Bitter Black Kiss (30 page)

Tony hesitated and Brody noticed moisture on his blackened cheeks.

 “Tell them everything, man. Pay him back.”

Tony’s fingers slipped from Brody’s arm. He turned his head and hissed, “Yes.”

Brody stood, waved his arms and called out to the others. “Over here! Hurry!”

Paramedics retrieved a stretcher from their truck and raced across the sand.

“Stay with me, Tony. Help’s coming.”

“I would have done anything for him.” The bodyguard’s voice was weak. He shivered now and Brody knew it’d be a miracle if he made it to the ambulance.

Now that he’d bent closer, Brody could see that his entire body was swathed in burns. Glass and metal had embedded in his skin and tore chunks away. What was left of his flesh had begun to peel, leaving the meat beneath it exposed and raw.

Brody grimaced. The truth was, Tony had done everything Stone had asked whether it was good or bad. He wished the others would hurry. Tony was close to gone. If he died before he could tell them about Stone’s drug operation, they’d be back at square one.

“He has it made in the L.A. lab then ships it everywhere,” Tony gasped, unable to draw enough air into his scorched lungs. “Shipment every two weeks. Sometimes more. Contact’s name is Rolf. He’s a chemist or something.”

“Why did he go after me so hard? Why’d he set me up?”

A faint smile might have been his answer. Brody was unsure. Most of Tony’s lower lip had melted off. “Got too close.”

“Move aside.” An impersonal paramedic bent over Tony. Together he and his partner lifted the bodyguard onto the stretcher. The wheels hung in the sand and they had trouble on the hill. Brody gave assistance and hauled it up by himself. The paramedics were speechless, neither dared to imply anything.

“Find Stone,” Brody demanded once Glaser joined him. “The white wolf is Stone. He was here!”

Glaser shook his head. “We don’t know that for sure. Everything points in Tony’s direction. That wolf could have been anyone. I’ll have my men look around, see if they can find anything. That’s all I can promise.”

“Stone blew up his own man to cover the operation. He might wait a while for this to die down, but then he’ll start all over again.”

Glaser grimaced. “One of the delivery guys already spilled his guts. He said Tony orchestrated the whole thing. Always has. He’s never seen or met Sean Stone. It sounds like Tony went behind his back.”

“That’s bullshit!” Brody kicked at the sand. Stone would do anything to protect himself, even incinerate his own bodyguard, a man who’d been with him for the past ten or so years.

Glaser lifted a shoulder. “It’s what we’ve got. We’ll know more once we get an official statement from the delivery guys. Forensics just got here. They’ll process the delivery vehicle.”

“This isn’t right,” Brody ascertained. “This is just part of his plan.”

The curt paramedic stepped down from the back of the truck. He pulled latex gloves from his hands and his expression was grim. “We lost him.”

“Shit!” Brody smashed a fist against the side of the ambulance. A dent the size of a grapefruit resulted from the blow. The paramedic backed away with wide eyes and Glaser winced.

Brody pushed away from the ambulance and moved back down the hill.

Chapter Thirty-four

Someone’s excited voice drifted down the hill. He heard the word wolf somewhere in the garbled sentence. Brody dropped into a crouch, ready for the attack. He squinted into the darkness. There was nothing there but black water and shadows.

A larger than life, white wolf burst out of the darkness. Brody had no hope of staving off the attack in this form. He twisted away. The first twinge of transformation rocked him. Pain, he discovered, did not originate within his body. It wasn’t a side effect of his body breaking or twisting into a new shape. The origin was Sean Stone.

He was pinned against the sand beneath the wolf's body. Massive clawed hands that were more suited to a monster than a human, restrained Brody’s wrists. He twisted and thrashed, but it did no good. Every nerve within him came alive and exploded.

Stone wasn’t going to give him a chance. His teeth snapped at Brody’s exposed throat. Brody managed to wrench his right hand from Stone’s grasp. The creature reared back to go for the kill and Brody threw his hand up protect himself. At the same time, his body burst into a warped wolf form. The seams split and tore much like his skin and bones.

Stone’s mouth crunched his hand. Two inch teeth punctured the flesh and grazed the bone. Brody’s back arched and he scream-howled.

