Latent Desires (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Rebecca Airies

  He followed Logan. Chloe stayed at his side. At the door, he paused. His woman didn’t hesitate. She climbed up into the back. Unwilling to tolerate the distance, he put his front paws onto the wooden boards of the interior.

  While he hauled his ass up into the trailer, she stopped until he could walk with her to the other end. A thick matt covered with a blanket had been placed next a chair bolted onto the frame of the cargo area. She sat and buckled herself in. Her eyes watched him as he settled onto the thick cushioning.

  He pressed his head against her leg. She reached down and ran her fingers through his fur. For a moment, she was silent, but the scent of her anxiety filled the truck’s interior.

  “I’m happy that you’re okay. I hope you’re ready for me to nag you for at least the next few weeks.” Her breath escaped in a slow hiss. She leaned back in the chair, but her fingers clenched in his fur.

  The break in her voice caused his chest to tighten. He wished he could reassure her. Frustration rose at not being able to shift back. The woman could nag if she liked. He’d listen if he could stay with her.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The hunt was on. Or at least, it would be as soon as all of the talking was finished.

  Jason sat in the meeting room with Logan, John, and a few others. He’d given a report of what happened once he could change back to his human form and get over the urge to wrap his body around Chloe’s. Now, because the department was small, he’d be involved on the periphery of the takedown.

  The surveillance cameras hadn’t caught the actual attack. It had happened off frame. It did get the approach of the officer who was involved in it. Tom Jameson.

  He’d followed Jason out and called his name as Jason was getting into his truck. Jason was familiar with Tom, but had never worked with him or socialized outside of the police station. Jason had turned. The next moment, something jabbed into the back of his shoulder.

  They’d tackled him to the ground. The drug had slammed through him with the force and speed of a train, leaving him helpless in moments. He had no chance to get away from them.

  John hoped to make sure the people behind this didn’t have an opportunity to escape from justice. They knew the identity of only the officer involved. Jason had heard the other man’s name, Jimmy, but they hadn’t been able to connect him to the officer yet.

  “We’re going in three teams. Neither of you two will be alone. You are not to take him into custody or touch him unless you have to do it.” John gave both Jason and Logan a long stare.

  He and Logan weren’t acting as primary officers. Jason would be there to identify the second man if there were other people with Tom when they found him. In addition, he and Logan would act as back up, in case some extra muscle was required.

  Tom spent a lot of time at his parents’ house. One team would go there. Another team headed to Tom’s apartment in one of the complexes near the center of town. The last team would go to a cabin Tom’s family owned.

  Jason took a deep breath. John was right to take those precautions. Physical retribution against the man who had tried to get him killed offered a heady temptation. That wouldn’t help end this though.

  “You don’t need to worry. I’ll hang back. I want this man caught and to discover who worked with him.” Jason met John’s eyes. “The next time, they might go after Chloe. They could think she’d be easier to goad into going wild while under the effects of that crap.”

  “Good. I’ll hold you to that. I could leave you here and send you images of the faces that we don’t know, but your strength could be an asset if there’s trouble.” John nodded. “Let’s get down to business.”

  John went over the entry plan for the three locations. They had warrants to search for evidence of a plot. Jason would go to the parents’ house with John while Logan would go with the team to the cabin.

  Jase hoped they could find some information about the larger scheme. The more clues they had about the larger goal, the faster it could be stopped. While they’d worked out the probable focus of this series of incidents, they had plenty of work to do. No one would be safe until they learned the full reason behind the druggings and attacks.

  The group left the station. They broke into three groups and joined the tactical team who’d received their briefings. Jase got into the vehicle with John.

  Jason adjusted the earpiece with a built-in mic on his ear. He’d be stationed as a line of backup. He’d be on one side of the parents’ house. Unless something went wrong, all he’d do is stand and watch.

  When Jason stepped out of the SUV, he noticed the curtain on the window next to the door fall back into place. The people inside knew they were here. Jason strode around the house and took position behind another officer. John waited until everyone was in place. From his spot at one side of the house, Jason could see him approach the door.

  Jason turned his attention to the possible exits on his side of the house. One of the tactical units stood at an angle to him, but also in front of him. The officer acted as the first line of defense against Tom Jameson escaping.

  Jason heard the announcement of the warrant. The sound of a door opening caught his attention. The foxes let the officers into the house.

  Jason thought that since the family cooperated, Tom must not be here. Fox families were close and protective. They often obstructed investigations.

  When the window opened, he stared at it, not believing his eyes when he saw a leg slip out. Hadn’t the man looked out the window at all? The tactical officer in his black uniform stood in plain sight.

  The brown-haired man dropped from the window, turned, and stared at the tactical officer. His eyes cut to the side. He intended to run.

  “If you get past him, I’ll catch you. Would you like me to get my hands on you after what you did?” Jason moved, drawing the man’s eyes to him.

  Tom blanched. Satisfaction thrummed through him.

  “Hands up and turn around. Tom Jameson, you’re under arrest for kidnapping, poisoning, and assault on a peace officer,” the tactical officer ordered in a hard voice.

