RAFE'S LAIR (10 page)

    "I agree, but once we have them together,
it will be far easier to keep them both safe. Rafe will insist on keeping her here at Lair where he knows even if he fails, whatever will have to get through all of us before it can get to her."

    "You better be right about that wolf."

    "Haven't you heard demon, I'm the alpha. I'm always right."

    "Sure whatever you say alpha, I'll check in in a few. You keep Rafe from doing something stupid again."

    "I will expect to hear from you every few hours." Dom hung up with Ed without another word.

Dom looked at Rafe again and finally felt a little ease. Ed hadn't run away, he'd gone straight to Rafe's mate. And whether he meant to, or not, he'd given Dom her name. Ava that was a very pretty name. He went over to Rafe and knelt down in fr
ont of him. Rafe was starting to move more and make noises. His head still hung limp on his shoulders, but he looked like he was trying to lift it. Dom could see the flex of his arms and legs too. He was already coming to, and at least Dom had some good news to give him. Hopefully it would help keep him calm until they could reunite him with his mate.

    "Rafe can you hear me?" Dom asked him.

Rafe heard Dom talking to him. He was so damn groggy; he couldn't understand what he was saying at first. He tried to move his arms to rub some of the grogginess out of his head, but he couldn't. His head felt heavy when he tried to lift it in the direction of Dom's voice. What the hell? He was chained to a chair. How the hell did he get here? He started focusing more on what Dom was saying; still trying to move his arms and legs.

    "Rafe can you lift your head? Can you look at me my friend?" Dom could tell Rafe was coming around. Good. He didn't want Rafe to be out of it in case something happened. He would never for
give them if he weren’t able to function because they had drugged him. "Rafe look at me."

Rafe was slowly coming back into reality and was starting to remember what happened. They had shot him with something cause he'd completely lost it when Ed disappeare
d. Yeah he didn't blame them for that. He didn't like it one bit, but he didn't blame them for doing what they had to calm him down. They had been out in the common part of the club, no telling how many people saw him freak out. Seems he was doing that a lot lately. He really needed to stop. Well he could if Ed would stop fucking around and just let Rafe go to his beautiful.

    "Dom untie me right now." He said. His voice was hoarse from the drugs.

    "I will soon my friend. I want you to listen to me for a minute first."

    "Now Dom! Let me go right fucking now!" Rafe started to pull at his restraints harder. He could feel the cuffs and chains digging into his wrists and arms. "Dom I will break th
ese chains if you don't untie me now, and when I do I'll be even more pissed than I am now."

The others came back into the room after hearing Rafe yelling at Dominic. Marcus had another syringe in his hand, ready to knock Rafe out again. Dom held up his ha
nd and shook his head to stop him when he started coming closer. Marcus looked like he was going to argue, but nodded his head instead. Rafe had his head up and was trying to focus on Dom at the same time he was trying to get free.

    "Her name is Ava Raf
e." Dom simply told him.

Rafe stopped. "What?" He wasn't quite sure what Dom was talking about. He couldn't be talking about Rafe's mate. Could he?

    "Your mate Rafael. Her name is Ava and she's safe. Do you understand me Rafe?"

    "She's here? Let me g
o I have to hold her!" Rafe wasn't even sure he heard right. Ava. Dom knew her name so they must have found her. He couldn't let her see him tied up like this; she would be even more frightened of him than she already was. "Dammit Dominic, let me go!" Rafe was really pulling at his restraints now. He broke the chair's back and that gave him more slack in the chains to get more leverage.

    "Rafael, stop now and listen to me. I do not want them to sedate you again now stop!"

Dom was physically holding Rafe to the chair now. He could feel Marcus and the others behind him. Sloan wouldn't let them do anything unless Rafe managed to hurt Dom. Dom wasn't about to let that happen though so it didn't matter. Yes, Rafe was stronger than he normally was, even after being drugged, but he knew his friend was still in there. And he knew he could reach Rafe.

    "Ava is not here. She will not see you like this. She does need you, so you need to pull it together and listen to me. Are you listening to me Rafael? "

Rafe knew Dom meant business. He only used Rafe's full name when shit was serious. Dom was the only one allowed to use it period, and really, Rafe never
allowed
him to do it. Dom being Dom just did and there was nothing he could do to stop him.

