by Lynn Hagen
“I know a trick,” Adam said as he held out his hand. Matthew gave him the cards and took a seat on the couch with his brother.
“Show us,” Maddox shouted.
Adam chuckled as he shuffled the cards. “My grandfather taught me this.” Adam set half the deck aside, shuffled them some more, and then held them out to Matthew. “Pick a card.”
Matthew scooted forward and plucked one from the deck.
“Don’t tell me what it is,” Adam warned him. “Just look at it, remember what it looks like, and push it back into the deck.”
Adam smiled when Matthew concentrated really hard on the card in his hand, nodded, and then pushed it back into the deck. Shuffling a few times, Adam pulled a card free and flipped it over. “Is this your card?”
“How did you do that?” Maddox shouted as he bounced around. Matthew was looking at Adam like he was Harry Houdini.
“If I show you, you can’t tell anyone else.”
“We promise. We promise,” Maddox exclaimed excitedly.
Adam spent the next half hour showing them what his grandfather had shown him. The twins grabbed the other half of the deck, trying the trick out on each other until they got it right. A strange feeling came over Adam. It almost felt like pride as the two laughed and performed the card trick over and over again.
“You two causing trouble?”
Adam glanced up to see a man with short blond hair and a bit on the muscular side walk in. He had the same eyes as Matthew—a deep, intense grey. This had to be their dad.
“No,” the two answered quickly. “Adam was showing us a card trick.”
“Your dad is looking for you two,” the man announced. “I think he wants you to clean up your room.”
“Aw, man,” Matthew mumbled as he lowered his head and walked out, his brother close behind.
“Cute kids,” Adam replied as he took a seat on the couch.
“They’re a handful,” he commented and then stuck his hand out. “I’m Murdock.”
“Adam,” he replied as he shook Murdock’s hand. “Can I ask you something?”
Murdock shrugged. “Go ahead, although I can’t promise I’ll answer.”
“Fair enough,” Adam said. “Your sons are being raised by two fathers?”
Murdock nodded.
“What happened to their mother?”
“Nothing,” Murdock replied as he walked behind what looked to be a juice bar. He began to pull things down from a cupboard as he continued to talk. “Heaven is their father. He gave birth to all three of our children.”
Adam sat there in total shock. “A man gave birth?” That was totally impossible. Adam would have called the man a liar, but after what he had seen, he wasn’t so sure it couldn’t be true.
“It’s a long story,” Murdock said as he added some fruit to a blender. “But yes, a man gave birth.”
“That doesn’t freak you out even just a little?” It was freaking Adam out big-time.
“It did at first,” Murdock admitted. “But when it’s your mate, you learn to accept the unexplained. I love Heaven just as much today, if not more, than when we first met. Although,”—Murdock chuckled—“I thought Maverick was going to kill me when I first met Heaven.”
“I’m in the same boat.” Adam sat back, still unsure how he was going to get out of this mess.
“Do you know how to get out of trouble with Maverick and earn his respect?” Murdock asked as he added ice to the blender.
“No.”
“Fix the mess your damn self. Don’t wait on anyone to help you.” The blender began making a loud crushing noise as Murdock watched the ingredients mix together. How was he supposed to fix this mess himself when Maverick had him on lockdown? And how could Adam fix the mess when Mr. Kenyon was the leader of some vampire hunter group who was using him for information?
Vincent.
“Do you have a phone I can use?” Adam asked.
Murdock took his phone off his clip and tossed it toward Adam. “Don’t tell Maverick I let you use it, and don’t make me regret letting you make a call.”
Adam thought about Murdock’s twins and he knew he had to fix this. Somehow, in the short span that they were in the den, they had wormed their way inside of him.
