Danburn: The English Dragon ― Erotic Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance (11 page)

“He has to have a staff. Someone needs to leave the place to get supplies or some shit.” Collier said that he did, they lived there. “What the fuck is he doing there? Running a fucking city on his property? I’m telling you right now, when I get that place, and I will, things will be different.”

He’d never even seen the inside of the place, but knew that it would need updates. He had a feeling that it would have cold stone walls and floors in need of some thick warm carpet. English was old school and would have, in his opinion, left things the way they were in order to preserve the magic of the place. Or some shit like that. He also thought the place would be filled with old furniture. Well cared for, but still it would be older than his great grandmother. Bernie wanted new. Everything new and modern.

“Also, you’re not going to like this either, but there is no one on that police force that is going to play ball with you. And trust me, I looked hard. There isn’t a dishonest person on the payroll, not to mention there is nothing I can find on the mayor or anyone else that might have some influence to getting someone in your pocket.” Bernie said that wasn’t possible. “Not only is it possible, but I think anyone in this town would lay down and die for English should he ask them to.”

“What the hell does this guy do? Blow them every time he comes into town? Nobody is that nice, nor are they that clean. Dig deeper. There has to be something.” He looked at Collier when he didn’t move to do what he’d told him. “You have something else to add to this shit?”

“There is a rumor, a big one but just a rumor, that English is a dragon.” Bernie waited for the punch line, but when one was not forthcoming, he asked him if the person was on drugs. “Not that I’m aware of. But there have been some sightings here and there. And that man and his family have been around forever, I guess. Well before the town grew up around the castle. I’ve looked, and they’re right. The castle has been in the same hands since it was built. And this English is the ninth earl to have lived there.”

“You’re kidding me, right? You really expect me to believe that there is a dragon that lives around here and it’s not only a rumor? That no one, not even me, who has been here for nearly four months, have heard shit about it, nor have I seen it? And I’m pretty sure that I would have remembered seeing a dragon flying around.” Collier told him again it was just a rumor. “Don’t bring me shit like that again. I don’t have time for it.”

After Collier left, saying he had some errands to run, Bernie sat at his desk and tried to think what the hell he was going to do to end this shit. There was no one to keep him abreast of the cops in town. He had a neighbor that was less than friendly, and who had made no bones about wanting Bernie and his operations to be gone from here. He had a witness to a murder that he’d committed, and no one had come out to arrest him, yet. And a nosey cop that could show up at any time to have a “tour” of the work he did.

The deal that was going down tonight would net him millions of dollars. The cove just beyond his property—on English’s property, actually—was ideal for shipments going out and coming in. Bernie doubted that anyone had used the place in decades, yet it had been set up with the kind of dark secrecy that he needed.

In addition to the inlet that was under the property, an existing dock was available that had only needed some minor repairs, along with electricity that lit the cove up like a fucking mall on Christmas Eve. He’d already sent out one shipment this way, and had received a dozen or so others. Bernie thought that this place had been made with him in mind.

Standing up, he was making his way to the door when he remembered that Angel was gone. Thank goodness for that. He was going to have to explain to her mom that she’d not worked out, and how she’d taken off with some man. She’d believe it. The apple in that family didn’t fall far from the tree.

Getting in his cart, he made his way to the cove. He wanted it to be ready for tonight, and for nothing to go wrong with this shipment. The last time had been a sort of test run. Tonight was going to be big, and the man on the other end, the man receiving the shipment, promised more orders if this went well. Bernie wanted it to go very well. But as soon as he made it to the mouth of the cove, he knew something was wrong.

The dock was completely destroyed, and not only was there nothing left but splinters of wood, it had been cleaned up and neatly stacked along the walls of the cave like they were going to come back for it. The wiring that had hung down in long black snake-like strands had also been torn down, and it too was wrapped in a neat coil right next to the wood. Someone had not just come in and taken out his way of life, but they had made sure that he knew it wasn’t an accident. Standing there, his entire business fucked right now, he sat down to answer his phone when it went off.

“You there yet? I can tell that you’re standing on the rocks. But it’s not easy to pinpoint just where you are at the moment.” He asked the person what they were talking about. “The cove. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? The way that I’ve taken the liberty of cleaning up after you? I mean, when you take someone else’s land and use it for wrong, you have to expect some sort of consequences, don’t you?”

“Who the hell is this? English? I want to know, because as soon as I find you, I’m going to murder you. You fucking asshole. What the hell were you thinking?” The man, he knew it was a man now, was laughing at him. “Do you know what this is going to cost me?”

