He spotted Brian talking to Brock at the bar. Pushing through the people was made easier with a few glares and growls that set off the human’s flight instinct. Sometimes he wondered how they had risen to the top spot on the evolutionary ladder, under shifters of course who had the best of both worlds. Jared leaned his elbows on the bar and watched the crowd in the mirror, not wanting to interrupt the bears if they were discussing something important.
Brian nodded, agreeing that more security was needed and not liking the newest recruit that had been hanging around. “I’m with you. Trusting the demon anywhere near the portal is a bad plan, no matter what Reese says. We need to set up a meeting with Ozzy.” He bumped Brock’s fist and lifted his beer. “Looks like Kara is looking for you.” He teased, smirking when Brock’s face reddened and his head whipped toward where she was sitting at the far end of the bar. The bear had it bad for the Valkyrie. Too bad she was taken.
Chuckling to himself when Brock walked away, he turned to the male beside him, quirking a brow. Something was up with the panther. “What’s up Bagheera?”
“Nothing, just life. How are you?” Jared looked around, half expecting to see Zev lurking in the corner.
“I’m doing well, thanks. I was going to swing by the house later. Daniel tells me that the Cubs are human now. What the hell, Baggy?”
Jared shrugged. Wow, that wasn’t even his biggest problem, but it was a good distraction. “Fuck if I know. One minute furry with claws and the next, pink and fleshy. It just happened.”
Brian nodded and leaned over the bar to grab a couple of beers. He handed one to Jared. There was something else on the panther’s mind, but he wasn’t going to spill without some prodding. It was an old habit that Brian was used to. “Anything else happen that I should know about?”
“Too much.” Jared took the beer and barked a humorless laugh.
Brian opened his beer and took a drink, pushing the bottle opener closer to his friend. “Like?”
“Zev came to see me. He wants me to find Zander. Again.”
He arched his brow. “Again? When was the last time? Why Zander?”
“Something to do with my parents.”
“And?”
“He wants me to track him down and shit.” Jared picked at the label and shrugged.
“Okay. How are your parents involved?”
Jared shrugged “I don’t know yet.”
Brian sighed to mask the frustrated growl that was looking to find its way out. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to talk about it. We both know it. What aren’t you telling me?”
Popping the cap of the bottle, Jared drank half of the beer before lowering it and eyeing his brother. “True. But it’s a fucked up story.” Leaning his arms on the bar, he slid onto a stool and traced the grain of the wood with his finger. He let it all pour out. Zev’s demands. What happened with Daniel in Ireland. The glamor and his being the weird guy Brian had been eyeballing. The stuff with Damion. Zev coming back. All of it. “So if something happens to me, I need to ask you to take care of Serra, Daniel, and the twins. If I live, I want you to be my best man.”
Brian’s head was swimming. He’d thought that weird son of a bitch seemed familiar. If anyone else laid this on him, he’d call them a fucking liar and be done with it. But that it came from Baggy? The Panther did a lot of things, but he didn’t lie. Not to Brian. They’d been through too much. “Yeah. I mean of course I will, but you better order that tux in my size, because you ain’t allowed to die. You feel me?”
Jared felt the tension release his gut and laughed. “If you say so Baloo.”
“I do.” Brian nodded and laughed as he took a drink. “Wait, that’s your line. Isn’t it?” He wanted to suggest that Jared come back to full duty with Alpha Pride, instead of just working on the fringes. But he knew how that would go.
“Fuck you.” Jared chuckled.
“You’re not my type,” Brian smirked. “Seriously, though, if you need anything, all you have to do is call. Serra too.”
Jared made a face at the bear and nodded. “I will. Serra, may not. That’s why I had to ask.”
“I know. Fucking Panthers and their antisocial shit.” Brian shook his head. “I got your six, Baggy, and I’ve got hers too.”
“I needed to hear that.” Jared clapped a hand on the male’s shoulder.
Brian nodded and drank his beer as they fell into a comfortable silence that only two old friends who have been through the fire together can have.
