21 Shades of Night, page 14
He gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “It’ll be okay. We’ll get everything taken care of.” Warmth darkened his eyes as he smiled.
For better or for worse, I trusted him.
Chapter 37
Brendan
THE MORE TIME that passed without talking to Carmela, the more worried I became. Maybe I hadn’t done enough, but my hands were tied. Did she not know that? Was she avoiding me? I balled my hand into a fist over the handset as I dialed the phone again, but I made sure not to break it. Old human devices could be fragile, and Neal would be furious if anything happened to it.
I’d tried calling a few more times after the first attempt, but William kept making excuses. She was sleeping, she was with Dr. Matthews, she was bathing. Each time he said she’d talk with me soon, but that phone call never came.
I hated feeling this way. Guilt ate at me until I couldn’t take it anymore. Sooner or later, I needed to act, instead of standing by while her father was holding power over her. I didn’t trust him, and he wasn’t helping things.
The phone rang, and her father answered with a pleasant ‘hello.’
“William, put her on the phone. Now.” My voice was a throaty growl. As each moment passed my control unraveled.
“What a surprise, Brendan. You really should have patience. Besides, your parents must not have taught you many manners to harass one of your elders. Just as I’d thought.” He chuckled, sounding every bit the cocky asshole that I knew he was.
I opened my mouth to respond, but the phone was jerked from my grasp. My surprise nearly made me lose my balance, but I caught myself.
My father glowered at me. “Don’t talk to my son like that, William. Let him talk to Carmela. He has every right as her future mate.”
I hadn’t talked with my father about Carmela or what happened with her father. While I didn’t particularly want to get into it with him, I’d known it needed to be discussed sooner or later. Guess it was sooner.
“Neal.” William hissed out the name. “My apologies, Alpha, but maybe we should rethink mating them. I’m sure you agree that they could both find a better match. Perhaps it’s best if your son doesn’t call my house again.” This was the first time I’d heard him sound submissive to my father, but that couldn’t be allowed to happen.
“No, I don’t want anyone but her.” My voice was loud enough for both my father and William to hear, but not so loud that my father would think I was raising my voice at him.
“There’s no need for another mate to be chosen. However, our families don’t appear to get along. Maybe it would be for the best.” Neal looked at me with a stern frown on his face.
I shook my head and walked away. If that bastard wouldn’t allow me to speak with her on the phone, then I’d go in person. I slid on my shoes and grabbed my keys.
They exchanged pleasantries, and I heard my father set the handset back on the cradle.
Neal walked into the entryway. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Where do you think you’re going, kid?”
I straightened my spine. “Out on a walk.”
“You know it’s only going to cause more trouble. That man has always been an egotistical nuisance.” He sighed and shook his head. “The only reason I agreed to the relationship is because of his standing in the city.”
While I agreed with what he said, I was too far gone when it came to wanting Carmela. “Sometimes the easy path isn’t the most gratifying one. I’m going to talk with her. Our customs don’t require both sets of parents to agree to the mating.”
“Sure, if you’re not an Alpha—”
I opened the door. “I’m sorry, Dad. But this has to get figured out. William is arrogant, but I don’t think he’d act this way to my face. He’s a coward who hits women. He needs to be brought down a notch or two.”
Neal nodded. “Do what you will. I know your heart is set on her, but don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work out.” He turned his back and walked further into the house.
The truth of his words socked me in the jaw, and I closed the door behind me.
Inside, I faintly heard my mom asking where I was going in my condition. The tap of her heels closed in on the door, but my father spoke to her softly, “He’ll be fine. He’s taking care of something. I’m sure he won’t be gone long.”
I smiled and headed down the steps, then made the slow trip to Carmela’s. It hadn’t taken this long when I’d been able to walk properly, but that didn’t matter. I had a spring in my step. Whatever the problem, I’d know soon enough what was going on.
I approached her row house. My ears perked up at the sound of yelling coming from inside. Worry clenched my chest. Was I too late? Was he beating her again? Anger had me marching up the steps, and I held my hand over the door about to knock, but a few words stood out.
“First Carmela runs off and now Chandra, those ungrateful little bitches. It’s your fault for bringing that wretched niece of yours into our home.”
My mouth dropped open, and I turned to lower myself onto the steps. She’d run away from home? Why? When? Where did she go? She didn’t come to my home; I’d been there the entire time.
I stopped myself from sitting and knocked on the door after all. I needed some answers, and they were the only ones who could possibly know why she’d do such a thing. While William was a bastard, I stood by my thoughts. He wouldn’t physically push around the son of his Alpha.
He went quiet, and Carmela’s mother stopped crying. There were rapid footsteps going up the stairs, so she was probably scampering away to get space from that monster. When I couldn’t hear her anymore, the door opened. William stood in the doorway. His face was red and the vein in his forehead throbbed, but otherwise his demeanor looked neutral.
“I’m genuinely surprised to see you on my doorstep. I guess you didn’t hear what I told your father, but I think it’s best you stay away from my house and stop calling. You’re only hurting her more with this charade.” He started to close the door, but I put my crutch in the doorway, blocking him.
