Fighting Temptation [Brac Village 11] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (4 page)

He wondered what fate was thinking when pairing them together.

“You know, you haven’t exactly given him a reason to trust you, Detective Bianchi.”

Carmine was not about to stand there and tell Malcolm his backstory. It was no one’s business why he was keeping his distance from Turi. In his mind, it was a very valid reason—valid fear to be exact. Both reasons seemed very logical to him. “Call me Carmine.”

Malcolm handed Carmine a mug and then stood at the back door with him. The day was bright, not a cloud in the sky. Carmine could see the grass rustling and could feel the slight breeze blowing through the screen door. It made him want to run in his bear form on days like this. Too bad he not only had to work, but had a mate to help as well. Running would have to come much later.

Malcolm finally spoke after taking a sip of his coffee. He nodded over to where Turi was standing by the cows. “You know how hard it is to find one’s mate, Carmine. I’m not going to get into your business or lecture you, but you need to think long and hard before dismissing Turi.”

“I’m not dismissing him,” Carmine said before taking a drink of coffee. He held onto the mug like it was a lifeline as he watched Turi’s long black hair sway in the wind. His fingers itched to touch the silky-looking strands, to know what it felt like to have those strands caress him as he—Carmine shook his head, trying to dispel those thoughts. “I’m going to help him.”

Malcolm gave a long sigh as he slightly shook his head. Carmine felt like he was talking with his own father as the large man stood next to him. “That’s not the same thing.”

No, it wasn’t. But Carmine could help Turi without claiming the man. It wasn’t an easy decision on his part to keep Turi at arm’s length. But after what his father had gone through, Carmine knew he wasn’t strong enough to endure…“I need to head into work. Can you keep an eye on him?”

As anxious as he had been to get Turi to the ranch so he could be rid of the guy, Carmine was finding it hard to leave. His eyes were still riveted on the man’s back, watching as his mate’s hips swayed when he walked. He was getting hard standing at the door and knew he had to get away so he could think clearly.

“I’ll have my sons watch over him as he works.” Malcolm walked away from the door, pressing a hip into the counter. “Are you coming back?”

It was a valid question. Carmine wasn’t exactly acting enthused about finding Turi. “I’ll be back once my shift ends.” He glanced back at Turi, watching the guy approach the cows once more with hesitation. Carmine held back his smile. If it wasn’t for his deep-seated fears, it would be so easy to claim the man. But his fears were there and they were real.

He pulled his eyes away and headed over to the counter, placing his mug in the sink. He knew Malcolm’s words rang true. Mates were a rare find. But they also had the ability to destroy a man. Carmine wasn’t dismissing Turi lightly. He wasn’t dismissing the man at all. Now that he knew who Turi was, the guy would forever be on Carmine’s mind. “Thanks for the coffee.”

Malcolm gave a solemn nod. Even though he wasn’t going to explain himself, Carmine felt like shit. He knew everyone was questioning his actions—or lack of. But his reasons were his own.

He turned to walk away when he heard that annoying ass whistle. What he wouldn’t give to smash that piece of plastic. Carmine and Malcolm locked eyes for a second before they both moved quickly toward the back door.

At first he thought Turi was blowing the whistle because he was running from the small teacup pig that was hot on his heels. Carmine groaned, palming his face as he thought of his mate running from a pint-sized attacker, but then he heard Malcolm growl.

Looking up, his heart dove into his stomach when he noticed a tall man chasing behind Turi. “One of yours?”

“Hell no. That’s Turi’s father,” Malcolm said with a growl before slamming his hand into the screen door, both men going after the guy chasing Turi. Carmine pulled his sidearm, his legs and arms pumping as he raced across the large piece of land.

“Bacon!” a slim man shouted as he raced toward them and scooped the pig up into his arms. Carmine ignored them as he tried desperately to get to Turi.

“No!” he shouted when Turi and the man disappeared into the barn. He knew that if Turi’s father got his hands on his son, the guy could shimmer them away and he just might not see Turi ever again.

“Hurry!” Malcolm shouted.

