Michael didn't recognize the trace and couldn't put the scent to a face in in his head.
It was totally new.
Yet...
The scent was getting stronger as Michael moved closer to the door of his flat.
Michael’s senses were instantly alert and he moved even closer, almost touching the metal grid protecting his front door.
In neighbourhoods like that one a metal door wasn’t enough to save you from thieves, but there also wasn't anything much to steal.Another thing was Michael could rip them all apart if he decided.Michael listened and heard rustling from the inside.The only person who knew where Mike lived was Flynn.And the man inside was definitely not Flynn.Michael's hand was on his gun in an instant, and although he wouldn't need it, it was a gesture, a kind of human reaction he'd trained himself into when he had become a secret agent.It was mostly for the sake of people - doing human things the way they would.Michael cJesse <3
The blond guy was still smiling, looking up at Michael.The gang had another werewolf working for them and no one had said anything about it. Michael was well aware he was far from having all the information he needed on the gang. Yet, something like this was mojer.And he hadn’t had any idea about it.“What?”Jess asked, the smile dropping from his face.He really was cute.“You are their dog?” Michael asked eventually, lifting an eyebrow.“Why do you want to put a leash on me?”Jesse moved to sit on the table. He acted as if he was home, or owned the place. Jesse had a very light air around him, and it was like he brightened the whole place simply by being there. He definitely didn’t look like someone who worked for a criminal gang. Especially not for someone like Richard. And that got on Michael's nerves even more for some reason.“Just shut up and eat your...whatever. “ Michael growled, “I’m serious enough with the clowning.““Yeah, okay.”Jesse
"Isn't Richard married or anything? ““Where did that come from?”Flynn asked bewildered and Michael waved a hand.“Just a random thought. ““Uhh... No. At least not that I know of. He might have been before, but you know how it is with those people. He can't really have a nice, little wife waiting for him at home. ““Of course.”Keeping a woman, or a mistress would mean unnecessary trouble. No one wanted that. Women wanted children, and security and family. They wanted someone they could wait for who was Actually going to come home after work.It wasn't that men didn't want that with their partner either. It was just easier for men to say they didn't need it."Kids?""I guess not. Kids are another vulnerability. Besides, he has someone to succeed him and the empire, right?""Right."Michael tossed the remainder of whiskey in his glass and waved at the bartender for another one. Flynn gave him a confused look, but didn’t ask any questions about the f
“Will you stop showing up in my apartment ?”Michael asked with a slow exhale. Jesse pushed past him and tossed the plastic bag on the small kitchen table of his place.He closed the door behind him and glanced at the numerous candy bars, spilling from the bag Jesse had brought.The blond wolf fished one chocolate bar out from the plastic and opened it.“What?”“You’re unbelievable. “Michael shook his head.“What, I brought those as a pay back that I ate yours the other night. ““They weren’t mine and I asked what the hell are you doing here? Again.”Michael was already getting frustrated. On top of everything he hadn’t spent last night sleeping. Instead, he’d been searching anything he could possibly find on the mayor and what his connection to Richard and the gang might be.And just as he'd expected he found nothing.He couldn’t find anything on them, there weren’t even photos of the two men together at galas or other official events where they mi
He moved towards Killian. And saw it.A bruise was colouring the skin just above Killlian’s sleeve and it cost Michael physical efforts not to move further.His eyes were still on the bruise, however.It might have been deep purple, or dark blue, but it had now started to fade away and the blue had started turning green to become yellow until it disappeared.Michael always thought he was one of those wolves, people, or whatever he was, who could perfectly control themselves.Granted, the wolf part in him was that piece of his being that was more temperament, that was always faster to react, his body reacting before his mind did.Michael had always known his wolf was very, very easily angered.But he’d also learned how to control it.And if Michael had to think of himself as two different pieces, that were supposed to function as one, he believed he would be able to find the balance one day.The problem with Michael, however, wasn’t that his two “pi
Oh, shitMichael thought.You don’t just want to, or can in any possible universe, touch Killian on a whim, that much he’d learned for the past weeks.The outstretched hand hung empty in the air.The guy- perhaps the leader of the gang dropped it eventually and took a retreating step.“Do you...do you want to see what we have for you?”He waved at two of the guys and they opened the van. What they took out from it was a big, heavy case.Michael realized with dread very well what this was. He’s seen similar cases get traded all the time between the Mexican cartels.Only this one looked bigger and better done. Which meant more deadly.The men placed the box in front of Killian and they opened it for him. Michael took a protective step closer to Killian.He was much faster than anyone here, and he could kill them all in a few practiced moves.Michael had done it. When he was still learning to control
