Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)

Violet

“Now will you tell them I got the job, or should I?” Landon asked, thumbs pointing at the approaching group.

Violet sighed, dreading that conversation. Landon stood up, and offered his hand to help her as the small group to approach them.

“V?”

Violet’s eyes snapped at Landon. The audacity he had shortening her name to one letter. She pushed pass him a little bit more forceful than necessarily, her hands firmly pressing in the coiled muscles and even went as far as giving him a pinch showing her displeasure with him.

Landon gave her a charming smile, and let her step in front of him.

“I’ve made my choice. Thanks you for applying.” Violet quickly announced then tried to move through the group.

It wasn’t until she felt his muscular chest behind her back the crowd parted. Violet had to admit that having Landon by her side proved effective. He was not only the eye-candy she longed for, but was well versed in intimidation by proximity. The group of shifters not only allowed her to pass, but they didn’t question her. Some fighters even suddenly changed their minds of approaching her, and found someone else to bother the moment they saw his brooding face. Just as Violet thought this wasn’t half bad, Jack stepped in her way. Jack was obviously displeased by her choice in a bodyguard. While Jack had been reluctant to share what he knew about Landon over the phone, in person he did not mind letting his anger against the Fixer show.

“I see you made your mind,” Jack gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes. Then he greeted, “Landon.”

“Jack,” Landon’s greeting was as cool as his demeanor.

“I don’t remember inviting you,” Jack started.

Violet always perceived Jack as an artist, and definitely not a fierce warrior who would take a stand against Landon’s domineering presence. Jack needed few seconds to control his emotions enough that only his eyes kept shifting, giving away what was brewing on the inside. She knew that look of obvious disapproval. She has seen it far too many times on far too many shifters not to recognize it. Whatever transpired between the two, left Jack bitter until the end of days. The smile he plastered on Jack’s lips was forced, reminding Violet of the Joker ready to pounce at Batman one way or another. If it hadn’t been Jacob’s characterization of Landon as a good guy, Violet would have started reconsidering her decision right about now.

“You didn’t,” Landon smugly replied, daring Jack to say something.

“I..” Violet started, but could not start her thought, as Jack rudely cut her off.

“Hope to see you for brunch tomorrow.”

Violet hesitated, taken back by the sudden interruption. She wondered if the brunch offer was for her individually, for Landon alone or for both of them. Before she had time to respond, Landon’s hand pressed against the small of her back, hidden from everyone else, urging her to reply to the invite.

“Sure. See you then,” Violet replied giving Jack a reassuring smile.

There was no doubt there was history between the two. It had to be something big for Jack to publically show his contempt for Landon. It was true Landon was a bully at times. But once his intimidation was met with indifference, he turned out to be quite goofy. Besides, if he wasn’t a good person, then Jacob wouldn’t have personally vouched for him.

Violet decided this was not the time or the place to ask Jack what his problem was, so she headed towards her office. Before she could enter, large callused hands wrapped around her midsection stopping her. Landon moved in front of her, quickly checking out the empty office for threads. Violet smiled at his enthusiasm to step in his role of her protector. Goddess knew it was small consolation for putting up with the punches life relentlessly threw at her. Violet promised she would enjoy this unusual favor of the Fates, even if it was for a short moment.

“You have questions,” Landon told her over his shoulder still looking around the room. His eyes then focused her. Those same blue eyes that spoke more than his facial expression led on. Violet smiled realizing she was making him nervous. He pointed to the sofa, “May I?”

Violet did have questions. He was volunteering answers for a change and she was gladly going to get to the bottom of things.

“Sure,” Violet agreed then sat down beside him, a little too close for modesty, but Violet did not care. If he was uncomfortable he was more than welcome to move over. Not that the sofa allowed too much space to remain between them. For the first time since she had the office, the furniture choice made sense. Violet hoped she did not look like a creep, eye balling her unsuspecting victim, “Jack doesn’t like you.”

“What gave it away?” Landon chuckled then explained, “Ol’ Jack and I go back. But I don’t think the old prick is what you really want to ask me about.”

“I am trying to decide if it is too insensitive to ask,” Violet confessed. Of course she was dying to confirm her assumption of his mateless status was correct. But unlike her little reject group Jacob ran, she was not yet as bold to ask him point blank.

“Then don’t,” Landon told her, keeping his eyes over her face. He sighed. “My mate chose my twin.”

“That bitch,” Violet gasped.

“Thank you,” Landon replied.

“You’re welcome,” Violet smiled back at him.

“I appreciate you not going with the ‘I’m sorry’ speech,” Landon told her.

“Tell me about it. It never did anything for me. Too vague, and too impersonal. It’s different when you take off the mittens and put the fighting gloves on,” Violet told him.

“Take the gloves off,” Landon supplied the correct phrase.

“Same thing.” Violet dismissed his correction. “The point is: gear up for a fight for someone you care about. Not that you need me defending your honor or something.”

“Of course not,” Landon tried hiding his chuckle.

“So twins have their own mate,” Violet said to herself, only for Landon to nod. “How do you know she was your mate and not your brother’s?”

