Lana (The Mate Series) Book #17.5 (The Protectors Series) Read online

  LANA

  TERESA GABELMAN

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  About the Author

  Also by Teresa Gabelman

  For all the badass women out there!

  The Mate Series

  Lana

  Copyright 2022 Teresa Gabelman

  All rights reserved. The right of Teresa Gabelman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This is a work of fiction and any resemblance between the characters and persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Gabelman, Teresa (2022-4-22). Lana (The Mate Series) Book #17.5 part of the (Protectors Series)

  Kindle Edition.

  Created with Vellum

  CHAPTER 1

  Sitting alone inside Buckhead Restaurant, Lana’s eyes roamed without really seeing anything. Her mind was so cluttered with thoughts of how in the hell she was going to get herself back on the police force. With a frown, she glanced down at her phone, looking at the time.

  “Do you want to wait for your friend before you order?” The waitress broke into her thoughts.

  “Yes, please.” Lana smiled up at her. “I would like a Mimosa if that’s possible?” What she really wanted was a vodka on the rocks, but it was a little too early to start on the hard stuff…or was it?

  “Of course.” She replied with a nod. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Thank you.” Lana’s smile faded as soon as the server walked away. Her eyes roamed again. She was a people watcher. Maybe it was the cop in her, or she was just curious about others. Lana always tried to figure out what the person did for a living, what kind of home they lived in, and if they had a fairly normal life. Or maybe she was just nosy, she thought with a snort.

  Glancing at a couple who were talking intimately, Lana sighed. The man was staring at the woman as if she was the only person in the room. Sid used to look at her like that. Maybe he still did whenever they saw each other, but most of the time, she was too tired or preoccupied to see it. She missed him so much, even though they saw each other every day, it just wasn’t the same. And if she went back to the police force, it would be so much worse. Which was why she was sitting at a table alone, ordering a Mimosa and feeling sorry for herself.

  “Are you sure you don’t see her?” A woman’s voice caught her attention. Looking up, she saw Susan standing a few feet away looking around the restaurant, her eyes gazing past her.

  “No.” Susan said with a shake of her head. “But it’s been so long since I’ve seen or even talked to her. I was surprised she even texted.”

  Lana rolled her eyes with a grin. “I’m right here.”

  “Excuse me?” Susan frowned down at her. “Do I know you?”

  “Guess I deserve that.” Lana replied, then gave the hostess a nod dismissing her. It wasn’t until that moment that Lana realized just how much she had missed Susan.

  Susan cocked her eyebrow but sat down putting her bag in the empty chair beside her. “How have you been, Lana?”

  “Good.” Lana said, feeling the tension between them and not liking it. “And you?”

  Shrugging her shoulder, Susan leaned back in her chair and stared at Lana. “You look good. Still human, I see. Seems the Warrior life fits you well.”

  Lana stared at her friend and felt a loss so strong it hit her full force. She also noticed that Susan hadn’t answered her question. Other than her sister, Susan had been the only other female who she could always count on and not for just regular girlfriend stuff, but life and death situations. Susan had been an amazing friend and partner.

  “Listen Susan.” Lana broke the silence.

  “No, Lana, you listen.” Susan sighed, rolling her head from side to side, something she always did when faced with a stressful situation. “I get it. You have a new life. I’m happy for you, but we were a team. A team you walked away from. I’ve talked to you maybe twice since you left and both times is because I called you. Never once have you returned my phone calls. Never once have you called me. Do you even know what happened to our department after you left? Do you care?”

  “I was fired, Susan.” Was the only thing Lana could say to defend herself because her beautiful friend was right.

  “Actually, you quit.” Susan countered back. “Heard all about it over and over again. Told the mayor to go fuck himself. Wish I could have seen that. Honestly, I can’t blame you, would have done the same thing. But what I would have done differently…I would've had your back.”

  Lana frowned. “What in the hell does that mean?” Lana tried to keep herself in check, but she could feel her anger rising. “I was a damn good partner to you, Susan.”

  “Until you weren’t.” Susan shot back.

  Lana opened her mouth but stopped. As she stared at Susan, she looked deep and saw pain radiating from her eyes. Realizing Susan was absolutely right about everything she was saying was a hard pill to swallow, but swallow it, she did. Lana had walked away from the life and the people she deeply cared about. She hadn’t even looked back. “You’re right.” Lana whispered.

  “Excuse me?” Susan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

  “Yeah.” Lana nodded, then gave her own shrug. “I’m a piece of shit friend.”

  “Ah, well, I didn’t say that exactly.” Susan reached over, grabbing her Mimosa taking a long drink. “What you did was shitty.”

  “Same thing.” Lana pushed the Mimosa back toward Susan when she set it down in front of her. Then watched Susan finish it off. “I’m sorry.”

  Susan set the empty glass down, then stared at Lana. “I’ve really missed you, bitch.” Her eyes shined with tears, but she blinked them away. “I needed my friend.”

