Fire Bound Protectors Box Set Read online

  Ari laughed. “Alright, let’s go get dressed and we can take a cab to the meeting.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” She grinned up at him. Little did she know, he was contemplating distracting her when they got to the bedroom, but she seemed to sense that. She whirled on him and pointed a finger.

  “No funny business! That’s my job!” Ari grinned and heard the laughter coming from his family as they made their way up the stairs to get ready.

  Chapter 10

  Ry thought the meeting with Mr. Peasey went well. He made an offer to represent her and he was going to start calling around to see about getting booked at better venues. In the meantime, he tasked her with coming up with a bunch of new material.

  Ry was on cloud nine when she walked out of the agency. “And then he cracked a joke about New York cabs and it was actually pretty funny, and then he offered to buy me lunch. I knew you wouldn’t love that, with everything that happened today. So, I told him I was still full from breakfast and I couldn’t go but thanks so much anyway. And then…”

  Ry shut up when Ari kissed her. She sighed and melted into his arms.

  “How fast do you think we can get back?” she murmured when he broke off the kiss.

  “Well, we could always go to your apartment for a while. It would have more privacy and you could pick up a few things. Or we can just stay the night there.”

  “Mhmm. I think my place will be good for a few hours, but I would feel better at night being under the roof of four dragons who are honor-bound to watch over me, Claire, and Jennifer.”

  Ari chuckled, and Ry smiled, loving her life at the moment. Things were looking up, despite having the threat of the Serpentina hanging over them. They walked quickly back to her apartment, and Ry lost no time helping Ari strip off his clothes. The lovemaking was what it should have always been. Neither was fighting for dominance, and neither was mistaking who was in their arms.

  Ry was sitting on Ari’s lap, gently moving up and down. But this time, he was sitting up with her and looking in her eyes as he moved deep inside her. She took his hand and placed it over her heart as she leaned in and kissed him. Instead of fondling her breast, he kept it there, feeling the thumping of the beat. She placed her palm over his and listened too. Both of their hearts beat in time with one another, and the rhythm of their thrusts was in sync as well. Ry was about to orgasm when Ari stopped her and gently lifted her from him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Nothing. Put on your bathrobe,” he told her. She did as he said, perplexed, and then he took her by the hand and guided her up the steps to the rooftop. She should have known that her dragon wanted to make love in the free, open air. It seemed so naughty; anyone could catch them at any time. Ari lifted the back of her bathrobe and gently parted her thighs. Ari only had a towel wrapped around his waist, and she felt the material bunched between them. She gasped when she felt the pressure of cock between her thighs. He moved very subtly, not giving away what they were doing to the outside world around them. To anyone looking, it would appear as if he were cuddling her from behind and they were simply enjoying the sights together. Ry couldn’t help but feel the pressure build inside her. With every short thrust, he hit against her g-spot and it made her gasp. When he covered her hands with his own so she couldn’t pull away from the intensity, she came. She whimpered and craned her neck so she wouldn’t cry out to all of New York, and then she heard him grunt behind her as he orgasmed as well.

  Ry felt weak in the knees after, and she wanted nothing more than to collapse in his arms in bed. He remained where he was, pressed against her. But she grew alarmed when his body stiffened behind her.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “Nothing. Remain here. I will be right back. Go back to your apartment and call Drake. Tell him which direction I fly in.” Ry turned around to look in Ari’s eyes and demand an explanation, but he was already beginning to shift. She stepped back as he dropped from the roof and then became a blur to everyone, including herself. She was able to tell he flew down toward 7th Avenue judging by the shadow he cast. She could see it on the panes of glass on the high rises and so she did as he said and called his brother.

  “Drake, I’m sorry to bother you. I don’t know what’s wrong, but Ari just flew off and told me to call you. He flew toward 7th from my apartment.”

  “Alright. Stay in your apartment, I will send Corey over with the car to pick you up. Don’t leave the brownstone until you hear from myself or Ari.”

