A Mate for Titan (The Program Book 7) Read online

  “No stone left unturned.”

  “Okay. If you say so.” She huffed out a breath. The female was smart.

  Titan watched as she got to work, doing as he asked. There had been no small talk this morning. Her easy smiles had dried up as well. Good! It was better that she knew exactly who he was and what he was capable of. He wasn’t nice or sweet or kind or any of the other bullshit adjectives she had used to describe him. He’d admit that he enjoyed hearing her say them. That something in him had warmed, but he didn’t deserve such praise. He was nowhere near worthy. It was better this way. Best she thought the worst of him. They could never be friends, let alone anything more. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his temple. He just wished that she didn’t have to hate him. It felt good to have someone see him in such a good light. To have a female believe in him and enjoy his company for a change. It was a lie. This was for the best.

  The female continued to type away on her laptop. Her lips moved as she reread something that she’d just written. Titan watched in fascination as she traced the tip of her tongue across her lip in a slow, easy glide. She pulled her lower lip into her mouth and sucked lightly.

  He could just picture those lips wrapped around his cock. She sucked again and he swore he could feel it on his cock. His sacs pulled up.

  Fuck!

  Titan just knew that her blood would be thick and hot and so fucking sweet. It would be delicious rapture. He could hear each beat of her heart, could hear the blood coursing through her veins, he longed for a taste. Longed for so much more. Titan had jacked off five times last night and twice again this morning. You wouldn’t think so if you took a look at his cock right now. Hard and throbbing. He was the biggest dick alive. Natasha was afraid of him and with good reason.

  His stomach rumbled. Hunger gnawed at him. He hadn’t had breakfast so it was understandable. Although they needed regular bursts of blood to maintain their metabolisms, like humans, vampires still needed to eat food as well. The bigger the vampire, the more they needed to consume. Both in terms of blood and food. Males needed more blood and calories than females. Their higher metabolic rates demanded it.

  “Do you need something from the vending machine?” he asked.

  “Um …” She looked up from her laptop and shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.” Then she went back to work.

  He headed out into the main open area and went towards the vending machine. There wasn’t much of a selection. Titan was just about to slide some coins into the slot when a familiar voice sounded behind him. “You really shouldn’t eat that rubbish.”

  He pulled himself upright and turned around. The female scented of lavender. She smiled widely. “You must be the new guy.” She winked but Titan could tell that she wasn’t flirting so much as trying to be friendly. “I’m Tessa.”

  Tessa, or as the Sheriff liked to call her, Honey Bunny, reached into the basket on her arm and pulled out a wrapped up sandwich. He could scent that it was turkey with lettuce, tomato, mayo and a hint of mustard. The bread was white and crusty, most likely baked that morning.

  Titan took the sandwich from her. “Thank you!”

  “So, you’re the undercover guy.” She said ‘undercover’ behind her hand and glanced around the room. “I’m Tessa,” she said again, holding out her hand; Titan shook it. “Big Bear said that you’re here on top secret business. That you FBI people are in town. Don’t worry though, he wouldn’t say anything else. I have no idea what this is all about. Exciting though, isn’t it?” Her eyes were wide and sparkled with excitement.

  Titan nodded. “Thank you for this.” He lifted the sandwich in his hand.

  “Honey,” the sheriff said, from across the room. “I thought I heard your voice.”

  “Thought I would bring lunch for you and Emmett. Excuse me.” The female made her way over to the Sheriff and gave him a chaste peck on the cheek. It was hard to believe that Big Bear Bill allowed himself to be tied up by this tiny female and beaten with a whip. Humans were strange. He didn’t understand them.

  Milly sniffed. Her gaze was firmly on the couple. Her eyes were narrowed and her shoulders tense. “I don’t like that woman,” she said under her breath, finally looking at Titan. “I don’t trust her.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Milly shrugged. “I don’t know. Can’t put my finger on it.” She shook her head. Titan caught a noseful of her scent. Milly was sad. There was a bitter edge which told him that she was also jealous. The female possibly had feelings for her boss. It could be why she didn’t trust Tessa.