Reese waited for Jared to leave before opening the car door and stepping out onto the pavement. Walking around the cliché cable van with the Xfinity logo on the side, she waited for Caleb to join her, rolling her eyes as he cooed to Jacob, his pet cat. “That’s creepy as shit. You get that, right?”
“Shh.” Caleb slid his thumb over the microphone of his phone. “You’ll hurt Jacob’s feelings.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but had nothing and let her jaw snap shut. “Unfucking believable,” she muttered, shaking her head. “He’s a cat.”
“So are you,” Caleb smiled back, unphased.
Reese pushed her dark wraparounds up and pinched the bridge of her nose. “He’s a house cat,” she growled.
“So?” Caleb looked up from trying to purr into the phone.
“Stop that!” She snatched the phone from his hand. “Goodbye, Jacob.” She hung up and tossed it back to him, arching a brow at his crestfallen expression. “What? I said goodbye. We have a job to do, remember?”
He stuffed the iPhone into his back pocket and gave her his sad puppy dog look.
“Stop it,” she snapped as they began up the whitewashed steps of the porch. She wouldn’t have picked the pale, buttery yellow color for the exterior, but it wasn’t her house. Lifting a fist, she banged it against the door. Her brow twitched. She wasn’t sure if it was in surprise to the vault-like thickness of the door or dealing with the demon beside her. Probably a little from column A and a little from column B.
“I can break it down,” Caleb offered with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Reese shook her head no. “We play nice first. Then, maybe you can break shit. Maybe.” She pounded her fist against the door again.
The door was thrown open, and a huge man filled the space. Dark curls fell over jet black eyes and brushed wide, bulging pro wrestler worthy shoulders. “Enough! You’ll wake the twins.” The glare promised a slow painful death. “What do you want?” A look of disgust flickered over his face when he spotted Caleb. “You?”
“Edge!” Caleb laughed and held his fist out for a bump that didn’t come. “Really man? That’s cold.”
“What. Do. You. Want?” Edge crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Caleb and then swung his eyes to Reese.
She shook the hair back from her face and tilted her head so that she could see him over the top of her shades. It wasn’t hard. He was fucking huge. “We’re looking for Serra Mangus.” Reese’s lips curled up in what she hoped was a disarming smile.
“Not here. Go away.” Edge sneered at the female, not buying it. He stepped back and started to close the door in their faces.
The female stopped the door with her hand. “Wait. My name is Reese Fitzpatrick.”
“I care why?” Edge scoffed, his head turning when he thought he heard the Cubs.
Both of Reese’s brows popped. “I’m doing a job for her, and I need to speak to her. I know she’s here.”
Edge’s big hand dipped into his front pocket, coming out with a handful of change. He tossed it at the female. “I have no idea how much a phone call costs these days, but that ought to cover it. The finding someone who cares part, that’s on you. Good day.” The door closed.
“Well, that went well.” Caleb turned to Reese and laughed.
“Shut up and get in the van,” Reese growled. She would be having words with the panther. The Kanon demon couldn’t cock block her forever.
Edge shook his head and watched the pair
leave the porch. Maybe he should torch them just to be safe. He dropped the curtain that he held back with one finger when Serra walked into the room carrying a laundry basket full of folded clothes.
Tilting her head, she tried to see past him and through the sheer fabric. “Anything important?”
“No. Solicitors.” He smiled and moved his body to block the view. He didn’t know what Miss Kitty had gotten herself into, but he was going to make sure that it didn’t touch Jared or the twins. “I sent them on their way.”
“Thanks,” She grinned and held up the laundry basket. “Where would you like me to leave this?”
“Outside the twin’s room, until they wake from their nap.” His eyes narrowed as he studied her. “Why did you do it, Serra?”
Serra froze and looked at him over her shoulder. “Do what?”
Fuck. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but in for a penny was in for a pound. “At the cemetery the other night.”
“You know?”
Edge nodded and watched the color leave her face. “Aye.”
