I’m on the back of Brandr’s bike. I never imagined how exciting being on a bike could be, and to think I nearly missed this. If it wasn’t for Gabriela insisting on riding with Bjarni I wouldn’t have said anything. The men wanted us to go in the bullet proof SUV, but Gabriela and I insisted on riding with them. Jas hadn’t had an option previously, before she could complain Wulf had her in the SUV and buckled in.

I’m not looking forward to being in town surrounded by people. I know that I won’t be able to get out of this because apparently my picture is all over and it’s only a matter of time before the police know where I am, but the thought of them maybe keeping me there for questioning makes me break out in a cold sweat.

I just know that I’m going to freak out, and then they will commit me like my parents wanted them to do. Brandr must feel the tenseness in my body because he places his hand over mine as he rides, squeezing slightly.

Bjarni and Gabriela are riding next to us, I see her hands are in his jacket moving up and down as if she’s stroking his abs. I smile to myself thinking about Brandr’s reaction if I had to do that. One thing I have noticed about him is that he is always ready to fool around. He has been so caring, I know that he can be lethal, but I also know that he will never be like that with me.

We arrive in town parking our bikes across from the police station, Draco insists on coming in with us. The others except for the prospect and Celmund who stayed at the compound, will meet us later at Gabriela’s bakery.

Brandr guides me into the police station with Draco walking behind us. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me which makes me feel awkward, but then I stop frozen in my tracks when I realise that I’m not hearing anyone’s thoughts? How is that possible?

Brandr also stopped with a worried look on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asks looking around as if expecting danger. I feel Draco right behind me, I’m sure if I stretch my hand behind me that I will touch him.

“I can’t hear anyone?” I say softly so no one will hear me except for Brandr, but I must have spoken louder than I thought because Draco replies.

“Don’t worry about it Sweetheart we thought this might happen, Brandr might be a buffer to your gift. We will experiment later but for now I think it’s a good thing, don’t you think?” I realise my mouth is hanging open at his comment. A buffer, is that possible? If that is true, then I can go anywhere I want, if Brandr is with me.

“That’s so cool!” I exclaim in excitement. By Brandr’s expression I have surprised him once again, but then he presents me with one of his sexy as sin smiles and all I want to do is drag him into a room somewhere and have my way with him.

Brandr lowers his head until his lips are touching my ear. “If you carry on looking at me like that we won’t make it inside.” He teases.

“Maybe you can leave this for later, I have better things to do than look at your ugly ass making fish eyes at your woman.” Draco states huffily, but I can see a twinkle in his eye when I look back at him. Brandr shows him the finger, smirking as he walks towards a cop that is sitting behind a desk. After asking to see the detective responsible for my case I see the man swallow audibly as he looks at Brandr, then Draco.

“Sure, please take a seat he will be with you soon.” The man has barely finished talking when a middle-aged guy walks towards us. His eyes are fixed on Draco as he approaches.

“Well, well what have we here?” he smirks irritatingly.

Brandr places his arm around my shoulders bringing me closer to him. Draco looks at this infuriating man as if he’s not worth his time. I see the man’s hands fist in anger, but he’s trying to appear as if Draco’s uninterested attitude doesn’t affect him.

“I believe you are looking for me?” a detective calls out from behind the middle-aged guy who is still staring at Draco.

“Are you Detective Thompson?” Brandr asks.

“Yes, I am. How can I help you?” He stretches out his hand to shake Brandr’s and then Draco’s hands. When he turns to face me, Brandr moves me slightly behind him. I see that he has recognised me from the tensing of his body.

“You’re the missing girl, Aria Dell, aren’t you?” He’s about to take hold of my hand when Brandr moves forward so I am completely covered by his body. I see Draco move closer to my side, as if protecting me from anyone else that might be behind us.

“No touching,” Brandr says in a gruff voice. By the tensing of his body I know that he must be a scary sight to look at. If he hadn’t been so protective and caring from the beginning I might have feared him when he went all tense like this, but I know that he will never hurt me.

“I’m sorry but I am going to have to insist on talking to Miss Dell. She has been missing for over a month and her gran was found dead on their farm,” the detective says quietly. I see the other middle-aged detective that is still standing behind Detective Thompson smirk while he places his hand on the gun that is strapped to his waist.

