MinetoChase Read online

  Chase gripped him by his throat. “I never forget a threat.” He growled. “You’re dead if you and any of your friends attempt to go after my mate.”

  “Is the lad being a problem?”

  The deep voice with the Iris brogue came from behind him. “No, Blaron.” It annoyed Chase that his friend could move so silently that he hadn’t heard his approach but the noise in the club had help mask his approach. “Just making friendly conversation with one of the customers.”

  “Ah.” The big, kilt-wearing vamp stepped closer, pausing next to him. “Marcus, a bonny lass is at your table and you’re bothering my friend? Shame on you. That’s the thing I find most wrong with the younger generations. Stupidity and rudeness run rampant.”

  Chase squeezed enough to prevent the vamp within his grip from responding. It would have crushed a human’s throat but the bloodsucker just winced in pain.

  “I resent that. I’m younger but I have manners. His head is still on his shoulders. I know the staff hates to clean blood off the floors and it would spook the guests who aren’t aware of what he is.”

  “True.” Blaron grinned, fingering the long blond braid that fell over his shoulder. “I take it this is about the lass you took as a mate?” He glanced at him. “I never forget a scent. I’ve smelled her before on you.”

  “Let’s discuss this in a more private setting.” He didn’t want his friend to give anyone hints on the identity of Jasmine. She had family and friends that his enemies could target.

  “Sure.” The older vamp’s humor disappeared as he circled around Marcus to stand at his back. He leaned in to put his lips near his ear. “You’re in my house and that is my friend. Am I clear, young’un?” One hand clamped on the vampire’s shoulder. “Should I allow him to rip off your head to save me the trouble?”

  Marcus whimpered, panic widening his eyes.

  “That’s what I thought.” Blaron stepped back. “The staff hates cleaning up piss too. Drop him before he wets his pants.”

  Chase grudgingly released Marcus. The frightened vamp would have returned to his table but Blaron halted him with a chilling glare. “Anyone who threatens or goes after someone under my protection won’t see the following night. Am I clear?”

  “Yes.” The voice came out raspy but Marcus could talk.

  “That includes mates. His, specifically, and any of her kin. Are you hearing me?”

  Marcus gave a sharp nod.

  “And don’t be thinking you can have someone else do your bidding. Anyone so much as breathes on them and I’m blaming you.”

  Marcus nodded again.

  “Now go sit your arse down and be nice to that bonny redhead waiting for you. She’s a looker and I want her to return here often. It’s good for business.” Blaron stepped to the side. He glanced at Chase and jerked his head in the direction of the offices.

  Part of Chase was relieved. His friend had just announced to the entire club that his protection extended to Jasmine. Every vamp in the place would have noted the exchange. He followed Blaron to the side doors, down a set of stairs and beyond the noise of the club once he sealed them inside the office.

  Lethal sat behind a desk and peered up at him with lively blue eyes. “Interesting.” His nostrils flared. “The real estate agent?”

  Alarm shot though Chase and a snarl burst from his mouth. “Were you having me followed? We are supposed to have trust.”

  The tall vampire rose to his feet, his leather pants rubbing against the chair. “Easy.”

  “How do you know about my Jasmine?”

  “I can smell her.”

  “How do you know what she does for a living?” Suspicion grew.

  Dark eyebrows rose and a smirk twisted the male’s lips. “I recommended her to you, remember? I’ve used her a few times.”

  Chase reacted, leaping over the desk and shoved the big bastard into a wall to pin him there with the claws that shot out from his fingertips. “You touched my mate?” The urge to kill his friend was so strong he barely resisted. “Fed from her?”

  Blue eyes widened. “Hell no! The lass helped me buy a few homes. I never tossed her skirts up and bedded her. Nor did I bleed her.”

  “She didn’t mention me to you.”

  “She wouldn’t.” Lethal cleared his throat and frowned. “I just blurred her memory of my name and what she helped me acquire. I even paid the lass. You know I don’t like anyone knowing where I buy property. They were my safe houses.”

  Blaron cleared his throat. “Gentlemen? Are we going to fight? Allow me to move the computers at least. It’s payroll day and nothing is worse than snarling employees bent out of shape.”

  Chase withdrew his claws and stepped back. “We’re good.”

  Lethal grinned. “She’s a bonny lass who will make you a wonderful mate. You hid her scent well. I had no idea you were even dating anyone.”

  He hesitated, glancing at them both. “It was spur of the moment. You know that rogue you asked me to hunt? He’s dead but she was one of his victims.”

  A growl sprang from Lethal. “Is she well?”

  “I healed her. She will be fine.” Chase rounded the desk. “She was the only one who survived. We need to keep a closer eye on missing persons reports.”

  “Agreed.” Blaron fingered the sword attached to his belt. “We’ll dispatch those damn rogues from our city. We don’t need any more problems.”

  “You’re going to hate to hear this then.” Chase sat in a chair. “My pack isn’t going to take it well that I mated.”

  His friends took seats too. “What makes you believe that?”

  He held Lethal’s curious gaze. “My lead enforcer backed down when I gave him the opportunity to challenge me outside but he didn’t want to. He’s not happy my mate isn’t a member of the pack and that means I can’t trust him as far as I can throw him. It will lead to strife in the ranks and they’ll eventually come after me once some of their anger overtakes their fear.”

  “Aye,” Blaron mused. “They will. It would have bonded you to them if your mate happened to be a werewolf from the pack. They’ve been looking for a reason to spill your blood since you arrived. So have most of our regular customers. Your bloodlines are an issue. You’re of both worlds but they see how different you are.”

  “I’m giving my notice.”

  Lethal reached up to shove his long black hair over his shoulder. “No. We refuse to accept it. You’re our head of security and you’ll stay in that position.”

  “We’re friends.” Blaron smiled. “You can’t leave us in the lurch. We trust you.”

  “It’s going to make your club a target since I’m too smart to lead them to my den.”

  “Is that where you’re hiding the bonny lass?” The dark-haired vamp grinned. “With your sister—the one you refuse to allow us to meet?”

  “They are both safer far from here.” Chase sighed. “I don’t want my trouble coming to your door.”

  “We love trouble.” Blaron winked. “It gets too boring around here otherwise. We’re friends ‘til the end but I’m not preparing to die.” He glanced at the other vampire. “Tell him we have his back.”

  “You just did.” Lethal chuckled. “It goes double with me.”

  Chase studied them. “You don’t owe me for saving your asses when you decided to visit Alaska. You didn’t know about the wars between wolves and vampires. It was before you came to America. You’re used to the city packs who depend on you for steady work. My clan has a long memory and they hated you both on sight. They shouldn’t have blamed you for a history you had no part in.”

  “Your people decided to behead us yet you got us out of there.” Blaron leaned back in his chair. “You were the first mixed breed we’d ever met. We’re friends and we stand together when trouble comes.” He patted his trusted sword again. “I say we lay a trap and wait to see who comes.”

  Chase didn’t like the idea. “It would be easier if I just didn’t work for you anymore.”

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