Serra swallowed hard and felt cold. “Because it needed doing.” Her voice was rough, and her eyes dropped to the floor before returning to meet his. “Are you going to tell Jared?”
“No.” He shook his head. “But you should.”
“Yeah.” She sighed and raised the basket in her hands. “I’ll leave it there. Thanks, Edge.”
He gave a curt nod as she turned to walk away. He hoped that she took his advice.
J ared ghosted into his living room after work and yelled forDaniel and Serra. Opening his shirt, he looked down at his chest at Edge. “I need to speak with you all.”
Daniel had been sitting in his room playing Diablo III and letting his newest bruises heal when he heard his name. Pausing the game, he grimaced and stretched before heading to the kitchen to grab a Nos. If this was another talk about trying to be more like a family, he was going to puke. Growling his annoyance, he forced on a neutral face and found his father in the living room. “You called?”
Hearing Jared yell from inside the house, Serra turned around and went back in, stopping at the fridge to grab a Coke before following her feet to the living room. “What’s up?” She stretched up to kiss his cheek.
Edge stirred, yawning as his resting tattoo form became smoke and he materialized in the room. "I was sleeping, after being kept up this morning." He leveled a glare on Jared and Serra, finding the female's blush satisfying. "What now? It better be damn important, Cat."
Jared waited for Edge to form. “You should be able to move faster than that, Old Man. If you’ll have a seat, I need to speak with you three. It’s important.” He arched a brow at the cranky Kanon demon and rubbed the back of his neck nervously while they sat down.
Daniel sat on the far end of the couch, watching Jared.
Serra dropped onto the sofa, looking up at him and sipped her Coke. Great. A family meeting. Nothing good ever happened in one of those, at least not in her experience. She tried to ignore the chill that settled over her. Did he know what she'd done?
“Zev came to see me. He wants me to go after Zander again. I wanted to let you all know what was going on.”
Daniel snarled at the name and jumped to his feet. His hands curled into fists so tight his knuckles turned bone white, and his arms shook. “I owe that son of a bitch some payback. I’m going with you.”
Serra arched a brow, trying not to roll her eyes at Daniel’s over the top outburst and leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. She felt like she'd been sucker punched and waited for Jared to tell them that he'd told the Ghardian to go pound sand.
“Son, calm down. You’re not going with me. I need you here.”
“What the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck!”
“Daniel I need you here with the Cubs and Serra.”
“Shit,” Serra sighed. “You said yes?” She glanced over at Daniel and then up at Jared through the hair that fell into her face.
Jared looked at his mate and his chest tightened. “Yes, I did. I had to. I’m not sure when I’m leaving again. I want you to know that you don’t have to worry. Nothing will happen to you." He pulled his eyes away from hers to look at the others. "Any of you, or the Cubs.”
“What does that mean?” Serra’s stomach sunk into a cold ball and she knew she wasn’t going to like the answer.
He sat with her. “It means that no matter what, all of you will be okay. I promise.” Jared kissed her cheek, hating the pain in her eyes and knowing that he was the cause. “I need to shower.” He gave her another kiss and left to get clean clothes.
Daniel watched him exit the room and fought hard not to explode in a fury. He knew Jared was trying to protect him, but he wasn’t a goddamned cub anymore! Daniel went to his room and cranked up the stereo, blaring Disturbed.
“Uh, no.” Serra shot up and followed her mate. “Not possible. What did you do? Jared?”
Jared ghosted himself naked and got into the shower. “Nothing. It means we will be okay.”
Serra crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Not buying it. And why is it okay for you to tell us this time?”
“It’s not, but I don’t care.” He turned on the water.
Growling in the back of her throat, she watched him. He was all brick wall with the info. It pissed her off and reminded her of her father. “Fine. Enjoy your shower.” Biting the inside of her lip until it bled, she turned and left the room.
Jared closed the door. As the water hit, he felt tears come for a moment. “Knock that shit off,” he growled at himself.