  “Drake, what is going on?” Ry asked. She was sick with worry. Had the Serpentina come back? Was Ari going after them alone?

  “All will be explained soon,” he assured her. “Just please do what I ask and it will be alright, I promise.”

  “Okay.” Ry hung up the phone and made her way downstairs to the apartment. She got dressed and began pacing, and a half an hour later she heard Corey’s voice when he hit the buzzer.

  “Ms. James? I am downstairs and ready for you.”

  Ry picked up the overnight bag she had packed. When she got into the lobby of her apartment complex, Corey was waiting for her. He looked as put together as always, but he was serious and grim.

  “Corey, what is going on?” she pleaded.

  “It isn’t my place to say. I’m sorry, Ms. James. But if it is what I think it is, it isn’t all bad.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense!” she cried.

  “I know, and for that I am sorry. Let me take your bag.” He took the bag despite her resistance to give it up. He ushered her quickly to the car and helped her in the back. When they got to the brownstone, Claire and Jennifer met her on the stairs and ushered her inside. They sat her in the sitting room and Corey brought in snacks. Ry was appreciative that they were trying to cheer her up, but she couldn’t take her mind off of the fact that Ari was out there somewhere, potentially in danger. She listened as they each told their story of how they had come into the dragon world. She was shocked when Claire told her she had been kidnapped, and equally as shocked when Jennifer told her she dumped Crylaine for a week to give herself some space.

  “No way!” she exclaimed.

  “Yes way. Dragons are intense. Until you grow accustomed to their ways, you are in a constant state of shock. It gets better, but even we have things we still need time to adjust to,” Claire explained.

  “Um, can I ask you something?” She looked at them both and bit her lip.

  “Of course! This is girl bonding time,” Claire told her brightly.

  “Did either of you know Siesha?” The question was out before she could think twice about asking it. They looked at one another and then at her.

  “No. She was killed before we came along. We suspect back in Europe, but Ari doesn’t ever talk about her. Our mates are pretty tight lipped about it too, because in a way it was like they lost a sister themselves.”

  “I see,” Ry nodded. She thought about this and she wondered if she would ever be considered a sister to the dragon warriors.

  “Yes, you are.” Jennifer’s voice was firm.

  “Huh?” She looked up.

  “What you are wondering. You are a sister. You are as much a part of this family as any of us,” Claire assured her. Ry couldn’t help the tears that welled in her eyes. She hadn’t felt this welcomed by anyone since Rosie was alive.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. She had to swallow hard to keep the tears from falling.

  “Any time.” Jennifer reached over and squeezed her arm. Ry was trying to think of something to say when the door opened. Ari and his brothers walked in. He looked grim and Ry stood.

  “Tell me what’s wrong. I can’t stand it anymore, Ari.”

  “Come with me,” he told her. She followed him, bewildered. Jennifer and Claire went to their mates. “Quickly.”

  “Ari…what is it?” She couldn’t stand the tension anymore. He opened the door. She stood out on the stoop and took in the scene in front of her. There was a taxi cab and seve
ral police cars with their lights on. She turned to Ari who gestured to the scene.

  “Just watch,” he murmured. The detective who had pulled the cab over was questioning the driver. He was a large man in a grease stained t-shirt, news cap, and jeans.

  “And how long have you been driving this cab, Mr. Monroe?”

  “Last fifteen years. It’s the only way I can get away from the old lady, you know?” he laughed. Ry was confused.

  “Why do you want me to watch a routine traffic stop?” she asked Ari. At this point, the rest of the household joined them on the stoop. They weren’t the only gawkers. People in the park had stopped to watch the scene too.

  Ry turned her attention back to the officers and the detective. The detective in a suit was jotting notes on a pad. “So, no one else ever drives this car, is that correct?”

  “Hell no. I wouldn’t let anyone touch my baby. I’m privately licensed to drive in the city. My wife don’t drive and my kids ain’t old enough. Little ingrates.”

  “So, on the 26th of June, approximately a year ago, you were the one driving this vehicle?”

