Caged Page 6

  Arms rigid, his hands pounded into my sternum and an outward thrust sent me sailing.

  “Get out of my town, pup!”

  My legs overtook my head before the wall prevented me going any farther.

  Knees hit first, followed by my chest and stomach.

  From there, I headed south.

  I threw down my arms, but not fast enough to break the fall, and the collision between my skull and the concrete paving infiltrated my brain with nothing but agony, damn lightning flashes, and momentary concussion.

  “Final warning!” he roared.

  The rest of my body slid along the wall to slump in a heap with a thud.

  I shook my head and blinked my eyes open in time to see the three vampires disappear either side of the gulley exit as though the bloody beings had wings.

  Kyle’s steps pounded the ground after them.

  “Kyle!” My voice barely carried, but the breeze must have picked it up en route, because his step faltered as he went to climb the exterior wall alongside the car park.

  Foot poised, hand gripping the barrier, he turned back to me.

  I tried to lift my head, hiding a groan as implosion threatened my brain. “Stand down.”

  His frown cut deep, but he lowered his foot, and walked back.

  “Stand down,” I said as he reached me. “You can’t beat them.” That stung to say—but I couldn’t allow Kyle to take the risk over hiding my admittance.

  It must have shown in my face because he gave a nod. Without another word on the matter, he held out his hand for mine and dragged my sorry arse up.

  “You look like shit.”

  I staggered a little before regaining my balance.

  “You okay?”

  My nod afflicted my brain like a jackhammer party. I rubbed a hand across my brow to hide my wince and headed toward where we’d parked the trucks. “I’m just peachy.”

  9

  “It’s five-twenty-three already.” Kyle tilted up from his mobile as we neared the trucks. “We’re not going to make it to The Blueberry.”

  “Sure we will.”

  “How? Dad and Nate aren’t around yet, and the female said to meet at six.” He shoved his mobile back into his pocket. “Besides, when Nate sees the state of you, he’ll never let us go.”

  I glanced at him with a smile. “What if Dad doesn’t see the state of me?”

  “I know we haven’t passed any mirrors on the way, but those injuries of yours are a bit hard to miss.”

  I could have figured that out on my own. A slow trickle of blood made a constant stream over my temple, driven by the thudding beat against the inside of my skull. My eyes didn’t seem too keen on the idea of focusing either—but not for one minute would I let that stand in the way of getting information.

  “What Dad doesn’t see can’t worry him.” I hit the remote for the truck doors before tossing the keys to Kyle. “You drive. I’ll take care of the oldies.”

  A smile crept over his face as he traded sides with me. “We sneaking off and dumping them?”

  I flipped open the passenger door. “Hell, yes.”

  • • •

  Taking care of Dad turned out easier than expected—mostly because I informed him only of the conversation that occurred between myself and the vampire. For almost ten minutes, he tossed his musings back and forth between me, Kyle and Connor on loudspeaker: What did the vampire look like; did I believe he had nothing to do with the kidnappings; maybe he knew more than he’d shared; maybe he knew everything? His tone sounded impressed, like I’d spent an afternoon honing my excellent sleuthing skills instead of performing unfortunate acrobatics against my will. “We could always come back tonight,” I suggested. “Try and flush them out to get some more answers.”

  “No,” Dad said. “That’s a bad idea.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Because, although vampires venture out in the day, the light weakens them. Come nightfall, they’ll have reached full strength.”

  Fuck me. That had been them weak? I caught my unspoken words reflected in Kyle’s brow-lifted expression and blown out breath.

  “I have a question, Nate,” Kyle said as he took a right turn. “Seeing as you seem to have knowledge of vampires you could have shared with us.”

  Only lesson I’d ever been taught about vampires: stay the fuck away from their teeth.

  “Not much, just some.” Dad seemed oblivious to Kyle’s sarcasm. “Try me, though.”

