Blood Brothers (Rocky Mountain Shifters) (8 page)

“Then hire Santo and reduce your stress load. Jesus Christ, I heard what happened today. And I know it wasn’t some pep talk you gave the manager to get him to make things right with the inventory. I was there when Shawn talked with Quinn. Something about the East side and the warehouses. There’s talk of a crime wave coming. One day, those men you
cajole
aren’t going to do what you say. They’ll come for vengeance because you’re standing in their way.”

Tristen bunched his muscular shoulders. “Well, not today. Settled the missing inventory and even had that douchebag pay cash to remedy the missing stock. Overall, I think it went pretty damn well.”

“I’m not arguing the result was in the black for accounting. But what about the cost to you? That manager paid you, but do you really think it’s all fine and dandy for that twerp now? Or the people he shorted on the other end?” Fin shook his head, meeting Tristen’s hard stare.

Tristen hated to have to think about the
what-ifs
of how he handled company theft. Fin had a point but fuck, this was his job, his responsibility. Shawn hired him because it was Tristen’s beta nature to enforce. Crap, he’d be of no use if he worried about stepping on toes. Thieves were thieves. He employed methods that got results and moved on to the next issue. Excluding when Fin got something stuck up his craw.

“I made a decision. There’s no going back. Is this supposed to make my decision less stressful? ’Cause damn it, it’s not. I’d rather go back to less conversation if you’re going to chew my ass about how I handle business decisions. For the record, Shawn was pleased. I answer to him. Only him. Got it?”

“Loud. And. Clear.” Fin tensed and pulled away from him. He sat next to Tristen with an air of impenetrability. The ultimate cold shoulder.

Tristen sighed as his chest constricted. Fin didn’t need a neon sign announcing it was about to end up a cold and quiet evening.
Well fine
. He was the one who’d brought a friend here, a man who seemed all too happy to take care of his needs. It was Fin’s idea and if he wanted to continue to play games, maybe a taste of his own medicine would serve him well. How’d he like it if he’d brought home a hot friend to help negotiate their problems? Shit, that would fall like a ton a bricks.
Nama-fucking-ste
is what he’d get for that crap-ass bargain.

“Don’t start with the sewing up of your incredible lips just yet. Can’t we just have a relaxing dinner? This was your idea. If you’re going to give me the cold shoulder, I’ll just push off now, and let you and your friend enjoy the rest of the evening. My night is hardly over.”

The muscles worked along Fin’s throat. Slowly, he turned toward Tristen and for a second, Tristen’s heart squeezed. Fin’s rugged good looks hit home. Tristen steadied his thoughts from the need to shake Fin, devour his lips, possess this man’s mouth in order to squash his lover’s concerns. He patiently waited for Fin to speak.

“Naw. Stay. Santo needs to know if you’re interested in him professionally. Maybe it’s a bad idea letting him help us out in the bedroom if he’s going to end up working for Shawn.”

“Isn’t that what we do?”

“Yeah, but it seems different. Somehow. Look, if you don’t think he’s right for the job, it’s fine. Just tell him. Or we don’t have to do anything with him. He needs work. Just like that manager who got fired.” Fin leaned over, enough to press his shoulder against Tristen’s.

“Truthfully, I think he’d do fine. I don’t know what Shawn will say about his…background. He’d be the first one. Don’t stare at me. You know what I’m trying to say.”

“That’s not exactly true. There are several of his kind, as you classify him, who work for Shawn. Take a look around—closely. All the hourly workers aren’t exactly humans.”

The door opened and they stopped talking. Santo stood watching them from the doorway for a beat. Whatever he surmised obviously pleased him. The corners of his mouth turned upward. He cocked his head, came into the room, and closed the door.

Shit, his dick wanted to stand up and salute. Tristen lowered his eyes. Jesus, this guy was unbelievable. The crotch of Santo’s jeans made Tristen’s mouth almost water. The vampire sported a full hard-on and wasn’t doing anything to hide his state.

The wolf inside him inhaled. For a fake, Santo was able to manifest a cloud of pheromones that were playing havoc with his beta senses. Blood surged to his dick. Pre-cum ran from his crown. No way was he feeling this alone. “You always play these types of games? Things could get dangerous if you were in some underground banger club, not to mention here at the Den.”