Carmine didn’t hesitate, he moved faster, pressing his back into the wood as he did a quick head check. The barn looked empty, aside from the animals. He swung around the frame, moving inside the large structure, and then moved to the nearest stall.

He didn’t see or hear anything and that worried Carmine. What if he was too late? What if his father was already gone, taking Turi with him? His eyes scanned the dimly lit interior, looking for any signs of his mate.

Malcolm came in seconds behind him, joining Carmine at his side. “I don’t see anyone.”

Carmine was holding onto any hope that Turi wasn’t gone, that he hadn’t been taken back to his tribe. Although his own feelings were a jumbled mess, he honestly didn’t want to see anything happen to the guy.

As he scanned the place, Carmine could see that there wasn’t much light, the sunshine breaking through most of the stall windows to give the barn a soft glow. A strong smell of hay wafted toward him as a horse whinnied while another snorted.

Carmine’s head snapped around when he heard that annoying ass whistle Turi possessed blow loudly. He raised his gun and aimed at the stranger when he spotted him in one of the stalls at the far end of the barn.

Without hesitation, Carmine fired. The bullet hit the wall just inches from the man’s head. Carmine wasn’t trying to kill the guy, just scare him away. He never shot to kill unless the other person was being violent. Trying to kidnap his own son wasn’t enough for Carmine to kill. Maybe wound, but never kill.

Malcolm shifted into his bear form as Carmine slowly walked toward the stall, his gun still raised and cupped in his hands.

“What the hell was—” Riley came to a screeching halt as soon as he entered the barn, his eyes flickering from Carmine to the bear at his side.

Carmine ignored the guy as he made his way to the stall to see Turi pushed into the corner, his hands over his head, the whistle dangling from between his lips. The guy’s eyes were tightly closed as he continued to push himself further into the wood.

Maybe that annoying piece of plastic had its purpose after all.

“He’s gone, Turi.” Carmine reholstered his gun and squatted, pulling Turi away from the wall. He didn’t want to get close to Turi, but he wasn’t going to allow his mate to cower in a corner. The man was shaking badly as Carmine settled Turi in his arms. “You’re safe.”

“Th–that was my father.” Turi drew in a deep breath and then pushed out of Carmine’s arms. Carmine knelt there for a moment, knowing he was the one who had caused Turi to put some distance between them. It had been his aloofness that had the guy moving away so damn fast.

“Why didn’t he take you?” Riley asked as he finally joined them.

Turi shook his head as he got to his feet and walked out of the stall. Carmine could see the man’s legs still shaking, but Turi managed not to crumble. “I’m not sure.”

“Give us a minute,” Carmine said as he stood. Turi was lying and he wanted to know why. “I need to talk to Turi.”

Both Riley and Malcolm glanced between Carmine and Turi before leaving the barn. He could tell that neither had wanted to go, but thankfully they hadn’t insisted on staying. Carmine leaned his arm over the divider, watching Turi closely as he spoke. “You know exactly why he didn’t take you.”

Turi glared at him before he began to walk away. Carmine reached out and grabbed the man, stopping him from putting that damn whistle between his lips. “You won’t need that.”

“Then let me go,” Turi said, his voice filled with an angry heat.

“Tell me why he didn’t take you.” Carmine’s gut was telling him that Turi knew the answer. He wasn’t sure why the guy was protecting the very man he was running from, but Turi knew.

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” Turi twisted his arm, trying to break the grip. It seemed both of them were at a stalemate. Carmine wouldn’t allow himself to fall for Turi and Turi wouldn’t allow himself to trust Carmine.

“Are you sure you’re running from him?”

“You bastard!” Turi yanked hard, but Carmine refused to let the guy go. His fear of the man taking Turi still had a tight grip on him.

“I had to ask.” His cop training was kicking in, overriding the fact that he and Turi were mates. Carmine wasn’t out to hurt the man, but things weren’t adding up. He wanted facts and he was tired of his mate dismissing him. Carmine knew that was unfair since he had been doing the same thing, but right now, he didn’t care. He wanted answers.

