by Tigris Eden
Demon butted the door with his head, pushing his entire weight until Nerina had no choice but to get up and go to the door. He would have broken it for sure with his weight. When she got closer, she noticed the door wasn’t locked.
Damn.
“You trying to tell me I forgot to lock the door?”
Demon walked to the other side of the room by the fire where Daar was laying and flopped to the floor, resting his big head on his equally large paws.
It was barely after eight in the evening, but it felt so much later than that. The sun had literally gone down promptly at seven and had only stayed out for about three hours. Nerina locked the door and walked over to the window. She opened the curtains to her living room. Her view was beautiful. The sky was lit with a red haze outlined in orange hues. She would never get over the site of the Northern Lights. Walking back to her computer, she once again attempted to go over her accounts. Once that was complete she started checking email. Mostly junk. It wasn’t until she came across an email marked Storm that she knew whatever was in the package she received from Raven, wasn’t good news. Her package was the damn email. She was dreading what the message would say, but whatever it was, she had to open it.
Storm, I know I am going to speak to you today, but this, well, this is business related. No news like bad news, right? Red has asked that you help out in an upcoming issue. There are chickens that need tending to on your side of the world. The birdies will be in route day after tomorrow. Make sure you fly. The spot is Eden’s Den by way of Tel.
Raven.
What it really said was that the team was coming into town. Even though she wasn’t a team member any longer, they required her assistance. Fuck my life! She really didn’t have the time or energy for whatever mission the girls were on. They’d meet at the local hotel in Anchorage and their target would be at Eden’s Den. She’d only been once, and had stayed only for a moment. She’d felt out of place because she didn’t know anyone and all the men and women there stared at her like she was alien.
“Well, looks like you guys will be spending the next couple of days with Thorn. I’ve got to go into Anchorage for a bit, but will be back before the storm.”
Powering down her computer, Nerina turned off the lights and hunkered down in the living room to watch Pitch Black.
“Vin Diesel night guys. Come on up on the sofa, and lets settle down for some Riddick.” The lights from the television cast a blue glow against the walls, as the opening scene began and Vin’s voice over started.
His rough voice made her think of Victor somehow. It was his voice she heard in her head instead of Riddick. Victor’s voice alone was enough to get her to drop panties. Her secret kryptonite was a man’s dark, sensual voice. The sound made her ache in places that had long forgotten what it was like to be touched and stroked into a frenzy. Victor’s voice was deeper than Vin’s, guttural in a way that left no room for argument. Hypnotic in the sense that he could command her in all things. She wasn’t submissive by nature, but for his voice, his touch, she’d do just about anything. And therein lies the problem.
Nerina turned off the television, refusing to succumb to her imagination where Victor was concerned. She needed sleep. She was obviously out of her mind. Entertaining thoughts of the arrogant male that thought he was too good for her would only bring problems. She remembered the way he reacted to her scars. Any man that couldn’t see past the physical wasn’t worth her time. She wasn’t going to let him taunt her while she was awake, and she damn sure wasn’t going to allow him into her dreams.
Chapter 5
Two days later, and she still hadn’t gotten the man out of her dreams. Yesterday she had to go into town because she’d forgotten to pick up some items to hold her over during the storm. Something she never did. She only went into town once a month. Victor was outside of the local law enforcement building, which, his brother Colin ran. The two of them had eyed her until she could feel both their stares sizing her up. Victor had worn a black Henley that was stretched beyond its limits. The fabric a second skin, dark jeans and boots. He wasn’t even wearing a jacket. His strong arms were folded across his massive chest. She couldn’t deny it, he was hot. She’d tried to be quick in the store, but Cassandra had stopped her. Right in front of the Sheriff’s office. In his line of site, where she could get an even closer look. He’d grinned at her. And if she wasn’t mistaken had even thrown her a flirty wink.
Each night he invaded her mind, heated her body to the point she actually had to relieve the pressure herself. Something that was far from a cure to the growing obsession that was Victor Canidae. She wasn’t a stranger to handling her business, but it usually took once, maybe twice in one week to keep her going strong for a long while. But six times in two days? Fucking ridiculous. That’s what that was. Her bags packed for her trip to Anchorage, she took the dogs in to town to stay with Thorn.
Teak wasn’t happy she was leaving and kept insisting that she needed his company. A male escort were his exact words. As if he could protect her. Cute kid. His mother had baked her some bread for her trip and because there were no planes that flew out of their small town, she’d have to drive into Anchorage.
The entire town looked at her as if she’d grown a second head when she left on her ATV to head out. No one knew she had a car stashed a few miles outside of town and out of the way of prying eyes. It was the price she paid for being on the run. She made her way to her Escalade that was registered under the name Bella Storm. The entire car was bullet proof and came with all kinds of military upgrades. Not even the President of the United States’ car had the protection she had. All courtesy of Mistress Red.
As she put her stuff in the car, she heard a distinct sound off to her left and quickly looked up to be caught in the green gaze of her nightly tormentor. How the hell did he get way out here? She looked around for a vehicle that could have followed her and found they were completely alone.
“What in God’s name is your problem Victor?”
