ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (68 page)

“I like this one.”

Winnie nodded knowingly.  “I thought you might.  Ok, get your jacket.  We’re going into town.”

“What for?”

“Bride and matron of honor stuff.  If I’m going to recreate that cake by Saturday, I need to get the stuff to do it.”  Winnie tied her hair back in a ponytail.  “What flavor cake?” 

“What’s Dalton’s favorite flavor?  Do you know?”

“Yes.  Cake.  Trust me, he won’t care.” 

“Then I want vanilla cake.” 

“Done.” 

They left Winnie’s house, stopping in their tracks as a screaming chicken whizzed past them with Mika tight on its heels. 

“What in the hell are you doing?”  Winnie barked. 

Mika came to a screeching halt.  “You said you needed chicken for the menu!  I was going to show you that I can prepare the chicken!  My grandmother used to do it in the bath tub!”  Mika took off at a run again.  The chicken zig zagged around the yard, its speckled wing flapping every few seconds. 

Winnie marched towards Mika and grabbed her by the upper arm as she tried to dart past again.  Autumn giggled. 

“You’re not slaughtering one of the laying hens, Mika!” 

Mika looked at her blankly.

“That’s right.”  Winnie said dryly.  “I don’t kill the laying ones!”  She pointed to the chicken coop.  “The ones separated on the left side are for slaughter.” 

“Oh…sorry.”

“It’s fine.  Are you sure you know what to do?”

Mika nodded emphatically, her rainbow black braids shifting wildly.  “I chop off the head, dunk the body in a bucket of hot water, then pull all the feathers out.”

“Very good.  But I wasn’t planning on slaughtering them until Friday.” 

Tamara and Saeed had been watching the proceedings with interest.  Winnie turned to them. 

“Autumn and I need to go into town.  Can the two of you help her get the loose chicken corralled?  And if you don’t mind, can you let the horses out to pasture?” 

“Yes!”  Saeed bounced to his feet and held a hand out to Tamara.  Winnie noted how sullen she seemed.  Saeed barely let her out of his sight. 

“Hey, I tell you what…Saeed why don’t you do some things around here and I’ll take the girls into town with me.”  Winnie’s chin lifted slightly as Tamara’s eyes lit up.  She was bored, that was all. 

Saeed hesitated and whispered in Tamara’s ear. 

“‘Oh for goodness sake, Saeed, we’ll only be gone for a couple of hours.  I promise to bring her back.”

Winnie and the others watched as Saeed reluctantly let go of Tamara’s hand. 

“Why is he like that?”  Winnie asked as they pulled out of the yard. 

“What do you mean?”  Tamara’s voice was so rarely heard, that it shocked everyone to actually hear her speak. 

“Why is he so protective?”

“Part of it is the baby, but he feels guilty for what happened to me at Mike’s.” 

“Smothering you can’t fix it.”  Winnie said bluntly. 

“No…but it’s just his way.” 

“I see.” 

Autumn could feel Tamara’s body tensing.  Mika said nothing from the front seat.  Autumn smiled at Tamara. 

“I’m sure he loves you very much, and this is still a new arrangement for you guys.  He’ll loosen up.”

Tamara gave Autumn a tiny smile I return. 

Autumn caught Winnie’s eyes in the rearview mirror and raised one eyebrow.  Winnie shrugged her shoulders and said no more.

Daniel waited patiently for Becky to return from her shower.  She had slept until nearly noon, which had given him time to snack without her having to witness it.  He wondered if she would ask about the puncture wounds on her own wrists.  It was of little consequence if she did. 

When she emerged from the bathroom her wet hair hung limply to her shoulders and she regarded him with wary eyes.  That too was of little consequence. 

“Are you hungry?”  Daniel asked smoothly. 

“Yes.”  Becky sat on the edge of the bed, her slight frame engulfed in the plush white robe. 

Daniel smiled and picked up the receiver of the phone by his bedside.  He punched one number and spoke softly. 

