Chapter Three
Tap had started toward the door of the pack house when something caught his eye. He looked right to see Colton sitting in the garden, slouched in a rattan chair, bottle of booze in hand. The smell of green wafted toward Tap. Brother hadn’t been the same since he was brought home. It was almost as if he were sleepwalking through life, self-medicating, quiet.
Everyone tiptoed around Colton, no one bringing up the fact he’d spent over two weeks at Black Dragon. There was no telling what the vampires had been doing to him. Tap couldn’t imagine how Colton must have felt spending time with a species that had killed his brother and kidnapped him. He wasn’t sure how fucked Colton’s head was, but the brother had to have suffered and was still suffering.
Tap walked up the path and took a seat next to Colton. The wolf passed the blunt and Tap took a hit. He coughed and pounded his chest.
"You gonna be the one?" Colton asked before he tipped the bottle back and took a long swallow.
Tap passed the green back. "The one for what?"
Colton hissed as he lowered the bottle, then stared off into the garden. He looked haunted. There were dark bags under his eyes, and Tap was one of the few who knew that Colton barely slept. He roamed the halls at night, practically mainlined alcohol, and ate just enough to get by. Colton had lost a lot of weight and it didn’t look good on his six-four frame. "To ask me about what happened."
Tap shrugged. "I'm not a shrink. Figure if you wanted to talk about it, you would."
Colton gazed at Tap and then glanced away, taking another long swallow. The brother was hurting, but Tap didn’t know what to say or how to bridge the gap that had grown between Colton and the others.
"If you ever do decide to get that poison out," Tap said as they passed the smoke, "I’ll listen. Can’t say I know how to give advice, but I can listen."
"It’s like being underwater." Tap waited for Colton to say more, but he just tossed back a swallow, toked on the blunt, and stared at the garden. They sat that way for a long time—drinking, passing, staring—until Colton finally spoke.
"So what’s this about you chasing pussy?"
"Fucking Levi." Tap slouched in his chair. "Brother got a big mouth."
Colton gave a slight grin. It was good to see him smile, even if it was only half an effort. "Don’t let the others fuck with you. You want the pussy, go for it."
"Everyone’s a comedian," Tap said but didn’t admit or deny anything. He had a feeling Colton didn't want to talk much. Tap was fine with that. He wasn’t much for chatter. The thought brought up an image of Dustin. Fuuuck. Tap’s cock jerked at the thought of the male.
That fantastic damn smile was going to be Tap’s downfall. He shook his head. Nah, he wasn’t gonna let himself fall for it. Even if he got past the fact Dustin was a leopard, he couldn’t get past the idea that the guy might’ve worked the lounge. Double standard? Most definitely, but that didn’t matter.
He’d gotten his nickname from tapping so much ass, but over the past few months, Tap had slowed down. He’d been focused on helping his alpha get things in Mercury under control, worked too many hours, and hadn’t any free time to himself. Now when he thought about getting some ass, the only image that came to mind was that damn cat.
Shit. I'm a fucking mess.
Tap slapped Colton on his chest before he stood. "Gonna go get some rest before I have to be back at that damn warehouse." It was the last place Tap wanted to be, but work was work and guarding the deranged was better than sitting on his ass with nothing to do but live in his own headspace.
Colton nodded but stayed put.
Tap had his problems, but they were nowhere near as complicated as Colton’s—whatever the wolf’s problems were. Yeah, he wanted to know what the hell happened when Colton was with those bloodsuckers, but not out of curiosity. Tap wanted to know so that knowledge could fuel his anger as he ripped those vampires to pieces.
Sooner or later Colton would snap out of it and want revenge, and Tap planned on being at the brother’s side when that happened.
* * * *
Dustin’s reprieve had lasted until the following morning. As soon as he walked into the parking lot of Grizzly’s, he saw the black Escalade. Vane was there. Dustin’s first instinct was to run. He would have, but decided meeting Vane here was better than having to go to the club to find out what the alpha wanted. The second option ran the risk of Chance cornering him again.
Dustin stood in the parking lot staring between the SUV and the door to the tavern. The door was wide open, just like it always was during the day. There was a screen door to stop the bugs from getting in, and Dustin could see into the tavern. Not a lot, just the tables that sat to the right of the dining area. He had to go in there. There was no use dodging Vane. It was best to get this over with.
Yet Dustin couldn’t get his feet to move. He had no clue what his alpha wanted and he was terrified. Dustin feared that Vane would make him quit Grizzly’s and come back to the lounge. Dustin would rather have his balls removed then to go back there.
Stop being a chicken and go see what he wants.
