Present day …

The female wore a tight-fitting suit. It molded every contour of her athletic body. She was human but didn’t have any of the curves most human females had. Except for large mammary glands but even those were hard looking. Her lips were plump, like they’d been stung by bees. Her hair was shoulder length, cut dead straight. Her pants suit was pressed. Her perfume strong. She wore a tight jacket over an off-white blouse. The blouse looked sheer. Her make-up was caked to her face, yet she wore no jewelry. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. They were bright blue. Icy. So, this was the female they called the Ballbreaker. Titan didn’t like her.

“So, um … Mr. Titan …” She smiled again. It looked wrong on her somehow. Like she didn’t mean it. Her whole appearance was wrong, as if she’d ironed her face or something.

“Just Titan.” He’d only just arrived and he had already had enough of this bullshit.

“Sure, Titan it is then.” She paused. “This is Richard Evans, he heads up the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.”

Blah fucking blah, blah.

The male stepped forward. His suit was a perfect fit. The two buttons still done up. He was an older male yet, by his physique, Titan could tell that he looked after himself. “It’s good to meet you. I’m glad we can be of service to your kind.” It wasn’t Titan’s imagination when he noticed the male’s lip curl slightly in irritation, maybe even disgust. “Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly Stewart will head up the—”

“No,” Titan said. He folded his arms.

The male frowned. “No?” He looked taken aback for a second, then quickly pulled himself together. “What do you mean, no?” He cocked his head.

“I will head up this investigation.” These humans were a funny bunch. They almost made him want to laugh. He was here on a mission. He had a carefully thought out plan, there was no way they were fucking it up.

The female’s whole demeanor changed. Her chin lifted and her back straightened. She didn’t like the idea of playing second fiddle to a vampire. Well tough shit.

“I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible. Supervisory Special Agent Stewart has led many successful operations. Her—”

“I don’t care.”

The male’s jaw clenched. He pursed his lips. The female widened her eyes and huffed out a breath. In short, they weren’t impressed.

“These threats have been made against my kind. I hold a vested interest in a positive outcome, therefore—”

“Mr. Titan …” the male began.

“Just Titan.”

“Fine.” He paused for a moment. “Titan, I assure you that we are all working toward the same end. I understand that you would feel more comfortable heading up this investigation, but—”

“No buts, it’s the way it will be.” Titan looked at each of them in turn.

“My brief was clear.” The male was greying at the temples. He shook his head, looking solemn, or trying to at any rate.

“So was mine.” Titan was getting sick of this bullshit. He was done playing nice with the humans. Unfortunately, he was on their soil and had to at least attempt to meet them halfway. His kings had picked him because they felt he had it in him. He just needed to dig deep.

The director ‒ whatever the hell his title was ‒ made a noise like he was thinking it through. He even rubbed his chin. At long damned last he looked Titan in the eye. “I’m afraid my brief was somewhat different to yours then. My director contacted me personally about this matter and was quite clear. I had to pick one of my supervisors to head up this team and Supervisory Special Agent Stewart is the right person for the job.”

Titan fished his cellphone out of his pocket and pushed one. “Yeah,” Brant said.

“Sorry to bother you, my lord.”

“Don’t tell me that there are issues already,” his king barked.

“No issues, my lord.”

“What’s going on?”

“There is a disagreement as to who is in charge of this operation. We discussed the details of my assignment and the way I plan on running it. You and I agreed and it was my understanding that we had the go ahead.”

“So, what’s the problem?” Brant sounded irritable.

“Well, someone by the name of …” He raised his brows, looking the male pointedly in the eyes.

“Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans,” the male said quickly, pride evident in each word.

Titan had to keep himself from snorting and rolling his eyes. He relayed the male’s name, leaving out the fancy title. Richard Evans narrowed his eyes at the lack of formality.

“Give me a half a minute to sort this out,” Brant said.

“Thank you, my lord.” The phone went dead. Titan didn’t bother to put it back into his pocket.

“And?” Richard Evans pushed his left hand into his pants pocket. The male was so sure of himself.

