Jared pulled her to him, his mouth crashing down on hers and yes, she gave in to his kiss. Damn him. Realizing what she was doing, she pushed away, then slapped him hard. Jared’s head didn’t even move; his eyes remained on hers with a heat radiating from them as a small smile played across his lips. “You want me.”
He wanted to play dirty. Well, so could she. “At this point anyone would do.” Those words tasted nasty coming out of her mouth, because she didn’t mean them. It was a lie, but she wanted him to hurt as much as she was hurting. This definitely was not a healthy relationship at the moment. A flash of memories of her mother and father screaming, fighting, and saying hurtful things flew through her mind. Like history repeating itself. That wasn’t what she wanted. This wasn’t who she was, but before she could retract the words, Jared was in her face.
“Just know, Tessa, that any man who touches you even with your consent will be a dead man.” Jared’s eyes were black as night, his voice even with rage. “You will have signed the bastard’s death warrant.”
Jared pushed away from her, and Tessa felt his loss. “Jared,” Tessa called out before he could leave. He stopped but kept his back toward her. “I—” She needed to tell him that she didn’t mean it. God, she wished she could be a total bitch, but she couldn’t. Not to him. But he interrupted her.
“Don’t” was all he said before he disappeared.
Rushing toward the front of the house, she wanted to say the words to make sure he understood she hadn’t meant what she’d said. No one would ever do other than him. The door slammed and he was gone.
As she stood alone on the porch, she closed her eyes tightly, feeling a defeat she had never in her life felt before. Slowly, she opened them and looked up into the night sky. Maybe it was for the best. Their relationship had been rocky since she’d been turned into a vampire and now with this… woman…. Well, everything happened for a reason, or so people said. Maybe her showing up with the Dark Guardians was a way the universe was going to kill off her dying relationship.
With one more look around, she knew Jared was gone. Turning, she walked inside, closed and locked the door. Turning lights off as she headed upstairs, she passed the room she shared with Jared and headed straight toward Gramps’s old room. Once at the bed, she sat down.
“I really screwed the pooch this time,” she whispered, using one of Gramps’s favorite sayings. Laying back on the bed, she stared at the ceiling, knowing he’d be disappointed in the way she acted. That made everything so much worse.
Closing her eyes, she wished more than anything she was human once again so she could lose herself in sleep. “Got what I wished for,” Tessa said with such sarcasm and anger it even surprised her. “Never knew what you meant by ‘careful what you wish for’ until this moment, Gramps. Wish I would have listened.”
Rolling over, Tessa reached up and grabbed a pillow, pulling it over her face. Maybe if she smothered herself, she’d sleep for a while. After a long few minutes, she realized it wasn’t going to work. With a curse, she grabbed her phone out of her back pocket. It was only a little after midnight. Tossing her phone to the side, she had no idea how she was going to get through the next few hours, let alone the rest of her life.
Chapter 16
Jared was livid as he rushed up to the house and kicked the door in. His eyes quickly found Charger, who was balls deep inside a woman while holding a gun on him.
“Jesus, Kincaid.” Charger growled as he set his gun down and continued to finish with the woman. “Good way to get yourself killed.”
“We need to talk,” Jared snapped, his eyes barely glancing at the beautiful human who Charger had leaning over the table as he fucked her from behind.
“You need help out here?” Kane came out in a pair of boxers, his eyes narrowed as he looked around.
Charger laughed as he pumped inside the woman faster. “Just Kincaid breaking down doors again.” Charger gave Jared a look as he smacked the woman’s ass, but not hard enough to hurt her. “Just like old times, huh?”
“I meant with her,” Kane replied with a grin. Then he stood there and watched the moaning woman getting nailed.
“Fuck you, Kane.” Charger grunted as he pulled out of the woman, turned her around and plowed into her. All eyes went to the woman’s large tits as they bounced each time Charger plunged inside her. Walking to the makeshift bar, Jared poured himself a whiskey with a curse. Charger was right; this was like the old days. At times, he found himself missing it, but not recently, and he knew why. Tessa. She tamed him in more ways than even he realized until this moment. Back in the day, Jared would have stormed in, seen Charger fucking a beautiful woman and would have filled her mouth up with his own cock.
