Tangled Redemption

by Tina Christopher

  “I’m sorry, love. We’re on the knife’s edge. At any moment Nasir could decide to change something around. I thought letting him watch would be the lesser of two evils.”

  Sydney deflated. Put that way it made sense. She’d just barely coped with someone listening in on them. It killed her to know their first coming together all the way had been watched. In her mind it had been something special, something private and just her own.

  But of course that was unbelievably stupid. She was a prisoner, not a beloved partner in a committed relationship. Jade, even her lifemate had been so disappointed by his fate he ran out of the room as quickly as possible.

  Looks like there is something wrong with you. She’d hooked up with one sociopathic bastard who nearly killed her and now she’d fallen for another monster. Only he didn’t feel like a monster. There was something about him and Jayden that made her feel safe and cherished.

  But Miguel obviously had issues with her being his other half.

  Her heart ached and her body had been through the ringer. “I need a bath.”

  Jayden lifted her chin and studied her for a moment. She gave him a weak smile and a brief kiss before he could see the confusion and agony raging through her. For once she wasn’t sure if she could hide her emotions.

  She moved out of his arms.

  “I have the water running.” He strode to the closet in the corner.

  “Here you go.” He stood before her holding a large shirt. “I’ll change the sheets and you can get some rest.”

  She slipped the fabric over her head. He smiled, but his eyes held a haggard look. She suddenly understood why. Sydney wrapped both arms around his neck and kissed him with everything inside her. He froze for a second, but then returned the kiss in kind. Their tongues tangled, retreating and advancing, connecting her to him. His heat and strength surrounded her, pulled her close, held her.

  They separated, breathing hard. “No matter what random thing is supposed to be between Miguel and myself I want you. Do you understand? I cannot imagine being without you.”

  Jayden stared into the eyes that had captivated his soul. In the middle of a mission. In the middle of a mission he would most likely not survive. And the eyes belonged to a woman who was the lifemate to another Vampire.

  Right now his life was pretty much fucked.

  It hurt like hell to once again be on the outside looking in. He didn’t know what he had done in a previous life to deserve this kind of punishment, because in this life he had worked hard to be the best man he could be.

  He wanted to tell her who he was, wanted to assure her that he was one of the good guys and that no matter how he behaved, she could trust him. But the risk was too high. He’d been impressed by her ability to hide her emotions, but he didn’t know if she would be able to hide her knowledge.

  Jayden hated it, but he would have to continue lying to her.

  He had heard what she said, but right now he needed more. He kissed her, stroking his tongue against hers, exploring the wet haven of her mouth and remembering what it had felt like to have her suck his cock.

  His dick, always half-hard around her, rose to attention and for once Jayden didn’t give a fuck and took what he needed. He held the back of her head with one hand, not willing to release her mouth until he had taken his fill. He stroked over her rib cage and to her breast. She moaned when he rubbed his thumb across the sensitive peak.

  He tore off the shirt and tweaked both her nipples. She rose to her toes, his thick member pressed along the silky skin of her stomach. Jayden caressed her hip and her gorgeous ass before cupping her pussy.

  She was wet. He knew she had to be sore, but he couldn’t stop himself. “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered against her neck as he lifted and wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Nothing to be sorry for. I want you.”

  Her words obliterated what little control he had left.

  He thrust inside her, deep, hard, powerful.

  She tightened her legs around his waist and clung to his shoulders.

  Jayden continued his deep, long strokes. Her cunt clasped him like a glove. Her walls massaged him, stroked him and with every plunge his balls drew up tighter.

  He bit her neck. She growled and fisted his hair. Sydney bit his lower lip. Whatever consideration had still been in him evaporated.

  He fucked her with everything inside him.

  His strength. His power. His skills. They all belonged to her. Together with his life and his soul.

  She tightened her legs around his waist even more and pulled his head back. He met her blazing eyes. Neither of them looked away.

  He was screwed any which way he turned, so he saw no reason to protect himself. It tore through him that she didn’t protect herself either. Her need and passion were right there for him to see. Her need for him.

  He parted her ass cheeks with his hands and rubbed a finger over the dark rosette. At the same time he shortened his strokes and sped up.

  Within seconds she dug her nails deep enough to draw blood and screamed. Her pussy pulsed around him and catapulted him into the abyss. He growled and set his teeth on her neck. At the last minute he managed to push back his fangs and bit down only with his teeth as he pumped into her.

  He had to rest one hand against the wall behind them, no longer able to stand up straight. Sydney shivered and shuddered in his arms, her body completely limp.

  “I hope you still have enough control over your body to get me to the bathroom. I want that bath pretty damn bad right now.”

  Jayden chuckled. “Give me about a year and we may be in business.”

  She nuzzled his cheek. “I need it before then. Giddy up, cowboy.”

  He smiled. Lightness and happiness filled him. Right now in this moment he was happy. There would be plenty to screw him over later, but right now he was exactly where he wanted to be. In Sydney’s arms.

