by Tes Hilaire
Keon nodded solemnly, then gestured with his rifle for Bennett to follow Aaron.
“Aren’t you buggers so bleeding sweet,” Bennett muttered and fell into line. What was it his mate Logan would say about this? Oh, right, what a major FUBAR: fucked up beyond all recognition. Or was that repair? He guessed it didn’t matter; it amounted to the same thing. Of course, it couldn’t be a total loss. So far they weren’t dead.
His hopes of staying that way ended, though, when they rounded the next corner. At the far end of the narrow hall, a naked Valin was facing off with the missing Annie. The look on Valin’s face did not bode well; neither did the redhead’s cocky pose.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” Valin warned.
She smiled, cracking her knuckles. “No.”
Bloody fucking hell. That wasn’t going to go over well, and sure enough, Valin decided to make her. Valin spun, sweeping out his leg, probably going on the assumption that the bigger they were the harder they fell. Only Annie didn’t fall; she jumped into the attack, tackling Valin. She threw a couple punches that Valin blocked. And then they both sprung back to their feet, same sides of the hall, only this time the face-off had been foregone for a good ole downright boxing session.
“Annie!” Aaron charged. Behind Bennett, he sensed Keon tense, his rifle rising to shoulder level.
“Shite.” There were things worse than a FUBAR. Things like this. Bennett crouched, swiping a leg out and grabbing for the rifle in Keon’s hands. Despite Keon’s quick initial reaction, the soldier must have been as shocked by what was occurring down the hall as Bennett was, because it was like filching candy from a babe. A split second was all it took for the man to go down, the rifle settling nicely into Bennett’s grip as he bolted after Aaron. Multitasking, he ejected the magazine, clearing the slug from the chamber as he ran. When he was close enough he chucked the whole thing and on a push of adrenaline leapt for Aaron’s legs. Aaron went sprawling and, jammy bastard that Valin was, didn’t shoot the naked Paladin or anyone else on his way to the linoleum.
Probably worried he’d hit Annie.
Scrambling over the pissed Aaron, Bennett stomped the handgun out of the soldier’s hand and kicked the Glock away, dashing for the two toddlers playing at war. And that’s all it really was—play—because even with the height advantage and the fact that she was actually pretty damn competent, Bennett knew from experience that Valin was a damn sight better. He was pissed. He wanted past. And Annie was stubborn enough not to let him. Thankfully the idiot was at least brilliant enough to know better than to actually harm a lady.
Didn’t change the fact that he’d initiated a fight with her.
“Valin, you right piece of shite. Give over, will ya?” Bennett yelled as he forced his way into the barrage of slap downs and blocks. Of course, in doing so he got a nice kick to the outer thigh from the redhead and a fucking fist to the face by Valin, but he figured it was worth it if they all got out of this without any holes.
That stated, the injuries pissed the crap out of him. Bennett smashed a left jab right back at Valin’s face. Bugger was too fast and tried to dodge, but Bennett had anticipated and caught him with his right forearm across the throat, driving him into the wall.
“Cor blimey, Valin! What is wrong with you?”
“She got in my way!”
“She’s a bloody girl!”
And those were two very pissed-off men who were up and collecting their weapons again. Could this mission get any worse?
Valin’s jaw worked, the muscle spasming along it as he drew in deep breaths through his nose.
“Well? What is it, mate? You got a good reason for this? ’Cause if not I might just go help Keon there put his rifle back together.”
Valin closed his eyes, rapping his head against the wall behind him. “Fuck.” When he opened his eyes again the anger had faded, and for the first time Bennett could sense the pulse of frustration and despair riding his fellow Paladin.
Annie had pulled back in her gift some. Enough for Valin to probably ghost if he wanted. The fact that he didn’t said the Paladin might have his head screwed on again.
“What is it?” he asked, easing off a bit. Valin shook his head, removing Bennett’s arm with his hand.
“I’m sorry.” Valin directed the apology over Bennett’s shoulder to Annie. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“As if,” Annie scoffed, folding her arms across her chest.
