Precarious Possessions (Maxwell Investigations) (23 page)

“And you didn’t know if I was going to take after you or
remain a human,” Troy added. When Dennis looked at him, he shrugged. “Leigh and
I did a lot of talking in California.”

Dennis nodded slowly. “So you know how much Megan and Leigh
mean to me.” He took a sip of his brandy and looked up at the door to the main
offices. “They became my daughters.”

Troy drank some of his own brandy as he watched Dennis.
“Leigh always said Megan’s dream in life was to have a Mate and cubs of her
own.”

“It was.” Dennis allowed a regretful muse escape him. “I
didn’t think any of her suitors were good enough for her.” He finished his
brandy and poured more into his glass. “I should have just let her have her
Mate when she was 18.”

“She respected you more because you didn’t.” When Dennis
looked at him, Troy shrugged. He may not have known Megan well, but he had
spent time with her after she graduated High School and went to visit Leigh.
“You were always hard on everyone.
With her more so.
You knew more about the world than she did and she knew everything you did was
to protect her.”

Dennis finished his second drink and quickly poured a third.
“I want the cocksucker that did this to her.” His growls filled the air as he
thought of Megan’s last pleas to Madison. “I will go against the Council on
this one. He is mine.”

Troy slowly inhaled. “Am I going to have to explain Megan’s
death to the boys?” he asked quietly. When Dennis looked at him sharply, he
held the other man’s gaze.

After a few silent moments Dennis quickly drank his brandy.
“The cocksucker’s fucking head,” he growled.

Madison walked out of the security office and closed her
cell phone. She walked over to the bar and stood toe to toe with Dennis. “I
need your word you will let me handle this.” When Dennis looked at her with
darkened eyes, she held her ground. “I just got off the phone with Mathias. He
wants this Cord guy brought in. He won’t be charged with death just yet. But I
will make sure he’ll pay.”

Dennis growled at Madison, but stopped when Troy pulled her
behind him. He blinked at his son for a moment. When his eyes turned back to
Madison, he saw that her own jaw was slack with shock. “She was mine. I get his
head. It’s as simple as that,” Dennis said coldly.

“No, it’s not,” Madison countered. “There are other players
involved, and I need more time. I can’t give you special treatment.”

“Why not?
Because I’m not Victor or Crispin?”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Troy warned.

Madison slowly inhaled as she stepped away from both men.
She knew they would all have to adjust to Troy being her Mate. Now was not the
opportune time. Her eyes looked at her Mate. “He’s used to talking me like
that. It’s fine,” she said quietly.

Troy’s eyes flashed for a split second before he turned to
Dennis. “Not anymore,” he growled.

“Watch your place, Boy,” Dennis commanded. “This is still my
territory.”

“I don’t give a fuck. She’s my Mate and will be respected as
such.”

Madison stepped between them and pushed Troy back. “I don’t
want to do this now,” she said sharply. When Troy looked at her, she
straightened her spine. “I can’t do this now. There’s too much on the line.”
She then turned to Dennis. “And as for you, I was trying to keep into account
that Megan was like a daughter to you. I wanted you to stand down so I could
have some time and get Cord for you. All you would have to do is
wait
. But if you feel like you’re as green as the Puppy I
called you, then I will order you to back the hell off!”

Dennis flinched when Madison’s power pushed him back against
the bar. “How dare you!” he yelled. This little upstart had the gall to come
into his own bar and threaten him! “This is my territory! My club! You don’t
come in here and order me around. I am the Alpha here. Not you!”

“You’re right, you are the Alpha,” Madison said quietly. Her
eyes turned red and her voice took on a sibilant quality again. She went over
to Troy’s discarded drink and sipped it. “I’m the only chance you have
at
vengeance. Let me do this my way.” She stared into his
eyes for a long moment. “I won’t ask again.”