  As soon as she saw Susan walking toward her, Lana had felt a lightness she hadn’t felt in such a long time. It felt familiar…like home. It wasn’t until now that she realized she had needed her friend also, but Lana had been too preoccupied to see it.

  A whisper reached her ears, causing her to look past Susan. Most of the time Lana ignored her gift when around a lot of people. It seemed the dead sought her out in crowds, wanting to get messages to their loved ones. An image of Susan’s father flashed behind his daughter, flickering in and out. “Oh, no.” Lana gasped, her eyes widening as her heart sank.

  “What?” Susan glanced over her shoulder behind her before turning back to Lana.

  “Susan, I didn’t know.” Lana stood quickly, reaching for Susan. “I’m so sorry.”

  Susan latched onto her, her small body shaking. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

  Lana nodded before pulling away but reached for the chair behind her to sit closer to her friend. “What happened?”

  “Heart attack.” Susan sniffed, blinking tears away. “He had just retired from the postal service. His neighbor found him in the backyard where he was doing yard work. I don’t know how long he was there. I hadn’t talke
d to him for a few days because of work.”

  Lana clasped her hand as she looked behind Susan to where her father was trying to appear. It was always harder for newer spirits to get the hang of it, but she could tell Susan’s father was trying so hard. Closing her eyes, she opened herself up to any messages from Mr. Dobbs.

  Susan had been very close to her father. It had only been them, as well as her older brother Joe, who had many issues and was never around to help out. Susan had never known her mother, who died only months after Susan was born.

  “He didn’t suffer.” Lana whispered; her eyes still closed. That much she got from Mr. Dobbs, but nothing else was coming through clearly. Finally, she opened her eyes to see Susan watching her expectantly. “I’m sorry, Susan. When someone passes, especially older people, it takes them a minute to figure out how to communicate. I don’t know why, but what I do know is he didn’t suffer. It was instant and even if you had been there, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

  “Thank you.” Susan gave her a weak smile. “Your gift of talking to dead people still freaks me out, but thank you.”

  Lana also smiled. “Yeah, I know. Freaks me out sometimes too.”

  Susan shifted uncomfortably as she fingered the silverware on the table. “Listen, I’m sorry I came down so hard on you. I’m not usually a bitch.”

  “Yes, you are.” Lana laughed. “I’ve seen you make grown men cry.”

  “Only those who really piss me off.” Susan answered, glancing at her, then quickly looked away. “I really have missed you, Lana. You have been busy, I get it. Guess I was just being selfish and maybe just a little jealous. After you left, everything went to hell. Our department completely shut down, fired me as well as Peter, Griffin, and Sam. All four of us have been blacklisted.”

  “Why in the hell were you blacklisted? That makes no sense.” Lana frowned, trying to wrap her head around what she was hearing. “You aren’t working as a cop?”

  “No, I’m not.” Susan shook her head, then glanced around with a frown. “And honestly, I’m not comfortable talking about this here.”

  This was big and could totally put a huge damper on what she was trying to do within the police force. “Do you mind going to the compound with me? We can talk there.”

  Susan hesitated for a second, then nodded. Grabbing her bag, she stopped and looked around. “Is my dad still here?”

  Lana shook her head. “He’s gone.”

  “I think he’s the reason I’m here today.” Susan replied with a sad smile. “I wasn’t going to come, but something kept urging me to reconsider. Finally, after being awake all night, I texted you back. That was him, wasn’t it?”

  “It was.” Lana replied, giving Susan another hug. “He wanted to make sure we made amends before he could rest in peace. Your dad didn’t want you to be alone.”

  “He always looked at you as a daughter. Sometimes his favorite daughter.” Susan chuckled with a shake of her head.

  “He loved you deeply, Susan.” Lana replied seriously. “And so do I. I’m damn sorry for everything.”

  “You’re forgiven.” Susan responded, then her eyes narrowed. “Every single time I cursed you out, I forgave you right after.”

  “What do you mean…cursed me out?” Lana snorted. “You were really cussing me?”

  “Like a fucking sailor.” Susan laughed as they walked arm in arm out of the restaurant, not realizing they were being watched closely.

  CHAPTER 2

  Ryker walked into the kitchen at the compound, happy it was empty. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his fellow Warriors, he just wanted to grab a quick bite to eat before heading out. He wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Heading to the fridge, he grabbed a few pieces of cold chicken tossing them on a plate. He didn’t need food to survive, but he loved to eat, and Sid could cook like a professional chef. He had smelled the chicken frying early this morning and hadn’t stopped thinking about it since.

  “There better be more chicken in that refrigerator or you’re going to have one hell of a fight on your hands.” Raven’s voice came from behind him, making Ryker grin.

  Ryker turned, taking a huge bite out of the chicken leg he picked up. He chewed with a grin. “Part of me hopes to hell there isn’t because I think I can take you.”

  “And that has been the downfall of many men.” Raven replied, opening the fridge.

  “What?” Ryker continued to chew. “That they can take you?”

