Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)

Landon

Landon blinked then stared at Violet. His mind slowly replayed her words.

Full. Blown-out. Orgy.

What in the world could he reply to that?

“I am going to kill Ethan,” Landon promised himself. The Alpha had conveniently forgotten to tell him that specific of the upcoming party. While his human mind lingered on the withheld information, his wolf pushed the question he should have asked her at first place. “Have you ever been?”

The rough accusatory tone would have made wolves and humans flinch, but not his Violet. A small smile tugged at her lips.

“No, but I like your possessiveness,” Violet replied.

“It came out harsher than,” Landon rubbed the back of his neck ashamed of how he had all but attacked her.

“Oh, no, don’t apologize. It’s actually sexy you want exclusivity. I want that, too.” Violet confessed, running her fingers through his hair. “But back to your question. Males try to impress all the pretty faces of Velvet and talk big game.”

Landon watched her intently for any sign of deceit but found none. He didn’t need to feel for the bond to tell him what she really thought. His nose caught the unmistakable scent of her arousal. She shrugged her shoulders.

“I can’t help it when you look at me so intently,” Violet explained. “I am helpless when it comes to you.”

“I’d argue but I know better than to pick a fight with my mate,” Landon chuckled.

“You’re not only an eye candy,” Violet touched her nose to his before giving him a peck.

“Not that I don’t support this,” Landon started between small pecks. “But before I get carried away, do you plan to get us in?”

“Candy,” Violet replied shortly then resumed kissing him. She chuckled noticing his surprise. “Not candy - candy, but Candy as in Candice. She knows the bouncer. I am sure she can persuade him to let us in, or distract him enough so we can slip in. The Mansion party is this over-the-top event lasting all weekend. They all dress up fancy for a bang or two or more,” Violet chuckled at her own word choice. “They don’t believe in talking much so they have their masks tell their story of what you are into. No time is wasted.”

“I am not sharing you,” Landon quickly told her.

“Good answer. It would have been a shame to have to chop off your goodies,” Landon laughed at her possessiveness. Now that was a female with class. “We can blend in with the masses, but Mario is a different ball game.”

“Why?”

“He had vowed to never father a bastard as he waits for his mate. So although he is the host, the access to him is restricted.”

“So his mansion turns into a brothel and he doesn’t get in on the action. I don’t buy it,” Landon replied.

“I didn’t say that, as there are other options to get your rocks off other than vaginal sex. It’s rumored he likes watching or does it with men.”

“It gets better and better,” Landon sarcastically snapped. “How do you feel about sex in public?”

“Shy,” Violet said then added, “But I guess if we don’t take off our clothes like we did tonight, I would be fine if you are.”

“Personally, I would rather avoid the whole party altogether, but if we have to, I agree to your conditions,” Landon replied.

“Would you draft the paperwork, Harvey?” Violet joked with the factual tone he used.

“You joke but he is badass,” Landon replied.

“Should I be jealous?”

“No, Donna,” Landon chuckled.

“She is hot,” Violet replied.

“She is,” Landon agreed only for Violet to playful smack the back of his neck.

“Hey,” Violet called him out.

“You are one hell of a woman, and even Donna would have something to learn from you,” Landon replied.

“You are indeed the Harvey, to my Donna,” Violet whispered before giving him a kiss.

Vincent

The contract required a direct approach. It was Vincent’s luck, or lack thereof, that it involved Landon of all shifters. There were many things which could be said about Landon, but carelessness was not one of them.

Vincent’s eyes wondered off to the “staff only” area.

“Would you like a massage?” The feminine voice surprised him as it sounded a little bit too close for his liking. Vincent was so focused on keeping an eye on the direction Violet disappeared to that he ignored the first rule of staying alive – being aware of your surroundings. The manicured hand snaked around his shoulders, a finger tracing his skin under the rim of his shirt. Although the touch was not unpleasant, the intrusiveness of its nature prevented him from enjoying the contact.

His eyes traced the arm to the delicious body wrapped in less material that could fit in the palm of his hand, and finally took a look at her face. Sure, she was pretty but he didn’t have time for pretty. He was here on business, and only his mate could deter him from his mission tonight.

“No, thank you.”

“It’s your crooked neck,” she responded then moved on but not without exchanging a certain look with the bartender, who pushed a glass towards her awaiting palm. Once she was out of earshot the bartender pretended to go about his business but kept glancing at Vincent.

He was made but Vincent didn’t care as long as they did not throw him out before he had the chance to talk with Landon or Violet. Besides if his presence was known then he could actually lure Landon out. Vincent had no doubt their previous squabbles would summon Landon’s curiosity.

Vincent was on his third beer by the time Landon and Violet emerged from the back. He did not know whether to feel insulted or relieved when Landon did not give him his signature dead glare. Has the Fixer gone soft? If Landon could change, so could Vincent. Just in case his assumption was incorrect, Vincent took out a fifty and passed it to the bartender, buying himself some good will should things became rowdy.

“Congratulations,” Vincent spoke first. He did not need to elaborate further. His eyes were directed at Wesley leaving little doubt who he addressed.

“Thanks,” Landon deadpanned.

Vincent almost wanted to do a happy dance when he noticed the worry in the other’s shifter’s eyes. Few people could make Wesley uneasy and live to tell the story. Vincent was privileged to be one of them. It was as close as one could get to recognition in their field of work.

“I have a message for Violet,” Vincent didn’t waste time and avoided looking at the pretty brunette as not to provoke the newly mated male. It was a small courtesy he could extend to Landon to ensure the older wolf’s attention.

“You know I am here,” Violet responded from beside Landon, only to be pressed firmly into her mate’s body.

