“Give me a few, baby,” he asked. “We need to talk.”
He could have all the time he needed. What was coming wouldn’t be easy. Flynn would need to work a miracle. Tommy Gress was like a wounded animal.
Afraid.
Terrorized.
Ready to bolt.
“We’ll see you when you’re finished. Take your time with Detective Gress. We have yet to go to Lucricia’s tonight, Flynn. I have to keep my part of the deal.”
Jolie hoped he understood.
Linking her hand with Jacques’s, they walked away, giving the men privacy.
“You’re screwing both of them?” he hissed when they were alone.
The look on his face said it all.
“You’ve got man on man action going on? That’s wrong, Flynn. What the hell happened to you? You’re as hetero as they come.”
Brogan thought about all the times he worried about Jacques touching him, and then he pictured the times they’d come in contact.
He’d been worried for nothing.
That was for sure.
“I’m shocked you go both ways.”
Flynn understood the initial revulsion. At first, the nudity and sex was hard for him too. “Tommy, I don’t actually have sex ‘with’ Jacques. We both have sex with Jolie--sometimes alone, and sometimes together.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Your mother is rolling in her grave,” he said, shaking his head in disgust. “Don’t you see how wrong this is?”
“Tread carefully, Tommy. I’m mated to them, and Jolie is pregnant and carrying our children. So, I’d watch what you say about her. Jolie’s the vampyre equivalent to my wife,” said Flynn, warning his partner. “I won’t allow her to be insulted, not even by my old friend.”
“I just don’t understand it, Flynn. It’s crazy. You’re sharing her in the same bed with another man.”
“Yes and?”
“It’s too bizarre. You’ve always been the epitome of male, and here you’re playing sex games as someone’s bitch.”
He didn't even flinch.
Deep down, he always knew this would happen if the truth got out. He just didn't think it would be someone he held close to his heart.
Then again, Tommy had been tortured by a vampyre. That could sour anyone’s opinion, and fast.
“I’m sorry that you see it that way, Tommy. I’m not anyone’s bitch. What I am, is someone’s mate. Jacques is like a brother to me, and Jolie is the woman we love.”
“But the sex,” he stated.
“It’s just sex. You’re looking for a reason to hate them, and I get that. You’ve been through a lot.”
“You think? You’re just lost in all this. You’re not acting like the man I once knew. You have to be under a spell.”
“Vampyres don’t do spells. You’re thinking witches. What Jolie and Jacques do is save people, so I guess it is a matter of perspective,” he answered. “I was hollow and empty before them, and now I’m complete. I love my mates, and they’re my family. If this is some hoodoo, well screw it. I don’t care.”
“I’m appalled that you don’t care that he’s dipping his stick in your woman.”
Brogan thought about it. “You probably shouldn’t cast stones,” he stated. While he felt bad for his friend, he was close to crossing the line.
“What the hell does that mean?”
Flynn went there. “You’re screwing Dena Callahan, right?”
“What about it?”
“I was the one originally bed hopping with her,” he said. “So, you’re ‘dipping your stick’ in my sloppy seconds,” Flynn stated, trying to be as crass as possible to prove a point.
Tommy stared at him. “Yeah, I’ve been told you came first. I’m shocked she didn't tell me how I paled in comparison in bed too.”
He felt bad for his friend.
“Well, Jacques and I share Jolie, just at the same time. How is that any different?” He posed the question for pondering.
Gress didn’t move.
He wanted desperately to argue, make some foul comment back, but he could honestly see that the man seemed peaceful and happy.
Flynn Brogan had changed. “She’s pregnant?”
“Yes, we just found out.”
“You’re the father?” he questioned further.
Brogan nodded. “Yes.”
He wasn’t sure if his friend was staying, so he didn't tell him the entire truth. Flynn wanted to protect his family, and lying to a friend wasn’t beneath him.
Gress offered the olive branch by holding out his hand to his friend. “Congrats, Flynn. I hope you’re happy.”
“Thank you. I promise, Tommy, that they won’t hurt you.”
“I guess.” He changed the subject quickly. “Is everyone searching for me?” he asked, touching a small scar on his face.
“Yeah, they called me when you disappeared. We’ve been searching for you for days.”
“I see,” he said.
“Do you?” asked Flynn, staring intently at his friend. “We came back to the city, even though there was a death decree out for all three of our lives.”
Gress stared at him, wondering if he was being honest.
“I am.”
“I better call Dena. I bet she’s worried,” Gress stated, changing the subject again.
Flynn shrugged, since he had nothing to say.
“What?” Tommy asked, knowing that look.
“She was here before, and really wasn’t all that worried.” He paused. “Well, that’s not true. She was pretty worried about me not letting her in my pants.”
“What?”
“She told me she loves me.”
“Well, shit!” he cursed, closing his eyes. “I should’ve known better. Dena was always talking about you, and asking me if we kept in touch. I should have known her asking what you were doing was a bit off. That was my sign that she wasn’t over you.”
“Come with us,” Flynn blurted out suddenly.
“What?” he asked, mouth open.