For the first time in Adam’s life, he considered what it would be like to have children. He could honestly see starting a family with Melonee and Ruttford, and that thought was scary as hell, especially after the way his parents raised him. But after learning that it was okay to be with a man and a woman, that the people in this house not only accepted that, but lived alternative lifestyles themselves, Adam was kind of looking forward to the prospect of becoming a father. He was brought out of thought when the line clicked, but Vincent didn’t say a word.
“It’s me, Adam.”
“Little Bo Peep get lost?” Vincent asked.
“I need a favor.”
“I was already working on a favor for you.”
“This takes precedence.” Adam glanced at Murdock. “It involves my family.”
Chapter Thirteen
Maverick tugged at the tie around his neck. It felt more like a damn noose as he stood in the mirror and examined himself. Never would he have thought to see himself in a business suit. Kota thought it would make a better impression when he showed up in court to defend his mate and the other two.
Kota was going, of course, along with Micah. They looked like they were heading to a boardroom rather than a courtroom.
Smoothing his hand down the front of his suit, Maverick prayed he came home with his mate or he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He didn’t get a second of sleep last night. He couldn’t, not when his bed was so damn empty. It gave him a glimpse of what his life would be like without Cecil in it, and Maverick didn’t like it one bit. The man might be a royal pain in the ass sometimes, but the cold, empty feeling Maverick had suffered through last night wasn’t something he ever wanted to experience again.
Last night was a harsh reminder of what his life was like before Cecil had come into it. The memories of those lonely times had haunted him all night. No matter what happened today, Maverick was bringing his mate home—legally or not.
Maverick turned when he heard a throat clear behind him. A camera flash went off, temporarily blinding him.
“No one is ever going to believe me if I don’t get proof.”
“Show anyone that picture, Kota, and they’ll never find the body.”
“Oh, come on, Maverick,” Kota teased. “You look fucking fabulous. We should have gotten you into a suit years ago.”
Maverick gave a low growl. He was not only dying to take the damn suit off, but take the leather thong out of his hair. Heaven had come into his room this morning and put his hair into one long braid. Maverick wasn’t used to his hair being bound. It was driving him crazy.
“Luke is here,” Micah announced as he walked into Maverick’s bedroom. “Holy shit, look at you!”
“One more word from either of you and I’ll dispose of both your bodies.” Maverick walked from his bedroom and down toward his office, praying he didn’t see anyone on the way. He looked like a damn idiot in the dark suit.
Luke was in his office waiting, but thankfully—although the man’s eyes grew round—he didn’t say a word. He grabbed his sunglasses off of his desk and placed them on his face before giving a nod. “Ready.”
Luke grabbed the three and shimmered them behind the courthouse. Maverick was in a foul mood and prayed no one pissed him off. He didn’t like being without Cecil. Not only that, Melonee’s mates were walking a thin tightrope with the bullshit they were pulling. He still couldn’t believe Adam had led the vampire hunters toward Brac Village and Ruttford’s brother was in debt up to his eyeballs.
He was going to clean the mess up when he got home and show those two the door. There was no way he was allowing his little girl to be mated to two irresponsible men. Ruttford didn’t have a serious bone in his body, and Maverick was ti
red of dealing with the man. Adam could get his ass out of town as well.
Maverick walked into the courthouse, feeling his skin tighten as he looked around at the hustle and bustle of men and women in suits as they hurried from one direction to the other. He knew he had grown accustomed to dealing with matters in the paranormal world because being in the human world, in this court system, made him feel out of his depth.
It was unfamiliar territory, and all Maverick wanted to do was get the three mates and get out of here. This was what he had tried to avoid, contact with the human populace on their terms. If something happened, he couldn’t shift and Luke couldn’t shimmer. Their hands were virtually tied.
Maverick pushed the doors open to the courtroom where Cecil and the brothers were having their bail hearing and noticed how crowded it was. The judge was sitting up front behind his raised desk, looking irritated already this morning.
“Bail denied,” the judge said as he slammed down his gavel. “Next case.”