    "Rafael answer m
e." Dom told Rafe again. He knew Rafe was listening, Rafe just needed to acknowledge to himself that he was listening to Dom.

    "Yes I'm listening to you Dominic. How do you know my mate's name if she's not here? Where the hell is Ava then?" Ava. His bea
utiful's name was Ava. He finally had a name to call her other than mate or beautiful. She would always be his beautiful, but now he had a name for everyone else to call her. He would kill anyone who called her beautiful that was his alone. She was his alone. Thinking of her was bringing him back to life. He was more coherent already. He lifted his head and really looked at Dom finally. Dom gave him a big wolfish grin.

    "There you are my friend. I know your mate's name because Ed told me whether he meant
to or not." Rafe started to move more and lose his focus on Dom. "No, stop Rafael. You listen to me." Dom paused a minute to make sure Rafe did as he said again. "Ava is safe at home with her friend Marie. Ed went straight there when he realized you were telling him the truth. He will not leave them alone. Now I need you to come to your senses. Ava needs you to come to your senses."

Hearing Dom tell him Ava needed him made him sit up straight and force the drugs out of his system. Shaking his head and look
ing Dom square in the eyes he told him. "My mate needs me Dom, you need to let me go and take me to her." Dom just smiled at him again.

                                      CHAPTER 17

      Rafe would be okay. His good friend was back with them and ready to do whatever he had to save his mate. To bring her home for good. Looking over his shoulder at those closest to Rafe now gathered behind him he said.

    "Sloan, Marcus help me untie Rafe."

Sloan moved to help immediately, Marcus looked at him and was about to argue. This was why Dom hated dealing with vampires. His wolves knew to move when he said to, vampires wanted to second guess his decisions and question him on everything.

    "Marcus I do not like repeating myself. If you have a problem, then you
can leave and let us deal with this. Rafe does not need those who do not truly want to help him." It was a low blow and Dom damn well knew it, but he didn't have the time or the patience to fight with the vampire.

Marcus narrowed his eyes at the fucking w
olf who thought he could come in here and take the fuck over.

    "You have no fucking clue what I have done and will do for my
friend,
my fellow
vampire
wolf." Marcus started to move to Rafe's side and stopped mouth hanging open. He looked at Dom, then Ethan, and then to Sloan. Nate wouldn't understand, he was way too young. Michael was already at Rafe's side releasing him. He was saying something to Rafe as he did. Holy shit!

    "Easy Rafe. Take it easy my man I'm getting you outta this, just hold on. I'
ll help you get to your mate; I won't let them keep you from her anymore. Just give me a minute to get you outta this." Michael was saying to Rafe.

Every
one thought Michael was either crazy, or just seriously fucked. No one had ever tried actually talking to him though. Except for Rafe. The elders thought they could control him, that's the only reason they nominated him to be an enforcer. They thought because of his family, he could be easily manipulated. Too bad they were seriously fucking wrong. Nothing or no one would control him no matter what they thought they had that they could hurt him with. Michael was fucking floored when he passed the trials. That is until he found out why.

Even the supernatural community was afraid of him. As far as he knew, nobody liked him and that was fine with him. Until it came down to him not being an enforcer. He was pissed when he thought it would come down to a popularit
y contest. He had given up hope and resigned himself to losing the only thing that mattered to him. Until the mighty Rafe came up to him and asked for his help on a routine assignment. The golden boy of not only the people, but the Fates as well.

The elders never wanted Rafe to be nominated apparently. They knew he would always serve the people and never do what the counsel wanted if it harmed his precious community. Michael was going to tell him to go fuck himself like he did everyone else. He wa
s tired of the petty bullshit. Michael had started to tell Rafe where he could stick it till the vamp got in his face and told him exactly where Michael could stick himself with the biggest grin on his ugly mug. Then Rafe had turned and walked knowing Michael would either follow, or he wouldn't. Rafe had called over his shoulder at Michael "The address is in your satchel. See ya there."

