Troy glanced around the table, trying to remember faces. He didn’t want anyone to get away with what they were doing here, and from what he’d heard, in other places like Graham’s too. He needed to gain access to a laptop or computer so he could copy files or folders before they disappeared.
He looked at the clock, seeing the time was a little after eight. It was dark outside, so it wouldn’t be long before something happened.
Where are you?
Troy jumped when he heard Ale and coughed to cover up the sudden movement. Shoveling some food into his mouth, he answered.
In the dining room. Others here.
How many?
Troy did a quick head count. Eight, including me at the table and the same number on the floor.
What?
Slaves kneel on the floor.
That’s fucked up.
Please hurry, Ale. They feed after eating.
We’re in place, Troy. Five minutes.
Troy hunched over his plate, waiting. His foot bounced under the table and he shifted on his chair, trying to keep still, but failing miserably. He wanted to go home with Ale.
He glanced down at the woman by his side and back up to Graham. Graham was holding court, that was the only way Troy could describe it. Everyone was tuned in to what he was saying, smiling and laughing at whatever Graham said.
God, Troy wanted to be anywhere but there. How could Graham and these other vampires treat humans and Jacques this way? What was wrong with them? Couldn’t they see how wrong they were?
Banging on the front door interrupted the conversation around the table and Graham sighed dramatically.
“I really wish that deputy would leave.”
A minute later, a servant came in with Silas behind him. Troy jumped up and ran towards him, hugging him when he reached him.
“Pops!”
“Troy. Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“Graham. Want to tell me what’s going on here? Why are there people on the floor, naked?”
Graham threw his napkin on to the table and stood. He walked around the table until he stood in front of them and sneered at Silas, looking him up and down before dismissing him.
“George, please sit down at the table.”
“Who the fuck is George?” Silas demanded.
“Me, Pops. Graham thinks I should be called George.”
“Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you, Graham? Troy, go outside and wait for me please. Deputy Roberts is there. Tell him to radio in. We’re going to need more people here.”
“George, stay where you are,” Graham ordered.
“Yeah, fuck you, Graham.”
Troy went to leave the room when there was a crash behind him. He spun around to find Silas on the floor with Graham on top of him.
“Get off him!” Troy screamed, jumping on top of Graham to pull him off.
Hands grabbed him, pulling him away from Graham, and he fought them off, trying to help Silas fight off Graham’s attack.
Ale! Help us!
Coming now.
“Get off me! Pops!”
The weight on top of him suddenly disappeared and a quick glance revealed Jacques fighting the vampire who had been on top of him. Troy lashed out, punching the vampire in the side of the head, and then spun around to fight Graham and another vampire attacking Silas.
All the self-defense Silas had taught him over the years kicked in and Troy punched and kicked anyone who came near him, throwing one vampire across the room and into a wall where he fell in a heap. He took blows, his clothes were ripped, but he never gave in until a heavy blow landed across the back of his head.
The pain had him crying out and he fell to the floor, gasping in agony. He whimpered when he tried to get up, the pain pounding in his head, and he collapsed back onto the floor.
“Stupid little shit,” a male voice said above him.
“Get the fuck away from my son!”
Troy panted and tried to reach out to Ale, but the pain was too much. He swallowed hard as his stomach rolled and he panted through his mouth, trying to stop the urge to vomit.
Sounds from outside the room reached him and he was roughly pulled up from the floor by his hair, causing him to cry out, and the intensity of pain in his head doubled. He was vaguely aware of being dragged from the room, the cold marble floor sliding under his skin.
The cooler, outside air touched his skin and he heard a car door open. “Get him in here,” he heard Graham say as he was dragged closer to a car.
Troy looked up and saw Graham waiting inside his limo and he began to struggle against the hands that held him.
“Ale!” he screamed. “Pops!”
“Get him to shut the fuck up,” Graham hissed, “and in the fucking car. Now!”