Dennis noticed the concern on Troy’s face. Madison was doing
everything she could to help, even if it felt like she wasn’t. With a snarl, he
ran his hand though his hair. “I want to know every step you take,” Dennis
demanded. His eyes turned to where he left his empty glass. “I will make the
all of the necessary arrangements for Megan.”

Madison eyes were still glowing as she nodded at Dennis. “I
will avenge her,” she said in that odd voice. “Once I find out what the Council
is after, I will gladly bring him to you.”

Dennis poured himself another brandy as Madison turned to
leave. He squared his shoulders and looked at his son’s Mate. “Madison,” he
called after her. When she looked at him, it struck him how much the twins
resembled her. He raised his glass to her in a salute. “You’re Pack. If you
have the chance, kill him for me.”

A vicious smile crossed Madison’s face. “I’ll bring you his
beating heart on a plate,” she said before leaving.

Troy frowned as he looked between Dennis and Madison. He
glanced at his father one last time. “Don’t push
her this
far ever again,” he ordered.

Dennis couldn’t discount the concern he saw in Troy’s eyes.
As often as he and Madison went toe to toe, she had only gone this far one
time. He rubbed the back of his neck and thought of the night some of his Pack
had gone and attacked Dylan while trying to get to Claudia. That had been a
huge mess that ended with Claudia’s existence being discovered and Dylan being
turned into a Vampire. “When she comes out of this, please give her my
apologies. Parents should never bury their children.
Even
adopted ones.”

Troy slowly inhaled. It wouldn’t do anyone any good for him
to stay angry with Dennis. “If you need any help on my end. Call me,” he said
before going after his Mate.

* * *
* *

Lily groaned softly as she opened her eyes. She was lying on
a plush leather sofa with her head hanging off the side. A frown crossed her
face when she noticed the garbage can sitting next to her.

“We weren’t sure how your body would react to all of that
whiskey,” Sloane answered from a near chair. He walked into Lily’s line of
sight and knelt in front of her. “How are you feeling?”

Pale green eyes looked around the room before closing. “Like
I should be dead,” she groaned. Her head was pounding and the room was starting
to spin. “Like I’m going to be sick,” she added. She sensed Sloane moving away
from her and covered her eyes. “Eric didn’t let me seduce anyone, did he?”

Sloane smiled. “No,” he answered. When she started to nod he
chuckled. “I had a hell of a good time with him after we got you settled.”
Lily’s eyes opened wide in shock. “I think you were emitting some sort of
pheromone. I know the old couple downstairs felt it too. I was half expecting one
of them to break a hip.”

Lily fought a smile at his gentle teasing. “That isn’t
funny,” she said slowly sitting up.

“Sure it is,” Sloane said as he went to the kitchen area. He
quickly found the aspirin and a glass of water. “Just because you’re a Succubus
doesn’t mean that you have to be the town pariah. As a matter of fact, I won’t
let you.” He went over to Lily and gave her the pills and water. “Now, do you
want me to fix you anything to eat?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked suddenly. “After
everything, why would anyone want to be nice to someone like me?”

Sloane smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. When her
eyes turned up to him, he sat on the coffee table next to her. “Because Eric
and I see that while you were wrong, you did it for family. It isn’t like you
killed any of those women. Besides, you’re trying to get past your history and
make something of yourself.” As she looked at him, he smiled. “Plus we never
met this wild woman you say you are. All we know is Sweet Lilavanti, Eric’s
super secretary.”

Lily lowered her head slightly and fought a smile. “You
really think that way?” she asked shyly. When Sloane touched her hand, she
looked up at him.

“You are a darling and Eric and I both adore you.” He stood and
went to get himself something to drink. “We were even trying to think of ways
to keep you away from Barry.”

“Barry? Why would you need to keep me away from him?”

“Simply put, he’s a slut.” Sloane found what he was looking
for and walked back over to her. “You have to have sex in order to survive. He
does it just because he can.” When he saw the way her lips pressed together, he
decided to continue. “He’s a good guy. But it would be best for everyone that
you two remain friends.” Sloane caught the way she was chewing on her lip and
raised an eyebrow. “What are you thinking?”