Aaron obviously didn’t give a shite about whether she was hurt or not. He’d retrieved his gun and had stepped forward, lifting it so it was uncomfortably close to Bennett’s face. “Get your fucking hands up, both of you, or I’m going to fucking blow a hole in both your heads.”
“Oh, chill, Aaron. He didn’t do anything other than stop us. And Valin and I were only sparring. He didn’t hurt me, and I learned a lot of cool moves in the process.”
“You are fucking warped, you know that?” The comment came from Keon, but when Bennett glanced over at him he saw that the soldier was actually smiling. Annie smiled right back, her wide mouth showing off a spectacular set of pearlies as she performed a little curtsey.
Warped for sure. Though she was also interesting. Bennett could sense nothing from her. No emotions. No nothing. And though that should probably have made him wary, it didn’t. It was a bloody relief is what it was. To be able to look at her and not know a damn thing about her or her feelings was a novelty he didn’t normally get. He had no idea what she felt or thought of him and all that was going on here. Other than that, she had attitude coming out the arse and a penchant for trouble, it seemed.
Too bad he wasn’t going to get the chance to get to know her better. He turned back to Valin. “I think it’s about time we took our leave.”
Valin shook his head, his bourbon eyes darkening with determination. “I’m staying.”
Annie wasn’t the only warped mind here. Bennett pierced Valin with a don’t-be-a-blimey-idiot look. “Think that’s a good idea, mate?” And then when that didn’t knock any sense into him he asked, “What do I tell Senior?”
“Tell him I’ve infiltrated the ranks and will contact him when I’m able,” he said sarcastically, but Bennett couldn’t help but note that his eyes drifted to a room a short ways down the hall. Aw, crap. A hundred pounds that was Gabriella’s room. A thousand on top of it she was the source of both Valin’s frustration and his despair.
The troops had sure been falling as of late. Thank the Lord he was made of more indifferent stuff than that. Women were women were women, and as long as he could convince one of them to offer up her soft, sweet body for his pleasure it was all good.
“You’re not planning on coming back, are you?” he asked in a low voice, trying to steal some privacy for this rather private conversation.
Valin stared back at him, unblinking.
“Bloody hell, Valin. The kind of mood Senior’s in, he’ll put a price on your head.”
“You looking to collect?”
Bennett recoiled. “God, no. But I don’t understand why you’re pissing it all away.”
“All what? What am I pissing away? You know at Haven I’m nothing more than a second-class Paladin. Only one of lower rank is Roland and you don’t see him banging on the doors to get in.”
Valin’s voice had risen as he spoke. Bennett glanced over his shoulder at the three people doing their best to listen in on the conversation. Other than perhaps Annie—who’d already proven she was a bit touched in the head—there were no welcoming faces there.
“You think it’s going to be any different here?” he asked as quietly as he could.
“They’ll get used to me.” Valin pushed away from Bennett, turning down the hall toward the room he’d glanced at. “Now if you’ll excuse me. I’m going to get dressed.”
“Goddamn it! Does no one give a shit that I have a fucking gun?” Aaron started after Valin, his steps faltering as he passed Annie. He turned on his heel, walking backward as he pointed at Keon. “Stay with them.
And this time shoot his ass if he so much as moves.”
Keon flashed a brilliant white smile in answer. When Aaron was out of hearing range he turned to Bennett, eyeing him up and down with a pensive twist to his lips.
“You truly going to shoot me?” Bennett asked, a bit pissed at the complete lack of trust. He’d disarmed them, not attacked them, and only then to prevent bloodshed that had the potential to lead to outright war. Valin may’ve been right that he wasn’t high on Senior’s favorites list, but Bennett was at least mid-list and they both were Paladin…and in Senior’s mind these soldiers were not.
Keon lifted and dropped his shoulders, looking a bit chagrined but not really all that pissed. “Might be easier if you hadn’t bent the damn cartridge.” He held up the magazine cartridge, showing the dented corner at the top. “What are you—fucking Superman?”
