"Oh, hell, no," he snapped. "Not this time. He has got to stop running away from me." The words came out a frustrated snarl. Frankie needed to learn to talk things out with him. He couldn't leave every time they had an argument, difference of opinion, or even found out something he didn't like or understand. Frustrated, his voice came out a little harsher than intended when he asked the doctor, "Do you have any idea where he'd go?"
Gordon crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a brow, his expression unreadable.
Dobs growled, but forced himself to take a slow deep breath. "I just want to track him down so I can talk to him. I'd never harm Frankie and I promise I won't yell."
For a second, Dobs didn't think Gordon would answer. "Good," he finally said. "You can't yell at someone like Frankie. That will just make him withdraw further."
"Someone like Frankie? What are you talking about?" Lex asked, confused.
"He had an accident when he was two," Dobs answered quietly, thinking about the couple times he'd either snarled or snapped at Frankie. The big man had done exactly what Gordon said. Withdrawn. "Sometimes he doesn't understand things, or it takes him a minute to work it out."
"Right," Gordon said. "And when he wants to work out something bigger, he goes where he's comfortable."
Dobs tried to understand what the man was telling him. "Uh, home?" he guessed.
Gordon nodded. "That'd be my first try. If he's not there, go to his brother's tattoo shop."
Grimacing, Dobs admitted he didn't know where either place was.
Gordon rolled his eyes and strode into his office. "Here," he said, grabbing a pen and paper and scribbling some info on it. "Take care of your … beloved." He pointed his finger at Seb and Lex. "You two go somewhere else. They don't need you interfering anymore. You got Dobs to Stone Ridge. Your job is done, now."
Dobs cringed and told them, "Guess you all should start calling me Vince. I want Frankie to know I'm not that man anymore."
"And you're going to go with Vince?" Seb teased.
Vince sneered at Seb and started toward the door. "There's no way in hell I want to be reminded of my father every time someone calls my name. I was Vince before and I'll be called that again," he snarled.
Seb held up his hands in surrender, though a smile did play at the corners of his lips. Nothing got that vampire down for long. Lex nodded once, then grabbed his coat. "Let us know everything is okay once you catch up with him, okay? We really are sorry for the botch-up."
Vince gave his friend a smile, then headed out the door. Glancing at the address, he started jogging in the direction he needed to go. He inhaled deeply, just catching his beloved's scent on the cool, afternoon breeze.
So focused on trying to find the right street, Vince didn't notice the van next to him until someone called his name. He turned, wondering if he'd get an ass chewing from Reb for upsetting his brother. Instead, he recognized the grinning face of Mikael. He tried to hide how exposed he felt, all alone on the street, by glaring at the vampire.
"What the hell are doing in Stone Ridge, Mikael," he asked. "You don't have permission to be here." Vince hoped that was true. Surely Declan would have mentioned it if he'd given other vampires permission, wouldn't he?
Mikael smirked. "Oh, we won't be here long. We just swung by to pick something up."
"What are you picking up?" he asked warily, continuing to walk. He spotted the street he needed ahead, and hoped he could get rid of Mikael before he reached it. He didn't want the vampire following him to Frankie's home, no matter how capable his shifter mate seemed.
The smirk disappeared to be replaced by a look of hatred. "A back-stabbing, betraying weasel," he snarled.
Before he could react, the back window of the van slid open and the soft sound of a dart gun firing reached Vince. A prick of pain stabbed his leg. Realizing even though the passenger seat of the vehicle had been empty, Mikael wasn't alone.
Vince yanked the dart out of his leg and ran. He only made it two steps before someone was on him. From the size and scent of the vampire, Vince guessed it to be Backus, Mikael's best friend and bodyguard. He would have been hard pressed to fight the big fucker when he was at full strength, but having not completely recuperated, even with Frankie's generous blood donations, Vince didn't stand a chance.
He tried to buck the man off, but several hard jabs to the kidney took his breath away. Backus lifted just enough to press his knee into the small of his back. Vince's head swam as whatever sedative they'd shot him with took hold. Black spots danced across his vision and he prayed someday Frankie would forgive him.
Swimming to wakefulness was a painful process, and Vince wondered why he couldn't have just stayed unconscious. His head pounded, his side ached, and he was freezing. That last one was probably caused by the bucket of ice water Mikael had used to wake him up.
"Ah, there you are, Vincent," Mikael crooned maliciously. "Welcome back."
Vince didn't feel welcome. In fact, he felt downright pissed. Cracking his eyelids, he took stock of his surroundings. With his arms bound together with thick abrasive rope that bit into his wrists and the bindings draped on a hook over his head, his toes could barely reach the floor. Already he could feel the ache in his shoulders, neck, and back. It wouldn't be long before it became unbearable.
"I'm surprised at how far you let yourself go, but then, I wouldn't want to be bonded to a shifter either," Mikael mused coldly. The guy stepped close, letting Vince clearly see the malicious glee in his eyes. Vince twisted, trying to get away when Mikael leaned close to the crook of his neck and inhaled. "You do reek of him though, don't you? But you're not bonded yet."
Mikael took a step back and cocked his head. Vince didn't like the expression on the vampire's face, like he was pondering something truly spiteful. He just knew it'd be something he didn't like.
Seconds later, Vince's suspicions were confirmed. "I'll tell you what," Mikael said, tapping his fingers on his jaw. "You tell me where your shifter is, we'll bring him here, kill him, and then Fate might give you a new beloved. How's that sound?"
Vince kept his lips firmly sealed and just glared at the vampire. No way in hell would he put Frankie in harm's way. Backus leaned against the wall near the door, amusement lighting his cold, blue eyes. Vince spotted four other men in the room besides Mikael. No matter how good, one wolf couldn't hope to match six vampires. And it was possible there were others somewhere, too.
"Oh, did you develop a soft spot for your little wolfie?" Mikael taunted. "He must suck cock real good to have changed your mind." He grinned. "Or maybe he howls real loud when he's got a cock in his ass. Maybe we should find out?"
Unable to hold his tongue, Vince snarled, "You stay away from him. I'm the one you have a problem with. Leave the shifter out of it."
Mikael's lips twisted into a harsh smile. "Oh, but you see, you took my coven away from me, and now I want retribution. Taking your beloved would only be fitting, don't you think?" Mikael drew close again. "Now, tell me where you're hiding him," he ordered, hate filling his glare.
Giving his captor a feral smile, Vince vowed, "I'll never tell." Ignoring the extra pain it caused his body, Vince shifted his weight to his left toes and rammed his right knee up, catching Mikael in the gonads.
Mikael doubled over and roared in pain. Vince followed up with a kick aimed at the vampire's head. Too bad his first move had started him swinging. He missed his mark and ended up hitting Mikael's chest instead. It didn't do nearly as much damage, but at least Vince got the satisfaction of watching Mikael crash unceremoniously to the cement floor.
Three of the vampires rushed him. Grabbing him and landing fists to his face and torso. Strung up like a piñata, Vince had nowhere to go and no way to hide. Blow after blow reined upon him, making his head swim and his body throb.
He actually felt relieved when Mikael hoarsely called a halt. "You'll pay for your arrogance, Vincent," he snarled. "I'll make you tell me where your shifter is, then I'm going to make you watch as we all fuck him, over and over. He'll cry out for you, but you won't be able to help him."