Cade: Le Beau Brothers: billionaire Shifter Series BBW mates (Le Beau Series)

by Dold, V. A.

  Cade crushed the glass he held in his hand. He was growling dangerously into the phone. Etienne knew the anger was not aimed at him and waited for Cade to collect himself.

  “I'll make the payment personally and send them a much needed message. Thank you, my friend. Please proceed with Tim’s redirection as soon as you can. Also, feel free to feed, I'd like him watched indefinitely, and your mind-reading ability to link to those you have bitten will be very useful. I don’t trust this punk to not get Anna into danger again.”

  Etienne laughed. “My pleasure, Cade. I will try to not flash my fangs or let my eyes grow red while I am looking him in the eye.” There was a click and Etienne was gone.

  He knew Etienne would do exactly that. He meant to scare the life out of Tim. There was nothing he hated more than a coward that used a woman as a shield. The man was getting off easy as a favor to him, normally his treatment of vermin like Tim was a bit more deadly.

  He set his phone on the counter and leaned on both hands as he hung his head and tried to calm down. He wanted to be composed when he saw Anna, if she saw him like this his eyes would alarm her.

  He heard her unpacking. Good, that would keep her busy while he went to the casino. “Cher, I need to run to the city for an hour or so. Do you need anything while I'm there?”

  “No, not that I can think of. Will you be home for lunch?” She sounded like her head was deep inside a box.

  “I'm sure I'll be home in plenty of time.” He brushed his hand down her lower back and continued south.

  She rose from the box, a glint in her eye and one eyebrow cocked. Her expression broke his foul mood instantly. One sweet kiss and he was out the door. He wanted this over with. Like yesterday.

  Cade didn’t bother to knock. Scum like these men didn’t deserve that kind of respect. He threw the door open and smashed the kingpin to the desktop before his goons blinked once. “You'll listen very closely. I'll only say this once. Anna James is mine. She is under my personal protection. If you or any of your people even look in her general direction, if you hire someone to cause her harm, if you look at her or any of her friends or family sideways, I will rip your guts open and feast on your entrails while you watch. I'll ensure you remain alive for a very long time as I slowly dissect you one organ at a time. You will not die well.”

  He threw the fifty thousand on the desk. “Do you understand everything I just said?”

  Everyone stood frozen, afraid to even breathe.

  “Speak now! Yes or no!” He was close to losing control of his wolf completely.

  “Yes! Yes! I understand.” The boss frantically glanced from Cade’s hand to his face.

  Back and forth.

  The leader of the mob was the only one who saw his hand shift into a wolf’s paw with wicked, deadly claws that flexed and dug deeply into his arm. In a split second Cade snapped the man’s arm, the bone stuck through the skin at a sickening angle. The agonized screaming was probably heard into the casino.

  Leaning down he whispered, “I know what you intended to physically do to my mate.” The sound of finger bones snapping echoed in the room and the mob boss screamed again. “Speak of her again in such a manner and I will rip off your dick and shove the pathetic thing down your throat.”

  He released the evil thug.

  “UM, boss…Mr. Comeaux,” one of the goons said from across the room.

  Panting in pain the mobster sat up and glared at the man.

  “We have a problem,” the goon continued.

  Cade’s head spun around and latched onto the goon. “What kind of problem?” he snarled.

  “Jonesy and Ralph followed you from the hotel and are already staking out the place. With you not there--” he squeaked in terror.

  Instantly Cade was gone. He moved so fast no one was able to see him actually leave. To them, he simply vanished.

  Anna was unpacking her bathroom boxes when her old monthly friend returned. She realized she needed feminine hygiene items she hadn’t needed for the past couple years. She knew Cade would be embarrassed if she sent him shopping for that so she grabbed her purse to go to town. He had a sedan in the garage and the keys hung by the door so she was set.

  As she pulled out of the driveway, the two men who were watching her followed. They kept a distance behind her to not draw attention. She pulled into the small corner store a few miles from the plantation. As she was locking the car a man grabbed her from behind and hauled her backwards into a waiting van.