Troy fought the hands that held him, pushing and pulling to get away from them and the car that Graham now sat in.
“Ale! Pops! Chester!”
Troy cried out when he was punched in the stomach and his legs buckled. Just as he was about to be pushed into the car, the hands holding him fell away and Troy dropped to the floor. He looked up to see Ale stood next to him, fighting the vampires that surrounded them.
Just when it looked like he was about to be overwhelmed, Donnie, Jared and someone Troy didn’t know appeared and fought by his side, pushing the vampires back. Within a minute, the other members of Rescue Inc appeared, along with several officers who arrested the remaining vampires and Graham, who hadn’t succeeded in leaving.
Troy sat on the ground, head dropped into his hands, panting heavily, sweat cooling on his skin. He’d come so close to being taken, to possibly losing everything.
“Hey, you’re safe,” Ale muttered, sitting next to him and pulling him into his arms.
“Troy, son.”
“He’s overwhelmed right now,” Ale said, dropping a kiss on to Troy’s head. “He needs a few minutes.”
“When I get my hands on Graham, I’m going to tear the bastard apart.”
“Sheriff! We need you over here.”
“Fuck. I’ll be back in soon.” Troy felt Silas squeeze his shoulder then heard him walk away.
“Ale,” he whispered brokenly.
Sobs burst free and he turned towards Ale, letting him comfort him, holding him tight and knowing he’d keep him safe.
“I’ve got you, Troy. I’ve got you.”
Ale held Troy as he cried, closing his own eyes when tears threatened. When he’d seen Troy being dragged by two vampires, he’d thought he’d lost him.
There were no words to describe how he’d felt in that moment, the rush of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. The thought of losing his mate after such a short time together had almost knocked him to ground, and if it hadn’t been for Silas, he may have fallen.
Silas, who was stronger than he had been in that moment, had somehow forced Ale to continue running, rushing to save Troy.
He pulled him closer, needing to feel Troy in his arms. What the hell was going on? He knew enough from Jared, and his mate, Sacha, to know owning blood slaves was against vampire laws, so why were they here? Humans and one vampire. A vampire, from what Ale had overheard, that had been sold by his own family.
That was fucked up. Who sold their own child?
Troy moved and Ale loosened the grip he had on him. When Troy lifted his tear-stained face, Ale wiped the tears away with trembling fingers. So close to losing him. Too close.
“Ale,” Troy whispered, lifting his face up.
Ale bent down and kissed Troy, sliding his lips across his. Troy whimpered and Ale kissed him again, deepening it, needing to feel Troy all over.
Troy’s tongue touched his and Ale moaned, letting their tongues slide together. His hands framed Troy’s face as they kissed with Troy twisting and wrapping his arms around Ale.
Ale broke from the kiss and rested his forehead against Troy’s. “When I saw them dragging you towards Graham, I thought I’d lost you.”
/> “Me too, but I knew you’d come for me. I knew you wouldn’t let them take me away. I fought them, Ale, I didn’t want to leave you.”
“I would never stop looking for you if they had taken you. I love you too much.”
“I love you too.”
Ale kissed Troy again, putting as much emotion into the kiss as he could. He could feel Troy’s through their bond and he whimpered. He’d almost lost him.
“Shh. I’m here now. You saved me, Ale.”
“I was almost too late.”
“But you weren’t.” Troy leaned back and looked into Ale’s eyes. “Take me home, Ale. I want to go home.”
Chapter Sixteen
Troy walked back into the mansion, holding Ale’s hand, and stopped when he saw the level of activity. There were police officers everywhere and Rescue Inc members moving around the building, taking photos and documenting everything.
Statements were being taken with EMT in attendance and some vampires that Troy didn’t recognize.
A noise to the left drew his attention and he stared at Jacques who was huddled in a corner and refusing to leave. Dropping Ale’s hand, Troy slowly walked over to him with a hand held out in front of him.
When he reached Jacques, he knelt on the floor in front of him and gave him a small smile. “Hey, Jacques. Are you ready to go?”
