Dragon Hearts (D.O.A. Book 1) Read online

  "I have a small apartment adjacent to the clinic. We use it for when we have overnights like tonight. We can go there. I can make some coffee while you all talk. " Bren responded.

  Stephanie grasped Bren's hand tightly, "Please, don't leave me."

  Bren turned to Steph, whispering, "I promise I will be with you every step of the way."

  Bren heard a strange noise and turned to the two men standing there. Bren could have sworn he saw a flash of something in Telkin's eyes before the man turned away.

  "Follow me." Bren said with a small smile.

  Starting towards the adjoining home, Bren could have sworn he heard what reminded him of a large cat purring.

  Bren knew SI Watson thought he was speaking low enough for he and Steph not to hear, but with the way the hall was designed, sound bounced off it like a speaker system, "Pit, what the hell is your problem?"

  "Sentience." Was all Bren heard Telkin growl.

  "You're shitting me!" The other man rasped.

  What in the hell did that even mean? Bren knew the definition. It was being able to think or reason, but to say just that one word made no sense to Bren at all. Maybe taking them somewhere private with Steph wasn't such a good idea. How did Bren know that these men were even who they said they were? "Um──Can──Can I see your badges?"

  SI Watson pulled out a black leather holder, that had a unique design with the letters D.O.A. on top and lipped it open to show a badge and a photo ID of the man. "Is this enough proof for you or would you like us to call our headquarters for verification?"

  Shaking his head, Bren replied, "No, that's fine. You can't be too sure now-a-days, especially with everything going on around here."

  Bren opened the door and walked into the small apartment. It was just a one room attachment with the living and kitchen area together and a small shower stall bathroom attached. The couch pulled out into a double bed and a small kitchen table sat in the corner. Bren tended to work really late and liked being available for emergencies. So, he had this extension put on the clinic when he took over the business from Dr. Aims.

  "If you all would like to sit and talk, I'll make everyone some coffee." Bren replied.

  Bren grabbed the coffee pot as the Investigators began to speak with Stephanie.

  Telkin started, "Mrs. Archer..."

  "Miss. I've never been married, but please just call me Steph." Stephanie replied softly.

  "Steph, I want to start by expressing our condolences for your loss. I appreciate how difficult this discussion is going to be for you, but we are trying everything we can to find out who the animal is that killed your son." Telkin stated with a compassion Bren could tell he truly meant.

  Steph lowered her head, whispering, "Thank you. I will do my best to help any way I can."

  "Um, I thought the local police were working this case?" Bren said before any questions could be asked.

  Rene looked at Bren and damned if the man didn't give him a once over, lingering look, before saying, "They are, however, in serial cases, D.O.A. is often called in for assistance."

  "D.O.A.? I don't believe I've ever heard of that unit before." Bren responded in interest.

  "We're a special organization formed by the United States Government quite a long time ago. I can explain it to you later if you'd like?" Rene asked in that sultry deep voice.

  Damn if the man didn't make his cock rock hard. Watson clearing his voice brought Bren's eyes from Rene's wanting look, and turning to the man beside Mr. Luscious.

  Telkin must have realized, as did Bren, that this was not the time nor the place for lust filled thoughts, because he turned to Stephanie, asking, "Did Aaron ever tell you if someone was bothering him? Maybe a bully in school or someone giving him a bad feeling?"

  "No. Everyone liked Aaron. He was very popular in school, got good grades, was on the baseball team. If someone was bothering him he didn't tell me and believe me, my son would have told me. We don't...didn't keep secrets." Steph replied with a slight catch in her voice.

  "Did he hang around with anyone you didn't approve of?" SI Watson asked.

  Shaking her head, Steph grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her eyes, quietly saying, "No. I knew all his friends and they are good boys."

  "Do you know what he was doing on Airport Road?" Telkin asked calmly.

  Letting the coffee drip, Bren turned and started to get the sugar and creamer out as Steph answered the Investigator's questions, "Aaron dreamed of being a pilot when he got older. He would often go to the airport and watch the planes coming and going. Mr. Craig took my son under his wing and would take Aaron for short flights. He was teaching him everything a pilot needs to know to fly. He even let Aaron use control the wheel a few times."

