“Thanks,” I bit out, moving away from his touch. He made a fist with the hand he’d touched me with. I acted like I didn’t see him being weird as I moved towards the desk.
“Where is everyone?” I asked apathetically, reaching for the phone. I wanted to know how much time I had alone with him.
“Hmm? Oh, well no one really works in the office much since there are no rentals right now. Everyone here is friends and family. End of summer reunion of sorts.” I didn’t respond to him. Instead, I pressed the landline to my ear. Before I could start typing in Ava’s house number I realized there was no dial tone.
“When I looked up your band, I was surprised how many fansyouhave, Caspian. I even saw some poor girl was so obsessed with you that she killed herself at your last concert.” My fingers hovered over the numbers. The phone had no cords connected to it. My eyes narrowed.
“The phone isn’t plugged in,” I said.
“Well that’s odd,” Ben said. He stepped up beside me and smiled as he looked at the phone. “Must have got knocked loose.” He was close and no one was around. I could kill him now. I set the phone back in its cradle and leaned closer to him. He looked up at me with a raised eyebrow.
“Something wrong?” He asked as I eyed his throat. My breathing picked up as I envisioned it. I’d pull him into my body and he’d claw and beat my back as I lunged into his throat. His hot blood would burst out of him and he’d snarl, angry he was defeated so easily.
And Ava would be so relieved to have him gone. So pleased with me for destroying a threat.
The truth had always been that I enjoyed violence. It was part of what I was. I was a predator, a carnivore. I was made to open things up. I was also made to defend my mate from all threats.
My arms boxed Ben in against the desk. He leaned back, eyeing me curiously. He was letting me closer than he should. That probably had something to do with his comments about my body. This was almost too easy.
I pushed my hand in his short hair, gripping it tightly. Ben stared at me like he was examining a curious thing, his eyes only tightening slightly as I tugged roughly on his hair. His hand dove in his pockets, gripping something.
“What are you doing?” He asked.
“What do you think I’m doing?” I asked in amusement. I pulled his head back and he sucked in a breath as I exposed his throat. My mouth opened up and my teeth started to shift as I leaned in closer to him. It was disappointing how easy this would be. I did love a good fight.
I felt Ben press something into my side.
Before I could look down, the loud screeching of the screen door opening came from behind me. I stilled and Ben quickly moved away from me, slipping through my fingers as I let him go. He shoved a black box into his pocket. Did he have ataser?
I leaned against the desk, covering my mouth with my hand as my heart beat out of my chest. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Several people started talking and I turned around to see three big guys staring at me. I backed up a step and eyed them.
“I’d never heard of a male siren before,” Ben said.
“What?” I snapped in agitation and paranoia.
“That’s what the media calls you sometimes. A male siren.” He smiled at me. I narrowed my eyes.
“Yeah, because I sing and people like it. Not very creative.”
“Not creative but it is ironic,” Ben said. The big guys started to fan out and get closer. Brandon and Ava had been right. This place was fucked.
“Where’s Ava?” I asked.
“Ava is fine. We won’t hurt her. Is Ava special to you?” Ben asked. The guys began moving in slowly towards me.
“Ava is special to me too,” Ben said. My eyes flicked back to him. No, Ava was not special to him. Ava would never be special to him. One guy came forward quickly. Guess I was getting my fight after all.
I turned towards the desk, picking up a huge metal flashlight. I twisted around, swinging it against his face. It hit his temple and he went down fast. The other two guys stilled and looked at Ben apprehensively.
“Tell me how being a siren works. Do you have a tail?”
“I’m not a fucking siren,” I spit as one guy stepped closer. I swung the flashlight at him and he jumped back.
“No reason to lie now. Can you show me? Can you sing for me?” Ben continued his questions. One of the guys came at me and I swung. The other came from behind and slammed a sparkling taser into my side. The flashlight fell with a thunk to the ground as I ground my teeth, growling out in pain. It only lasted a brief second though, long enough that I dropped the flashlight and they kicked it away.
“I have plans for your Ava,” Ben said and I looked over at him. He noticed my reaction and seemed pleased. “She’s very precious.” There was that word again. Veronica and him… Then it dawned on me. I’d heard the hunter leader, Loren, call her precious.
