A Growl, a Roar, and a Purr Read online

  “You can do that?” Then Dellan smacked his palm against his forehead. “Why am I even asking that? Of course you can. You’re Mr. Miracle Worker.” That earned him more laughter.

  Hashtag got up from the table. “I’ll go get the equipment I need and set it up. Oh, and I want nothing in the background that gives away the location either. We’ll use that sheet again as a backdrop.” He stared pointedly at Dellan. “Work out what you’re going to say ahead of time. I don’t want you talking for long.” With that he left the room, heading for downstairs.

  Crank handed Dellan a notepad and pen. “Get composing. Keep it short and sweet. You know, something like ‘Hey, asshole. I know what you did, okay? I’m coming to get ya. And if you’re real lucky, it’ll be me you face, and not the fucking tiger you kept locked up for a fucking year.’” He preened. “Whaddaya think?”

  Dellan bit his lip. “Subtle, Crank. Very subtle.” He gave Rael and Horvan a sideways glance. Their lips were twitching too.

  DELLAN SAT in front of the laptop, his pulse rapid. He had his notes, only he wasn’t sure he’d use them. He had a feeling he’d take one look at Anson’s smug face on the screen and lose his train of thought.

  Horvan and Rael sat facing him. “You’ve got this,” Horvan stated with quiet confidence. Dellan knew the wave of calm slowly spreading through him was Horvan’s doing.

  Rael lifted his chin and looked Dellan in the eye. Love you.

  Dellan’s heartbeat was suddenly pounding for a different reason entirely. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing those words.

  Rael smiled. That’s okay, because I don’t think I’ll ever tire of saying them.

  Horvan smiled. What he said.

  Dellan wanted to dance, he felt that fucking light. When this call is over, we are going up to our room, we are going to get under the covers, and we are going to—

  Make love, Horvan interjected. You know it.

  Right then Dellan felt invincible. He inhaled deeply. “Let’s do this.”

  Beside him, Horvan checked the various devices he’d set up on the table. “Okay,” he said in a low voice. “Make the call.”

  Dellan reached out to tap in the address, and his heart hammered.

  “What’s wrong?” Horvan’s eyes widened.

  “I….” A wave of nausea rolled through him. “I don’t think I can….”

  Horvan was out of his seat and around to Dellan’s side of the table in seconds. He knelt beside Dellan’s chair, his hand on Dellan’s back. “Let me do this.”

  Dellan swallowed. He’d felt so powerful, so sure, but….

  Horvan squeezed his arm. Dellan. It’s okay to be afraid. After what they did to you? Hell, yeah.

  “Let Horvan do it,” Rael entreated, his face anxious.

  Dellan looked from Rael to Horvan. “Are you sure?”

  Horvan nodded. “Please, baby. Let me.”

  The sweet endearment was all it took to make up Dellan’s mind. He got up from the chair, and Horvan slid into it. Dellan reached over to tap in the details, and the familiar Skype ringtone filled the air. It went on for so long that Dellan was afraid it was going to time out, but then the call connected.

  When he saw the face on the screen, he shrank back. It wasn’t Anson. Oh fuck.

  Horvan stilled. That face….

  Dellan swallowed. That’s the man who shot me. Then he recalled Horvan had already seen that face in his mind.

  The man calmly stared back at Horvan. “Can I help you?” he asked coolly.

  “Where’s Anson Prescott?” Horvan demanded.

  The man gave a thin smile. “Why, he’s right here. I’m looking at him as we speak, but I’m afraid you can’t talk to him. Now, who are you?”

  “I’m the man who took something from Anson’s office.”

  Dellan was blown away by Horvan’s cool demeanor. Doesn’t he feel the menace in this guy? The man’s voice sent ice down Dellan’s spine.

  In his head, Rael snorted. Horvan doesn’t do intimidation.

  The man arched his eyebrows. “Indeed. So you’re responsible for stealing my property.”

  Horvan scowled. “He’s not your property. He’s our mate. And who the fuck are you?”

