Avenger's Heat (7 page)

At one hundred years old she was an infant compared to the rest of her race. The fae were ancient, brutal, and liked to keep a pulse on any potential trouble in the world. Whether it was between humans and shifters or shifters and vampires, it didn't matter.

That was why she was now in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a very sexy shifter—who she'd recently lost her virginity to—and about to reach out to any and all vampire contacts she had. She might be young but she'd been around long enough to develop her own contacts. Or assets, as her oldest brother Rory liked to call them. Right now trouble was definitely brewing in this colorful city. She would be keeping an eye on the situation for her people. Of course she would also get involved if she felt it necessary. When on a mission she had the right to make executive decisions without checking in with her people. Even if her brothers thought she should check in every hour.

Six pregnant shifters missing in less than a month was bad news. All it would take for a war to erupt between any of the species was a small misunderstanding spiraling out of control. And pregnant shifters being kidnapped wasn't a misunderstanding. This situation had the potential to turn insane fast.

Even the lowest of the low respected pregnant women. It was simple biology and nature to protect females in that state. Even her own people—who were known for their brutality—had the highest respect for them.

Perched on the edge of her bed, she dialed the number of a vampire she hadn't spoken to in decades and hoped she received a warm response. She'd tried calling him when she'd first arrived but the phone had kept ringing. No voice mail or answering machine picked up. Now it was five in the morning but he was a daywalker, a rare breed of vampire who could walk freely under the sun, and she had no idea what his schedule was.

He picked up on the second ring. “Who the hell is this?” he snarled.

Brianna winced. “Hello, Marcus. This is Brianna. I don't know if you remember me, but—”

“Brianna O'Brien?” He sounded surprised.

That was the anglicized version of her family's ancient last name, but it was close enough. “Yes. I'm sorry for calling so early and out of the blue.”

“No, it's no problem at all. It's been a long time. How are you?” He had almost no discernible accent, making it hard to trace his roots, though she knew he was originally from Italy—probably close to six hundred years ago. Maybe even longer.

“I'm well and I'm actually in New Orleans. I was hoping I might be able to convince you to have breakfast with me.” She mentally crossed her fingers.

He let out a soft, husky laugh. “You don't have to convince me of anything, sweetheart. And your timing is perfect. I just arrived back in town myself. What time and where would you like to meet?” There was definitely a sexual undertone to his endearment, but that was just the way he acted around females.

Nonetheless, she blinked at how acquiescent he was being. “Don't you want to know why I wish to see you?”

Marcus snorted. “If I get to see your pretty face, I don't give a damn.”

She blushed at his words, remembering how he'd previously tried to get her into his bed. But she'd had no interest then and didn't now. He hadn't been too pushy, just persistent. She'd never wanted any man until Angelo. But at least Marcus's sexual interest had made setting up a meeting easier and she wasn't above using that to her advantage. “As soon as possible and I'll let you pick the place since you live here. I would like to try some of this city's famous beignets so if you choose somewhere that has them I would be appreciative.”

He chuckled again. “I love the way you talk,” he murmured. Then he rattled off the name of a café, gave her the address, and they disconnected.

As she set her phone on the bed next to her, she smiled. That had gone much easier than she'd expected. Marcus wasn't attached to any coven, which was good because he didn't report to anyone. He was old even by vampire standards and powerful, and he had a lot of contacts in New Orleans. He should be a valuable source to have. While he was a notorious flirt, she could handle him if he got out of line.

The door to the bedroom she'd been sharing with Angelo opened abruptly. He stood in the doorway, practically glaring at her. She frowned. His hazel eyes were fierce and angry, which just made him even sexier. But he looked as if something was wrong.

Panic jumped inside her as she rose from the bed. “What has happened? Does Erin have news on the kidnappings?”

“I haven't talked to her or Noah. Who the hell was that on the phone and why was he calling you sweetheart?” He softly growled at her, his eyes flashing from wolf to human so quickly, but she definitely caught the change.

She'd forgotten how well Angelo could hear, but she didn't understand why he was so angry. “That was the vampire I told you I was calling. He's agreed to meet with me in an hour. This is excellent news so you have no reason to be upset.”

Angelo took a deep breath, accentuating his incredibly broad and muscular chest. As she remembered how she'd kissed and licked all that expanse only hours before she felt her cheeks heat up.

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “No one calls you sweetheart but me.”

Brianna watched the rise and fall of his big chest. He was definitely agitated. The fae could be proprietary when it came to their mates so she understood the concept and she'd seen shifters act insane regarding their mates, but she wasn't Angelo's mate. They were simply lovers. “Is this a shifter thing?”