“I do, as a matter of fact. An entire shipment of drugs you’re making on that property not going out on time. A shame, that. Your buyer is not going to be happy with you about it. And when someone asks you about line running, you should probably know there is no such thing. He wanted to trip you up, and it worked like a charm.” Bernie looked around, wondering how the hell the man knew what he’d been doing down here. “I have no use for cameras, Bernie. I have other means of keeping an eye on you. And the well that you dropped those three men in, I’m going to make sure that someone finds that soon too. Oh, and you might want to ask Collier what he did with your niece. I’m pretty sure she’s going to turn up sooner than you think. The story he told you is a lie. He snapped her neck the moment you left him to take care of her.”

“What are you talking about? My niece ran off with some man.” The laughter again. It was sending shivers down his spine, it was so cold and harsh. “Who is this?”

“Your niece didn’t run off with anyone, now did she? It’s not very sporting of you to lie to me when I know the truth. Ask Collier what he did with her body. I’m sure that once you hear his side of the story, you’re going to wish you hadn’t. It’s a terrible one, to say the least. And I have decided that I will tell you who this is. Your neighbor, though I’m pretty sure you’ve guessed that by now.” Bernie stood up and moved out of the cave. He’d known that it belonged to English, but how did he find out that Bernie had used it? “If I were you, Bernie, I’d pack up my little operation and leave town before I have to make you. And when I say I’ll make you, I want you to know that no one, not even men with the best kind of equipment, will ever find your body when I’m done with you.”

The line went dead, but Bernie was no less terrified of the sounds that came from his phone. Several things were running through his mind. First of which, how had English gotten his phone number? The next few items were, what did he mean about his niece, who was going to find her body, and how had he found out about the pit of dead workers?

Chapter
10

Danburn looked at Noah when he laughed. The two of them had been plotting all day, and now that it was finished, he felt sort of let down. The phone call to Bernie had worked well, and now that he’d done it, he needed to do more. But something was tickling Noah and he wanted to be a part of it. Asking him had given him nothing, the man was laughing that hard.

“I’m having so much fun now.” Danburn smiled. It was infectious, his laughter. “First the lady of the house, and now this. When you were telling me about how you’d taken care of the inlet, I had all sorts of visions in mind, but to have had your dragon go there and simply step on things was wonderful. What would he have done, you suppose, should he have caught him there?”

“I’m sure that this might have ended then, and not been stretched out like it is now. And besides, I’m pretty sure that now that he’s pissed, he’s going to make some major mistakes that we can capitalize on.” Noah nodded. “Have you any word from Louisa?”

“Daily. And it’s the same thing over and over. When are we coming to get her? The money that Kendrick promised is not here. There is no bed. When can she expect that to be taken care of? Then the castle again. I think, as I was saying to Kendrick, that Louisa likes to say that word. Castle, castle, castle.”

“Kendrick wants to see him, my beast.” That shut Noah up, and he looked at him with his mouth opened. “I have tried to tell her that he is not like the dragons that are in story books, or those that are in those romance novels. But she insists and I cannot turn her down.”

“Kendrick will be terrified of you.” Danburn nodded. He knew what he looked like as his beast. It was why he called him that. He was large, scaled, and had claws that could tear into stone without problems. “You cannot let her see you, sir. If you do, she would be scarred for life.”

“I have an idea that she would be frightened, but I think you might be exaggerating it a little.” Noah said that he didn’t think so. “Well, it’s a moot point now. She has asked and I’ve told her yes. We’re going down to the lake this evening, and I will show her there.”

“The lake? Where you swim? What if she tells someone that is what you do?” Danburn started to tell him she’d never do that, but he answered his own statement. “Nay, she would never turn you in. She is in love with you. And you her.”

“She said she doesn’t love me.” Noah didn’t bother telling Danburn that he knew he was in love with Kendrick. He’d been telling him that for days. But Noah just waved him off. “I have asked her, Noah. She said that she likes me well enough, but she doesn’t love me.”

“Because she’s had no idea what it is to love someone. Or to be loved.” Danburn watched as his friend got up to walk around the room. “She has an appointment with her sister tomorrow. I have asked to go with her, but she said that she has to do this on her own. I don’t know that I’d want to be in Louisa’s shoes at this moment. I do think that my lady plans to tear her a new butt. But she said she’d be home in plenty of time to get dressed and ready for the event. I think she’s more nervous about that than you are.”