  That got him a look of mild surprise. “Language, please. Let’s be civil. And let’s just say I am an associate of Mr. Prescott.” Then he widened his eyes. “Mate? Well, that is interesting. We’ve never had true mates before.” His smile broadened. “And more than two of you, by the sound of it. How perfectly splendid. I think we’ll need to collect the whole set. Don’t you agree, Anson?”

  “Quicker,” Hashtag hissed. Crank and Roadkill appeared horrified by the exchange, their faces pale, their eyes wide.

  Horvan glared at the man. “You’ll get to my mates over my dead body.”

  He let out an evil chuckle. “Oh, I don’t think that will be necessary. We’ll simply drug all of you. The drug we gave Dellan… you have worked out what it does, haven’t you? It locks a shifter into their animal form for as long as we desire. It subsumes their humanity, their intellect. In essence, they become the animal they are.”

  In that moment, Dellan wanted to leap through the screen and tear the man apart. Inside him, his tiger issued a menacing roar.

  “One of these mates wouldn’t be a certain Rael Parton, would it?” The man’s eyes gleamed.

  Rael gazed at Dellan with panicked eyes.

  Despite Horvan’s outward calm, Dellan felt the sudden flush of fear that rippled through him. Horvan said nothing, remaining very still.

  “Your silence is telling. I was informed of the interest he took in Dellan when he came here. During both his visits. Anson’s secretary remarked on the apparent affinity between them. And in case you’re wondering, we made a point of checking out all recent visitors to the office. What made it all the more likely Rael was involved was that we tried to trace him, but failed. He seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.” His lips twisted into a cruel smile. “I don’t believe in coincidence. Dellan was in that cage for a year, and in that time no one blinked. Rael shows up, and suddenly Dellan is on the news, and we are under the spotlight.” He gave Horvan an inquiring glance. “So, is that all of you? Or are there more? I can’t wait to meet you all.”

  “Disconnect,” Rael urged Horvan in a whisper.

  “Don’t bother,” the man advised. “We’ll find you in due course, but for the moment we have other, more pressing matters to deal with.” He smiled. “Your calling now has turned out to be quite fortuitous.”

  “What do you mean?” Horvan asked quietly.

  “I was here for a simple business meeting, but now I know Dellan is alive and well and obviously human again—albeit out of my control for the time being—certain individuals have become surplus to requirements.” His gaze shifted to the right.

  “What? What do you mean?” a voice cried out.

  “That’s Anson,” Rael whispered. Dellan’s throat had seized.

  “You told me I could keep him.” The genuine note of fear in Anson’s voice sent Dellan’s pulse rocketing.

  The man arched his eyebrows. “That was before I realized how blinded you’ve become. You’ve let your… thirst for all this overwhelm you. You told us you could handle any situation that arose, yet here we are.”

  “It wasn’t my fault they broke in here and grabbed him.”

  “Perhaps not, but your lax security measures certainly aided them. However, that doesn’t matter. You’re no longer an asset to us—you’re a liability. One who has outlived his usefulness.” He gave a nod.

  Before Horvan could say another word, a bloodcurdling scream rang out, followed by the unmistakable growl of an animal. Dellan couldn’t move, frozen to the spot as the room filled with the sound of fabric tearing and something much, much worse. Dellan didn’t have to see to know what was happening. And through it all, the man on the screen watched, smiling.

  They’re tearing him apart. Holy fuck, Horvan, they’re tear
ing him apart!

  Then the man froze as a shot rang out and the growling stopped. He frowned. “I knew I should have searched him when I arrived. That was remiss of me. Still, he’s tied up a loose end. Pity. Gorillas make such efficient killers.” He shook his head. “All he’s done is provide himself with a slow death while he bleeds out.”

  Anson’s screams died into a gurgle, and Dellan shuddered.

  At last the noises faded away, and the man returned his attention to Horvan. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave before the authorities arrive.” He locked gazes with Horvan. “I’ll be seeing you soon. All of you.”

  The call disconnected.