  “How long have the two of them been seeing each other?”

  “Just over a year. They celebrated their anniversary about a month ago.” Her eyes clouded for a second. “They got engaged.”

  “You don’t look too happy.”

  Milly shrugged. “Don’t mind me. I care about the old lug, that’s all. I’ve known Bill for years. Ed and I used to go to Bill and Jeans’ house for dinner and vice versa. Our spouses died only two months apart. We helped and supported one another during a real dark time. Then he met Tessa.” She pursed her lips. “Oh well! I wish them all the best, I do … but—” The phone rang. Milly smiled. “Excuse me, will you?”

  Titan nodded.

  Yup, the female was jealous. There was nothing more to it but it did make him think of another angle. He headed back to the office. There were also those who had access to the Sheriff’s office on a regular basis. He might have this all wrong. The mole might not be on the inside, they just needed to be here regularly enough.

  Titan pulled out his phone. He texted Lance. The male was a whizz with computers and apps and technology in general. Maybe he could hack the system. Titan needed a list of suppliers. Aside from continuing to monitor what was going on on the inside, it was a good place to start.

  11

  Five days later …

  The lettering was white against a black backdrop ‒ THE BLACK HORSE BAR. A metal arm hung out above the door. A black, metal silhouette of a horse swung backwards and forwards in the slight breeze.

  Titan held the door open for her and they entered. They’d settled into something of a working relationship and had done a good job of working their way through the list of interviews. As she had suspected, they’d yet to garner any new or eye-opening information. She and Titan had tailed Carl Stevenson for a day. The money for his new sneakers had come from selling dope and not because he was affiliated with the fascist group. They referred the case to one of the deputies and moved on. If anything turned up, hate group-related, they’d let Titan and her know about it.

  The bar was bigger inside than it seemed from the street. It had an old-fashioned feel about it. It had wooden floors and a long oak bar. There was a sitting area on an upper level to the side and a small dance floor with a colorful jukebox.

  It was just after five ‒ happy hour ‒ and the bar itself was pretty packed. There were two tables. No one danced. Natasha suspected that this place probably heaved as evening ran into night. Especially since it was a Thursday, and Thursday was, after all, a mini Friday.

  Both bartenders were fixing drinks. One was a lady, so they walked past her section finding an open space on the other side. It didn’t take more than a minute for the male server to lean on one arm. “What can I get you?” He had a dishcloth in his hand.

  “I’ll take a club soda and my friend will have a beer.”

  Titan frowned. “No, I—”

  “Whatever you have on tap will be fine.” She ignored Titan.

  The bartender nodded and turned to get their drinks.

  “What was that?” Titan asked.

  “We want to blend in,” she whispered. “People drink in bars.”

  “We have an appointment with the guy,” Titan shot back. “He knows who we are. If not, he will soon.”

  “Still, not everyone in this place needs to know.”

  Begrudgingly, he nodded. It didn’t take long for him to bring back the drinks. She was rumma
ging in her purse when Titan handed the bartender some cash. “Keep the change.”

  “Thanks!”

  “Where should we wait for you, Simon?”

  The bartender gaped, suddenly realizing who they were. “Oh … um … yeah …” He visibly pulled himself together. “You can sit over there.” He pointed to the seated section. “My break starts in ten.”

  Natasha took her soda. “Okay. We’ll be waiting.”

  Titan picked up his beer and they headed over, sitting at the closest table. It overlooked the bar.

  There was a mixed batch of people. Some of the patrons wore collared suits and ties while others were in jeans and t-shirts. There was one guy in grimy overalls. Most of them were men. A couple sat at the end of the bar. At first glance it looked like they were getting really cozy with one another. On closer inspection, she saw that they were in a deep discussion.

  Titan took a sip of his beer, putting the glass down with a light bang. He grimaced. “I’m not sure why humans drink this stuff.”