Bennett figured the bent corner had nothing to do with him but rather the fact that it was an old gun. It had probably already been bent and just needed a ginger touch to get it to slide home. Kind of hard when your hands were shaking. Despite the bravado he’d shown, Keon was rattled.
“Sorry about that, mate. Didn’t mean to bang you up, but I couldn’t let you boys shoot my mate full of holes either.”
“Yeah, I’da done the same,” Keon said, still fiddling with the rifle. Bennett held out his hands. Keon hesitated, but in a moment of stunning trust gave it to him. It took a little bit of coaxing and wiggling, but a few seconds later the rifle was back together and in Keon’s hands once more.
“Uh, thanks.”
“No problem, mate,” he replied, then took up a folded-arm stance against the wall to wait.
Taking a page from Bennett’s book, Keon assumed a similar pose kitty-corner across the hall. For show he kept the rifle lifted, but Bennett noted that it wasn’t precisely aimed at him either.
Annie, who’d watched the entire exchange, shifted from one foot to the other and then stepped across the hall to take up a bit of wall beside him.
“You know,” she said after another blissfully quiet minute, “you really don’t act much like the other Paladin.”
Bennett turned his head toward her. “And how is that?”
“You’re not an ass,” she explained.
“And you don’t look much like a pain in the arse, but so far, from what I’ve seen, you are.”
“Hmm…” She smiled, her pretty, straight teeth flashing against her rosy lips. “I think I’m going to like you.”
He arched his brow. “Because I insulted you?”
“Something like that.”
Definitely warped. He shook his head, leaning forward to look down the hall toward the room Valin and Aaron went into. No shots fired yet. That was a good sign.
“So what are you going to do now?” Annie asked, tipping her head forward into his line of sight.
He couldn’t help but notice how her tank top dipped invitingly low as she did, revealing just the slightest swell of breast. He swallowed, leaning back against the wall. Valin could damn well take care of himself. Besides, there were much more interesting things for him to pay attention to. Like the woman beside him who was looking at him with—bless the fairer sex—a whole lot of interest in her golden-brown eyes.
“I don’t know. Think your bother will go for lessons in exchange for room and board?” he asked with a charming smile. Hell, if he was charming enough, maybe he could get her to convince her brother to give back his knife and phone too. Man, that still buggered him.
Her brow creased, but then lifted. “You mean Jacob?” She laughed, a husky sound that ran down his spine and curled around to his cock. Christ, she had a great laugh. A bedroom laugh. And those were bang-me legs too. He could just see them wrapped around him as he pile drove her. “Maybe, but probably not.”
He shifted, turning so he was facing her as he leaned on his right shoulder. What he really wanted to do was box her in and press his throbbing cock into the soft mound that dipped down into her concave belly, but they did have an audience.
“Don’t suppose you’d be willing to put me up.” He gave her his megawatt smile, keeping his voice low and seductive.
She gripped her bottom lip with her teeth, running her finger along the collar of her tank top. “Maybe…but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“You sure about that?”
She smiled, leaning in closer, but almost immediately drew back again. Out of the corner of his eye Bennett saw why. Keon had shifted, stepping into the middle of the hall, and he looked none too happy.
“Annie, don’t you think you should go tell the others that you’ve been found?”
“Why should I do that?” Annie asked, folding her arms in a make-me gesture.
“Oh, come on, Annie. You know by now what happens when you slip your guards.”
Her mouth turned down in a distinct pout. Bennett found himself frowning too. Why did she need guards? Or was this a new development since her break-in to Haven last week? He supposed that made sense. She was the person of interest in the council’s mind.
“More like prison guards,” she muttered, but then sighed, pushing off the wall. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Bennett. Hope to see you around,” she added with a twinkle in her eye.
Despite the fact that Keon still frowned at him, Bennett watched her sashay down the hall. Hard not to, since she did have a fine arse and seemed to be putting just a little bit of extra effort into making sure he watched it as well. The moment she rounded the corner it became impossible to ignore Keon any longer; the soldier’s concern was smothering him like a damp blanket.
