by Flynn Eire
Wally smiled, nodding his head. “Hey, if you’re offering money, I’ll take it. Not all of us come from money like you or my friend Lance. My family cleans the East Coast Council building.”
“It’s money to be laundered, Wally,” Theo explained gently, no longer picking on the guy. “It’s dirty money. I wouldn’t do that to them. Hell, I wouldn’t even know how to clean it or what we do with it. I doubt there’s a return to sender policy if I won’t do what my father promised.”
“Alexander tasked our tech genius to hack into your father’s communications to figure out where this all came from and what’s been going on,” Roarke informed him. “We need to cut ties and get you out from under this fast but in a way that doesn’t cause more problems or draw attention.”
“Yeah, that would be nice.” He turned in his seat and looked at me then. “I think it’s wise to tell the warrior team to unload and hold everything there until we figure out where what was going—besides the girls of course. I don’t want cartels or weapons criminals coming after me.”
I glanced at Roarke who nodded. “Yeah, that’s a good plan but we’ve gotta act fast. There’s no way your father was planning on holding on to all of that for a long period. He probably had people picking things up within a day or two. If the council’s working on his finances then we should do this.”
“And I’ve got enough food to feed an army,” Dottie confirmed, smiling.
“Call Rune, see where we are, and get us some help here,” I told Roarke. He pulled out his phone and made the call.
Two hours later there were warriors everywhere with assigned tasks and trying to piece together what the councilman had been up to with all the files Rune had unlocked. Except Sam who was pretty much babysitting Theo and maybe going to kill him.
“Put the hot wing down, Theo,” he growled from across the room.
“You said to eat,” Theo snapped.
“Not extra spicy hot wings. Have a plain one if you have to have chicken wings at all instead of chicken soup.”
“It’s all chicken. What’s the difference?” I bit back a smile as he tossed the wing on the platter and then picked a few plain ones off the other dish.
“Umm, chicken wings are fried and soup isn’t?”
“I picked up baked ones especially for Mr. Theo,” Dottie interjected as she brought more food out to the dining room table. It had been a huge eight-seater to start but with the double extensions in it was up to a fourteen-seater monster table most of us were working and stuffing our faces at.
“Thank you, Dottie,” Theo cooed before sticking his tongue out at Sam. “She gets it. She lets me have chicken wings. You bring in hot men all over the place, all asking what they can do for me, and you say no sex. No sex for poor me when there’s eye candy all around my house. Then you won’t even give me a damn chicken wing?”
I felt my heart drop to my stomach. No sex with me, but with any of the men around. I heard myself talking before I realized my mouth opened. “Yeah, Sam, you should let him have sex here with any of the guys he wants.” I dropped the pages I’d been reading through on the table and stood.
Theo’s head snapped towards me, his eyes wide as he realized I was in the room sitting way at the end while he was in the middle. I didn’t care. I walked into the kitchen to help Dottie without looking back.
“Being hard on him after what he’s been through, aren’t you?” she muttered as she cut up vegetables.
“You’re biased.”
“I am,” she conceded. “Doesn’t make me wrong. He’s upset and trying to crack jokes, make things about chicken wings and sex. I know he’s nowhere near as much of a tramp as he’s making himself seem to be but he’s upset all these strangers and the council are digging into every aspect of his family’s life. He wants to be distracted.”
I snorted. “Yeah, with any guy in there.”
“No, but saying I want to run from this for some alone time with Evan sounds like I’m a kid,” Theo muttered from behind me. My shoulders tensed and I gripped the counter so tightly I was surprised it didn’t break.
“It’s fine,” I ground out.
“Liar,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. I tried to pull away but he was like a crab who got his claw on me. “Sam, we’re having sex!”
“No, we’re not,” I called out as I turned in his arms.
“We’re not?” He frowned as he stared up at me.
“No, go look at all your eye candy,” I snapped and removed his arms from me.
“Evan, I was just being a snot to Sam. I didn’t mean it,” he explained.
