Federal Paranormal Agency 6 - Leannan Page 3

  “I’m taking him home with me tonight.” Duncan grinned. “But he’ll be back. He’s going to start work tomorrow. Find something for him to do.”

  “Just working here? Or…”

  “Only here. I don’t want him involved in anything else.”

  “It’s a little unusual. You don’t normally allow your toys this close.”

  “I know.”

  Duncan usually kept some distance between him and the men he took to bed, but for some reason, he didn’t want to follow his usual routine with Thomas. He didn’t want to keep the man at arm’s length. He wanted to embrace Thomas and hold him close. He wanted to share all of his secrets. That alone should make him want to push Thomas away, but he couldn’t.

  “Do you want me to do a background check?”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary.” He shook his head.

  “Okay,” Niall said, although he didn’t look convinced.

  “I’ll drop him off in the morning.”

  “Have a good night.” Niall winked.

  Duncan chuckled. “I will.”

  Leaving the bar, Duncan strode back to the fireplace. Thomas was curled into a ball on the leather chair, sound asleep. Duncan wasn’t really surprised. With the warmth of the fireplace and a full belly, it was enough to put anyone to sleep. Squatting down in front of Thomas’s chair, Duncan gently caressed the young man’s face. Thomas moaned softly, nuzzling his palm.

  “Thomas,” he whispered, gently rubbing his palm along Thomas’s cheek. “It’s time to go home.”

  Thomas slowly opened his eyes. “I’m tired.”

  “I know.” Duncan rose to his feet. “Let’s go. There’s a nice, comfortable bed waiting for you.”

  Thomas groaned unhappily as he climbed out of the chair. He grabbed his hoodie and put it on, zipping it up to his chin. He tossed his backpack over his shoulders, cinching the straps tightly to his back. Leaning down, Thomas carefully lifted the puppy sleeping soundly, bundled up in the towel. The little guy whined softly, and Thomas kissed the top of his head.

  “Okay, I’m ready.” He yawned.

  “I’m parked right out front.”

  Duncan wrapped an arm around Thomas’s waist, leading him toward the exit. He gave a subtle nod to each of his friends on his way out. Pushing open the front door, Duncan escorted Thomas to his SUV. He pulled out his keys and clicked the unlock button. The headlights and taillights flashed, lighting up the dark street. Looking around, Duncan scanned the street, searching for any threats. When he saw none, he opened the passenger side door.

  Thomas stepped up into his Range Rover. The young man situated himself on the black leather seat before buckling up. Closing the door, Duncan walked around the front of the vehicle and got behind the wheel. Starting the engine, Duncan put his vehicle in gear and pulled away from the curb.

  Toby turned his body to the side, facing Duncan. “Where do you live?”

  “I own some property in Holywood.”

  “Really?” Thomas chuckled. “That’s funny.”

  “Why?” Duncan asked, his brows drawing together in confusion.

  “I live near Hollywood in California. It’s just kind of ironic.”

  “Are you a surfer?”

  “Uh…no. I don’t really like the beach.” Before Duncan could ask why, Thomas changed the subject. “So, how long’s the drive?”

  “Not long. We’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

  “Tell me about your house.”

  “Hmm…” Duncan thought about it for a moment. He could see the property clearly inside his mind, but he’d never once described it to anyone. “My home is set on an elevated site with panoramic views of Belfast Lough and the County Antrim Hills in Holywood. It’s unique and contemporary. But my favorite part of the house is the floor-to-ceiling windows in each room. You can see the view without having to step foot outside.”

  “It sounds like a nice place.”

  “I spoke to Niall before we left. You start work tomorrow. He’ll find something for you to do. Niall runs the day-to-day operations at the pub and a few other venues.”

  * * * *

  Thomas stifled a yawn. He couldn’t believe how tired he truly was. “Thank you for helping me out. I really appreciate it.”

  “No problem. If you need anything, and I’m not around, let Niall know. He’ll take care of you.”

  “You’re really sweet.”

  “Don’t tell anyone.” Duncan glanced over at him and winked.

  Thomas grinned. “I won’t.”

