Chapter Two
Dustin scrambled for something to say. "I’m really sorry about what happened back there." Tap looked ticked off and Dustin wasn’t trying to make an enemy. He didn’t regret using Tap to get away from Chance, but he felt kinda bad about it.
Dustin wasn't the type to use someone, but he'd been desperate, and Tap had been his only way out. If he hadn't shown up, Dustin would have run to Braxton, and the last thing he wanted to do was get the human law involved. Vane would've been furious.
Heading back to work was a bad idea. Devin had given him the rest of the day off to take care of business and Dustin showing up only thirty minutes after he’d left would have Devin questioning him. His boss was a good guy, but since Dustin’s alpha had demanded they meet, Devin would insist Dustin go to the meeting.
Besides, Grizzly's would be the first place Chance looked for him. It would be the first place Vane checked, as well. Dustin was in a pickle and didn’t know how to get out of it. His gaze slid to Tap, but he knew the wolf wouldn’t be of any further help. He looked like he couldn’t get rid of Dustin fast enough. His jaw was clenched and his hand was holding the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were bloodless.
"So do you live around here?" Dustin curled his lips in. That was probably the dumbest question he had ever asked anyone. Everyone knew where the bounty hunters lived and worked. That was one reason Vane had so readily agreed to Dustin’s plea to work elsewhere. He knew where Dustin would be.
He wished he could take his question back. Dustin had a tendency to speak before thinking. It was one of his many downfalls. Another was his tendency to get himself into trouble, even though Dustin avoided drama.
"You can let me out here," Dustin said when he saw Spotos, the jazzy coffeehouse in Mercury. Not only did they serve coffee and tea, they even served ice cream.
"I thought you wanted to be dropped at work?"
"This will do." Dustin reached for the handle. He’d jump if he had to. There was no way he was showing up at Grizzly’s. With the way his luck was going, Chance would be there waiting for him. He’d prefer to stay in the truck with Tap, but that wasn’t an option. With the tattoo on his neck and the back of his skull, Tap looked like he would rather eat Dustin than give him any more of his time.
Tap pulled his truck into a parking slot in front of the coffeehouse. "Thank you." Dustin stopped himself from saying more. He’d been told more than once he talked too much and he didn’t want Tap yelling at him…again.
When Tap pulled his keys from the ignition and got out, Dustin frowned and scratched his head. He got out and went inside, Tap following behind him. He wasn’t sure why until Tap stepped to the counter and ordered a coffee.
Dustin hadn’t gotten paid yet and was broke, but managed to scrounge up some change from his pocket. He counted out what he needed and then ordered a tea. As he stood next to Tap, his stomach grumbled. He should have eaten before he left work. That was one of the great things about working at Grizzly’s. Employees ate for free.
Tap glanced down at him but didn’t say anything as the two waited on their drinks. Dustin’s stomach grumbled again. It felt as if it were trying to crawl its way out. He covered his belly with his hand and gave Tap a weak smile since the guy was still staring at him.
"Missed breakfast," Dustin said and then glanced away.
Tap just grunted.
"Hey, Stephen," Dustin said to the guy behind the counter. "I’ll be right back."
Stephen nodded as Dustin hurried to the bathroom. He stood by the sink and waited until he thought Tap should be gone. Everyone knew the bounty hunters were a rough bunch of wolves. They were intimidating, fierce, and Dustin had no business being attracted to Tap. His brain tried to reason with him, tried to tell him to stay as far away from the wolf as possible.
He’d been stunned when Tap had shown up to rescue him. The man he’d been infatuated with for years had finally noticed Dustin existed. Or so he’d thought. From the way Tap acted, he was clearly just playing the Good Samaritan. That alone had shocked Dustin. The wolves weren’t known for that kind of thing. He wasn’t even sure why he was attracted to the guy knowing what type of men the bounty hunters were, but people couldn't help whom they fell for.
That was painfully obvious since Dustin was crushing on Tap and Tap was acting as though Dustin was a bother.
Taking a deep breath to try to calm his racing heart, Dustin peeked out the door. The wolf was gone. Dustin wasn’t about to hide in the bathroom the entire time with his stomach grumbling. It was bad enough Tap had seen him being picked on. Dustin didn’t want the guy feeling sorry for him.