  The last thought she had before losing consciousness was, these men were dead when Cade got a hold of them.

  UGH! What’s that awful smell! Anna awoke with her nose buried in a rancid musty mattress. It all came rushing back, she had been grabbed from behind at the convenience store.

  Ok, where am I and how many of them are there? Slowly she turned her head enough to see the room hoping the movement wouldn’t be noticed by her captors. It looked like an old rickety cabin. The room held the single bed she was on and one wooden chair. There was a window with ragged curtains that had seen much better days. I think I can fit through that window if I can open it.

  She listened for sounds coming from the other side of the bedroom door. She heard a television but couldn’t tell who was behind the door without opening it. She gave her new heighten wolf senses a try. Pressing her nose close to the crack she took a deep breath. Two of them. Try to open the door a crack or attempt the window? Window first.

  Quietly she tiptoed to the window and examined it carefully. There was no lock. With only a short drop to the ground, this would be doable. She would need to cross about twenty feet of open yard before she had the safety of the trees. If she could open it without alerting anyone she could escape.

  Taking a deep breath she braced her feet and pushed on the frame. It rose only an inch with a deafening screech, then jammed. Shit.

  Scrambling furniture and running footsteps were heard seconds before the door slammed open. Two very large men filled the doorway.

  “What do you think you’re doing, little missy,” the dark haired one asked.

  “Yeah, Ralph, we’re in the middle of the bayou, where did she think she could go?” the blond added.

  She had to think fast. They stepped into the room and advanced on her. She followed her new wolf instincts and shifted. Apparently stress and dire need helps in the shifting process because she did it perfectly the first try.

  The goons stopped in their tracks in shock by her shift. They must’ve known about shifters because that moment of hesitation ended very quickly. Ralph dove for her but she scrambled between his legs and rammed the blond out of the way as she made for the next room.

  She skidded to a halt, stuck in the main room of the cabin. Well hell, now what. I can’t open the front door without hands. Ralph and his buddy were at the other end of the room and she was backed against her unusable exit.

  “Jonesy, you go left and I will go right. Grab her and we’ll tie her up,” Ralph said.

  As they slowly closed in a cell phone rang. She glanced to where it lay on the table next to a gun.

  That’s it! If I can contain these two idiots, I can call Cade. These buffoons are no match for my wolf. She waited until Jonesy reached for her. Without warning she latched onto his arm, biting as hard as she could. Anna shook her head roughly for good measure.

  Jonesy howled in pain.

  With her wolf focused on Jonesy she couldn’t see Ralph but she heard him coming at her. As he tried to grab her around the neck she released Jonesy and spun away from Ralph’s grip.

  Jonesy was ass-planted on the floor cradling his bloody and torn arm.

  One down, one to go, she thought. Come and get me, big guy.

  Ralph made another grab for her and she clamped down on his leg. Fabric ripping and pain filled screams were loud in the little room.

  Anna waited for the goons to stop yowling before she started snarling and growling. She wanted them to be paying close attention so she could herd
them into the corner. To avoid her deadly jaws, both men crab walk backwards to the exact place she wanted.

  She stood next to the table with the cell phone and gun. Taking a deep breath she visualized herself human and clothed in jeans and T-shirt. A second later Anna the human stood before them. Snatching up the gun she held it on the goons and with an audible click flipped the safety off.

  “Sit your butts in the chairs, boys,” she said indicating the only two wooden chairs in the room. There was a duffle bag on the couch. Rummaging through she found an adequate length of rope to tie them to the chairs.

  Jonesy whined like a wuss as she pulled his hands behind him and tied them tightly.

  Ralph glared at her. She could tell he was trying to think his way out of the situation. “In case this gun isn’t incentive enough for you to behave yourself, Ralph, I can always bring the wolf back.” Raising her eyebrows she gave him a pointed look.

  Scowling he put his hands behind his back so she could tie him.

  After picking up the cell phone, she dialed Cade.

