Free To Breathe, page 1
part #2 of Morefield Village Series
Contents
Title
Copyright
Come and join me
Free to Breathe
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Safe At Last
What He Needs
Mate Of Mine
Broken Promises
Take a Chance
Thank You
About Megs
Books by Megs
Contact Information
Free to Breathe
Morefield Village series
Book Two
By
Megs Pritchard
Waiting For You
Book One in the Morefield Village series
Copyright © 2020 Megs Pritchard
www.megspritchardauthor.com
Edited by Rebecca J Cartee
Cover design by JC Clarke at The Graphics Shed
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods. It is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot legally be loaned or given to others. For permission requests, write to the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblances to the actual person, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
WARNING
This book contains explicit M/M sexual scenes and strong language. It is intended for mature, adult audiences only.
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Free to Breathe
Years of searching for the men who murdered his sister has taken its toll on Jim Malveaux. Settling down and finding his mate just wasn’t high up on his list of things to do right now.
In Morefield Village, he’d found both a home and a job, working as part of a security team protecting the residents. The last thing he expected was to walk into the grocery store and find his fated mate.
Store worker Saxon Scott couldn’t keep his eyes off Jim from the moment he walked in, but then Jim floored him by telling him they were mates. Sex, he could do but mates, that was a hard no.
When Jim crosses that line, Saxon throws him out, determined to never speak to him again. But danger threatens Morefield, throwing Jim and Saxon back together again.
Can Saxon put his anger aside to help Jim protect Morefield and how will Jim react when he finds out about the silky secret Sax has been keeping?
Chapter One
PROLOGUE
Jim Malveaux stood outside the prison, waiting for the gate to open. He ignored the sound of movement next to him as his brother, Rand, stretched.
“Soon,” he murmured.
“Not soon enough.”
“We can’t hit him straight away. We need to leave it a few days, then we can have our fun.”
“I know,” Rand growled. “I might not like waiting, but I’m not fucking stupid.”
Jim snorted. “Who almost died recently?”
“I misjudged his self-defense abilities. He died just like this bastard will too.”
Jim glanced at his brother, seeing the hardened jaw. They were both on the same page. This man had to die, and they would make sure he did. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday soon, he would take his last breath.
The gates opened, and both men straightened. They couldn’t be seen where they were, but they could see the two men leaving. One they didn’t care about, but the other was one they had waited years for.
“He’s bigger,” Jim noted.
“Piled on some muscle. Nothing we can’t handle. He’s human.”
Jim nodded and watched the man get into a cab. They got in their car and followed until the cab pulled up, and the human got out. He swung his bag on his shoulder and walked into an apartment building.
Rand tutted. “Who’s helping that fucker out? Apartment set up for him?”
“Doesn’t matter. At least we know where he is.”
“We need to keep tabs on him so we know when to strike.”
“I’m moving to Morefield Village and helping Elliot.”
“Why?” Rand turned and frowned at him. “We said we’d never settle in a shifter location. Not until after.”
“He gave me a brief rundown on the shit going on over there, and apparently everywhere else too.”
Rand shifted in his seat so he faced Jim. “And?”
“Some group called A.S. are hunting shifters. Kidnapping them, experimenting on them, killing them. He’s been put in charge of security by the Mayor Deacon someone or other. He’s calling in debts.”
“And you owe him.”
“We both do after that mess in L.A.”
“We got sloppy. Only two left and then we’ll have avenged her death.”
“Come with me. Let’s make a home in this Morefield place.”
Rand sighed, and Jim watched the play of emotions on his face. He wanted to, they both did, but this cause had been their life for so long, he wasn’t sure if either of them could settle.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Once this is done, we’ll need a place to call home, and they need us to keep them safe. There’s a cat shifter town not too far away. Apparently, they have close links to it.” Jim shrugged and watched the doors to the apartment building. “I’ll get the full story once I’m there.”
“He has a place for you?”
“He’s sorting it out. He’ll lead the team, and there’s five of us so far. All ex-military.”
“I’m not.”
“No, but you have skills we could use. If what I’m being told is true, then they need our help.”
Rand sighed deeply, the sound filling the interior of the car. “You go, see the lay of the land, and let me know. I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Let me know when it’s good to move, and I’ll be here. Only two left and they’ll both suffer.”
“Oh, they’ll suffer all right. What they did to her...”
“Yeah.” Jim clenched his hands into fists and glared at the apartment. “They’ll all suffer.”
