Jasper Read online

  “No. Is everything okay?”

  “He went to Athens thinking I was still there. Now, he’s on his way back here.”

  “That’s a good thing, right?”

  “I guess, but I still think something’s off.”

  A few minutes later, they arrived at the crime scene. “Now I know something’s wrong.” Trevor got out of the car.

  “Trevor, wait.” Lorenzo grabbed him by the arm before closing his eyes. Trevor knew he was scanning the area. “I don’t sense anyone.”

  Trevor looked around, using the lights from Lorenzo’s car to study the house. It was unlike any of the other crime scenes. This was not where someone had lived. The house appeared ready to collapse. The foliage was so overgrown, it covered most of the first floor windows. “I’m going in,” he told the Goyle.

  “Do you have a flashlight?”

  “No, do you?”

  “I don’t need one. You aren’t going to be able to see anything inside. I’ll go with you and tell you what I see.”

  “I could just stay out here.”

  “Jasper would kill me if I left you alone. Come on.”

  Trevor followed Lorenzo into the dark house. He stopped right inside the door as the Gargoyle moved a little farther inside. Of course he was unprepared, because he fully expected Dante to be there with the CSU crew. “Oh, fuck.” The bad feeling intensified. He remembered the last time he got a text telling him to be somewhere. “Lorenzo,” he yelled, not caring if the Goyle was only feet from him.

  “I’m right here, Trevor. Come on, let’s go outside.” As soon as they were on the porch, Lor held out a note. “I’m confused,” he said.

  Trevor read the note. He wasn’t confused at all. Motherfucking Theron had sent the text, not Dante. “I’m going to kill that fucking Gargoyle!” he yelled.

  “Trevor, you want to enlighten a Goyle? Who is Phelam?”

  “Jasper. Phelam is Jasper, and Theron has him. Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?” Lorenzo asked, as they headed to his truck.

  “To the morgue.” Trevor called Dante as they raced toward the hospital.

  “Trevor, what’s wrong?” Dante asked. Somehow he knew when things were askew.

  “It’s Jasper. Theron got to him. Can you meet me at the morgue?”

  “Of course. Please tell me you aren’t alone.” Dante yelled to Isabelle that he was going to the hospital and he would call her soon.

  “No, Lorenzo’s with me.”

  “Good. If you get there before I do, do not go inside. I need to make sure Theron’s nowhere near you, do you understand?”

  “I understand.” And he did. If Theron could take down a badass like Jasper, Trevor didn’t stand a chance. By the time they got to the hospital, Dante, along with Julian, Sixx, and Urijah were waiting for him. Urijah had a sword strapped to his back as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

  He jumped out of the car before Lorenzo had come to a complete stop. “Dante, please, tell me he’s not…”

  Dante grabbed him before he could go inside. The others looked both pissed off as well as tormented. “He’s not dead, but it’s not good.”

  “Let me go, Dante. I need to see him!”

  “I will take you to him, but you need to prepare yourself, Trevor.”

  Trevor numbly followed Dante into the hospital, the others close behind. Julian spoke softly to Lorenzo, obviously filling him in on what they’d found. Trevor froze when he saw his beautiful Gargoyle on top of the slab. He wasn’t dead? He sure looked dead. And contorted. Jasper was on the examination table with a sheet draped over his body, covering everything except his face.

  “He’s been poisoned. I found him like this,” Dante indicated, inclining his head toward Jasper.

  “Poisoned, how? Did Theron pour something down his throat?”

  “He injected it into his system. The needle punctured him there,” Dante explained, pointing to a dot on Jasper’s neck.

  “I thought Gargoyle skin was impenetrable.”

  “It is for the most part. If blades are sharp enough, they can cut through the skin, but it heals immediately. All the skin is that way except for the neck area. It’s the reason we are capable of being beheaded.”

  Trevor didn’t understand why Jasper’s body wasn’t laid out flat. Instead, his knees were drawn up as if he were… Oh god. When Trevor reached for the edge of the sheet, Dante said, “Trevor, don’t.”