“You’re lying. I heard what you said to your wife. Where is she?” I placed my hand on the doorframe to keep my balance. I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers. If she’d run away, then she might be in danger.
He lowered his gaze. “Son, if I knew where she was, don’t you think she’d be home?”
“Didn’t you send out a search party?” Bile rose in my throat, and lightheadedness made my vision swim a little.
“Of course. Her cousin went looking for her, but the selfish snot hasn’t come home either.” He shook his head. “They’re probably out there together somewhere thinking they’ll have the last laugh.”
“What if they’re hurt? Didn’t that cross your mind?” Something flashed through his eyes, but it faded too quickly for me to decipher it. My hackles rose. He knew more than he was willing to let on.
“Maybe they are. I’ll give them time to come home on their own. If they’re still missing in a few days, I’ll ask your father to send out the official search team.” He glared down at my crutch. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have matters of my own to attend to.”
Probably finishing that argument with his wife. The thought soured my stomach, but I couldn’t do anything about that. However, I had no idea where to search for both Carmela and her cousin. Unless maybe they weren’t together...
I stepped away from the door and pulled my crutch back. William slammed the door in my face, and I waited there a moment before leaving. What did I know? Carmela had run away, and her cousin went out searching for her later. Where would Carmela have felt safe, even if that place wasn’t mine?
The image of her arms wrapped around Derek’s neck while she smiled at him tore through my thoughts. Dread curled in my gut, and I hobbled down the stairs. Did I go back home or confront them? Maybe she’d made her choice, but there had to be more to it than that.
If she didn’t want to be with me, she should tell me herself.
Chapter 38
Derek
HOW COULD I look her in the eye and promise her safety when my position was just as dangerous? The people who were after me had taken my best friend, and I was going against the nearly millennial Feud by helping and protecting a werewolf. Everything within me said to just forget it, return her to Brendan and help Elliot, but I didn’t want to let her down.
“The substance you smelled last night on the floor is a powerful drug developed by vampires.” When she’d gone to sleep, I dabbed up what I could of the drug, took it to Prescott, and reported what happened to Elliot. He’d been able to fill me in. “Originally, it was designed to subdue our younger kind who are prone to insatiable bloodlust. They require training to gain any modicum of sensibility. Unfortunately, someone has amped up the dosage for more powerful vampires, and that was what was used on Elliot last night.”
Prescott had ordered me to do whatever it took to get Elliot back. He’d asked if I’d wanted assistance, but I declined since I needed to keep Carmela safe, which meant I couldn’t have other vampires around here. I couldn’t throw her out on the street, since her attacker might be after her as furiously as the cloaked necromancer and his pals were after me. But I couldn’t keep my thoughts from straying to the Cazador. They had to be involved. They were the only ones with labs sophisticated enough to do this—but how did they get the drug?
I slid the shoulder brace back on Carmela and led her downstairs. When I was out I’d picked up something for her to eat, and prepared it upon my waking. “I have steak and crisps in the kitchen for you. Feel free to it.”
“Thank you.” She headed off toward the kitchen, and the sound of the bag of crisps rustling followed her.
Perhaps after Carmela finished eating, we would—
Something dark moved behind the curtained window on my front door. A thunderous knock banged at the door, causing my hackles to rise.
Cautiously, I went to the door. The last person to come here unannounced had taken Elliot. I slid aside the curtain to see Brendan standing on my doorstep with a crutch under his arm. His gaze turned to meet mine. He clearly wasn’t afraid of me controlling his mind, but I wouldn’t because of her.
Not happy with the idea, I opened the door.
Rage filled Brendan’s face. “Where is she?” His voice was nearly a growl. He glanced over my shoulder, and his face softened slightly. “Carmela. I was so worried about you. Are you okay?” He flashed hostile eyes back at me.
I slammed my hand against the doorframe to prevent him from entering my home. “Did you lead others of your kind here?”
Brendan shook his head. “No, but I should have. You kidnapped her, didn’t you? Why else would she leave her home like this...?” His face paled, and he looked back at Carmela.
I turned my head slightly to look at her. She bowed hers, staring down at the floor. “He didn’t kidnap me, Brendan. I left because...”
Silence stretched between them, and I wanted to wrap my arms around her, to keep her safe.
“Babe, you really worried me. I tried calling your house so many times.” A low snarl rumbled from Brendan’s chest, drawing my attention back to him. “Let me in, vampire.” His hissed word was low enough so those on the street couldn’t hear.
“Why should I?” I asked.
“Let me talk with her.” Pain weighted Brendan’s gaze. “I need to talk with her.” It was almost hard to say no.
“No—”
“He’s fine, Derek. Please.” Carmela lightly touched my arm before pulling it away.
“Fine, but you can’t stay long. I’m trying to protect her, and someone might have tracked you here.” I let Brendan in, then quickly shut the door.