Danburn had no doubt that Kendrick had it in her, but he still didn’t want her alone right now. Threatening Bernie over the phone was one thing, but he might take matters into his own hands and hurt those that he loved. His mother could take care of herself, he knew this, but Kendrick was only human. Even as his mate, she would still be hurt.

Danburn was ready to order Noah to be with Kendrick when his door opened, and there stood Kendrick with his mom. They’d been in town earlier today, getting last minute things for the honorary dinner, and were to meet him for lunch with Noah. He stood up as his mom started telling him that it was all right. It had been handled.

“Kendrick? What is it, love?” Instead of answering him, she sat down on the chair across from his desk and stared. He was worried and looked at his mom, who looked concerned too. “What’s happened?”

“Her sister was in town today, and they had a…I would call it a meeting of the minds. It really is too bad that you missed it. It was quite entertaining to say the least.” He asked her what had happened. “I believe that Louisa is well aware of her sister being finished with her. She might not heed it, but she does know that Kendrick is done with her.”

“She tried to steal my purse. And Elissa’s.” They all turned to look at Kendrick when she finally spoke. “I guess stealing isn’t really how she saw it. She said that she wanted my wallet and the cards in it, and took it. I have no idea why she thought that I’d just turn it over to her, but she really was upset with me when I called security on her.”

“Did she hurt you?” Kendrick looked at him and smiled. It was sad to say the least, but she did look like she was with him and not back at whatever had happened today. “What did you say to her?”

“I told her we were done. And that when she gets out of jail, if she does, then the locks would be changed on the apartment and that the money was gone. I’m well aware of the fact that she spent this month’s money in one day, but she won’t be getting any more. I…I hope you don’t mind, but I went ahead and changed the locks, and told the bank to stop payment on the account.”

“Yes. Whatever you need to do.” Danburn glanced at his mom when she laughed. “Thank you for helping her.”

“I didn’t do anything. She did this all on her own. The only thing she asked me for was the name of the bank. The rest of it she did like she knew just what had to be done. It was a sight to see, her getting all bossy like. I loved every minute of it.”

Kendrick asked him if he thought she was incapable of taking care of things.

“No. I just wondered who I was going to have to kiss for helping you. Where is she now?” Kendrick told him she’d been taken to jail. “Good. Why don’t you tell me what happened? That way I can act like your knight in shining armor when someone asks me about it.”

“You goof.” He smiled when she did. “Your mom and I were looking at a dress that had only just arrived at the shop. I fell in love with it, and we were just talking about me trying it on. As I took it to the dressing room, the door opened and there was Louisa. She told me that she wanted me to give her money. That she…that as her sister, I didn’t want to see her without.”

“I had wandered away to find shoes for the dress when she entered the dressing room, or she would never have gotten that far.” Danburn nodded at his mom when she picked up the story. “But when I returned, I could hear them talking. Well, Kendrick was talking, Louisa was shouting.”

“She told me how I’d tricked her into keeping away from me. That I was treating her badly by not talking to her when she wanted to ask me something. I asked her what she wanted that didn’t have to do with me forking over something that I had. You should have seen the look on her face. It was like she had no idea what I was talking about.” Danburn would just bet that Louisa hated that Kendrick was telling her no more and more. “I told her that she had signed a contract with you and me, and that if she didn’t uphold her part of the bargain, like getting a job and making a living for herself, she’d be out on her ass. Then she slapped me.”

“She hit you?” Danburn might have laughed at the indignant sound of Noah’s voice, but the man continued before he could tell him that he’d take care of Louisa himself. “Why, the nerve of that woman, hitting you like you were nothing. I should like to find her and tell her a thing or two about royalty and how they are to be treated.”

“I hit her back, Noah. But I thank you.” Kendrick looked at Danburn and winked as she told him the rest. “She kept going on and on about how we were sisters and that I should want her to have nicer things than me. That I should be living in the apartment and her living in the castle with you. And I’m pretty sure she thought she should be in your bed too. Then she told me that Mom said to her that I was undeserving of the life I had after I’d been injured. That I should have given them more when I had it so good. Injured? Like she didn’t try to kill me? And when I asked Louisa about that, she said that it wasn’t Mom’s fault that I was shot, it was mine for being a selfish person and ungrateful to them. For not being happy that it was me and not Louisa that had been shot.”

“She believes that you should have taken the bullet willingly because she’s your sister, and that’s what sisters want for each other?” Kendrick told him that was nearly what she’d said, word for word. “Mother fuck, she’s a fruit ball.”