“This isn’t your car. This car is registered to a Bella Storm. My brother had this car checked the other day when we thought it was abandoned. Why would you be driving someone else’s car?”
Nosy bastard.
Nerina let out a quick breath, fogging up the inside of her almost warm car.
“Victor, Bella is a friend of mine. She loaned me this vehicle. It’s for my personal use while I’m staying here. When she wants it back she will come for it.”
“Make sure she comes back during tourist season. We have enough going on now with you here.”
She was tired of getting the cold shoulder from everyone in town. Mostly she was really tired of Thorn’s son and his meddling. He made it no secret he didn’t like the fact that she was in their town, nor did he make it any easier for her to ignore him with his rugged good looks. Damn mountain man.
“I know you and the good town of Talkeetna don’t like that I’m here, and frankly Victor I don’t give a damn.”
She really wasn’t trying to be funny with her Scarlet impression, but just the same, she couldn’t help but pop a smile. Her nemesis’ eyes widened at her comment. At first she thought he was going to laugh, but noticed that he was in fact angry with her.
“You will not speak to me that way again, are we clear?” He roared. What in the world? Nerina’s back shot up straight, and her throat burned with the need to lash out at him and his high-handedness. He was lucky they weren’t back home in New York, because no one spoke to Roman di Bagonerigo Civiti’s daughter that way and lived to tell the tale. But that wasn’t who she was anymore. She was Nerina Simpson, everyday harmless woman with two dogs who lived up on the hill in peace.
“You’re not my daddy and you sure as hell aren’t my man. You need to take that shit you’re talking elsewhere.” Nerina turned back to putting her things in the car, stepped in, closed and locked the door, and left Victor to stare after her in the dark.
Victor watched as
she rolled off into the night. He couldn’t believe the way she’d talked to him and then taken off, mid-conversation without so much as a fuck you or a goodbye. She’s not Pack. Yeah, well she might not be Pack, but she was going to show him some damn respect. He wanted to tame her to his will. Break her so that all she saw was what he wanted her to see. His hands itched to bind her and make her beg for his approval. Along with the need to control her, there was something in the back of his head that warned him she was dangerous. Not just to him, but to his people. The air still reeked of her agitation and Victor took a deep breath pulling it into himself. He was glad he was getting under her skin. He didn’t want her feeling comfortable. He wanted her off balance. There was no reason to have her comfortable with their situation, especially because he was just as jarred.
Victor shifted into his wolf and made his way back into town. When he found his father, he approached him and made sure there was no mistaking his intentions.
“I’m going to Anchorage. There is something not right about her. The car isn’t even hers.”
“Don’t get your fur in a tuff boy. I may be old, but I can still whip your ass. You might as well go. Demon has been pacing the store since she left. He’s worried about her and take your brother Colin with you.”
Making his way over to the sheriff’s station, he found his brother lounging in his chair watching re-runs of The Walking Dead.
“Going into Anchorage, Dad wants you to come with.”
That got his brother’s attention. Colin made frequent trips into the city. He enjoyed hanging out at Eden’s Den, a club that allowed humans in the front door, but on certain nights it was restricted to shifters only. His youngest brother Theo walked in with a big smile on his face. He knew what Colin was after.
“Have fun, I’ll see you two idiots in a couple of days.”
“Who told you we’re leaving?”
“No one. The entire town can tell when Colin gets excited about going to the Den. It’s like his pheromones go into hyper drive. It fumigates the entire town.”
That was true. Their sex drive was already on overload, but Colin’s was triple that of a regular wolf. As second son, he would most likely become a breeder. If not, his mate was in for a wild ride.
“We leave in fifteen minutes, if you’re not ready I’m leaving without you.”
Sooner rather than later he was going to get to the bottom of Nerina Simpson, and he was going to do it from the top.
The night air was chilly when Nerina stepped out of the comfort of her Escalade. She had the heater on its highest setting and the music pumping. She knew she was supposed to go to the hotel first, knew the girls were there waiting for her, but instinct kicked in and she pulled into the diner across the street so she could scope out her surroundings. Nerina pulled her hood tight over her head as she walked into the diner. She grabbed the nearest booth closet to the back exit, and watched the hustle and bustle of Anchorage.
“Coffee?” A waitress asked.
“Yes, cream and sugar please.” The waitress turned heading over to the counter to get her order when Myieko walked in carrying the scent of summer with her. Heads turned as her ex-teammate walked in and took the seat across from her.
“Clocking my moves now?”
“Yeah, saw you roll into town about ten minutes ago.”
The waitress returned with Nerina’s coffee and Myieko looked up shaking her head in a way that told the waitress now wasn’t a good time.
“Need you at the hotel Rina. We got shit to do.”
Figures. All work and no time for formal greetings.
Nerina followed the other woman out of the diner and across the street to the hotel. She left the Escalade parked in front, just in case.
“Room for Miss Storm please.” All the arrangements for her stay at the Sheraton had been made, courtesy of Red. It was a nice hotel with a spa. If she stayed a day longer she’d spend the extra day pampering herself. Her muscles ached not only from her burns, but just the day in and day out activity and overuse of her limbs.