Turi glared up at him, the anger present in his emerald-green eyes. “Delyn is not the typical father. I refuse to let him mate me to my very own uncle. Would you want to be caught?”

“No, I wouldn’t.” Carmine loosened his grip, ready to get the hell out of there and afraid to leave the man. He was contradictorily messed up in the head.

Carmine wasn’t sure which feeling to go with. He seemed to stay confused around Turi and that wasn’t a feeling he was used to. Carmine had always been in control, always knowing what he wanted. Since meeting Turi, he wasn’t sure about a damn thing. He hated the struggle that was going on inside of him. It was screwing with his head, making him second-guess himself, something he wasn’t used to doing.

For a few weeks he had been considering putting in for a transfer, going to a big-city police station for a faster pace of life and a scenery change. Maybe once he got Turi out of this mess, he would put those papers in. He couldn’t risk caring about the man. That was something he couldn’t allow himself to do.

Just when he thought he was getting his life together, along comes Turi. Carmine inwardly cursed at the way fate was interfering in his life. “You know you won’t be safe here, Turi. All I’m asking is that you let me help you, nothing more.”

He could see the hurt in Turi’s dark-green eyes and he hated that look, but there was nothing Carmine could do about it. This was business, nothing more. “Just come to work with me, for the day.”

Turi pulled his arm the rest of the way out of Carmine’s hand and began to walk toward the exit. “I’ll take my chances on the ranch.”

Carmine watched Turi’s jerky steps. Yep, the man was definitely pissed-off.

Just as the guy reached the entrance, Turi spun around and began to walk backward, his emerald-green eyes filled with irritation. “By the way, don’t ever use your weapon against my father again. He may have his priorities all screwed up, but he is still my father.”

Now who had their priorities screwed up? Carmine didn’t know what to make of Turi. But then again, if Carmine’s father had lost his mind, would he really be able to shoot him? He knew in his heart the answer was no.

Turi had to be screwed up in the head over this. There was no way he wasn’t hurting inside over what his father—no, Carmine was not going to go there.

Grunting in frustration, Carmine left the barn. He was surprised no one from work had called him yet. Carmine was running way behind. But work wasn’t really on his mind. He had to find a way to help Turi without getting deeply involved with the guy.

Carmine’s eyes widened when he saw Turi barreling straight for him. What was the guy up to? He had an urge to pull his gun again from the way Turi was looking at him.

The man stopped a foot from him, pointing a finger up at Carmine. “I’ll go with you only because I don’t want these nice bears hurt. But I’m warning you, my whistle works just fine and I’m not afraid to use it.”

Knowing the man was serious, Carmine wasn’t sure if he wanted to let the guy in his car. From the way Turi acted, if Carmine breathed too hard the squirrelly man would be blowing that whistle. What the hell had he gotten himself into?

He had no choice. Carmine could not stick around here all day, but he wasn’t willing to leave Turi behind. “Go let someone know that you are leaving with me.”

“Why?”

“So no one will come looking for you,” Carmine answered as he headed toward his car. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with Turi at work. Maybe he could give him some paperwork to file. His boss was going to freaking love this. Carmine’s ass already hurt from the chewing that was yet to come.

Turi took off toward the house, hurrying inside. After ten minutes, Carmine grew frustrated and went to find the guy. This was unreal. Not only had he been running late this morning, he had spent a good two hours on the ranch.

Walking inside the house, Carmine heard voices in the kitchen. As he grew closer, he could make out what was being said.

“I’ll call you every hour on the hour. If you don’t hear from me, that means the detective has buried my body somewhere.”

Carmine’s hands curled into fists at what Turi was saying. Why on earth did the guy think he was some kind of psychopath? He had done nothing to warrant such suspicions. The only thing Carmine had done was try to help the man.

“Turi, you are being ridiculous. Carmine is your mate. There is no way he would hurt you,” Malcolm said in a tone that was filled with resignation and amusement. “Stop treating him like a criminal and you two just might get along better.”