  “You shouldn’t actually drink that, by the way, we are officially on the clock.”

  Titan took another big sip. He licked the foam off of his lips. He looked amused. “Alcohol won’t affect me. Besides, I’m not a part of your FBI.”

  “Alcohol really doesn’t affect you?”

  He shook his head. They sat in silence for a minute. Things were definitely awkward between them. They discussed the case ‒ barely ‒ and that was it. She’d tried to broach the subject about his admission the other day but he’d shut her down. Just as she suspected he would. Titan had made it infinitely clear that he wasn’t discussing what had happened and that was that.

  “So, Simon is Chester Todd’s estranged son?” she asked, even though she knew the answer. The silence was driving her nuts. Especially in this environment where people were laughing and chatting … interacting.

  Titan nodded.

  “Do you really think he’s got something to add from his previous testimony?” Natasha was sick and tired of running around in circles. She agreed that some of the previously interviewed people needed to be relooked at but not all of them. Simon hadn’t seen his father in years. He had no dealings with the guy. What could they possibly glean from this?

  Titan nodded. “We wouldn’t be here otherwise.” He yawned, putting his hand over his mouth.

  “Is your hotel bed uncomfortable?” she blurted. Day on day, he looked more and more tired. His eyes were bloodshot and there were smudges under his eyes.

  “It’s fine.”

  “You don’t look like you’ve slept much since arriving in Sweetwater.”

  “I’m fine.” She could see that he wanted to yawn again.

  “If you say so.” Natasha was done trying to get anything out of him.

  “We might as well order something to eat while we’re here.” He picked up a menu. “We’ll order to go.”

  Natasha picked up a menu as well and began paging through. By the time she’d pretty much decided what she wanted, Simon sat down on a chair next to her. “I only have fifteen minutes.” He looked from her to Titan and back again. Simon was tall and gangly with short cropped black hair. He wore a black apron with an outline of a white horse on the front. “I’m not sure why you guys want to talk with me again. I thought I made it clear that I don’t know much about my father. I left home eight years ago and haven’t seen either of my parents since.”

  “Why is that, Simon?” she asked.

  His eyes turned thunderous. “My father liked to get heavy-handed when he had been drinking, which was almost every night. My mother is a coward. She watched him beat me and did nothing. I left as soon as I finished school. It won’t be long before I’m out of this one-horse town.”

  “So, are you telling me that in the last eight years you never saw your father, not even once?” Titan looked Simon head-on. “I find that hard to believe, since you live in a one-horse town … as you put it.”

  “Fine,” Simon huffed. “I used to see him around from time to time, but I never approached the guy. I couldn’t give a shit what he was up to.”

  “Where did you see him?” Natasha asked.

  Simon shrugged, he pulled a face telling her that he thought her question was absurd. “At the gas station. Around town. I saw him at the hardware store a few weeks before he died.” Simon grimaced like it was the worst experience of his life. “I literally ran into him. It was so fucked up seeing him so close.”

  This was new. Maybe speaking with Simon hadn’t been a bad idea after all.

  “You can’t mean that,” a guy yelled from down at the bar. Someone else laughed loudly. More people had arrived since they had. The noise levels were picking up.

  Natasha tried to stay focused on Simon. “What was he doing at the hardware store?”

  “Don’t know and don’t care. I turned and left. The bastard didn’t even try to go after me or talk to me or anything. You’d think he cared ‒ even just a little bit but no … The bastard smirked at me.” He shook his head and clenched his jaw. “My father,” he said it like a cuss, “couldn’t give two shits. Didn’t back then and wouldn’t now if he was still alive. I sure as hell won’t be putting flowers on his grave.”

  “Stop, Cindy,” the same man yelled. “Wait.” All three of them turned towards the noise. A man had a woman by the wrist, they were both standing. Her face looked pinched. It was the couple who had been talking so intimately earlier. Maybe they weren’t as cozy as they had seemed.