Jacques shook his head, not making eye contact, and Troy glanced over his shoulder to see what he was staring at. His eyebrows shot up and he looked back at Jacques. “What has Miguel done? Has he hurt you?”
Jacques shook his head again and leaned forward, whispering, “I can’t.”
Troy furrowed his brow, not understanding him. “What? You can’t what?”
“Please take me away from him.”
“What’s he done? I’ll get Ale or Chester-”
“No!” Jacques shouted. Everyone turned to face him, the noise in the room dropping. “It’s not that,” he whispered, continuing to stare at Miguel, who was now watching him.
Shaking his head, Troy asked, “What’s he done?”
Jacques looked at him through tear-filled eyes and muttered the one word Troy hadn’t been expecting. “Mate.”
Troy dropped his head, sighing deeply. “Shit.”
“Yeah. I can’t, not now. I need to get away.”
“Jacques-”
“Please. Please take me away.”
“I will, but he needs to know. He’ll be feeling the connection. He’s in the same room. He keeps looking at you.”
“Please, I can’t.” Jacques pleaded with him.
“I’ll get you out of here, I promise.”
Jacques’ eyes widened and he scrambled further into the corner. When Troy looked over his shoulder, Miguel stood behind him, staring at Jacques.
“Can I help you?” he asked in a low voice.
Jacques shook his head, his eyes glued to Miguel. Miguel frowned and tilted his head.
“I’ll see to Jacques, Miguel.”
“Jacques.” Miguel murmured the name.
Troy looked between the two of them, who were now practically ignoring him, and he had no idea what to do.
Ale. I need help.
What’s wrong? Is Miguel causing problems?
Shit, Ale. They’re mates, but Jacques is nowhere near ready for that, not after everything he’s been through here.
On my way.
“Hey, Miguel. I need you outside helping Donnie.”
“Sure,” Miguel said slowly, his eyes never leaving Jacques.
“Now, Miguel.”
“Huh?” Miguel broke eye contact and frowned at Ale.
“Outside with Donnie.” Ale nodded his head in the direction of the door and Miguel nodded.
“Sure,” he said again, his eyes going back to Jacques.
“Miguel.”
Miguel took a couple of steps away and Ale grabbed his arms, pulling him towards the door. Miguel kept glancing over his shoulder at Jacques until he was pulled from the room.
Jacques slumped forward and Troy reached out to grab him.
“I can’t.”
“I know. He’s gone now.”
Jacques raised his eyes slowly until he was staring at Troy. “But he’ll be back. He feels it. What am I going to do?”
“We’ll get you checked out at the hospital and when they release you, you’ll come and stay with me and my mate,” Jared said, squatting in front of him. “For as long as you need, but you need to tell Miguel the truth. Don’t hide it from him.”
“I can’t tell him.”
Jared shook his head and leaned forward towards Jacques. “Don’t lie to him or hide it. Sacha did that and it almost ruined everything we had. Don’t do that to your mate.”
“How…”
Jared gave him a small smile. “I know. Come on, let’s get you checked out.”
Jared helped Jacques stand, and with Troy’s help, got him outside to a waiting ambulance. Troy waited while Jacques was treated, keeping an eye on Miguel, who seemed to be moving closer to them.
Eventually, Jacques told him to bring Miguel over, which Troy did. He stood with his back to them, trying not to listen in, but he still heard Miguel’s reaction.
“I’m not leaving you! How can you tell me this and then expect me to just forget about you? What kind of person do you think I am? I’ll come with you to-”
“No! Troy!”
Troy turned and pushed past Miguel, standing in front of him. “You need to go now, Miguel. I’ll let you know what happens.”
An anguished look covered Miguel’s face. “Troy, please don’t. I can-”
Troy leaned closer to Miguel and whispered, “I know. I know what it feels like to have a mate who doesn’t want you.” Miguel glanced over at Ale, then back at him. “You need to give him time and space to recover. He was a blood slave.”
