by Jaime Rush
No, she wasn’t. “This isn’t about the feuds.” She pressed her hand to her solar plexus. “I feel it here. Something isn’t right.”
“I think it’s probably a combination of the temperament down there, plus the unusually strong fluctuations we’ve been seeing from the impending solar storm.”
“We’ve felt the effects before, and they’ve never incited anyone to murder.”
“I would suggest you weather the storm and stay out of trouble.”
He was dismissing her.
Violet’s gaze went to a map of Miami on the wall behind him. Went, in fact, to a red pin at the western edge of her clan’s territory where Arlo had died. She took several steps forward, Kade shadowing her.
“You know about the murders.” She tapped her photographic memory and pictured where the other Fringers had been killed. This map pinpointed each gruesome location with a red pin. “What are the yellow pins for?”
Ferro moved to block her view of the map with his compact muscular body. “We are investigating, Ms. Castanega. As you can see.” His words grated out. “But I cannot discuss the details of the case at this time.” This didn’t make sense. He was dismissing her, yet he knew about the murders. “Thank you for your concern,” he said. “I’m sure it took a lot of courage for you to come here.” He looked beyond her. “Escort her out.”
Okay, that was a dismissal. Kade put his hand on her back to guide her out the door. The prickles that zinged through her at his touch were as odd as what she’d felt when their eyes had met. She involuntarily jerked away from that electric touch. He grabbed her arms and shoved her face-first to the wall, pinning her wrists with his iron grip.
“No more fast moves,” he said, his voice a growl in her ear, his breath hot on the back of her neck. “Or I’ll remove you from the premises bodily.”
Bodily. Which meant, his hands on her body, carrying her right out of there. The idea crackled across her skin like the heat flush she got when she had to go into the alligator pens. Except Kade smelled a hell of a lot better. And she knew that firsthand, since all of his hard, muscular body was plastered against hers. Which should piss her off, not make her want to spin in his arms and test him on that bodily thing. Fortunately, she couldn’t budge an inch, squashing that insane temptation.
“Going for another cheap thrill?” she rasped, her cheek mashed against the wall.
“What?”
She lowered her voice to a near whisper and turned to look at him. “You grabbed my boob on our last tussle.”
“That was an accident, and you know it. Come on, you think I need to cop a feel on a suspect to get off?”
No, she supposed not when he looked like that. Arrogant son of a bitch. “It wasn’t just an accidental brush. You lingered. And spread your hand to cover more area.” In her peripheral vision, she sensed other officers at the ready, but Kade’s body heat enveloped her, overwhelmed her senses—and had her Dragon panting.
He kept his voice low, too, his mouth close to her ear. “Interesting how you remember every nuance of it. You must have enjoyed it.”
She bucked, anger pulsing through her. “I should have reported you, for all the good that would have done.” Wait a minute. She could swear a hard ridge pressed against her back. Ignoring the odd sense of triumph, she said, “Mmm, seems like you’re enjoying this.”
“It’s just an adrenaline reaction from a potential altercation with a troublesome Dragon.”
“If you say so. I was only moving away from you. I don’t like being touched. If I promise to be a good girl, will you let me go?”
The mist in his eyes swirled provocatively. “Can you be a good girl? Is that even possible?”
“Try me.” She shifted her eyes to the group of officers behind him. “After all, you have plenty of backup.”
A spark of playful challenge lit his eyes. “Oh, baby, I don’t need backup.”
What were they talking about? Oh, Heathe, Dragon goddess of sensuality, were they flirting? No. Not possible. Why was heat throbbing through her body then? Why was her Dragon shivering with a lust she hadn’t felt in forever?
Enemy! I know it’s been a while, and then only with boring ole Mundanes, but really. Have some self-respect, beast!
“I’ll be a good girl,” she said, hearing the contriteness in her voice.
“Mmm. We’ll see about that.” Kade released her, and she rubbed her shoulders where he’d held them. “I can find my own way out.”
“Sorry, policy.” His fingers settled on her mid-back again as he guided her toward the door. “I have to escort you.”