“Fine, whatever.” I walked back out of the kitchen, not willing to have this conversation with Dottie’s disapproving eyes on me—or at all really. I knew I was being defensive and too hard about it, but his comment had hurt and made me feel like a fool.
So I was sensitive about being played. So what? I’d warned him of that.
I sat back down and picked up the papers again. I must have re-read the same sentences about ten times and not actually read any of it. My head snapped up when I heard catcalls and whistling. I locked eyes with Theo who strutted into the other entrance to the dining room, wearing nothing but tiny, tiny shorts… And Evan’s written across his chest in marker.
“What are you doing?” I mumbled as he came closer.
“Clarifying my joke was just a joke.” He turned around to show me the same writing was on his back too before pushing my arm aside and plopping on my lap. I didn’t even know what to say, I simply stared down at his chest, and when his lips started working their magic along my neck, I melted. “I’m sorry I was an ass. It really was just a joke to annoy Sam because he’s being a brat.”
“Yeah, I’m the brat here,” Sam drawled.
“Shut it. I’m apologizing,” Theo growled. His hand slipped under my shirt and he traced every line of any muscle he could reach. “It’s healthy to look and I won’t deny I was or will in the future, but none are as hot as you. I didn’t want sex with any but you, Evan.”
“Uh-huh.” My cock swelled under his firm ass, and he took it even further by squirming around on my lap.
“And I really want sex with you,” he breathed in my ear. “I mean so bad I already stretched myself out before putting on the shorts and asking Dottie to write on me in marker. I’d get a tat like this if you wanted and things work out. Would you want that?”
I growled softly as I grabbed his hips to still them, but then he said the part about being stretched out for sex and I found myself moving him harder against my trapped cock. “Sam, he’s having sex.”
“No,” Sam groaned as I stood and threw Theo over my shoulder. I shot my friend a look and he sighed. “Fine, nothing too exerting for him.”
“Deal.” I raced off with my prize, hornier than I think I’d ever been in my life. Moments later we were in his room, and I tossed Theo onto the bed, kicking the door closed before yanking off all my clothes. He opened his mouth and the look I gave him must have said it all because he closed it right back up and shivered.
Once I was naked, I found the lube he’d used to get himself ready on the nightstand and greased up my cock before storming over to him. I changed my hand into claws and shredded his shorts before letting them turn back.
“Get more of those shorts because they were sexy on your firm ass,” I demanded. Theo nodded, staring at me with shocked eyes even as his chest heaved. I turned him onto his side before pushing his knees to his chest and practically rolling him into a ball. Lining up my cock with his exposed hole, I slowly pushed in him, moaning at how tight, warm, and perfect he was.
“Gonna come,” he whimpered when I was about halfway in. I smiled. Apparently he liked caveman and kinky.
I reached down and fondled his sac as my fangs came out. “Do it. Come and let me smell it.” The tendons of his neck stood out as I grabbed a handful of his hair just to play some more and he cried out my name as he came. I worked him through his climax
, ignoring the way his ass clamped down on me and wouldn’t let me progress into him further.
But the second he was done, he opened up beautifully, and I pushed right in. We both moaned loudly as I leaned over and kissed him. It was a little sloppy and awkward given he was puffing for air and on his side, but still perfect. I went with long, deep thrusts that had Theo making the sexiest sounds and gasps that drove me mad.
He came again and that time I allowed myself to follow him right over. I pumped my seed, my scent, deep into Theo, smiling at the idea of every warrior out there being able to smell me on him. When we were spent but my cock was still in his tight ass, I kissed him. “Don’t clean up.”
Theo gave me a sultry smile and a nod. “Okay.” Yeah, he totally knew why.
“You’re going to go out there and eat whatever Sam tells you to, drink anything he wants, so we can do that again as soon as possible,” I instructed as I leaned over and nibbled on his neck.
“Are you upset with me anymore?”
“No.”
“Okay then. Good talk,” he chuckled, tightening his muscles around my cock. “We should always get over misunderstandings like this.”
