Excessive Force (Force of Nature Series) (6 page)

“And well she should.
If the man I think trained her did it, she’s probably the most powerful being alive next to him. He would…I’m thinking that now that he’s given up the book, he plans to give her whatever else she doesn’t have, and she’ll be unstoppable.”

“Why her?”
Austin looked up to see Reid standing in the doorway. “I’ve heard what you said, but why her? She have something he wants?”

“No. I would think that she has all he could ever give
her, and she him. He has only touched her once, I think. And her training would have been years and years.” Hope frowned. “But that can’t be either. She’s so young, in her mid-twenties I would think. The kind of training she’s had—” She stopped talking and opened the book. “Do you know this man? Any of you?”

No one did
, and that seemed to upset her more. When asked who he was, she said she couldn’t remember. Phil took the book from her, and it snapped shut, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t get it to open. Hope looked at Reid.

“Open it.” He backed from it. “Your mate gave it to me
, so you should be able to open it. Try.”

“I don’t think I want to.”
Austin started to tell him to when Reid looked at Hope. “She has a reason for giving it to you, and if she wants me to open it, I’ll wait for her to ask. Otherwise, I don’t think I should.”

Hope nodded and
held the book to her breast. “I must go now, but I’ll return. I’m betting that whoever gave her the book will come to her soon, and if I were you, I’d try my best to be there when he comes. You might not get the chance to meet him again.”

Hope disappeared
, and Reid sat down. He looked worried, not that Austin blamed him. Phil cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“The squatters have moved out.”
He grinned, and Austin thought that whatever he’d done must have been fun for the vampire. “Holly helped me. She said it was the most fun she’d had in a while.”

“What did you do?”
Austin laughed when Reid asked suspiciously, “You didn’t kill them did you? Are they going to haunt me for the rest of my life?”

“No, good heavens no. But they won’t be back. Especially the female.
And if you should be worried about anyone, it should be her. She’s a little scary when she wants to be.” Phil sobered as he pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “But I’m afraid the damage is extensive. They will be sued, of course, but they have no money, so it will be a loss.”

The pictures were five by sevens
, but they were detailed enough that Austin could see it would be months before he’d be able to move in. Austin decided that he’d have the crew go over in the morning and get a start. Especially on the kitchen, where it looked like they’d taken a chainsaw to the room and the appliances.

“I guess we’ll have to think of
somewhere else for Jodie and I to stay until this is finished.” Reid looked at Phil when he nodded. “I guess I’ll have to use that money now. Can you make arrangements to have an account opened up that I can get to?”

“Already done. And I’ve taken the
liberty of adding Jodie’s name to the account too, if that’s all right with you.” Reid nodded, but he didn’t look happy. The house was his dream, and now this.

Chapter 6

Reid sat as still as he could. He’d been summoned
there early this morning by a phone call that had told him where to come and what time, but nothing else. He’d agreed before he’d thought to figure out why. Now he was sitting in this deli waiting for someone to come in. He hoped. For all he knew he was there to be killed. Then he saw her.

Jodie slid her leg over the bike and took off her helmet
as she stood up. Her hair was in a tangled bun, and when she took the rubber band out and let it tumble, he whimpered before he could catch himself. There was a soft laugh next to him that had him turn.

“She’s very lovely, isn’t she?”
The man leaned back and smiled. “You’re the mate.”

Reid looked at the
man, trying to figure out what he was seeing that was wrong. “You’re not here.”

“No.
Very good, wolf.” Reid felt as if he was ten years old and had gotten the answer correct in class. “She’s not going to be happy that I invited you here. But it is important that you both are.”

“You called me.”
The man nodded. “Why would you do that if you knew it was going to make her mad?”

“She will understand, both of you will in a few moments.
She is very strong.” Reid told him he’d gotten that. “She had bested you then?”

“No
, her brothers. They’re not going to live long if they hurt her again.” When she entered the deli, he stood up. She started to back away when the man sitting next to him stood up as well. She moved toward the table and sat down. A sandwich appeared before them both.

“Why are
you forever trying to get me to eat?” She shoved the plate away. “What is he doing here?”

“
He
is right here and can answer for himself.” The man interrupted them both and asked about the book.

“She took it as you
knew she would. And you lied to me. I do not know who you are. I have been wracking my brain trying to figure it out and you’ve never told me.” Jodie looked at him. “Do you know him?”

“No.” Reid didn’t
mention that he’d seen his picture in the book that Jodie had given Hope, but the man seemed to know. When he winked at him, Reid had the most overwhelming feeling of friendship. The man nodded at him.

