Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)

Landon

The moment she suggested Gagnon was behind it, Landon growled as understanding seeped into his mind - had it not been for their meeting, she would have had a fate worse than death. The air became tense, darkness hanging heavy on their minds.

“I am glad I met you,” Violet whispered, her fingers tracing his wrinkled forehead.

“And I you,” Landon answered quickly.

“What’s on your mind?”

Landon looked at her for a while then sighed.

“How do you get away with doing illegal stuff without Pack Order swarming your place?” Landon wondered out loud.

Landon couldn’t help but think if it had been any other alpha and pack, Pack Order would have overturned their autonomy. Gagnon intentionally kept his pack borders closed, and relied on the conservative minds to excuse his actions by the old common law – ‘his land, his law’.

Landon knew Pack Order reacted proactively and audited Alphas for lesser offenses and with just suspicion of illegal practices. Yet, the recollections of a prominent Gamma and a branded female were found deficient as still months later there were no sanctions.

What was so special about Gagnon for him to evade the long arm of the law?

“He has someone on the inside,” Violet answered biting her lip.

“He is working with them or for them,” Landon added.

That surely complicated things.

“His propaganda was always directed for making the pack great again. He was obsessed with numbers, the next generation of warriors who would bring prosperity. Forced mating and breeding were just the means to achieve the greatness,” Violet recalled. “I can’t see how Pack Order will tolerate such tyranny in their backyard.”

“You can’t explain it with just one corrupt battalion leader,” Landon replied. “It has to affect the higher up positions. Gagnon illegally restrained a known Gamma and subjected him to Breeding practices. The question is not what would have been his fate had you not intervened, but what would he have done with the offspring.”

“He’s gathering an army,” Violet told him.

“That’s the obvious answer,” Landon replied. “But in the time it takes for his army to become of age, the imposed isolation would put the pack in technological and educational disadvantage. Even if that by some miracle doesn’t affect them, the moment they declare war on a neighboring pack, packs would see the threat and align against them. In the end, they would always be one pack, regardless of their numbers.”

“Then why would need so many children?” Violet asked.

“I know I would do anything for you and our future pups,” Landon told her, looking at her flat belly.

“You think he went through all this just to gain leverage over titled wolves like Xander?”

“Ranked wolves search high and low for their Fated. A restricted area would raise many questions and hopes,” Landon replied thinking of all the times he was hired as a travel companion by a ranked wolf in search for their mate.

“So he lures, traps and takes their first born. Then the released ranked wolves go back to where they came from. They would aid him…. But for what?” Violet grimaced. “It doesn’t sound right either. Ranked wolves can be challenged and replaced by more deserving and capable shifters. So he can’t bank on that.”

“You fight tooth and nail for what’s yours. You heard Karim – he can’t wrap his head around someone not caring about their rank. So it is important.” Landon replied, rubbing his forehead. “But you are right. Even with that, there are too many unknowns, too many things that could go wrong.”

“The disturbing part of it is Gagnon could not hatch such a complex plan. Either someone else did it for him, or we are complicating things and his way is simpler,” Violet replied.

“So, let’s think simple. Bottom line is the children are the goal. The only thing that comes to mind is influence, organs and blood donation. What else is there?

Violet painted the gruesome alternative.

“That still wouldn’t explain why Pack Order would consider turning their eyes away from his practices,” Landon replied then sighed looking at his watch. “We’ve got to head back to the pack house as a responsible Beta pair. Jacob should be home by midnight, or else I will have to lead a search party.”

Violet

Something in the way he outlined their evening did not seem right.

“You don’t like the Rossi’s,” Violet finally put her finger on the intonation he used – accusation.

“I don’t trust them,” Landon corrected her.

“Why?” Violet inquired as his face clearly showed surprise at her question. “You can’t just say something like that and don’t expect a follow-up question.”

“Remember, you asked for it,” Landon cautioned her before continuing, “For starters, where is Antonio? He promised to look after you but I didn’t see him sitting in on the auditions like Wayne and Caleb did. True, Caleb more than enjoyed himself, but Wayne didn’t have to be present, yet he did it anyway. For you. Now that’s a friend. Don’t even get me started with him asking you to be his Beta.”

“You overheard,” Violet concluded.

Landon nodded.

“I can tell you he is not doing you any favors.”

“I know.”

“Do you really? You see a youth who needs confidence, who needs a trusted advisor. You want to see the good in everyone. What you miss is that he is trained to take over a pack. He talks a good talk, but can’t walk it,” Landon shook his head, calming himself by taking deep breaths. “If he really meant an ounce of what he told you in the kitchen about the power corrupting, he would have never asked you to be his Beta. Moreover, he would have stayed by your side the whole night no matter what because he made a commitment. Nevermind that it was the right thing to do, he would have done it for a friend.”