  Ignoring his boss, Trevor pulled the sheet back and gasped. Tears filled his eyes at the sight before him. His beautiful man was wrapped up in those goddamn knots. Ropes twisted intricately around his chest, his arms stretched behind his back. His ankles were bound together; his knees spread apart exposing his crotch. The rope wound around his thighs, between his balls, and disappeared down his ass. Jasper’s cock was completely wrapped in rope.

  ‘What the fuck?” Lorenzo asked.

  “Shibari,” Sixx answered.

  “No, it’s Kinbaku,” Urijah corrected him.

  “What’s the difference?” Lor asked.

  “Shibari is more for show. Kinbaku goes much deeper. It’s mostly for pleasure.”

  “Or pain,” Trevor cried. “Help me. Help me get these goddamn ropes off him!” he yelled as he frantically looked for one of his saws.

  “Trevor,” Lorenzo tried to get his attention. “Trevor, stop!” Lor grabbed him by the arms.

  “Let me go!” The tears were falling now. He couldn’t help it. He also didn’t care if the badass society saw his emotions.

  “Trevor, look.” Lorenzo turned him toward Jasper where Uri was holding the ropes in his clawed hand.

  Trevor rushed to the table where Jasper was now free of his bondage. Mostly. Uri hadn’t touched the binds around Jasper’s penis. “There’s a problem,” Uri said pointing at the area he hadn’t touched.

  “I’ll get it,” Trevor said, reaching for the rope.

  Uri put his arm out, keeping Trevor from getting near Jasper. “No, Trevor. Look closely. That isn’t just rope. Does anyone know how to diffuse a bomb?”

  Trevor’s heart stopped. “A bomb?”

  The others gathered closer, taking care not to touch Jasper. “It’s a miracle I saw the wires before I went about slashing them. Then again, I wouldn’t have touched him there. The wires lead to a small explosive at the base of his spine.”

  “I don’t hear any ticking,” Trevor said.

  Uri confirmed it. “It’s not ticking. I think touching the rope around his… there… would have started the timer.”

  Julian said, “I could probably figure this out with enough time, but I think Frey is our expert in this sort of thing. I’ll give him a call.”

  While they waited on Frey, Trevor told Dante, “Theron texted me from your phone. How is that possible?”

  Julian spoke up before Dante had the chance. “Because he has someone working for him that’s even more skilled than I am with electronics, and that pisses me off.” Julian paced the room; his irritability at himself was tangible.

  As soon as Frey could get someone to his house to stay with Abbi and the others, he arrived at the morgue. When he saw Jasper, he let out a string of curses with such intensity it scared Trevor. “If Jasper doesn’t kill this motherfucker, I’m going to,” the big Goyle vowed.

  When he calmed down, Frey placed a black plastic box on the counter close to where Jasper was lying. Without touching him, he surveyed the rope that was entwined around the wires. “Trevor, I need your permission to touch Jasper. I would ask you to help, but I need steady hands, and I don’t want you in the room should something go wrong.”

  “I didn’t think you could be killed that way,” Trevor said.

  “We can’t, but you can. I’m going to do my best to get this off him before time runs out. Lor, please take Trevor outside where it’s safe.”

  Trevor shook his head. “I can’t not watch, Frey. Please...”

  “Okay, but at least go up to the observation deck. L
or…”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to him.”

  Trevor headed for the stairs that led to the glassed in room where students could observe as the autopsies were being performed. Before he got to the door, he stopped. “Dante, where is Scarlett? She was on duty tonight.”

  Dante sighed and pointed to one of the drawers. That poor girl. Trevor liked most of the other attendants that worked with the dead bodies, but she had been his favorite. With a heavier heart, he left the room. He didn’t want to leave, but he didn’t want to be blown to bits either. Once upstairs, he placed his hands and his forehead on the glass as Frey methodically attempted to diffuse the bomb. Trevor wasn’t a praying person, but in that moment, he asked for divine intervention for Frey to remain steady and get that fucking bomb off his Gargoyle before it went off. Lorenzo hovered close to Trevor.

  After what seemed like an eternity, but was really less than five minutes, Frey looked up and nodded. Lorenzo sighed, “Thank the gods.”