  He forced strength into his limbs and stumbled into the bathroom. With every step she squeezed around him.

  “Forget it, lover boy. I am done.”

  His smile stayed where it was. “Nothing much I can do about that part of my body. Just ignore him.”

  She chuckled.

  He stopped and forced himself to pull out otherwise he wasn’t sure if he could have stopped. His stamina covered all parts of his life. He had to be in tip-top shape for his missions. It didn’t hurt that it helped him go for hours. Add to that his emotional investment and he expected to walk around hard most of the time.

  None of that mattered. Right now he wanted to take care of Sydney. He shifted her in his arms, one around her back and one under her knees, and stumbled on. The bathroom was filled with heat and steam. She moaned.

  He stood beside the tub and tested the temperature. Just right. He gently settled her into the water. “I’ll get you something to drink and your cake.”

  “Hm, thank you.” She closed her eyes and leaned back.

  Jayden turned on the jets. She groaned. “Perfect.”

  He smiled as he strode out of the room and for the first time in a very long time those smiles were genuine. He brought her water and grabbed the slice of cake out of the hoverbox that had arrived before them. Watching her eat that cake was too much. Back in the bedroom he lifted his bag to pull out a fresh uniform.

  He froze when he saw the syringe in the side pocket.

  He had forgotten about his bargain with Nasir.

  Jayden stared at the half-open door to the bathroom. Yes, he had to betray her trust, but it was the only way he could see to protect her. He tucked it deeper into the side pocket and instructed the bed to change the sheets. Then he strode back to take a shower himself. He cleaned up quickly as he sensed that Sydney was half asleep already.

  With gentle hands he lifted her out of the tub and dried her off. She muttered against his chest. He couldn’t make out what she said but lifted her into his arms and settled her between the clean sheets. She was out like a light.

  He
sat on the side of the bed and watched her sleep.

  A glance at the clock told him he was running out of time. He grabbed the syringe and withdrew the necessary amount of blood. With quick hands he tidied everything away and smeared a drop of all-heal over the needle mark. As he watched it disappeared, leaving her skin unblemished and flawless again.

  Jayden held the small cartouche in his hand and watched her some more. He had to drag himself away from her with ruthless force.

  Time to pay the piper.

  Chapter Eight

  On his way to Nasir’s office Miguel pulled everything inside and put it into a deep and dark corner of his mind. He could not allow himself to show any emotion or present the slightest weakness to Nasir. He took the long way around and with every step the ice that he carried at the center of his soul spread across his body until every part of him was covered by it.

  The other Vampires took one look at him and got out of his way as quickly as possible. The hallways emptied as if a comp note had gone out.

  It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but moving forward with his plan.

  He reached Nasir’s office and stepped inside after one brief knock. Nasir sat behind his desk, three comps running before him and dictating instructions into a fourth. He looked up once when Miguel entered, but continued what he was doing.

  Miguel didn’t care. He was used to Nasir’s little power games. He stood before the desk at parade rest and crossed his arms behind his back. He could stand here like this for hours without having to move.

  If he’d still been linked to his emotions Nasir’s instructions would have been horrifying. But he’d shut that part of himself down and nothing could get through the wall of ice. It appeared they were about to attack a small moon with full force. Usually they only picked victims from the edges, outlying estates, parties separated from the main group, as well as the fringe people like vagrants, seasonal workers and people living close to the edge.

  But this time they were to take every single inhabitant of the small town.

  He frowned and worked on the strategies as well as supplies necessary to pull this off.

  Nasir stopped speaking and began to scroll through reams and reams of data. Finally he set the comp down, leaned back in his chair and looked at him. “Miguel.”

  “Nasir.”

  “What brings you to my office at this time of night? I would have thought you were busy with your new toy.”

  Miguel stepped forward and dumped the surveillance devices he’d collected from his room on the desk. “Do not put my personal quarters under surveillance again.”

  “No?” Nasir tapped a fingertip against the desktop.

  Miguel only looked at him. “No. For the last five years I have been loyal to you and your plan. I have given you everything you need to continue this endeavor. I am, however, not prepared to give you my privacy.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because it is none of your business what I do. Either you trust me and leave me alone or you don’t and you kill me.”

  Nasir studied him, his expression thoughtful. “You have a point. I do trust you.” The tapping increased. “Did you know that Jayden has accused you of being responsible for the attempts on my life?”

  Miguel didn’t respond.

  Nasir nodded. “Yes, that was my reaction. He told me that allowing you to be in this…triad of yours would give him opportunity to keep an eye on you. I found that rather funny. Don’t you find that funny?”

  Miguel remained unmoved.

  Silence stretched between the two of them. In the end Nasir leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk. “I need him. Otherwise I’d give you permission to kill him. Do you want me to remove him from your little sex party?”

  Miguel considered the implications. Sydney was his lifemate, but he was unable to claim her. She was a prisoner and dependent on Nasir’s good mood for her survival. Jayden would give her a sliver of a chance, but only if he remained close. He could, however, not be allowed to attempt to cause friction between Nasir and himself. He met the other Vampire’s lifeless blue eyes. “I will take care of it.”