Michael really wasn't going to go. He'd even talked himself out of going several times. He had made his decision not to go
finals and still he found himself at the address Rafe had given him when he had been heading to his favorite pub at the time. Michael got off his horse carefully checking to see what was going on all around him. He walked to the house; hand on his sword ready for anything. As soon as he stepped up on the porch, the door opened at the same time Michael had his sword out ready to decapitate the dumb ass opening the door like that.

Rafe had stuck his head out grinned a big shit eatin grin and told him to put t
he damn thing away. Then he turned around and for the second time that night walked away from Michael expecting him to follow. Which he did cause by this time he was just too damn curious not to. Rafe walked into a large living room and started introducing Michael to his family. Rafe hadn't needed his help with anything; he'd tricked Michael into having dinner with Rafe's family. At first, Michael was pissed until Rafe's parents showed genuine interest and concern for him. Rafe's younger brother and sister acted like star struck kids, which they were.

After that first night, Rafe's parents had personally invited him to several family functions. Hell, they practically adopted Michael. Rafe's parents being very influential vampires in the supernatural communit
y started campaigning for Michael while they were campaigning for Rafe. When the trials were over Michael was with Rafe and his family when they got the news of who passed. Michael was floored to find out he was a League enforcer along with Rafe. Rafe's family celebrated both their successes. Later when Rafe was given his own team, he specifically asked for Michael. Michael knew everyone gave him shit about his choice, but Rafe had never changed his mind.

    "Alright man just go easy, let's get you up slow
ly." Michael said to Rafe wrapping his arm under Rafe's and hauling him to his feet.

    "Michael is she okay? Do you know where Ava is?" Rafe knew Michael wouldn't lie to him about it. After everything they had been through, he trusted the other vampire w
ith his life and no matter what anybody else said, with the lives of the other League under his command as well.

    "I don't know where your mate is yet, but I swear I will help you find her."

Michael looked up at the others gathered around Rafe. They all wore the same shocked expression. Of course, they were shocked. Rafe and his family were the only ones that looked past all the bull shit and bothered to find out that Michael really did have feelings and a heart. Go figure. He looked at each of them and told them.

    "Either help me get him moving or get the hell out of my way."

Dom was the first to move and the others were right behind him. They managed to get Rafe over to a comfortable chair and got him drinking water. He was starting to act less drugged already and that made Michael not worry so much. Rafe finally looked up at them and talked.

    "Somebody better start talking now." Rafe looked at the vampires and werewolves he considered his friends and prayed they would tell him good news. "Dom you
said Ed is with my mate and her friend. Why doesn't he feel comfortable leaving them?"

    "They are being watched by the vampire that was following you."

Rafe snapped his head back up. "What!" He tried to stand and almost fell flat on his damn face. Thank the Fates Michael was still by his side and caught him as he started going down. "Fuck! What the hell did you give me?" He asked no one in particular.

Michael helped ease Rafe back into the chair. "Just a suggestion. I don't think you should try doing tha
t again yet. Kay?"

Rafe looked at Michael and wanted to smack him upside the back of his head. "Ya think?" He asked sarcastically. "Tell me Mike what was your first clue?" Rafe deliberately called him Mike just to piss him off. Michael hated being called b
y the nickname.

    "Rafael, I'm going to give you that one cause
you’re still doped up and can't think straight." Michael said back to Rafe. He knew Rafe called him that damn nickname on purpose. When Rafe looked back up at him and arched his brow, he grinned back at him and winked. That made Rafe laugh a little which was a good thing.

    "How the hell did the vamp find my mate?" Rafe asked. Dom was the first to answer him.

    "We have now learned that Ed has been checking on her every night. We think there is a trader in my pack I am ashamed to say." Dom said head bowed. He looked Rafe in the eye and said. "I give you my word I will find out who and I will personally take care of him. He will pay dearly for betraying us."

Rafe grabbed Dom by the forearm an
d told him. "I don't blame you for any of this Dom. I fucked up when I lost it the night I met her. If anything happens to her, it'll be my fault." He gave Dom's arm a squeeze before he released it and continued. "So we need to find some answers and soon. Dom, you said you talked to Ed." At Dom's nod, he continued. "Get a hold of him and have him bring Ava and her friend here. We can protect them better here at Lair than just having someone watch over them at their house."