  “I don’t know,” he man replied, his tone becoming defensive. “Probably. I always work nights. Better tips, drunk girls who look good. You know how it is.”

  Ry’s hands went to her mouth in disbelief. She knew that date. It was ingrained in her memory for eternity. Tears rolled down her cheeks. The only clue in her sister’s hit and run accident was a number that had imprinted on her from the impact of the car.

  “Sir, are you aware of any accidents on that night?”

  “Nah, what of it? Everyone knows you hit a little bumper to bumper sometimes. Forget about it!” The taxi driver waved his hands and the detective closed his notepad.

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m Detective Webster and you are under arrest for vehicular manslaughter of Rosalind James.”

  “What? Are you crazy? What are you talking about?” he hollered. One of the officers stepped up and placed cuffs around his beefy wrists.

  “I’m from the cold case division. I received a tip that your cab’s license numbers match the imprint left on the victim from the accident.”

  “That ain’t true! I ain’t hit nobody!” Monroe screamed.

  “Mr. Monroe, the imprint your cab left on Rosalind was hard enough that we could see the numbers on her skin. That means you were driving well over the speed limit. I’m having your cab hauled in for forensic evidence. We will match the tires to the tracks left on the body, and the numbers imprinted on Ms. James. We analyzed the scene a year ago, and we were able to conclude that you never even hit the breaks to slowed down. You hit that woman and kept driving. I am going to push to have you charged with gross negligence in addition to vehicular manslaughter. Maybe if you had called 911, she might have made it.”

  “It wasn’t my fault. Betty had been on the phone nagging me and I waved that woman on. She didn’t move fast enough, and I just thought to scare her! It ain’t my fault!” Monroe screamed. The officer began reading him his Miranda rights and Ry turned into Ari’s arms and sobbed. She knew Rosie hadn’t stood a chance. The cab driver was going too fast, but she felt some vindication from Detective Webster chewing him out. She looked up to see Corey nod to the detective. Had he known the whole time? Had he somehow tipped off the Detective? How had he known it was Monroe’s cab?

  “How?” she began, and Ari led her back into the house after she watched the officers put Monroe in the back of the cruiser.

  “I wanted to think of some way to express how sorry I was for that first night,” he confessed. She was still wiping her eyes when the rest of the family came in and sat around to listen to the tale.

  “Corey approached me and together we hatched a plan. He has connections all over this city, and he knows Detective Webster. He was able to get a copy of the report. I was hoping with my dragon abilities, I might find something the Detective couldn’t. It paid off today. I was able to see the numbers in his cab. Of course, it was possible it wasn’t Monroe, which was why I needed to get close enough to look at the tire tracks. With the tracks and the numbers matching up, I put an anonymous call to the detective telling him I found the vehicle that was in the hit and run.”

  “You…you did all of this for me?” she whispered.

  “Yes. I wanted to show you that I understood the pain of losing someone and not having closure. When the Serpentina were done with Siesha, there was nothing left. I know how much it hurts.”

  Love and gratitude washed over Ry like a tidal wave. “I love you!” she finally cried and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him.

  “I love you too,” he grinned. “I’m sorry I worried you earlier, but I didn’t want to lose him.”

  “First, don’t ever do that again. Second, thank you!” she said, and kissed him again. She turned to Corey and threw her arms around him too, hugging him tight and kissing his cheeks. Ari’s brothers were laughing, and Claire and Jennifer were rubbing their eyes. “Did you all know?” Ry sniffled.

  “We had an idea of what they were doing,” Claire said, “It was mostly Ari and his brothers searching the streets.”

  “You really were counting cabs?” Ry looked at them in wonder.

  “Yes. When one hurts our own, we don’t stop until we succeed in caring for them however necessary,” Drake told her. He was the one to walk over to her and pull her into a hug. She sobbed as each of Ari’s family members hugged her.

  It felt so surreal. In one day, she landed an agent and her sisters killer was caught. She had never felt more love than she did right then. She still missed her sister desperately, but at least now she had answers. Someone would finally pay for the trauma and pain that weighed so heavily on Ry over the past year.

