Nobility Read online

  Nobility

  Dreya Love Book 5

  Dana Lyons

  Copyright © 2020 by Dana Lyons

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover design by Ivan at:

  https://www.bookcoversart.com/

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  NOBILITY

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  To kill or not.

  To Nobilize or not.

  In this thrilling final installment to the Dreya Love series, Simon and the team pursue a betrayal from his past and stumble upon a diabolical plot for global genocide.

  As they endeavor to stop this catastrophe, clues lead them to a prominent list of participants … all above the law.

  When the unthinkable happens, can they save the world?

  Will Nobility be there to save them?

  Facing the ultimate challenge to Nobility and their lives, the team comes to understand what it means to be a pack … and to be Nobilized.

  NOBILITY

  Thou Shalt Not Kill

  1

  Washington DC

  “I thought we’d never get home,” Dreya said. Their return from Europe had been on a commercial flight that was every bit as mind numbing as the C-130 they travelled in going over. They dragged themselves in the house and dropped their bags.

  “Oh, my God. I want to die,” she moaned. She glanced about, checking on her team. Quinn looked haggard, but he was finally healing from his history with Ivanov. Rhys had let his beard grow in and looked even more like a raven—an exhausted raven at the moment.

  He’ll need food soon for that fast bird metabolism.

  Simon kept his head down, disappearing into his cloak of sadness and stepped off into his room. She watched as his door closed and probed for a mental connection, but he’d shut her out.

  She sat on the couch and Rhys and Quinn flanked her. Still staring at Simon’s door, she asked in a distracted voice, “Who’s ordering pizza?”

  “Simon,” Rhys yelled. “You’re the pizza man. Call ‘em up.”

  When he didn’t answer, she glanced at Rhys. He nodded and mouthed ‘nothing’. She scooted to the edge of the couch, her heart suddenly squeezed with concern. “Simon?”

  Quinn caught the vibe and joined her in calling him. “Simon?”

  Simon walked out of his room wearing a fresh change of clothes and carrying his full-sized suitcase. He kept his gaze averted, a wall of silence surrounding him.

  All her red flags shot up, sending adrenaline to fire her heart from simple concern to deep anxiety. With his stance and expression screaming ‘loss’ her exhaustion dissipated, replaced by panic. In a soft voice she asked, “Simon?”

  He smiled, but she saw it was a good-bye smile. Tears filled her eyes. The perpetual sadness that had dogged him since Draco Station enveloped him again. Pain crinkled the corners of his eyes and rolled off him in waves, stabbing her in the chest.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “But I have to go.”

  She, Rhys, and Quinn shot to their feet. Waves of grief, pain and anger from Simon inundated her along with confusion and disbelief from Rhys and Quinn. She locked her gaze on Simon and sent out a command to Rhys and Quinn, Leave us alone.

  Rhys coughed and sputtered, “Uh, I could go for a drink. How about you, Quinn?”

  Quinn responded. “Sounds good.”

  They hastily made for the kitchen, leaving her with Simon. She exhaled, shaking with panic and terror that dragged at her exhaustion. “I won’t have it,” she announced. With her best alpha glare, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to her room. When he hesitated at the door, she stated calmly, “We’re going to talk. In private.”

  The door closed behind them and she placed her hands on her hips, fighting to keep her voice down. “I have patiently waited for you to join this pack, Simon. I’ve given you time to release whatever is holding you back, but you’ve fought me every step of the way. I swear, you’re a tighter nut to crack than Quinn.”

  When spoken words clogged her throat, her mind cried out, You have nowhere else to go, no other people to be with.

  He backed up and spread his hands defensively, his face rippling with defeat. “Exactly,” he answered. “Look at you three. Rhys, the kingpin. And Quinn, the black-ops bad-guy. Then there’s you, the princess.”

  She ached for his pain. His eyes softened. Desire and restraint battled in his heart, bombarding her. His words came out crippled with insecurity. “Princess. You’re beyond anything possible. You’re—”

  He faltered and looked away as his emotions flooded her mind. “What is it?” she begged.

  He exhaled deeply, but grief rattled his words. “I can’t continue as the wanna-be in this pack.”

  She frowned. “You’re not serious. You’re Nobilized. A wanna-be for you is not possible.” Tired of the excuses, she stalked up to him and got in his face. “I think this is all a lot of smoke. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you don't want m—”

  Before she could finish, a different emotion flashed in his eyes, one of passion and desire, one of need long denied. He pushed her back against the door and his voice rumbled with broken restraint. “I’ve never wanted a woman like I want you.” He cupped her jaw and held her gaze but couldn’t speak the next words.

  I have something I need to take care of.

  Then we’ll help you work it out.