“What is it, mate?” Bennett shifted, trying to relieve the residual pressure in his pants. “You have to admit she’s a looker.”
Keon grunted, but nodded in concurrence. “Just don’t let Jacob catch you looking at her like that.”
“Jacob? Does he not realize that his little sister is a woman?”
“No, I think he gets that Annie’s a woman. But I think that makes it worse.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s not his sister…She’s his daughter.”
Bennett cursed long and hard, his wanker shriveling long before he was done. “Cor blimey, I’m never getting my knife back, am I?”
***
What the heck are you doing here, other than freezing your butt off, that is?
“Good question,” Gabby muttered to herself as she shifted, trying to ease the tingling feelings in her legs from crouching too long on the roof of the downtown apartment building where she’d made a sport of staring at its overachieving high-rise neighbor across the way. She wasn’t surprised to find that the penthouse windows had already been replaced, and she was sure if she made it inside there would be nothing left of the man she’d spent many an hour watching and wishing she dared get closer to. Her biological father didn’t live there anymore. Which was a good thing, all things considered.
Four months ago the Paladin-turned-vampire, Roland, had his top-floor penthouse broken into by the then coven leader—and her own dear stepfather from hell—Christos. And though Christos had since died—yippee ki-yay, mothereffer—there was no way the former Paladin was going to risk his bond mate’s life by staying, not after all he’d done to claim her.
You mean all he had to go through to save her after you fucked everything up.
Gabby blew out a deep breath, her chest tightening around the empty ache inside it. Her involvement in Karissa’s capture could not be denied, though it certainly hadn’t been what Gabby wanted. But what she was and how she’d come to be was exactly the connection Christos and Ganelon had needed to track down Roland and his mate. The fact that Gabby had been further used to lure Karissa out into the open was another thing she would never live down, especially when it had led to the Paladin female’s capture and eventual turning.
That betrayal, though done unwillingly, was just another mark against Gabby. It was also the biggest reason why, as much as she might want to, sh
e hadn’t tracked her father and Karissa down after they’d moved and done the whole surprise, surprise—welcome to the family, Karissa; oh, and by the way, I’m your new stepdaughter. Nope, not a smart idea when she didn’t think her daddy had yet to wake up and smell the genetic coding in her genes. Not to mention Gabby’s disaster factor. Gabby had figured out long ago that being associated with her was synonymous to inviting trouble. And the last intel Gabby had gotten from her recently deceased vampire spy suggested the new coven leader had no idea where Roland and his mate were. Keeping it that way was the best wedding present she could give them, especially after all the pain she’d given them first, which meant staying far, far away.
Gabby closed her eyes, remembering the intensity of emotions in that mine four months ago. The pure despair that her father had been going through when he’d made the earth-shattering decision to turn Karissa in order to save her life. He hadn’t known at the time if what he was doing was right or wrong, but he had known that he loved her so much he would give anything for her. What would it be like to have someone who would move heaven and earth itself for you? The answer to that was something Gabby doubted she’d ever know, especially given the limited amount of time she had left.
Speaking of time, you really need to get off your frozen duff.
With a groan, she stood, shrugging off the memories as she turned and ran for the backside of the building. The edge came up fast, barely time to gain enough speed, but she managed, thrusting off the lip and arm-wheeling it to the next building across the way. She landed with a thump and a grunt, her hands digging down in the filthy coating of smog, dirt, and whatever else sealed the rubber roofing.
Damn, when had she become a complete wuss? There was a time when she could jump double the distance with no effort.
Standing, she brushed her hands together, ignoring the prickly cry of nerve endings as she headed toward the fire escape at the back of building. Each step brought with it more stinging needles running from her toes up her legs, and her fingers weren’t far behind in their Popsicle status.
She scowled, annoyed. It was a cool evening, but still, she should have been better off than this. Yeah, it didn’t help that she’d run out of her room without grabbing her hoodie, so the fact she was shaking down to her toes right now was her fault. Though, if she were honest, she could admit that even with a down jacket she probably would still be shaking. And she could put the blame for that, at least, firmly on Valin’s shoulders.