“A tray will be brought up shortly.” 

“Where’s Teddy?”

“He’s still here.  I imagine he’s nursing a fairly large headache.” 

Becky seemed to accept it without further concern.  Her hazel eyes looked around the room.  “This is a nice place.”

“I’m glad you like it.  I’m hoping you will want to stay on awhile.” 

“With you?”

Daniel smiled.  Yes, she’s well under my spell.  How else could I abuse her in such a way, yet she still wants to stay with me? 

“Of course.”  He sat beside her on the bed’s edge.   

“What do you want from me?”

“The truth would be nice.”

“Truth?”  The tension had become thick. 

“I want to know about Leanne’s last visit to you. 

“‘I already told you...”

Daniel touched a cool finger to her lips.  “Ah, but I don’t believe you.”

Becky’s eyes enlarged slightly.  Her body trembled from his close proximity.  Unrelenting sexual desire rolled to the surface, but there was more; the animal instinct of fear.  A weaker animal recognizing a predator. 

“What are you?”  She whispered.

“You know what I am.”  He chuckled softly.  “You’re not that dumb.”  A long finger traced her jaw line. 

Becky slowly turned her wrist over; the puncture wounds, red and fresh, looked like tiny eyes in her flesh. 

Daniel kissed her neck softly.  “Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be young and beautiful again?” 

“Yes.” 

“Have you ever thought about what an eternal life would look like?” 

“No.”  Her breath hitched.  “My life is too shitty to think like that.” 

“Was shitty.”  He breathed near her ear.  “You are embarking on a new life now.”

Becky’s eyes darted to his face, then quickly looked away.  His features were too hard, too beautiful.  It was painful to look at him full on. 

“We…Teddy and I…we have to finish our job for Dionte.”

Daniel laughed loudly.  “Is that what you worry about?  A small man like Dionte?” 

Daniel touched the end of her nose and stood gracefully.  “Have no worries, Becky.  I’ve settled several matters with Dionte Jackson.  He won’t be a problem for you.” 

A knock sounded at the door and a different man than from the previous night entered upon Daniel’s command.  He didn’t look at Becky once.  He deposited the tray onto the table and left as silently as he had come. 

The aroma of food was heavy, and Becky felt her stomach constrict painfully.  She went to the tray and looked down hungrily at the bowl of thick soup and the arrangement of cold cuts and cheese.  Paper thin bread was spread out along one side.  A bottle of expensive water was beside the soup, and she was suddenly consumed with desperate thirst.  She broke the seal and drank half at one time. 

Daniel smiled wryly.  “I’ll have more brought up.” 

“What’s the soup?”

“Lobster bisque.”

“Lobster Bisque.”  She repeated in wonder.  She spooned a mouthful, knowing immediately there was no way it came from a can or freezer. 

“Enjoy your lunch.  I’ll return shortly.”

“Where you going?”  Becky asked nervously. 

“My dear, I have a hotel to run.  I’ll return as soon as I can.  Eat.  You’ll need your strength.”  He winked and Becky felt a shudder run down her back. 

When the door lock clicked she shuddered again. 

Daniel handed Bretton a long envelope.  “The keys to my black suburban are in there, and enough money for you to comfortably stay where I need you for a while.” 

“Where am I going?”

“Spotsylvania.  Dalton Brown’s pack shouldn’t be hard to find.  My sources tell me it’s in the far western portion of the county.  I also enclosed a name and phone number of someone in service to me should you need help quickly.” 

“Once I find them, what should I do?”

“Confuse them.  Watch them.  Make sure Autumn knows I’m nearby…at least make her think it.” 

Bretton nodded.  He wanted to stay safely with his master, but doing his bidding was an honor.  “What will you do with the girl’s mother and that disgusting man?”

“I’ll take care of it, like I told you, once they are no longer useful.” 

“He’s been screaming.” 

“Did you give him something….to calm his nerves?”  An amused smile turned Daniel’s lips upward. 

“I did.” 

