Unforgiven (The Forbidden Bond 2) (20 page)

A knock at her back door made Candice jump and pulled her from her morbid musings. She knew exactly who she would find on the other side of the ruffled curtain covering the window on the kitchen door. Only one person ever found it necessary to make a sneaky rear door entrance.

“Hi, Candy. Have you missed me?” Derek kissed her on the cheek when he slid past her and into the kitchen. He walked to the fridge and starting pulling out the fixings for a sandwich. Well hell. There went her lunch for the rest of the week. She didn’t mind. There had been many a night, when Derek was a teenager, that he would show up at her back door looking for food or a friend to talk to, but she drew the line when he attempted to drink straight from her milk container, snatching the carton and pouring him a glass before she responded.

“No, I can’t say that I have missed having a sharp pain in my ass,” she teased before she slid onto the stool next to him at the counter. There were crumbs and a trail of mustard running across the black granite surface. Derek leaned over and left a mustard smeared kiss on her cheek.

“Come on, Candy. What would you do without a mooching criminal to brighten your day?” He chuckled and resumed devouring his first sandwich. She knew he would eat at least two.

When she really thought about his question, it made her heart heavy. She had no family. They had disowned her when she left the life of the socially elite to pursue a more fulfilling existence. Derek had been the only person she allowed close to her heart. What would she do if she didn’t have his sporadic visits to look forward to? When she didn’t come back at him with a cutting retort, Derek stopped eating.

“What’s going on with you, Candy? You seem…sad. It’s not a good look for you.” Derek poked her in the side, “I know I’m just a sharp pain in the ass, but you can talk to me about anything.”

****

Derek heard through the Shade grapevine that a vampire who chose to be a cop for the humans was going to be partnering with the Enclave to figure the missing person problem and apprehend the perpetrators. He knew it had to be none otherthan his adoptive big sister. She was one of a kind. He had come to investigate and see if he could get her to talk about what information the Enclave already had on the subject. None of his contacts were high enough on the food chain to get any solid information from the Wrath.

He knew it was underhanded to use her love for him to get information, but he had to do what he had to do, just like he had to in any other situation. Candy was the only person that had ever made him feel like he had a home and someone to turn to when things got tough. When he needed a shoulder to lean on or a meal that didn’t involve tapping a vein, Candice had always been his girl. She had stood between him and insanity more than once. Some of the things he’d done in his life for the sake of his mother had been horrific. So now he tried to convince himself that this was nothing. It was just a little harmless information gathering, right?

Derek was doing his best to pretend this was a visit just like any other when Candice’s behavior began to seem odd to him. She hadn’t fussed at him for making a mess or made any comments about him eating her lunch provisions. She hadn’t even smacked him in the head for trying to drink from the milk carton or for purposely getting mustard all over her cheek. Something was wrong. He just hoped it was the stress of working and dealing with the Enclave and not anything more serious.

If nothing else, it was a good opening for him to ask her what she’d been up to. Derek decided to finish his sandwich before beginning the inquisition. It would seem odd to her if he didn’t worry about his stomach first and the rest of the world last.

 “What’s going on with you, Candy? You seem…sad. It’s not a good look for you.” Derek poked her in the side, “I know I’m just a sharp pain in the ass, but you can talk to me about anything.” He held his breath, waiting for an answer, but Candy just stared off into the distance.

Derek pulled Candy off of her stool and dragged her into the living room where he flopped onto her recliner and pulled her onto his lap. She snuggled into the comfort he offered, but ignored his question.

“You might as well spill it, Candy. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong.” He kissed the top of her head. Her silence had him worried. This was about more than just stress from work. She would have admitted to that and told him to mind his own business.

“I really hate it when you call me that.” She humphed.

“I know.” He smiled and waited.

“I’m lonely,” she confessed. “Sometimes I miss having a big family and lots of friends. I was just thinking about the fact that you are my family and the only true friend I have.” She snuggled a little closer, petting him like she had when he was much smaller and she would hold him in her lap, giving comfort when needed.

