She reached up and thumbed one of his sharp teeth hard enough to draw blood. Tabby licked the red liquid,eyeing him the whole time.
“Are you trying to kill me?” Major retracted his fangs as he grabbed her hand and sucked her thumb into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the cut.
Her eyes fluttered as the wound healed. “Sorry,” she whispered. “I—"
“No.” Major pressed his fingertips to her lips. “Nothing to be sorry for. I get it. After this job is over, you and I are taking at least a week off and going somewhere private.”
“Promise?”
Major pressed his lips to her forehead. “Promise. I overheard Daniel and Craig talking earlier. Daniel asked Craig about knowing Brad, and he was adamant he didn’t.”
“You would think if he did, he would be truthful with his uncle. It’s Daniel’s job to keep him out of trouble. I’m wondering about the fact that the Trio can’t trace their true identities. Maybe they were in witness protection.”
“If that’s the case, do you really think Craig would have become an actor? Someone in the public eye where he can be found easily?”
Tabitha leaned against the poker table. “No, but any other reason wouldn’t make sense either. Not with him being so visible.”
“Do you think I should voice him and find out the truth?”
“It would be the fastest way to get to the bottom of this. At least if we know for sure whether he and Brad have had previous dealings and what they are, we’ll be better equipped to handle what comes next. The studio isn’t going to wait forever to start filming. According toPerry, moving here was a short reprieve to give the cops time to find out why Brad attacked Craig and if someone else is coming to finish the job. He spoke to the director who was in touch with the detectives, and Brad still isn’t talking.”
“Then let’s go tell them the coast is clear. The first opportunity I get, I’ll ask him.”
Chapter 6
Damnation, Major wasfire with a capital F, and Tabitha couldn’t wait to take a week off with her mate. That would have to wait, though. Even if they figured out the mess between Craig and Brad Campbell, that didn’t mean their job was done. They would be guarding the actors until filming was finished. One of the perks of being a Goyle was that Tabitha had more money than she would ever spend, which meant she and Major could travel anywhere in the world as long as Mason allowed them to take a vacation at the same time. Then they could figure out living arrangements because she had no doubt they would be mated sooner rather than later.
She released a wistful sigh as she topped the steps and continued up to the second floor to tell Trista and Perry the coast was clear. Before knocking, she listened in on Trista, and sure enough, the white noise machine was whirring. Letting the female nap, Tabitha strode to Perry’s room next. When she didn’t hear anything, she knocked gently.
“Come in.”
Tabitha eased the door open far enough to stick her head in. He was seated next to the window, reading. “The coast is clear. It was two teenagers hiding in the woods to drink some vodka.”
Perry closed the book and placed it on the small table next to the chair. Tabitha glanced at the cover, surprised to see it was Shakespeare. “How did Major know someone was out there?”
“He installed extra cameras around the property.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. Not that I doubted your company’s abilities. While waiting, I called Don Adams and asked if he’d heard from the detective. Brad Campbell still refuses to talk. The man is looking at attempted murder, and he isn’t trying to defend himself.”
Actually, the charges were assault with a deadly weapon, but Tabitha didn’t correct him. “It’s possible he’s protecting someone.”
“Protecting them from what? He’s the one who came after Craig with a knife.”
“Yes, but why? Anyway, Florence is cooking supper, and Trista is napping. I’ll leave you to your book.”
Instead of heading back downstairs, Tabitha went to her bedroom and closed the door. She sent Major a text, informing him she was going to hop in the shower. Not so he could join her, as much as she wanted that, but so he could remain close by the house until she was finished.
She and Major had showered together when she spent the weekend with him at his home. His was a modest house, but it fit the male. Comfortable seating angled close to an oversized, deep sofa, which sat in front of a large-screen TV mounted above the fireplace. A well-appointed kitchen he used often. A shower large enough for a man of his size plus Tabitha with plenty of room for them to move around each other. Or for him totake her against the shower wall. That had been one hell of an experience. Major had grabbed Tabitha by her thighs, lifting her easily. He held her aloft, then slid his cock home, lazily sliding in and out of her while she held onto his shoulders. His gaze never left hers, even when her fangs dropped and she was tempted to sink them into his neck, sealing the bond. Major angled his head, almost daring her to bite him, but she held off. She wouldn’t do that without talking about what it meant. After they both found their release, Major bathed Tabitha gently before washing her long hair. It was as intimate as the sex had been, and she wanted so badly to blurt out that he was her fated mate. Instead, she told him with her hands and eyes how important he was to her.
He had a king-sized bed with soft sheets and a fluffy comforter, where they spent much of their time. Major’s house felt like home, and she could see herself living there with him. What she couldn’t envision was leaving Tony and all her cousins behind.
Unlike the Gargoyles, the Hounds hadn’t amassed fortunes over the years. They weren’t poor, but other than the mercenaries, most of them had regular jobs, like Major’s twin sisters who were bartenders. Or Marshall, who painted custom bikes and sidecars. Thinking of twins, Tabitha wondered how her own brother was doing. She so wanted to be there for him when he went up against his mate’s sperm donor. If Major hadn’t shown up in Atlanta, Tabitha would have bribed Cailín to take her place while Tabitha helped Anthony and Elle. But now that her mate was here, she was only slightly miffed at not being able to join the fight.
Showered and dressed in fresh clothes, Tabithareturned to the kitchen where Trista was seated at the island, cradling a cup of tea. Tabitha had never been a fan of the hot stuff. She liked hers over ice with plenty of sugar. Speaking of, she waited until she wouldn’t be in Florence’s way and grabbed a glass from the overhead cabinet and poured some of the leftover tea from lunch.
“Anything I can do to help?” she asked the cook after downing half the glass.
“Uh.” Florence frowned, but when she saw Tabitha was serious, she smiled. “If you want to set the table, I’d appreciate it.”
