Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)

Landon

“Shit,” Landon swore, quickly running into the bedroom to wake up Violet only to find her gone.

“Violet,” he called out and as he didn’t receive any response, he yelled out louder, “Violet?”

There was no distress over the mindlink. His mind raced to the worst case scenario – abduction with an incapacitating agent. His heart fluttered with worry as he followed her sweet scent throughout the house. It lingered in the kitchen and became stronger the closer he got to the spare bedrooms. He abruptly opened the door and scanned the bedroom for possible threats. His eyes focused on the opened patio door where Violet was enjoying the view of the beach with a cold beer in hand.

Oh, how he loved the sight. Landon ached to join her and he did just that. He tenderly kissed her nape as his arms surrounded her, pressing his front to her back. He had been so worried about her. His claim on her skin and his scent in her pores were not enough to calm him down. He knew he would always be anxious to let her out of his sight, especially now when he knew the dread of not knowing if she was all right. Under other circumstances, he would have laughed at himself. But the panic and the overwhelming fear of losing her paralyzed him. As her warmth seeped into him, he finally realized how quickly he had jumped to the conclusion. He blamed the mating pull which urged him to complete the bond and ensured the procreation of the next generation. Still the hairs of the back of Landon’s neck were erect. Something did not feel right. The longer the feeling persisted the more paranoid Landon became. It wasn’t a good look on him and he knew it. His instincts made him snap at anyone around. He did not want to hurt Violet with his overprotectiveness or his blunt words, but he could not help it. The glass-cottage left them exposed and for once the views did not bring him solace.

“Lan, what’s wrong?” Violet asked, turning to face him.

He placed his thumb over her lips, pressing it down in what could look from afar as a playful manner, before he pecked the skin behind her ear, keeping his face tugged into her neck.

“Something is off,” Landon murmured in her hair.

“WESLEY,” Ethan roared over the line snapping their attention to the phone.

“Ethan?” Violet mouthed at Landon as he took her hand in his, heading into the basement.

“I found her. We’re good,” Landon absentmindedly responded to Ethan.

“Then get your butts up here now. We eat at six, so you have an hour to get here or you’ll eat cold cuts. Your choice,” Ethan’s voice abruptly stopped. Landon looked at the phone with annoyance. Alphas were a major source of his income but that did not make them any more pleasant to deal with.

Violet offered him a sip of her beer. Landon wordlessly took it and gulped it, allowing the amber drink to cool his anger.

“Better?” Violet asked as he obviously relaxed his expression.

“Yes, thank you,” Landon replied only for Violet to finally let out a cheerful laughter. “What?”

“Ethan is too much,” Violet’s smile was addictive. He smiled back at her, earning a kiss from her sensual lips. “It’s funny even he knows he can bribe you with some warm food.”

“There is not much in the fridge,” Landon shrugged.

“I saw. Just beer,” Violet laughed.

“Guilty,” Landon chuckled then pressed the combo opening the reinforced door, ushering her to go in first.

“You have a panic room?”

“Secure room,” Landon corrected her, offering her a chair beside him. His attention drifted to the computer monitors as he played back the footage from earlier. Violet remained standing behind his chair, her hands exploring his shoulders and chest.

“Oh, boy. That better not end up on YouTube,” Violet exclaimed as she saw the footage from them on the beach.

“Well, I guess we started our personal collection,” Landon jested.

The reference of the tape from Velvet brought smiles on both of their faces.

“Better watch out for Pack Order. We are their favorite couple,” Violet teased.

“I’m afraid, they don’t have clearance.” Landon winked at her. He then continued with a much more serious voice, “The encryption is solid. Even if they get the footage, they won’t be able to review it,” Landon growled at the screen as he spotted the intruder of his mini oasis. “When it feels like you’re watched, you most definitely are.”

He enlarged the screen bringing the image of a man on the screen talking on his cell phone.

“Vincent?”

“How do you know him?” Landon asked with a thundering voice.

“Velvet. He paid double to get a lap dance with me the other night. Creepy but not stalker-y, or so I thought.” Violet told him recalling the awkward lap dance.

“He’s a Fixer. A good one at that,” Landon explained tracing Vincent’s movement on his property and found his vehicle. He snapshot the plates. He sent them to his contact in the human police, knowing he’d have information of his whereabouts within a few hours. Money greased the wheels of any system. It was true for humans and shifters alike. “He wants to run me out of business. My guess is he heard about our arrangement and was doing his homework.”

“It sounds like he has a big bone to pick with you to consider paying double for a five-minute lap dance,” Violet started. Landon smiled recalling his lap dance with her. It surely the sweetest expense he had made on his company dime. Her next words snapped his attention back to her, “He also offered to take me out dancing. When I turned him down he asked about how my man likes it. I didn’t think much of it as well, it’s Velvet. But now that I know your history with this guy, his behavior makes more sense. Weirdly, meticulous and calculated. Are you sure he is after you professionally, not personally?”

