Page 3 of Mates & Mercenaries

I toss my head back and let out a scream of passion as, finally, he tips me over the edge into the deep abyss of pleasure. I fall head first and don’t seem to stop tumbling for what feels like a life time as endless waves of pleasure crash over me. This is the best I have ever had.

I wish I could stick around to experience more with the handsome stranger because I don’t feel like we’re even close to being done with one another, but, unfortunately, it won’t be long until I have to run. Cinderella has to be back in her tower before her father finds out the truth. What a freaking nightmare. I would much rather remain right here in this wonderful dream come true.

2

CREED

Stepping out of my Ford Mustang near one of the biggest mansions in Chicago makes me feel like I’ve really made it. There aren’t many people who would happily hire a band of wolf mercenaries run by a guy like me, but Evan Santorini isn’t like most guys. He’s different. And not just because he’s one of the biggest crime bosses in the city. He has a weird aura that I have never seen around another person ever. Much less a human being.

“Creed Vasco!” Rex calls out to me, flexing his arms as if I need reminding that he’s the muscle of the group. “You finally decided to show your face. Clay and I were just wondering if you were going to bother to show up.”

I glance at Clay, whose expression is cautious and mindful as he prepares the gear on the trunk of the Mercedes Benz G Wagon parked on the edge of the mansion’s sprawling driveway. He isn’t paying any attention to the men in suits patrolling the perimeter and barking orders at one another, flashing their weapons as they do. I hope I can do the same thing, because I don’t need any trouble with them. Not if I want to keep the job going here.

“Where is Sam?” I ask as I approach. “We need our tech whizz. No time to waste.”

“He’s scoping out the building, finding the best places to get our cameras set up,” Clay reassures me. “Don’t worry, we have everything under control. There’s no screwing around here.”

I nod gratefully. Usually, we can have a bit of fun as we wait, but this isn’t a normal job. We’re under a lot of pressure, but I have faith in us. We wouldn’t have been hired for this if it wasn’t something we could do.

Evan Santorini wouldn’t hire any fools. He’s much smarter than that. I don’t know much about him, but I know that.

“Look at the plans.” Clay hands me some sheets of paper. “You can see that we have it all in place. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Creed.”

I’m going to spend the rest of the God damn day worrying. This party is a massive event and everything needs to go well for a variety of reasons. I nod, though, and take a cursory glance through the notes, just in case. It all looks good.

I know that the big boss man himself is waiting for me, so I hand back the papers. In exchange, Clay gives me an earpiece so we can be in constant communication. Another one of Sam’s very useful inventions for when we’re in our human forms.

“I’ll see you guys in a bit.” I offer them a mock salute. “Wish me luck in there with the boss.”

“You don’t need luck,” Rex insists. “You know what you’re doing. Go and kick ass.”

The house is so huge, it really feels like it towers above me as I near the front door. It spreads out wide as well. I don’t know how anyone could need so much room. But I’m not here to worry about the wealth of a gentleman who can afford to live in a house like this one. I need to take stock of the layout inside so I can ensure my guys and I cover every inch of it tonight. There can be nothing missed.

“Are you Mr. Vasco?” a gentleman in a very crisp suit calls out to me. He looks more like a butler than one of the gangsters mulling about the place. “Mr. Santorini is waiting for you in his office. Would you like me to show you the way?”

I nod because I think I’d need someone to guide me even if I had been here before. The place is like a God damn maze. “Yeah, that would be great, thank you.”

As the butler leads me through the building, I mentally clock the location of all the doors so I know what direction people might be moving through the building as the night grows long. I don’t know what the hell criminal organization parties end up like, but I guess I’m about to find out.

“It’s in here.” Finally, the butler points me to a room. “Mr. Santorini is at his desk.”

I nod, trying my hardest to keep the nerves inside as I step forward to knock on the door. I’m a mercenary, a God damn alpha wolf, I shouldn’t find all of this intimidating.

“Come in.” Evan’s voice is booming, ricocheting somehow through the whole building.

I don’t know why I’m surprised at the sheer size of the office when the rest of the house is so vast, but I am. This can’t just be for necessity, it has to be for show. He wants to let the world know that he is one powerful man. Message well and truly received.

“Ah, Evan, good to see you again.” It’s a relief when he cracks a smile for me. “Thank you for coming. I will feel much better having you guys here tonight as security.”

“Glad to hear it.” I smile and take the seat that he offers me.

“As you know, my organization has been infiltrated. I become more sure of that every single day. Which is why I need outside help from you mercenaries. I actually trust strangers at the moment more than my own men.” He laughs, but I don’t think he finds it funny. “It’s always easier to trust men whose loyalty lies with money. You know where you stand with them.”

I smile back, glad that’s what he thinks. My menareloyal to a paycheck, that’s just the way that we have always been. I don’t think loyalty to a crime crew helps people out. I always know where I stand with my guys. He doesn’t.

“So, the main person I want protected tonight is my daughter.”

His daughter?He managed to keep that a secret. I don’t know if I’m the only person who had no idea of the existence of his daughter, but I don’t let it show on my face.

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