After hurrying out the bathroom door, Dustin wasn't sure why he chose this spot, but he decided to hang out here until he could figure out what to do about Chance. Dustin had missed his meeting, which meant Vane would be calling him, demanding to know why he hadn't shown up.
"Your drink is over there." Stephen pointed toward the back of the shop. Dustin turned to see Tap sitting in one of the cushioned chairs, one leg crossed over the other. Even sitting he appeared fierce. On the table in front of the guy was Dustin’s tea and a red basket. Dustin didn’t want to sit by him while Tap ate. That would be torture, but he’d spent the last of his money to buy that tea and he wanted it.
Why didn’t Tap leave? Why is he still hanging around?
With his heart pattering a thousand beats a second, Dustin ambled to where Tap sat and took a seat in the chair next to the guy. He was afraid to move or even breathe. The wolf sat there with his coffee cup in his hand, staring at the crackling fire in the fireplace. The image on the screen was a nice touch to the place and the owner only turned the heat part on when it was chilly outside.
"Eat."
Dustin frowned as he turned his head to look up at Tap. "Huh?"
Tap nodded toward the basket. "I said eat."
He’d bought Dustin some food? Dustin wanted to throw his arms around Tap and thank him, but he didn’t want Tap punching his lights out. Besides, Dustin was a leopard and leopards were psycho about being touched. They loved it, but only if skin privileges were given, and Tap’s body language screamed "Fuck off," "Keep back fifty feet," and "gun owner."
For the second time that day, Tap had helped him out. Dustin wasn’t going to question the gesture. For whatever reason Tap had pitied him, Dustin was thankful for the food.
He grabbed the basket to see a tuna sandwich and fries. The food looked and smelled delicious. He grabbed a fry and nibbled on it as he stole covert glances at Tap. If the wolf could be nice, then so could Dustin. He raised the basket. "Want some? It’s only right that I share since you were the one who paid for this. Besides, that’s a big sandwich and I’m not sure I can eat all of it."
He curled his lips in when one of Tap’s brows rose.
"Never mind," Dustin said quickly and sat back. For someone who couldn’t wait to get away from him, Tap sure looked mighty comfortable. Dustin wanted to ask why he was being so nice, but decided to keep his trap shut.
His resolve last roughly five seconds.
"I’ve seen you in Grizzly’s a lot. Do you eat there often?" Dustin mentally groaned. At this rate, Tap would think he was a complete and utter simpleton. Of course he ate there often if he was there a lot. He wanted to smack his forehead for being such a dork.
Disappointment engulfed Dustin when Tap stood and walked out of the coffeehouse. Dustin pretty much sucked at small talk. That was why he always blabbed the first thing that came to mind, and now he’d run off a man he’d had his eye on for quite some time.
No longer hungry, Dustin dropped the basket on the table and sighed. He should have never gotten out of bed. Tap was an absolute jerk.
A sexy, great-smelling, well-built…jerk.
* * * *
Tap stood by his truck and wondered why he found Dustin so damn intriguing. The little leopard asked the most ridiculous questions, yet Tap had found him entertaining. He normally would have had someone like Dustin in his bed by now, but the fact Dustin was a leopard had stopped him. Tap knew about their breed and what went on at the Leopards Lounge. Just because Dustin worked at Grizzly’s didn’t mean he hadn’t worked at the lounge first.
Besides, Tap didn’t do cats. Never had. They weren’t his thing. So why in the hell was he looking through the window of the coffeehouse hoping to catch a glimpse of the guy? Better question was why he’d gone in there in the first place.
He’d wanted Dustin when they were in the truck and he still did. That was the reason he was getting the hell out of there. He didn’t need the complication and Dustin screamed drama.
Yet despite all that reasoning, Tap stood there watching as Dustin moved to the door, as if ready to walk out before Shane Douglas stopped him. From what he'd heard, Dustin and Shane were roommates.
They stood there talking and all Tap could do was stare at the leopard’s beautiful body, drink in his stunning features, and wonder what the kitty cat would look like as he writhed beneath him.
"Whatcha looking at?" Levi asked as he appeared next to Tap. Tap had been so fixated on Dustin that he hadn’t even heard the guy’s approach. Levi glanced in the window and then back at Tap. "The pussy cat?"
The last thing Tap wanted was for one of his pack members to heckle him. If any of the bounty hunters found out just how interested he was, the cat jokes would never end. "No."