Damn. That made what he was doing so much harder. They were family and he was pretty sure you weren’t supposed to manipulate your family members.

“I thought you hated other people. You only tolerate me so you have someone to beat on when you need to release your pent up rage. Don’t think I don’t know you just keep me around for the sparring matches. It’s not like you can really let loose on your weak little fellow officers,” he joked, trying like hell to lighten the mood. She giggled.

“Well that is about to change. So, watch out kid. I have lowered myself to offering assistance to the Enclave. They need help with a few things.”

Derek wanted to laugh. He knew how bad she had wanted to be a warrior and working with the Enclave would be a dream come true for Candy. But he let her believe he had no idea she had approached them. It was good for her ego.

“I can’t say I’m surprised. I knew those idiots would wise up and see what an asset you could be, once they pulled their heads out of their asses,” he smirked.

She laughed out loud, “Yeah. It was just a matter of time.”

Derek was quiet, trying to think of where to go from there. How was going to get Candy talking? Candy broke the silence first.

“I met a guy, a really hot guy that acts like I don’t exist. It pisses me off. The arrogant bastard just treats me like one of the guys.”

Here was the real reason for her pouting. After he talked her through this, he could steer the conversation back to the important matter at hand.

“Really? Where’d you meet the asshole?”

“At the Enclave. They’re allowing me to shadow a Wrath team that is working on the same thing I’m researching. He is one of the Wrath guards on that team. They’re about to go on a field trip, so to speak, and I’m tagging along. I took some leave from the force to do this. Anyway, he is the low man on the totem pole so he’s been assigned the loathsome duty of helping me prepare and making sure I understand their procedures.”

“I’m sorry, but I thought you wanted to be treated like one of the guys? I thought you hated that they thought a female couldn’t perform the duties of a warrior?” he asked.

She leapt up off his lap and began to pace the hardwood floor. “I do want that, but not with this guy. I don’t want him to see me as a soldier. I want him to look at me like a woman. Damn it!” she shouted. “I’m hot! Men love redheads. Redheads are wild and sexy. I have to bludgeon the human guys to get away from them.” She collapsed onto the couch.

“I flirt and smile and give the jerk every chance to reciprocate but he stays completely professional. I just don’t get it. We are close to the same age. We have a lot in common since we both work in law enforcement. Yet, he ignores me.”

“Aw, Candy. I think you should forget about this dude. He can’t be worth it.”

“But he is. He’s smart and sexy. He used to be a surgeon, a combat surgeon even.” She looked at him wide-eyed as if that should impress him. It didn’t. He knew exactly who she was talking about. Greyson Drake. Derek was so tired of hearing about him. Oh, but this put a new twist on the situation. It was the perfect solution. Candy wanted Captain America and Derek wanted his girlfriend. It was a win-win situation. Now he just had to push the right buttons. He could wait for information he had come for.

“You know it’s too bad you never let a man get close to you, Candy. There is no need for you to be lonely. I’m sure if you didn’t hide yourself away in the human population you would have a mate and a couple of kids by now. Hell, as old as you are you might even have grandkids.” Derek tried to keep it light. Candy just humphed at the crack about her age. He knew if he encouraged her stay away from the warrior, like a rebellious teen, she would only strive to get closer.

“Now that you’re working on the Enclave you will have the chance to meet lots of guys that will appreciate a woman with a need to protect others and serve the way they do. I bet you’ll find Mr. Right by this time next year. Don’t worry about that guy.”

She said nothing for a while but he could see her fuming. She was not a quitter.

“I didn’t understand his reason for ignoring me until today. It was almost lunchtime and the guys were splitting up. A few were going to find blood, the others wanted a burger. One of the guys said to Greyson, that’s his name,
“I heard you have a lunch date. Are going for burgers or do you plan on using the time to tap that sweet ass?”

“Greyson lost his mind. He obviously didn’t think it was funny. He tackled his teammate to the ground and they rolled around throwing punches and cursing until Gage happened to pass by and broke it up. Of course he has a girlfriend. Why didn’t I think of that? A man like that cannot be at a loss for female attention. Not only is he beautiful, strong and intelligent but, he’s loyal too.” She just shook her head. “He’s the perfect male.”