Blowing out a series of long and deep breaths, Dustin skirted past Bo—the resident gator, who simply lay there staring up at him, then pulled the screen door open and stepped inside the tavern. He quickly scanned the place. He’d gotten so used to Jason being there that having the guy gone for the past few months felt strange. Even though he knew Jason was pregnant, and should be delivering any day now, Dustin hated change.
But he didn’t see Vane, either. That was his Escalade. Dustin would know that SUV anywhere. He spotted Darius and North behind the bar. The usual customers sat on their stools, including the McKinley brothers—Mercury's residential drunks. Aside from Jason being absent, everything looked normal. He could smell the day’s special being fried up in the kitchen. Catfish. The hickory scent of barbeque sauce was thick in the air. The murmured voices and the sound of the flat screen playing above the bar made him feel as though nothing unusual was going on, but where was Vane?
Dustin moved quickly behind the bar and yanked on Darius’s sleeve. The bear turned and eyed him. "What?"
"I saw Vane’s SUV out in the parking lot. Where is he?" He couldn't stop looking around for his alpha. Dustin feared that Vane would pop up behind him and drag him out of there.
"In the office with Pa." Darius set a mug of beer in front of one of the McKinley brothers, then turned and grabbed another mug and tilted it under the tap.
"How did he look?"
Darius shrugged. "Tall, dark hair, blue eyes—"
Dustin groaned. "No, I mean, did he look angry, irritated—" He started to say happy, but Vane never looked happy. Not that he never smiled, but his alpha always looked as though he was deep in thought, contemplative.
"I wasn’t studying him all like that." Darius pressed a beefy arm onto the bar and leaned into the wood, his expression mischievous. "What did you do to piss him off?"
"Nothing!" Nothing he could think of.
"Then you got nothing to worry about." Darius gave Dustin his back as he gave the other McKinley brother the beer and started a conversation with them.
Dustin had tossed and turned all night trying to figure out why Vane wanted to see him. Then he’d worried Chance had lied about Dustin showing up to see Vane and would make up some bullshit story to get back at Dustin. He rocked from foot to foot as he stared at the door to Devin’s office, uncertain if sticking around was such a wise idea.
Maybe he would try being brave tomorrow. Dustin spun on his heel and hurried from the tavern. Confrontations with his alpha always made his stomach twist into tight knots. Since he missed Jason, visiting his friend seemed like a good idea.
Dustin didn’t look forward to the walk, but putting as much distance between him and Vane as he could sounded damn good. It took him longer to reach the pack house than it should have when he detoured just to avoid the Leopards Lounge. He didn’t want to risk running into Chance.
As he walked up Murray Hill, Dustin tried not to stare at the cars that passed him. Everything in this neighborhood was high-end and he was dressed low-rent. His shoes were well worn, his jeans had holes in the knees with strings frayed all around them, and he was wearing one of his many graphic T-shirts. This one said Free Throat Hugs.
Shane had bought it for him at the local thrift store. His roommate thought it was a hoot since Dustin was a pacifist. He tried to cross his arms to cover the letters, but walking with your arms crossed wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Dustin wasn’t born with the gracefulness most cats possessed. He wasn’t a klutz, but he watched the sidewalk to make sure he didn’t trip over any elevated sections.
The climb uphill was brutal, and by the time he turned into Jason’s driveway, sweat was pouring from Dustin. He rang the doorbell, then wiped the sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt.
When the door swung open, Dustin inwardly groaned. Of all people to answer it.
"Stalking me…nice." Tap leaned his arm above his head and against the doorframe. The move made the bottom of his shirt ride up, and Dustin’s gaze zeroed in on the exposed patch of skin.
"I’m not stalking you," Dustin defended briskly. "I mean, I know you live here, but it wasn’t you I came to see."
"Riiight." Tap turned and walked away, leaving Dustin to stand in the open doorway. The cool air from the central air crept over his heated skin as Dustin walked inside. As the sweat dried, Dustin’s skin started to itch. The jerk had left him alone in the foyer.
He waited a full minute. When he didn’t see anyone, Dustin decided to find Jason. He wasn’t going to just stand there like an idiot and hope someone strode by him. The next time he saw Tap, Dustin was going to kick him in the balls.
He made it five feet from the foyer before he heard a low, menacing growl. Dustin froze.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
He slowly turned to see Levi standing there. Gone was his playful expression from yesterday. In its place were bared canines. "I-I came to see Jason."
Levi moved closer. "So, what, you thought you’d just walk in here and make cozy?"
Bantering with Tap yesterday and just now had made Dustin forget just how lethal the wolves really were. Levi was doing a damn good job of reminding him. His features had darkened and he looked as though he was ready to tear Dustin’s throat out. "I-I rang the doorbell."
