Ryker straightened to his full height, but he didn’t intimidate Kyllian.Only his parents could do that.“Your loyalty to our family comes before sex.”

“Oh, for the love of...You have no idea what goes on here, so get off your fucking high horse.Either tell me about this job, or get the fuck out.”Kyllian hated when people got their feathers ruffled about things they didn’t try to understand.Spyder had recounted the conversation he and Hawk had with Ryker regarding the lifestyle a few months back.Ryker hadn’t approached Kyllian to ask questions.If he had, Kyllian would have explained what he did and why.

“It’s Quinn.She’s being threatened.”

“And?We’re mercenaries, not bodyguards.”

“No, but in this case, she needs someone to watch her back, and Pop asked for you specifically since you’re single.”

“Me?Why?I do have responsibilities.”

“What?This place?”Ryker scoffed.

Kyllian’s Gryphon was close to the surface.He had never hit his brother in anger, but he was close to doing so.“Yes, this place.If you would bother to ask about my life instead of judging based on everything you do not know, you would understand what I do here is important.It’s not about sex, Ryot.It’s about giving my subs something they need to get through their shitty lives.”

Ryker cocked his head to the side, his posture still stiff.“You’re right.I don’t understand, and I haven’t asked because I honestly don’t want to know what you do in your personal time.”Relaxing a fraction, he offered, “I’ll try to do better in the future.”

“Thank you.So again, what does being single have to do with the job?”

“I don’t know how long it will take.I need someone to not only watch over Quinn but help her find out who is behind the threats.I didn’t realize you came here to do a service to others.I’ll find someone else.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it, Ryot.I’ll take the job, but first, I have to call in a friend to cover my shifts here.”Kyllian hadn’t spoken to Gunnar in a few months, but the male owed Kyllian a favor.

“These people you help, they’re okay with someone else doing whatever it is you do to them?”

“Yes.They know I would never hand them over to another Master who wasn’t as skilled or as caring as I am.”

“Master?Like, they’re your slaves?”

“There are different types of Masters.Yes, some have slaves, but Master or Mistress is also someone who is the best in their particular kink.Someone the owner of the club trusts with each and every person who walks through those doors.”

“But you’re only thirty-two.If you’re a Master, I take it you’ve been doing this a while?”

“I have.”Kyllian had no intention of telling Ryker just how long he’d been into the scene.“Listen, there’s something I need to take care of, so how about you go home, and as soon as I’m finished, I’ll meet you there?You can fill me in on everything related to watching over Quinn.”

Ryker looked around the room.There was nothing related to what Kyllian did in his kink, so he wasn’t sure what his brother was looking for.“Okay.And Kyllian?I am sorry for being judgmental.I’ll try to do better.”

Kyllian lifted his chin.He wasn’t going to let Ryker off the hook that easily.Only time would tell.

It wasn’t often Kyllian got involved in his subs’ personal lives outside the club, but his instincts told him Ted wasn’t going to go away easily, and he’d been right.He’d be going away now, though.Kyllian stopped by the private Masters’ lounge where he changed out of his tight leather pants into jeans and a hoodie.He then left via the employee entrance instead of walking through the club.

Kyllian was glad he’d already had Bishop track Ted’s movements when Brandon left the man.The address to Ted’s apartment was closer to Brandon’s new place than Kyllian liked, especially with a restraining order.The drive to the apartment took half an hour, and when Kyllian reached the fourth-floor door, he didn’t bother knocking.Waking up the neighbors so late, even on the weekend, wasn’t a good idea.Having the man’s phone number from Bishop, Kyllian called once he reached the parking lot and voiced the man to be waiting for him.Ted stood in his doorway, clearly confused.Kyllian pushed Ted backward until he was far enough inside the room to close the door behind him.

“Who are you?”Ted asked.

Ignoring the question, Kyllian let his Gryphon come to the forefront.“You’re ready for a change of scenery.You no longer like the cold weather, so you’re going to move south.You will pack all your belongings and be on the road no later than tomorrow evening.Once on the road, you’ll call your boss and tell him you have a family emergency that requires you to leave immediately.You will not return to New York.And you will never contact Brandon again.”

Ted’s eyes glazed over.“I need a change of scenery.I need to start packing.”He turned around and started gathering the few items he had lying around.Kyllian slipped out of the apartment and quietly made his way down the stairs.Before he got in his own vehicle, he placed a tracker on Ted’s car.The compulsion never failed, but Kyllian wouldn’t take a chance with Brandon’s well-being.Once inside his car, he texted Silas and told him the coast was clear for Brandon to go home.

The drive to New Troy took longer than normal since Ted lived in the opposite direction from the club.Kyllian took the time to think about giving up his time to watch over Quinn Shepherd.He had never met the woman as it was Ryker who oversaw their mercenary work.Kyllian knew nothing about the female other than she was the daughter of one of Sutton’s friends.When Ryker first informed the Hounds they would be working with the father-daughter duo, Havyk asked if she was hot, and Ryker said she wasn’t bad, but she was older and way too serious for Hayden.Older than his youngest brother could mean anywhere from thirty upward.Kyllian understood a serious demeanor, especially for someone who oversaw the type of business she ran.Quinn might not be the one to pull the trigger or use a claw to end someone’s life, but she dealt in death on a daily basis.That had to take a toll on her psyche.

When Kyllian pulled into Ryker’s driveway, his brother was waiting for him outside.As shifters, they were impervious to the cold March weather, so finding Ryker enjoying the peacefulness of the early morning wasn’t surprising.

Kyllian joined Ryker on the front porch.“What do we know?”

“Not a lot.It was Trenton who called Pop, not Quinn.He said she’s not taking the threats serious enough.”

“Does that mean I’m going to have a pissed off female on my hands?”

Tags: Faith Gibson Crime
Source: readsnovelonline.net