  The room was silent. Dellan sagged into the empty chair next to Horvan, sick to his stomach. Rael’s face was white, as were Crank’s and Roadkill’s. Horvan simply stared at the screen.

  Hashtag was the first to speak. “I think….” The words came out as a croak, and he cleared his throat. “I think we just got the proof we need that this is way bigger than Anson wanting control of the company.” He gazed around the table. “Does anyone here think Anson is still alive?”

  Silence.

  “Is that it?” Dellan demanded. “You’re going to leave it there?”

  “What do you suggest we do?” Hashtag seemed perplexed.

  Dellan gaped at him. “We have to call someone.”

  Crank stared at him. “Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck would we say?”

  Dellan glared. “We can tell them Anson and I were having a Skype call, he got up from the laptop, and he was attacked. We didn’t see who else was there, and the call got disconnected.” He folded his arms and gazed steadily at Hashtag. “You said you wanted to establish a pattern for me. Well, here I am in Bumfuck, Idaho, hundreds of miles away from Chicago. It’s not likely I could have done this, right? Apart from the fact that they’re going to find a… gorilla next to the body.” He wanted to throw up.

  Hashtag nodded slowly. “He’s right. Okay. Then here’s what we do. Dellan calls the Chicago PD, ASAP. Any delay would look suspicious. We watch the news, and if this doesn’t make the headlines, then we really are in shit.”

  “What do you mean?” Rael asked.

  “I mean, if this gets covered up, then someone is pulling some very long strings.” He drew in a deep breath. “Next, once I pick up Dellan’s ID, I book us all flights. Dellan needs to go back there, but only after I’ve laid that false credit card trail. Because if the police know he’s coming, you’d better believe they’ll want to know where he’s been.”

  Rael’s skin was the color of milk. “They’re not going to suspect him with a dead gorilla next to the body. With Anson’s blood on it, no doubt.”

  Crank frowned. “Wait a sec. If the guy who killed Anson is a shifter, doesn’t he change back into a human when he’s dead? You know, like in the werewol—”

  Hashtag silenced him with a hand over his mouth. “For the last time, shifters are not like werewolves, okay? And obviously when you die as a shifter, you stay in shifter form.” When Crank mumbled, he removed his hand. “Have you got it now?”

  “I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” Crank groused. “Jesus, I just asked a simple question.”

  Hashtag’s face softened. “I’m sorry. This is such a mindfuck.”

  Mindfuck? Dellan could still hear Anson’s screams. He could still hear the soft ripping that had to be flesh being torn apart.

  He couldn’t stand still. “How the fuck do you all stay so… so calm? After hearing that?” He paced up and down the space between the table and the wall, his stomach churning.

  “Dellan…. This is what we do, remember?” Horvan stopped his pacing with a hand to Dellan’s arm, his voice soft.

  “What—you deal in death? So often it doesn’t even register?” He pointed to Hashtag’s laptop. “Because that was horrific. Revolting. And yet you’re standing around like… like it’s nothing.”

  “It’s not nothing,” Roadkill insisted. “It’s never that. But Horvan’s right. We were in the military. Death was what you faced every time you went on a mission. And yeah, we still face it. But it is never something you get used to.”

  Dellan. Rael swallowed, his face still pale. “I’ve experienced death. I’ve seen some awful things. But you… you’re a CEO. You’ve never had to face anything like this. And no one expects you to just take it in stride.”

  Dellan struggled to breathe. “He was a bastard, I know that. But… he was my half brother too. And no one deserves to end their days like that.” He couldn’t dwell on it. Such thoughts would drive him mad. At last he forced air into his lungs. “I’ve been away for over a year, and from what you say, Anson covered his tracks with regards to my sudden disappearance. They’ll want some explanation for where I’ve been.” He met Horvan’s gaze. “That guy had Anson torn apart by a shifter, didn’t he?”

  Horvan nodded. “It’s the only explanation.”

  “I’d say it’s time for lunch, but I seem to have lost my appetite,” Roadkill announced.