“His mark on her kept fading until she rejected me. I know as I felt them try multiple times.” Landon told her.

“That’s so fucked up and gross. Forget her. But how could he do that to you?” Violet asked. Landon’s eyes never moved off her face, his lips frozen in a mask of a smile. “See, I’m biting your hand off already. Sorry about being insensitive. I should not have said that. I should…”

“Hearing you speak your mind is refreshing, not offensive,” Landon interrupted her. “While most think three-way mating for a twin, you saw us as individuals. That right there makes you a darn good therapist. You see straight to the betrayal from my twin and my mate. I don’t have to explain or talk about it. You know.” Landon sighed then continued. “Life has a sick sense of humor. The really fucked up part is my family believes his mate, if he has one, as they don’t believe Erika was mine, will eventually show up, and set us straight.”

“Would you want her back?” Violet asked him.

“Would you want yours back?” Landon questioned her, only for Violet to cringe her nose in disgust. “I say, they deserve each other. Too bad you were caught in the crossfire.”

“Scarred for life,” Violet agreed. “But I don’t hold the grudge for the rejection itself. It’s the way he went about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“At the end it boiled down to this. He chose his long term girlfriend, because he couldn’t swallow down that his best friend saved my life.” Violet told him.

“Ranked wolves love measuring their dicks.” Landon shook his head. “You’re better off without him.”

“It doesn’t make it hurt any less,” Violet replied.

“It does not. But do you want to live your life by the side of such hypocrite?”

“In retrospect we wouldn’t have worked, I am too liberal compared to his caveman ways,” Violet shrugged then asked changing the topic, “So how did you choose to become a fixer?”

“It sort of chose me, like you and therapy,” Landon told her then continued answering her unasked question. “I am the younger twin. I had to fall back to my training to make a living. When I started taking care of other people’s problems, we didn’t have a cool name for it. It was a transaction. I got to travel and do interesting work. It was the adventure I’ve always wanted.”

“But now…”

“It lost its appeal,” Landon admitted.

“Hence our barter,” Violet told him.

“Hence our barter,” Landon agreed. “That’s where you come in. You’re a fellow entrepreneur. So how did you choose your path?”

Violet sighed, moved her hair over her shoulder and tugged at her shirt, exposing her brand.

“Ever seen one of these?” Violet asked him, trying not to show how much she was disgusted by the brand burnt in her skin.

Landon nodded his head, “Sadly yes. How did you get out?”

Violet covered her shoulder.

“I marked a detainee sentenced to death, who was my task so-to-speak,” Violet added.

“He wasn’t your mate,” Landon concluded then recognition flashed in his eyes. “The Gamma of Devil Creek?”

“News travel fast,” Violet confirmed. “How did you hear about it?”

“I was offered a gig to impose the sanctions Alpha Devon wanted of Gagon,” Landon replied then added quickly, “I didn’t take the case.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“It’s a lifelong gig, Landon. That far up north life gets twisted,” Violet told him. “Besides who knows what I would have done last night without you.”

“Now you are talking,” Landon laughed.

“It feels good to be appreciated,” Violet translated.

“You are good,” Landon replied.

“Of course,” Violet replied and then raised her hand to stop him. “Before you call me cocky, may I just finish my thought?”

Landon smiled then gestured for her to go on.

“You would have never considered becoming my glorified babysitter if I wasn’t good. Actually the best, if I can say so myself. You’ve done your homework, and you at least suspect whose ears I speak to. So how is our little barter going to work?” Violet asked him, pointing back and forth between them.

“A girl to my taste,” Landon replied. “Simple. I keep you safe, and you go out on couple of parties with me. I’m easy on the eyes, so it’ll be a win-win.”

“Be careful now, your ego might burst,” Violet cautioned him, then added in more of business voice, “You have one in mind?”

“I’ll keep you posted. In the mean time, we’ve got to work on your acceptance of our bodyguard – client relationship. It is very tricky at times, as certain lines are easily blurred,” Landon started.

“Have you done this before?”

“No, but I can take care of you,” Landon replied, only for Violet’s imagination to run wild with all the ways he could take care of her. “Out with it, what’s so funny?”

“I’m your first,” Violet flirted.

“And I am yours,” Landon deadpanned.

“Exclusively?” Violet prompted.

“Yes. Your personal guardian Wolfman,” Landon flirted.

“Does that pick up line ever work?”

Landon continued without answering her, “We’ll go over some defense, work on staying alert, observant, and trusting your highly trained bodyguard. We’ll make all public appearances together. So pencil me as your plus one. Would that be a problem?”

“Is this your way of asking me if I am seeing someone?” Violet rephrased what he really wanted to ask her.

“Your life is now my business,” Landon told her keeping his voice professional.

“So if I wanna take someone home,” Violet started only to see his expression darken. “You have to properly vet him.”

“Something like that,” Landon replied in tensed voice, then added as an afterthought, “for your safety.”

“Purely for my safety,” She repeated never taking her eyes of his cerulean gaze, trying to suppress a yawn. She covered her mouth and reluctantly yawned.