  “Hello, Cade Le Beau.”

  “Cade, It’s me. I was kidnapped and could use a little assistance.”

  “Thank God! Where are you? Are you hurt?”

  “No, I’m not hurt. These two idiots are bleeding pretty good though. I have them tied to a couple chairs and they conveniently provided me with a gun and phone. But I have no idea where I am. Hold on.”

  She looked at Ralph and Jonesy. “Where are we, boys?”

  Ralph sneered at her. “As if we are going to tell you.”

  The conversation stopped and a few seconds later a wolf started snarling. Ralph quickly gave up the cabin’s location when she focused on his crotch.

  “Did you hear that or should I repeat it?” she asked Cade.

  Laughing, “I got it, cher. I will be there in about thirty minutes by boat. Do you need me to bring you anything?”

  “No, I’m good, just hurry. I love you, Cade,” she whispered to him.

  “I love you too, Anna. I will be there before you know it.”

  Stefan sat across the room from Cade. They had been trying to figure out where she was being held. “Did she get free of them?” he asked.

  “Yeah, she seems to have them as her captives now.” He chuckled.

  “Damn, I need a woman like her. That’s kind of hot.” Stefan laughed.

  “Follow me in your boat. Once I get Anna out of there you can take care of the men.”

  “My pleasure. Do I get to bite them too?” Stefan asked jokingly.

  “Do as you please, just deliver them to the casino when you are done having fun. Be sure to make an impression on the boss when you return his trash.”

  Thirty five minutes later, Anna heard boats docking. Boots thundered across the dock moments before Cade and Stefan came through the door. Both men doubled over laughing at the sight of Anna sitting on top of the dining room table twirling her gun like Annie Oakley. Ralph and Jonesy were clearly not amused.

  She hopped off the table and jumped into Cades arms. He held her tight then let her slip to the floor. “I was ready to come in here and kick some butt, you ruined all my fun,” he teased.

  Shaking his head, “I can’t wait to hear this story.” Stefan chuckled.

  She and Cade left as Stefan took possession of the goons. Cade cuddled her close under his arm all the way home. If she hadn’t been so calm and had the men tied when he arrived, his wolf would have killed those men. They had her to thank for their lives.

  Once they were safely home she told him the entire story. She was especially proud of her shift during the daring escape.

  When Stefan returned from his come-to-Jesus meeting with the boss, she retold the story to him. She was so animated, as she told it she had the men laughing until they couldn’t breathe.

  “I don’t think we made any friends at the casino today,” Stefan told them when the laughter died down. “We will have to be on guard against retaliation for a while.”

  “Tomorrow call a meeting with Dad and the men. Fill them in on the details and schedule around the clock border patrol and security until further notice. Next time it may be Mom they try to snatch.”

  Etienne had an impressive antebellum mansion. More than one billionaire had attempted to purchase his home, but that would never happen. Two and a half glorious stories of southern history. Immense columns held up a hipped roof that created the wrap around covered porch completely around the first and second levels. Entering the front door, a visitor was transported back in time.

  Etienne had every classic touch and only the finest furnishings money could buy. He shared this place with a beloved human woman once, had given her his heart and soul. The happiest day of his existence had been the day she agreed to be his queen and join him as a vampire. His happiness had been short lived. A mob of humans caught his queen away from the mansion and tried to end her existence.

  Cade had come upon the scene and stopped the horrific killing but not before it was too late. He hadn’t been able to save her but he had held her and comforted her until the end. He then carried her in his arms, walking the entire five miles to the mansion to return her body to him. He would always owe Cade for that kindness and show of loyal friendship.

  Thus Etienne had no problem sending his right-hand man to collect Tim to bring him to the estate he called home. It was daylight, but the sun wouldn’t have stopped him. He was an ancient and no longer held captive by that burning ball in the sky. He was considered the king of the vampires in New Orleans and it was simply below him to collect vermin like Tim.