“I know that. I know what happens to them. It doesn’t make him any less of a man because of what they did to him, but I can’t just walk away.”
“Give him time.”
Miguel stared at Jacques and he eventually nodded. “Can you give him my number? He can call me when he’s ready.”
Troy nodded and watched him walk away, his shoulders slumped and running a hand through his hair repeatedly.
“We’re taking him to the hospital now. You coming?”
Troy nodded and jumped in the back, letting Ale know where he was going.
I’ll meet you there. Be careful.
Love you.
Love you too, Troy.
Chapter Seventeen
Jacques peered at the human sat in the crap plastic chair next to his hospital bed. He’d come in while he’d been sleeping, but as soon as he woke up, Jacques knew he was there. Miguel, his mate.
Asleep now, Jacques could look at Miguel—his short, dyed blond, spiky hair, tight fitting t-shirt, and dark blue jeans that molded to his thighs.
Closing his eyes, Jacques turned away. He couldn’t be thinking about the human like that. He wasn’t going there ever again. No one was touching him. No one. And yet he couldn’t stop his eyes from opening and looking at the man as he slept.
The door opened quietly and another human walked in, smiling when he saw Jacques awake.
“I’m not sure if you remember me. I’m Jared. We talked before you came to the hospital.”
Jacques nodded. He remembered Jared and his offer to stay with him. “Yes, I do.”
Jared frowned at Miguel then turned back to Jacques. “My mate, Sacha, is getting the spare room ready for you. When you’re discharged, you can come and stay with us.”
Jacques nodded again because, in reality, he had nowhere to go and nowhere to call home. His family had sold him like a spare piece of furniture they no longer wanted. He’d made the council aware of what they’d done, so no doubt they’d be up on charges and having every asset stripped from them. They could be homeless, just like him.
“What about him?” Jacques asked, nodding towards the sleeping
human.
Sighing, Jared stared at the floor. “Miguel’s your mate, so at some point he’s gonna want to talk to you.”
“I’m not ready,” Jacques whispered, watching Miguel. “I don’t know if I ever will be.”
“No one’s forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do. Take time to heal and recover, then think about it.”
Jacques continued to stare at Miguel, biting his lip. Yes, he would take the time he needed, but the question was: what would he do after he’d healed?
Epilogue
Troy glared at Ale, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the counter in the kitchen. “One word was all I wanted.”
Ale sighed. “You were in your exam. I won’t help you cheat.”
“He’s right, son, and you know it.”
“Not helping, Pops.” Troy didn’t take his eyes off Ale when he answered Silas.
One word was all he wanted. One fucking word.
“One word would have helped you answer the question. You know it, I know it, so don’t be like this, Troy. You don’t need to cheat because you studied for these exams.” Ale paused and pinned Troy with an intense stare. “You knew the answer, didn’t you? You wanted me to confirm you knew the answer.”
Nope. He wasn’t going to answer that. “What good is this talking in our heads shit if you won’t help me?”
“It has helped you, but I won’t use it so you can cheat.”
“Ale, you totally suck.”
“And you’ve never complained about it,” Ale retorted, arching an eyebrow at him.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Just stop right there. I don’t want to hear about you and my son-”
“Kitchen table, Pops.”
“You should have been in school, Troy, and then you wouldn’t have walked in on it.”
“Or maybe you should have been paying attention and then you might have heard something,” Chester added as he grabbed the steaks and walked out.
“Chester. That doesn’t help,” Silas shouted at Chester’s back as he followed him out.
Troy smiled remembering the last few months since he and Ale had truly mated. He spent every weekend with Ale at the cabin and sometimes Silas and Chester would join them. When he was in college, or Ale was working, they remained in constant contact, so even though they weren’t together physically, the distance didn’t feel too great, and now he was home from college for the summer.
Rescue Inc Collection Vol 2 Page 20