With Caution: With or Without, Book 2 (25 page)

Rhys came into the office, his head cocked.

“No, I’m fine. Dirk left. You gotta go check on Remi. I think Dirk went to Remi’s. You have to make sure Remi is okay. I can’t get him on the phone. It’s not like him to not answer. I called from my cell phone and he always answers that number.” Sterling sounded on the verge of tears.

Jake grabbed his keys. “All right I’m leaving now.”

“Wait! Jake—”

“I’ll call you when I get there.” Jake hung up and jogged out of the office.

Rhys started out of the office behind him. “What do you need me to do?”

“Nothing. Just take care of things here. Find something on that asshole, damn it.” Jake ran to his Tahoe. Grabbing his cell phone as he backed out of his parking space, he punched in Remi’s number. It rang and rang. No answer. “Damn it, Remi, pick up the phone.” It forwarded to his voice mail. Peeling his tires, Jake got out of the parking lot and onto the main road.

It was the longest drive of his life. He could swear he hit every damn stoplight on the way over and every slow person on the road got in front of him. No one knew how to merge onto the damn highway either. How in the hell did these idiots get driver’s licenses?

When he dialed Remi’s number again, he got voice mail. His heart raced and his palms started to sweat. So much so that his hand slipped on the steering wheel twice. The image of Remi lying in a puddle of blood, like he’d been when Jake first met him, flashed through his mind. He slammed his foot on the gas, speeding through a yellow light.

* * *

“You better call the detective and his goon off or both of them are going to get a whole heap of charges on their heads. They won’t work in New Mexico again.” Dirk punctuated the statement with another kick to the ribs. “Did you think I wouldn’t know? You got shit for brains, boy. You want me to ask Sterling what you’ve been up to?”

Remi saw red. All the fear evaporated instantly and his protective instincts kicked in. He just snapped.
No fucking way.
Not this time. Dirk had best keep his hands off Sterling.

He stopped trying to dodge Dirk’s boot, and with a burst of energy, he launched himself at Dirk’s legs.

Dirk hit the ground, his head bouncing off the floor. The air whooshed out of him. He struggled, trying to get his breath.

Using the opportunity, Remi crawled forward and straddled Dirk. He still couldn’t see very well but he didn’t need to. He knew about where Dirk’s face was and he started punching.

The feel of Dirk’s face under his knuckles and the sound of his fist connecting with skin created a rush of euphoria. Suddenly, Remi could see again, only everything was in black and white.

Holding his arms up, Dirk attempted to block Remi’s blows. Even now, in this position, the bastard was shouting out insults about how he was going to kill Remi and how Remi was a worthless piece of shit.

“No more. No more, you son of a bitch. Do you hear me? No more.” Pounding over and over, Remi yelled until his voice gave out. The smell of blood and something else pierced his attention.
Fear.
It was fear. He could smell Dirk’s fear.

It felt wonderful. He wanted to kill the son of a bitch. He could, so easily. Then it would all be over. As he smiled his fangs exploded in his mouth. He was damned close to shifting. He could tear Dirk to shreds in wolf form and no one would miss him.

No.
He couldn’t do it. Remi stopped.

Still trying to cover his face, Dirk laid there. His fear and helplessness felt good, but Remi relented.

He stood. His arms were tired. They felt like they weighed a ton and he couldn’t breathe. He was so out of breath his lungs burned, and sweat dribbled down Remi’s temple. “Get the fuck out. You so much as lay a finger on Sterling or Jake and I will fucking kill you.”

Scooting toward the door on his butt, Dirk tried to glare, but he still reeked of fear. “We aren’t done with this, Remington.”

“I think we are done. Get out.” Remi pointed at the door.

Gasping, Dirk crawled backward. His eyes were wide and his face had drained of color. “What are you on?” Dirk asked in a soft whisper.

Shit. His eyes. Dirk could see his canine eyes. Remi hauled back his foot, ready to kick Dirk again. He growled, trying to make him leave.

Dirk scrambled up and out of the apartment, leaving the door open.

Remi should’ve felt relief, even humor and a sense of victory. Instead he felt sick. His eyes changed back so fast he had to blink several times to clear his vision. His teeth shrank and all the pains and aches flared to life.