“We will have our answer shortly.” Titan crossed his hands at his middle.

“I’m sure the record was set straight. What did he say?” The female stepped forward, she was frowning heavily.

Titan locked eyes with her. “Patience, female.”

“I am Supervisory Special Agent Stewart. Please refrain from calling me,” her nose wrinkled, “by any other term.”

Titan ignored her.

The male gave a shake of his head, clearly irritated. Ten seconds later, he looked at his watch, frowning. Ten seconds after that, he leaned on the edge of the desk.

His phone vibrated in his hand and Titan answered. “Will do.” He handed the phone to Richard Evans.

The older male’s frown deepened. He didn’t look eager to take the device. He finally took the phone. “This is Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans.” His annoyance laced into every word.

His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Richard Evans jumped up off the desk, and removed the hand that was in his pocket. “Yes, Mr. President,” he stammered.

The female gasped, she put a hand to her mouth.

Richard Evans listened for a few seconds. “Understood, sir.” His face turned a ghostly white. “Certainly, sir.” The call ended.

The male didn’t speak for the longest time. He just stared off into space. “Ahhh!” he mumbled something. “Right.” He looked the female head-on. “You will be reporting to Titan on this operation.”

Her mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.” She shook her head.

“The order has come all the way from the top. He …” Richard Evans pointed at Titan who had to stop himself from growling at the male. Who the fuck did he think he was? The older male must have seen something change in Titan’s eyes because he quickly pulled his hand back. “Titan is in charge. Assemble your team so that they can be briefed in this matter.”

“I’m not interested in working with a team.”

Richard Evans choked out a laugh. “That’s nuts!” He shook his head and widened his eyes. “You definitely need to work together with a taskforce to take these vigilantes out.”

“No taskforce.” He was getting sick of hearing his own voice.

The male’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “You have to work in conjunction with the FBI.” He looked smug all of a sudden. “You will head up the team but you need to work with us.”

Titan nodded. “That’s fine. You can assign me one of your warriors.”

“One person.” Richard Evans shook his head.

“Yes, I need to work together with the FBI so you will assign me one person. Do it now! The sooner I know who I am working with, the sooner I can get started.”

“Don’t you mean ‘we’?” the female asked. “The sooner ‘we’ can get started.”

“Of course.” He glanced at her. “Goes without saying.”

“I’m afraid I can’t allow—” Richard Evans started, but the female interrupted him.

“It sounds like Titan knows what he is doing, sir.” She narrowed her eyes at the older male as if trying to convey a special message to him.

“I’m not convinced.” Richard Evans folded his arms.

“I have someone in mind who would be perfect for a mission like this.” She rubbed her nose, then dropped her hand back to her side.

The male frowned and narrowed his eyes. He looked far from convinced. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but I am, sir. This individual is well qualified for—”

“Only one agent, one …” he tsk’d. “I’m not sure why you are agreeing to this, Kim, or—”

“Our brief just changed … sir” she quickly added. “Titan is in charge. If he only wants one person on his task force, who are we to object?”

Richard Evans mulled it over for a time. He finally nodded. “You are right.” He gave a nod in the female’s direction.

“Good.” She smiled. This time, it did reach her eyes. What was she up to? Titan didn’t trust her … either of them for that matter. Kimberly Stewart picked up the phone on her desk and dialed. There was a short break. “I have an assignment for you. Get to my office now.” She put the phone down before the other person on the line could so much as utter a word.

* * *

An assignment.

Her.

Maybe this was some kind of mistake. After the shooting incident, she’d been sent to a different division and had been tied to a desk. It didn’t stop her from training hard in the hopes of being reassigned one day.

When she’d been sent to work for a different section within the Criminal Investigative Division she’d hoped that things would be better. She’d seen it as an opportunity. New beginnings. Natasha had been wrong. She should have known. She was still working for the same director, that hadn’t changed. Her supervisor had clearly been tasked with working her out. Up until the sting operation, it had been subtler. Since coming to work for Stewart, it was infinitely clear. They wanted her out. Moreover, Evans wanted her out.

