Page 24 of Blackmailed

Kalkin shrugged. “It’s what happens when you wait forty-plus years for a mate.”

Rapier laughed. “Did Jochi tell you about felines?”

Jefferson glanced at Jochi. “About?”

“Bèndàn,” Jochi stated. “Felines who mate as a shifter couple can have sex as their feline.” His cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, something Jefferson had never seen before—outside of when his mate was flushed from arousal.

“You’re kidding right?”

Jochi shook his head.

“W-what does that mean for us?” Jefferson swallowed hard. The idea of being a wolf taking his snow leopard down to the ground and fucking him until the knot Jefferson didn’t know about until five minutes ago inflated, tying them together, sent a bolt of yearning through him.

“Not sure,” Rapier answered for Jochi who appeared uncomfortable. “We’ve never seen a feline mate with a wolf or any other species besides a dragon.”

“So, the potential is there?” Jefferson prodded.

Kalkin grunted. “Yes.”

“I don’t know if I should laugh or cry or throw up right now,” Jefferson muttered.

“Do it all,” Rapier said. “This is a lot of bullshit to be taking in at the moment. I don’t blame you for being messed up in the head.”

“Once you’ve got it out of your system, get to work,” Adrian said, entering the room. “I have the photo and the story retracted and I have a list of names to go after.”

Jefferson glanced up when Adrian placed the list in front of him. “Good job, my boy.”

“Thank you, sir,” Adrian replied. “Congratulations as well.”

Kalkin peered at the list from across the table. “Well, what do you want to do first?”

Jefferson grinned and for the first time, he understood the feral feeling coursing through his veins. The river of blood he yearned to see flow could be paid physically or metaphorically, he didn't care, for the damage, those on the list tried to inflict on him and his family. "It's time to plan. I think for this to go down properly, I have to make a few phone calls and have my replacement in place.”

Kalkin knocked on the table. “Let’s get to work.”

****

Jefferson paced the conference room of Vigilante. He stared down at the rough draft of his retirement speech along with a statement about the photograph taken of him and Jochi. The word blurred together. It’d been at least two hours since he arrived at the office after he received the official word on his wolf status and was handed the list of people who’d been stupid enough to come at him.

To no one’s surprise, Mr. Davis’ name had been at the top of the list. He didn’t even have a stake in PBH. His loyalty to Senator Brawborn, however, had driven him to go to some underlings within the agency to ask for assistance. Adrian, as soon as he’d given Jefferson the list, had been back on his phone. The boy had settled into his role as the new faux boss of PBH. In a way, it unnerved Jefferson. Adrian had the potential to follow too closely in his family members' footsteps, so much so, Jefferson worried, God forbid, what would become of the boy in ten years, if they couldn’t shut the agency down.

Jefferson made another circuit of his path he paced and stopped. He was going to drive himself insane. He had to go with his gut. Whatever happened once he gave the speech, would be the end of his era as a Senator and begin his life as a private citizen. The door opened once again and Jochi joined him, carrying a baby carrier and a diaper bag. The soft look on his mate's face settled the nervy edge flowing through Jefferson's veins.

“Look at you, being a daddy,” Jefferson whispered.

Jochi hummed in satisfaction. “He’s sleeping. He ate more with me than he has with Danielle.”

He joined his mate. “Is that so? Well, I guess he needed the right person caring for him.” He glanced into the carrier and found the small kitten laying on his side, sleeping. “Do you have a name for him?”

Jochi nodded. “Déshì Abraham Zhao-Winters.”

“Déshì.” The boy’s name rolled off Jefferson’s tongue with ease. “I like it. I can’t believe I have a son.”

“We have a son,” Jochi said. “We have four beautiful children and four beautiful grandchildren.”

“We do,” he agreed. “However, we don’t have furniture for this tiny being.”

Jochi laughed softly. “Danielle said things will be delivered later. They have an open account so when situations like this arise, they can help the new parents.”

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