Sinking to the floor, he wheezed out a breath and rested his back against the wall next to the door. Vomit rose in his throat, but he swallowed it back. His eyes teared up again and his hands shook as he slid onto his back, keenly aware of the twinge in his ribs. Covering his face with his quivering hands, he felt the fine sheen of sweat covering his body. It began to cool, making him shiver.
Jesus, what have I done?

Chapter Seventeen

There was no sign of Dirk, and Remi’s bike was under the awning in the place it usually sat. Jake whipped into the spot next to it, cut the engine and jerked his keys out. Opening his door, he smelled blood.
Fuck.
It was Remi’s blood. His eyes and teeth shifted.

He slammed the door shut and ran up the steps to the front door. It was standing open. A fear like he’d never felt coursed through him. Oh God, why was the door open? He felt ill. It meant Remi wasn’t able to shut it. Pushing the door open further, he frantically searched for Remi.

He sat in the entryway against the wall with his knees pulled up to his chest and his hands over his face. Moving his hands, he blinked up at Jake. His muscles tensed like he was preparing to bolt.

Jake took a deep breath, willing his racing heart to slow. Remi was alive. He smelled of blood and fear, his chest rose and fell rapidly with erratic choppy breaths, but he was alive. “Remi.” Jake fell to his knees in front of his mate.

Remi’s pale eyes weren’t quite focused. There was dried blood under and around his nose and on his chin and cheeks. He looked like hell.

“Oh God, Remi—” Jake reached out toward his cheek, intent on checking his injuries.

“Unh.” Flinching away, Remi moved out of range. He winced and clutched his left side.

Dropping his hand, Jake gritted his teeth to keep from punching the wall. Overwhelming anger surged through him. He wanted desperately to find Dirk Lassiter and tear him to pieces, not only for the pain he’d caused physically, but for putting the haunted look in Remi’s eyes.

Taking several deep breaths, Jake flexed his fingers, releasing his tension. The last thing he wanted was to traumatize his mate more. He had to get it together. Like a magnet, his gaze was drawn to the wall above Remi. Dark splatters blared at him from the sea of white. There wasn’t a lot of blood, but the fact that it was Remi’s had Jake’s heart in his throat. He’d promised he’d never let his mate be hurt again. He’d failed.

Scrunching his face a little, Remi closed his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Sorry? What the fuck? Jake growled and stood. Dirk was going to pay for this. “Are you all right? Where all are you hurt?”

Remi winced again. “I’m okay.”

“I’m going to have Rhys come stay with you. I’m going after your father. He’s not getting away with this.” Jake grabbed his phone off his belt. Fuck, he was so pissed, he couldn’t even operate the fucking phone. His hands were shaking.

Remi jumped to his feet and pushed the phone down. “Don’t. Dirk isn’t worth it.”

Jake clasped Remi’s hand with his other one. “How can you say that? Look at you. Look at what he did. He had no right. I’ll be damned if that son of a bitch lays another hand on you.” Realizing he was yelling at Remi, he lowered his voice. “I promised you’d never have to go through this again.”

Remi tugged on the phone, pulled it out of Jake’s hand and tossed it to the couch. “You can’t go after Dirk. And you can’t promise something like that. This isn’t your fault any more than it’s mine. It’s Dirk’s, but murdering him isn’t the answer.”

Seething, Jake looked away. Remi was his. His to protect and care for.

“Jake, I nearly killed him myself a few minutes ago. We’re close to finding something on him, I know it. Let’s just keep doing what we’re doing. Rhys is supposed to meet with his ex-boss today, right? Give him a chance to find something.” He touched Jake’s cheek with tears in his eyes. “I don’t want to risk you going to jail. Sterling and I need you.”

They stood there staring—almost glaring—at one another for several moments before Jake gave in. How could he not when Remi looked at him like that? The gnawing anger didn’t disappear, but the need to comfort Remi grew stronger. For all his bravado, Remi was still scared. His scent hadn’t changed much.

With a pleading look on his face, Remi caressed Jake’s cheek. “Please.”