Derek was seething inside. After having Brandi reject him for Greyson listening to Candy made him sick. He really couldn’t compete. If he played fair, that is.

“The fight was just breaking up when this kid walks over. She’s a cute little thing with short dark curls, designer heels and a shirt that didn’t cover nearly enough skin. I’m wondering whose daughter came to meet them for lunch. She runs over to Greyson and starts fussing over him. She wiped away the blood on his lip with a hanky from her little beaded purse and kissed his face. I couldn’t believe it. This kid was even younger than you, Derek. And the twit has a man she can’t possibly handle.”

“Well then. If you’re really that into the guy and you’re going to be going on a field trip together, why don’t you use that time to show him what a full grown woman with the heart of a warrior is like?”

****

Brandi was in the Council hall library doing some research on Greyson’s family name, starved for anything that would help her relate to her secretive lover. She had loved to come here and soak up the history and knowledge when she was in school. When her father had meetings or work at the hall, Brandi would always beg to go with him. Sometimes she would hang out in the never-ending, round, Carrera marble corridor to wait for glimpse of her crush, Chase, if he was around playing games with Cayden, but usually she could be found in the library. The warm wood toned panel walls, polished tables and the smell of dust and paper always made Brandi feel at home. When she entered today Brandi felt like a guest in the home of a stranger instead. She hadn’t been here in ages and the rows of books that had been her friends didn’t seem to recognize New Brandi. 

She came hoping to find a family tree for the Drake family or maybe even some reference to Greyson himself, considering he was old enough to have been counted in the last several censuses. Vampires kept track of their population the same way humans did. She hadn’t found anything yet, so she decided to head toward the back of the library were the census records were housed.

She had just turned the corner at the far end of the huge quiet room when a pair of hands reached and snatched her right off her feet. She didn’t even have time to scream before large hand covered her mouth and she was forced against the wall the shadow of a stack that blocked the overhead lighting. A hard body pressed into her back.

No. This couldn’t be happening. Had Darren seen her first effort at self-defense when she tossed the fireball at him? Had he told the Rogue? There was no way the Rogue could get her in the Council hall.

“Shhh… Hush, Sparky. I won’t hurt you,” Derek whispered into her ear. Damn it! Was there anywhere he couldn’t sneak into? Obviously the Rogue could get her in the Council hall if his henchman had a backdoor key. He loosened his grip and let her feet touch the floor. As soon as his hand moved from her mouth she growled.

“You scared the shit out of me. What the hell do you think you’re doing? How did you get in?” He slapped his hand back over her mouth.

“You need to lower your voice and calm down or I will take you out of here whether you are willing or not. I would be killed if the Master found out I was here and if I get apprehended he will know. Do you understand?” She nodded.

He moved his hand again and allowed her to turn in his arms, “Please come to the upper level storage with me. It’s private. Neither one of us will have to worry about being seen.”

“I thought I asked you to go away and never come back.” Brandi scowled up into his bottomless sable eyes. Damn, it was hard to stay angry when he looked so crestfallen.

“Yeah, well I asked you to give me a chance and you didn’t do that. And I haven’t been back to your house so, technically speaking, I did as you asked.”

“I’m not doing this with you. I told you I’m with…” He slapped his hand over her mouth again. Brandi wasn’t sure because the natural color of his eyes was very dark but she suspected that his eyes had turned black with rage.

“Don’t. Say. His. Name.” Every word was its own sentence. He spoke slowly so she couldn’t misunderstand. “I never want to hear that name on your lips again. It’s an insult.”

Okay. He had lost his mind. Brandi decided that going along with Derek’s request for privacy was her best chance of not being abducted, because she was sure he had a shot of the Rogue’s poison on him somewhere. If she didn’t comply, in his current mood, he might force her. She wouldn’t address his absurd demand that she not say the name of the man in her life. She just nodded until he moved his hand.