  Tom raised his hands and turned to face the wall. Jason felt a little regret. He’d wanted a chance to at least slam the man to the ground.

  “We have a runner. He’s coming around the east side of the house.” The voice came through the earpiece Jason wore.

  Jason tensed. He’d taken position on the east side of the house. The tactical officer secured and searched Tom. The officer couldn’t handle both Tom and the runner. Jason’s eyes scanned the yard. A blond man rounded the corner and barreled toward the side fence.

  “Stop! Police!” Jase yelled, to make sure the man couldn’t say he thought some violent thug chased him instead of an officer.

  Jason raced to intercept the fleeing man. He hadn’t seen enough of his face to tell if he was the other man involved in the kidnapping. By build, he resembled him.

  Jason reached out, grabbing for the man as he neared the fence. He had to get the man before he cleared that hurdle. Other foxes lived in this neighborhood. He’d find a ready hiding place. The man’s scent hit him. Recognition sent a wave of fury slamming through him.

  Jason grasped the man’s shoulder. The man turned, swinging his fist toward Jase’s face. Jason pulled back and grabbed the man’s hand when it passed by his face. Using a control grip, he took the man to the ground.

  Anger boiled inside him. When the man twisted and tried to lever up off the ground, Jason didn’t want to push him back to the ground. He craved revenge. To remove the threat before it came near his mate. He took a deep breath. Tremors ran over his body. He fought the urge to rip the man apart.

  “I’ve got him.” Jason knew the mic would pick up the words.

  “Good work. Hold him, Jase,” John’s voice snapped over the earpiece.

  “I am, but this is the second man. I recognize his smell. I’ll give you a visual identification when you take him off my hands.” Jason took deep breaths. He hadn’t known how
hard it would be not to slam his fists into the man.

  Officers rushed around the house and took the other man. Jason exhaled when someone grabbed the man. Relief at being rid of him washed over Jason. He wouldn’t do anything that would result in either of the men walking free.

  John came up beside him and put his hand on his shoulder as if he realized how difficult Jase found that. Jason rolled his shoulders. He watched the two men get taken away. He didn’t know the name of the second man, but he was glad that they were caught.

  * * * *

  Logan stepped into the tight confines of the tech room. The monitor screens flickered, showing the various interrogation rooms. It wouldn’t have felt so tight in there if only the officers monitoring it were there, but John sat in a chair to one side and Cal Bryant stood near him.

  Logan took a position on the left side where there was a little more space. He glanced at the screen. Dan Howard strolled across the interrogation room. He took the seat across from Tom Jameson and stared at him. Tom knew interrogation techniques. This wasn’t going to be easy. The usual tricks weren’t going to work.

  “I figured Jason would be in here before me,” John said.

  Logan glanced over at his boss and friend. “He was kind of tense and I didn’t know if he’d make it through the interview without running in there to grab Tom. I sent him to get Chloe from Tony’s restaurant. She’ll help him relax.”

  “Good call.” John nodded. “Although Jason is usually calm, he’s probably still focused on what they wanted to take away from him.”

  Logan still had thoughts about what those people wanted to happen to Jason so he was pretty sure that it haunted Jason, too. He focused on the silent stare-off occurring in the interrogation room. Amusement ran through Logan. Tom Jameson didn’t have a chance against the intense whyrcougar sitting across from him. Tom broke eye contact first.

  Tom may think that he could remain silent and get out of this with only a little time in jail, but the searches had paid off in more ways than two men’s capture. They had information now. Nothing that led to the huge players, but they had found ties between most of the known conspirators. Plus, they’d learned some of the plans these people had wanted to implement.

  “It’s always kind of awkward seeing a coworker on the other side of this table, isn’t it?” Dan tilted his head as he continued to study Tom.

  “Well, since I didn’t do anything, I won’t be on this side long.” Tom folded his arms across his chest.

  “You do realize we didn’t have just arrest warrants for you and Jimmy?” Dan’s words emerged slowly as if he was savoring the anticipation. “We also served search warrants for you and your parents’ homes as well as the cabin you use. Once we learned that Jimmy was James Toll, we acquired a warrant for his home, too.”

  “Didn’t find anything, did you?” Tom lifted his chin.

  “You really are a little too presumptuous. We’re good at our jobs and you are not as good at hiding your electronic footprints as you think.” Dan smiled. “And we found your cellar at the cabin.”

  Tom’s face drained of color. His auburn hair seemed brighter against the pallid complexion.

  “You led us right to your family with those e-mails you sent, Tom. Care to tell us who’s really behind all of this and what the ultimate goal is?” Dan leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table. “Because the plans to take newly turned mates or a parent and a child does reveal a lot about your plans.”

  “Fuck you.” Tom’s eyes narrowed.

  “Yeah, not going to happen, but keep up the good attitude. It will serve you well in prison,” Dan said with a laugh. “So, we know you’re nowhere near high enough in this department to have a prayer of taking the chief of police job. Want to tell us which of your buddies it is? Do you think he’s going to get you out after leaving you to take the fall for everything?”