The white wolf’s eyes glinted in the light of someone’s flashlight. A shot was fired, but Sean didn’t relinquish his hold. Brody managed to wrench his hand out of Stone’s grasp. He swung his fist, connecting with the wolfish nose. Sean shook his head and snapped at Brody’s hand again.

Brody grasped the side of Stone’s furred face and shoved him backward. He rolled to his feet then remembered too late that his right hand was injured. It throbbed, unable to hold his weight. He reared up on his back legs and snarled instead.

Sean moved slow and stealthy, ears back, mouth open. He was on all fours now, crouched and ready.

The sound of waves crashing, the wolf growling, and the crunch of sand beneath the SDPD’s feet overwhelmed his senses. Glaser screamed orders at his men, and at the creature standing over Brody. Someone fired their weapon, but missed Stone and hit the water instead. The 
plunk
 it made evoked an absurd image of a jumping fish.

Stone leapt, claws spread, mouth gaping. Brody mirrored his movement.

Their furry bodies slammed into each other. Brody’s left hand lashed out, but Stone turned his head to avoid being scratched. Brody dove forward, his teeth latched onto Stone. This was going to end. Now.

Sean Stone's wolfish body fell atop him, their limbs twisted and twined. Brody fought to shove Sean’s heavier body off of him.

Stone rolled onto the sand, bright petals of crimson blossomed against stark white fur. His limbs twitched, but did not change. Claws scrabbled at his crushed throat and a look of confusion darkened his wolfish face. Stone’s frightened eyes sought out Brody.

His startled gaze fell to Brody’s bloodstained muzzle and understanding flitted across his gaze. A strange noise escaped him and within moments, he fell forward. A few seconds more and he stopped twitching.

Time stood still. Brody sank to his knees and concentrated on being human again.

It was over. It was finally over.

“Get the paramedics down here!” Glaser gripped Brody’s shoulder and helped him to his feet. He made no comment about the shredded clothes or the jeans that were busted at the seams.

"You on anything?" The police chief didn’t bother to hide his suspicions.

Brody shook his head. His fingers were slick with blood and numb with brain clouding pain. He curled his right hand against his chest in an attempt to protect it. Glaser led him toward the hill, worry evident on his face. Brody declined the help and made it to the top on his own. The paramedics climbed up the hill shortly after him, their stretcher loaded. Crimson blossomed across the sheet covered body beneath.

Brody stopped them. “Is he alive?”

The female paramedic shook her head. She looked a bit ill and Brody speculated that she was new to the job. Or maybe it had everything to do with witnessing a wolf become a man.

Glaser peeked beneath the sheet. “I’ll be damned. You were right.”

Brody glanced at Stone’s lifeless body. It had returned to human and was now pale and hairless. His eyes were half open and his throat was a bloody, crushed mess.

It seemed unreal that Stone was finally headed for the morgue.

A sleek white van was parked on the other side of the barricade. A blue number five was painted on the side. The reporter and cameraman worked their way closer. He flipped the sheet back over Stone’s face.

“Great, channel five’s here,” Glaser growled. “Hang on while I get rid of them."

Trish Carter, a busty brunette, and her cameraman Carl shoved past the cops who had barricaded the beach. Carl stumbled, but righted himself at the last moment.

Trish made a beeline for Brody and Glaser. Carl filmed the beach and the men working it. He focused the camera on the ambulance’s open back doors and the sheet covered body inside.

“Hi! I’m Trish Carter,” she said in a smooth, practiced voice. “I’m from channel…”

“We know who you are,” Glaser snarled. “Turn the camera off.”

Brody tried to duck away, but she stayed with him. He remembered her from his time on the force. Her ambush interview tactics hadn’t changed a bit.

“We’re investigating the report of an explosion. Were there any casualties?” She craned her neck. “Plus we got some great footage of you and that wolf on the beach.”

“Someone escort her out of here!” Glaser barked at his men.

Park made his way toward them. “Ma’am, you need to be on the other side of the police line.”

The ambitious woman ignored the detective. The cameraman shoved the lens in Brody’s face.

“What happened here tonight?” she asked in a practiced voice.

Brody pushed past them and moved further up the hill. He didn’t have time or patience for this.

“Brody?” Trish’s high heels sunk into the sand and slowed her down. “Can I get a comment?”