“This is just for you to prove a point as to my skill level with shifters.” Santo winked. His dark hair and the stubble on his jaw were even more unruly than before he’d left. He sat down, waiting.

“Whatever you’ve learned to do is some powerful shit. Intoxicating.” The shifter Santo had emulated was beta for sure, the only type that Tristen found captivating. But it wasn’t just Fin who Santo had used to as a model to morph—there was something else…another essence. Dark decadence and perhaps that what had him reeling. Tristen distinctly dissected the scents.

Santo’s dark eyes flashed. “Your wolf senses do you proud, Tristen. Yes. A rare species of
hexenwolf
.”

Fin shifted in his seat. “He’s capable of shifting into other creatures as well.”

“Nothing mysterious with the right background.” Santo’s allure didn’t diminish even after the truth.

Tristen leaned forward, lifting the golden medallion that hung on an intricate chain around Santo’s neck. “Or the right sort of talisman or charm.” Being in Sherry’s magical household solved that mystery.

“Unlike you two?” Santo sliced the air with his finger. “Pure. Elite.”

“Exactly.” He and Fin were purebred wolf shifters, capable of shifting from thought or transforming when emotionally charged. They didn’t come across as hybrids like Santo, who wove a sharp tinge of seduction into his manner that, coupled with the scent he kept releasing, had Tristen by the balls. He had to find relief. Fuck eating. The only thing he could think about was fucking. Long and hard. Deep. He had to get with Fin and shit, Santo could watch or join in the fun. This was a drug being laced through his blood.

“Fin, you want to go home? I can’t take any more.” He squeezed his partner’s leg.

“What about dinner? We promised Santo.”

Santo shook his head. “Don’t worry. Actually, I went to speak with Sherry and told her I’d be leaving. Food usually isn’t of interest after this show. I should have warned you. But you were so demanding. Are you convinced now?”

“Fuck yes.”

“And the job?”

“I’ve got a few questions about your abilities. You realize that you’d be working here at the Den at times. A shifter sex club? Got any issues with that?”

“Why would I?” Santo’s black brows knitted.

“I only want to understand what I’m dealing with. What about spotting others like you? I think if you’re willing to come around with me from site to site and let me know who’s human, shifter, and not, then we’d have an easier time allocating resources. I suspect that some of our employees who come across as shifters and humans are like you. Capable of mirroring. Skin-walking. We’ve a special program for shifters that some beings may be taking advantage of, and it would help your future employer to know the truth.”

“So I’m to be some whistleblower?” Santo’s red glowing eyes narrowed, a muscle in his cheek flaring. The color left his face, and his hair thinned, his skin smoothed—the vampire returned.

“Do you have an allegiance to anyone in our employ besides Sherry?” Tristen laid his head back against the edge of the booth. “She’s one of you, isn’t she?”

“I won’t give you information about Sherry. You’re right to think she’s of my family. But her nature? If you want to know something about her, go to the source. But anyone else is fair game.”

Tristen inhaled. That made sense. He already found her capabilities were outside the range of shifter, that she was different from any woman he’d met. Her seduction was effortless just as Santo’s. Sinfully seductive, bordering on addictive. They were utterly captivating and from the brief moments he’d spent in either of their company, they could be extremely dangerous if they chose. “Why don’t you simply take what you want? It’s obvious you could easily mentally overpower shifters or humans. Clearly there’s more like you. Why not side up with a female and go after the top dog?”

Santo stretched his arm across the back of the booth. “For the same reasons you don’t steal when you could. What makes one animal completely loyal and another a scavenger? One man tolerant, and another man brutal? One vampire a bloodsucker, and another content with other forms of sustenance?”

“Karma.” Fin sat forward. “To be free.”

“Precisely. A driving force after the war. I want to find peace and settle down. I’ve been at this for years, my friends. Simply put, I’m weary.”

“Say no more,” Fin said. “Do you have any other concerns?”

Tristen exhaled. “Yes. But I’m willing to table them. This isn’t my decision. You understand you’re on your own during an interview with Shawn. I can give him your info and a recommendation what I think at this moment. What we do outside here, is our personal affair. Unrelated to employment.”

Santo smiled. “I understand.”

“Let’s go.” Fin exhaled. “Dude, seriously, I’m glad I didn’t have to go through this type of wringer when I was looking for a job with Shawn.”