A grin spread across Levi’s face as he leaned against Tap’s truck and folded his arms over his chest. "I know that look, Tap. You want that pussy, don’t you?"
Tap grimaced. "You’re an ass."
Levi chuckled. "I’m not an ass. I like ass. Get it straight."
"There’s nothing straight about you." Tap needed to get out of there. The longer he stared at Dustin through the window, the more he wanted the male. Shane said something and Dustin smiled. Shit. Had he ever seen a more stunning smile? It lit up Dustin’s face, and Tap’s wolf growled to get closer. Dumb animal didn’t care it was sniffing for a cat.
"Ain’t no shame in my game," Levi said. "I like dick." He wiggled his finger at Tap’s face. "But from that weird look in your eyes, you like pussy."
And the jokes begin.
Tap growled at Levi and smacked at the wolf’s hand. "You like dick so much, why don’t you go in there and order some."
Levi’s grin grew wider. "You don’t think I will, do you?"
Tap’s brows furrowed as he watched Levi head inside. Shane said something to Dustin, something that made the little leopard stay put, then hurried behind the counter. Levi sauntered toward it and then began to speak. The smile on Shane’s face faltered, then fell away. Shane looked pissed as he grabbed a cup from the counter and threw something liquid in Levi’s face.
Tap’s eyes widened as his lips parted. He glanced up and down the street, wondering if he should get the hell out of there. He should, but he couldn’t make his feet move. Tap was fixated on the scene unfolding in front of him, amazed Levi had actually done it.
There was something seriously wrong with the brother. When Dustin turned and glared at Tap, Tap threw his arms up, asking silently what he’d done. The little leopard gave Tap his back. Why the fuck was he being blamed for Levi's bad behavior?
Levi exited Spotos, wiping his face with the bottom of his shirt. "Guess they don’t serve dick. But a dick is definitely serving coffee." Levi turned and Tap assumed the glare was aimed at Shane.
"You are one strange wolf."
"At least I don’t like pussy," Levi said as he headed down the street.
The door to the coffee shop opened and an angry leopard stormed outside. "What was that all about?" Dustin demanded.
"What, you think I had something to do with that?" Tap was going to strangle Levi when he got his hands wrapped around the man’s neck.
"You know what?" Dustin held up a hand. "Never mind. It’s obvious you wolves are immature. I don’t need this drama."
Tap watched as Dustin walked away. Did he just get dumped by a guy he wasn’t even dating?
* * * *
Dustin had walked home. If he hadn’t been used to walking everywhere, the distance would have worn him out. He lived on the Southside of town. It was a neighborhood where most of the houses looked abused, because the renters didn’t care how they treated property they didn’t own. Trash littered the yards, kids played out in the streets, and cars drove by with their music so loud that you could hear their frames vibrate.
This wasn’t the type of neighborhood Dustin ever imagined living in, but it was better than living at the lounge. A cardboard box under a bridge would be better than staying with his leap. The housing was all Dustin could afford working as a waiter. Mercury wasn’t a cheap place to live, but it was the only town he knew. It was where he’d grown up.
He had a roommate, though. He and Shane lived together, split the expenses, and it wasn’t so bad. A lot of residents of Mercury thought the Southside was comparable to some place like Compton, but Dustin didn’t think so.
Though he tried not to go outside at night. The Southside was split in half. From Durango Street to Eastwood was where the Latinos lived. From Pear Avenue to Harvard Avenue was where the African Americans lived. And there was a four-block radius where metalheads called home. The metalheads were mostly comprised of bikers. The Grizzly Bastards. Dustin and Shane lived in an apartment building that bordered the metalheads and Harvard Avenue.
The suburbs and the wealthy district was a mixed population of human races and preternatural breeds. Dustin knew that Tap lived on Murray Hill—one of the wealthiest parts of town—and that was another reason things would never work out between them.
Dustin stopped at the corner deli, sliding past an obvious drug dealer whose pants hung way past his ass and who wore a gold chain around his neck. The guy glanced his way, but Dustin hurried into the store, making sure not to make eye contact.
He grabbed some soda and a dozen eggs, and paid an outrageous price for them before heading home. He and Shane had invested in sturdy locks at the local hardware store. The one that came with the apartment had been pitiful. Dustin locked all three locks and then slid the chain into place before starting dinner.
He thought about Tap. He thought about Levi and what the wolf had said to Shane. In all honesty, Dustin had had to fight not to laugh. It had been hilarious, but as pissed as Shane looked, Dustin had buried his smile.