“Danburn.” He looked up at his mom and asked her what she’d call her. “I mean the
mother fuck
part, not the fruit ball part. But I must agree, she is off her noodle a bit. Has she had any kind of testing done, Kendrick?”

“Yes. A few years ago she was tested to figure out if she could be accountable for her own actions. I had refused to pay for a car that she totaled because she wanted to see what it was like to drive really fast. I explained to the judge what I’d been going through for the past ten years, and he had her evaluated.” Danburn asked her what they’d figured out. “That while she’s very selfish and materialistic, there is nothing wrong with her mentally. She has a very high IQ that she doesn’t use until she wants to manipulate someone, and she can do that hands down.”

“I’ll say.” Danburn looked at Noah when he spoke. “I have heard from the men who are watching her that she has no less than five times gotten free pizzas delivered to her, and convinced the mailman to slip her things under the door rather than make her go down to the mailbox on the first floor to get it.”

“That sounds like her.” Danburn sat down in front of Kendrick and took her hands into his. They were cold but as he held them, the warmer they got. “She told me that I had to help her, and that she still hadn’t heard when we were going to come and get her to move into the castle. Then she reached over and took my purse and started going through it like I had not just told her no. She had the nerve to tell me she was disappointed in me, that I only had two hundred dollars on me, and stuck it in her pocket before taking Elissa’s bag too.”

“I was so shocked that I could only stand there and stare at her as she dumped the contents of my bag on the floor. The nerve of her. And when she figured out that I had no cash on me whatsoever, she told me I’d have to start carrying some from now on, it was my duty as Kendrick’s friend.” His mom laughed. “I’m pretty sure that the officer that arrested her is getting an earful about now.”

“Why is that?” Kendrick laughed when his mom did. “Oh, this is going to be good. What did you do to her?”

“We didn’t do anything to her or him. Tempting, but no, nothing. But Louisa did tell the officer that he was to call you so that you could come and get her. Fetch her, is what I believe she said. That as you are the lover to her sister, it was the only right thing he could do.” His mom laughed again as she finished. “Then she went on to tell him to explain to you that you were to bring her more money, that she wanted pretty things like her sister. That she also wanted to be staying at the castle with you, because the apartment that she had wasn’t fit for her any longer.”

Danburn wasn’t sure what he could do with this woman to get her out of their life. She was a nuisance, yes, but she was also Kendrick’s sister. He figured that he’d go and talk to her, one more time. She had to understand what she was doing to her sister. Or maybe not. Either way, he wasn’t going to leave until she had it firmly in her head that there was nothing more coming from either of them.

~~~

Louisa had wanted to go out and find her sister, but the officer that had put her in here told her that she wasn’t going to be able to leave until he said so. And even telling him that her sister was going to be upset with him didn’t stop him from ignoring her. Louisa knew that as soon as Kendrick found out where she was, she was going to be right here to get her out.

And they had taken her money…all of it, and more than likely would not be giving it back to her. Kendrick wasn’t going to be happy about that either. As soon as Louisa got to live in the castle, things were going to be looking up for her.

That was completely unnecessary of him to do that, she thought. It was hers after all. Kendrick had given it to her. Well, not given it to her, but she had made sure that she had it. And that other woman with her, what was her deal? Why had she been so upset when Louisa had wanted her to carry money as well? What did they think was going to happen to her if she didn’t have money? There were things that only worked with money.

As for the apartment, Louisa wasn’t worried about that either. As soon as Kendrick came down here and got her out of this mess, she was going to the castle with her. It was just stupid for them to be paying for that place and the castle, when they could just give her the rent money they were paying plus the money that had been promised her, and she’d be happy. And with all the things in the castle that she knew were going to be expensive and lovely, Louisa knew that she’d be living in style.

Kendrick was just being mean to make her see some point. Her sister was forever trying to make her see things her way. Louisa had news for her, no one saw things the way Kendrick did. She was going to have to just give up on that. Louisa liked things just the way she wanted them, and it was Kendrick’s responsibility to make sure that she had them.

When she heard someone coming down the hall, she stood up. Louisa wanted them to bring her a nicer bed and a blanket that wasn’t itchy. There had to be something nicer for her somewhere. She was going to live in a castle and they should want her to have prettier things. And if they didn’t have it here, they would have to call Kendrick and have her get it for her. But when that man, Danburn, stood in front of the room she was in, Louisa backed away from him.