  "Mr. Craig?" Watson asked.

  "He's what we call a vacation pilot. You know, people want to see the view from above so they charter him out and he flies them all around the Poconos."

  "And he let a ten-year-old boy behind the wheel of a plane?" Watson asked in disbelief.

  Bren watched Steph's body language and by the straightening of her spine he knew she was about to light into the investigator’s ass, "I don't know what you're thinking right now, but let me assure you. I looked into Mr. Craig before I allowed my son to go with him. There is no age on when to start learning how to fly. He couldn't do solo flights until he was sixteen years old, but until then Mr. Craig said Aaron was a natural. My son loved flying and learning how to pilot a plane. What Mr. Craig was doing would save us a shit ton of money in the future. Do you have any idea how much it costs for flight lessons? Yet Mr. Craig was willing to do it for free."

  "I wasn't judging your decision, Steph. I'm just trying to understand how a grown man would want to hang around with a ten-year old boy." Watson replied calmly.

  Shrugging Steph replied, "I don't know why he took Aaron under his wing. I just know I was grateful. So long as Aaron's interests were in flying, I knew my son was walking the straight and narrow. I didn't have to worry he would get hooked into the wrong crowd or start doing drugs and shit. He wanted to be a pilot and loved everything about it. Mr. Craig told Aaron from the get go, if he found out Aaron was doing any drugs, screwing up at school, or messing up in the community, the lessons would stop. Aaron took those words to heart."

  Hearing the coffee had finished Bren went and placed the cream and sugar on the table. He then returned to get the coffee cups from the cupboard and poured four cups. Walking to the table, Bren set a cup down in front of Steph and handed one to Watson. He returned and got the final two cups and handed one to Telkin. Bren was shocked when the man not just placed his hand on the cup but seemed to caress Bren's fingers before taking it.

  Bren's eyes went straight to those beautiful, cobalt blue orbs. There was no mistaking the lust staring back at Bren and damn if Bren's cock didn't press harder into his zipper. When the man drew in a deep breath, Bren could have sworn he heard a low rumbling again. Just like before, it sounded like a large cat purring.

  SI Watson cleared his throat, saying rather loudly, "Pit, do you have any more questions?"

  Bren raised a brow to the nickname Watson just gave to SI Telkin.

  Without looking away, Telkin replied, "Are you single?"

  SI Watson gasped, "Pit!"

  Shaking his head, Telkin, whispered, "I do apologize, Miss Archer. That comment was completely insensitive to the situation at hand. My only defense is that I find the good Vet to be the most irresistibly handsome man I have met in my life."

  Steph gave the investigator a soft smile, "You have great taste in men, Mr. Telkin. Besides being seriously hot, he is also even adorably sweet. I often wish he was straight. But alas, he is not and yes, to answer your question, he is very single and looking for a life partner."

  "Steph!" Bren yelled out as his cheeks grew red with embarrassment.

  "Is that so?" Telkin asked rhetorically.

  Bren could have sworn he heard the other man mutter, "Well, I don't believe he will be
looking any further if other men cherish their lives."

  Telkin stood up, quickly, "Miss Archer, I promise you that my men and I are going to do everything in our power to catch the man that took your son's life. If we have any questions, where might we find you?"

  "For tonight, I'm going to be home packing. Bren has been sweet enough to offer me this place while I decide what I might be doing with my future. So, if you need me you can find me at home." Steph answered.

  Telkin took Steph's hands lightly in his own, "I give you my solemn vow that I will find who did this to your son and he will pay."

  As both men went to leave, Steph yelled out, "Investigator Telkin!"

  Turning back around, Telkin replied, "Pit. Everyone that knows me calls me Pit."

  Stephanie walked to the man, "Pit, I just wanted you to know that Bren is like a little brother to me. So, if you hurt him in any way, shape, or form, I will hunt you down and Special Investigator, Biker, or not. I will hurt you, if not kill you, myself."

  "Stephanie!" Bren gasped.

  Telkin smiled wide, "I can guarantee you, Dr. Billman is the safest man on this planet from now on, and if I ever hurt him in any way, shape, or form, my death would be guaranteed. He is lucky to have such a good friend in his life."