Still, he didn’t like that Tap had been in on it. He’d thought the man more mature than that. It only showed him that things would never work out between them and he needed to leave the wolf alone. Dustin already had too much crap going on his life. He didn’t have time for an immature jerk.
Dustin checked his cell to see if Vane had called. His alpha hadn’t, but his cell reminded him of the lie he’d told Tap while they were in the guy’s truck. There had been no way he was calling his alpha after what Chance had done. Vane was a good alpha, but he already had too much to handle with leap business to concern himself with Dustin’s problems.
Still, what had Vane wanted? Why had he demanded Dustin come to the lounge? Dustin never wanted to see Chance again, but Vane wouldn’t be ignored and sooner or later—and Dustin knew it would be sooner than he liked—he would have to go or risk his alpha’s wrath.
* * * *
Matt watched Colton from his office window. The brother was seated in the garden, staring off into space. Ever since Lucian had freed him from Black Dragon, Colton had kept to himself. The other pack members whispered about Colton being traumatized. But Matt's gut told him it was more than that. He didn’t know what was going on in Colton's head, but Matt wasn't gonna make Colton talk to him.
Colton had been through enough. He'd lost his brother and vampires had kidnapped him. When he was ready to talk, Matt would listen.
He turned away from the window when Jason came into his office. Matt's gaze lowered to his mate's swollen belly. Jason would never truly understand just how beautiful he was to Matt. "How're you feeling?"
"Fat." Jason wobbled to the cushioned chair in front of Matt's desk and grabbed the arms, trying to lower himself. Matt moved around the desk and helped.
Soon his pup would be born, and the thought both excited and terrified him. He bent and kissed Jason's temple. For the time being, Jason was hidden from the world, and Matt wished it could be that way after the birth.
Too much was going on around Mercury, too many people thinking just because the council members were missing that they could do as they please. Crime had doubled in the past few months, and Matt's men were struggling to keep up.
And Matt still hadn't heard back from Nazar. He had questions for the king of hell, but he couldn't ask those questions if Nazar was nowhere to be found.
He still didn't trust Lucian, either. The vampire was up to something. But Matt had made the mistake of sending someone to spy on the Master. His gut clenched every time he thought of North and the hell he'd inadvertently put the bear through. Matt wished he'd known that North's father would send his drug-addicted son to the club. Matt would have stopped it. But Devin hadn't a clue his son was an addict.
He knew now.
Matt needed to repair his relationship with Devin. The guy was like a father to him, and Matt hated how strained things were. North becoming strung out hadn't been his fault. North should have told his father he was a drug addict. Matt had simply been trying to do North a solid by letting him stay at the agency while he went through withdrawal and tried to clean himself up after getting high at Black Dragon—a vampire-owned club.
Unfortunately, Devin didn’t see it that way. He'd looked at Matt with anger and disappointment when he'd found out where North was and why he'd been at the Pit.
"You let life get to you," Jason said, pulling Matt from his thoughts. "You shoulder too much."
"From your lips to God's ear." Matt massaged Jason's shoulders, noticing how swollen his bare feet were. "Is there anything you need?"
"To have this baby. Dr. Whitfield is coming by this afternoon to check on me. I think I'll take a nap until then."
Matt helped him from the chair. "But you just got here."
Jason stretched, making his stomach stick out even farther. Matt splayed his hand over Jason's round belly, smiling when he felt the babe kick.
"I need a nap," Jason said, pressing one of his hands into his lower back. "And you can tell your child to stop using my insides as drums. I'm tired of going pee every five seconds, and I have a mean craving for sloppy joe with coleslaw."
Matt grimaced. "I'll order some from Grizzly's."
"As soon as I have this baby, I'm cooking. You guys order too much from there. You need a home-cooked meal."
Now that sounded fantastic. "We'll see."
Matt didn’t want Jason to feel obligated to cook for the pack. His job would be to care for their child, not slop food around for hungry wolves.
But he could cook for Matt.
"I know you need to check on the agency and hire a new receptionist. I think I'm gonna head to Stuart's room and take a nap with him. His stomach is even bigger than mine, and it's funny to see him struggling to get up. He looks like a turtle on his back."
"That's not very nice."
Jason grinned. "But it's still funny."
With a roll of his eyes, Matt helped him upstairs.