“That’s why we’re here. We are told that you thought that Aria was missing. She is willing to give a statement, but you don’t have to touch her to do that.” Brandr responds possessively, the tone of his voice makes the hair on my arms stand up and he isn’t even talking to me, no wonder the detective is looking wary.

“Of course, maybe Aria can come with me into my office,” he says, pointing behind him as he looks over Brandr’s shoulder at me.

“I will be accompanying her,” Brandr states. He doesn’t wait for the detective to reply. Turning slightly, he takes hold of my hand. “Shall we,” he asks as the detective is still standing there looking at him.

“This is bullshit. You can wait out here while Thompson talks to Aria. Who do you think you are coming in here and giving us orders?” the other detective says angrily, taking a step towards us. Instantly Brandr and Draco have me behind them, both are tense, ready for a fight if need be.

Detective Thompson hurriedly intervenes, standing before the other detective with one of his hands up. “No harm in him accompanying Miss Dell, we aren’t interrogating her, just asking her some questions.” Detective Thompson seems friendly and not at all like the other one. Looking over his shoulder, he asks, “Norton weren’t you on your way somewhere?”    

Norton glares at us as Thompson leads the way to his office. “Please take a seat Miss Dell, I’m sorry, one of you will have to stand as I only have two chairs,” he apologises as he looks at Brandr and Draco.

Brandr moves my chair closer to his, placing his arm around my shoulders protectively as Draco closes the office door and stands in front of it as if protecting us from anyone coming in.

“Now Miss Dell … Aria, can I call you Aria?” he asks with a slight smile. I nod in confirmation and he continues. “Do you know what happened to your Gran?” Again I nod in confirmation.

“Do you mind telling me?” I feel Brandr squeeze my shoulder reassuringly. We had rehearsed what I had to say to the detective, I hope that I don’t say something wrong.

“We were outside in the garden when a car pulled up with four men. Two of the men who were in the back jumped out and walked towards us, as the other two men drove over our vegetables and herbs. Gran couldn’t run because of her arthritis but we made it inside before the two men caught up to us.” Even though I had told Brandr what had happened at the farm I still felt tears filling my eyes and slipping down my cheeks. Thompson opened a drawer, pulling out a box of tissues and placing it before me.

“Gran screamed for me to run, but I couldn’t leave her with them. Then one of them punched her in the face, I think he broke her nose as blood started to gush. My gran was a good person, they didn’t have to kill her. One of them held her from behind while looking at me and … cut her throat” I can see her sightless eyes in my mind as she had looked up at me when he had let her go and she fell on the floor. Even though I try not to, I start to sob, with the knowledge that I am never going to see her again.

“It’s okay Sunshine,” Brandr croons as he lifts me off my chair and places me on his lap, holding my head against his chest. “Do you want to stop?” he asks, softly kissing my forehead his hand strokes the back of my neck gently. I wish I could say yes and forget about everything that happened but sooner or later I will have to do this.

I shake my head, lifting it from Brandr’s chest. I look back at the detective and I see regret in his eyes for me. “The two men who were in the house punched and kicked me a few times as I fought with them to try and get free. I lost consciousness because the next thing I knew I woke-up in a moving car. We drove for a while before I decided that I should try to get free.” This part is what we had rehearsed so the police didn’t find out that the Elemental’s were the ones that blew up the Keres compound. “I was sitting in the back seat next to the door. I tried not to make a noise or let anyone know that I had woken up. I noticed we were coming up to a curve and that there were motorbikes approaching from the opposite direction, so I opened the door and jumped out of the moving car.”

Detective Thompson was writing while I repeated my story. I looked over at Draco, who was still standing by the door looking bored. As I gazed at him, he inclined his head as if in approval. I hoped that the detective accepted my story. I had never had to lie before, so I didn’t even know if I was any good at it.

“I’m guessing that it was the members of the Elemental’s MC that you noticed riding towards you from the opposite direction?” At my nod, he looked at Brandr. “Has Miss Dell been with you ever since?” he asked.

“Yes, she was pretty banged up. It’s only been about a week that she has been okay to be outside,” Brandr states. His hand has dropped to my back, stroking gently.

“Miss Dell, do you take any drugs?” He must have seen the shock on my face because he raised his hand. “I’m sorry to ask you this but you must understand it’s my job to answer every question that might arise.”