Flynn leaned forward. “Jolie, Jacques, and I are going to have to return home, and I’d like for you to come along. It might help ease your fears of vampyres. I want you to accept my family, and I’m offering you a chance to be part of us.”
Gress was feeling bad.
They saved, healed, and gave him a gift, and he was still stuck on one little thing. “I just can’t get past the both of you sharing her.”
He didn't answer.
“You could have any woman, Flynn--a normal one too. The babes fell at your feet. Why would you sacrifice what you could have for something so damn creepy?”
“Newsflash, Tommy, but Jolie is normal. She’s got all the same working parts as a human, but with a pair of fangs--which I find incredibly sexy.”
He swallowed.
“You fear them because you were hurt. I don’t because I know what they’re really like. I get it. I just wish you’d trust me. Jolie walked into my life, and it changed for the better.”
“Yeah, I see that you’re happy.” Gress glanced around the enormous room.
“It’s not about the money. Please don’t cheapen it with tossing that at me. I don’t give a shit about how much money this family has in the bank.”
“Then, what’s it about?”
Brogan placed his hand over his heart. “It’s about love. I’m finally in love, and it feels so amazing. No one else clicked. Not one of those one night stands, endless lays, or cheap hookups caught my heart. Jolie has.”
Gress sighed. “Okay, and you’re really fine with this sharing her for all eternity? Do you love him too?”
“Yeah, I am, and I do. Jacques is more like a brother to me than anything else. I trust him, and we’re growing closer each day.”
Gress closed his eyes before leaning back. He was about to tell his friend he was nuts, when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” said Flynn, not bothering to look up. He was well aware who was there. He could sense her
energy. “It’s okay, Camille. You’re not interrupting anything. Tommy and I are just talking.”
“Yes, Master. I’m here with food for the detective. Mistress Jolie asked me to make sure he eats and regains his strength.”
Flynn smiled gently at the vampyre. “You look better too, Camille. How are you feeling?”
She smiled as she headed their way. The bouncy blonde curls moved with each step. “I’m so much better, Master.”
“Flynn,” he said, cutting it off at the pass. “Drop the ‘master’ part. I prefer to be called by my name.”
“If that makes you happy,” she offered.
Flynn noticed that Tommy, while his eyes weren’t back to one hundred percent, was staring.
No, he was outright ogling the vamp.
It made him smile.
“I should probably make the introductions. Tommy, this is Camille, and Camille, this is Detective Tommy Gress.”
She blushed. “It’s my pleasure, Detective. I’m happy to see that you’re almost healed. I’m sorry about what happened to you.”
“Thank you,” Tommy replied, staring in awe at the woman before him. She had honey-blonde colored curls and bright blue eyes. She was so small and delicate, that he wanted to pick her up and keep her safe.
“I hope you like bacon and eggs. I don’t really cook all that much. Chloe is teaching me.”
He just nodded.
Flynn wanted to laugh because he recognized that look. He’d once been like that with Jolie. Yeah, it looked like Dena was a long forgotten memory. Tommy was hooked.
“Can I check your wounds?”
The man practically ripped off his shirt.
Flynn did laugh, but he hid it behind a cough.
Her hands delicately ran over the scars on his chest. With gentle fingers, she offered tenderness to replace the memories of what had been done to him.
“By tomorrow, they’ll be completely gone,” Camille stated, smiling angelically at him. “Ancient blood always does the trick.”
Flynn noticed that she was into his friend, just as much as he was enthralled with her.
Perfect.
Camille moved closer, wanting to run her fingers across his ginger freckles and red hair. Unfortunately, she knew it would be inappropriate to touch the mistress’s guest, and especially in front of the master.
It was hard.
His healing blue eyes made her feel like she was falling into their depths.
“Great,” he said, his tongue tied up in knots.
“Enjoy your food, Tommy. If you need anything, by all means call me, and I’ll be right here.”
He waited until she was gone. Tommy could picture her beautiful smile in his mind, and he swore his heart flipped in his chest. “She’s amazing. Who is she?”
Flynn couldn’t help but smile. “Like I said, that was Camille, and she’s a vampyre.”
“What?”
“You heard me. They’re not all dark and dangerous. Some are light and sweet.”
“That’s not possible. She looks like an angel.”
“Well, she is, and for your information, Camille is the reason we found you. She was brave enough to come to us when her old mistress was helping abuse you.”
He swallowed. “Really?”
“She’s healing too, Tommy. When Lucricia found her missing, she was beaten. Jolie has taken her in to give her a home.”
“Camille was beaten because of me?” He hated even picturing that. She was so lovely and angelic.
Everything in him wanted to protect her.
“Yes, she was. I guess that makes you want to rethink everything you thought and said before, doesn’t it?” he asked, heading for the door.
It did.
“Come with us, Tommy, just for a while. Learn about my family, and you might be surprised and find happiness too.”
“I’ll think about it,” he said, drinking his juice.
Tommy didn't know if he could do it.
Then he thought about the honey haired angel.
Maybe for her, he could.
* * * H a r c o u r t e * * *
Neither man wanted her to make this trip.
