Claws to the bone - Mated to her brother's best friend

My,my,my... Merrily Mated... or not

Killian

I spit out some phlegm and eye the window closest to me again. The party is about to start in half an hour. Pulling out the photo, I study the face of the girl I’m here to retrieve, then one of the men that took her and are currently leading this whole operation.

They call themselves ‘Red Lotus’ and have been supplying female shifters and humans alike to shady customers for years. And now they’re going to make me some money—dumb idea taking a senator’s daughter. The family is paying me a hefty sum to go get her back. Double if I can bring the guy in as well. And since I’m good at my job, it only took me two weeks to follow one of my leads to this location. The Carters will be hosting their annual ball tonight…but Mister Carter’s right-hand man has other plans for the evening. Plans that involve (according to the last head count) ten frightened young women and girls that the guy they call ‘Boy George’ has held on to for who knows how long.

I push some of my greasy black hair out of my face, only to let it fall right back in front of my eyes again. A woman passes me, and I nod, acting like I’m cutting one of the hedges. She just scrunches up her nose and moves on. Funny how these people will ignore you because you smell or your clothes are dirty. Just doesn’t look like there is much to get out of me… so why bother? I love using that as a disguise. Especially since having my father’s genes will forever be my branding. The giant neon sign around my neck basically stating my name and address.

Seriously, that man is proud when people talk about the ‘Artesian face’. That’s not a f**king compliment, you i***t! You’re a mobster trying to raise your sons to take over the family business! It’s not helpful if they all look like they’re related to you!

I clench my jaws. We do. There is no denying your birth when you look at your father every morning in the mirror… and that goes for all five of us.

Only one of the reasons I needed to be sure I wanted out. One reason why I cut them off cold. I haven't taken any money from them or gotten in touch in almost three years now. Have been making a living bounty hunting. Who would have thought that the skill set my father pounded into us as boys would be just as adequate for following and apprehending people like him?

Don’t get me wrong: My way of doing it still involves highly illegal sh**, but it is much better than cementing some poor guy’s feet to a pole and throwing him into the Gunpowder River.

So lost in my thoughts I didn’t realize that the first guests have started to arrive. I only look up when I hear the most beautiful sound ever. Someone is laughing. Light and airy and reminding me of church bells, wind chimes, and sunshine in a field. My head rears around and twists just enough. Getting closer to the side door I plan on using as an entry, just beneath the balcony, I can see through one of the big windows.

And I see her. My blood rushes in my ears, my mouth goes dry, and Maxim pounds his paws, meowing like a house cat.

“Mate.”, I whisper.

‘Mine.’ My panther purrs in my head and prances around. She’s breathtaking, even from the back. The most beautiful chestnut hair I have ever seen, her body toned, and that a** to die for…. But then she turns around. F**K me. HELL NO!! Our eyes meet briefly, and I rear back almost enough to knock over a vase. Of course, she didn't see me. That would have been impossible with the distance. But it sure felt like it. The goddess is truly cruel… or she just plans on laughing tonight.

Because choosing the one person I could never have as my mate is just that… plain cruel. I watch Jade Araújo weave through the crowd, laughing with her brothers and talking to a woman I'm not sure I recognize. Then again, she seems so familiar. I know I've seen her before.

But my focus is on her. My mate. She has always been a pretty girl but now…. I know that because I have been... around. For years, I watched Jade grow up, and never once has the thought of her as my mate crossed my mind. Not really, anyway. I can vividly imagine the painful ways in which her brothers would end me… and I’m not looking for that kind of trouble right now.

So I keep my head down. T-60 and I will be entering the basement. But I can't help but watch her. Her skin, with its slight olive tint, shimmering in the warm light. Golden highlights dancing in her hair. This has to be enough, though. I won’t subject anybody, especially not her, to the kind of life I live… the kind of man I am. I’m not one to sell myself short, but in her case, I’m sure: Jade deserves better. My eyes drag over her body, committing every inch of her face and the gorgeous shade of green of her eyes to memory. This will be enough.

When I see the ugly spinster take the stage, I twist the wire and remove the pat lock. For someone so paranoid about security, they’re really lax with it around here. One swift press to the neck, and both guards are incapacitated, the long corridor opening up to me. I reach for the paint can in my backpack and attack the small cameras. They chose models that are harder to spot… but maybe don’t leave a paper trail buying them that tells anyone with access to your ‘Lowe’s account what kind you bought. Someone might use that against you. I grin to myself.