I grinned against his skin. “I completely agree.”
We made out a while longer but then had to go back to reality with everything at stake. Theo put on real clothes this time—minus underwear at my request—and we rejoined the group. There were lots of knowing smiles and people sniffing the air. I couldn’t help but smile when Theo’s cheeks flushed.
I had an evil moment and glanced at Sam. “What does he need to eat or refuel with so I can get back inside him as soon as possible?” A few people spit out drinks or chuckled, but I ignored them, smirking at Theo when he smacked me. “You started it by bringing up the eye candy.”
“I did. Such a horrible punishment,” he sighed dramatically. “I should check out other men more often.” He glanced over at Bowie. “Take off your shirt. Let me see your abs.”
“Leave me out of this,” Bowie snickered, shaking his head.
“No, really, let me see,” Theo pushed as he walked over by him. “What are you hiding?”
“Nothing,” Bowie snapped, taking several steps backwards. “I’m just not flashing skin at you when you’re involved with someone who could challenge me. He outranks me.”
“He won’t. Let me see. Are they that good?”
“Hey, I’m not a piece of meat here,” Bowie growled as Theo grabbed his sweater. “I don’t remember being hired as the entertainment.”
“We can find you some singles,” Mark offered, smirking at his friend.
Everyone laughed then and I knew that was what Theo had been going for. There was so much tension in the house and worry about what people were finding, not wanting to be the person who found it or to add fuel to the very large fire that was going to burn Councilman Ashton, that it was suffocating us all. It was a small thing but at least now people were realizing it was us—Theo included—against anyone involved in the dealings we were looking into.
That helped. It helped a lot especially when we had to call Helios back in with what we found.
5
“Why are the weapons all going to the Wyrok American Headquarters?” Theo asked Helios a few hours later as we sat in his living room away from the others. “Why would the Wyrok need all these illegal weapons?”
“Most of our weapons are illegal,” Helios muttered as he scanned the communications at a rate that just about hurt my head. “Even the ones at the camps. The humans would never let us have these kinds of weapons legally within their borders. Rune and others fake the paper trail, some we get to keep up appearances, but the majority that’s the good stuff we need to tear through Zakasacs from a distance, we buy illegally.”
“I didn’t know that,” Theo sighed, scrubbing his hands over his head.
“I did,” I piped in, rubbing his back. “But there’s still the question of why the Wyrok would need this amount? You guys go in and investigate—these are weapons for an army, Helios.”
He nodded and glanced up. “And war is upon us. I will find out the answers you need, but I have a feeling I know the truth and this is aboveboard. Zakasacs have been banding together, working with vampires even to take out some targets. I have heard whispers that the Wyrok won’t simply be investigating much longer.”
My eyes went wide as his meaning sunk in. “You’ll go hunting.”
“Not me, but some, yes.” He nodded and lowered his voice. “We are the oldest. You have seen what I can do. A team of us could wipe out more Zakasacs than your entire camp without any loss of life.”
“Then why hasn’t that always been your job?” Theo asked, not in an accusatory way—more getting caught up on this area of politics.
“Because you don’t send in a bomb to take out a few,” I muttered, knowing this answer as well. “Having Wyrok hunt a few that killed some humans, which warriors could easily handle, isn’t the best use of a limited resource.”
“He’s right. There aren’t anywhere near as many of us,” Helios confirmed. “Our job is to keep the councils, camps, and covens in line. You don’t use a sledgehammer on a small picture nail—you’ll take out the wall.”
Theo nodded with a frown. “Got it. But now that the Zakasacs are so much bigger of a threat, the Wyrok might be jumping in to bomb the grouping numbers?”
“That’s the whispers and I think these guns prove they’re getting in a position to do that. I don’t think this is underhanded. They probably went to your father because they knew of his other shady dealings though and wanted this kept quiet,” Helios continued. “Knowing the Wyrok, this isn’t something they’d announce. They’d just do it and then tell the warriors and council that there were less Zakasacs to worry about.”