“Maybe I am blind in my search for the good in people. But I need it. I need to believe the next generation would have more great Alphas than ours does,” Violet told him.

“I am not trying to take that away from you. But something is off with the Rossi’s. You just don’t ask another pack’s Beta mate to be your Beta. Why would he even approach you with such an offer? It’s only going to put you at risk.”

Landon’s concern showed in his words.

“Lan, it was his way to show his appreciation for my advice. It was never meant as a real proposal,” Violet replied.

“And if it was real?” Landon asked.

“I have my hands full with you,” Violet told him. “But you already heard my answer.”

“It was the reason why I didn’t throttle him at the pack house,” Landon told her, then added, “The small inconsistencies in his story that triggers your mind to make excuses for him are the ones to raise the hardest questions. I don’t know what they are hiding or involved in, but they are not telling the truth,” Landon explained only for Violet to soothingly run her fingers through his hair.

“When you first told me you’re a Fixer, I thought about Harvey Specter from Suits,” Violet started.

“At least he is the top dog,” Landon joked.

“Shh, let me finish,” Violet replied brushing her fingertips over her claim on his neck. “I thought you were a negotiator in a sexy shell. But you are much more. You are a detective, a bodyguard and a politician. A legend,” Violet started only for Landon to chuckle.

“Now you’ve gone too far. You don’t need to butter me up to get in my pants,” Landon joked, receiving a playful slap across his chest.

“Shut up and take the compliment,” Violet scolded him. “Seriously, I now know why so many people admire you. You are a self-made man. Few can say that.”

“Thanks, but I don’t see myself like that. I’ve made a promise, and I am yet to make good on,” Landon shook his head. It was clear the guilt of being unable to avenge his friend was slowly eating him.

“There are no secrets time does not reveal,” Violet tried comforting him.

“With everything,” Landon started then corrected himself, “everyone against us, I wonder if it is just a coincidence.”

“You don’t believe in coincidences,” Violet knew him too well.

“The second I got a good lead, Pack Order is stirring trouble, Karim comes to win you back, Vincent is sniffing in my backyard, and even an easy interrogation gig turns into an execution. Shit does happen but it is statistically rare in such generous proportion.” Landon voiced out his fears.

“Distraction from the main goal,” Violet concluded then softly asked, “What was the lead?”

“Cavino’s Mansion party this weekend. I was supposed to ask you to go with me. Do you have an in?” Landon asked.

“You know I can get us in,” Violet replied. “But what do you think you’d find there?”

“Every synthetic drug needs an inventor, finances and distribution to take off. The Chemist is usually the hardest to find as they hide in plain sight. The Banker would make the greatest return, and the Distributor will secure the channels and manpower to take the product to the consumer,” Landon decided to give her a little bit of a background information as they were now a team. “Creed can be sold as a weapon and as a human party drug, which accounts for its big market share. Pack Order helped me go under with the MC, the Dragons. They don’t know about shifters, but they do make runs with Creed.”

“That’s why you were so,” Violet paused searching for the right word, “different with them.”

“Cutter is quite a character,” Landon chuckled.

“You suspect Sleek, Mafioso Mario Cavino to know your Banker,” Violet cringed at the memory of the scrawny Italian guy who wasn’t particularly liked by anyone in Velvet.

“I take it you don’t like him,” Landon teased.

“Doll, go powder your nose while the real men talk,” Violet imitated Mario’s deep voice making Landon laugh at the interpretation. She nailed it. She continued with her usual tone, “That’s nice considering what else comes out of his mouth. But why would anyone even want to do business with Mario?”

“Because he is desperate to prove himself to the family, to wow them with something so lucrative they would forget his previous failures. In order to secure that image, he would take greater risks and be more likely to be susceptible to manipulation if the plan is straightforward for him to actually follow it,” Landon shrugged.

“So we get in. How would you know who is the Banker behind Creed?”

“Easy. Mario would lead us to him as he needs the deal to happen. The irony is the Banker needs the distribution channels just as bad or they won’t make any profit off Creed. The Dragons are the proof of concept in this deal. Mario will probably get the short stick of the deal, seeing how you can smell his desperation. Worse case we can make the best out of it and call it a date night,” Landon cheekily replied.

“Oh, Sugar. I don’t know if I should tease you about it or just tell you,” Violet laughed. Landon was adorably clueless. “Cavino’s party is a full blown-out orgy.”