She heard someone whisper, “Wouldn’t want her to go bat-shit crazy in here.”
Her mouth tightened in response, the only one she would show.
Another man murmured, “Kade said she’s as nuts as the rest of the Fringers. I wouldn’t mind her going nuts on me.”
Several men chuckled, the thick sound of innuendo charging their laughter.
Kade lifted his hands, not looking the least bit contrite. “You did go crazy. Jumped me, tore a chunk of my hair out.”
“You were beating my brother to a pulp.”
“He deserved it. I came to arrest him. He should have gone peacefully. Instead he Catalyzed and went all scales and fangs on me.”
She swallowed back the angry things she wanted to say as the memory of that terrible day returned. She eyed the fine line that lanced Kade’s right eyebrow and across his temple. “Nice scar.”
He paused at the door that led out to the reception area, drawing his finger across it. “Yes, it is. Scars are a badge of honor in the Guard. Arlo did me a favor.” He arched that eyebrow. “Gives me a dangerous look.”
“How’d that shiner work for you? Did that make you look mad, bad, and dangerous, too?”
A black guy who reminded her of Wesley Snipes hovered nearby, amusement on his face. “Kavanaugh, you didn’t tell us this little girl gave you that shiner.” He eyed her up and down, the kind of survey that made her feel marginalized. His taunting gaze remained in place as it shifted to Kade. “You must be getting soft.”
Now it was Kade’s mouth that tightened into a line. This was not friendly camaraderie, especially since the black guy was jabbing Kade in front of her.
Why the hell she had the insane urge to defend him, to say that he’d fought…well, like a tiger, she had no idea. No, take satisfaction at humbling him in front of his colleagues. And umbrage at the Wesley guy calling her “little.” Not at five-foot-seven.
Get me out of here. She turned the door handle.
It wouldn’t move. Damn. She wanted to leave. Now.
Kade leaned close, pressing a series of buttons and pushing the door open for her. “Allow me.”
She gave him a look that, while it may not kill, hopefully would singe him. Except, no…he gave her a bemused half smile. She stalked out. Behind her, she heard the muffled laughter of the people who had no doubt heard every word of their exchange.
Chapter 3
Kade watched Violet Castanega’s sassy little ass sashay through the lobby to the entrance. He could tell she wanted to look back at him; she started to but snapped her head straight, pushed the door open, and slammed it shut behind her. Wow, did she look different from the last time he’d seen her.
When he’d arrested Arlo six years ago, someone jumped on his back, wrapping her long legs around his waist and arms over his shoulders. He’d known instantly it was a woman—her breasts crushed against his back had been the first clue. Her shrill voice blasting his ear with “Let him go!” the second.
He’d reached back to dislodge her and accidentally grabbed her boob. Okay, maybe he had lingered on that firm and soft and luscious mound of flesh…for maybe two seconds. She’d nailed him in the eye with her elbow. It was only after he’d thrown her off that he realized it was Violet, the once-lanky, scrappy teenager he’d seen during an earlier investigation into Arlo’s activities.
Before she could launch another at
tack, he reminded her that assaulting an officer would result in arrest, and she backed off. She’d been wearing tattered jeans, a muddy tank top, and boots, and she smelled of earth. A red scarf covered her dark brown hair, but her braid had hung down her back and tendrils of hair had escaped. To his surprise, her untamed self had tugged at the rebellious, wild side he’d had to stuff deep inside. And it still did, apparently.
The spark between them was bizarre. Never would he nail a Fringer, doubly so, since they were all Dragons. Not even one with silky hair falling over her shoulders and a long, lean body. He returned to the pit, where several pairs of eyes were on him.
“Did you spank her for giving you that shiner, Kavanaugh?” Treach called out, followed by a chorus of guffaws.
“I think you were a little too distracted and let her get the best of you,” Baker said. “You wanted to spank her.”
Kade shook his head, learning long ago that to respond was the weaker action. He headed to his office, a tantalizing image of Violet sprawled across his lap while he spanked that lush behind flashing into his mind. That was not helping his hard-on.