  Tim was exiting the courtyard of his apartment building. He hadn’t bothered to observe his surroundings, not expecting danger at seven in the morning. Wrong.

  In less than four steps, a hand gripped his arm tightly as another hand covered his nose and mouth with a cloth. Generally a vampire didn’t require the use of chloroform to subdue a victim but Etienne wanted him delivered whole and unharmed. The harming would be Etienne’s pleasure.

  The vampire sighed as he grumbled, “I really wanted to hurt this piece of trash. Etienne is going to owe me for this.”

  Tim was tossed carelessly into the trunk of a sedan and driven to the mansion. There was little care taken in avoiding bumps and potholes. The vampires knew of the beast’s treatment of Cades mate. There’d be no mercy for him as long as he insisted on remaining in New Orleans. If the idiot had half a brain, he’d move immediately. There were many hungry friends of the Le Beau’s wanting a taste of this human.

  Tim was roughly dragged by his one good arm to a basement cell and tossed in. He was left in a heap to sleep off the chloroform on the cold stone floor. But it was the basement which held the most interesting aspects of his home. A series of cells and torture rooms lined the space. Etienne was either a person’s best ally or worst nightmare. If on his enemy list or an enemy of a friend, you had better run far and fast. If caught, the situation wouldn’t end well.

  When Tim woke, he would have no idea where he was, if it was day or night. His first thought would be the mob had grabbed him. All he would be able to do was shiver in the dark stone room waiting for the torture to begin.

  Little did he know his debt had been paid and a much more dangerous creature held him. At some point a single bulb hanging from the ceiling turned on. Etienne enjoyed this part, his victim Tim could now see he was in a solid brick, square room. The only way in or out was a three inch thick solid wood door. He was screwed.

  Etienne left Tim to wait alone in the bare room with no furniture, no windows, only the bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. The wondering of what would happen to him was its own kind of torture. What must have felt like hours to Tim had passed as he pounded on the door, yelling for help. Begging for mercy.

  The click of the door announced Etienne as he calmly entered the cell. Tim backed away until he was flat against the wall. Etienne knew he was a striking figure, at six foot four with wide shoulders, lean hips and mus
cles that seemed to ripple even as he stood still. He was ruggedly handsome with a neat ponytail of coal black hair that ran halfway down his back. Too many women over the century’s had raved about his beauty for him to not know how humans saw him. When you were as ancient as he was, beauty was much more than physical features, they meant nothing to him anymore.

  Most women found him irresistible. Most men were terrified of him. Etienne preferred it that way. He radiated menace and evil on purpose. Vampires had the ability to affect the vibes they emitted. Normally Etienne emitted a friendly, charming, warm vibe. He truly liked most of humanity and enjoyed their company. But he turned on the bad vibes in a huge way when he chose to. And he chose to make Tim as terrified as possible.

  He looked Tim directly in the eye, latched onto his freewill and crooked a single finger for Tim to come forward. He smelled Tim’s fear, his victims always wanted to refuse and remain on the safe side of the cell. Disobedience didn’t have a chance in hell of happening. Like a wooden soldier, he stiff-leggedly walked one forced step at a time.

  Tim’s legs stopped their forward motion mere inches from him. Etienne’s hand shot out and grabbed his victim’s jaw in an almost crushing grip, forcing him to look directly into his eyes. “You will move to Las Vegas and never return to Louisiana. You have no desire to ever see Anna again. If you ever try to see her without her invitation, you will become violently ill. That illness will not be relieved until all thoughts of seeing Anna without permission fade from your brain. You will cease all association with the syndicate of New Orleans. You will never set foot into a casino or any other form of gambling establishment ever again. You will not say a bad word about Anna to anyone, ever. She is perfect in all ways and your failed marriage is completely your fault. You will never endeavor to take advantage of your children in anyway. These orders will remain with you until you take your last breath. If you defy these orders by calling Anna or attempting to see her in person, you will be instantly covered in painful, debilitating boils. If you continue to defy my orders your manhood and scrotum will shrivel and fall off.”