Cecil was nowhere in sight. Maverick, Kota, and Micah took a seat up front, waiting. Luke had shimmered out, telling them to call when they needed him. He had said being here in New York made him nervous. It was too crowded, too busy, and he feared his ears would give him away.
Thankfully Maverick didn’t have to worry about sunlight or any other problems with Cecil, Blair, and Oliver. They were human.
What concerned him was the judge taking his frustrations out on the mates and throwing the book at them. There was no way he was allowing the three to do any time, but that would mean housing fugitives.
He was going to kill Cecil for this.
“Docket number 56421. The state of New York versus Cecil Walters, Blair Weston, and Oliver Weston.”
Maverick stood as the three were ushered into the courtroom. He smoothed his hand down his suit nervously, wondering if he could really get them out of this when someone called out, “Devlin Stanton as their attorney, Your Honor.”
Turning, Maverick saw a man walking toward the front of the crowded courtroom, a briefcase in his hand.
“You always show up late?” the judge asked. The man did not look pleased.
Maverick groaned. This had to be a public defender. He prayed this man knew what he was doing—although, for a public defender, he wore a very expensive suit.
“Your Honor, these three men were caught in a raid on an illegal bare-knuckle boxing ring that had been under surveillance for months,” the prosecutor said as he stood on the other side of the three mates and the lawyer.
“My clients are upstanding citizens in their community, Your Honor. They have volunteered for over a decade at the local recreation center, have helped out at the resource center for the battered, and have helped the community in many other ways. Request they be released on their own recognizances.”
“Your Honor,” the prosecutor argued, “they have the resources to escape the country. They don’t even live in the state of New York. Request their bail be denied.”
“They are deeply rooted in family in Brac Village, Your Honor. They pose no flight risk.”
“Tether them,” the judge said. “Released on their own recognizances until their court date.” The gavel came down.
“This way,” the lawyer said to Maverick.
“You’re one hell of a public defender,” Maverick said as he grabbed Cecil and pulled him into a hug. God, it felt so good to have his mate in his arms again. He knew this wasn’t over, but feeling Cecil safe in his arms calmed Maverick’s wolf.
“I’m not a public defender,” Mr. Stanton replied. “Christian hired me.”
“Now what?” Cecil asked.
“Now you get a pretty little bracelet around your ankle and stay home until your trial.” The man moved forward until they were out of the courtroom. “I’ll take care of the paperwork while you three go down to have the bracelets put on. I’m pretty sure I can get the charges dropped, but you’ll have to give me until after the holidays.” The man gave Maverick a hard stare. “Christian told me about Cecil’s penchant for trouble. Mark my word. This judge is a hard-ass and will bury them under the jail if they disobey the court order. Keep him home.”
Maverick wasn’t letting the man out of his sight.
Melonee knew Maverick was going to blow a gasket when he found her gone, but she had decided that leaving her home behind and moving away wasn’t the answer. This was her family, and she was going to fight to keep themandher mates. She knew in her heart that she would be miserable if she had to live outside the Den.
As much as she loved Ruttford and Adam, life without her family didn’t hold any warmth for her. Melonee had to find a way to keep her mates and the people she loved more than life itself.
If Maverick wanted proof that she was an adult, she was going to give it to him. She knew it wasn’t easy for him to let her go. Melonee even understood his need to keep her safe and happy.
But she was suffocating under his love.
If what she was about to do didn’t prove that she could handle her own and that she was grown, Melonee wasn’t sure what she was going to do.
“This is a very bad idea,” she mumbled to herself as she walked into the small building with high windows and a buzzer system. She didn’t know the first thing about dealing with Shadow elf henchmen, but she needed to find a way to get Fire out of this mess without going to Maverick for the money.
She was going to show him that she could handle this situation on her own. She just hoped the two blue men didn’t squash her like a bug when she met with them.
If they would even talk to her.
Steeling her nerves, Melonee walked up to the counter, looking the woman directly in her eyes. “I’m here to see Myne and Yanyte.”
