Chapter 1
POV: Cole
This dude was loaded.
When I followed my GPS into the depths of the bayou, I wasn’t expecting what I found. This was way out of my league altogether.
I’d taken this job hours away to keep myself from throwing a pity party about Heather and her fated mate, Winn.
Sure, I had no control over her finding her mate, but it didn’t stop the pride police from hitting me where it hurt.
Heather had always been like a little sister to me, until I blinked and she wasn’t.
But none of that mattered, because I was pulling into a stranger’s driveway with the intent of taking a P.I job.
Parking my truck, I got out, looking at the vast span of land and the mini castle setting in front of me.
A fountain sat to my left in a circular drive that I was tempted to take right back to the highway.
If I knew anything about rich people, it was that they would pay to make things go away, and I wasn’t that kind of hire.
I’d follow his wife around, make sure she wasn’t sleeping around, and be finished with it.
The giant front door opened, and a man walked out onto the front steps, dressed exactly how I imagined he would be.
Slacks. Button-down. Penny-loafers.
His pretty boy smile was cheesy and made me want to roll my eyes. He was human and didn’t look over thirty years old.
“Cole Whittington?” he asked.
“In the flesh,” I said, meeting him on the stairs. ”Colby Hunter?”
He shook my hand, his skin soft, unworked like I imagined. ”Come inside and we’ll get started.”
The tile floors shone like a toothpaste commercial, fancy decor and rare artwork hung on the walls.
The glass windows of the living room were floor-to-ceiling, overlooking a river behind the house.
“This way,” Colby said.
Following him toward a giant set of double doors, we walked into his office. Bookshelves lined the room, and a giant desk sat in the middle, with two seats across from it.
“Have a seat,” he said, sitting in his leather chair.
Sitting, I glanced around, noticing the lack of pictures or memorabilia, finding Colby’s gaze on mine. ”You came highly recommended.”
“By who?” I asked, out of habit and not curiosity.
I didn’t really care who said what about me.
“A friend,” he said, coolly. ”Now, why don’t we start? I’d like you to get started today.”
“Sure,” I said, gesturing for him to continue.
Colby slid a folder toward me, and I leaned over to open it.
A picture of a dark-haired beauty was paperclipped to the side, with a very short list of information.
“Your wife?” I asked, my tongue suddenly dry.
I prayed it wasn’t his wife. How stupid was that? I had no claim on this woman, and yet, the need to find her was greater than ever.
He scoffed. ”No, I’m not married. That’s not in the cards for me.”
“Who is she?” I asked, still mesmerized.
“Daria Withers,” he said. ”I need you to find her, bring her to me.”
I lifted both brows. ”Bring her to you? That’s not part of my job description, Mr. Hunter.”
Colby clicked the end of his pen and twisted slightly in his chair. It was evident by that eye twitch that he wasn’t used to being told no.
“I’ll pay you whatever you want, Cole. I need you to bring Daria to me.”
“Why?” I asked, shutting the folder, not able to look at those dark hazel eyes anymore. "Are you going to harm her?”
There was a sparkle in his eye that I didn’t like, and it gave me a rush of adrenaline to protect this woman I’d never met.
“Of course not. I need her for something, but that doesn’t concern you, does it? Are you interested in the job, Mr. Whittington, or do I need to spend my money elsewhere?”
My gut feeling told me to stay, but it was for selfish reasons. I wanted to see this woman.
Keep her safe?
Where was this coming from?
She could be a killer for all I knew.
But something told me she wasn’t.
“How do I find her?” I asked.
Colby grinned and clapped his hands. ”There is an underground ring at a bar downtown,” he said, sliding a piece of paper across the desk. "You’ll find her there.”
I folded the paper into my pocket and stood. ”I’ll have her soon.”
He stood with me, pulling out a wad of cash. "First half upfront. And don’t get discouraged if you can’t get her right away.”
I chuckled, more to myself than to him. "I won’t have any trouble. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Colby walked me to the front door and caught my arm. "Bring her to me unharmed. I need her healthy.”
