Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Spade
A week later, I stood at the bar in the compound with Razor, Riker, Monkey, and Coms while we waited for the arrival of Riker’s brothers.
Soren had been caught up with some business at the club, but he was planning to be here as soon as possible.
He’d only been gone a few hours, but I was already missing him.
And now that he was back on my mind, I wanted to see his smile, the soft gaze he always shared with me, and to hear his words, no matter who he was talking to.
I was so fucking taken by that man, it was scary to think what I’d do to make sure he’d stay safe. Which was why I understood Soren’s fear and probably why my mortality gave him anxiety. I was easier to kill compared to supernatural beings.
“I bet you’re thinking of Soren,” Riker said, bumping his hip into me.
“How does a person become a vampire?”
Riker’s eyes shot wide. “Are you thinking of being reborn?”
I shrugged. “The thought just slipped into my mind because I was thinkin’ about Soren and how worried he gets for my safety.”
Riker thinned his lips and nodded. “Soren does have a long list of assholes who’d want to get to him in some way or another, and you’d be a high-value target. But you’ll have to ask him about the process.”
“Do you worry about Prez?”
“Every day, every hour, and all the seconds. But all we can do is take each day as they come and know that we’ll murder anyone who tries to break us.
” He bumped into me again. “Soren talked to Deacon. My brothers are bringing some goodies for you and Corbin to check out. It’ll help against supernaturals. ”
Smiling, I nodded. “Good.” Then I’d have a bit more time to think about switching to the fang style. And I wasn’t hesitating over the switch; I just didn’t want to rush it. Hell, there was nothing wrong with being a vampire. I fucking loved Soren as he was.
I stilled.
I love him.
I fucking love him.
Christ, I wanted him back here so I could tell him.
“You good?” Riker asked.
Chuckling, I nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. Real good. Just wish Soren was here.”
Riker patted my shoulder, which he had to reach up to do, since he was a short stack. “He won’t stay away too long from you if he’s anything like me. I get cranky when I’m away from Corbin.”
I gasped in mock horror. “No! Really?”
He playfully pouted and called out, “Daddy, Spade’s being mean to me.”
Razor, Monkey, and Coms shifted their attention our way, cutting off their conversation.
Prez smirked. “What did you do, sunshine?”
Riker grinned. “Nothing.”
Prez’s phone chimed, and he glanced down at it on the bar. “Front gate. Your brothers are here early.”
“Yay!” Riker cheered before he dashed off to greet them.
I moved over to my brothers as Prez warned, “Don’t stare at their… husbands too long.”
Monkey snorted, but then he looked at Razor. “What? You’re serious?”
Prez just eyeballed him.
I smirked, understanding why that was important. These shifters were fiercely protective, especially around new people.
“So can I ask again why you sent the others on a ride and the women outta the place while they’re here?” Coms asked.
“They don’t like crowds,” Prez replied simply.
Were they really that bad?
Then I remembered Riker glaring and warning all the club women not to touch Razor or he’d kill them. At the time, I’d thought it a joke, even when Prez said it wasn’t, but now I got it.
Hell, even my blood boiled at the thought of anyone trying to come on to Soren.
He already got enough stares to make me want to gouge out a few eyes, no matter who they belonged to.
The door banged open, and Riker skipped in before a fucking mountain of a man with a scowl on his face entered.
“Holy shit,” Monkey muttered.
I mutely nodded. The first guy took up the whole doorway, then stepped aside and gently drew forward a small, slim young guy by their joined hands. In his other hand was a huge duffle bag. If I had to guess, they were Deacon, the bear shifter, and his fated mate, Rio.
Nox, the tiger shifter, was next. He was nearly as big as Deacon, though the extensive tattoos covering his skin made him look even more intimidating. Beside him, Kieran pushed his glasses up his nose and offered us a small smile and awkward wave.
“Monkey, Coms, and Soren’s Spade, I’d like you to meet Deacon, Rio, Nox, and Kieran.”
Soren’s Spade? Maybe it was something to do with fated mates or something to be introduced that way, but… ah hell, I liked it.
“Hey,” I called as they approached. “Good to meet you all.”
Deacon and Nox grunted, while Rio grinned and rushed forward, holding out his hand. “Hi.”
I took hold and shook, but when he started moving over to Monkey and Coms, Deacon stepped up behind his mate and pushed Rio’s arm down before pulling him close to his side while staring down Monkey and Coms.
Coms lifted his hands, palms out. “Whoa, big guy, we get it. No touchin’.”
“How come you allowed Spade to touch him?” Monkey asked.
Riker, who was bouncing on his feet, cackled. “Spade’s a taken man and smells like Soren—not that that matters. Ha ha. But you two are single.”
“Right,” Monkey drew out. “And how did he know?”
Deacon ignored him and turned to Razor to glower. “Razor.”
“Deacon.” Razor arched his eyebrow, scowl still in place.
“Oops,” Kieran cried as he stumbled over nothing. If it wasn’t for Nox sweeping him up, he would have hit the floor hard. Kieran laughed. “Thanks, Nox.”
Deacon dropped the bag to the floor and met my gaze. “Soren talked to me. The bag is full of things that will help.”