  “I’ll be out of this jail soon,” Tom said, sounding way too certain.

  Logan knew that every precaution was being taken to prevent an escape by any of the prisoners. He knew that getting information from these prisoners wasn’t going to be easy. Foxes needed incentive to turn on each other. Regardless of their faults, they were extremely loyal to each other.

  Tom and his family wanted to cause panic. They’d planned attacks that hadn’t yet happened. Logan didn’t know if that was the goal of those in charge of the conspiracy. He didn’t think so. Panic wouldn’t serve any purpose.

  “So you’re going to let your mother and father go to jail and not try to get them a little help with sentencing?” Dan asked.

  “We’re a long way from even a trial, little kitty.” Tom smirked. “I know we won’t get there.”

  “Now that’s cold.” Dan shook his head. “Not even pausing to think about trying to help your parents.”

  “Because I’m not worried, pussy. The only time people talk is if they’re worried about themselves or someone they love.” Tom laughed.

  The interrogation sucked, but Logan had known that getting more information from Tom about the conspiracy was a long shot. They’d made connections on the attempt on John, but there were still some unknown players in that area, people who’d done a better job of hiding who they really were.

  On the other hand, they still had to discover so much about the poisonings and the bigger scheme. There was too much organization in these attacks. None of the people they’d caught had anything to gain personally from them.

  He didn’t believe that they’d close this case, but those behind it would pull back for a time. The people of Casworth should have a time of normalcy before anything else happened. If the attacks began again, the focus might change.

  Chapter Thirty

  Chloe headed for the lingerie store. She wanted to find something special for tonight. After a week of close watch without any type of attack, they’d decided she could go out again.

  The threat to her had been removed. The man’s sisters were in jail. The parents and brother would be watched, but they’d also been warned by the foxes’ den leader. If anyone else in the family attacked Chloe, they’d be thrown out of the den. Chloe didn’t know if it would work. To this point, there hadn’t been any other attacks.

  Jason, Logan, and Tony had made sure that she understood the bigger schemes like the recent poisonings came in waves. The first push often resulted in a few people caught, but the masterminds remained hidden. Those people would be caught when the police learned what the overall goal was.

  Now, they knew that someone would like John Dark, the chief of police, either discredited or dead. The reason for that could be political. Perhaps someone in the department wanted to rise in the ranks. The attacks would stop for a time while those behind it regrouped or decided to focus their attention elsewhere.

  She intended to find a normal way of life, even though much had changed. Normal for her meant acknowledging how important those men had become. Easy enough to admit to herself, but she had difficulty finding the courage to tell them. When Jason had been taken, everything had come into focus.

  She loved those men. Losing one of them would take a chunk of her soul. After the transformation to a bear, she had realized how strong the connection between them was. It was more than emotion or the physical desire.

  Chloe didn’t know if she believed in destiny, but they belonged together. Sometimes whyr had marriage ceremonies. The idea did interest her, but it wasn’t necessary. In whyr cities and towns, once a couple or group mated, town officials registered the relationship.

  “About time you got here.” Shonna came away from the wall with a smile on her face.

  Chloe checked the time. “I’m not late. In fact, I’m a little early.”

  “Since I’m usually the last person to arrive, you have to be late.” Shonna cocked a hand on her hip. “Aside from that, the quicker we find your special night outfit, the sooner we can go have lunch.”

  Chloe shook her head at the cheerful pronouncement. Shonna did tend to arriv
e after everyone else. Not that she was ever late. She arrived on time or just before.

  “Miss breakfast again?” Chloe asked.

  “No, it’s been a hellish day already.” Shonna sighed.

  “Your boss being an ass again?” Chloe tilted her head and studied her friend as they went into the shop.

  “He is, but he’s not the problem. His boss is causing the huge headache. He looks over our shoulders, shifts deadlines, transfers in new people who aren’t qualified to do the work. It’s enough to make me want to pull my hair out.” Shonna shrugged. “But enough about the dipshit causing me trouble.”

  “Such a wonderful way of describing the man who signs your paycheck.” Chloe chuckled. “Perhaps he has something in mind even if it is different than what you’d like.”

  “He’s a technophobe, Chloe. I swear the man doesn’t have a cell phone. I don’t know how he runs the company.” Shonna tossed a glance at Chloe. “What are you looking for here?”

  “Something sexy.”

  “Girl, you know you could come to them wearing an industrial white bra and granny panties, and they’d think you were hot.” Shonna headed for one of the racks.

  “I know they’d think I was sexy if I wore a plain sack, but I want something special for tonight.” Chloe shrugged.

  She had no doubt about how attractive they found her. That wasn’t the point. She planned to make this night something they remembered.

  “And that’s why Dixie needs help rearranging a few rooms in her house tonight.” Shonna shook her head.

  “She promised not to break them. It’s only a little time with them all out of the house so that I can get things ready. If I tell them to get out for a while, they’ll know something’s up.” Chloe paused to look at a rack of red teddies, but moved on to another rack.

  “What are you aiming for here? Super slutty or a visual tease?” Shonna held up a G-string and tiny black bra set edged in red.