Dahlia's Kiss

“Sorry, the story just sucks. He killed his sister’s mate. He shot him in cold blood right in front of her. According to the private investigator, before he joined the police force, he was an enforcer for the agency. He was one of the Incubi who was tasked with bringing wayward Incubi and Succubi in when they’d committed a crime. His name was Hunter Brand back then. Well, he got his brother-in-law's name and when he came for him, the guy refused to be brought in. He used Sterling’s family status against him, knowing he would never hurt his sister, and tried to take her hostage. Sterling’s vision went red when he saw his hands on her that way and he shot him in the face over and over until his gun was empty.”

“Jesus Christ,” I whispered.

“Yeah,” Damian agreed. “The family was pissed, as you can imagine, but what was worse was the guy he was supposed to bring in, it wasn’t for a major crime. He would have spent some time in holding, but he would have been released. What Sterling did was exceptional force, and he’s wanted by the agency now for his crime. Thus, he changed his name and has been hiding out amongst the humans.”

I wasn’t sure what to do with this information. On one hand, I understood completely why he did what he did. I probably would have done the same if I felt like someone I loved was in danger. On the other, he was a fugitive of the law. Even having him near us put us all in danger. “What are we going to do about this?”

“I’m not sure. That’s why I wanted you to know. The private investigator signed a contract to not divulge his finding to anyone but me, so Sterling is safe in that respect. But my question is, if he can lie so well about something like that, what else could he be lying about?”

“I can understand that,” I said. My stomach was in knots. I didn’t know how I was supposed to act like I knew nothing about this the next time I saw him. “I guess we are going to have to confront him and get his side of the story. We are only as strong as our weakest link, and with a secret like that between us, I honestly don’t think he will fare well. I would imagine that’s why he is always so damn angry. I would be if I had a great life planned out and then something like that happened. He had to have been devastated.”

“You’re not wrong there,” Damian agreed. “The investigator didn’t find any answers to the problem at hand. I honestly don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“Let’s take it as a good thing for right now. We have enough bad things to worry about.”

“Sounds like a plan.” His voice was husky and delicious and warmed my belly from the inside out. I realized my reactions to him probably meant I was going to need to feed soon.

“Come over first thing tomorrow. Cole is sleeping outside my door, and I’m sure Sterling will rush over if I ask him to. We will question him and force the truth out of him then.” I ran my hand down my belly and parted my nether lips as I spoke, gently prodding my sensitive parts absently.

“I can do that. Dahlia?”

“Yeah?”

“I know what you’re doing. Your voice goes lower when you’re aroused. I just wanted you to know that if you need to feed, I’ll be ready for you tomorrow. I can even come now if you don’t want to wait.”

His declaration surprised me, and my fingers froze. Did my voice really change? No one had ever told me that before. “I’ll be okay. I have some time before feeding is necessary.”

“Okay,” he said breathlessly. I knew then, he was also touching himself, and it only served to make me hotter. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dahlia.”

I hung up the phone and pressed my thighs together. I was never going to be able to sleep like this. Tiptoeing down the hall to the front door, I pulled it open as quietly as I could and pressed a toe into Cole’s ribs. He awoke with a start.

“Dahlia, is everything okay?”

He smelled my arousal as the last syllable crossed his lips. “Everything is fine,” I told him. “Come inside.”