Only he hadn’t, but everyone seemed to be equally freaked out to ask why he didn’t.Killian relaxed his hand and put the gun back in the case.“Tell the mayor I’ll consider the offer. “Michael heard the slow exhale each of the guys make and it was like they could breathe again.“Right, Sir. “the leader said.Sir.The man didn’t dare call Killian by his name anymore.That meant Killian accepted the gift and two of the guys put the case in the trunk of their car.Neither spoke or asked questions.What they’d just seen was most likely enough to give anyone a pause. Absolutely anyone, regardless of whether they were the cruelest criminals out there.Michael had learned two things.The mayor was also involved in whatever it was the gang was trading with.And the other one was- Killian was damn good at using weapons. **** When Michael checked last time, his watch showed 3 am. He got to his apartment and sent a quick message
"Yes, " Garrey said, "He was with the Bureau. His father was killed and he had been in the CIA too."Richard's face didn't betray anything and Garrey went on."He was killed not long ago during a mission."He explained."Family?""Mother works as an accountant, two younger sisters in college.""Your best American boy, isn't he?"Richard said, a slight sting to his tone and Garrey preferred not to answer.In moments like those Garrey remembered where Killian had learned how to turn into the embodiment of indifference in seconds. Only the student had surpassed the teacher."Out for revenge?" Richard asked, "He gets thrown out of the Bureau for blaming them for his father death?""Yes. While almost killing a few people in the meantime."This time Richard laughed."He looks quite impatient," Garrey explained. "he broke that casino owner's hand when he was sent out to pick up the money that one time.""It's what you hired him for.""Yes,
Earlier Jesse had told Michael he needed to be in the main office where most of the gang members were hanging out.Typically for any of the groups, or mafia organizations anywhere all over the world, the gang had a perfectly neat business in front of the law, with legal offices, such as the one they usually gathered at.They could be laundering money, presenting it as any business out there, it could be anything- from a construction company to a car wash.In their case- it was some marketing agency, although neither of the guys around looked like they knew what the latest trends were.As for negotiating buying or selling- well, maybe they did know a thing or two.Jesse sat heavily on the sofa in the open space of the office and slumped against the back. He draped his hand over the backrest and Mike saw some letters, tattooed on the inside of his forearm. It was an obviously super old ink and Michael assumed Jesse must have gotten it when he was twelve, or something.
Mike stared at the screen. But he didn’t spend too much time doing so, because the moment he realized what had just happened, he threw the phone away, not caring where it landed, and looked out of the window. Killian was actually downstairs, looking up at his room, smoking. He. was. there. Mike rested his elbows in the window rail and Killian looked up. His wolf jumped inside him, shouting all kinds of things, but Mike ignored it, because his mind was going crazy just fine on its own without the wolf. Killian was a dark figure in the middle of the road, just one of the many figures among the others passing by, despite the late hour, at the same time so different from them. Mike’s neighborhood was one of the worst, run down buildings and all kinds of scums and gangs were hanging in around there. Although the most dangerous ones out there were probably him and Killian . Killian was watching him, and Mike smiled at him. He pushed away from the window and grabbed his jack
“Right, “Garrey said, “now that we are all here, we will brief you on the latest changes, and if you have any questions, ask Clifford, he will give you the details on the weapon exchange and…” And Garrey began. He kept talking, the other guys were talking as well. Instructions, money, bullets…something about cases with jewels, something about… whatever. Mike’s head was somewhere else. At least it was still in the same room. His eyes and mind were fixed on his mate. Killian made a step, then another. He came to stand behind Garrey. His hair was wet at the tips which meant he’d probably taken a shower just now. Killian’s shirt smelled like expensive detergent and whatever the maids were doing the laundry with. He’d had coffee just before he came here. Maybe more than one coffee, in fact, judging by the way the sweet scent still clung to him… Mike followed the darker lines of the tiny shades under Killian’s eyes and he assumed Killian hadn’t slept much either. Then Kil
The phone kept ringing. It was probably ringing for the 15th time and until Mike eventually gave up trying to ignore it . He got up to pick it up. “Jesse, what’s up?” “Mike!!” “Yes?” “Are you crazy! I’ve been trying to call you since last night, what the Hell Happened?” “I just…” Mike searched the room for cigarettes. It was dark, and he had pulled the shabby curtains down. His head was pounding. His wolf was bitter too. They had arrived yesterday, and Killian and him hadn’t exchanged more than a few words, just like he’d expected during the flight. Then he’d driven Killian to the manor and he was back to his place. And he hadn’t slept since. Mike didn’t find his cigarettes,since he was anyway supposed to Not have them, but then his eyes landed on the two empty packs from last night, discarded on the table. He groaned. “Mike! Are. You. There??” “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. “ “So??” “So I tried to catch a quick nap before tonight, Garrey mentioned there will be somet