The endless reams of paperwork. Having to account for every minute of every day. Even her work hours, including her lunch break were strictly monitored. Natasha had been late once because of a flat tire. Just once and for a good reason. Disciplinary action was taken against her. A black mark on her record. One more strike and she was out.

This was it though. A chance to prove herself. Natasha was no quitter. Her dad had taught her to never give up and to fight for something if you really believe in it. She’d always dreamed of making a difference. Good against bad. Right against wrong and all that.

Natasha smoothed her jacket. Shit, she should’ve reapplied some lipstick. Stewart’s make-up was always impeccable. Natasha often forgot to even put the stuff on. It wasn’t important as a field agent but in the office environment it seemed to be a requirement, even though no one had outright said it to her. She licked her lips, pausing for a few moments outside the door.

Natasha sucked in a deep breath. She recalled all the successful operations she’d been a part of. All the shooting competitions she’d won. All her awards and accolades. She was not defined by her time here or her one and only sting operation as an FBI Agent.

She had this. Natasha knocked twice.

“Come in.” Her boss smiled when she entered the room. Smiled. She’d only ever seen the woman smile a handful of times and never at her.

When she noticed the man standing behind her supervisor, she tried not to show her distaste or her fear. She hated that he brought out that emotion in her. What was Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans doing here? Suddenly it was all clear. She was about to be fired. That had to be it. She pulled her shoulders straight. If she was going out, it would be with her head held high.

“You know Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans,” her supervisor said.

Natasha nodded once both in acknowledgement and greeting. That was all the prick was getting out of her. She refused to so much as touch his hand.

Her eyes drifted further into the room. When her gaze met his, she wasn’t sure how she could’ve missed him in the first place. He looked like a god or a Viking. The guy could be a double for Thor, all he needed was a big-ass hammer. Lord only knew he had the guns to be able to wield such a weapon. His hair was thick and just long enough to be tied back at the base of his head. He had a neatly trimmed beard. His eyes … oh wow … those eyes. They looked like they could see straight through a person. Something shifted in them as they locked with hers. They went from cold and hard to downright feral.

The Thor look-a-like took a step towards her. His leather pants pulled tight around his thick thighs. Her mouth felt dry. Was that the hilt of a sword at his back? There was a blade strapped to the side of his thigh and by the bulge at his ankle she knew that he had a weapon concealed there.

So sexy!

He wasn’t happy to see her. That much was apparent. His nostrils flared slightly and his mouth turned down at the corners before he pursed his lips. For the first time since starting her career she had the ridiculous urge to pull her shoulders back. To push out the twins and maybe pull her hair out of its ponytail. Her throat tickled with a giggled. One she would not let loose. No way! She actually wanted this guy to check her out. He did the opposite. The Thor-like god looked at her supervisor, dismissing her outright with his demeanor. “Who is this?” His voice was deep and rough. He sounded even less impressed than he looked.

Her supervisor gave another smile. It seemed like Stewart was in a particularly good mood this morning. “This is Special Agent Natasha Walters. Natasha …” Stewart looked her way. “Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans is here because he has a vested interest in this project.”

The asshole just stood there. Natasha could feel him looking at her with those beady eyes of his. What project? What was Richard Evans doing here? She had a feeling that she was about to find out, and that she wasn’t going to like it. Natasha nodded in his direction, still not really looking at him. From the corner of her eye, she could see that he was frowning heavily. He didn’t look happy in the least.

Her supervisor continued. “Titan, this is Natasha Walters; Walters, meet Titan.” So the Viking god had a name. Titan. It was fitting. “Natasha will be joining you on your mission—”

“I don’t think that Agent Walters is the right fit for this operation,” Executive Assistant Director Richard Evans said. He shook his head slowly.

“I have to agree.” Titan folded his arms. His whole demeanor was tense, even his jaw looked tight. His eyes blazed. The guy looked pissed off. He must have read her file, probably knew about her last operation. It bugged her to her core that he judged her on that one incident.

