“I will give us both a workout,” he mumbled as he tried to get more of me.
I pushed to roll off of him, but he was determined now and somehow snaked my sports bra off of me when I pulled away. “Really? Naked wrestling?”
“Yes please, and a side of more,” he moaned, completely focused on my breasts. “Pin me and smother me with the girls.”
“Smother you?” I chuckled, trying not to laugh and encourage him. He distracted me with that, and then he was on me, flipping me over him and then tucking me into a ball under him.
And yanked off my shorts. He groaned as he shoved two fingers in me. “So wet. I could smell it and your sweat. It was driving me crazy.”
“Not how sparring goes,” I reminded him.
“Fuck, it should be.” He kept me pinned when I tried to elbow him. “You got out the anger and a good fifteen minute hard workout or more. I pinned you. I win or tap out.”
“You’re going to tap me,” I snickered.
“Fuck yes,” he growled and pulled out his fingers. “Say yes. Please, Sera, say yes.”
Shit, he was so desperate and pushed every one of my buttons too. “Yes.”
He moved enough to pull down his shorts and pushed in me, moaning deeply when I was too tight. “So much better than I remembered.”
“Me too,” I admitted, turning to find his lips. We were so ramped up on hormones and everything fun that I didn’t care we were at the training and yoga room next to the gym in the apartment building where anyone could walk in.
He kissed me as he let go of my arms that he had trapped behind my back with one of his. That hand immediately went to my breast while his other was on my hip. We didn’t say much, letting our bodies say everything that had been building, telling each other how we missed the other, and the need and feelings were still there.
Fuck, they were so still there. I loved Hagan. I really did, and I wanted him back at my side completely and always.
The sound of skin slapping and moans echoed in the room along with some grunting and growling like a Beta who got to actually dominate his Alpha would. I lowered my shoulders and used my arm to keep quiet as my orgasm hit me hard. He came right with me, both of us shuddering when it was over as we gasped for air.
“Okay, that was seriously hot, but I wouldn’t recommend it without condoms again,” Dr. Sloan said from the doorway.
“Huh?” I asked, blinking at him as I tried to use my brain. Then my eyes went wide. “What?”
He nodded, being discreet as he didn’t look directly at us. “I took blood during that quick checkup I gave you yesterday because I wanted to run a few tests. I read the study about infected shifters and the work being done to possibly reverse the effect the IUDs had on them. I also conferred with the OB/GYN you saw in Memphis. We think your almost dying along with the transfusions from Alena and Eva healed you.”
“You’re saying I can have kids?” I whispered, suddenly not wanting Hagan’s stuff inside of me. He seemed to realize the same, pulling out and quickly cleaning me up with his shirt as if that would matter. But that brought up something else. “I’ve had lots of sex since I’ve gotten better.”
“Yes, and I would recommend maybe getting a pregnancy test or a few and checking over the next week.” He looked at me once I was dressed again. “Your hormone levels say you’re healed. We’ll need to do more tests, and I have someone I want to bring in because you should get answers, but yeah, I think you’re healed.”
“Wow,” Hagan breathed. “Just wow.”
I grunted. “Try being me.” I let out a slow breath as my heart beat in my ears. “Okay, you’re going to run and get some pregnancy tests, and I’m going to try and not have a panic attack.” I glanced at the doc. “Can’t you run the test on the blood you have? Isn’t that more definite?”
“If you want me to, but the lab’s done for the day, so it wouldn’t be until tomorrow, and I thought you’d want to check now.”
“And get condoms,” Hagan grumbled. “We just got back to having sex, and I wanted another round or twenty.”
I snorted. “Topher does not need a sibling. No. I used to use the shot and an IUD.” I glanced at the doc. “There’s shifter birth control, right? How effective?”
“Very, and even more, Nina has sold some charms to some very fertile shifters since they can’t get their tubes tied or a snip snip, as our bodies heal it,” Dr. Sloan told me. “You’d have to talk to her about that.”
“Yeah, okay, panic attack time.”
“No, you’re sparring again,” Carter said as he came into the room. “Hagan, get the test and condoms. Until the new birth control takes effect, she’ll have sex only with those who can’t get her pregnant.”
“Like you?” I drawled.
“Yes, because this is my favorite genre of porn,” he answered, gesturing between Hagan and I who clearly had just had sex after sparring.
I opened my mouth but then closed it and tried again. “That’s a genre of porn?”
“Yes, Sera, just about everything is,” he chuckled. “One I didn’t know you were into.”
I cleared my throat and shrugged. “I sort of figured that out after my fight with Noah. We were both wound up. I used to like after busts too and the adrenaline was riding us.” I glanced at the doc, catching the prescription bottle he tosse
d me. “Thanks.”
“It’s once a month and takes a week to be fully effective,” he told me about the prescription. “Now, the effects can be worse than human ones, and most infected who had side effects with birth control seem to have the same ones as supes.”
“Weight gain,” I muttered, answering his unasked question. “I thought my migraines were worse around my period, but it also made my period regular. Any of the other side effects could be an array of other things. My job can make me pretty irritable and have sleepless nights.”
“Well, if you experience the side effects now, you’ll be pretty clear you are. Weight gain won’t be one with your metabolism. We need to make sure you’re not pregnant before you start them, so once we get the blood test, and maybe I’ll check again this weekend just to be damn sure because it’s dangerous otherwise.”
“Got it. Thanks, doc,” I whispered, staring at the bottle. I’d never thought my body could heal my infertility. I was seriously glad he’d thought of that because it hadn’t even been on my radar. “I still don’t want kids.”
“We know, but that answer can change if your mind does later, much later, like in a few decades,” Hagan said gently, kissing my hair.
“I’m really glad you were here when I found out,” I admitted, thinking back to when I’d found out I was infertile and how much he’d helped me then too.
“Me too. Can I tell Reagan?”
“Shouldn’t I?”
“No,” Dr. Sloan answered. “I’m still worried about your stress levels, Sera.” He gave me a warning look that he knew about the rage and probably how high my blood pressure went, which still wasn’t good for a shifter. “Let Hagan tell the others so no one says something stupid as people do and upsets you. This is enough to shoulder today, and I’m all for Carter distracting you before you panic.”
“Doctor’s orders for sex, nice,” Carter chuckled.
“I didn’t say screw her,” Dr. Sloan grumbled, shaking his head as he left.
“I’ll tell Reagan and the others while I get the test and condoms,” Hagan promised. “I’ll even call Nina. Just get another workout, okay?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me, making me burst out laughing.