Page 41 of Untamed Instincts

“I’m going to refrain from sarcasm, but I will point out that you left that statement wide open for attack.” Quinton grabbed the socks Noah kept taking out. “Tell me why you think something is wrong, hon.”

His back still hurting from his extensive workout last night, Noah sat on the carpeted floor. “The Harris I just spoke with is not the Harris I’ve known for twenty years, Quinton.” Noah explained the shift in personality, the snide and hurtful remarks. “Plus, he wouldn’t call Layne in a panic then not be there.” He looked his mate in the eye. “Harris has never left his front door hanging wide open, and he has never called off from work because he wants to have breakfast with me.”

“Get dressed.” Quinton stood.

Noah jumped up, ignoring how tired he was. “Why?”

His mate tapped his nose. “We’re going to Harris’s. Call him back and say you’ll meet him for breakfast. When he leaves, Ryker, Killian, and I will sniff out his house. Would you happen to know if he has nonhuman friends so we can rule them out?”

Quinton was already pulling clothes from his drawer. Then he picked up his phone and began typing, presumably to tell his sons to get dressed.

“He hangs out with coworkers, but I’m the only friend who goes to his house.” Noah quickly dressed. “What are you thinking? Please tell me.”

“You have a vampire after you.”

Noah nodded while pulling on his jeans.

“Toro has already tried, and failed, to send people to grab you. If he can’t get to you because of me and my family—”

“He’ll try to get to me through my friends and family.” Dread filled Noah. “Layne has a wife and two little kids.”

The thought of something happening to Elisa or his niece and nephew made Noah’s blood run cold. Sarah was only two, and Benji had just turned four.

“But I just talked to Harris,” he pointed out.

“Did that sound like things Layne would say to you on that voicemail?”

“Unfortunately, yeah.” Noah snorted.

“Then we can rule out he’s been tampered with.”

“Rule out what?” Noah grabbed his mate’s thick bicep, telling himself not to get distracted by all those muscles. “Will you hold still for five seconds and tell me what you’re talking about?”

“Vampires,” Quinton said, as if the single word cleared everything up.

“Will you stop feeding me breadcrumbs and give me the entire loaf?” Noah demanded.

“Sorry.” Quinton smiled. “Kind of got lost in your pretty green eyes.”

“Flattery just scored you brownie points.” Noah grinned back at his mate then scowled. “Can we both keep our minds off the other’s body for a minute?”

“Not a chance.” His mate growled playfully.

Despite seeing Quinton’s bear with his own two eyes, Noah still had a hard time believing this man and that humongous beast were one and the same. “Vampires?”

“That whole bedazzle thing you’ve seen in movies,” Quinton replied.

“Look into my eyes,” Noah said in a creepy, poor imitation of Dracula.

“Already did.” Quinton winked, his smile soft. “They’re beautiful, baby.”

“Are you saying vampires can really do that?” Noah’s lips parted. “Do you think Toro fiddled with Harris’s mind? Is that why my bestie is a dick now?”

Quinton sat on the bed to put his boots on. “Normally, no. A victim doesn’t turn into a jerk, but look at the vampire we’re dealing with. And, yes, vampires can really do that, but they mainly use the talent to subdue people they want to feed from. Which makes me think Harris is under Toro’s control, though you can bet it’s not to feed from him.”

Noah saw the look in Quinton’s eyes. “But he won’t pass up a chance to feed when he has a hypnotized human.” He covered his neck with his hand. “Are all vampires…”

He didn’t want to ask since he’d just had a heated argument about prejudging people, but damn. They were talking about vampires.

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