The woman with her purple spiked hair and loud makeup gave Melonee a droll stare as she lowered her horn-rimmed glasses and looked at Melonee over the bridge of her nose. “Are you sure about that, darling? Most people don’t get a visit from those two until it’s too late. I’ve never had anyone come looking for the two. Do you have a death wish?”
That was not comforting, but Melonee knew she had to find some way to free Fire from his debt before she killed her brother-in-law herself. Melonee nodded at the woman, even though she felt like turning around and running from this place. “I need to speak to them.”
The woman shrugged. “Your funeral.” She picked up a phone and dialed, talking quietly into the receiver.
Melonee glanced around at the plainness of the room she was standing in. She wasn’t sure what she had expected when she tortured Fire into telling her where this place was, but it didn’t look like a bookie office—not that she would know what one would look like.
Just as the woman hung the phone up, Myne and Yanyte shimmered in behind her. They weren’t what she was expecting either. For some reason, Melonee had pictured them as some sort of Italian musclemen with greased-back hair and toothpicks sticking out of their mouths.
Instead, she found herself standing in front of two stunning blue men who could have worked a runway in Paris. One had black hair that settled at his shoulders in soft waves, while the other had a deep chestnut-brown coloring to his hair, which was cut short and stylish. They both had intense green eyes and handsome faces. They were sleek in build, but there was no mistaking the power emanating off of them in thick, commanding waves.
“You come to pay a debt?” the black-haired one asked.
“No,” the brown-haired one said as his eyes glided over Melonee, making her feel as if he had just violated her with his deep-green, penetrating gaze. “I would have remembered a fine-looking female like this one.”
Pig.
“I’m here to talk to you about Fire’s debt,” Melonee replied as she stood her ground. She refused to wither under their gazes. She could tell they were used to their intimidation tactics scaring people, but Melonee had grown up with Maverick. They were going to have to come at her harder than with mere glares.
“Why don’t we
talk in a more private setting? I am known as Myne, sweetness.” The dark-haired man took Melonee’s hand, kissing her knuckles.
Melonee pulled her hand free. “This will do just fine.” She waved her hand around the room. Privacy was something she didn’t need with these two horndogs. She had a feeling they wouldn’t be talking about Fire if they got her alone.
Yanyte glared at her when she refused their offer. “The only thing we want to hear about Fire’s debt is that it was paid. That sorry son of a bitch better be lucky we are currently busy, or he would be dead by now.”
Myne leaned forward, his face inches from hers. “And you would own the debt after his death. We are fully aware you are Ruttford’s mate.”
“There has to be something you gentlemen want in exchange for clearing his slate,” Melonee replied and then rolled her eyes when Myne’s nostrils flared. “Besides sex.”
“As good looking as you are, doll,” Yanyte replied, “you don’t have fifty thousand dollars’ worth of goodies for us to play with.”
Melonee wanted to smack the crap out of both of them. If she wasn’t bargaining for someone’s life, she just might have done it. “There’s nothing you two need taken care of?”
Yanyte threw his head back and gave a deep laugh. “What could you do for us that we couldn’t take care of ourselves?”
“Wait,” Myne said as he placed his hand on Yanyte’s arm. “There is one thing. If you can accomplish this feat, we will wipe Fire’s debt clean.”
Melonee knew it was going to be colossal. Fifty thousand dollars was nothing to sneeze at. But she knew, no matter what it was, she would do it. “Go on.”
Yanyte glanced at Myne, and Melonee caught the nervousness in the man’s eyes. What could be going on that would make these two so ill at ease?
“We seemed to have incurred someone’s anger,” Myne began. “So far, he hasn’t come after us, but I have a feeling it is only because he wants us to sweat before he seeks his revenge.”
“It was a misunderstanding,” Yanyte added. “If we had known the person placing the small wager was being protected by this creature, we would have forgiven the debt.”