“No comment!” Glaser and Park yelled behind them. Park came up fast behind her.

Trish cast a lopsided smile at the camera man. “Looks like another bust gone wrong, Carl. Let’s just get some footage and we’ll see who we can shake down later.”

Glaser caught Brody’s good arm. He nodded toward the hand curled against his chest. “You need to get that looked at, son. It looks pretty chewed up.”

Brody’s hand had been bitten clean through. The hand was tipped with claws and the fur dripped blood. He attempted to shift back, but couldn’t. He couldn’t uncurl his fingers either. “Fuck.”

“Can we get some help over here?” Glaser was red faced and Brody didn’t know if it was anger or discomfort that fueled him.

He collapsed against the side of the ambulance. One of the paramedics jumped down from the truck and grabbed a first aid kit. She pulled on latex gloves then approached him.

“I’ve got to go,” Brody said through clenched teeth. Glaser didn’t release his arm.

“I can bandage it,” the paramedic cautioned. “But you ought to let us take you to the hospital. I think a couple of your fingers are broken. There could be nerve damage and you probably need some stitches.”

The male paramedic joined his partner and looked ill at ease. "It would help if it was less hairy. I really can't tell much about it at this point. Can't you change it back?"

Brody didn’t bother to hide his impatience. The man stepped away and pretended to inspect the supplies in the truck. The female paramedic cleaned and bandaged his hand.

Trish Carter sprinted after him. He’d just cleared the police line and dropped into one of the detective’s car. Glaser got into the passenger’s side.

“Talk to me, Brody. What’s going on?” Trish shoved a microphone under his nose. “Are any of the casualties Sean Stone?”

“No comment.” He shut the door and the driver started the car.

“Stop at the hospital first,” Glaser said as he studied Brody in the rearview mirror.

Brody leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. He’d never been so tired in his life.

Chapter Thirty-five

Nicole sat up on the couch and gripped Molly’s hand. The television show they were half-heartedly watching to keep themselves distracted was interrupted by a news alert. Nicole’s skin prickled. Across the bottom of the screen scrolled that there had been an explosion at Pier fourteen, where Brody was. The scene depicted a smoldering hunk of metal, police, and emergency personnel. A shrouded body lay on a gurney in the back of the ambulance.

“Please don’t let it be him.” Panicked butterflies swirled in the pit of her stomach. Fear blossomed within her and she searched the grimy faces for Brody’s familiar one.

A woman reported that no one would give a comment. “It appears there were casualties, but we’re unsure of how many or who they might be.”

Tom, the cop assigned to watch them, lifted his bored gaze. His eyes came alive with interest and he moved closer. He rested his elbows on the back of the couch and watched the screen with them.

“That’s not him.” It was unclear whether Nicole tried to convince herself or the others. “It can’t be.”

The video was grainy and blurred. Trish Carter, the newswoman on the scene, ducked under the police tape and edged down the hill. The camera bounced along with her.

The remote clattered to the floor. Molly jumped to her feet. “There he is. There’s Brody!”

Fear strangled Nicole. Brody and an immense white wolf were locked together in battle. Sean swallowed Brody’s right hand.

“No!” Nicole bounced off the couch.

Molly gripped her hand.

“You shouldn’t watch this.” Tom reached for the remote, but didn’t turn the television off. Like her, he couldn’t turn away from the gruesome scene on the screen.

The shaky camera zoomed in on the wolf and man. Brody shoved Sean away and scrambled to his feet. His body and clothing burst into a honey brown wolf. One minute he was Brody, the next he wasn't. He reared up on his back legs, the jeans hung on his misshapen hips like a macabre skirt.

Sean came at him again and their bodies locked in a fight for survival. The camera's view shook and the commentary was bleeped out.

Nicole couldn’t bear to see what happened. She jerked her hand out of Molly’s grasp and hid her face. “Why won’t they stop him? Can’t they see that Sean’s hurting Brody?”

She peeked between her fingers. The white wolf took Brody to the ground. Blood arced as the beast ravaged him.

The camera swung to the right and someone’s hand covered the screen. It looked like one of the cops had stopped them from filming.