  Leaning his head back, Thomas closed his eyes. Doubt and guilt warred inside his heart, tearing the organ to pieces and shattering his dreams. He wanted to call Bruno and tell the man that he’d bitten off way more than he could handle. If only he could call off the mission, he would.

  “Don’t fall asleep. We’re almost home.”

  Home. Thomas swallowed down the thick ball of emotion that clogged his throat. “I was just resting my eyes.”

  Blinking several times, Thomas did his best to push all of his emotions aside. He had to stop thinking about Duncan as his mate. It seemed like an impossible task, but he didn’t have a choice. He’d taken an oath. He believed in the FPA motto—Fidelity, Probity, and Audacity. Deep down, Thomas knew this would the hardest case he would ever work.

  When Duncan pulled to a stop in front of a tall privacy gate, Thomas sat up a little straighter. Duncan pressed a button on the consul, and the gate slowly opened inwardly, revealing the property hidden within. A thick row of trees lined the driveway on either side, making it almost impossible to see anything else. As the vehicle rounded a corner, Duncan’s house came into view. It looked like a small fortress with concrete and stone walls.

  “We’d better get inside. It’s starting to rain again.”

  Opening the passenger side door, Thomas slipped out. He pulled the puppy up against his chest and hustled toward the front door. Just as he reached the overhang, the sky opened up, rain pouring down within seconds. A cool breeze blew, sinking into his bones. Thomas shivered, goose bumps breaking out along his flesh.

  Duncan ran to join him. He slid under the overhang and pushed a hand through his wet hair, slicking it back in the process. “We just made it.” He unlocked the front door and pushed it open, allowing Thomas to precede him.

  Stepping over the threshold, Thomas started looking around. The space was open, the foyer giving way to a beautiful living room and kitchen. Thomas’s eyes were drawn to the windows, floor to ceiling, giving him a breathtaking view. He walked over, the lights beckoning him to take a closer look.

  “Wow,” he breathed out. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yeah.”

  A jolt of awareness rushed through his system. Glancing over his shoulder, Thomas realized that Duncan was staring at him.

  “I’ll show you to the guest room.”

  Thomas nodded. “Okay.”

  Turning on his heel, Thomas followed Duncan as the man marched up the stairs. Thomas trailed behind him, staring down at the glass steps as they moved toward the second floor. When they reached the top, Duncan went to the right, down a long hallway. He stopped at the end, opening one of the bedroom doors.

  “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”

  Thomas peeked inside. The walls were painted a light gray color with a few pieces of artwork hanging in the space, brightening it up a little bit. Thick, plush carpet spread out along the floor, inviting him to kick off his shoes. The bed looked soft and luxurious, and Thomas was desperate to climb in.

  “It’s perfect. Thank you.” Thomas walked into the room. He toed off his tennis shoe and flexed his toes.

  “The bathroom is through that door.” Duncan pointed. “There’s a new toothbrush and other toiletries underneath the sink. If you need a pair of sweatpants, check the chest of drawers. And if you need anything else, my bedroom is next door.”

  “I’ll see you in the morning.” Thomas put the puppy down on the bed before removin
g his backpack and dropping to the floor.

  “Good night.” Duncan closed the door, leaving him alone.

  “Good night,” he whispered.

  Kneeling down, Thomas opened his backpack. He fished out his cell phone and held it in his palm, staring at the device. He’d overheard Duncan and Niall and knew about the meeting at the dockyard. After a few minutes, Thomas typed out a text to his “dad.” Meeting at the dockyard tomorrow morning. He clicked the send button before he lost his nerve. When the message went through, he quickly deleted it and shut his phone off. He shoved the device into his backpack.

  Thomas climbed up onto the bed, careful not to disturb the puppy. Lying down, he stared up at the ceiling. The guilt he was feeling over betraying his mate weighed heavily on his shoulders. The internal battle raged on, right versus wrong.

  The puppy whined softly, inching closer, seeking out Thomas’s warmth. Rolling onto his side, Thomas held the puppy close to his chest as he closed his eyes.