Chapter 39
Chandra
I BLINKED MY eyes open, annoyed with myself for falling asleep. They could’ve killed me while I was unconscious. Pain stiffened my shoulders and wrists from dangling in shackles. Still, I couldn’t get my feet under me no matter how hard I tried. Whatever drug they’d given me was strong and effective. I was aware of what went on, but in a stupor.
Maybe passing out was a better choice; then I wouldn’t have to endure consciousness. If they maimed or murdered me while I slept, that’d be better than living in this dark dungeon waiting for whatever they were going to do. The sleep would be a welcome release. My eyes had begun to feel like they were going to bleed from wakefulness, yet sleep would not come now.
Beside me, something moved. I would’ve jumped if I hadn’t been paralyzed. A male groan filled my ears, and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t see him before, so he had to be new here. He wore a dark suit and appeared to be in rough shape, but then again, I probably looked worse.
He turned his head to look at me. It seemed he had more control over his limbs than I did. Maybe the drug wore off quicker for him. The shackles on his wrists clanged softly.
“Who are you?” he asked. His voice was scratchy, with a hint of an English accent.
I tried to talk, but I couldn’t force any words out.
Grimacing, he tried to stand, but his legs gave out beneath him. “Guess there’s no way we’re getting out of this mess.” Sighing, he leaned his head back against the solid brick wall. “In any case, I’m Elliot. Perhaps I’ll get your name eventually. You do bear a resemblance to someone I know...”
Again, I tried to speak, but I only whimpered.
“Hush now. It’s okay. We’ll find a way.” He gave me a kind smile.
A man walked by the large dark room where we were kept. He glared at us like we were pests before continuing past us. Movement in my peripheral vision signified even more people beyond the man next to me. I’d seen some of them when I was first brought in, but there were more here now. Who were our captors? What did they want?
Cross-species relations are forbidden...
Could that be why we were all here? But the Feud...why would anyone go against that? Some of the other nocturnes in the dungeon looked like faeries or other shifters, not those in the actual vampire-werewolf conflict.
Speaking of which, the man beside me certainly smelled like a vampire. However, he was nice, totally unlike what I’d learned about them in the Militia.
Whatever.
At least I was away from Uncle William, though this wasn’t really a better alternative. Memories of his perverted abuse flickered through my mind like a twisted photo album. Anger and frustration bubbled up from my chest. Ever so slowly, I clenched my hands into fists.
Maybe if I built up enough adrenaline, I could burn off the drugs they’d pumped into me.
I thought back to my parents and Uncle William. My parents couldn’t have cared less about me; Uncle William just wanted to abuse me, and I finally saw what I’d missed all along. He didn’t want to me to have any kind of future. I was older than Carmela, yet he’d never looked for a mate for me, regardless of his excuses. He wanted me to be his little play-toy. Someone to sate the twisted desires my aunt couldn’t.
Nausea settled into my stomach, and I felt close to vomiting out of sheer despair.
Carmela had had an excellent opportunity to be an Alpha Queen, and yet she complained about wanting love in her life instead of enduring her power and position. Didn’t she know that some werewolves craved that sacred title?
Some of my strength returned to me as my heart raced and my body pumped adrenaline through my veins.
The man next to me and the girl on the other side of him stared. “What do you think you’re doing?” he whispered. “You’re pushing a lot of power around. Stop it. Don’t draw unwanted attention to us. Our captors could come over and do something to all of us because you’re trying to break free.”
The girl huddled back, pulling her tattered leather jacket around her as if it would keep her safe from whoever had brought us here. But who would come looking for me...or any of these people? We looked like a bunch of rejects, except for Mr. English. Uncle William would think of my disappearance as one less hassle for him, that much I knew for sure.
I put my feet under me, allowing my aching shoulders and bloody wrists slight relief. I didn’t have enough strength to look at them. It was hard enough to not appear too suspicious as I held myself up.
What had I been drawn into?
Chapter 40
Carmela
SIGHING, I RAN my gaze over Brendan. He looked a little ragged, like he hadn’t slept since we last saw one another. Of course he’d been able to find me here. The day I’d met Brendan, we’d walked past Derek’s house while he was outside. I’d been stupid for coming here. Silently cursing, I walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
“He beat you more, didn’t he? I should have handled him when I had the chance. I am so sorry I couldn’t protect you.” Brendan sat beside me, almost close enough to brush his thigh against mine. His utter masculinity overpowered me, and panic surged through my veins.
“I don’t think fighting him would’ve been good for you, especially in your condition.” I glanced over at Derek, who looked grim. I didn’t want to tell Brendan what my father had almost done. Partly from shame, and partly because I still cared for him. What would he think?
“So you ran away to here? Here?” he asked, beginning to sound a little incredulous. He placed his hand on my knee, and the warmth of his touch soaked into my leg.
I scooted away a little, uncomfortable at the closeness. “How did you know to search for me?” Had he talked to my father? What did he say? Were others looking for me? Damn it. I needed to move on soon, even if it meant the Outskirts.