All three left the Den, heading down the alleyway and out to the large, dark sedan that Fin drove. It was Shawn’s car, and Fin had possession of it. Tonight, Shawn had taken to driving himself. Tristen texted him, signing out for the night; a first that he’d taken off before nine. Shit, Fin was right. He needed to lighten up.

He inhaled, giving in to the idea of letting loose. Shit, it had been a long time since he’d engaged in a threesome. The last time it had been wild females and he’d been the only dick in the room. His whole body shuddered, glancing at the two shifters in his company. He loved Fin, but the idea of watching Santo slamming into his lover had his cock twitching wildly. Maybe this time he could do the things that Fin desired. Tristen flexed his arms, envisioning Fin’s naked body under him.

Santo whistled a low, enigmatic tune. He suddenly stopped, teeth and caps flashing in the darkened space. “How many partners are you interested in for tonight? I can call a friend, or two.”

“Fuck, you’ve got me thinking crazy thoughts. Fin, this is your party.”

Fin bit his lip. “You’re not alone in being pushed to the brink. I’m not interested in more than you two. Tris, I think you know what I want.”

He stared at Fin, then glanced over to Santo. “I suspect Santo already knows what your tastes are.”

Fin nodded. “We discussed briefly.”

“I see.” Tristen’s heart rate shot up. It would take another forty-five minutes to make it back, and he didn’t know if he had the ability to keep from jerking-off on the ride. Fin clicked the key fob, unlocking the car doors.

Santo got into the backseat. Tristen turned and pulled Fin into an abrupt bear hug. “Give me some tongue.”

“Why?”

“Still playing hard to get? Fin, this is a huge step we’re taking. For you. Jesus, I’ve never fucked a vampire. You?”

“Nope. A first.” Fin spread his hands over Tristen’s shoulders. “I get this is opening a door in our lives.”

“I want you, Fin. Man, you push me to the limit.” He nudged his cock against Fin’s erection. He sucked the skin along his lover’s neck, nipped his earlobe, returning to claim his mouth. He pumped his tongue into Fin’s hot mouth and didn’t stop until he kissed him back without reservation. Tristen gripped Fin’s hard-on. “That’s it, baby. Let’s see how this new experience works out for us. I want you bad, and if he can help us, fine.”

“He’s different. Right?” Fin swiped his fingers along the waistband of Tristen’s pants, touching and teasing the head of his cock, gazing at him quizzically. “I don’t know exactly what will take place. I want you in charge.”

Tristen threw his head back and nearly howled in laughter. “Yeah. I don’t see me relenting anytime soon. And I’d agree he’s a whole shade different. Multi-faceted I think is the politically correct terminology.” He swatted Fin’s ass and opened his car door. “Get us home, pronto.”

***

The three of them walked from the carport toward the porch. “This is beautiful up here,” Santo murmured. “So quiet, utterly spellbinding.”

“This is what we need after long hours. Soothing.” Fin’s somber response made Tristen feel vulnerable all of a sudden. More so under the boundless black sky, where the stars were shards of broken glass reflecting bits of moonlight. It was breathtaking. Silent. Tristen clenched his jaw. The idea of bringing Santo into their private world had the hairs over his body tingling. During the car ride, his thoughts had gone on a rampage of wild imaginings. Fin could very well find what he was looking for in Santo.

Now, up here. All alone. Not exactly the wisest move he’d carried out, considering the day’s events. Trust was not Tristen’s best interpersonal skill. He didn’t want Santo to think they were isolated. He appreciated the vampire’s puzzling character but what he had up his sleeve was also unfathomable.

His immediate trust circle included Fin, Shawn, and Quinn. Short list, no problems.

Now, Fin and he had brought this shifter impersonator here with them. He suddenly cursed himself for not running a preemptive investigation into Santo’s history. Walking side-by-side, he lacked a telepathic connection with the vampire to sort out his tangled instincts. His only barometer lay housed inside his pants. Oh hell. Nothing to do but go with the flow.

He unlocked the front door. “Don’t be mistaken. This isn’t a rustic log cabin. We’ve every modern convenience. Some of the other homes in the area can’t even use Wi-Fi between a laptop and a printer. We can track the movement of a field mouse.”

“I’d expect no less from what I’ve heard.”