"Funny," Levi said, never losing the frightening expression. "I didn’t hear the doorbell. I think Tap’s little infatuation with you makes you think you can waltz right up in here." He stepped closer, his dark eyes narrowing to slits. "A cat walking into a den of wolves is either the bravest thing you’ve ever done, or you’re just plain suicidal."
"What’s going on?"
Dustin’s head snapped around. Matt walked down the steps, eyeing both of them. The alpha. Matt was the most intimidating man Dustin had ever met. Truth be told, he feared Matt more than he feared Vane. The wolf had an air about him that screamed dominant, arrogant, and downright lethal.
"Caught a pussy sneaking in," Levi said.
Dustin narrowed his eyes but kept his trap shut. The last person he wanted to piss off was Matt.
"Is that true, Dustin?" Matt had spoken calmly, but there was no mistaking the quiet rage in his dark gray eyes.
"No!" Dustin defended. "I rang the doorbell. I swear. Tap let me in and then walked off. All I wanted to do was see Jason."
"Tap left you unattended at the door?" Matt asked.
Dustin curled his lips in. He didn’t want to get Tap in trouble, but then again, he didn’t want Matt’s rage directed at him. He felt like he was caught between a rock and Tap’s stupidity. He really was going to kick the man in his nuts.
If he survived this.
"Go get Tap," Matt barked at Levi. Despite the coolness of the house, Dustin began to sweat. He was also slightly shaking as he prayed he made it out of here in one piece.
"I didn’t mean to come here and cause any trouble," Dustin said bullet-fast. "I just haven’t seen Jason in two months and I missed him. I’m sure Tap didn’t mean to—"
Matt held up a hand and Dustin curled his lips in again. He tucked his hands into his armpits as he waited. If Tap didn’t hate him already, he surely would after Matt was done with the guy. Dustin wished he’d never come. He hadn’t meant to get Tap into trouble.
Tap strode down the hallway and seemed unconcerned when he spotted Dustin and Matt. "You rang?"
Matt closed the distance so fast that Dustin had to blink.
"You left a non-pack-member alone with two pregnant males in the house?" Matt wrapped his hand around Tap’s throat. Tap’s eyes widened and Dustin started forward but stopped. He couldn’t do anything to help Tap—not when Matt was doing the threatening. All he could do was stand there helplessly as he watched the scene unfold.
"Shit, man," Tap said. "I wasn’t thinking."
Matt growled and then released Tap. "You better be fucking lucky it was Dustin. But make a mistake like that again and I'll cage you in that warehouse."
Dustin scurried out of the way as Matt stormed past. He stopped at the bottom of the steps and glanced Dustin’s way. "Are you coming?"
For a second, Dustin thought Matt was talking to Tap. But the alpha’s dark gray eyes were pinned on him. He hurried forward to follow, keeping his gaze straight ahead. Dustin didn’t want to see Tap staring murderously at him. No doubt the guy was. He’d just gotten choked out by his alpha because of Dustin.
He was becoming an expert at making enemies lately. At the rate he was going, the whole town of Mercury would be pulling out pitchforks and chasing him down.
* * * *
Tap wanted to be mad at Dustin. He glared at the steps where Dustin had disappeared, but Tap was the only person at fault and he knew it. He had been acting childish and left Dustin standing there.
"Where’s your fucking pussy?" Levi asked.
Tap rounded and slammed Levi into the wall, baring his canines. "I’m getting fucking tired of hearing you say that."
Levi didn’t try to get free. He glared right back at Tap. "For someone who claims not to like Dustin, you sure as shit are hostile about defending him." He shoved at Tap’s arms. "Besides, you’re the one who left him alone. You better be lucky I didn’t tear his throat out on general principle alone."
Tap had known better. Although they all knew Dustin, inviting him into their home was a different matter. It was the wolves’ sanctuary, a place to protect, and soon a place where the pups would be born and raised. Every wolf who lived there already protected it fiercely, but with two pregnant males in the house, letting someone who didn’t live there wander around was asking for a bloodbath.
He inwardly cursed at his stupidity. It had nearly cost Dustin his life. Levi wasn’t a wolf to take lightly, but Tap was thankful Levi had discovered Dustin and not Nick or even Hennessey. There wouldn’t have been anything left of Dustin to identify if either of them had seen the cat.
If Matt had been the one to see Dustin wandering through the house all alone… Tap shuddered. Damn, he’d really fucked up and he knew that Matt wasn’t done dealing with him just yet. Tap wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. He needed to go for a run, to make himself scarce, yet he couldn’t make himself leave. Although Matt had taken Dustin upstairs to see Jason, he still worried about the little leopard. He felt responsible for the male's safety and would wait for Dustin to come back down to make sure he made it out without incident.
Tap took a seat at the bottom of the stairs and waited.