  The woman said something, she couldn’t make out what it was.

  “No, you’re not.” The guy’s voice was raised.

  “Please, just let me go.” She tried to pull free but the guy wasn’t listening.

  “I mean it.” He narrowed his eyes. “You need to calm down and listen to me.”

  “I’ve said all there is to say,” the woman pleaded.

  The man leaned forward and whispered something in her ear. The woman squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.

  “Okay?” He let go of her wrist and rubbed her arm down the side. The touch was tender and soothing.

  The woman nodded again. The guy put his arm around her and whispered something else and bam, they looked all cozy again. It must have been a little misunderstanding. Natasha pushed out a sigh. Thank god, for a second there ...

  Titan pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. His eyes were trained on the couple who were slowly headed towards the door. “What is it?” Natasha asked.

  Titan ignored her. His muscles bulged, pulling the fabric tight around his biceps. Forget the stairs. Who needed stairs? He leapt off the side of the raised platform landing gracefully on the floor below. Natasha wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it for herself. One of the guys at the bar dropped his glass and a woman gave a yell. All the noise died down in an instant. There was just the sound of the background music, otherwise all was silent.

  “Stop,” Titan growled.

  Although the guy with his arm around the girl stiffened, he kept ushering her towards the door. The man picked up the pace. Natasha noticed that the lady wasn’t walking as fast, her feet were dragging. It didn’t look right. Titan obviously knew something they didn’t know.

  “I said stop.” Titan moved fast. He closed the distance between the couple and himself in a flash, putting his hand on the guy’s shoulder.

  The man wasn’t small, he had muscles and probably worked out. He wore a brown leather jacket and jeans. He arched his back and spun around. “Get your hands off of me!”

  Titan ignored him and turned to the woman who looked really afraid. “Do you want to leave with this bozo?”

  “Who the fuck are you calling a bozo?” The guy knocked chests with Titan. The vampire towered over him.

  “Take a step back,” Titan warned.

  “Fuck you!” The guy got right in Titan’s face. It happened so quickly, she almost missed it ‒ Titan snapped his head back and butted the man right in the face. There was a cracking
noise and he fell like a rock. Just crumpled into a heap on the floor. The guy didn’t move. His nose bled profusely.

  What was Titan doing? Up until now she had been so dumbstruck that she hadn’t moved. Natasha jumped up so quickly the chair almost fell back. “Titan.”

  The woman looked at her boyfriend, husband, whoever the guy was, and burst into tears. She covered her mouth and sobbed into her hand.

  Natasha started to make her way down the stairs. She needed to apologize. She needed to defuse the situation. “I’m so sor—”

  “Thank you,” the distraught woman cried. She was looking at Titan. “I was so afraid.”

  What? Natasha frowned, she walked the rest of the way down.

  “No need to thank me,” Titan said.

  “I do need to thank you.” The woman, still sobbing, ran over to Titan and threw her arms around him. “You saved my life.” Her sobs grew louder.

  The crowd began to chatter loudly to one another. Titan just stood there looking distinctly uncomfortable. The woman sobbed against his chest.

  “Call the police.” Titan glanced over his shoulder at Simon. “This scumbag could do with a few days behind bars.” He gently took the woman by the shoulders and pulled her off of him. “What is your name?” His voice was gentle and filled with sympathy.

  “It’s C-Cindy.” She was shaking.

  “Cindy, do you have a family member or friend we can call?”

  She nodded. “My f-friend Rebecca.”

  “Good!” Titan let go of her. “Let’s get you something warm to drink in the meanwhile.” He looked pointedly at Simon, who nodded.

  Two hours later …

  Cindy turned and gave a wave, it was directed at Titan. The lady was smiling. Titan waved back. He sighed as the door closed.

  “How did you know?” Natasha asked. “You’re a hero, do you know that?”

  Titan shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable. “No, I’m not. I have good hearing and a good sense of smell and that’s it.”