“He’s straight, mateless and has no connections to any one of my jobs. Your claim on me is safe,” Landon winked at her.

“Good. Your neck is mine,” Violet laughed pecking his neck, where she would eventually mark him. Her hands run further down his chest. He held her hands in his preventing her to move further down.

“We also need to talk about Ethan,” Landon started.

“Jealous already?” Violet teased him.

If it wasn’t for the mindlink telling him she had no romantic interest in the former playboy Alpha, Landon would have questioned her friendship with him.

“Healthy jealous,” Landon’s nostrils flared as he took in the scent of her arousal, “The delicious whiff from under that towel tells me all I need to know.”

“Darn it,” Violet pretended to be offended, then turned his office chair around and sat on his lap. “What can I say? It gets hot in here,” she waved at her towel covered chest, the top of her breasts teasingly raising, “when I see my man in his element.”

“When you put it like that, I am a catch,” Landon replied, sliding his hand under the bottom edge of her towel. Violet pressed her thighs together, holding off the advance of his fingers.

“Before we get carried away,” Violet started, “What did Ethan want?”

Landon groaned, pressing his lips over her temple.

“The mating bond is clouding my judgment. I should have explained earlier,” Landon sighed. “Ending Creed is not just another job for me. It is personal.”

“I know,” Violet replied, her fingertips playing with the shell of his ear. His surprise had to be obvious as Violet tried to imitate his deep voice, “Personal interest is what motivates people. You see, I pay attention even when I have a gorgeous male specimen in my bed.”

“Funny, I don’t remember your appreciation of my nakedness as much as I vividly recall defending my privates from a possible knee,” Landon recalled their first nap.

“Oh, honey. I wanted you then,” Violet confessed. “But I didn’t want you thinking I am loose for allowing you to join me for a nap. It’s easy to jump to that conclusion with my work in Velvet.”

“Honestly, that didn’t even cross my mind. I was dead tired fixing a mess up north. Your home felt cozy and smelled nice, so when you mentioned a nap, I just snuggled into you. And that’s so not me. I wasn’t lying I don’t sleep over.”

“But you house-sit?” Violet prompted.

“I had this buddy from the Academy days. We trained together and he taught me how to surf,” Landon started his story. “He overdosed on Creed and left me in charge of his estate, which included the beach oasis he built for the mate he never even got to meet and his endorsement to take over his job.”

“Oh, Landon.” Violet sighed, pulling him in a hug.

“Noah was the Howler’s Beta,” Landon explained further.

“I am going to kill Jacob,” Violet announced, surprising Landon. “I can’t believe he didn’t mention you’re his intended Beta. I called him to inquire about you after Inferno.”

“I never accepted the position,” Landon replied.

“Understanding the circumstances around his death is your way of honoring your friend and proving to yourself you’re worthy of the title,” Violet rephrased.

“It’s amazing how you understand and see the real me, and you don’t even have my bond,” Landon proudly told her.

“Oh, you’re so sweet,” Violet responded, her lips lingering over his as her tongue toyed with his. “But still your Alpha is going to get his ass kicked.” Landon laughed at her expression. “He should have told me you were good people, instead of giggling his ass off when I mentioned Jack wasn’t fond of you. Jacob never said, he knew you so well.”

“Well, he doesn’t really,” Landon replied. “It hasn’t been a year since Noah’s passing. I haven’t made much progress. I even tasked Aberdeen to track who Creeded you if that dose was meant to be for me.”

“Ethan didn’t tell you we’re buddies?”

“My buddy was Noah and look where it got him,” Landon confessed.

“It wasn’t your doing,” Violet consoled him.

“I can’t seem to wonder,” Landon shrugged.

“Lan, did you start your investigation in Creed before Noah’s death?” Violet asked only for Landon to shake his head. “There you have it. You are not responsible.”

“I wish it was so clear cut for me,” Landon replied. “Regardless, Ethan made a breakthrough with Creed. He thinks Creed increases the temperature enough to release silver from amalgam restorations. Do you have silver fillings?”

“No. But it wasn’t until I started seeing Dr.Kaleo that I had regular dental care,” Violet replied. “Do you think that’s the cause of his death?”

“That’s what Ethan wants to verify. I have all the paperwork from his case.”

“But?” Violet didn’t miss his unease.

“But I think it is the ingested quantity and the presence of the wolf that make a difference in the survival rate of Creed,” Landon replied.

“You think I survived because my wolf is withdrawn,” Violet read between the lines.

Landon nodded.

“I think the dose in Inferno was meant for me, not you,” Landon replied. “Pack Order was trying to silence me.”

Karim

There were few things in life that managed to get under one’s skin as deep as smelling your Fated essence on someone else. It was one thing to know Violet had caught Wesley’s interest, and another thing to be confronted with the truth. Landon had moved into Violet’s heart. The thought left bitterness in his mouth. The animal in Karim surged to defend what was his, though the rational mind knew there was no turning back. She had made it abundantly clear at Velvet.