Jim watched Elliot Young arrange the room they’d been assigned while they waited for their security building to be upgraded. The building used to be an office for a rental company but now stood empty. Good location at the edge of town with another one being renovated on the other side off Morefield. Both sides of the village could be monitored at the main routes in and out.
A map of the area hung on the wall, with areas already highlighted between Morefield and Salutem that could be used for security huts, or outposts, that security could work out from and liaise with passing patrols. The entire area between the village and the town would be covered, but what about farther afield?
Jim asked, and Elliot grunted. “Let’s get this area secure first then work our way out. More and more shifters and their mates and families are moving here, so we’ll have a shortage of housing soon, and it will affect utilities and infrastructure. I’ve spoken with the Salutem lot, and they’re having huge issues.”
“Never thought that far ahead.”
“No. Their primary concern was safety of their people, then they realized they’d fucked up by not thinking it through. Morefield isn’t as big, but we are growing. We’ll face those issues too if we don’t prepare for them.”
Manu walked in and nodded at Elliot and Jim. His dark skin gleamed under the lights, his dark eyes piercing with intelligence as he stared at the map. “Just got off the phone with Viridian—weird name—we have a meet tomorrow.”
“Just the mayors or...?”
“Us six and whoever they choose. They’re more fluid over there, but this Viridian, his human mate, Ishmael, and another human, Euan, run security. Someone called Alejandro recently started. He might be there too.” Manu pulled a chair out and sat. “He’s apparently mated to a vampire too.”
“I heard both humans are ex-military,” Jim added.
“It’ll be good to have humans and shifters working together. Humans see things differently than shifters, and Euan is mated to a vampire.” Manu leaned on the table, folding his hands together.
“Humans gain strengths from their mates. Euan will have too.” Elliot sat and opened a folder.
“We’ll see how it goes. We’ll butt heads, but we should make some headway in shoring up our defenses.” When Manu finished speaking, the door opened, and Fabian, Albie, and Ray entered.
As soon as the other three were sitting, Elliot said, “Right. You’ve all had time to learn the lay of the land. Strengths, weaknesses.”
An hour later, Babs came in
with fresh coffee and pastries. “You’ll need these to keep going.” She glanced at the map and walked over and pointed at it. “Here is the old McKay farm. Empty after old Ned died. You could use that. It’s a two bedroom house that needs a complete overall, but for some shifters who need a place away from the village that’s the ideal place.”
“A place away?” Elliot asked.
Babs looked at him shrewdly. “Some shifters with your background need a time out occasionally, but they still need to be seen as contributing. Not many shifters enter the military from here or Salutem, but it seems that for other places, more have.”
“You’re right, and thank you for suggesting it.”
“I put you forward for this, Elliot. Thank you for accepting.”
Elliot smiled, and Jim arched an eyebrow. He rarely saw the other man smile. “Let me know if you need anything else.” Babs left the room, and Jim grabbed a muffin, biting it and almost moaning at the taste.
“These are good,” he said around a mouthful of food.
“From the local bakery. Nice food. Better than MRE’s.” Anything was better than military ready to eat meals.
“So, we need more manpower.” Jim popped the final piece in his mouth and brushed his hands off. “My brother will be here soon.”
Elliot grunted. “He knows not to kill anyone here.”
A ghost of a smile covered Jim’s face before disappearing. “He knows. There are only two more and then we’re done.”
“Do I want to know?” Albie asked.
“No. It’s personal.”
“Might want to let the guys know in case you two have to suddenly leave.” Elliot glanced at him. “Two left? The others won’t be found?”
“Not likely. They’re scattered in the wind.”
“Good way to dispose of evidence.” Elliot nodded.
Fabian frowned. “You’ve murdered people, and you have two more on your list? Will this come back on us?”
“No, you’re safe. We’re very good at what we do.”
Elliot coughed, and Jim glanced at him, seeing the question in his eyes. Sighing, he refilled his cup, took a sip, then said, “Five men kidnapped, raped, and murdered our little sister. They got off on some bureaucratic bullshit. Some ’T’ not crossed or some shit. We’ve waited, bided our time, and slowly we’ve dealt with them. Three down, two to go. We have eyes on one now. Recently released from prison for battery.”
Ray growled, his eyes glowing. “You need help, let me know. I can watch while you two do your thing.”
Jim nodded, not surprised at the offer or the fact no one would tell the authorities. They all had families, and sometimes the justice system fucked up. He could still see the look on the arresting officer’s face when he’d come to apologize. The man had been devastated.
