AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Here,” Bones said, handing the gun to Juan, who stared at Bones with openmouthed shock.
“You called her Kitten? And she let you? She put me in acomafor threedaysthe one time I called her that! My balls never recovered from her smashing them into myspine.”
From Cat’s guilty expression, every word was true.
Bones stifled a laugh. “And well she should have,” he said as if that were a perfectly normal response. “She’s my Kitten, and no one else’s,” he added with a pointed look at Tate.
Tate scowled. Oh, yes, he was going to be trouble.
“Do you mind?” Cat said, poking Bones. “I’m woozy here.”
“Apologies, luv,” he said, slicing his tongue with a fang. Then, he kissed her. Yes, he could have cut his palm instead, but he much preferred giving her blood this way.
“What the hell is going on?” a male voice snapped.
Bones broke the kiss. He knew that voice, had fantasized about hearing it raised in screams of pain, and now, Don Williams was finally within killing range.
Bones released Cat and streaked over to him.
27
Fear and sweat exploded from Don’s pores as Bones stopped mere inches from him. Bones savored those scents as he stared at the man who’d nearly gotten Cat killed more times than he allowed himself to imagine.
Don looked older than his fifty-nine years, but his iron-colored hair was impeccably combed, and he held himself with a straight-spine, military bearing even though Don had never served. He was average height, neither fit nor rotund, and he had pleasant features with deep lines around his mouth reminiscent of a long-term smoker. If Bones had seen Don in a crowd, he wouldn’t think much of him unless he looked into his eyes. Those dark gray depths nearly crackled with intelligence, so much that not even the fear in them could dim it.
“You must beverydetermined to kill me to go to such lengths, vampire.”
Bones didn’t want to admire anything about Don, but the sod had a Master vampire glaring at him while blood literally dripped from his fangs, and he didn’t run, beg, weep, or attempt to bargain for his life. He didn’t even sound afraid despite his other senses giving that away. Instead, Don’s voice was crisp and contemptuous.
“I’m not here for you, old chap.”Or you’d already be dead.“I’m here to find the snake in your garden, though first, the three of us are going to have a chat. You’ve kept Cat in the dark long enough.”
Cat gave Bones a confused look. Don didn’t. He was now more ashen than he had been when he thought he was about to die.
“Tate, Juan, make sure no one comes through that door or gets frisky,” Cat said, shelving her confusion. “The place is locked down, but someone could pull a weapon, so keep sharp.”
Both men moved with a quickness that spoke of years of following her commands.
“Okay, boss,” Cat said. “After you.”
Don’s office was lit by battery-backup emergency lights, and its interior reminded Bones of the man’s hair: impeccable and colored entirely in dark and light shades of gray. Steel chairs were on either side of a charcoal-colored desk while smoky pale walls ensconced the room. No family pictures adorned the desk or shelves, either, which made Bones’s lip curl as he took a seat in one of the chairs. Of course Don didn’t need those. He stared at family nearly every day.
“Don, I’d like to introduce you to Bones,” Cat said without preamble. “The real Bones, not the imposter on ice in the fridge. You’ll remember him from Ohio, where he gave the highway a whole new look after swiping me from your convoy years ago.”
Don’s heart actually fluttered, and then anger edged through the fear in his scent.
“All these years, Cat. You’ve been working for the other side this entire time. Bravo, I was completely fooled.”
“You ungrateful sod,” Bones snapped. “The only reason I’m not picking you out of my teeth this very moment is because of her. She fancies you a decent man, not that I agree, and has in no way betrayed her trust.Youcan hardly say the same.”
“A death threat-not the best way to open things,” Cat muttered.
Then, she fixed her gaze on Don. “I haven’t played you, Don. When I left Ohio, I thought Iwasleaving Bones behind. He tracked me down and found me only two weeks ago. Yes, I got him out of the cells, but I have never done anything else to betray you or this operation.”
Don didn’t look convinced. “I should have sensed a trap. No vampire ever surrenders. What I don’t know is how you got your mother to play along.”
Cat grunted. “She didn’t. Bones told her he wanted to meet her without my knowledge. We knew what she’d do next.”
A dark laugh escaped Bones. “And she didn’t disappoint. When I got to her house, she’d already called Don, blacked both her eyes, and knocked over every stick of furniture she had.”