His sister, Mia, sidled up next to him. “What was that about?”
“The shiner?” He waved it off. “She was fast, nailed me while I was dealing with her brothers.” He wasn’t getting into the boob part.
“No wonder you never mentioned who’d given you that black eye. These chauvinistic bastards will never let you live that down.” She shot them a derisive glance and lowered her voice. “But that’s not what I was talking about. There was an erotic vibe in the way you dealt with her, and ooh, the way the mist in your eyes is swirling now.”
He kept all expression from his face, including annoyance at her observation. “I was making sure she didn’t cause a scene. Nothing more.”
She gave him a skeptical look, which he deserved because he knew exactly what she was talking about. He didn’t have an answer for it either, because no way was he attracted to a Castanega. Even a sexy, sassy one. “Take note, little sister. With people like her, you’ve got to establish dominance immediately. The moment they think they’ve got the upper hand, they do.”
The usual light of admiration returned to her eyes, the way it did whenever he imparted his wisdom to her. “I see that. You didn’t let her get away with anything, while she completely got away from me. That’s why you’re one of the best Vegas in the department.”
He loved her admiration, and he didn’t. He knew too well how betrayed one felt when the object of your admiration fell and shattered to pieces. She was too young to remember when all the years of their father’s sterling service to the Guard exploded in scandal. A woman had made wild accusations about a member of the Concilium, the government entity that oversaw the Hidden and instituted the rules. Somehow their father had gotten involved, emotionally, maybe romantically. Stewart Kavanaugh had helped the woman escape, and both were killed.
Everyone had kept the ugly details from Mia, then age seven. As far as she knew, a crazy woman attacked their father. Weeks later, their mother had taken her life, unable to deal with the betrayal and scandal. She was a selfish, weak woman who cared more about her reputation than her young daughter.
On top of that, Kade had been demoted to Argus. Some people complained that he’d been fast-tracked to Vega because of his father’s influence and that he didn’t deserve his position because his reckless behavior made the Guard look bad. Maybe that was true, but they conveniently forgot the thirty years that he was a Vega who closed almost every case. Five years of toeing the line, exemplary work, and living by the rules had earned him Vega again—humiliating, belittling years that changed him from cavalier and edgy to a model officer.
“Kavanaugh,” Ferro called out, leaning out of his office. He saw Mia and added, “Kade.” Ferro remained standing once Kade closed the door behind him. “Take the Castanega woman out.”
The words hit Kade like a cold slap, so out of the blue he had to clarify in case he’d misheard. “‘Take her out’? You mean kill her?”
“I thought you were beyond needing the terms explained.”
Kade bristled. “For barging into your office?”
The corner of Ferro’s mouth twitched. “You’re questioning the order?”
“It seems extreme, sir, if that’s what you’re basing it on.”
“It has nothing to do with her conduct here.” Ferro gestured to the map. “We’ve been watching the Fringe for a while now. These killings are connected to her, and her act about being concerned is just that.”
That assertion was nearly as surprising as Ferro’s order. Kade saw Violet as many things, but murderously devious? “Why do you think she came here asking for our help to stop the murders? Like you said, it took a lot of courage for her to step into this building.”
“Not courage; a psychopathic mentality that runs in her bloodline. Remember, her family massacred a whole Fringe clan some years back. Our sources say the Castanegas are behind the recent murders, and Violet is right in the thick of it.” Ferro lifted the paper she’d brought in. “Her coming here was undoubtedly part of some bigger plan. Drag us in and kill off our officers, maybe. Or get us to take out some of their enemies under false pretenses. Whatever her motive, it’s part of some sick game. Eliminating her will serve as a warning when they see that the murder was not committed by one of their own. And hopefully put an end to this.”
He let the paper drift down to his desk. “I don’t care if they kill each other off in principle. Worthless pieces of trash, all of them. A blight on Crescent society. Their skirmishes have always acted as population control, but in the age of the Internet and instant news, they threaten to expose what we are.”