  Satisfaction crossed Nasir’s expression. “Excellent. Just ensure he’s able to walk and fight the day after tomorrow. I have quite the excursion planned.”

  Miguel nodded. “I heard some of the details. Give me everything you have so far. It is an ambitious plan.”

  Nasir smiled and rubbed his hands. “It is indeed, but we can do it. I’ve found this neat little scientist, a human, would you believe it? Anyway, he’s created a nerve gas that removes free will. Of course he didn’t want to share the details, but once I had a word with his family he quickly reconsidered.”

  “What is the delivery mechanism and how do we disperse it?”

  “That is the beauty of it. We will fire missiles that detonate in low altitude. The gas is heavier than air, meaning it sinks. Baikal has a funny geography. Their main town Kajaani is surrounded by rock on three sides, which will facilitate our attack and keep the gas contained in the area we want it.”

  Miguel stilled. “Kajaani?”

  Nasir looked at him. “Yes. Is that an issue? It’s just another one of those human towns, living off the land and their precious trade. Do you have an emotional connection to this town?”

  Miguel had no idea how Nasir had found out, but he had no doubt that Kajaani had become a target due to his connection to the town. Margaret’s descendants still lived there. “It was a fling centuries ago.”

  “Good. Now, once we’ve launched the gas the humans will behave like the cattle they are. We’ll gather the ones we can sell and the rest the troops can enjoy as a reward.”

  Miguel pressed his lips together. “Send me the gas composition and other details.”

  Nasir studied him, his brows raised.

  “I won’t take a new weapon into the field for the first time without knowing how it works.” He allowed a hint of impatience to seep into his words. “We’ve worked too long and too hard to get to where we are right now.” He held Nasir’s gaze without hesitation.

  Finally the other Vampire nodded and advised his comp to transfer the data.

  Then they went over the details. Miguel remained numb. He raised a number of concerns about their entry and gave suggestions on how they could avoid losses. The whole time something roared in agony at his center, roared loud enough it came close to cracking the ice.

  He could not allow Nasir to go through with this plan. He had done some quick calculations and it would mean the certain death of nearly two thousand humans and dragging close to eighteen hundred people into a life of horror they could have never imagined.

  That gave him just a day and a half to try to kill Nasir.

  Over the last thirteen months he had tried to eliminate Nasir half a dozen times. Not a single attempt had even come close to success. He appeared immortal.

  Miguel had tried poisoning Nasir’s food supply. The death of the humans would be on his conscience for the rest of his life.

  He’d tried sabotaging his vehicles or shuttles, but it was as if Nasir had a sixth sense and changed his plans at the last minute.

  He tried assassination attempts and had given men who should have been successful the details and the access they needed. None of them had been effective.

  The next time he’d have to act face to face.

  It would be his first, and last, attempt to take out Nasir with his own two hands. If he succeeded, wonderful. If he didn’t his cover would be blown and five years of soul-destroying work would have been for nothing. He would also be dead.

  But if that was the only way to stop this massacre from going through he would do his damndest to make it happen.

  They finalized some details and Miguel pulled up his comp and took notes on the things that still needed to be addressed. The whole time Nasir smiled like a kid in a candy store. In the end he leaned back in his chair and laughed. “This will remind them that we’re the scourge of the galax
y. They may think they have us under control with their pitiful little laws, but this will show them we are more than a fringe group with no power.”

  “Are you ready to take the operation out into the open?”

  “Oh yes, Miguel, more than.” He tapped his lower lip. “Maybe we should leave a couple of survivors? Maybe a kid or two…no, I know. Find someone who is dying already, someone who has only a few more months to live. He or she will be our witness and remembering us will sweeten the last few days of their lives.”

  Miguel only nodded and made a note on his comp to pull up the hospital files. “It will be done.” He looked up and met Nasir’s gaze. “My biggest concern is stopping the troops from falling into the bloodlust.”

  Rage flashed in Nasir’s eyes. “Anyone who dares to step out of line will be killed.”

  Miguel raised his brows. “You may want to address them and share that detail. We’ll also need to keep at least a company behind to deal with the prisoners. That will cause bad blood.”

  Nasir scoffed. “They’ll do as they are told or they’re dead.”

  Miguel nodded. “I’m only letting you know what I believe may cause problems. We are dealing with Ferals here. Sanity and comprehensive reasoning are not always at the top of their mind.”

  Nasir leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingertips against each other. “Gah, you’re right. Any suggestions on how to keep the company happy?”

  “You could offer extra pay or give them first pick of the bounty, but that would defeat the purpose and cost more money.”

  “How about I offer them a hunt of their own? Would that be good enough?”

  Miguel’s brows rose.

  Nasir waved him off. “Once we’re out in the open they can grab one of the smaller moons and delete one of their towns.”

  Miguel made a note. “I’ll tell them that.”