Hagen, Lynn - Maverick's Mate [Brac Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (9 page)

The doctor emerged, his eyebrows furrowed “I have been a doctor for six hundred years, and believe me when I tell you your mate has been poisoned. It’s a mild one, meant only to make him sick. It will run its course in a day and flush itself out. His vomiting took care of most of that. I recommend plenty of fluids and electrolytes for the vomiting. No solid food till his stomach recovers.”

Maverick’s head snapped back as if someone had slapped him. Poisoned? Who would poison his mate? How? How had someone gotten in here to do it? Maverick’s head fell back as he howled and barked out his pain and anger. Hawk and Kota ran into the room, their eyes darting around at Maverick’s outburst.

“How? Do you know how he was poisoned?” Maverick’s hand was flat against the wall, holding his weight as he felt his knees buckle. This wasn’t happening. Fuck! How had someone gotten into his home? He went to the side of the bed, staring down at the sleeping man. Cecil was lying on his side, his hands tucked under his cheek. He looked so peaceful, but pasty.

“If I had to guess, I would say powder. It must have been sprinkled on something he ate. It would have taken awhile for it to have its desired effect.” The doctor gathered his things, placing a hand on Maverick’s arm. “He’ll be fine, plenty of rest and get those liquids in him so he doesn’t dehydrate.”

With that, the doctor left Maverick with his ailing mate. Maverick crawled on the bed, twisting to lie on his side, running his fingers through the patch of hair over his mate’s face. He traced the outline of his nose and lips, his chin and neck.

“Did you say poison?” Hawk asked in an astonished voice.

“Yes, poisoned. I want the kitchen checked. The whole damn house. I want everyone questioned. Find him, Hawk.” Maverick hissed.

Hawk inclined his head, turned on his heel and walked out.

“Anything you need?” Kota was leaning against the wall, his ankles crossed, hands in his pockets. Maverick had never known his beta to lose his cool. Ever.

“No, Kota. Thanks.” Maverick turned back to his mate when the door was closed. His chest tightened with the thought that someone wanted to hurt Cecil.

He laid his hand on Cecil’s hip, rubbing his thumb back and forth, more of a comfort for him than for his mate. Cecil whimpered and drew his knees up. Maverick was going to kill the one responsible.

* * * *

He was running in the woods. He had to escape. The wolf was gaining, its teeth bared. He heard snapping behind him as he jumped over a fallen tree. His heart racing, his head hurting from the pounding of adrenaline. The wolf was closer now. He could feel it. He knew if the wolf caught him, he wouldn’t survive. He quickened his pace, all out running. The wolf howled as he leapt in the air, saliva dripping, and claws reaching him...

Cecil sat up screaming. His hands danced behind him as he tried to feel for claw marks on his back. Arms grabbed his, pulling him down. Cecil’s head jerked around as he slapped the hands away.

Maverick.

Cecil pushed his palms into his temples. His head felt like it was beating to an off rhythm tune. His eyes squinted from the light of the lamp sitting next to the bed. His mouth felt like fur was growing on his tongue. Did he have the flu?

“Easy, baby. Lay back down. Rest.”

“Gotta pee.” Cecil tried to move, but his head swam while the room tilted.

Cecil felt Maverick pull him up into his arms, walking him across the room. When they reached the bathroom, his mate set him on his feet, holding onto him.

Cecil stood on weak legs, his hands shaking as he tried to hold himself. When his stream went everywhere but its intended target, Cecil burst into tears. “Make it go away. I don’t want the flu anymore.”

Cecil lurched forward, vomiting all over the back of the toilet and the side of the sink. He would have collapsed to the floor if Maverick hadn’t caught him.

His mate wet a clean towel, wiping Cecil’s mouth. Maverick pulled Cecil back in his arms. He closed the bathroom door to contain the foul odor. His mate grabbed the blanket from the bed and sat in the cushioned chair in the corner of the room. He wrapped Cecil to his neck and cocooned him in his arms.

* * * *

“Hello?”

“Hi. This is Thomas down at the recreation center. Is Cecil available?”

“Not at the moment. Can I help you?” Hawk wondered why the recreation center would be calling Cecil. He was a volunteer. Missing Friday wasn’t like missing work.

“Um, well, I needed to talk to him about Johnny.” The guy hesitated. Hawk didn’t like the guy’s tone. With everything going on, secretiveness wasn’t going to cut it. And who the fuck was Johnny? “Explain.”

“Well, if you could let him know that when he didn’t show, Johnny became very upset. He had an anxiety attack and had to be taken to the hospital. I just wanted to see if it was possible for him to go and calm Johnny down. He and Johnny have become close, and I thought that if anyone could calm him, it would be Cecil.”

Hawk didn’t like this. Was Cecil cheating on Maverick? No, Tank had been there. Tank wouldn’t tolerate a wandering mate, would he? No.

“I’ll pass the message on.” The guy thanked him and reluctantly hung up.

Hawk knocked softly on Maverick’s bedroom door. When he heard Maverick’s gruff voice telling him to come in, Hawk stuck his head around the door.

“How is he?” Hawk felt for the little mate.

“Resting. Did you need something?” Maverick asked.

“I just got the strangest phone call for Cecil. One of the guys down at the recreation center called in regards to someone named Johnny. Said when Cecil didn’t show, this Johnny had an anxiety attack, had to go to the hospital.”