“Good, then I’ll pay him a visit.” 

Daniel bid Bretton goodbye and took a key from his desk.  The numbers 666 were so cliché, but he loved it.  666 was a special suite reserved for his two strongest vampires, other than Tonya, but she was a special case.  The raven haired beauty Glenelle and her brunette lover Heather.  Daniel had amused himself with thoughts of them having once been sirens before his fatal kiss gifted them into his world.  They could screw a man to death simply because the addiction for any man was instant, or they could whisper twice in his ear and have him commit unthinkable crimes, even suicide; unquestioning, like a lemming.  His favorite tactic of theirs was the slow drive to madness.  They would nibble away at a person’s mind and flesh until he or she died a brutal emptied out death.  Yes, they were personal favorites of Daniel’s.  He had only bedded them once, and they had insisted on it being both of them.  He never did it again.  His own mind powers proved weak once they mounted him.

Daniel unlocked the door of the suite and stepped into the dark outer room.  Heavy drapes were pulled tight and only a razor thin sliver of sunlight light laid across the floor.  It stretched from the tiny part in the curtain like a sword blade along the black carpet.  A tiny hallway had a bathroom on the right and a closed door on the left.  He turned the knob slowly to the closed door and looked inside.  Glenelle and Heather were sprawled naked on the king sized bed, their slumber deep and breathless.  He closed the door and turned his attentions to the closed door at the end of the short hall.  He listened at the door before swinging it open.  A rustling sound, then the clank of metal proceeded a hoarse whisper. 

“Who’s there?” 

Daniel crossed his arms and smirked.  He could see Teddy’s bulky pasty body writhe slightly as he strained in the darkness to see if his mind was playing tricks on him.  His ugly body sprang sweat from every pore.  The rank smell of human odor hit Daniel in the face and turned his smirk into a grimace.  Humans could smell very bad, especially if they were sweating due to fear or anxiety. 

“Are you enjoying your stay?”  Daniel’s words moved across the room like liquid velvet.

Teddy’s body stilled and Daniel’s smirk returned as the man’s face crumbled.  Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.  “Please…please just let me go.  I…I promise…I won’t tell a soul what I saw here.” 

“Of course not.  Have you not enjoyed Glenelle and Heather?”

Teddy licked his swollen lips, a greedy lust filling his tear filled eyes. 

“And what of Becky?  Are you not concerned for her well-being?”

Teddy tried to spring forward but the cuffs and chains stopped his upward progress after only a foot.  He strained against them for only a moment before falling back onto the bed. 

“Fuck Becky!  If it wasn’t for her and her stupid family I wouldn’t be here!”  He was simultaneously crying and sneering.  It was an ugly sight that gave Daniel great pleasure.

‘That’s a horrible way to talk about your woman.”

“Yeah, well…she wasn’t exactly my woman.” 

Daniel snickered.  “You’re an evil sad man, Teddy.”

“If you say so.”  More tears, more sneering, but he as weakening. 

“Tell me what you know about Becky’s family.” 

“Nothing.  Just any other white trash from the mountains.  That’s all I know.”

Daniel drew closer to the bed.  Teddy sensed it, but couldn’t determine which direction it was coming from.  He thrashed his head from side to side trying to figure it out. 

“Were you aware that Becky is a witch?” 

Teddy stilled again, his eyes huge in the darkness.  “What?”

“A witch.  Just like her sister.”

“Was Autumn a…”

“Most likely, but the poor girl probably doesn’t realize it yet.” 

“Poor girl, my ass!” 

“I’ll come back when you’re feeling better.” 

“No!  Wait!  There was a brooch.” 

Daniel turned slightly.  “A brooch?” 

“Becky kept it in her jewelry box.  She said it was her mother’s.  I wanted to hock it once, but it kind of disappeared.” 

“Explain.”

“I had it in my pocket….then when I got to the pawn shop it was gone.  The thing was, Becky knew.  She had it in her hand when she told me to never touch it again.”