I nodded. “Thanks. Let me know if I owe you anythin’.”
“Nothing.”
“This place is really nice,” Kieran said, drawing my attention.
Prez grinned. “Appreciate it. We like it.”
The group slipped into an easy conversation about the old hotel, though Nox didn’t comment much, just listened.
It sucked we couldn’t tell Monkey and Coms about everything. There were only a select few who knew about supernaturals, and they were either bonded, bound by bloodline, sworn by an unbreakable oath for one reason or another, or had proven they wouldn’t abuse the truth.
Soren had even admitted there was a blood donation station operating under his control. Humans walked in willingly, rolled up their sleeves, and gave without question—never knowing their blood wasn’t going to hospitals, but to the vampires who lived in his territory.
Monkey offered drinks while Prez suggested we take a seat. I quickly picked up the bag, which was fucking heavy, and placed it behind the bar.
“What’s in there?” Monkey asked.
Shit. What should I say?
“Ah, Deacon deals in weapons. Soren wanted to gift me some, so he got Deacon to bring them.”
“Aww, if only I could find a woman who’d buy me weapons as gifts.”
Snorting, I cocked a brow. “You’d have to stop fuckin’ everythin’ that moved and stick to just one first.”
He chuckled. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Shaking my head, I grinned. “That’s what I’d thought you’d say.”
Monkey’s attention went over to the door, and his brows dipped. He put the glass down as he called, “Pops, what’re you doin’ here?”
I glanced over to see a buff older guy wearing a suit make his way over to us. When he stopped on the other side, he said, “I was in the back going over some paperwork and wanted to talk to Razor about it.”
Monkey groaned. “Pops, where’s your damn phone?”
He patted his pockets before he shrugged. “Somewhere?”
Leaning against the bar, I asked, “Brother, you wanna introduce?”
Monkey chuckled. “Sorry, I forgot you were occupied when Pop started.” He tipped his chin toward the older guy—by older, he was probably only in his early fifties.
“Spade, this is my father, Landon. He’s just moved back to town, and when I was bitchin’ about the bookwork, he offered to come in and help. He’s an accountant.”
I tipped my chin up at Landon. “Good to meet you.”
He brushed back some of his dark blond hair with graying sides and smiled. “You too.” He put his attention back on his son. “Can I speak with Razor?” He glanced over at the table and back again.
Monkey shook his head. “That can wait until tomorrow. If you’d seen the text that went out, it said that everyone was to stay away from the compound for a few hours while we had guests.”
Before Landon could reply, there was a boom out front.
As I spun toward the table, Deacon and Nox stood, swiftly picked up their mates, and placed them behind their bodies. Razor looked at his phone, no doubt at the cameras feeds, as Riker watched over his arm.
“Non-friendly vampires,” Riker shouted.
“What the fuck?” Monkey muttered.
Coms stood and gaped as he looked around at everyone before he pointed at Deacon and Nox. “Why do they look calm? We’re being attacked, and our brothers aren’t fuckin’ here to help.”
“Coms, relax,” Razor demanded.
Deacon snarled, “What’s the goddamn meaning of this?”
Rio pressed a hand to his back and whispered something.
I grabbed the bag and yanked it up to put it in the bar. Unzipping it, I saw a mountain of weapons.
Riker gasped and stole Razor’s phone. His wide gaze locked onto me. “Patrick,” he called.
I jolted in shock. “Soren’s ex?”
“Is there somewhere safe for our mates?” Nox asked.
Razor nodded and explained where, while Deacon said to me, “Get the weapons ready if you’re staying.”
Nox turned back after kissing Kieran. “He should go with—”
“No,” I clipped. “I ain’t fuckin’ leavin’. This prick is here because of me or Soren. So, I’ll be the one to deal with it.”
“Monkey, Coms, take Rio and Kieran. Guard them,” Razor ordered.
Monkey reached into the bag and pulled two guns free. “No offense, but I have a feelin’ we’ll need every man on board.” He met his pop’s wide stare. “Go with Rio and Kieran. Take them to the bomb shelter. The code is 4578. Don’t come out until one of us gets you.”
“But—”
“Pops, we got this. It’ll be okay.”
Landon’s jaw clenched, but then he bolted across the room. Kieran said something to him, which Landon nodded at. After Deacon had kissed Rio, Landon grabbed their hands and led them out the door through the kitchen.
Coms rushed over and took his own weapons while I slid two guns into the back of my waistband and picked out a third.
The others approached our huddle, but it was Deacon who said, “They’re loaded with silver bullets. They’ll kill a vampire if you shoot heart or head. If you can wound them to keep them away from you, then my brothers and I will deal with them.”
“Where’re your weapons?” Monkey asked.
Deacon grinned, all teeth and bad intentions. “Nox has his guns, but Riker and I have ourselves.”
Coms snorted. “Bare hands against vampires? That’s if they’re actually fuckin’ vampires. Like… what the goddamn hell? Is everyone on a trip or somethin’?”
“It’s real,” Razor stated. “Do as Deacon said and try not to panic.”
“Panic?” Monkey asked in a tone laced with humor. “Why would we panic?”
Riker let out a maniacal cackle as he started stripping.