He loves me.
It was there in his eyes. He wanted Jake with him more than he wanted Dirk gone. Jake closed his eyes, nodding. For once it was he who leaned into Remi’s hand and enjoyed the feel of his mate’s touch. Remi needed him here. Dirk would have to wait.

“Your eyes and teeth shifted.” Remi’s voice was soft, almost a whisper.

“It’s the smell of your blood.” Closing the door with his foot, he reached for Remi. This time Remi didn’t shy away, he let Jake help him. “Come on, let’s get you taken care of. Where do you hurt?”

“I’m not that hurt, just pissed off mostly.”

“You and me both.” Jake traced his hands over Remi, trying to assure himself Remi was really okay. He seemed to be. Now Jake felt like an ass for not seeing to his mate’s care sooner. He steered Remi toward the bathroom. “What happened? Sterling called me in a near panic saying Dirk was headed here.”

“Yeah. He told me to call you off or you and Sterling were going to get hurt.”

Jake ground his teeth together. Guilt ate at him. He should’ve told Remi about Dirk’s visit. “He came to my office the other day. I was going to tell you about it tonight. I didn’t want to ruin your evening yesterday. You seemed happy and in such a great mood, I didn’t want you to worry. I figured he was confronting me, so he’d let you be.”

“There isn’t any way you could have known he’d come looking for me too. You can never tell what the asshole is going to do. Where are we going?”

“Bathroom to clean you up.”

Remi was limping a little and Jake had to quash down the anger threatening to take over again.

“I scared him.” Remi leaned against Jake more, groaning softly. “I lost it, Jake. I just wigged out. I started beating the hell out of him and my eyes and teeth shifted.” Stopping, he turned to Jake and worried his lip. “He saw them.”

“What did he do?” Swooping Remi gently into his arms, Jake carried him the rest of the way to the bathroom.

Remi wrapped his arms around Jake’s neck. “He thought I was on something. I don’t think it really registered. I shouldn’t have fought back. What if he tells everyone about what he saw? What if…?” Shoulders slumping, Remi sighed. He seemed exhausted. More mentally than physically, but then physically he wasn’t so hot either. The dried blood on his face and clothes was turning crusty.

“Who the hell is going to believe him, if he does tell?” Setting Remi on the vanity counter next to the sink, Jake turned on the water to let it heat and got a washcloth from the linen cabinet.

Remi reclined against the mirror and shut his eyes, a small smile curving his lips. He looked pleased with himself, or maybe he was resigned to let things be for now and allow Jake to care for him. Whatever the case, he was still and compliant.

Placing his hands on Remi’s knees, Jake bent forward and brushed their lips together. Thank God Remi wasn’t more seriously injured.

“Mmm…” Remi’s eyes opened. With the dark smears of blood on his face, his pale eyes appeared even lighter, almost white because of Jake’s monochrome vision.

“What are you smiling about?” Brushing Remi’s hair out of his face, Jake picked some dried blood out of it.

“I fought back. It felt good.”

Jake smiled and kissed Remi again. “I’m glad. Wish I could have seen it. Lift your arms.”

Remi raised his arms, allowing Jake to pull the T-shirt over his head. After tossing it toward the hamper, Jake inspected Remi’s ribs. There was a bruise halfway up on his right side, but it wasn’t too bad. There wasn’t any swelling. Likely whatever injury he’d sustained was already healing but Jake ran his fingers over it lightly.

“That tickles.”

Pulling his hand back, Jake straightened. “Sorry.” He wet the washcloth with warm, soapy water and cleaned Remi’s face and neck.

He had the urge to bite into Remi’s neck and taste. The smell of Remi’s blood was going to Jake’s head and had been since he opened the SUV door. Now his cock was getting hard too.

He bathed Remi’s shoulders and chest, ignoring his arousal. There was nothing on Remi’s stomach, but Jake washed it, too, enjoying the feel of Remi’s ab muscles rippling under his ministrations.

Yawning, Remi closed his eyes, and Jake gave up all pretense of cleaning wounds. He tossed the washcloth aside and turned off the water. Threading his fingers through Remi’s soft black hair, Jake situated himself between Remi’s thighs.