“Is what?”

“Your possessive behavior.”

“You're mine, Brianna.” His hazel eyes flashed to a dark, forest green and before she could respond, he'd covered the distance between them and wrapped his hands around her hips, pulling her tight against him.

Yes, this was definitely a shifter thing, she decided. A thread of alarm spun through her even as it battled with a slow-spreading heat in her lower abdomen. His thick length pressed against her, insistent and leaving no doubt as to how he felt about her no matter the circumstance. She loved that even though he was clearly angry, he still wanted her. And she definitely wanted him. All the time, it seemed.

She smoothed her hands over his chest hoping to placate him. She didn't like arguing with him when they could be doing much more interesting things. “I need to shower before I meet him. I won't be gone long—”

Angelo laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “I'm going with you.”

She shook her head and tried to ignore what his very male presence did to her. It was hard when all she wanted to do was get naked with him again. He was an extremely skilled lover and had promised to show her even more sexual positions. She wasn't sure how that was possible, but she believed him. “That's not a good idea. Marcus is attracted to me and while I don't return the sentiment, I will likely garner more information from him if I meet him alone. It is more logical.”

Angelo laughed again. “And that's exactly why you're not going alone.”

Anger detonated inside her that he could even think that. “I don't mean I'll use my body to get information!”

His expression softened as one of his hands slid up to cup her breast through her top. Her nipples instantly tightened. “I know that, but I don't trust any man, especially a vampire, to be alone with you. Even if he wasn't interested in what's mine, I'd be going with you anyway.”

She ignored the “mine” comment again when he lightly pinched her nipple between his forefinger and thumb. All these sexual feelings and experiences were so new to her; she knew that she wasn't thinking logically around him. She could seem to focus only on sex lately. The thought of arguing with him made her stomach twist and she really wanted him to be naked in the next few seconds. She wasn't meeting her contact for another hour—plenty of time to shower with Angelo.

Instead of responding to him, she grasped the bottom of her top and drew it over her head. Pleasure rippled through her as Angelo growled softly at the sight of her breasts. It was a sound she knew she'd never tire of. Even though their time together was limited and she'd eventually have to walk away from him, she wanted to wring all the joy out of their time together.

E
rin sat next to Noah on the iron bench on the D'Amico's front porch. They lived in a double-gallery house in a quiet upper-middle-class neighborhood close to the Garden District.

She could hear Angus inside as he spoke to Bertrand, the deceased Kaigen's mate. She could also hear the two little girls, Ophelia and Marie, sobbing at the news that their mother and unborn brother or sister weren't coming home.

Noah leaned forward and placed his head in his hands. “Fuck,” he muttered.

Erin swallowed hard, not responding because she didn't trust her voice. She'd be going inside in a few minutes to speak to Bertrand and didn't want to get emotional beforehand. As shifters they all knew that death was inevitable and most humans considered them lucky because they were able to live so long and spend even more time with their loved ones. The downside for those left behind was the same as it was for humans. Maybe even worse. Being mated to someone for centuries, sometimes longer, and then losing them—unimaginable.

Silence descended on the inside of the house for a brief moment before the front door swung open. Angus stepped outside and nodded at Erin. When Noah rose, the Alpha shook his head. “They're suffering. Let her go in alone.”

Noah growled low in his throat, but Erin placed a hand on his forearm and he instantly stilled. “Now's not the time.” Whatever was going on with him and his father had no place in this house.

“I'm here if you need me,” he said quietly.

“I know.” And the knowledge warmed her. More than she wanted to admit. The man had become such an integral part of her life. So much so that she couldn't imagine it without him in it. No matter what she tried to tell herself, if he ever settled down with another female, it would kill her inside.

He pushed out a breath and dropped back onto the bench as she skirted past Angus who watched her curiously.

She didn't have time to figure out what the older wolf's look meant and she really didn't care. Shutting the front door behind her, she was momentarily stunned by the silence. It might be eerily quiet but the grief pulsing through the house was almost tangible. As she stepped farther into the foyer, her boots thudded softly against the hardwood floor. Movement to her left caught her eye. Bertrand D'Amico sat slumped against a red-and-gold-striped settee in the living room. It was early and he wore long checked pajama pants with a plain black T-shirt a shade darker than his skin.

He watched her warily as she stepped into the room. She glanced around and didn't see the girls she'd heard crying. He'd probably sent them to their rooms.

“They're upstairs with my sister,” he said, as if he'd read her mind. There was a slight French accent to his voice and he spoke much softer than she'd imagined for such a large feline shifter.