“I don’t hurt women.”
Colby only smiled, his creepy stare following me to my truck.
Freak.
I backed out of the driveway and drove toward the hotel bar, but since I would need to go at night, I checked in and tossed my bag, running my fingers through my hair.
My phone buzzed and I dug it out, seeing Kayne’s name on the screen.
“You made it?” he asked when I answered.
“Yup, met the freak today. Dude’s weird. If I go missing, it’s because he did it. Colby Hunter.”
Kayne snorted. “Human?”
“In the flesh. He wants me to find a girl and bring her to him. Sounds suspicious.”
“Sus,” Kayne said.
“What?” I asked, kicking off my shoes.
“Sus, it’s what the kids call suspicious these days.”
“Abbey taught you that?” I asked. "The kid’s grown already. Since when do first graders talk like that?”
“You’re asking the wrong person,” Kayne said.
Kayne was lucky to have found his fated mate, who already had a kid, considering he couldn’t have any being a vampire.
Abbey was one hell of a kid, too.
I loved that little girl like she was my own, but I knew that she would give Kayne a run for his money.
“You good?" Kayne asked, which made me roll my eyes.
“Don’t do that. I’m fine. Heather is where she needs to be.”
I imagined Kayne nodding in agreement. It wasn’t our first choice for Heather to end up with a Dark Fae, but he seemed to care about her, and that was all that mattered.
“You’re right,” he said. "She is. Now it’s your turn to find your happy ever after.”
I jumped onto the bed and rested my forearm behind me. "Don’t make me gag. I’ll talk to you later. I’m going to rest before going to find this girl.”
“Be careful,” he told me.
“Like I’ll need it.”
When the sun set, a relaxation drew over my skin. It was natural for me to be outside at night, though I could stand the sun with my ring.
The night called to me, and I always answered.
I walked outside and toward the strip. New Orleans was a different world at night. There never seemed to be a dull moment or an empty street.
Drunk people fell over one another, couples strolled under the moonlight. It was peaceful until I made it toward the end of the strip, toward the bar.
Two bouncers stood out front, and in the alley between the buildings, another set of bouncers stood.
That was where I needed to go. Cutting down the alleyway, the bouncers stiffened as I approached.
“Can we help you?” one asked.
“Yeah, I’m here to watch the fight.”
They glanced at one another. "What fight?”
I blinked, my irritation growing. "The fight that’s behind those doors. Let me in,” I said, flashing my fangs.
It was a dirty move, but it got the doors open.
I stepped inside, smoke filtered out, and the smell of beer and sweat hit me hard.
The enclosed building was large, but with the number of people inside, everyone bumped against one another in the hallway.
When the hallway ended, it opened into a giant room with bleachers, one ring enclosed by a cage.
I found a seat close to the bar, figuring she was waiting tables here, and I could grab her and go.
A waitress asked for my drink order, and I ordered O-negative.
She perked up like most humans did, but I didn’t care; my gaze was on the crowd.
She dropped off my blood with her number, but I left it on the table, sipping my drink, while waiting for her.
Maybe she wasn’t working tonight.
A crackling microphone came to life, drawing applause from the room. I glanced around, seeing a man in ripped jeans and a T-shirt step into the ring.
“Good evening,” he said, his voice deep. "Are we ready for some bloodshed?”
More applause. Blah. Blah. Blah.
I glanced around again, finishing my drink with the mind to leave if she didn’t show up soon.
Half listening to the makeshift announcer, I looked around, finding a few waitresses staring at me.
“Get ready for her! Daria Withers!”
My gaze snapped to the ring where Daria stood. Her taut stomach was on display; her curves went on for days. That mid-drift red T-shirt would have had my blood pumping if I had any.
This wasn’t the girl I was supposed to get, was it?
She moved around, her ebony ponytail swinging behind her.
But besides her beautiful hazel eyes examining the room, and her strong and powerful body moving like a damn gazelle, it was the other elephant in the room that hit me hard in the chest.
Daria Withers was my mate.