“No, I don’t take anything.”

“I was told that you take medicine for an anxiety disorder.” I feel Brandr tense behind me at the detective’s words.

“No, I don’t. The anxiety disorder was diagnosed when I was sixteen but even then, I didn’t take anything, as the diagnosis was wrong.” I have never taken any kind of medication because as soon as I told Gran what was happening she had taken me away from all the people, thereafter as there wasn’t anyone around, my mind quietened.

“So, are you telling me that you don’t have any mental illness?”

“She has already told you that the diagnosis was wrong,” Brandr grunted aggressively.

“It’s okay, he’s just doing his job,” I say trying to calm Brandr down. All we need is for the detective to kick him out, and then if what Draco says is correct I will be attacked by everyone’s thoughts. The detective will then think that I am insane.

“I’m sorry for these questions, but you need to understand that I must make sure that all our questions are answered.”

Before Brandr can respond, I place my hand on his arm, squeezing slightly to stop him. “No detective. I don’t have any mental illnesses that I am aware of.”

“Did you recognise any of the men?” he asks with his pen poised over his notebook.

“No, I had never seen them before.”

“Did any of them have any scars, tattoos or anything that can tell us who they are?”

“The two who came inside had dark brown hair, both had brown eyes. I don’t remember anything remarkable about any of them. They did have biker jackets on.” I say truthfully, I can see the detective’s interest peak.

“It’s called a Kutt, Sunshine,” Brandr says teasingly.

“What?”

“The biker jackets are called a Kutt,” he says again, poking my nose playfully.

“Did the men’s Kutts have any specific insignia?” the detective asks.

“They had a skull with an axe buried in the middle and flames all around.” Draco had suggested that I tell the detective the truth. The investigation would keep the Keres busy and give the Elementals more time to find out how they were discovering the women.

“Thank you, Miss Dell, that will be all for now. Where will we be able to find you if there are any other questions?” Detective Thompson rose from his seat, stretching out his hand to take mine in farewell. Draco takes the detectives hand before I can move, allowing Brandr to rise, moving me away from the detective.

“Aria is staying with us, she belongs to Brandr now. If there are any other questions you can phone him, and we will bring Aria in,” Draco replies. Brandr has already opened the office door and is guiding me out of the police station. As we walk outside we see Detective Norton on his way in, Draco has caught up to us and is standing on my left-hand side while Brandr is on my right.

“Well, I see he let you go!” Norton sneers. “Don’t go too far I’m sure you will be back in no time.”

Draco and Brandr continue walking until we are standing next to the bikes, ignoring Detective Norton who is still standing on the first step to the police station, glaring after us.

After pulling away, we ride to Gabriela’s bakery where we have agreed to meet everyone. As we walk in the wonderful smell of baked goods makes my stomach grumble. Brandr looks down at me chuckling. “You will have to get used to this Sunshine, sometimes Gabriela goes mad in our kitchen and bakes all different types of goodies, we all look forward to those days.”

There are two tables on the far side of the bakery where everyone is sitting. As we approach I see various trays placed with savoury and sweet goodies on each table. I notice that Gabriela and Jasmine are sitting together against the wall with Bjarni and Wulf on each side cramming them in.

“Over here B,” Burkhart calls out. He points towards two empty chairs that are next to Wulf. I’m guessing that they are protecting us by having our backs to the wall instead of the bakery windows or the open plan of the bakery.

As soon as we sit, Brandr updates everyone on what happened at the station. We are still chatting about everything when the bell by the door of the bakery tinkles. Looking up I see a petite blonde enter the bakery carrying a backpack that seems way too heavy for her. She walks towards the counter with a piece of paper in her hand that from where I’m sitting, looks like a map.

“Damn, she’s hot,” Ceric grunts from the head of our table. Rising from his chair he makes his way towards the girl.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Burkhart asks mockingly. “Can’t you keep it in your pants for a few hours Dude?” Ceric shows him the finger not missing a step until he’s behind the girl.

“Hey there Sweet Candy.” I see the girl tense before she turns towards him, a dainty blonde eyebrow raised as she looks him up and down.

“Are you suggesting that I look like a lollipop?” she says sarcastically in her raspy voice. I can see a frown mare Ceric’s brow before he smiles at her.

“No, more like decadent toffee.” I hear some of the guys groan, Burkhart snickers.