  “No.” Raven snorted. “Thinking.”

  Ryker chuckled, shaking his head as he headed toward the table with his plate of chicken. Ryker admired Raven’s quick wit and badass attitude. Charger was a lucky son of a bitch. She sat down across from him and began to eat quietly.

  “So, you and Charger, huh?” Ryker pushed his empty plate aside.

  “Me and Charger what?” Raven didn’t even look up at him. When he didn’t answer, she glanced his way. “Spit it out, Ryker.”

  “You know exactly what I’m asking?” Okay, yeah, Ryker definitely loved sparring with this woman.

  “Why? You interested?” She cocked her eyebrow at him as she pulled a piece of chicken off the bone and ate it.

  She wanted to play this game; he’d play. At one time, he had been very interested, but knowing Charger and her were no doubt destined to become mates; he stayed clear of that shit. Plus, he had a feeling they would never work. Too much alike. Though a little teasing never hurt no one. “Maybe.” He continued the game.

  Raven smirked as she watched him finish the glass of milk he had poured himself. “I have a milk allergy.” She also pushed her empty plate aside. “It would never work out.”

  Ryker’s head fell back as he laughed loudly. “Good save, Raven.” He grinned, but his grin slowly disappeared as he watched her mood shift.

  “You’ll make some lucky woman very happy one day, Ryker.” Raven glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away. “And as for me and Charger. It was just a date.” She stood to put her plate in the sink before he could respond.

  He knew without a doubt it was much more than that and so did she, but he wouldn’t push it. Once he saw that she and Charger had a thing, his attraction to her dimmed considerably. He respected the hell out of her, but that was as far as it would go.

  Deciding to change the subject, he also stood and headed toward the sink. “What does Sloan have you doing today?”

  “Same thing he has me doing every day.” Raven replied, sounding grouchy. “Stop the bad guys without killing anyone.”

  “Damn, I’m sorry. That has to be fucking boring.” Ryker grinned when she glanced his way.

  “Wait. He doesn’t order you to not kill anyone?” Raven's eyes narrowed when Ryker shook his head. “What the fuck, man.”

  Their conversation was interrupted when Steve burst into the kitchen. “Where the fuck is he?”

  Susan followed Lana into the compound. She had only been here a few times, but every time it amazed her at how massive the place was. She was so happy for her friend, even though earlier it didn’t sound that way. Susan felt a little guilty about how she acted, but dammit, she missed Lana.

  “We’ll go into the game room.” Lana led her through the entryway. “We can talk without—”

  “Where the fuck is he?!” A man’s loud shout interrupted Lana.

  “Uh-oh.” Lana stopped suddenly, looking down the hallway.

  “What is it?” Susan became alert. The man sounded furious. The door opened behind them making Susan spin quickly, ready to draw the gun she was never without.

  “What’s wrong?” Sid, who just walked inside, reacted to their concerned faces by scanning the area quickly, looking for trouble.

  “Um, I think Steve found your book.” Lana said, then cringed when Steve yelled again.

  A grin slid across Sid’s face.

  “Sid, be nice.” Lana pointed at him. “Steve is sensitive about his writing.”

  “Where is that backstabbing, Rachel Ray wannabe?” Steve’s
bellow carried down the hallway to them from the kitchen.

  Susan watched the grin slip from Sid’s lips as his eyes narrowed. “Oh, shit.” She whispered, stepping back as Lana rushed toward Sid.

  “Now, Sid.” Lana said, putting her hand on his chest. “He’s just upset.”

  “Rachel Ray wannabe?” Sid growled, his eyes growing dark.

  “Rachel Ray is pretty legit.” Susan tried to help. “She can cook like a boss. I don’t think that’s an insult.”

  “Backstabbing.” Sid’s head snapped toward her, making her take another step back.

  “Ah, well…” Susan sighed with a shrug. “Yeah, I have nothing.”

  Sid kissed Lana quickly before picking her up and moved her to the side as he headed toward the kitchen.

  “Shit.” Lana hissed, glancing at Susan, who was grinning. “This isn’t funny, Susan.”

  “Didn’t say it was.” Susan threw her hands up as she tried her best to wipe the grin off her face, but knew she was failing miserably. If this stuff happened frequently, then she understood why Lana was so preoccupied. “So, Sid is into Rachel Ray?”

  “Give me a second.” Lana replied, then hurried to follow Sid, ignoring Susan’s Rachel Ray question. Okay, this part of the compound Susan had never been in. She followed Lana, who was rushing after Sid, into an enormous kitchen.

  “What in the hell is this?” Steve held up a book with a sexy shirtless man, obviously Sid, without a head, wearing an apron while holding a cutting board with a piece of bread and a cutting knife stabbed into it.

  Susan peeked over Sid’s huge shoulders, trying to get a better look at the book. Her light blue eyes briefly met deep golden ones staring directly at her. Holy hell, were all these men good looking? She quickly diverted her gaze back to the drama unfolding.