“Oh, god. I have to go.” Hawk watched as Cecil tried to sit up then turned green. “I have to help Johnny.”

“Lay down, baby. Who’s Johnny, and why did he have an attack from your absence?” His Alpha questioned the small mate.

“He’s mildly retarded. We became friends, and he relies on routine. I broke that by not showing. I have to help him.” Cecil explained.

“I can go and explain to him that you’re sick. Would that help?” Hawk had an image of a little kid crying and calling for Cecil. He felt like a heel for being cold on the phone with Thomas.

“Please. Can you give him my phone number so I can talk to him? Take Tank, he knows what Johnny looks like. Gonna
—
”

Hawk watched as Maverick hauled Cecil up, running to the bathroom, making it just in time for Cecil to toss his cookies.

* * * *

“What do you mean he brought the guy here? Hawk was supposed to give Johnny Cecil’s phone number, not kidnap him.” Maverick demanded. What had Hawk been thinking? Obviously he wasn’t. That man’s family was going to go crazy once they realized Johnny was missing.

Maverick blew out a breath, running his hand over the top of his head. “Hawk must have had a good reason. Please let me in on it.” Maverick stood there, crossing his arms over his chest, and waiting for the warriors reply.

“Because, sir, Johnny is his mate,” Tank replied.

“Shit,” Maverick bit out, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, I guess I have no choice but to defend him. When he has his mate situated, tell him to come see me.” Tank bowed his head and closed the door behind him.

Maverick sat in his leather chair behind his desk. He pulled at his soul patch, deep in thought. He knew Hawk would defend Johnny to his death. Maverick wouldn’t step between the two and felt for the guy who tried. This was going to get messy.

Maverick dropped down into the chair behind his desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose as his eyes closed. What the hell was going on around here? His home had gone from stuffy and boring to chaotic. Not that he would trade it
—
his mate being the sole reason for his joy
—
but poisoning and now kidnapping?

The culprit who poisoned his mate still hadn’t been found. Maverick looked at every warrior with suspicious eyes. If you couldn’t trust your own pack, who could you trust?

Maverick head tilted back, staring at the ceiling once again. He found himself doing that a lot lately. Man, the light fixtures needed dusting. He sighed as he ran his hands through his disheveled hair.

A knocked sounded on his door.

“I’m heading into town. Anything you need?” Cody asked as he looked at Maverick with sympathetic eyes.

Maverick waved him off. “No,” he said, “bring me the responsible person. That’s what you can get me.”

“I wish I could. I’d like to skin him alive.”

* * * *

Cody swatted Jasper on the ass, “Come on, Jazz,” he said, dropping his voice to a husky whisper. “Hit the bull’s-eye, and I’ll suck you off.”

Jasper laughed, aiming, and let the dart take flight.

Bull’s-eye.

Jasper pumped his thin, defined arm into the air. Cody waggled his brows, walking Jasper backwards to one of the bedrooms. His adventure was short lived as a fist rattled the front door.

“Dammit.” Cody let Jasper’s hands go.
This better be a life and death emergency.

He pulled the door open to see an angry man with his hands on his hips glaring daggers. Cody cocked his head, glaring back and wondering who the hell this asshole was.

“I was told by the hospital that my brother Johnny was here. Bring him to me.” The guy was stabbing his finger at the air in front of Cody’s face.
Oh, hell no.

Cody slammed the door in his face. The guy began banging again. “I’ll get the police to give me my brother, and then I’ll charge you with kidnapping.” He yelled through the closed door.

Cody rolled his eyes, grabbing the doorknob and yanking it open again. He stabbed a finger down at a spot right inside the door. “Wait right here.” Cody slammed the door closed when the man did as he was told.

Cody paused long enough to give Jasper a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.” He went in search of his Alpha, finding him in his bedroom holding a straw as Cecil sipped at the broth. His anger fled as he watched Cecil grimace at the taste. Cecil was his buddy. He wanted to find out as badly as everyone else who poisoned him. The culprit was dead.

Chapter Nine

Maverick looked up as Cody cleared his throat. “Sorry, Alpha, but there’s a man at the door claiming to be Johnny’s brother and demanding we relinquish him and, for the record, he’s an asshole.”

“Johnny’s here?” Cecil pushed the mug away, sitting up straighter. His questioning look bounced between Cody and Maverick. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Maverick eyes skipped away from Cecil, narrowing them on Cody. He set the mug on the nightstand, turning back to his mate. “Because you need to rest. Hawk has him. He’s fine.”

“Why does Hawk have him? Johnny doesn’t like strangers. I need to see him. What brother?” Cecil was attempting to climb out of bed, but Maverick put his arm around his waist, hauling him back. This was exactly why he didn’t want Cecil to know about Johnny. His mate needed rest. He didn’t need to go running to take care of someone else right now.

“I’ll be back.” Maverick swung his legs over the side of the bed, storming off to clean up the current mess.

He found Hawk in one of the upstairs bedrooms, sitting on a window seat, cradling a small-framed, blond-haired man. Hawk’s eyes never left Johnny’s as he said, “Yes, Alpha?”

Maverick knew that tone, the Commander was irritated. Well, too bad. “I have an irate brother at my front door wanting that young man returned to him.” Maverick nodded his head toward Johnny.