  Steph gave Telkin a once over, then said, "Good. Then just to let you know, Bren will be all alone here tonight, watching over a golden retriever that was just spade."

  "Stephanie!" Bren shouted.

  Telkin gave Bren a heated look, "That, Stephanie, is very good to know."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  "Pit, did you say what I thought you said in there?" Sparky asked.

  Rene was trying to breathe but it was hard to do the further he walked away from Bren. It was official. He had just come face to face with his sentience...his shared soul...his living consciousness, "I thought they were a myth. I seriously thought that a sentience was a complete load of bullshit, but Sparky, had I not gotten us out of there my dragon was coming out to say hi to him."

  "Oh, fuck me. Dude, we seriously have a problem here. Let's get back to Drago. we need to figure out where to go from here." Sparky hissed.

  Shaking his head and wiping sweat from his brow, Rene rasped, "Contact Myst right now. I can't go any further, Sparky. I'm on fucking fire. I can damn near feel my blood boiling, I can barely breathe, everything is getting blurry.

  "Dragon fire!" Sparky said with a slight shake to his voice.

  Shaking his head, Rene rasped, "It can't be. We're supposed to have weeks before it sets in."

  "Myst, we have a big fucking ass problem. Pit needs you to come to the vet's office." Sparky said into his cell. He listened for a couple of seconds, then said, "Myst, I appreciate that, but you seriously need to get here, now. I don't care if you haven't talked to the pilot yet. Just give the desk your card, tell them to have him call you, and get over here. I'm calling Gunner and Solo now as well."

  Sparky hung up the phone, calling Gunner and telling him the same thing. Hanging up, Sparky went to Rene, in concern, "Pit, we need to get you away from this place. We're too out in the open and if the doc or Steph come out here, we are going to have a lot of questions thrown at us that we can't answer right now."

  Not knowing where he found the energy, Rene got on his bike, rasping, "Let's meet up with Taj and the others behind the coffee shop."

  Sparky called the others back with the new location as they got on their bikes.

  Doing his best to focus, Rene drove across the street and parked in the back, away from windows and possible witnesses, to wait for Taj and the others. Things were foggy and he felt as if his blood was going to boil over. Rene didn't remember hearing any motorcycles, but thought he heard Taj's voice, although he couldn't be certain. It was as if he stood in a steam room and someone kept pouring water on the hot rocks. Sweat, heat, and breathing were getting more and more difficult for him. He could barely make out Taj's words as his best friend neared him, "Sparky, get Eagle on the fucking phone. Tell him what the hell is going on and have him get Wiz here with the SUV."

  Sparky must have done what Taj ordered because he could hear the man telling Eagle what had happened. The words Dragon Fire was said and not knowing what to do.

  Taj gasped, "Dragon Fire? You didn't say this was about his Dragon Fire, Sparky! Casper, get across that street and get that damn vet over here now!"

  "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" Casper snapped.

  Taj's anger pierced through Rene's fog of discomfort, "Honestly, I don't give a shit. Just get him here. He is the only one that can help Pit right now."

  "What the fuck, Taj? None of this makes any sense. According to Eagle, Dragon Fire takes at least two to three fucking weeks to come into full effect." Sparky said with a great deal of unease in his tone.

  "How the hell do you even know that it's Dragon Fire? Maybe the vet did something to him. Did Pit eat or drink anything when you guys were talking to Archer's mom?" Taj questioned.

  Sparky cleared his throat, saying, "Yeah, we had some coffee, but Pit said...."

  "Well, the fucking kid could have put something in Pit's coffee! For all we know he's the fucking killer!" Taj yelled.

  Rene felt his dragon growling and struggling for release. He didn't like the way Taj was talking about his mate any more than Rene did, "Stop talking about my sentience that way."

  Sparky waved his hand in Rene's direction, "See! I told you, Pit said that the vet was his sentience. This has to be the Dragon Fire."