  Chapter Four

  A strange noise woke Thomas up from a sound sleep. He leaned up on his elbow and focused, trying to figure out what had disturbed him. Focusing on the subtle sounds, Thomas realized that someone was walking through Duncan’s house. In his gut, Thomas knew it wasn’t Duncan. Carefully pushing the blankets back, Thomas slid out of bed. His first instinct was to confront the intruder in order to protect his mate, but he stopped himself.

  What would Thomas do? He had little doubt that the young human would probably still be asleep. And if he had woken up, Thomas wouldn’t investigate. But none of that mattered now. He knew what needed to be done.

  Sneaking out of the guest room, Thomas made his way to Duncan’s bedroom. He opened the door and slipped inside, silently closing it behind him. Tiptoeing across the hardwood floor, he was careful not to make a sound. Thomas climbed onto the bed, shuffling closer to Duncan.

  He put his mouth against his mate’s ear and whispered, “Duncan.” The man jolted awake, and Thomas covered the man’s mouth with his hand, silencing him before he could say a word. “There’s someone in the house. Downstairs.”

  Moving quicker than Thomas anticipated, Duncan picked him up and carried him to the closet. He shoved Thomas inside and pushed him under a line of low-hanging clothes.

  “Stay. Hide.”

  Duncan grabbed his SIG Sauer pistol from one of the shelves. He checked the magazine, putting a bullet in the chamber, before closing the door behind him. He left Thomas inside the closet, sitting on the floor while he went to play the hero.

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, Thomas leaned his head against the wall, trying to figure out what to do. He was supposed to stay in his role as Thomas Doyle, but he couldn’t let Duncan face the intruder alone. He was a trained FPA agent and a shifter. Regardless of what Duncan had done in his life, Thomas couldn’t let his mate get hurt. Duncan needs me.

  Pushing himself up onto his feet, Thomas started rummaging through Duncan’s things until he found what he was looking for, another handgun. He checked the chamber, making sure it was loaded. Taking a deep breath, Thomas opened the closet door and slipped out. He strode across the hardwood floor, keeping his steps quick and light. When he reached the closed bedroom door, Thomas opened it and peeked out into the dark hallway.

  He saw Duncan’s back just before the man started making his way down the stairs. Thomas followed him, his need to protect his mate overruling everything else.

  Thomas kept his shoulder against the wall as walked down the hallway. He used all his training—stealth and silence—as he moved, taking each stair one at a time to the lower level. With his supernatural abilities, Thomas saw the intruder before Duncan. The man, dressed all in black, was holding a gun with a silencer. He aimed it at Duncan’s head, preparing to pull the trigger. Within seconds, this had turned into a life-or-death situation, and Thomas knew he didn’t have any options.

  He had to save his mate. There was no way he could live in a world where Duncan didn’t exist. They were made for each other, and even though Thomas might never be able to mark and claim the man properly, he couldn’t watch him die either.

  Lifting his gun, Thomas aimed and pulled the trigger. Bang. One shot and the intruder fell to the ground. Thomas walked over to the fallen man. He stood over him, watching as vibrant red blood spilled onto the floor, slowly spreading outward, creating a large halo around his head.

  Thomas sucked in a sharp breath. “I killed him.”

  “No, you didn’t.” Duncan grasped his hand, gently prying the gun out of his fingers. “I did. I heard a noise and got out of bed while you were still asleep. You didn’t see anything.”

  “What?” Thomas looked up at him, staring into Duncan’s eyes.

  “You heard me.” Duncan walked toward the kitchen.

  He placed both guns on the countertop before grabbing his cellphone and pushing the device into the pocket of his loose-fitting pajama pants.

  Thomas swallowed hard. He’d been on plenty of missions, mostly as an observer or emergency backup, but he’d never actually pulled the trigger. He’d never killed anyone before.

  “Duncan…I–I…” He wanted to tell the truth. The words sat on heavily on his tongue, ready to be spoken, but he didn’t confess. When Duncan faced him once more, the words died instantly. At this point, the truth would do no good.

  “You saved my life.”