“I need to give you the rest of your training.
You’ve earned it.” He seemed to solidify for a moment then faded again. “I think we should do this in a more private setting.”

The rush of air and the feeling of movement was all the warning he got before he was sitting in a living room
…his living room as a matter of fact. But this one was clean of all the mess the squatters had left him, and the furniture was new. He wanted the room to look like this someday, but he was far from this.

“It is now.”
He looked at the man who walked around the room touching things. “I’ve given it to you as a gift. You may consider it a wedding gift.”

Reid looked at Jodie to see what her reaction was and noticed that she lay sleeping on the end of the couch.
Moving to her, Reid checked her pulse and looked at the man.

“Yes, I did this to her.”
He sat down. “I would like a word before I wake her. She will be most displeased with us, I think. She does not trust me even though I have no reason at all to harm her. Nor should I ever want to.”

Reid could see that.
She didn’t really seem to trust anyone. When the man sat down and smiled at him, Reid said the first thing that popped into his head.

“You’re her father.”
The man clapped his hands and smiled. “Christ, and she doesn’t know that.”

“No
, she doesn’t. She thinks it is another man, not the one that lay dying in the clinic, but one that is strong but not a very good man. Neither am I, but I would never hurt her for what she is. He would…I think he would take and take from her until she has nothing more to give. Then he would take just enough more to kill her.”

“And what do you want from her?”
He sat back on the seat and they both looked at her. “You do, don’t you, want something from her?”

“Happiness?”
Reid shook his head as he looked back at the man. “I do, but that’s not what I need from her. She will be all that I have left to leave behind. The two of you. I should like to give it to her, but I fear….”

“You fear what?” Reid asked when he didn’t finish.
He looked pensive and nervous. Reid watched him as he stood up to pace, and when he stopped suddenly and looked at Jodie, he knew without looking that she was awake. And she looked pissed.

“Where am I?”
She stood up and then sat down. “You’ve done that stupid moving fast thing again, haven’t you? How many times have I told you not to…? What’s happened?”

The abrupt change of subject startled him but didn’t bother the man as he smiled and answered her.
“Nothing has happened, my dear. But your mate and I have been discussing your finer qualities.”

“Finer my ass.”
He laughed. “I did what you asked. Now finish this. You said I’d be trained on the last thing, whatever that is, and now give it to me.”

“You’ll not like it.”
She shook her head and told him to just do it. “You must feed from your young mate here.”

Reid wasn’t sure which of them was more shocked
, her or him, but she was a good deal more vocal about it. He’d never heard a more colorful string of curse words in his life. And the man simply let her.

“Who the hell are you?”
The question slipped out before he could think. Both of them looked at him before Jodie looked at the man. “I don’t know what to call you, and I’m pretty sure I should have something before I let her bite me.”

“I’m not biting you.”
She stood up to pace and walked by them both twice before she turned on the vampire. “What is this really about? You know that I’ll never feed from anyone. First, it’s not necessary, and second, I simply won’t do it.”

“Then you’ll never know.”
She stomped past him to the doorway and started over the threshold when he spoke again. “Do you not really care to be whole, Jolene?”

She turned back slowly.
Even from the distance of his room he could see that she was pissed. Jodie was really a Jolene? He wondered if her last name was even Turner. Reid stood up when she moved toward the man, and when he didn’t move, Reid thought he wanted her to hurt him.

“You fucking prick. You said to me about four million times,
‘don’t tell anyone your real name.’ Having that is something akin to giving them a taste of your blood.” He still hadn’t moved. “Stand up.”

“Why?”
Reid wanted to know too and was afraid the answer wasn’t going to be good.

“Because I want to knock you on your ass.” Reid started to laugh but realized she
wasn’t kidding. Before he could tell her that wasn’t such a good idea, the man stood up.

“Tristan Elden.
” He frowned, and Jodie did as well. “You wanted to know my name. Well, it’s Tristan Elden.”

“Now you tell me.” Tristan nodded. “Why now? What possible reason could you have for telling me now?”

“You need him more than you need me.” Jodie looked at Reid and shook her head before looking at Tristan again. “You’ve no desire to die, do you, Jolene? You have unfinished business, and he will help you accomplish it. If you don’t take him, you’ll die.”

“You’re lying.”
She nodded when he shook his head. “You would do or say anything that would get me to do what you want me—”

“Ask me the rest.
I told you if I ever felt you were ready for it all, I’d give it to you. Ask me now.” Jodie backed up and put her hands behind her back. “If you don’t ask, how will you know the truth?”