  Taj didn't have a chance to say anything when the sounds of two more loud engines got closer to the group. It almost drowned out the sound of Bren yelling, "What the hell is wrong with you? You can't just come and take me like that. It's called fucking kidnapping! I'll have you arrested! Maxie needs me in there, you fucktard! If anything happens to her, I swear I'll fucking neuter you, and trust me, I do it for a fucking living!"

  Taj stood up, growling, "Mr. Billman, calm down."

  "It's Dr. Billman to you guys, asshole. Now, let me go so I can get back to my patient."

  "You have another patient to get to Doctor." Taj hissed.

  Rene felt his dragon moving to strike and did everything he could to calm him, rasping, "Myst, you have to stop talking to my sentience that way or I can't be held accountable for what happens to any of you."

  "Oh, my God! SI Telkin, what happened to you?" Bren gasped.

  Rene felt a cooling touch to his body and his fire immediately began to ebb. Everywhere Bren touched cooled and the fog slowly began to lift.

  Sparky looked at Bren as he rushed to Pit, saying, "Doc, I know you are scared, but I promise no one wants to hurt you. We just need your help with Pit."

  "If I discover he did something to Pit, I will kill him myself, Sparky, so don't make promises you can't keep." Taj snapped.

  "Myst, if you continue to threaten my sentience, my maharishi will kill you where you stand. It's hard enough holding him back with everyone around him." Pit snarled.

  "One of you call an ambulance! He's burning up!" Bren ordered.

  Rene felt the coolness of his sentience's touch and already he could breathe easier. Rene saw the worry etched on Bren's beautiful face, "Calm yourself, little one. It's going to be fine."

  Rene could feel his dragon moving to get closer to Bren and there was nothing he could do to keep the beast at bay. Rene was not strong enough at this moment to stop him from doing what he wanted and what he was after was their mate.

  Bren flashed a light into Rene's eyes and the brightness made him flinch.

  The moment his dragon left his body Rene began to feel relief rush through his body. His temperature started to lower, but Rene knew there was about to be trouble and that moment was going to happen sooner rather than later.

  * * * *

  Bren had just been waving at Steph as she left to go pack up her home when the scary as fuck Paul Bunyan approached him and drug him towards the cafe. It was more than just the height of the man that scare
d the shit out of him, it was his eyes. The guy had eyes that were so pale blue in color they were almost like mother of pearl, un-fucking natural. As the man had taken him towards the back of the cafe Bren tried to scream, but no sound came out. He didn't understand why no one could see him kicking and fighting to get loose from the guy.

  Seeing SI Watson had made Bren feel a bit better, that is until he saw a certain amount of fear in his expression. When Paul Bunyan pulled on him, Bren had lost his temper. He was never a man that allowed others to push him around. He might get his ass kicked, but he would stand up for himself no matter if this brick shithouse could kick his ass or not.

  Seeing SI Telkin on the ground looking as if he was at death's door was not something he expected to see, "Hey there, handsome. You hang on a bit and the ambulance should be here soon."

  Shaking his head, Rene rasped, "No hospital."

  "Look, SI Telkin──"

  "Please, call me Rene or Pit." Rene urged.

  Nodding, Bren replied, "Okay, Look Rene, you are burning up and need to get to a hospital. Now just lay there and relax." Bren whispered. There was a tickling sensation coming from his hand and then an odd feeling felt like it rippled up his arm.

  Rubbing it for a moment, Bren was unprepared for the large Native American man to grab him and jerk him to his feet, "We're not calling an ambulance, Billman. What I want to know is what you gave to my friend?"

  "What the hell are you talking about? I didn't give Rene anything!" Bren yelled trying to hide his fear.

  The Native American man got into his face, snarling, "Sparky told me you gave my buddy a cup of coffee. What the fuck did you put in it?"

  "One cream and two sugars, asshole!" Bren yelled as he began to shake at the anger in the man's voice and the different men starting to get closer, more threatening.

  Suddenly Bren was tossed, as the man hissed and grabbed his wrist. Blood was oozing through his fingers as he growled, "What the fuck?"

  "Myst, what is it man?" Paul Bunyan asked in a deadly tone.

  Myst hissed, "Something fucking bit me!"

  "Move out of the way Casper and let me have a look." Another man ordered.