  Thomas silently cursed, a litany of foul words flying through his mind. Shoving an agitated hand through his short locks, he turned away from Duncan. Thomas started pacing around the living room. Oh, God. What have I done? He was supposed to stay disconnected and detached. Now, he was in deeper than he’d ever anticipated. He started questioning his job and his role in the FPA. Why would fate bring Duncan into his life only to have the man ripped away? Why was he here in Ireland?

  Strong arms wrapped around his waist, steel bands pulling him in close until his back was flush against Duncan’s chest. “I’m sorry that you got involved in this.”

  “What exactly is this?” he asked.

  Thomas knew what the other agents thought of Duncan. They called him a monster and said he was willing to kill anyone that got in his way. They accused him of gambling, weapons trafficking, racketeering, extortion, loan-sharking, and corruption. Was that true? Was Duncan a bad man? What the hell did he know anyway? He’d only just met Duncan.

  Duncan sighed. “The less you know, the better.”

  “Right,” he muttered. What if it’s all true?

  Duncan turned him around so that they were facing each other. He cupped Thomas’s cheek, holding him as if he were precious, and Thomas’s heart clenched.

  “I’m trying to protect you.”

  “I know.” Thomas understood the need to protect and care for one’s mate. Even though Duncan was human, Thomas knew he could still feel the pull. He felt it. “I know.”

  Duncan captured Thomas’s mouth in a passionate kiss, and a jolt of awareness shot through Thomas’s system. He shuddered. Duncan consumed him, taking possession of Thomas’s lips. He took what he wanted, and Thomas was eager for more. He wrapped his arms around Duncan’s neck, holding him tightly as their tongues danced and swirled. Leaning into his mate, he melted, everything else around him completely forgotten. Duncan kissed him until he was breathless. And when Duncan pulled away, he left Thomas gasping for air.

  “Baby,” Duncan murmured. Thomas opened his eyes and stared up at his mate, slightly dazed. “I need to make a call. Will you go upstairs? I’ll meet you in my bedroom.”

  Thomas nodded. “Sure.”

  “I’ll only be a few minutes.”

  Thomas slowly walked up the stairs. He was in shock after everything that had transpired in such a short amount of time. Even after all his training, Thomas wasn’t prepared for this mission. He couldn’t handle a man like Duncan Ó Branagáin.

  * * * *

  Duncan watched Thomas climb the stairs and disappear around the corner. He stood there for a moment, his
bare feet frozen to the floor. He saved my life. Duncan was certain that he would be the one on the ground with a bullet in his head instead of the intruder if it hadn’t been for Thomas. Shaking himself out of his stupor, Duncan pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and called Niall.

  The phone rang only once before the man answered. “Yeah.”

  “Someone broke into my house.”

  “Fuck,” he breathed out. “Are you okay?”

  “I need you to come over and bring a couple of guys.”

  “I’m on my way.”

  Ending the call, Duncan shoved the phone into his pocket. He strode toward the dead man bleeding all over his beautiful hardwood floor and knelt down. “Fucker,” he growled.

  Duncan pulled back the black mask covering the guy’s face and tilted his head, studying the man’s features. He didn’t look familiar. Pushing up his sleeves, Duncan checked the man’s forearms, looking for any distinguishing marks, but there were none. All the men in his crew, himself included, had an intricate Celtic design tattooed on the inside of their right wrist. Whoever this guy was, he’d been hired to kill Duncan. Of that, Duncan was certain.

  When there was a knock on his front door, Duncan stood up and headed toward the entryway. He unlocked the door and pulled it open. Stepping aside, Duncan lifted his arm, silently inviting Niall, Brandon, and Aiden into his home. The three men filed past him, walking into the living room.

  “Do you know who he is?” Niall asked, staring down at the dead body.

  “No clue.” Duncan shook his head.

  “What do you want us to do?”

  “Get rid of the body and clean up this mess. Do I really need to spell it out for you?”

  “Where’s your houseguest?”

  “You’re asking a lot of fucking questions, Niall.”

  “Do we need to take care of him as well?”

  Duncan snapped. He reached out and grabbed the collar of Niall’s shirt in a tight fist, pulling him in close. Niall’s eyes widened, fear filling the globes. He lifted his hands, palms up.

  “Nobody touches him. Do you understand?”