She could hear the conversation on the other side of her hotel room as she inserted the key card. They were on the top floor. As she walked over the threshold, conversation came to a complete halt.
“Took your ass long enough to get here, girl.” Raven was the first to greet her, pulling Nerina into a hug. She wrapped her arms around her childhood friend and squeezed.
“It’s good to see a welcoming face.”
“Those fuck-tards up in no-man’s land giving you grief? You just say the word baby girl and I’ll go in and do some serious house cleaning. Free of charge of course.”
The other’s laughed. Then they were pulling her into hugs passing her around from arm to arm. Kenzie who was an amazon with short blonde spikes and enough tattoos to cover two people, walked over to a suitcase to hand her some clothes.
“Get dressed. Our mark has an acquaintance at a place called Eden’s Den. It’s the last known location we have on him. You know it?”
Yeah, she knew it. It was a club that she’d only gone to once, and hadn’t stayed longer than five minutes. It wasn’t that she didn’t have her own kink. She just wasn’t into that kind of kink. Women trussed up in corsets and hanging mid-air. Suspensions, whips, rope, blood play, and well any kind of play. She just wasn’t comfortable. She looked at the clothes Kenzie handed to her and shook her head.
“I can’t wear this.”
Black leather pants and a sequenced halter-top made completely out of silver linked chain with the back exposed was a huge hell no. It showed her scars.
“Got you covered.”
Kenzie tossed her a half jacket, which would cover her back and part of her arms.
“Nope.”
“Yes Bella.” Anika said sternly.
“We got you some silver bangles that can go on your arm so don’t worry. You’re going to be completely safe. We got your back girlfriend.”
Anika was tall with dark mocha skin and big soulful brown eyes. They twinkled a warm shade of caramel in the right light. Her hair was in cornrows that fell down her back with a few shells that were clipped in for a tropical look. She was dressed in a black one-piece jumpsuit that had a plunging neckline showcasing the silver chain that hung from her neck and wrapped around her waist.
“I had no idea this was a hoochie mission.”
“Work what you got. You know the play.”
That meant their mark was a horny ass male.
Nerina took the clothes and quickly dressed in the huge bathroom suite. When she was finished, Raven came in and did her hair and make-up. Eyes a shimmering bronze and face glowing, she couldn’t help but smile. This was the old her. The silver bangles covered up her burns perfectly, and although the leather pants were snug, they were buttery soft. She pulled on a pair of boots she’d brought with her and walked out to hoots and whistles from the other girls. Myieko was in a wife beater, ripped at the stomach and a pair of cut-off shorts that showed her very long, very tan legs. Her complexion flawless, and her eyes a cat-like hazel. She pinned her hair with silver chopsticks, which were actually blades. All the girls were wearing silver in some form or fashion. Raven was in a tight black dress with the back completely open, except for the silver chains that dangled between her shoulder blades. Kenzie’s boots were silver tipped, and she wore ripped jeans and a band tee.
“Is there a reason we’re all wearing silver?”
“Precaution. Our mark is deathly allergic to silver.”
Well that made sense, and then again it didn’t make sense. Deathly allergic? That was new.
Everyone threw on their jackets and hurried out to Nerina’s car still parked at the diner. The moment the doors were locked and shut, the real conversation began.
“Mistress sent us here to find a rogue, apparently he deserted and fled to Alaska. He also took something from her. He’s somewhere up by the Denali National Park. But he comes here a lot and Intel says he�
�ll show tonight. There’s a price on his head and well, we’ve come to collect.” Raven explained.
“So why do you need me here?”
“You know the area, Red figured you could help us out.”
Had they noticed her limp? She was useless in that regard. Best she could do was trip him, maybe shoot him in the leg, but that was about it. Hand to hand, or any type of physical confrontation was not something she was ready for. She could hack into some shit, but other than that she would be no help.
“I’m not fit for this assignment.”
Lightening quick, Myieko reached forward, blade in hand and held it at Nerina’s throat.
“Stand down.” Raven shouted. The other woman still hadn’t moved the blade. Nerina held her breath. The steel from the blade, cold against her throat.
“I said stand down.” This time, Myieko let up on the blade. The moment the blade left her throat, Nerina reached her hand around the girl’s neck and introduced her repeatedly to the middle console.
“What the fuck is your problem, bitch?”
Myieko’s face sported a bloodied nose, and a busted lip. Her cheek now starting to swell.
“She’s ready.” Myieko said, wiping the blood from her face.
“That was some foul shit My. Do that again and I’m going to introduce you to more than the center console. Trust and believe baby girl I will own your ass in ways that will make this seem like child’s play.”
“Hey, you needed an incentive. I gave you one. I got nothing but love for you Storm.”
Each woman had their specialty, and hers came courtesy of her father and uncle. Both sadistic in their dealings with people who stepped out of line. Nerina pulled out into oncoming traffic and hoped like hell that tonight wasn’t going to go to shit because they couldn’t keep it together.
“So good to have you along for the ride Bella.”
Yeah, well, they could be happy all they wanted. What she wanted was to go home and crawl into her bed or better still, snuggle with her dogs.