N. Walters - Finding Chrissten

He hustled her down the short hallway and into the office. Isaiah, Meredith, Joshua, Alexandra and Craig were all there. Kevin wasn’t. “Wait here a sec.” Hank released Chrissten and hurried to the kitchen. Teague was at the stove and Kevin was manning the grill. “Hey, Kevin, can you take the door for a few minutes.”

Kevin flipped two patties onto buns and set the plates on the counter for pickup. “Sure. I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks, man.” Hank didn’t like to be away from Chrissten. He wanted to know what the hell was going on.

“Problem?” Kevin asked as he pulled off his apron and set it aside.

“Don’t know. Damek is here with news. I’ll fill you in later.” Hank knew both Teague and Kevin were curious, but they would have to wait. He hurried back to the office. The door was closed so he let himself in and shut it firmly behind him. The others could handle the bar for a few minutes.

Damek had obviously waited for him because everyone was staring expectantly at the vampire. He smiled and his fangs shone. Hank thought he looked hungry.

“I guess you’re all wondering why I’m here,” he said.

“What’s going on?” Craig shoved his glasses higher onto the bridge of his nose. Hank figured the human was the only one who could question Damek so bluntly and get away with it.

“I’ve found them.”

The men all stirred. Inside, Hank was howling with joy. Finally, they could put an end to this.

“Where?” Chrissten’s voice was steady, but Hank could hear the strain in it. He wanted to step up beside her and wrap his arm around her but her brother and father were flanking her.

“Not far from the lab where you were rescued. The area is mostly abandoned except for the usual drug dealers and organized crime. But they leave the werewolves alone.” He leaned against the wall, almost becoming one with the shadows. “I’ll keep the exact location to myself until it’s time to go. I don’t want any of you wolves running off by yourself to play hero.” He merely stared at Quinn and then Hank as if he knew what was in their thoughts. And, knowing the vampire, he just might.

“What’s the plan?” Quinn stepped forward, hands curled into fists, ready to fight.

“The men will go after closing tonight,” Isaiah firmly stated. “The women will remain here under protection.” Chrissten stirred but Isaiah scowled at her and laid down the law as alpha. “We cannot risk one of the women being hurt or taken. If you go with us we’ll spend all our time worried about you rather than fighting.”

Hank held his breath waiting for Chrissten’s outburst. She stared Isaiah down for long seconds and then gave a jerky nod. Hank didn’t believe her for a second. The other males might think she’d agreed to stay behind but he knew better. Chrissten wanted to be the one to confront and kill Brian. He didn’t like it but he understood it.

The males talked strategy and Hank wasn’t surprised when the vampire announced he was going with them. He obviously felt he had a stake in this situation.

Half an hour later the meeting broke up and Damek left. He gave Hank a quick nod on the way out and Hank knew the vampire was going to help him get a shot at Brian. Gratitude filled him. He’d owe the vampire for certain after this was over.

Donovan, Isaiah and Joshua stayed behind to talk while the rest of them hit the bar to work. Chrissten was rubbing her forehead and he knew she wasn’t feeling well.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down for a while?” He hated seeing her so pale and worn.

“Come with me.” Her soft plea almost knocked him over.

“Wouldn’t you rather Quinn or one of the women go up with you?” It almost killed him to make the offer, but he only wanted what was best for Chrissten.

She shook her head. “If you don’t want to…”

“I want to.” No way was he going to let her think otherwise. He caught Kevin’s eye and held up his hand, signaling five minutes. It might be more than that, but Kevin understood and nodded.

Hank could feel several sets of eyes on them as they went through the side door and closed it behind them. They went up the stairs, neither one of them speaking. Hank kept his hand on the small of her back, ready to support her if she needed it.

His apartment was silent but for the ticking of the kitchen clock and the hum of the refrigerator. Everyone else was in the club, several floors below. The low buzz of conversation and the faint sound of music vibrated through the floorboards.

Chrissten went straight to the bedroom. Hank knew she was upset by Isaiah’s pronouncement. But he was glad she’d be safe while the fighting went down. It wasn’t going to be pretty. Not against a half dozen purebloods.

“You okay?” Stupid question, but he asked it anyway.

“No, I’m not.” She turned and put her hands against his chest. She stared up at him, her blue eyes enormous in her pale face.

“What’s wrong? What can I do?” He’d do anything for Chrissten. Anything.

“Make love to me.”

Chrissten knew she’d shocked Hank with her request. But what else could she do? She wasn’t going to stay behind tonight while the men fought her battles. She planned to follow them. Somehow. Craig would know where the men were going. Damek would tell him if he asked the vampire and Craig would tell her if she pressed him. She hated to put her baby brother in that kind of position, but she had no other choice. Brian had to die and she had to be the one to do it.

He’d already taken too much from her. She needed to do this if she was ever going to recover from her ordeal and put it behind her.

Hank’s heart thudded heavily against her hand. His face looked as though it had been carved from stone. “Chrissten,” he began and she knew he was going to say no to her out of some misguided idea that she wasn’t thinking straight. And maybe she wasn’t. But she no longer cared.

Knowing the fight with Brian and the others was at hand, it struck her hard that she might never have the opportunity to make love with a male of her choosing, one she was attracted to and respected.

“No.” She shook her head and moved her hands higher up his chest until they were resting on his shoulders. Hank was only a couple of inches taller than her, but he was so much bigger and stronger. “I want this. I want you.”

She wasn’t sure what she’d do if he refused her. She wanted Hank, needed him in a way she didn’t fully understand. It frightened her, but not as much as the prospect of not having him.

He studied her for long seconds, searching her face. Finally, he gave a curt nod. “We’ll take it slow. Whatever you want.”

Hank turned and locked the door. It wouldn’t stop anyone who wanted to get in, but it would slow them down.

“You know they all saw us come up here,” Hank reminded her.

“I don’t care. This is my life, not theirs.” She knew Quinn would protest. She wasn’t certain about Craig. But what would the others think? “You won’t get in trouble, will you?” She hadn’t thought about that. Hadn’t considered the ramifications for Hank with his pack.

She was being selfish, once again thinking only of herself. “I’m sorry,” she began. “I shouldn’t have asked you to do this. I’m putting you in a very bad situation.” After all, technically she was a mated female. She knew there were rules about these things. She’d just never bothered to learn what they were. She didn’t consider herself committed to Brian in any way. The male had taken her by force. She shuddered at the memory.

Hank wrapped his arms around her and held her against his broad, solid chest. Heat radiated from him, along with a sense of belonging that she found very seductive. “You don’t worry about me.”