“Let’s get you home,” Landon told her. “Keys?”

“I didn’t take my car tonight,” she admitted.

“So we walk,” Landon offered waiting for her to gather her personal belongings.

Landon’s proximity was doing things to her body she had long ago sworn off. It wasn’t just that he looked appetizing beyond belief. It was his history, similar yet foreign that made her feel compassion for him. He had suffered just like she had, and found his own way to survival. Her curiosity was awoken. It didn’t help that he knew just how to effortlessly flirt with her, and to make her wish things between them were different.

As they reached her apartment, he snuck in it, turning on lights as he inspected the rooms.

“Overzealous much,” she questioned.

“Just doing my job,” he replied then walked back to the door, “I have some things to wrap up and then we can talk about making the gig 24/7.”

Violet didn’t think she could handle having him close by for that long without acknowledging the attraction they both choose to ignore thus far.

“That wouldn’t be necessary,” she vaguely protested, as that was the polite thing to do.

“But it is,” Landon argued then proceeded to explain. “If someone is going to come after you it would not be during normal business hours. In fact, I could bet you are safer during those hours, simply by being in public. So allow me to do my job.”

“What happened to I don’t sleep over?” Violet asked.

“I already did, and it was personal choice, making this a no brainer,” Landon replied in code. Violet tried to repeat his words in her mind but failed miserably. “Unless you think you won’t be able to keep your hands off me after hours?”

“Oh, Landon, is that what you desire?” Violet questioned him.

“Who wouldn’t?” Landon cockily smiled at her giving her a once over then told her, tossed her the keys, she had left at the front door lock, closing the door behind his back. His deep voice echoed,. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“What the heck happened?” Violet wondered as she felt cold without his presence.

Landon

This was not how he expected out of his evening. In all honesty, he had gone to Velvet to talk to Violet about the night before. Becoming her bodyguard had been the last thing on his mind. Sure, he wanted to check who Pack Order sent to court her, and who she would pick. The moment he sat down with her, he realized he was not only the best man for the job, but that such partnership would be beneficial for both. The flirting and their sexual tension between them were just the fresh cherry on the top of an ice-cream sundae, making it so much more than just an ice-cream.

At first he told himself, he was just being competitive. His rejection had left him bitter and pathologically needing to prove himself, and to triumph over his competition. And he did. Maybe he took it a little bit too far as to not only win the job but actually accept it, but he didn’t care of that consequence. He told himself it was going to be fun. Besides just how much trouble could she get herself into?

Although she hadn’t asked him to take off his shirt, Landon needed to show her he was not all just talk. True, some of the contenders for the position had some Alpha blood in their veins but he was more capable than them. For some unexplainable reason he needed not only to top the other contenders, but to affirm to both Violet and himself he was worthy of the position. How else could he explain the sudden obsession with becoming her Shadow?

He expected her to see through his bluff, to want the deal in writing or something more binding than his word. But she didn’t. She had taken him up on a handshake. Landon closed his eyes, so his eyes don’t venture down her stubborn chin to the warm and soft hand in his. He tried not to focus the ridiculousness of his need to caress her soft skin as he casually ran his thumb over her skin. At least he hoped she did not notice it, as he would hate to scare her and ruin everything by being a weirdo.

Landon fully intended on keeping his word to her and he would certainly not do half-assed job guarding Violet. He would give her his very best. The only downside on such commitment was he was bound to stay in the region. Landon was both elated and anxious about the cut of his driving. It only meant he was going to accept all of the jobs within thirty mile radius. He shook his head, clearing the memories of earlier. He had work to do. He dismounted his bike heading inside the pack house.

“Alpha Rossi,” Landon greeted the aging Alpha.

“Landon,” Alpha Rodriguez replied, studying him closely.

It was difficult to be on the receiving end of such an evaluation. But practice made him perfect at pretending it did not affect him. No Alpha would hire him otherwise. Stories of Landon’s fixes had become a city myth to all but shifters. Yet, there they were - eyeing each other, trying to see beyond each other’s masks. Landon knew his presence scared a lot of the traditional folk, Alphas included. His abilities to lead and resolve problems without being Alpha-born made shifters nervous. If only they knew how unsure he felt of himself, they would never trust him with all of their secrets.

Fake it till you make it, Landon reminded himself.

He still couldn’t believe so many Alphas were fools enough to believe they could judge his character based on his pretty blue eyes and toned body. Arrogance was going to be their downfall.

“I couldn’t believe you accepted our proposal.”

“My main gig is in state. It’s convenient to stay local,” Landon explained shortly. Alphas stuck their noses where they didn’t belong. It was a matter of pride and trust for an Alpha to admit they needed help. Landon was used to the interrogation masked as small talk before he was officially given further instructions.

“Jacob finally gave you a reason to stay,” Alpha David Rossi knowingly inquired.

Landon nodded. In a way, Jacob had been the reason why he ended up in Velvet to begin with.

“So what can I do for you?” Landon asked.

“Enhanced interrogation,” the Alpha requested.

Landon nodded. It was going to be a long night.