Dom grabbed his phone and dialed E
d. He looked back up at Rafe when it went to voice mail. He hung up and tried again. When it went to voice mail again, he knew someone had messed with his phone.

    "It seems someone has fucked with my phone. Ed called me not too long ago with no problems
, yet I've tried him twice now and it went to voice mail. Ed said he had not received any calls from any of us." He told them throwing his phone on the table. "I told him to stay in touch. He agreed to call every three hours."

    "How long ago did you tal
k to him?" Rafe asked him.

    "About two hours ago. He said he would stay with your mate until the vampire left. Even if that wasn't until morning. We need to find out who the vamp is and why she's watching your mate."

    "I agree. So we now know that whoever this vamp is has help from your wolves and possibly vamps close to us. We need new phones; all of ours have obviously been fucked with." Rafe started planning.

Sloan spoke up. "I'll get those; I have several stashed for this reason. Be back in a few.
" He headed towards the door, but Rafe stopped him.

    "Sloan wait. We now know we have traders on the inside. I trust only you guys here with me now. We need to watch each other
’s backs. Nate, you go with him. You guys come straight back here."

    "You got it boss." Nate said getting up and walking over to Sloan.

    "Just so you know this doesn't make me too happy Rafe. But because your mate is in danger, I'll agree to what you want. You owe me now though and you know it." Sloan said pointing at Rafe.

    "Yeah well you already owed me so this makes us even. Now get the fuck out of here so you can get us those phones so I can get a hold of Ed."

Sloan nodded and said to Nate. "Let’s go kiddo. Rafe said jump."

    "Watch it wolf. Rafe may like you
, but I don't have to." Nate said to him following Sloan out the door.

Rafe looked at the rest of his friends here with him. "Now the only thing we can do is wait." He said on a sigh.

Marie had finally managed to get Ava to calm down. They had talked some more and had decided they would both be more aware of everything going on around them. Ava was taking a bath and she was cleaning up the kitchen. Marie had also gotten Ava to eat a little so she felt better about that too. Tomorrow was Saturday and Ava was going to be pretty busy at work so she would have the whole day to get everything ready for Sunday night. Ava had agreed to go to Lair with her after a little more convincing.

Ava came down the stairs to say good night to Marie after her bath. It was stil
l pretty early on a Friday night, but when you had to be at work early on a Saturday, then you had to be boring. She only felt marginally better after her and Marie talked about things. Marie had still gotten her way and made Ava agree to go to Lair this Sunday. She still didn't want to, but she wouldn't go back on her word. She just prayed she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life. Ava found Marie still in the kitchen finishing up.

    "Hey do you need me to help with that?" Ava asked Marie.

Marie turned around when she heard Ava. "No baby girl. You go on to bed you have a long day tomorrow and gotta get up early." She went over to her friend and gave her a big hug. "Sweet dreams sweetie and since I won't see ya in the morning, have a good day at work dear."

    "Kay thanks. I'll see you when I get home." Ava hugged Marie back and headed back upstairs to bed. She knew she wouldn't get to sleep right away, but she was just too drained to do anything else. As she went up the stairs, she prayed she woul
dn't dream tonight.

Ed had gone back inside to listen to the girls and see if he could find anything else out about what was going on. He now knew they were going to Lair on Sunday. That could be a good thing. Rafe would be able to talk to her again and ho
pefully not fuck up this time. He knew Rafe wouldn't want to let her leave, but they'd cross that bridge when they came to it. He felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out as he went back outside. It was a number he didn't recognize, but he answered it anyway. As he got back outside, he felt the stalker vamp had left. Good at least something good was going his way.

    "Yeah." He said putting the phone up to his ear.

    "Ed this is Dom."

Ed pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the number again.
Putting it back, he talked to the wolf. "Dom why the hell are you calling me from a different number?" He asked.

    "We have confirmed either your phone, or ours have been compromised." Dom told him.

Ed heard Rafe in the back ground yelling about him being a meddling fucking goat and some other shit.

    "Dom tell that crazy fucking vamp to shut the hell up while the grownups are trying to have an intelligent conversation."