Kane stepped beside him and poured himself a drink. He then turned around to watch Charger finish with the woman. Her moans of pleasure filled the room, as did the sound of Charger pumping inside her. Kane looked at Jared before peering down his body and smiling. “Definitely like old times.”
Jared glared at Kane, who was laughing at the bulge in his jeans. He didn’t give two shits what others did behind closed doors or in this case in front of him. Vampires were sexual beasts. The Dark Guardians lived up to the name Dark. Okay, that wasn’t fair. He knew Warriors who fucked anything with a heartbeat, or not. Before finding their mates, the VC shared women from time to time, especially back in the days when no human knew they existed. The Dark Guardians just didn’t give a fuck. Busy or not, they wanted to screw. They’d screw anyone, anyplace.
The woman’s scream drowned out his thoughts. His cock throbbed, wishing it was him pounding into Tessa and it was her scream of release. Reaching down, he adjusted himself. Fuck!
“I have a beauty sleeping in my bed that you’re more than welcome to,” Kane offered, taking a long draw from his drink. “I’m sure she’d be happy to wake up to find your dick inside her.”
“Fuck you, but I’ll pass.” Jared growled his answer.
“Can’t blame you.” Kane sighed, finishing his drink. “If I had a woman like Tessa, I wouldn’t stray either. She’s one fine—”
Jared went after him with a vengeance, but Kane was ready and sidestepped out of the way. Jared was ready for that, though, and went to one knee, taking Kane’s legs out from under him with one swing of the leg. Kane hit the floor hard, but before he could recover, Jared was on top, his forearm across Kane’s throat. “Never think that you can speak or think of her with anything but respect.”
“I was going to say lady,” Kane’s garbled voice hissed. “Now get the fuck off me.”
“Let him up, Jared,” Charger said, then actually grabbed Jared’s jacket, pulling him off Kane. “We all think highly of Tessa.”
Jared stood still, glaring down at Kane, who sat up rubbing his throat. “Damn, man. Chill the fuck out,” Kane said, and finally stood.
Charger headed back to the woman and helped her put her clothes back on. The Guardians may fuck with no shame, but they did respect women. Obviously, the woman hadn’t minded an audience. She did, however, smile shyly at Jared, then look away.
“I’ll call you, Monica,” Charger was saying as he walked her to the broken door where he stopped her and kissed her gently. “Thank you for a wonderful night.”
Once the woman was gone, Charger turned, still naked, and glared at Jared. “Now, why don’t you tell me why the fuck you broke my damn door? You think I wasn’t going to let you in?”
“It’s not your door.” Jared frowned, glancing at it. “You rent the fucking place.”
“Well, it is my door now since I’m going to have to buy a new one.” Charger poured himself a drink.
“For the love of God, will you put some pants on?” Jared also poured another drink. “I’m not talking to you while your junk is in my face.”
“Jealous.” Charger grabbed his dick and laughed. “And believe me, if it was in your face, you’d be knocked the fuck out.”
Kane laughed with a nod. “Good one.”
Jared rolled his eyes, then caught a shadow. Turning, he saw a woman wearing only a T-shirt staring at them. He noticed how her eyes watched Charger as he passed, her gaze going to his cock.
“You hungry?” Kane asked with a chuckle as he headed toward the woman. She nodded with a smile. “Come on. The kitchen is this way.”
Charger walked over with his pants on and nothing more, his arms outstretched. “Better.”
“If your scrawny pencil dick is covered, then yes,” Jared replied, then sighed.
“Yeah, you still got jokes, Kincaid.” Charger chuckled and shook his head.
“Dammit, Charger, why did you have to come here and bring Raven?” Jared hissed, running his hand down his face.