  “I think that goes for all of us,” Dellan commented bitterly. When Horvan’s arms enfolded him, and Rael joined them to do the same, Dellan closed his eyes. I really need you. Christ, how I need you both.

  Why do you think we’re here? Horvan kissed the top of his head.

  You’ve got us, Rael assured him.

  “You guys go up to your room and snuggle,” Crank suggested. When Dellan opened his eyes and gazed at him in surprise, Crank sighed. “You need time together. We’ve got this. Leave all the arrangements to us.”

  “That sounds great,” Dellan remarked, “but I’ve got a call to make first, remember?” I’ll tell the police I’m on my way home. I’ll be there to answer any questions they might have. His throat tightened.

  Horvan’s gaze met his. Shit suddenly got way more complicated.

  Understatement of the fucking century.

  “Fine, go make the call, then let Horvan do his thing.”

  Dellan regarded Crank in puzzlement. “His thing?”

  Crank nodded. “He needs to take care of you. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s Mama Bear. And I say that with love.”

  Retreating up to their room sounded like the only way to leave some of the horror behind Dellan. Because he was certain he would never be free of the memories for as long as he lived.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  I DON’T have to ask if you slept, do I?

  Dellan gave Horvan a weary glance. It shows, huh? So much for a nap. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but being in his mates’ arms had provided some brief respite from the morning’s gruesome incident.

  Not enough respite, however. Anson’s screams still echoed inside his head.

  Rael curled around Dellan’s back, his arm draped over him. “I don’t know about you two,” he murmured, “but every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was his evil smile while Anson was clearly being torn apart.” He shivered.

  “When do you want to go back there?” Horvan’s expression was grave.

  Dellan answered without hesitation. “As soon as possible. I told the police I’d be at the office to answer any questions.”

  Horvan nodded. “Then that’s what we’ll do. How about we go downstairs and see how far the boys have got?” He grimaced. “I should have been helping.”

  “You were helping—up here,” Rael said firmly. “We needed you.”

  Dellan attempted a smile. “What he said.”

  “Guys? There’s coffee if you want it. Crank has made sandwiches, too, if you’re hungry,” Roadkill called up to them.

  “Then we can bring you up to date,” Hashtag added.

  Dellan sighed. “Back to reality.” He shuddered. Reality was the last place he wanted to visit.

  Horvan kissed him. “Any time you want a break, let me know. There’s always time to hold one another, okay?”

  Rael leaned over to make it a three-way kiss. There’s always time for love, he affirmed.
/>   “You know what I like best about this whole ‘mates’ deal?” Dellan informed them. “You can kiss and talk at the same time.”

  If only their kisses could take away the horror. The screams.

  “I won’t say you’ll forget all of this,” Horvan said softly, “because you won’t. But I do promise it will fade with time. And if I could kiss away all the heartache and pain, I’d do it.”

  Dellan knew that with every fiber of his being. He leaned over until his forehead touched Horvan’s. “Thank you.” He was conscious of Rael’s hands on his back, gentle and soothing. “Both of you.”

  “ARE WE okay to leave before the rental is over?” Roadkill asked Rael. The sandwiches were all gone, and they were on their second pot of coffee.

  “I told the owner originally that we’d want the place for a couple of weeks, with an option to renew, seeing as we’re out of season,” Rael replied. He peered at Dellan. “We had no idea how long it would take for you to shift back.” He got out his phone. “I’ll give him a call.” Rael put on his jacket, then walked to the other end of the cabin and stepped onto the back porch.

  Hashtag got up from the table and walked over to where Dellan stood by the window. “This is yours, I believe.” He held out a small plastic card.

  Dellan took the ID and turned it over. “You are amazing. It looks like the real thing.”

  Hashtag huffed. “It’ll get you on a plane. That’s the main thing. If anyone decides to take a really close look, we’re screwed.” He went back to his laptop. “And now we have that, I’m organizing the flights. I couldn’t get us on any today, but how does first thing tomorrow morning sound?”

  “Like you’re a miracle worker,” Horvan said as he placed another mug of coffee in front of Hashtag.