The insults prickled across Kade’s skin. He’d heard them spoken about his father after the debacle. He didn’t like the Fringers, but he wasn’t going to agree with Ferro’s assessment.
Ferro leaned on the desk with both hands. “Make this your priority.” Which meant drop everything and do it now.
Vegas were akin to Special Ops, called in when the mission was dangerous or required a special skill. He had to trust his superior. “I’ll take care of it, sir.”
“I don’t appreciate having to explain myself to my officers.”
Kade had to hold back his sneer. “Understood, sir.”
The Guard didn’t have people killed for less than a good reason. Kade wasn’t always privy to the reasons, and, frankly, he’d never been concerned about it. Orders were orders. Still, the prospect of whacking Violet sank his stomach.
Because you felt her body against yours? And got a hard-on? Think with the right head, Kavanaugh.
He would carry out his task as ordered.
Kade drove south, through the city and toward the marshlands known as the Fringe. Normally, adrenaline would be shooting through his veins like a thousand Red Bulls on his way to a kill. This time he was having a hard time working up the excitement to do his job.
As he reached the edge of the Fringe, he felt a tightening in his gut. Finally. Except it wasn’t eagerness or adrenaline. It was…dread? Because he didn’t want to kill her. There it was.
Keep your focus. It’s a job.
Each clan had a large parcel of land that was divvied up between the various subfamilies. Many had different businesses, nice legal ones like vineyards and farms. But sometimes their farms consisted of marijuana plants, one of Arlo’s transgressions. The Guard cared more about the possibility of attracting the Muds’ attention than the illegality of the farms.
Centuries of living as they saw fit gave the Fringers the impression that they were outside the bounds of the law. Centuries of living with the threat of being extinguished by your nearest neighbor made them skilled at fighting. Violet was no delicate flower. She’d held back at Headquarters. He knew her ferocity well enough. And yeah, he knew the feel of her breast, and her body wrapped around his…though not in the good way.
Not that you want her wrapped around you like that.
Because that would make this assignment much more complicated.
His cock had different ideas, thickening at the memory. Hell, he wasn’t even experiencing physical contact and there it was, waving to get his attention. He really needed to get laid.
Violet’s faced flashed in front of him.
But not with her.
Earlier, he experienced that bizarre moment of spotting someone you knew but not recognizing them. She’d cleaned up nice, dressed in white pants that made her legs go on forever and a dark blue shirt that molded to her upper body. Though he would have definitely recognized her once she gave him the go screw yourself look.
Kade drove down a weed-overgrown gravel road and parked his car behind a stand of Brazilian pepper bushes. Between Arlo’s drug running, some assault charges, and the old coot who’d seen a gator ape, Kade had been to Castanega property enough to know his way around. There was plenty of acreage for the family’s enterprises; most centered around alligators. Demons were no big deal, but those scaly toothy creatures with perpetual grins gave him the creeps.
Kade walked the boundary between Castanega land and the long-vacant Garza land. This was not the cultivated, trimmed, and polished South Florida most people imagined. While the pepper bushes with the red berries took over open stretches of land, the tall feathery Australian pines created dense forests elsewhere. In places where the non-native plants hadn’t invaded, slash pine trees with their long needles offered more sap than shade.
A wet summer left the ground muddy and created large marshes in some places. It was hard to walk quietly in muck. His black boots sucked free of the moist earth with every step. The smell of earth, mud, and decay filled his nostrils. Sweat trickled down his back. Even in the hot, muggy summers, Vega attire consisted of long sleeves. The black rayon allowed for movement and ventilation, but neither helped when trekking through the woods in September—a month that, in South Florida, typically was as steamy as the one before it.
Mosquitoes buzzed all around him, but none dared land on him. They seemed to sense the magick in Crescents, largely leaving them alone. But they wanted to suck his blood and hovered annoyingly all around. A startled hawk screeched and alighted from a branch. If he hadn’t seen the hawk, he’d suspect it was the Fringe “language,” whistles and nature sounds they used to communicate over distances. Like warning of an intruder.