“It’s my job, Jared. Demons and I go together. You know this and also knew what was coming. You not taking care of your own business before we showed up is your fault and no one else’s.” Charger turned around to lean against the bar. “I didn’t come here to upset your life. Actually, I’m pretty fucking jealous of what you got going on here. A great group of men you’re working with, a beautiful mate you’re fucking up with, and a life that will be total shit if you lose Tessa.”
“I’m not going to lose her.” Jared growled, but deep down inside, he didn’t feel as confident as his voice portrayed.
“Then come clean with her,” Charger said, his eyes going toward the stairs with a frown. “With all of them. You know, it kinda hurts my feelings you’re ashamed to let the VC know you were once—”
“I’m not ashamed.” Jared slammed his hand down on the table. “But I took an oath with you, the Guardians, and I know they are going to want information I cannot give.”
“You really think Sloan would do that?” Charger poured them another drink.
“No, but you don’t really know Sid or a few of the other ones that will hound me for information,” Jared replied, downing the drink he was just handed. Thankfully, it took a lot of alcohol to get them drunk. “You do know that my loyalty is with the VC now.”
“I do and I respect that.” Charger nodded, then sat down, turning to look at Jared. “You know I didn’t want to lose you, Jared. I understood why, but I didn’t make it easy on you. I’m not sorry for that. I wanted to make damn sure you were making the right decision. But now you have to come clean with everyone about everything.”
Jared looked up toward the ceiling when a loud noise and moans reached them. He then looked toward the kitchen where Kane and the woman disappeared. “Who’s up there?”
Charger cursed, then stood slowly. “Now, Jared.” Charger set his drink down. “Don’t do something you’re going to regret.”
A muffled scream echoed through the house. Without thought, Jared ran up the steps, taking them three at a time. Storming down the hallway, he threw open the door and rage overtook him. Van lay on top of Raven in bed. In two long strides, he reached Van, pulling him up and punching him in the face before throwing him through the wall.
“How dare you touch her,” Jared bellowed before he was tackled by Charger and Kane.
“And how dare you fucking think you have any say on who touches me,” Raven, with a sheet wrapped around her, screamed down in his face. “You lost that right when you walked out.”
All the fight Jared had slipped away from him as he lay there looking at the hurt in Raven’s eyes. She was absolutely right. He had no say in her life anymore. Pushing his way up and out of Charger’s hold, Jared stood and looked down at Raven. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Raven gave him a sideways glare. She shook her head, walking into Van’s arms. “You did have a choice,” Raven hissed, then looked away from him. “You chose wrong.”
“Come on.” Charger grabbed his arm to usher him out of the room, but Jared pulled away.
Shaking his head, Jared glared at Van. “If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you.”
“Who do you think has kept her safe since you walked out?” Van’s eyes narrowed. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Jared went after him, but Charger stepped in front of Jared, stopping him. “Do it, and you’ll have another regret to add to your growing list.”
Knowing Charger was right, he turned to leave, but Raven’s words slowed his steps. “Why?” Her voice was low, and he heard the tears in the single word. “Why did you leave me?”
Turning only his head to the side, he couldn’t even make eye contact with her. “Because I love you.”
“A father would never leave their daughter who they say they love,” Raven whispered, but Jared heard every word.
“He would if it was the only way to save her.” Jared knew he had to leave before he said anything else. Charger was right. Regrets. He had so many and didn’t need any more. Let her think what she wanted about him as long as she was safe, and him leaving had kept her that way. Walking down the steps, he headed for the door.
“Damn, man,” Charger said behind him. “Stay. Let’s talk this out.”
“Nothing left to say.” Jared pulled the broken door to the side. “Bill me for the damages.”
Jared got onto his bike, his eyes automatically rising to the window and saw Raven, his beautiful daughter staring down at him with such gut-wrenching disappointment that it almost brought him to his knees. He vowed right then and there he would make it up to her, to everyone he had let down, and it was a long fucking list.
Chapter 17
Tessa walked out of the lawyer’s office at a hurried clip. Even though she had the rest of the week off from work, she was going in. There was no way she could just sit around and do nothing. At least everything was okay with the will and was going smoothly. Turning the corner toward her car, she slowed. Her father leaned against it with a man standing next to him.