She took a seat on a formal-looking high-backed chair across from the feline and cleared her throat. “I'm so sorry about your mate.” The words felt useless, but he gave her a semiappreciative half nod so she continued. “I know this is the worst time to be here, but I want to find out who is taking shifters in this city. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you some questions.” She'd planned to do it before they'd found his mate and as soon as she was done here she planned to speak to the other mates of the missing women. While the timing might suck—that being the biggest understatement ever—she had no choice.

He glanced away from her, staring at the rich gold draperies pulled back from oversized windows. “I'll tell you anything you want.” Before she could ask a question he turned toward her, pinning her with his dark gaze full of grief. “Kaigen was fifty years old and she and I were mated for thirty years. Well, mated and married. She wanted the human tradition too.” He smiled softly as his eyes glazed over. “She is—was—originally from Chile. Even though she was a beta and I'm an Alpha, she ran this house. She stopped working outside the home eight years ago when our oldest was born.”

Erin was silent as he took a deep breath. Glancing around the room in the silence she could see the deceased female's presence in the soft touches around the room. Bright, decorative throw pillows, oversized potted plants, and various pictures of Paris.

While she already knew most of what he was telling her, she realized he needed to be free to talk about his mate. When he didn't continue, she asked, “Can you tell me a little bit about her daily or weekly schedules? Did she drive your girls to school? What days did she do the grocery shopping? Or is that something you do?”

He snorted softly at the last question. “She would never let me buy the food. She would go shopping every Monday morning because that's when the best produce was delivered—or so she told me.” He went on to name the store she shopped at regularly, the times she dropped and picked up her kids from school, where she went for Pilates, which friends she regularly had lunch with, and the name of her ob-gyn—even though Erin already knew that one.

After Erin jotted down everything he told her, she asked an obvious question. “What, if anything, about her schedule has changed in the past couple months?” Even though all the women had been taken within the last month they'd likely been stalked beforehand. The fact that they were all pregnant was the biggest link, but it wasn't like shifters wore giant signs around their necks proclaiming them shifters. And as far as she knew, pregnant humans hadn't been kidnapped.

He shrugged, though the action seemed to almost pain him. “Nothing that I know of. We live very quiet, normal lives. We get along with our human and shifter neighbors, have dinners with them, go to neighborhood get-togethers. And we've never had any issues with vampires or any other supernatural beings,
ever
. We just live and let live. Life's too short for . . .” He trailed off as if realizing what he was saying. Clearing his throat, he glanced back at the curtain.

Erin could see tears glistening in his eyes and it tore her up inside. Standing, she made her way to the entryway. “Thank you for speaking with me. I want you to know I'm going to find whoever did this and make them pay.” She knew she shouldn't make promises, but watching this man's agony and hearing his children's suffering made her want to rip the city apart until she found anyone involved with the kidnappings and Kaigen D'Amico's death.

Bertrand's head whipped back around to face her. “If you find them, they're mine.” His jaguar flashed in his eyes, the feline looking back at her with predatory menace.

Erin didn't respond before stepping out onto the porch. If he wanted justice for his mate's death, she wouldn't stop him, but she didn't have control over how this case would play out so she couldn't make any promises. She didn't blame him for wanting to avenge his mate though. Noah wasn't even her mate and if something happened to him, she'd destroy whoever dared to harm him and feel no guilt. She was completely aware what that said about her feelings toward Noah, but she ignored it as she had to do if she wanted to survive.

The moment she stepped outside, Noah stood and Angus pushed up from where he was leaning against one of the beams of the porch. From the look of things she didn't think they'd said two words to each other since she'd been inside.

“Thanks for talking to the family first,” Erin murmured to Angus who just nodded. Then she looked at Noah. “I want to head to the Full Moon Bar and talk to Hector about his sister.” The bartender's missing sister was only twenty-four, was an artist, and Erin wanted to see how her schedule and daily habits matched up with Kaigen's. On the outside it didn't seem as if they'd have much reason to cross paths since Kaigen was a stay-at-home mom and Leta didn't have kids, but something had to connect them. Erin just knew it.

Jayce had warned her how tedious investigations could be and while she'd known that on an intellectual level, it hadn't prepared her for the burning need growing inside her to see results faster.

As they headed down the walkway to her car, Noah placed a gentle hand at the small of her back. His spicy, earthy scent enveloped her, and though she knew it would come back to bite her in the ass later, she stepped a few inches closer, leaning into him. Surprising her, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “You're not alone right now, Erin,” he whispered against her.