Edge sat and silently listened to the three of them. He watched Daniel almost hit the roof. He saw the pain in Serra and Jared’s eyes. He heard the yells, the slamming doors and he felt their pain. If Jared thought that he was going into this alone, then Kitty had another thing coming.
CHAPTER 18
Growling and muttering under her breath, arms still crossed over her chest, Serra paced back and forth, wearing a path in the bedroom carpet. She knew there was more to it than Jared was telling her. Just like she knew whatever it was, she was going to hate it. “Oh, no fucking way,” she growled and stomped back to the bathroom, pulled open the shower door and stepped inside. “Tell me the rest, Jared. Please. Not knowing will kill me.”
Jared jumped and put his face under the spray. “Nothing else to tell you. You’re getting wet and letting cold air in.”
Yeah, her clothes were getting soaked. She didn’t fucking care. Not when she saw the shadow of whatever he hadn’t told her in his hazel eyes. She stepped inside and closed the door.
“I don’t care. Don’t be an ass. Talk to me.” Okay, so stomping her foot wasn’t going to make this better but damn it, she wanted to. Ghosting away her clothes, she dropped her head against his back and slid her arms around him. “We both know that this is no joke, baby. Hit me with all of it.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Please?”
He growled when he felt her against his back. “I did.”
Shaking her head, she sighed her disappointment. “Fine.” She knew it was a lie because he’d run from her. He hadn’t done that with her since they’d mated. Serra blinked trying to ignore the stinging of her eyes. “Then how about we don’t waste having a little time without Edge?” She kissed his shoulder and nipped playfully, because either way, he was going to leave her again.
“Meaning what?” Jared reached down and took her hands in his. “I love you, baby. I’m sorry.”
Biting her lower lip, she nodded when he took her hands. “Meaning, I won’t feel like he’s watching.” Stretching up, she pressed her lips to the side of his jaw. “I miss it being just being you and me.”
As her lips touched his skin, he turned to face her. “True.” Cupping her face, he kissed her and then held her against him.
Nipping at his chest, she breathed in his scent that never failed to make her feel safe, loved and wanting to taste every inch of his body. Licking her lips, sh
e slid her hand between them to curl her fingers around his cock, sliding over his shaft and smiling as he seemed to jump against her palm. Her other hand followed the water that flowed down over his skin, caressing the bare spot where Edge usually rested.
He purred and watched her for a moment before touching her core, palming it slowly.
Closing her eyes and leaning into his hand, she kissed him again before pulling his hand to her lips to lick his fingers with a teasing smile. She needed to have him in her mouth with a desperation that surprised her. Sliding her hand over his hip and thigh, her nails scraped lightly up his inner thigh to cup and roll his twin weights in her hand. She slid down his body, nipping at his navel, before opening her hand to run her tongue from the base of his cock to the tip, circling the head before sliding him into her mouth. Her tongue swirled over his velvety skin as she took him in, groaning at how good he tasted.
Jared moaned and pushed her hair out of her face so that he could watch. “Serra...” Her name came out in a purr of lust.
The corners of her mouth curled up at his purr and pulled a matching one from her, rolling over her tongue and vibrating along his cock as she pushed him deeper to butt against the back of her throat. Gods she loved the feel of him against her tongue as he slid in and out between her lips, leaving her wet and aching for him. Relaxing her throat, she took him deeper, clenching it to squeeze him while her fingers rolled his twin weights and her nails dug into the cheek of his ass.
Groaning, Jared fought the urge to rock his hips as she worked him. “Baby.” It had been forever since anyone had done this to him. Gripping her hair, he growled loudly as he became lost in the feeling of it. “Fuck!”
Swirling her tongue around him, she pulled back to glance up. “Don’t hold back, Baby,” she growled, flicking her tongue over his tip before swallowing him again and purring when she felt his hand tighten in her hair. Pumping her head over him, she let the subtle twitching of his muscles under his skin and the not so subtle pull of her hair dictate the speed he needed.
The Mating (Black on Black, #1) Page 29