  She looked up at Ari, her warrior, protector, and anchor in this world. “I love you,” she told him, not feeling like the words would ever be enough.

  “I know, I love you too.” He kissed her.

  Later that night, the detective had come to officially inform her that the District Attorney was moving forward with the charges against Alfred Monroe. She celebrated by enjoying the feast Corey prepared with Ari and his family. They had the rest of the war to push through, but things felt right in that moment, and that was all that mattered.

  Ari brought her back to her apartment that night, and after making love again, they brought the urn of Rosie’s ashes back to the brownstone. Corey was waiting for them and the rest of the family held candles as they proceeded to pour Rosie’s ashes into a beautiful, ornate pot. The planted a rose bush inside it. Once the roots had taken hold and the bush grew too big for the pot, they would move the flowers to the garden. Drake placed a small placard in front of it that read, “In loving memory of Rosalind, “Rosie” James and Siesha Thompson.” Nothing more needed to be said.

  Ry turned to Ari who kissed her softly. “I must be the luckiest woman in the world,” she murmured.

  “Nah, I’d say that’s my title,” Jennifer joked with her. Laine embraced her and kissed the top of her head.

  “Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?” Claire griped. Ry laughed when Scyros piped up.

  “Well, to a dragon…” He let out a pained grunt when Laine nailed him in the stomach with his elbow. The group laughed, but Drake’s face remained stoic.

  “No one better mess with our mates ever again,” he said darkly. But Scyros and Corey smiled when each of them gathered their mates in their arms and kissed them under the stars. Ry looked at Ari and smiled. She couldn’t wait for an eternity spent laughing and smiling with her dragon. She was so grateful he had reminded her how to feel such happiness and love so sincerely again. Yeah, she really was the luckiest woman in the world.

  *****

  THE END

  Crylaine’s Secret

  Chapter 1

  Jennifer stepped into the magnificent foyer of the New York Public Library and breathed a sigh of relief. The library was her sanctuary in a city full of chaos and disorder.
Jennifer grew up in the Village, a section of Manhattan just off Washington Square Park. As a mixed heritage woman with an African American father and a Latino mother, she was no stranger to adversity and discrimination. Even with her eclectic, activist family and open-minded beliefs, Jennifer found solace in the traditionalism found within the library.

  Jennifer nodded to the front desk librarian who she was now on a first name basis with. Mrs. Cavanaugh noted that Jennifer was a regular nightly fixture, always hunched over a pile of books at one of the corner tables in the rear of the stacks. Jennifer continued to walk past the desk, needing a moment alone before facing the positivity of Mrs. Cavanaugh, or Joan, as she had come to know her. Today’s rally had been particularly grueling. One of her fellow activists had gotten out of hand, and Jennifer had to watch them get arrested. Then the rally itself was disbanded, effectively ending the months and months of planning and coordination performed by. Jennifer was not in the mood to be cheered up. Today, she preferred the misery of her own company as she continued to plan next months rally.

  She was having trouble staying motivated tonight. They would probably end up with another chucklehead ruining everything they had worked for within a few minutes, and get kicked out before having their message heard. As Jennifer walked, she held her hand out and let her fingers graze the spines of the books. The further into the stacks she got, the more relaxed she became. Jennifer closed her eyes when she got halfway to her usual desk, and began spinning in circles. She picked up her left arm and pointed her index finger. As she counted to her age, 22, she spun, and breathed deeply. . When she stopped, she tried to walk in a straight line, which was a difficult feat given how dizzy she was. Then, she pointed straight out. When her finger touched the spine of the book directly in front of her, she thought she felt the thrill of a warm tingle run up her forearm and down her spine. Before opening her eyes, she pulled the book off of the shelf. This was her nightly ritual. She never cheated or peeked before grabbing a book, letting fate decide what Jennifer would read about that evening. She opened her eyes and instantly snorted at the subject. Dragons.