  Trevor scrambled down the stairs and rushed to the table, stopping beside the huge Gargoyle who’d just saved Jasper’s body. “Thank you, Frey.”

  Frey placed a hand on Trevor’s shoulder and squeezed. His eyes were tormented. He didn’t say a word as he grabbed his kit and left.

  Trevor removed the rope from Jasper’s penis and tossed it in the trash before pushing his legs down flat on the table. He then stood beside his lifeless, stone still, not breathing, badass boyfriend. At least it didn’t appear he was breathing. “How long does he have?” he asked as he threw the sheet over Jasper’s body up to his waist. He didn’t want the others to see his man naked. It might be a stupid thing to worry about with his life on the line, but it was something he felt he had to do.

  Julian stepped closer, adjusting the sheet on the other side of Jasper’s hip. “I won’t know until I figure out what he was injected with. If it was only hellebore root, he could remain like this indefinitely, depending on the amount he was given.”

  Trevor placed his hands on Jasper’s cheeks. He wasn’t cold. He wasn’t even cool. That was a good sign. His body temperature wasn’t dropping. He had to get busy. Trevor brushed a kiss across Jasper’s lips and whispered, “Hang on, Jas.”

  Trevor shrugged out of his jacket, tossing it in the direction of his desk. He pushed up his sleeves, washed his hands, and got busy.

  “Trevor, what are you doing?” Dante asked.

  “I’m drawing blood. The sooner we find out what he’s been given, the sooner we can counteract it.”

  “Trevor, stop. We need to talk,” Dante grabbed his arm, but Trevor jerked free.

  “No. I am not giving up on him. Either you help me, or get out of my way.” He knew he was out of his league, surrounded by five badasses, but he didn’t care. As long as Jasper was alive, so was hope.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Trevor was going to have to draw Jasper’s blood from his jugular. Julian walked around to the other side of the table. “What can I do to help?”

  “Jules…” Dante tried to intervene, but Julian held up his hand.

  “No, Brother. Trevor’s right. We can’t stand by and do nothing. The least we can do is figure out what we’re up against.”

  Sixx spoke up. “I agree. The good news is we located Kallisto. Nik is keeping an eye on her location. Uri, what do you say we go get Theron’s sister?”

  Trevor glanced up at the blond. All he needed was a little war paint and a shield, and he would make the perfect Viking. Urijah walked over to the table and laid his hand on Jasper’s chest. He closed his eyes and spoke in a language that sounded as ancient as the man looked in that moment. When he opened his eyes, they were on Trevor. Uri placed a fist over his heart and bowed his head. Trevor inclined his head in response.

  Trevor drew several vials of blood, not bothering to label them. He would run the tests himself. He placed the full ones on the table beside Jasper’s arm as he filled the rest.

  Lorenzo was on the phone telling whoever he was talking to what happened. That didn’t matter to Trevor. All that mattered was finding out what Jasper had been injected with.

  “Trevor, I know you want to test Jasper’s blood yourself, but my lab is much more advanced than the one here at the hospital. It’s not that far, and we can get started immediately with no one asking questions,” Julian offered.

  “I don’t want to leave him here.” Trevor knew Theron wouldn’t come back. The damage had been done, but he wouldn’t leave Jasper.

  “With all the personnel coming and going, we should probably move him. I have a bedroom set up at the lab. What do you say? You’re welcome to stay with him there. You can either watch over him or help me run the tests.”

  “Thank you. I wasn’t thinking about someone walking in on us. Lorenzo, would you help me get him loaded into the bus?” he asked as he handed the bundle of Jasper’s blood to the only one he would trust with it. Julian was a genius and better equipped to run the tests.

  While Lorenzo pulled a gurney from the back room, the others prepared to leave. Just as Urijah had done, Julian touched Jasper and whispered words in Italian. Instead of fisting his heart, he placed his hand on the back of Trevor’s head and said, “I’ll see you at the lab.”