Nicole crashed to her knees. He couldn’t be gone now that she’d found him. She’d given her heart and love to him and it was cruelly taken away. “No, no, no…”

Molly crouched down to put her arms around Nicole’s shoulders. She hugged her close and tried to console her. Though Nicole appreciated the effort, it did nothing to quell the emptiness that clenched her heart.

Sobs shook her shoulders as she pressed her face against Molly’s shoulder.

“Look, Ms. Riley!” Tom hurried around the end of the couch. “He’s alive!”

Nicole clapped a hand over her mouth and hiccupped on a sob.

Brody’s grimy face scowled and filled the screen for a moment. His light honey colored eyes narrowed in annoyance. The fingers of his uninjured hand curled around the lens to shove it away.

The out of focus camera briefly showed Brody’s not so human hand. Tom said, “He looks like hell.”

Nicole’s body trembled with relief. She wiped moisture from her eyes and released the breath she was holding. Swaying, she got to her feet.

Molly stood too. “He’s okay, Nicky.”

An hour later, Nicole paced the floors. Worry gnawed at her. “Where the hell is he? Do you think they arrested him?”

Molly snagged the back of her shirt. “He’ll be back soon.”

“Why hasn’t he called?” Nicole wrapped arms around her middle. A million reasons why he might not come home bombarded her.

Nicole tilted her head. A vehicle pulled away from the curb and the crunch of gravel followed. “Someone’s here.”

Molly’s expression twisted with curiosity. Tom cast a questioning glance at her. “Are you sure?”

The porch creaked. Someone walked across the wooden floor and touched the doorknob. Molly gasped in surprise and Nicole jumped with anxiety.

“Go to the bedroom, ladies.” Tom placed a hand on his holster. He moved across the living room and stood on the other side of the doorframe. His eyes were filled with anticipation and just maybe a hint of fear.

Nicole pushed Molly ahead of her, eager to get her to safety.

The door swung open, but Brody didn’t enter. “Stand down, Tom.”

Nicole thundered across the room, eager to take him in her arms. She had to touch him, make certain he was for real, and not just a figment of her imagination.

Tom relaxed and tucked the weapon away. “Sorry.”

“No worries,” Brody answered. “You’re just doing your job.”

Brody looked exhausted. His face was smeared with blood, soot, and ash. He was barefoot and shirtless. Not much remained of the torn, dirty jeans. Nicole noticed streaks and globs of dried blood and muck on his body. His right hand was bandaged.

“How bad are you hurt?” She gripped his upper arms to turn him this way and that. There were scratches and a few minor burns on his arms and neck.

“I’ll live.”

Molly bolted toward the back of the house. She called over her shoulder, “I’ll get you some clean clothes and start a bath.”

“Thanks for keeping an eye on them, Tom,” Brody said in earnest.

“I’ll be in the car out front. Call if you need me.” The cop gathered his things and moved toward the door.

Nicole fought a new wave of tears. Pellets of glass had embedded themselves into Brody’s back and shoulders. Most had fallen away to leave painful punctures.

“You and Sean were on the news.” The words caught in her throat. “I thought I lost you.”

He cupped her face with his left hand and lowered his mouth to hers. She reveled in the soft touch of his lips. Too soon he raised his head.

“I told you I’d be back, didn’t I?”

“What about Sean?”

“Gone.” He hushed her with another kiss on the corner of her mouth. “For good.”

Brody’s natural scent was hidden beneath a layer of dirt, soot and blood. A sneeze tickled her nose. She tilted her head up and stared up at him in disbelief. He gave her a very brief sterilized version of the story.

Despite her fears, Nicole wanted to tell him how she felt. She didn’t want to go another minute without him knowing. “I love you, Brody. I don’t ever want to lose you.”

He crushed her against him and whispered against her mouth, “I love you too, Nicole.” When he drew back, his honey colored eyes held an intense expression.

She brushed a dark smudge from the tip of his nose. “What?”

Brody’s familiar grin tilted one side of his mouth up. “I believe there’s a bath waiting. Feel free to join me if you’d like.”

Nicole’s eyes widened and warmth crept into her cheeks. A different kind of heat pulsed between her legs. She sent a wary glance down the hall. “What about Molly?”

“I don’t think all three of us will fit in the tub, but we can give it a try.” His serious tone was ruined by the laugh that bubbled up his throat.