  I need to do this by myself.

  No, sir. In the old days, maybe. But not now. You belong to a pack. She pleaded softly. “Let me in, Simon. Let us in.”

  He dropped his hand from her face. She sensed his surrender, followed closely by the pain and joy of denial defeated by desire. Tears of expectation filled her eyes as she searched his face. He sagged in momentary relief, followed by—

  An explosion of hard, passionate desire.

  There was no tenderness, no feather-light touches, only brittle need and demanding lips that devoured her as his erection pressed into her thigh. She returned the kiss with the same need, having wanted him since she first saw him on Draco Station.

  He pushed her blouse aside so he could palm her breasts. She grabbed at his pants, fondling his hard flesh in the process.

  They separated and hastily removed their clothes. She launched for the bed, no longer exhausted. The physical joining and the mind connection that happened during sex with her pack filled her with a surge of exhilarating hormones and peptides; she yearned for that connection with Simon. “Come to me, now.”

  They met in the center of the bed, desperate for more of what they’d never had. He ran his hands all over her body, stroking her thighs and belly as they faced
each other on their knees.

  His energy was frantic, her desire fever pitched.

  She fell back and pulled him with her. He came down bringing her into another blazing kiss, demanding, taking, lips and tongues clashing. His rigid flesh grazed her thigh and she opened her legs eagerly; he entered, sliding quickly in. They froze, both gasping with exquisite relief.

  He breathed hot against her neck, pulling her hair aside and placing his lips on her shoulder. “Oh, my God,” he mumbled.

  “See,” she chided. “That’s what you’ve been going without.”

  “I feel … what you feel.”

  “Yes,” she replied. “What the mind knows, the body feels. It makes for a double whammy orgasm. Are you ready?” She rocked slightly, and he gasped with reaction.

  He nodded and pushed in further. “I’m so hot for you I couldn’t stop.”

  She shifted her hips. He went deeper, then pulled out slowly.

  “Simon,” she whispered. He filled her, the movements tugging on her clit. Her core expanded, and he slid out slowly in a mutual agony of ecstasy. She grabbed his buttocks and pulled him back in.

  My orgasm is ready to blow.

  “Me, too,” he whispered hoarsely.

  Take me. Because we feel each other, we go together.

  He placed his hands next to her shoulders and lifted up, changing the friction between them. She shifted her hips again and moaned as she palmed his buttocks. He slid out until the tip of his cock grazed her clit.

  Now!

  On the next entry, his hot flesh moving against her began her orgasm and she bucked her hips to urge him on. He pulled out right away, increasing the pace and slammed back in.

  Yes!

  Seeking the same goal, they rocked together rapid-fire, driving and pushing each other to release. His orgasm fired and joined hers in their mutual mind as they reached ecstasy together. She cried out and he answered her with his own shout before they stiffened, then collapsed.

  Their breathing rasped in each other’s ears. She grabbed his hand and laced their fingers together, kissing the back of his hand.

  Mated forever.

  He returned the kiss.

  Mated forever.

  “I can’t believe I waited so long,” he lamented as he pulled her into his arms.

  “Are you ready to tell me why?” she asked. “Is it why you wanted to leave? And where were you thinking to go? What do you have to do?” The questions came hot on the heels of each other. He’d been resisting for so long, she needed to know why.

  “Yes,” he said, kissing her hand again. “Yes, it’s why. For the second question, as for where, I don't know.”

  His old anger and sadness stirred as he sat up, and she scooted closer, not wanting physical or emotional space between them any longer. She put her arms around his neck. “You’re not alone now.”

  He turned to place his forehead to hers. “I know,” he whispered. “It’s time to tell the story.”

  She gave a mental sigh of relief as gratitude for him finally joining the pack swelled in her heart. Hot tears filled her eyes; they would heal his pain, just as they did for Quinn. But first he had to let them in.

  They got up and dressed. “I smell pizza,” she said as they exited her room. She grabbed his hand and they walked into the kitchen. When they passed by the front door, she noticed his large suitcase had been removed.

  In the kitchen, Rhys and Quinn sat with a half dozen extra-large pizza boxes on the table. One box was already empty.

  “Better hurry up,” Quinn managed to say around a mouthful.

  Rhys poked him in the ribs. “It’s not polite to speak with your mouth full.” He grabbed another slice and aimed it for his mouth, then paused at the last moment. “However, he’s right you know.” He pointed his pizza to the open chairs. “You need to catch up.”

  She checked their emotional connections. Rhys and Quinn were content and relaxed; with Simon added to the pack, they were stronger. Simon exuded a similar satisfaction, as if reaching a point he’d always wanted even though he fought against it. Surrender combined with excitement.