  Trevor wouldn’t look at Dante. He was a little pissed that his boss had wanted to give up so soon. He stood close to Jasper and wrapped his fingers around the still ones of his boyfriend. With his other hand, Trevor brushed the hair off of Jasper’s forehead before running his fingertip down the side of his face. “I’m here, Jasper. I’m right here,” he assured the Goyle. He didn’t know if he could hear him, but he wouldn’t stop talking until Jasper woke up or…

  “Dante, I’ve got this if you want to go back home to Isabelle,” Lorenzo said.

  Instead of replying to Lor, Dante said, “Trevor, I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

  He looked at his boss. Really looked at him. The concern was etched in his brow.

  “All I have is hope.”

  Dante stood silently for a moment before coming closer. Instead of touching Jasper’s chest as the others had done, Dante laid his hand on Jasper’s forehead. He closed his eyes and stood motionless for a long time. His lips were moving, but he was offering his prayer in silence. When he opened his eyes, a lone tear rolled down his face. “I’ve got to call Dane and let him know about Scarlett.”

  When it was just him and Lorenzo, Trevor asked, “Aren’t you going to say a prayer, too?”

  “Nah. My trust is in you and Julian. Julian’s the smartest Goyle around. If there’s a cure to be found, he’ll find it. You keep talking to the Irish. Let him know you’re here.”

  Trevor yawned. It had been a long day. “Will you help me transfer him? He’s pretty heavy.”

  “I’ll do you one better.” Lorenzo grabbed Jasper like he weighed nothing and transferred his body to the gurney. “Let’s get to that bus.” Together, they wheeled Jasper’s body to the exit where the M.E. van was parked. He opened the back door on the vehicle, and Lorenzo pushed the gurney inside like a pro.

  Trevor came really close to letting Lorenzo drive, but he didn’t want to get in trouble. “Will you ride in back with him?”

  “Of course.” Lorenzo climbed inside and sat alongside Jasper’s still body. He gave Trevor directions to the lab, and within twenty minutes, they were unloading the stretcher and pushing it into the large building.

  “This way,” Lorenzo said as he pulled the front while Trevor pushed.

  When they entered the room where Julian was waiting, Trevor couldn’t believe his eyes. “Holy shit! This place is like something out of a fucking movie. I want to come work here,” he said looking around at all the equipment.

  “Don’t let Dante hear you say that,” Julian said, smiling. “I’m going to get started running the samples. You can put Jasper on the bed in the room at the end of the hall.”

  “Thanks. Then I need to return the bus to the hospital.”

&nbs
p; “No problem. I’ll take good care of Jasper while you’re gone. I promise.”

  Trevor and Lorenzo got Jasper situated in a room that looked like a hotel room. Lorenzo explained, “Julian’s work sometimes requires him to put in long hours. This will be perfect for you and Jas. Now, come on. The sooner we get you to the hospital, the sooner you’ll be back with your mate.”

  Trevor didn’t correct the Goyle about them being mates. All he cared about was getting back as quickly as possible. When they did return, Trevor found Julian sitting in the room with Jasper, a laptop on the desk in front of him. Upon seeing them enter the room, Julian stood and told Trevor, “I’ll leave you alone with him. If you need anything, I’ll be right down the hall.”

  “Thank you, Julian.”

  “I’m going to hang around for a while as well. If you need either one of us, just yell.” Lorenzo didn’t fist his chest, but he did incline his head to Trevor.

  Trevor nodded. He was so appreciative that Jasper had family who cared so much. When Lorenzo shut the door behind him, Trevor kicked off his boots and climbed onto the bed beside Jasper. He wasn’t going to give up hope, but he also knew there was a possibility his friend might never wake up. Trevor spent most of the night memorizing every line, every freckle, every single detail of Jasper’s face.

  “Trevor, wake up.”

  Trevor opened his eyes, confused as to why he was in a hotel room until he looked down into Jasper’s face.

  “Others are on their way. I thought you might want to wake up before they get here.”

  “Yeah, thanks for the warning.” He sat up and stretched before rising from the bed. He found a full-size bathroom through an open door and splashed cold water on his face after scrubbing his hands with hot water. Within minutes, the door opened, and Gregor and Tessa, along with Rafael and Kaya, entered the room. Their moods were somber, but Trevor wasn’t having it.