She had asked her grandfather’s lawyer if Frank had made contact, but Mr. Lewis hadn’t heard from him. With a frown, she prepared herself for what was coming.
Tessa shifted everything in her hands to be ready, and wasn’t that a shame? She automatically had to prepare herself for a possible attack from her own father.
“Do I need to get a restraining order?” Tessa asked as she stopped a few feet away.
That seemed to surprise Frank as his eyes rounded, but then quickly narrowed. “Now, why would you want to do something like that, baby girl?”
Giving the man in the sunglasses a quick look, Tessa decided she didn’t really care to be discreet. “Why?” Tessa snorted. “Because the last time we were together, you slapped me across the face. Honestly, Frank, I don’t have time and I really have nothing to say to you.”
“I’m your father, and you’ll address me as such,” Frank all but growled, then cleared his throat as he glanced over at the man standing next to him uncomfortably. “And that was an accident.”
“Oh, is that so?” Tessa laughed without humor. She then frowned. “Please move away from my car.”
“Tessa, daughter.” Frank gave her a slimy grin. “I’d like you to meet my lawyer, Jack Buffer.”
Refraining from rolling her eyes, she glanced at the tall man. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Buffer. My lawyer is Mr. Lewis, who is right inside that building, third door on the right.”
“When did you become such a bitch?” Her father sneered at her, taking a step forward.
“I’ve always been a bitch but was afraid of being beaten,” Tessa replied honestly. “But those days are over. I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
“I want what’s coming to me.” Frank’s eyes became slits, indicating he was ready to rage. She knew that look, had seen it a hundred times.
“You want what’s coming to you, do you? Well, I’m sure that day is coming sooner than you think.” Tessa knew he was talking about the estate that Gramps left, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of fighting with him on that. “And by the way, why didn’t you show up to Gramps’s funeral? I mean if you want what you believe is yours, shouldn’t you have at least showed up to show your own father respect?”
; “Would you show up for me?” Frank’s counter actually took her off guard.
After thinking on that for a minute, she knew for a fact she wouldn’t have. “Good spin there, Frank,” she said, not giving him an answer.
“The reason I didn’t come is because of that vampire who was stupid enough to marry you.” Frank hissed, then tried to look hurt and upset. He failed miserably. “Because of his threat of suffering a horrible death if I came anywhere near you again, I was afraid for my life, something my lawyer is very aware of. We are even looking into filing charges against him for the threat.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” she mumbled, then glanced at her phone. “Well, wish I could say nice seeing ya again, Dad, but I’d be lying. Now, please move. I have to get to work.”
Tessa headed for her car, more than ready to move her father out of the way, but as soon as she was close, the man with him stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Oh, and Mr. Buffer is also my bodyguard. Take your sunglasses off, Jack.” Frank looked around the man enough to see Tessa’s reaction, but she made damn sure she showed no reaction whatsoever, other than boredom.
Jack removed his sunglasses, exposing the golden eyes of a vampire. Tessa sighed. “Mr. Buffer, I’m sure you know who the VC Warriors are,” Tessa stated, feeling agitated and tired of the game her father was playing.
“Yes, ma’am I do,” he replied, with a nod.
“What you may not know is that I am married to one of them.” Tessa had no problems using the VC in situations like this. She was still married, but after last night, she didn’t know for how long. That thought sent her already wonky emotions over the edge. “So, please move because I am now late for work. Anything you need to address can be done so with my lawyer.”
Taking a chance that the man listened, she proceeded to the car. She wasn’t really dressed for an all-out war. This morning she had wanted to try to make herself feel better and put on a dress with heels. So much for that. Thankfully, the man did move to the side, but her father was fuming and standing his ground. His arm shot out to shove her, but she caught it, flinging it away. With a small shove, she pushed him back from the car, but as she was trying to unlock it, she was shoved backwards. In heels she wasn’t used to, she lost her balance and fell to her knees. Pain from the tiny pebbles embedded into her skin; her papers scattered across the parking lot, as did her purse.
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