Michael wished he could say he wasn't thinking. Or that it had been his wolf dictating his actions and moving his body towards Killian’s. But he couldn’t. It was him and he had done it with the clear mind he was making a mistake. Maybe the biggest one he’d made so far. Or ever. Well, at least it was going to be his last. Because the mistakes we made with the clear mind they were a mistake were the most dangerous ones. He still did it. Mike’s hand cupped Killian’s head and he leaned in. He was taller, but he bent over Killian slowly, giving his mate time to do something, to stop him, or anything that showed he didn’t want this. When that didn’t happen, Mike closed the little distance they had between them. And he was kissing Killian. His lips touched Killian's only briefly. Everything in Mike woke up, all his nerves, all his senses were awake and it felt like someone had stripped his skin off and it was just his nerves, the real him, unprotected by flesh and skin ou
They reached the hotel much faster than Mike wanted to. They got out of the taxi, wished the driver a good night and headed towards the entrance, Mike walking a few feet behind Killian. As usual, the polite receptionist greeted them, then one of the bell boys came and asked about their check out time tomorrow. Killian and the staff exchanged a few greetings and niceties in French, neither of which Mike understood and they headed up. Everything was as per the usual, compared to the last few days they had spent here. Only, there was a small exception. And that was- Mike had almost kissed Killian, and not only had he done it, it had been outside. They got on the elevator, neither of them still not speaking. The bell boy pressed the desired floor, a few people got on with them, then they got off. There was more wishing of good nights and goodbyes until Killian and Mike headed towards their room. Everyone was so nice, and bubbly, while Mike simply wanted to get away from
“When you go there, wait for Francisco to get out of the VIP room, don’t do anything before that. “ “Right. “ “He is going to have his bodyguards in the VIP, got it? So wait for him to go to the bathroom or if he doesn’t, have one of the girls distract him and take him to the Red Room. ”“Yes, Sir. “ “Good. Don’t do it there. And I don’t want any more involvement from the Italians. That was enough trouble for now. “ Garrey looked between all of them. “Okay? “ “Yes.” “Yes, clear, Garrey. “ They all nodded. It was a pretty simple task. The words were pounding in his head, and it wasn’t only because he hadn’t blinked any sleep at all, unable to close his eyes for more than five minute. His wolf had tried to rip his flesh in pieces every two hours, and that hadn’t helped either. They were in Garrey's office, and they were given the new orders for the next task. And since Mike hadn’t come back yet, Jesse had to stay here all the time and listen to whatever details they were giv
Gean and Mike went out of the building together half an hour later, after they’d finished their discussion. Killian was leaning against the car, smoking. He looked somehow troubled, and Mike wanted to take him in his arms. Perhaps he had been worried about Gean’s decision, and it was ridiculous of Mike to think Killian might have been worried for him, but nevertheless Mike’s hands were shaking with the need to tell him that Gean had agreed, then grab him and kiss him deeply. But he couldn’t. So he kept walking. The moment they showed up, Killian stubbed his cigarette out, and nodded. “Hey, Gean. “ “Killian. “ They still shook hands, because as it had become clear earlier and when Mike and Gean were still inside, Mike had assured Gean Killian knew nothing about it. The two exchanged a few words and Gean shared his decision to help Killian. Killian looked at him, surprised, but didn’t ask anything. They spoke the way they usually did, as if nothing had happened and as
Killian was eyeing him, the surprise was written all over his handsome face. He was simply surprised. “I told you to trust me. “ Michael said , and it was with all the content. He was merely trying to conceal the smirk from showing on his face. Killian shook his head, but smiled too. They were standing opposite each other right in front of the place where Michael and Gean had met and finished the discussion just a few minutes ago. Just as promised, Killian had not interrupted them, or asked what they were doing or going to talk about. Killian had taken Mike to where Gean’s most business meetings and discussions were happening.
Edward wiped his hands and took a wet towel, coming out of the bathroom.“I know it may sound weird, but I was thinking that maybe we could…”He hesitated, but then he decided he could just go for it.Edward came into the room to see the bed he’d left Jesse only a few seconds ago was empty, the wind blowing inside the room and playing with the curtain, because the huge window was left open.****“You should totally be freaking out.“Jesse was running through the dark forest, stepping on all kinds of twigs and rocks. He was still far from the city, but at least he’d manage