For a brief moment she leaned into him, soaking up what he had to offer as if she were a sponge. “Thank you, Noah,” she whispered back because she didn't trust her voice. She didn't care that his father could see them. She didn't care if anyone saw her leaning on the tall, strong shifter.

This case had already brought up so many horrific memories and though she wanted to remain stoic and unmoved, she didn't mind his support one bit. He had no clue about her past and he was still being supportive in every way she needed. Her own grief clawed at her insides, telling her that she could never have a future with this man. She cared too much for him to saddle him with her crap. Especially since in the long run he'd resent her shortcomings.

•   •   •

Brianna unbuttoned her knee-length wool coat as she and Angelo entered Café Beignet. The place was charming with small round café-style tables and matching chairs with hearts shaping the backs of them. There were also booths and since the tables looked as if they were made of iron, she knew where she'd be sitting. Iron and the fae didn't mix in the same way silver and shifters didn't.

As she slid her coat off, she spotted Marcus sliding out from one of the booths. Tall, not as pale as most vampires because he was a daywalker and because of his Italian heritage, dark brown hair, dark eyes, and a lean, yet muscular build. With his Roman nose and defined, almost sharp facial features, he was a very striking male. A few of the female patrons and one of the male baristas checked him out as he strode toward her.

Marcus's gaze landed on Angelo for a brief moment, then ignored her shifter as he clasped one of her hands and held it up to his mouth. He brushed a kiss over her knuckles, earning a growl from Angelo. Which was why she hadn't wanted him to come with her. They did not have time for male posturing. She quickly withdrew her hand.

“You look as beautiful as ever,” he murmured, his voice a seductive whisper.

“She's also taken,” Angelo said as he clasped on to Brianna's shoulder and tugged her back.

Marcus sniffed the air—not subtly—then looked at her with a frown. “You're mated?”

Brianna shook her head. “No, we're not mates. And I did not come here to discuss my personal life.”

Marcus gave Angelo a look that Brianna could only describe as challenging. Frowning, she looked between the two men to see Angelo staring daggers at the vampire. The fae were much more subtle than these two species. She'd never completely understand them.

Sighing, she stepped forward, ignoring the males and slid into the booth Marcus had come from. She smiled to see a plate of beignets and fig cookies already waiting for them. Angelo immediately slid in next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into his embrace, hoping she made it clear to Marcus that she was taken, at least at the moment. She and Angelo might not have a future, but she didn't want him to experience any discomfort or emotional distress because he thought she was interested in another male.

“I'm Marcus,” her vampire contact said to Angelo, a smirk on his face. “Who are you?” The question sounded rude, but Angelo simply smiled.

Or more like bared his teeth. “Angelo Medina. I'm a member of the Armstrong pack and I'm here with Brianna as part of my Council and the Tuatha's investigation.” The Tuatha were the royal class of fae and they ruled with an iron fist. Something Marcus would know.

He nodded then subtly glanced around the café before focusing on them. “You're here because of the missing pregnant shifters?”

Brianna nodded, but kept her expression blank. “Do you know something?”

His jaw twitched and he shook his head slowly. “As I said on the phone, I've been out of the country, but the topic came up from a contact of mine yesterday. I hadn't realized this is what you wanted to talk about, but since you're here with a shifter I'm guessing it is. . . . If I'd known, I would have been better prepared.”

“So you know something about the missing females then?” she asked, watching his facial movements carefully. She might not be able to scent lies in the way shifters could but she could read people.

Frustration clear, he shook his head. “No, but this will not be allowed to go on in the city. As far as I know our leaders are not even aware of this, which tells me my kind haven't informed them. And I find that interesting.” The last word came out as an angry snarl.

She frowned and next to her Angelo stiffened, his clasp on her shoulder tightening. “Interesting how?”

He shook his head again. “I don't know, but I intend to find out. I don't know if you understand the hierarchy in this city?”

“Angus seems to run everything here,” she said. At least that was her understanding from what Erin had told her and the information she'd received from her own people before coming here.

“He does, for the most part. That Alpha is more or less the law everyone answers to. He also leaves the ancient vampires alone and we leave him alone. Bloodborns don't take orders from anyone easily, especially not a shifter.”

Brianna knew a little about bloodborns. They were naturally born vampires, not made. And very rare. They were also powerful. Marcus was definitely one. Something she would have known even if they weren't acquaintances. He emanated a certain power that humans could probably feel, even if they weren't aware what they were experiencing in his presence. “So why is this important?”

He shrugged in a maddening way. “I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying that all the bloodborns in this city would be aware of pregnant shifters being taken, yet the Brethren haven't been informed. At least not that I'm aware of.”