“I don’t want it anymore.”
Jodie looked at him. “This has gone on long enough. I want you to take me back to the hotel, and let’s forget the whole thing. I don’t…I’m going to have to leave soon anyway.”

“You can’t leave. I need you.”
Reid walked toward her slowly. She reminded him of a beaten animal and she would tear your hand off if you reached for her too quickly. “You know what he’s telling you is true, don’t you? If you don’t take me as your mate, you’ll die.”

“Then I’ll die.”

~~~

Jodie walked out of the room this time. She wasn’t going back either.
They were both certifiable, and she was going to wait for her father to pass, sell the property to the highest bidder, and hope to Christ she never heard of this place again. She was standing in the front hallway when she stopped. She didn’t need this or want it.

“Mother fuck.”
Moving back to the living room, she glared at Tristan. He was still sitting in the same place he’d been when she’d left, and Reid was standing near the unlit fireplace. “I want you to know that I fucking hate you both.”

“Noted.”
Tristan sat there as if he had not a care in the world. “But you should also note that while you don’t believe me, I do love you very much.”

“Fuck off.” She sat down and tried to
ignore the wolf that moved with the grace of his beast and looked good enough to eat. When he sat beside her, she tried to move to the other side of the couch, but he simply pulled her back. Fuck this crap too. She needed answers, and now that Tristan Elden was willing to give them to her, she was going to ask them.

“Who are you to me?” He grinned like she had just given him the world.
“And I don’t want any bullshit answer that you’re my Zen teacher and that I’ve been chosen for this great life.”

“I’m your sire.” She thought he’d say something like,
“Just kidding
,
” but since he’d never joked with her before, she wasn’t surprised that he didn’t. He just sat there staring at her, and she leaned back, right against Reid’s hand. Before she could tell him to back the fuck off, she fired off her next question.

“Will I still be able to finish what I’ve started if I don’t take Reid as my mate?”
Tristan nodded, then shook his head. “Both answers won’t work. One or the other.”

“You’ll finish what you’ve started
, but you’ll never live to see it to completion.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Without him, you’ll only see that the…end, shall we call it, is accomplished, but nothing more.”

“You mean that I’ll be able to kill him
, but I’ll die too.” He nodded. “But I win. He’ll be dead and the rest will fall into place.”

“No. It will
eventually, but not in time.” She glanced at Reid when he cleared his throat. Tristan explained some of it to him. “Jolene has a man that she wants to kill. And not just any man, but a mage. Do you know what they are?”

“I do. What did he do to her?”
Jodie didn’t want to be impressed that he didn’t tell her no she wasn’t going to, or worse yet tell her that she wasn’t strong enough or some shit. “And why is it important that she bite me?”

“Jolene?”
Tristan wanted her to tell Reid. She wanted to brain them both. Why the hell couldn’t she have just simply finished her training that didn’t involve a mate and be done with it?

“Stop calling me that.” She looked at Reid. “I have to bite you so that I can transfer all that I am to you and vice versa.
Mostly it’s for you to help me kick his ass, but I really don’t want you there.”

“But you need me.”
She didn’t answer because that would be the same as admitting that she needed someone, and she didn’t. Instead, she asked Tristan something else.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were my father before now?
And who is my mother?” She flushed when Reid winked at her. It was as if he was saying, “I know you changed the subject, but I’ll get back to it soon.”

“I
didn’t tell you before now because you would have been pissed off about it and not listened to me train you.” He was right, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “As for your mother, she was a shifter like you, but you’re so much…more.”

“How did she end up with the Turners?
I’m assuming that her mother is deceased.” Tristan nodded but didn’t answer him. “Do they know that she’s not their sister? I’m assuming that the old man knows.”

“He does.
And no, the boys do not know. They believe that while their mother was a wolf and never turned their father, that is why she has the ability to shift into other animals. The older boy, Curt, was but a baby when she was found.” Reid was suddenly holding a picture of a man and woman. He handed it to Jodie as Tristan continued. “The woman is my mate and your mother, Kelley. She lost her life trying to hide from men who didn’t understand what she was.”

“And you? Where were you when this happened?”
Reid could hear the anger is Jodie’s voice and really couldn’t blame her for it. “Aren’t you supposed to protect her with your life?”

“I was beneath the earth dying. But I felt her death in my heart.
It took me nearly all your life to bring myself from my grave to find you. I had no idea that you existed until then.” Tristan got up to pace as he continued. “The mage you seek, he’s the one that murdered her. He is also the reason that I was where I was when she died. He wanted her, you see, and would stop at nothing to have her. It’s why he did to you what he did. He wishes to have you in her place.”