Catlin's Appaloosa(17)

Kontra snorted.“Sure, except they’re not creatures of the night. Not really. They can handle the daylight just fine. They live in covens like shifters live in packs. You can’t be turned into one by being bitten, just like you won’t be turned into a shifter if Gallo bites you.” Kontra leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, the now empty beer bottle dangling between his fingers. “But just like humans have their share of murderers, so do our races.”

“How do you know so much about vampires, boss?” Payson asked what Gallo wanted to know. He’d known vampires were out there, but had never met any. They kept to themselves just like shifters did, and their willingness to attack him hadn’t even been a blip on Gallo’s radar.

“Because I’ve met a few,” Kontra replied.“There’s a coven not too far south of Santa Fe, as a matter of fact. It’s led by a guy named Adalric,” he added, then shrugged.“Well, at least he led it sixty-two years ago.”

“Sixty-two years,” Catlin whispered.“You weren’t kidding about your longevity.” He sighed, nuzzling his neck and Gallo settled closer against his chest.“How do we stop them?”

“You don’t,” Kontra replied.

“We do,” Payson added, his gray eyes gleaming.

“Now, wait just a second,” Catlin snapped.“You can’t just take the law into your own hands! This is a police matter!”

“Vampires are stronger and faster than humans,” Kontra warned, his voice turning hard. “You’re no match for them, and do we have to remind you of what could happen to Gallo if our existence is made public?”

“Fuck!” Catlin growled.“I can’t just let you kill whoever these men are! What about justice? Closure for the families of the victims?”

Gallo slid off Catlin’s lap, being sure to press his ass against his mate’s hard shaft to get his attention. He settled on the floor between the detective’s knees and stared up at him.“Please let Kontra take care of this,” he beseeched. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. If they can knock me out, and I’m a shifter, then I don’t even want to imagine what they could do to you.”

Catlin rested back against the cushions and scrubbed his hands over his face.“Ah, damn it. All right. I understand what you’re saying.” He took Gallo’s hand in his and grimaced.“I gotta call Brock back and get him over here. He’s the detective in charge of the case now, so he’ll need to help coordinate a cover story.”

“While you’re doing that, I’ll see if I can contact Adalric,” Kontra said.

“Why?” Catlin arched a brow.

The huge biker grinned. “When I go to another man’s house, I don’t reach into his refrigerator without asking. We’re close enough to his territory where if we kill a couple of vampires, he might take offense.” Smirking, he shrugged.“He’ll want to know who they are and verify that they really are killing unnecessarily.”

“Okay. Make yourselves at home while I take care of some things.” His voice sounded tense to Gallo, and he wondered what was wrong. Of course, that was an easy question to answer, Gallo realized. His mate’s world had been turned up-side-down since meeting him.

Catlin stood, pulling Gallo up with him. The detective hit a number on his phone as he led Gallo from the room. Consumed by his own thoughts, he listened with half an ear to his mate’s side of the conversation, not really interested in what Catlin’s partner had to say. He wanted to know what was bothering his mate.

“Hey, Brock, I know you’re busy, but I’ve got some information you need to hear.” He shook his head.“No, it’s not something I’m comfortable sharing over the phone. When you’re done there, can you come to my house?” Catlin led him into the bedroom and shut the door behind them. “Good. See you in a couple of hours.”

Catlin slowly put the phone on the dresser and turned toward Gallo, who couldn’t stop from fidgeting under his scrutiny.

“Are you okay?”

His soft question had Catlin shaking his head, a stern set to his lips. “No, baby, I’m not. You were wriggling on my lap on purpose, weren’t you?”

Gallo paled, but couldn’t stop the twitching of his cock in his jeans at Catlin’s intense gaze.“Yes,” he admitted softly.

“Well, I don’t want to meet my partner with a hardon, so now you’ll just have to take care of it. Take off your clothes and get on the bed, Gallo,” Catlin ordered.

Gallo’s pulse rate quadrupled in a matter of seconds, and his stiff cock oozed pre-cum. He yanked off his shirt and scrambled out of his boots and jeans, never in his life so happy to have forgone underwear. From under his lashes, he glanced at Catlin, but the man hadn’t moved. He stood halfway across the room, his legs shoulder width apart and his arms crossed over his broad chest.