Smiley(115)

“You were locked up with him when you were kept at Mercile Industries?”

“I meant when you escaped from the task force members assigned to bring you to Medical and he feared you were either dead or hurt in the out world. It tore me up seeing him that way. I feared he’d go over our walls and search for you on his own. It could have gotten him killed. We have a lot of enemies. All he could think of was you and making sure you were well. He bonded with you right from the start.”

Vanni blinked back tears. “Thank you for telling me that. I do love Smiley. I um, bonded with him right from the start too. He’s everything to me.”

“Good. Keep telling him that. I’m not joking. He’s going to worry for a long time that he’ll do or say something that will make you rethink being his mate.”

“He’s stuck with me.” She smiled, cheering up. “I’d never leave him.”

Jericho tensed, his gaze focusing on the glass wall. “Here we go. Remember that. I have no idea how Smiley is going to act with this one.”

Vanni turned in her seat and watched Torrent bring in Gregory Woods. He looked unkempt and completely different from his television persona. His clothing was wrinkled, he needed a shave and his eyes were red.

“Has he been crying?”

Jericho snorted. “You heard Torrent. That would be a yes.”

Gregory took a seat and hugged his chest. “I really need a doctor. I have a specialist that takes care of me. You don’t want me to die. Do you know who I am? You can’t get away with this. I am a celebrity and rich. I—”

“Stop,” Torrent demanded. “You aren’t being transferred to a human hospital and no one even knows you’re here.”

The door opened again and Smiley entered. He’d changed into one of the NSO uniforms and his hands were bandaged. He closed the door and stayed by it. Gregory whimpered, staring at him with obvious horror.

“What’s wrong, human? Never thought you’d have to face the male you drugged and tried to set up?”

“It wasn’t my idea. It was Bruce. I was afraid of him. You’ve seen him. He has a criminal record. I’m innocent.”

“Shut up.” Torrent backed up. “We aren’t idiots. There were twenty missing doses of the breeding drug when you were taken into custody. Dean confessed to selling you two hundred doses.” He growled and shot Smiley a disgusted look before continuing. “This one swore he used them on prostitutes he paid to have sex with him. You saw firsthand what that drug did to your female. He felt no sympathy for those females he drugged and kept doing it over and over. He’s a cruel son of a bitch.” Torrent flashed his fangs. “Are you going to blame that on someone else too? Save it, asshole.”

Smiley made a harsh, rumbling noise. “We should dose you and let you suffer. You deserve it. Bruce works for you and by the way, Dean Polanitis was very informative when we spoke to him.” Smiley crouched, keeping his back to the door. “He confessed to how you contacted him and threatened to expose the connection between Drackwood and Mercile that your investigators found. He called it blackmail and admitted you asked him for something to use against the NSO. You bought drugs from him and paid a bartender to add them to my and Vanni’s drinks at the hotel.”

“It’s all a lie!” Gregory clutched at his chest. “That was all Bruce.”

“He used money that you gave him to do your bidding. You’re caught and you will pay for your crimes, Pastor Woods.”

“I think I’m having a heart attack.”

“Okay.” Smiley didn’t move. “Have one. I wouldn’t mind watching you take your last breath.”

“You can’t let me die. I have followers, damn it. They’ll storm your gates and kill everyone.”

“They believe you fled the country and abandoned them. No one will even know if you die. We’ll just bury you in that graveyard you say we have.” Torrent looked amused. “He could be the first body we put in it.”

Smiley grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”

Big tears rolled down Gregory’s cheeks. “You can’t do this to me. I’m important.” He glanced between them. “I’m also rich. I’ll pay you to get me out of here. How much do you want? Name the amount.”

“We don’t care about money.” Smiley cocked his head. “I just wanted to look you in the eyes before you were sent to Fuller Prison. Vanni is safe and you’ll never have the opportunity to harm her again. You’ll pay for everything you’ve done. I’m not angry with you for what was done to me but you tried to harm the female I love. Big mistake. I just wish I enjoyed this more but you’re too…” He seemed to struggle to find a word.