“No PD involvement?” Manu asked.
“The officer who arrested them told us where the first man was. He knew and said nothing. Walked away and said the rest was up to us. Haven’t seen him since. Don’t intend to until it’s done. He has to work in the system, even when it fucks up. There was enough evidence to prove it was them.”
“My sister’s mate is a human and a detective. They’ll be moving here soon. He’s joining the PD here. I think the sheriff almost shot his load when he saw his CV.”
Jim snorted as the others laughed. “Sheriff Rifkin is looking to retire, but he wants to make sure the department has what it needs. I spoke to him Monday. Good man, but out of his depth with all of this.” Elliot sighed. “I think the entire department, which is all three of them, are out of their depth.”
“Rand could help there.”
“He’d need to be a law-abiding citizen.” Elliot raised his eyebrows. “He remember how to be one?”
Jim flashed a quick grin. “He’ll remember. We did what we had to do to find them. He did most of it when I was stationed overseas, but I backed him completely.”
“I’ll mention him to Deac. He has contacts that aren’t all above board but could help us. We can’t play by the rules. They aren’t, and we are disappearing and dying. Not to mention the humans they take too.”
“I looked at the information Euan sent over.” Ray opened the folder he’d brought with him. “With my tech background, I’ll work with them and their IT guy, this Jerome. We have all our bases covered with the skills we have.”
“We need more personnel for our security teams. Another thing we have in common with Salutem. Not enough people with the necessary skills. They’re using mated couples as well. Telepathy helps. We don’t have that here since none of us being mated. Six of us to protect over a thousand residents. We have our work cut out for us.”
“Don’t forget the ten from here that have been helping cover patrols for both places,” Jim reminded Elliot. “They might not have the training we do, but they have knowledge of the area.”
“Only one of them is mated,” Elliot reminded him.
“How is it working out for them? Using mates for patrols?” Jim asked. He was interested in the answer, not that it would actually help them at that moment, but it was something to keep in mind.
“Ale is mated to Troy, and Ale is ex-military. He goes out on patrol, and Troy works in security. They work the shifts around Troy’s job. Troy is a vampire, and Ale has gained some of his abilities. Also, Vir runs patrols, and Ish stays in the building. Same for Euan and Logan. It seems to be working so far. Information can be passed immediately, and any incidents can be dealt with quicker than before.”
“I can call on Jafe.” Manu picked up a pen, flicking it on and off. “His mate was black ops. They’re in the middle of something, so I’ll leave them a message.”
“It’ll be good to have them both on board. I imagine Jafe will want to bring this two younger brothers.”
Manu nodded. “He will.” He carried on flicking the pen until Ray reached over and snatched it. Manu sighed. “I need to be doing something.”
“And you will.” Elliot grinned viciously. “You’re up first tonight with me.”
“Lord, save me now.” Manu raised his arms upwards. “I beg for—” He grunted when a pad hit him then laughed when Elliot flipped him off.
“So, we all have our jobs to do for the next meeting.”
Jim stood and stretched. “I need a drink. Who’s coming the bar?”
Chapter Two
SAXON SCOTT WIPED the counter down and then stared at the mess on aisle two. “Fucking kids,” he muttered.
“That’s fucking customers who pay your wages, Saxon,” Emilio told him as he walked past.
Saxon rolled his eyes. “I know, but why do they have to pick everything up? You don’t need your hands to look at something.”
“Now, you sound like me with my kids.”
Saxon snorted and went to the storeroom to grab the mop and bucket. It was pasta sauce too; when he approached it, he could smell it. And he hated pasta sauce. Of course, it had splashed up the shelves and on the cans of food stacked there.
“You don’t pay me enough.”
“I pay you more than enough.” Emilio wrinkled his nose.
“It stinks.”
“Imagine how it smells to me then.”
“Sometimes it’s good to be human.”
“Boring! I love shifting into my wolf form and running with the family. It’s more freeing than this form.”
“Both forms are solid. How can one be better than the other?”
Emilio leaned on the brush and frowned, his eyes staring off into the distance. “It’s hard to put into words, the sense of freedom I feel when I’m in my wolf form. I can run faster, my paws eating up the distance. The scents of the surrounding land are stronger and ground me, make my troubles seem less. It’s fantastic when I’m really annoyed with the kids.”
“So glad I’m gay. No kids for me!” Saxon gagged as he cleaned the sauce. “Why do we stock this?”
“Some human mates who live here like it. We accommodate the needs of everyone here. You don’t want kids when you’re older?”