She shook her head. “It isn’t important,” she said before
she finished drinking her water. Pale green eyes looked around the apartment.
“Where’s Eric?” she asked curiously.

“He wanted to straighten some things out with Mathias and
Madison. Then he was going to find some of that take out that you two had the
other day at the office.” Sloane took her empty glass and walked over to the
kitchen again. “So Sweets, do you want us to call you Lily or Lilavanti?”

A smile crossed her face. It would be nice to have friends
that knew all about her. “Lily’s fine,” she answered as he poured a glass of
ginger ale for her. She slowly stood and approached the kitchen area and looked
around. It was a stylish apartment with an open concept. The living room,
dining room and kitchen were all one large space ideal for entertaining. Down
the hall were the three bedrooms and two bathrooms Eric once told her
about.
Lily saw the balcony doors and smiled. “This is a
beautiful place.”

Sloane smiled proudly. “Thanks. I helped build it.” When she
looked at him strangely he laughed. “I’m a Mage. A Metal Worker to be exact. My
grandfather bought this lot and when he just before he passed, he gave it to
me. A few friends and I got the materials together and built up this place.”

Lily’s smile caught on. “And naturally you and Eric ended up
with the best apartment.”

“That we did.” Sloane leaned against the counter and watched
as she looked around. There was no way the Council was going to let her go
about her own way now. Not after everyone thought that her kind was extinct.
“Dylan had the second best apartment. It was the loft on the top floor. She had
her own patio on the roof. If you want it, it’s yours.”

Lily’s smile fell as she shook her head. “I can’t afford to
live in a building like this,” she said quickly.

Sloane rolled his eyes. “Money isn’t a problem. There are
only four other tenants. They’re all friends of a sort of either mine or
Eric’s. If I do take money from them, I put it in an account for that person.
Herb and Mary found out about the account and have since ordered me to leave
the money and their apartment to their granddaughter if anything happens to
them. Everyone else is in the dark.”

“What about utilities?”

“That’s what the stock market and investment banking is
for.” Sloane smiled and winked at her. “We have enough to pay for everything.
He’s a lawyer, I’m an architect,
it’s
all good.” He
took note of Lily’s absent nod and took her hand into his. “Think it over. But
I hate to tell you, the Council is going to want to keep you under lock and
key. We can argue for you to stay here because we are. I don’t think they’re
going to let you keep your other place.”

Lily sipped at her ginger ale and took a slow breath. “I’ll
think on it,” she said softly. When Sloane took his phone out of his pocket and
frowned, she mirrored the look. “Is something wrong?”

Sloane shook his head. “No. Eric just usually texts or calls
by now. I know he was waiting to hear when you woke up.” Sloane looked at Lily
and tried to disguise his concern. “I’m sure he’s okay. What could go wrong,
right?”

* * *
* *

Eric walked into his office with a frown on his face.
Neither Mathias nor Barry
were
answering their phones.
While he had received Sloane’s text, he also received an urgent email from his
job. Eric spotted a strange man sitting at his desk and paused. “Can I help
you?” he asked. Eric unbuttoned his jacket as the stranger stood and turned to
him. His eyes narrowed when he saw the same man that was in the picture on
Lily’s wall.

Cord looked at Eric with narrowed eyes. “I want my sister.
Where is she?” he asked in a growl.

“Lilavanti isn’t here,” Eric said taking off his jacket. He
had a feeling this wasn’t going to go well. “She called out sick.”

“And I know you’ve seen her,” Cord said hotly. “I can smell
her on you.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed as Cord took a dangerous step towards
him. “Calm down,” he ordered. He moved around to his desk as the Incubus
paused. “Lilavanti doesn’t want anything to do with you. As a matter of fact,
the only thing she wants for you is to turn yourself in to the Council.”