“If I approached you alone, he’d rightfully kill me,” Vincent explained himself, quickly recognizing her irritation of being ignored and talked over. “No offense, I believe in equality but I love breathing. So I am coming to you, Landon.”

“You have nerve showing your face here after stalking us at the beach house,” Landon casually informed Vincent he hadn’t been as successful at avoiding all motion detectors in the estate as he might have thought.

“I didn’t want to intrude on your special day,” Vincent shrugged it off. It was not such a big deal. It wasn’t like he installed cameras in his home. He had just taken his leave when things got heated. “It wasn’t the right time to interrupt you at the beach so I took my leave. Would you have preferred if I hollered at you that I need to have a word with you both?”

Landon’s head barely tipped to his left, a cue for Vincent to continue. Now that he had Wesley’s attention, Vincent understood why many Alphas chose to do business with him. He was a born Beta and his dominance was unmistakable. There was certainly a lot to discuss but Vincent knew he could not just blur his message. Everything needed to be timed.

“Care to join me for a drink?”

“No,” Landon cut him off. Violet rolled her eyes at Landon.

“See, that’s the attitude that alienates people,” Violet told Landon then looked at Vincent. “It’s been a long night.”

“You can’t make time for family?” Vincent asked.

Violet

There just comes a time when a person had enough bullshit.

“Listen, unless you are some kind of a medium, leave my parents to rest in peace.” Violet cautioned him but as Vincent tried to put a word in, she snapped her fingers in front of him, “Ah, ah, ah, no. You listen. I don’t know what sick game you’ve been led to believe in, but I have had enough for one night. So think carefully before you speak, otherwise, I’ll let Lan sort out once and for all whatever grudges you two harbor.”

“Your parents are dead,” Vincent whispered to himself. He had personally researched the claim, verified the legitimacy of the job before he took it. “Who approached you?”

“That’s not important,” Violet dismissed.

“You don’t understand,” Vincent replied stepping closer to the couple. “My contract is exclusive with McCabe. Nobody else should have approached you.”

“Who?” Violet asked.

“Connor McCabe,” Vincent answered. “He’s your cousin.”

“Yeah, right,” Violet dismissed him, looking up to Landon, “Let’s go home.”

“No, listen,” Vincent quickly started walking beside them towards the parking where it was easier to talk. “He is your cousin. Your grandpapi Hector had three pups – Logan, your dad Nathan and Valencia. Hector was an Enforcer, a good one, but without a rank. Gagnon was trained alongside Logan and Nathan. They were supposed to lead the pack in the future, except Gagnon fell in love with Valencia. They were to be married and mated. Everyone was convinced it is mutual so they did not question her wish to accompany Logan down south to secure safe-travel for wolves who sought their mates. Valencia asked for asylum the moment they arrived. Logan tried to smuggle you and your parents out of Shadow Waters before the news of Valencia’s betrayal reached the north. They were caught and executed. Connor is your aunt Valencia’s son.”

“She is the reason why they are dead,” Violet started, only for Landon to squeeze her hand in his giving her some of his support.

“No, Gagnon is,” Vincent clarified.

Her mind told her he was right, but Violet’s heart blamed Valencia, too. There had to be a way to prevent the bloodshed that followed.

“Violet,” Landon spoke softly, careful not to startle her.

“I knew he was twisted, but this,” Violet looked at Landon, then shook her head. “He punished everyone but her and for what? Because she chose a life without him in it.”

Landon pulled her into his chest, allowing her to compose herself away from Vincent’s searching look. Memories flooded her mind as she tried to process the news. There was finally a reason for the madness in her life.

“What is the contract?” Landon asked.

“Deliver the message and facilitate a meeting if agreeable,” Vincent replied.

“How much is he paying you?” Landon quickly questioned.

“Are you seriously jealous right now that he chose me over you?” Vincent asked.

If Landon’s demeanor was frosty towards Vincent, now he was plain angry. Violet ran her hands up and down Landon’s back, reminding him of her presence. Landon focused on her, dialing back down on the dominance he was projecting.

“You’re lucky she is here, or you’d be collecting your teeth from the pavement,” Landon replied. “Four figures?”

“Five grand, plus travel and stay,” Vincent replied surprising Violet. Landon did not comment for a while, making both Violet and Vincent nervous, guessing of what possibly he was considering.

Nothing good, Violet knew.

“If I want to reach out to a relative, I never met before, I would do it privately. Discreetly. I’d hire a good Fixer,” Vincent tried to close the contract convincing them of the legitimacy of his story. “We have pictures and ancestral DNA match.”

“Gagon could also hire a Fixer to deliver her to him,” Landon pointed out. “Pictures or DNA match can be tampered with.”

“Pick a time and a place to meet Conner and you’d see for yourself it is the truth. Besides who would want to stick their necks for Gagnon? His days are numbered, his resources are dwindling and chances for a prompt payment evaporating by the minute. It’s financial, political and physical suicide to accept a contract on an escaped Breeder mated to you of all shifters. I did my independent tests otherwise I wouldn’t have touched the contract with a five-foot pole.” Vincent admitted. “Look, I get paid regardless if you choose to meet them or not. Full disclosure, I’d get a bonus if I facilitate a meeting. Of course, all on your terms.”

If nothing else, Vincent’s pitch showed honesty and transferred some of the respect Vincent had for Landon back to him.

“Would you like to arrange a meeting with McCabe?” Vincent finally asked.

The silence stretched and Violet knew they were waiting for her reply. But how did you choose whether to see call strangers relatives again or not? Was there even a right answer to such a question?

Violet didn’t have long to wonder as screeching tires announced the fast approaching vehicle, that parked in front of them, a passenger door swinging open before the car had come to a halt.