“Sir …” Stewart addressed Evans. “Titan …” she glanced at the Thor look-a-like. “Natasha Walters is highly qualified.” Her Supervisor went on to list Natasha’s achievements. Including finishing head of her class when she joined the Bureau, her shooting skills, numerous successful operations as an undercover police officer. Stewart was laying it on thick. What the hell? Something stank about this. Up until a half an hour ago, her boss had been working her out of the job. What had changed? What was this all about? This was a one-eighty if she ever saw one. It was so abrupt it almost gave her whiplash.

Titan didn’t look convinced. If anything, he bristled even more. His biceps bulged.

Evans held up a hand. “I’m sure Special Agent Walters has an impeccable record or she wouldn’t have been selected to join the Bureau in the first place. However, her actions during her last operation put an entire investigation at risk. She—”

“Is perfect for this mission, sir. I’d like to have a word with you if I may.”

Evans did a partial roll of the eyes and sighed. He looked at his watch. “We need to wrap this up. I have a conference call with Quantico in ten minutes.”

Her supervisor nodded and gestured to the door. “All I ask is two minutes of your time.” She turned back to them. “Excuse us.” She looked at Titan.

Evans sighed a second time and they both went outside, closing the door behind them.

Natasha turned to face Titan. “I may have messed up on my last mission but I assure you I learned my lesson. My long-term record speaks for itself.”

Titan frowned. He didn’t say anything.

“You just heard my credentials. Don’t let one lapse in judgement cloud your decision.” Who was this guy anyway? He hadn’t been formally introduced to her.

“I wasn’t really listening.” He sounded bored.

“Why not?” She made a noise of frustration. “You’d already decided based on what happened on my last mission? So, I went for the kill shot. I was technically following everything I’ve ever been taught.”

His frown deepened. “I have no knowledge of your last mission. I would appreciate it if you could stay silent.” His focus moved back to the door through which Evans and Stewart had just disappeared.

None of this was making any sense. Natasha didn’t trust Stewart one bit. Her boss was known as the Ballbreaker and it wasn’t for nothing. Stewart’s smiling meant something was off. This was an opportunity though. Why had this Titan guy ‒ whoever he was ‒ turned down working with her? Especially when he didn’t know her history. Why would he …

There was only one reason. She should have realized. Natasha bit back an angry snort and forced herself to count to ten. Titan was an asshole, that’s why he didn’t want to work with her. She grit her teeth for a moment. “It’s because I’m a woman, isn’t it?” She spoke under her breath. She paused for a moment, waiting for him to deny it. She couldn’t wait to hear his bullshit excuses.

“Yes.” He gave a nod, keeping his eyes on the door.

Her mouth fell open for a second. “What? You admit it?” That was a first. Honesty ‒ something she could actually respect, even if he was a sexist pig.

Titan finally glanced her way. “I don’t want a female on my task team.”

“Why the hell not? I’m a better marksman, I’m quicker than—”

“None of that matters.” He glanced her way for a second before looking back at the door.

“Of course it matters. I would be an asset to any team. My field experience—”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s not personal.”

“Of course it’s personal. You don’t know me and yet you’ve based your decision on the fact that I pee sitting.”

His mouth twitched. The asshole thought it was funny. He could honestly go to hell. “The fact that I’m a woman isn’t important. For your information, I’m not married. I don’t have any kids.” She snorted, unable to hold back her irritation for a moment longer. “Not that it should matter.”

“I know you don’t.” Deadpan.

She felt herself frown. “How could you possibly know something like that?”

“I can scent it.”

What? “How could you …?”

“Be quiet for a moment.” His gaze flashed to her mouth before locking with her eyes.

The nerve. “No! You can’t just tell me to—” He put his hand over her mouth. His big, warm, calloused hand.

She made a muffled squeaking noise. It irritated her how good the guy smelled. As in, off the charts. Her eyes widened. She was just about to step away from him or to shake his hand off when his eyes softened.

“Please.” His pale blue orbs burned into hers. “I need to listen to what they are saying. I don’t trust them.” He looked back towards the door.