Still, Karim could not go home without properly explaining to her his reasons. There was pain between them but the connection was not lost. He still made her heart flutter. He smiled at the memory. His proximity had affected her even after the rejection and the months spent away from him. She needed to hear him out; otherwise, she would never understand him.

From their brief courtship, Karim knew she was willing to experiment. He never really expected Violet to absent from seeking relief in the arms of another. He just didn’t think she would replace him so easily or so soon, especially with the likes of Landon Wesley. He did not need Pack Order to tell him Landon’s interest in Violet was detrimental to her well being. Karim knew firsthand how hotheaded and impulsive the younger Wesley brother could be. While the Fixer could see her as collateral damage, Violet meant more to Karim. Karim felt obliged to protect her even from herself, seeing how Violet had fallen victim to Landon’s charm.

Karim sighed still thinking of the barely clad Fixer who roamed her place as if he owned it. He probably did as Karim doubted Violet made enough as a bartender otherwise why would she dance? The more Karim questioned Landon’s motives of being with Violet, the more he was convinced it wasn’t going to last. Werewolves were protective and possessive of their partners, and here Landon did not seem bothered by her state of undress or the work she did in Velvet. Violet reeked of male arousal when they met. Karim knew Landon was just using her. The only question was to what end?

Karim’s fingers drummed against the countertop. Then there was the matter of Alpha Jacob Tassone. Karim had intentionally visited the pack house to confront the widowed Alpha about his intentions. Violet’s scent was deeply embedded in the pack house, revealing the close relationship Tassone did not want to admit.

Karim was uneasy with the predicament. While Landon was his short-term problem, the Howler’s Alpha could not be underestimated. He had offered shelter to Violet and patiently lurked in the shadows while she recovered from the shock of Karim’s rejection. Tassone was waiting for Violet to get Landon out of her system before he made his move. If he hadn’t already. There were just too many rejected shifters in her vicinity.

He looked through his messages finding a conversation with a contact named Whistleblower. The history of the messages went back only a couple of days. Karim’s interest had peaked the moment he had seen Violet in revealing top behind a bar. The message coincided with Alyssa’s decision to search for her Fated now that there was no heir. The second message arrived soon after, “I thought you should know, she can get your crotch polished for just under a hundred bucks.”

“Where?” Karim had quickly replied blinded by anger both the disrespectful tone of the message and Violet’s decision to join the workforce.

The second message contained Velvet’s address.

Karim sighed remembering Violet breathless underneath him. When they had mated, Karim had thought it was forever. Fate had twisted his life to her desire, slowly transforming it into a nightmare. He had given up his Fated for his unborn heir, only for his heir to never even take a breath of air. While the mourning of their unborn child made both Alyssa and Karim reconsider her life-choices. They both felt powerless. Alyssa found answers in the faith that it was the will of the Goddess and that she needed to find her Fated. While Karim was never a believer, he could not refrain from questioning his life-choices. His deepest regret was how things ended with Violet. In order to stop feeling so powerless, Karim knew he needed to help out Violet.

So he headed to Velvet.

Violet was a sight for his sore eyes. Her breath caught as soon as she recognized him. No matter the rejection there was still that vibe around them; the air was charged with their sexual tension that not even Landon could diminish. Now he had been a surprise. Who would have thought that Karim’s little Violet would end up meeting the most annoying Fixer in town?

Karim had recognized his mistake and the toll it had had over his sweet little innocent Violet.

“I’m in.”

Karim had texted knowing the mysterious informer did not bring him here to just see Violet. There was a plan in place, and Karim suspected it would take down Landon. Karim would be a fool not to jump at the opportunity.

Over the next text messages, Karim had gotten to know who he was dealing with. The Whistleblower was no Good Samaritan. He obviously had a vendetta against Landon and the resources to inflict pain, if the claims of association with Pack Order were true. Karim had joined to ensure the hatred did not turn its focus on Violet.

“He spent the night,” Karim reported like the good soldier he pretended to be.

The reply came almost instantaneous.

“Of course, he did.”

The arrogance of the sender was conveyed in just four words. Karim gritted his teeth, imagining how satisfying it would be to rip his throat off once they finally met. At this point in time, the Beta in Karim did not even care about the possible fallout if this Whistleblower was Pack Order as he claimed.

“He will mark her if you don’t do something about it.”

Karim grit his teeth. There was no doubt that the little wuss did not elaborate further in an attempt to make Karim beg. Karim knew he would break if the suspense lingered. He didn’t have to wait long as the next text message followed.

“Male dancers auditions in Velvet.”

Karim was headed out of the door the moment he read it. The vibrations of his cell phone alerted him to another text message.

“Fight for her.”

Karim intended to do just that.