  We’re all together. A completed pack, at last.

  She remembered Lazar’s words on Draco Station. “You’ll need another, you should know.”

  At the time his comment terrified her, thinking he meant she’d need another dose of Nobility.

  How did he know?

  They sat and began on the pizza. Comfort and contentment raced around the table. Rhys both charmed and picked on his brothers. He prodded Quinn. “You need a haircut, starting to look like a kid.”

  “Ha!” Quinn rebutted with, “And you look like a raven in a suit with that beard.”

  Rhys lightly slapped the back of Quinn’s head. “I am a raven.”

  Laughter filled the room. It was moments like this when camaraderie wove itself into their lives, bringing them closer. As the pizza boxes emptied and were pushed aside, more bottles of wine were opened. The exhaustion from their travel began settling in; it was time to tell the story.

  Simon set his wine glass down. His lips were pinched in a tight line, proclaiming how much he hated what was coming.

  It’s okay, she coaxed. You’re with family now.

  He nodded and gulped before beginning. “You never asked about my medical license, about why I was a coroner on Draco.” He exhaled deeply, anguish marring his brow. “I was a coroner because Vince Harper, my best friend since first grade, stole my medical career.”

  * * *

  In the suburbs of Fairfax County, Virginia, Vince Harper stared at his packed bag by the door, tapping a finger to his lip. Even though it was days until his departure, he wanted to make sure everything was ready well ahead of time. If there was one thing a life of crime had instilled in him, it was—

  Always prepare for the unexpected.

  The pieces to catapult him into a new life were finally in place. All he waited for now was the next set of instructions and the package. “At last,” he whispered.

  The years of developing my criminal expertise are about to pay off.

  He opened his laptop and checked the message board of an old interactive game from his college days. The game board was ancient and forgotten, barren … except for messages from his handler.

  There it is. The next move.

  “Day after tomorrow, 0230 hours, tip the waiter after he delivers the package.”

  A smile erupted. Excitement shimmied across his shoulders. He visualized the future to come and, feeling confident in his status, took a mental bow for his part in bringing his and humanity’s destiny to fruition.

  * * *

  “What did Vince do?” Dreya asked Simon. The collateral emotional trauma of the event would be the topic for another time. But for now, the law officer inside her wanted to get the facts and develop a plan.

  He shook his head morosely, his gaze sinking into the past. Abruptly, he turned to them. “How did I not know?”

  His self-imposed guilt blasted her with a hot wave. “Because you don't have a criminal bone in your body,” she responded. “So, exactly how did he steal your medical career?”

  “He came over one day to visit, out of the blue. I guess that should have been a warning sign. But I was in a rush and had to jump in the shower. In those ten minutes I was out of the room, he hacked into my computer and got my doctor’s code for writing prescriptions.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I never had a clue.”

  Silence settled. Dreya knew there must be something hard coming, for his emotional shield had shot up, closing her out. She sent a side glance at Rhys. He shook his head, being shut out also.

  “Simon, what happened?” she asked.

  “Vince set up a dozen internet sites dispensing opioids under my name. Several people died. He back-doored it so he got away. When the Feds couldn’t connect me to the online activity beyond the use of my code, they didn’t charge me.

  “But in the end, because I couldn’t prove my claims against Vinc
e, the medical review board pulled my license for neglect.” His glance turned away and he gave a bitter laugh. “After years of working my ass off and then having my license and career stolen, I still have my school loans to pay, about a quarter million.

  “That was four years ago. Next thing I know I’m applying for coroner’s job on Draco. Lazar was my last interview and he took a blood sample for his records. You know the rest.”

  “How can we help?” Quinn asked.

  “We can open the case,” Rhys suggested. “Let’s put it to the IT forensics people. Newer technology will have an improved chance of finding something to support your claim.”

  Dreya read the subtle expression of hopeless heartbreak around Simon’s eyes, at last understanding why he emanated such sadness.

  The wound is old and closed, yet festering, not healed.

  “I don't know what I can do,” he lamented. “But I have to try. If Lazar is going public with Nobility, we need a qualified medical person on the team, not some has-been. For that, I need my license back.”

  “Then we go to Jarvis tomorrow and tell him we’re opening the case,” she said.

  Everyone rose to clean up the pizza boxes. While they busied with that, Dreya went to her room and took a shower. As the hot stream of water pummeled her scalp, she considered the emotions built up in Simon over losing his license.

  Having been betrayed, he’ll need the trust and security of the pack.

  After her shower, she put on a piece of sexy lingerie and a robe. The common room was empty and she heard showers running from all three of their rooms. Each of them needed her, but tonight Simon needed her most. She slipped into his room and crawled into his bed.