“You know exactly what,” Damon growled, looming over his mate.
Nicole stood quickly. “Don’t you growl at me, Damon DeMasters,” she hissed standing toe-to-toe with him.
“What were you two doing in Pam’s apartment?” Jared glared at Tessa, giving Damon and Nicole some cooling off time.
“We were getting some clothes for-” Nicole answered, still having a stare down with her mate.
“Bullshit.” Jared didn’t let her finish.
“I will call Adam if I have to.” Damon pulled out his phone. Adam was Tessa’s brother who had been turned into a half-breed. He had the power to read people with just a touch, no matter how hard they tried to block him.
Nicole wrinkled her nose at him before plopping back down in her chair. “We were looking for a vial.”
“Why?” Damon’s tone hadn’t changed. He was pissed, and it showed in his voice, body language and scowl that slashed across his handsome face.
“I’m not sure,” Nicole replied then frowned when they both continued to glare at her. “I don’t know.”
Damon rubbed his hand down his face, clearly irritated. “Why didn’t you come to me with this? Duncan has been looking everywhere for her, and here you are talking to her.” Damon shook his head, disappointment radiating off him in waves.
Nicole looked away for a second, but her eyes quickly found his again. “She is my friend and asked me not to say anything.”
“Where is she?” Damon’s tone deepened, his eyes narrowed.
“I have this under control,” Nicole replied, standing her ground. “She’s fine.”
“I demand you tell me where she is.” Damon’s voice rose with each word.
“Okay, why don’t we just calm down.” Jared tried to smooth the situation over, but Nicole stood again, this time knocking her chair over.
“You demand?” Nicole tilted her head, looking up at her mate. “You demand?” She shouted this time, her voice trembling with anger.
“Shit.” Jared stepped in front of Tessa who had also stood.
“You have no right keeping this information from Duncan, Nicole,” Damon shouted back; he never shouted and definitely not at his mate. “And you know it!”
Nicole gave him a deadly glare. “What I do know is my friend trusts me, and I’m not breaking that trust.”
“Call Adam,” Damon growled at Jared, but his eyes did not leave Nicole. “And Duncan.”
“Screw you.” She emphasized each word with a hard point of her finger to his chest before walking around him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Damon went to grab her arm, but she snapped it back.
Nicole stopped and slowly turned around. “Away from you.”
“I don’t fucking think so.” Damon took a step forward to grab her again, but she smacked at his hand.
“If you touch me, you are going to have your hands full, Damon DeMasters,” Nicole hissed.
“You are not leaving.” He loomed over her, bent slightly to glare down at her.
“Is that a demand?” She stretched up so she could go nose-to-nose with him.
Before Damon could respond, Tessa pushed past Jared. “Stop it. Just stop, both of you.” She walked between the two, pushing each of them back. “I know where she is. Nicole, I understand why you haven’t told Duncan, but I never promised Pam anything. You can stay here while I tell them what I know, or you can leave.”
Nicole stared at Tessa for a few seconds before nodding her head. Without looking at Damon, she walked out the door, closing it softly.
Tessa watched Damon stare after Nicole, his face changing before her eyes. He hated himself for fighting with his mate and it clearly showed. She almost felt sorry for him…almost.
“You’re an asshat.” She pointed at Damon. Before he could open his mouth, she continued. “You of all people should understand Nicole. She is loyal to a fault.”
“She should be loyal to me. Her mate…her husband.” Damon frowned, becoming angry again. “She should not have kept this from me.”
“This isn’t about you,” Tessa sighed. “This was about Duncan. You said so yourself.”
“But you both put yourselves in danger.” Jared pointed out with a frown of his own. “That makes it about us.”
Tessa snorted. “Breaking my damn neck was the only danger I was in.” Seeing Jared’s concern, she waved it away. She didn’t need to go into her embarrassing fall through the kitchen window. “I actually didn’t know until today about Nicole and Pam having contact, but I was there when Pam called. She asked Nicole to go to her apartment to find a vial. It was a quick call. Nicole is supposed to meet her with the vial.”
“Where?” Damon demanded impatiently taking his phone out.
“Are you going to apologize?” Tessa crossed her arms; she could play stubborn with the best of them.
A loud sigh escaped his lips. “Sid’s right. Women will drive you nuts,” Damon growled. “Yes, I will apologize.”