“My kind of way to handle things,” Theo chuckled. The doorbell rang, but I didn’t react, thinking it was pizzas or something since we’d pretty much eaten all the catering Dottie had brought back with her.
I nodded in agreement. Too much talking and debating happened at times and more action was needed. I was still thinking about that when a woman came into the living room, Zibon, Mark, and Bowie following after her with a few others in the doorway.
What the hell?
“How are you out of custody?” Theo whispered as he jumped to his feet.
“Darling, I didn’t do anything wrong,” she cooed. “I’m so sorry to hear about what your father did to you. Can you ever forgive me for not figuring it out?”
“Theo, who is this?” I mumbled as I slowly stood, seeing Helios do the same out of the corner of my eye.
The woman’s focused stare swung to me. “Meggan Carter. A pleasure. You must be the fine warrior that saved my fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” a few of the others blanched, but I held the woman’s eyes, knowing something was off about her.
“I’m not your—” Theo started to argue but Meggan ignored him and focused on the curious crowd.
“Yes, my fiancé, the poor dear, was so confused as to what had happened during his months of torture that he actually pointed the finger at me. Can you believe that?” I watched as Zibon, Mark, and Bowie shook their heads, looking drunk or drugged as they listened to her.
“Meggan, stop with your lies!” Theo growled as he went over to her. He tried to grab her … But he hadn’t recovered from his ordeal yet and she was stronger, so she easily shoved him back onto the couch. “It won’t work on them!”
“See, he’s so confused. He needs me to take care of him,” she assured them, glancing at Helios and I. “Can’t you see the way he’s suffering without me?”
Then I caught on. I used my gift—the unique one every vampire got after a certain age—and for once was truly glad I had it. Normally it was a horrible curse because I could hear what a person meant to say, wanted to say even, not the words coming out of their mouth. Yeah, that wasn’t a can of venomous snakes if I didn’t know how to control it.
“These moro
ns. They’re even easier than the warriors who interviewed me. I’ll have Theo out of here and at the Carter estate to continue his conditioning in no time. He will be mine and be the best slave I’ve ever mastered and this time forever with all his holdings as a nice dowry.”
My eyes went wide as Helios was suddenly standing behind Meggan with his hand over her mouth. “Let me guess—your gift is persuasion?” She glanced up at him with wide eyes. “Yeah, your tricks might work on most, but I’m ancient, cunt. You need more than that.”
“Hey, let her go, Helios!” Bowie snarled.
“Apparently she has more than that as a trick,” I muttered.
“You’re good?” Helios hedged, eyeing me cautiously.
“Yeah, my gift prevents me from influence. I can hear what people really want to say as if they’re saying it.”
“Oh, ouch, that must have been a fun one to learn how to control.”
“You have no idea,” I chuckled and then focused on our new warriors who looked ready to riot. “Hey! Snap out of it. Meggan’s the bad one here and totally railing you twits.”
“Is that what’s happening?” Roarke ground out from the doorway. “I feel like I want to defend her and I believe everything she told me as sure as my own name.”
“Yeah, I think you’re old enough where it takes more to get through to you.” Then that made me realize something and I spun around to look at Theo. “How come she didn’t get you? She wanted a lot from you and never made you do it.”
“I’m a void,” he answered, flicking off Meggan. “She can’t ever influence me.”
Meggan’s eyes went wide behind Helios’s hand and she screamed. Then Helios cussed and grabbed her hair hard. “You bite me again and I will crush your windpipe with my thumb and watch you fucking struggle for air with a smile.”
“Dude, she’s a girl,” Mark gasped from across the room.
“So?” Helios drawled, raising an eyebrow. “She branded Theo, beat him up, abused him, just bit me, and mind-raped you guys plus the warriors who interrogated her. Equality means being treated the same with or without boobs. They can’t be taken into account only when it’s useful or helpful to the person. I hate the dual standards.” He glanced down at Meggan and smiled. “You want equality? You got it from me, sister. I will fucking crush you like a bug you pull any more of that shit, just like if you had balls.”