Hand in hand, they passed Molly in the hallway. Her questioning glance melted into an embarrassed smile. She ducked past them and returned to the living room.

The television came to life at once and Molly turned the volume up.

Nicole turned from the door to find him naked with arms open wide. “Come here, Nicky.”

She crossed the room and wound her arms around his neck. His mouth closed over hers and left Nicole breathless with passion. He tasted of lust. Even one handed he was able to unbutton her jeans.

His fingertips tickled down the soft skin of her stomach and pushed past her panties. They touched the delicate bud of flesh. Nicole’s gasp of pleasure seemed to urge him on.

His fingers slipped along the seam of her sex. Brody sighed in her ear with approval when he discovered that she was wet with desire. “You want me, don’t you?”

“Always.” It was obvious that he wanted her too. His swollen cock nudged against her hip, anxious to be seen to. Taking him in her hand, she brushed her thumb over the tip and wiped away the pearl of pre-cum.

A half grin kicked up the corner of her mouth as she brought her thumb up to her mouth. She flicked the moisture away with the tip of her tongue.

Brody watched with a lust-filled gaze. “Ah fuck, baby. You don’t know what you do to me.”

“I know what I want you to do to me,” she purred in his ear.

Nicole was right where she belonged. His embrace was sanctuary, the place where she was most at home. She’d read somewhere that some wolves mated for life. For her, it held true. That is, if he’d have her. Until he decided otherwise, she was happy to be with him. He was her friend. More importantly, he was her lover. Brody Dunn was everything she desired and more. She just wished she had accepted this truth sooner.

He stepped into the tub, careful to keep the bandaged hand above water.

She walked toward him and swung her hips for all she was worth. He growled with approval. “I have a feeling we’re thinking the same thing.”

Brody took her hand and pulled her toward the tub. She placed her legs on either side of him and slipped into the bubbles. Both of them laughed when water sloshed onto the floor.

His expression grew serious and he pulled her down on top of him. They shared a kiss as she slowly slid down his length. Nicole held his gaze as she began to move her hips. The rhythm was slow and steady at first. Brody’s head dipped down to lick her throat and nibble at her jawline.

Water lapped over the edge of the tub as the intensity of their lovemaking grew. Neither cared if the bathroom flooded at this point. His thrusts grew more intense in need. He forgot about keeping the bandages dry as he gripped her ass with one hand. The other palmed a breast. Every now and then he’d tweak her nipple and send a ripple of pleasure tripping through her.

Nicole sat up, held to his shoulders and gyrated her hips.

Brody’s fingers curled around her hips and he drew her against him. He forced himself deeper as he guided her up and down his thick cock.

Nicole shuddered and threw her head back. She bit her bottom lip and almost shrieked in pleasure when his lips closed around her left nipple. His thrusts became harder and out of time. When his teeth grazed the sensitive flesh, she lost it. Her body shuddered and her fingernails clawed at his shoulders. A flood of pleasure flooded through her as orgasm crashed over her. Her limbs shook and she breathed hard. She held on for dear life.

Seconds later Brody’s body tensed beneath hers in release. His arms tightened around her as his lips found hers. He held her there for several moments before releasing her. The sex had been the best they’d had yet. No, she realized with a sudden thud of her heart. They hadn’t just had sex. They’d made love.

She turned in his arms then repositioned herself so that she was laying with her back to his chest. Most of the bubbles and water were on the floor now, but she wasn’t ready to leave their little love tub. “I just realized something.”

“Hmm? What’s that?” Brody asked. He sounded sleepy.

“Like it or not, you have a pack now.” It wasn’t the normal definition of pack, Nicole mused to herself. More like a reluctant werewolf who never wanted to change again and her best friend who happened to be human.

Sean’s wolf pack would have seen Brody kill him on live television. Brody was the alpha male of the San Diego pack now, whether he wanted that responsibility or not. With a sigh, Nicole decided this was a discussion better saved until tomorrow morning.

“Let’s get you dried off and into bed.”

Within minutes she had a tired Brody tucked into bed. She spent a few minutes with Molly and Officer Tom. Tom was sent home since there was no threat left now that Tony and Sean were gone.

Although Nicole had asked Molly to stay, her friend had declined. She’d told Nicole that she wanted to sleep in her own bed.