“Well seeing as you know so much about decadent toffee it’s a shame then that previous toffees haven’t stuck your teeth together.” At her answer everyone at the tables start chuckling, we had all stopped talking when Ceric had approached the girl, listening to their exchange.

She turns back to Jenny who is behind the counter thanking her for the information she needed. Before she can make her way out of the bakery, Ceric’s words stop her. “Do I at least get the pleasure of knowing the name of the girl that has brought me to my knees?” She looks back at him not turning around. Shaking her head she says, “You don’t give up do you? My name is Nova.” And with that she walks out.

“Damn Dude, you got burned,” Burkhart teases when Ceric finally turns from the door and approaches us. “That was a real treat to watch, I even thought of paying her to hang around a little longer just to see you grovel.” I know Burkhart is giving Ceric a hard time because of all the times Ceric jokes around with everyone.

Brandr is laughing so hard at Ceric’s dejected look that he has doubled-over on his chair. I haven’t known Ceric for long, but I can tell that he doesn’t get turned down often by women. If anything I have a feeling that they run after him.

I see Gabriela motioning towards Jenny. After a bit, Jenny approaches Ceric placing a lollipop in front of him. “I believe you’re looking for something to sweeten you up?” Gabriela teases, making everyone burst out in laughter again.

“Yeah, Yeah Fuckers, go ahead,” Ceric grunts, but his eyes are sparkling in humour. Unwrapping the lollipop, he sticks it in his mouth, presenting everyone with a devilish smile.

“You know Brother, I think you need something stronger. I don’t think sweets are doing it for you anymore,” Cassius teases. “Or, maybe she heard that she would have to share you with Bjarni.” Since Gabriela had assumed that Ceric and Bjarni were gay, the guys constantly teased them about it.

“Hey, leave my man out of this. The only one he’s sharing anything with is me,” Gabriela retorts sticking her tongue out at Cassius.

“Damn right Baby Girl, come here.” Bjarni pulls her towards him. “Let me see that tongue again.” He says before he lowers his head taking her lips in a blistering kiss.

“Fuck Man, get a room,” Burkhart teases.

“That’s a brilliant idea,” Brandr grunts while looking at me. The look of hunger on his face makes me catch my breath, I can’t believe this man wants me.

“What you going to do about it?” I whisper, drawing closer to him. I see his beautiful green eyes light up before his hand is behind my neck pulling my face towards his.

“Fuck Sunshine,” he growls before he takes my lips in a searing kiss that scorches my blood. I completely lose track of where I am until I hear Burkhart grumble from his chair.

Brandr draws back still holding my neck. “To be continued,” he murmurs and winks.

“I think it’s time to go, otherwise we’re going to have Ceric embarrass himself again with his pickup lines,” Draco says, already standing. We had decided that the girls would go Christmas shopping, but the guys would stay away when they were in a specific store.

The men had only agreed when we promised to listen to them. At first, I was reluctant to go shopping as I didn’t have any money with me but Brandr had given me his bank card, telling me to spend as much as I wanted.

I confided in him that, that wasn’t my only concern but that I was also worried that I would start hearing other people’s thoughts again and embarrass everyone. He promised that at the first sign of tension on my part he would take me back to the compound. So here I was, on my way to the store. I hadn’t been shopping for years. I had never found it necessary to go out, but standing outside the bakery, surrounded by these men that even now still frightened me, I know that nothing could happen as they are here to protect me.

“Are you okay Sunshine?” I hear Brandr’s concerned voice, only now realising that we have reached the bikes and that I am standing staring at them while Brandr is waiting for me to get on. Focusing on him, I smile to let him know that I’m fine. I see that Wulf is helping Jasmine into the SUV, but all the others are already on the bikes waiting for me. Getting on, I wrap my arms around Brandr feeling his body heat against my front. His hands take hold of my thighs pulling me flush against his back.

“That’s how I want you when we ride,” he says, as he starts the bike and pulls away from the kerb. Draco and Bion pull away first with Brandr and Bjarni following, Wulf pulls up behind us in the SUV and then Burkhart and Ceric in the rear.

Even though I am sitting on a bike riding in the middle of town, I have never felt safer than I feel now surrounded by these men that until a month ago were strangers to me, but since then have shown me that I can be normal.