I downloaded a basement map a few days before and know it by heart now. So I make my way to the bottom of the stairs. There is a smaller office to the right and two rooms for storage to the left.

Debating which way to turn, I suddenly hear someone take a sharp breath.

“What the—-

I whirl around, raise my knife, and stare at the three men who just appeared behind me. Damn, they’re stealthy… or maybe my thoughts were still on Jade. Yeah, I think that was it.

“Why are you MOFOs just standing there?” A very familiar voice hisses. “Aren’t you—-

But they cut themselves off, and I look up to see the King and two more of his sons come down the stairs.

I blow out an exasperated breath and stuff my knife into my belt. Looks like we’re doing this reunion thing now. Not going to share the bounty with them, though! So I need a plan to get rid of them before—

“Killian..? I-is that you?” Khai squints, his eyes looking at me.

“Yup.” And I cringe at the hoarse sound of my own voice. Happens if you spend two weeks not talking to another human.

The curious but cautious look on his face turns to stone.

“Killian… as in 'your friend' Killian?” One of the others… Jordan, gives me a once-over.

“That Artesian boy?” King Nael eyes me, his gaze darting from my black clothes to the ski mask I pushed back and my giant backpack.

“Yup.”

Better keep it short. Not like any of them want to talk to me. Especially not Khai. Not after what I said the last time we saw each other… right before I dropped off the grit.

“What are you doing here?”

His arms are crossed over his chest now, and while the rest of the conversation took place in a more hushed tone, his voice picked up now. The tall and only blond out of the five throws him a look that says: “Quiet.”

Should I tell them? Why are they here..? If they help, I might get my bounty faster… or not, because they’ll clumsily alert the guards to our whereabouts.

‘Great,’ Maxim huffs when five burly men in all black hurry down the stairs. Jordan takes out the first one, and two others throw themselves at the tall blonde… Greer, but Khai’s twin intervenes and throws one against the wall, his neck snapping. Damn, those scars on the left side of his face are new, though…

I jump into action, ramming my butterfly into the jugular of the guard coming at me, his massive body pushing me against a wall as he topples over. And because, for some reason, some i***t thought an area rug would be a good idea down here, I stumble. My back pressing harder into the wall—

Only it’s not a wall. With a curse, I stumble further backward and can only steady myself about five steps in. I push the dude off me and hear a small cry of pain.

The room is dimly lit, but when my eyes adjust to the light, I register bodies around me… at least 8 of them—huddled in the corners of the room, clinging to the shadows. The fight outside the revolving hidden door I just fell through is so quiet that I don’t even notice it stopped until Greer and his father poke their head into the room.

“Jesus Christ….” King Nael blows out a breath, and I see Greer rub his hand over his face. Luca and Khai are the next to look inside. Joined by Jordan a second later.

Everyone is quiet for a moment. Then Greer enters, his voice dropping an octave. He holds his hands by his head.

“Hey… my name is Greer and those… are my brothers and my father. We… are here to help you.” He smiles a smile that could thaw a glacier, even though there is no way he can look at every girl individually that quickly.

“Would it be OK if we turned on the light?” A low murmur goes through the room, and a second later, the bulb above our heads flashes. I squint my eyes and see the women do the same. Turning around, I let my gaze roam their faces. They all look frail and sick.

'The light in their eyes has gone out.' I push Maxim's comment off.

'Not why I do this. I'm not the knight in shining armor.', I tell myself and him. 'I'm here for the money.'

Then my eyes hit a blond head, the tips of her hair dyed purple. I have stared at her picture long enough to know it’s her. Carefully I make my way over to her and kneel down.

“What’s he doing?”

“Should we stop him?”

But I ignore their murmurs. “Kayla Vaughan?”

She looks up as soon as I utter her name. I give her a small smile. Her eyes are sunken in, her skin a little see-through, but she looks much better than most of the other girls. She’s the newest addition, that's why. Duh.

“Your Dad sent me to get you.” Tears well up in her eyes, and she lunges forward, winding her arms around my neck, almost knocking me off balance.

“Oh, my boys. Are you guys OK? We alerted our security and got them to stand at the basement entrances and close off the party. No one is getting in or out… Holy—-

I see Khai’s Mom standing with her hand over her mouth, taking in the scene before her. And then my eyes meet the one pair of clear green ones I swore I would keep away from just an hour ago.

Jade stares directly at me, her jaw slightly slacking.