Keeping Jolie safe was their utmost concern, only they didn't have that luxury. She’d made a deal with their mistress, and they had to pay up.
One way or another.
“I hate this,” stated Flynn, fidgeting nervously from beside her. “I feel so damn edgy.”
She was aware.
Jolie could feel the energy coming off him, and it didn't feel peaceful at all.
“I’ll be okay,” she offered. “We’re not going to get hurt.”
By we, she didn't mean them. Jolie meant the precious cargo she was carrying.
In fact, she was going to be damn sure of it. While Jacques drove, Vanth was his navigator.
Oh, they weren’t going in alone.
Hell no. They were bringing in the big guns.
“I still hate it,” Flynn offered, knowing that it was eating away at both him and Jacques.
Vanth turned, staring into Jolie’s eyes. “You should call the darkness to the surface. We need to be ready. They may expect us to show up.”
That meant an ambush.
Closing her eyes, Jolie did just that.
Death rose up from deep within her, finding a home just below the surface. Her flesh rippled, making everyone aware of its presence.
“When we go in, we need to make this count,” stated Jolie. “Lucricia lied her ass off, and she was going to kill the detective. I want her head on a silver platter.”
Death roared to life at the violent possibility.
No one paid any attention to it. They were accustomed to the way the tendrils licked at their bodies.
“Flynn?” Jolie called, breaking the silence of the vehicle.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I’m hungry.”
He didn't hesitate. Immediately, he began unbuttoning his shirt. “Then we should take care of that.” It warmed his blood that he was providing sustenance for their little ones.
Jolie climbed into his lap, finding her place in his arms. “You smell really tasty,” she admitted.
Already, newly into the pregnancy, and she couldn’t resist feeding more and more.
“I’m ready for you,” he offered. Flynn would let her drain him dry, if it meant her being ready for what was coming. While Jolie teased him during sex, that wasn’t enough of a feeding to be at full strength.
She didn’t hesitate.
Hungrily, Jolie buried her fangs in his throat. The moan from her mate made Jolie want to melt into him.
It was heated.
Guttural.
Masculine.
As she gulped from his body, Flynn’s hands wandered her back.
She could feel the light touch to her mind.
‘Please be careful tonight. I can’t go on without you,’ Jacques admitted.
Jolie understood. ‘I’ll be fine. I promise.’
‘I love you.’
Flynn’s hand held her mouth to his neck. As she began slowing down, he knew the pleasure was about to end. He was going to have to face the reality.
They were about to be in danger.
“We’re here, Jolie,” Jacques said, getting her attention.
“Very well. Shall we get this finished for the night? I can block our presence for a while, or at least until we get inside.”
Well, at least they had a slight advantage.
Temporarily.
Flynn buttoned up his shirt and tried to focus on the task at hand. As they exited the vehicle, there was a transformation. They were ready. With Vanth at their side, they had a chance of pulling this off.
“We need to do this,” Jacques stated.
As their mate turned, the men could see how serious she was at that moment. Her eyes had bled to black with no color visible. Her fangs were extended and seemed longer and sharper than normal.
The look on her face spoke volumes.
/>
There was one main intent, and it was to kill and destroy.
Vanth touched her shoulder. “Come, Jolie. They’re here and unaware.”
Jolie followed the demoness to the house with Jacques and Flynn stalking behind them. Both men were ready for a fight, and it was probably a damn good thing.
One was likely coming.
Jolie stopped in front of the door and lifted her hand. It swung open, revealing an empty hallway. Jolie tipped her head to the side, listening for the specific vampyres she was hunting. When she finally picked them up, she grinned.
‘This way,’ whispered through their minds, along with Death’s excited laughter.
‘Be careful, Jolie,’ replied Flynn, back to her. He could hear the fear and trepidation in his own voice. Hopefully, she’d keep that in mind and not do anything stupid.
Jolie silently stalked the voices, and when she had found their general location, she pointed at Vanth. ‘Seal the house. No one will escape tonight. I’ll feed Death and satisfy my bargain.’
The demoness obeyed.
A brilliant heat exploded from her, sealing the entire dwelling around them.
Finally, it was time.
Jolie stepped into the main parlor and was met with gasps and hisses. Apparently, they weren’t expecting Jolie to stroll right in and kick their asses.
“Good evening, Lucricia. I see we meet again. I apologize if I’m interrupting you while you’re holding court, but it couldn’t wait,” Jolie admitted.
The other vampyre looked afraid and angry.
It could be a dangerous mix.
“What do you want?” Lucricia snapped, her eyes bleeding black. It was obvious that she wasn’t going to go down easily.
There would be one hell of a fight.
Death screamed in perverse glee.
“You weren’t invited here. Whether I’m holding court, or not, is none of your business. ”
Jolie laughed and the sound caressed all in the room. Instantly, everyone stepped back to avoid the tainted kiss of her energy.
“I warned you before, Lucricia. I told you how I’d come and kill all who were involved in the abduction and torture of the detective, but you didn't believe me.”
Lucricia’s claws formed.
Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 21