  “Why don’t they smell of anything?” Kyle hadn’t detected a scent for them either.

  “They do smell,” Dad and Connor said in unison.

  “No—” I started as Kyle said, “They smelled us a mile off, but we found no trace of them—not even up close. Seems pretty bollocks and unfair to me.”

  “What are you talking about, Son?” Connor asked.

  Kyle’s confused expression reflected my own. “We couldn’t smell anything of them.” He slowed the truck to a stop at a traffic light. “I mean, what kind of stunt is that to pull?”

  “That’s not possible,” Dad said. “I’ve smelled vampires, and trust me, they stink. Are you sure these were vampires?”

  I thought back to the fangs that had come way too close to my throat. “Without a doubt. I didn’t know you’d met vampires, Dad. When was this?”

  Kyle shifted into first and accelerated forward at the flash of amber.

  “Years ago.” Dad’s deep bass arrived full of contemplation.

  “Many years ago.” Connor rumbled out his agreement.

  “Before you were born,” Dad said. “One made the mistake of trespassing in the forest when Connor and I snuck off from the pack for a hunt. Damn thing blocked my sinuses up for days after I killed it.”

  My brows shot up, as did my already-high opinion of my father. “After you killed it?”

  “We.” Connor added a small laugh. “After we killed it.”

  “Yeah, yeah, that’s what I meant,” Dad said. “You pinned it, and—”

  “You ripped off its ugly head.” Low chuckles travelled the phone line to us. “Damn thing was a pain in the rear to take down.”

  “You’re telling me,” Dad said.

  I grinned at Kyle as we listened to the old codgers reminiscing. We didn’t get to hear it very often.

  “And that stench?” Connor said. “Never smelled anything like it. Not since.”

  My confusion crept back in. “So, why couldn’t we smell the ones we met, today, then?”

  “No idea,” Dad said. “You sure you’re not coming down with something?”

  I rolled my eyes to the passing sky outside the window, giving a small headshake he wouldn’t see. “When was the last time I was ill, Dad?” I’d never known any of the pack to get sick.

  “Or me?” Kyle said. “We’d both have to be ill for us both not to smell them. There has to be another reason for it.”

  “We’ll think on it,” Dad said. “Go, find out what you can from this female, and call me before you head home.”

  “Sure,” Kyle and I mumbled together.

  With the call at an end, I looked to Kyle. “You have any idea where this Blueberry place is?”

  “No.”

  I reached into the glove box and grabbed the Sat-Nav for him. “Then use this.”

  “Why, what are you doing?” He took it from me and switched it on, glancing between the screen and the road ahead.

  I withdrew a first aid kit from the same place before reaching up for the sun visor and exposing the mirror. “I’m making myself pretty enough to be seen in public.”

  • • •

  “I’ll be lucky if they let me in,” I mumbled as we approached the hotel entrance. “I look like I’ve gone a few ro
unds in the ring.”

  “You did.” Kyle checked me over for the hundredth time. “But I wouldn’t worry about your face and head. Your getup makes them almost unnoticeable.”

  “What d’you mean?” Glancing down, I brushed at the dust coating my T, and poked at a hole in the knee of my jeans that hadn’t been there earlier. “Are they that bad?”

  “Nah. I’m just shitting with you.” Kyle chuckled and herded me faster with a pat to my shoulder. “Might be an idea to stay at my back, though, until we find you a table to hide behind.”

  I kept my head down on entering the hotel, ducking behind Kyle to pass the doorman. The effort seemed unnecessary when we reached the bar with nobody even glancing my way.

  The barman zoomed in on us, stiff white collar framing his scrawny neck beneath the curled ends of his dark hair. “What can I get ya?”

  Kyle thumbed at me. “He needs a drink. I need directions to your restaurant.”

  “Restaurant’s back out the doors then follow the tiles round to the left.” The barman—Stu, according to his nametag—cocked his head at me. “What’ll it be?”

  “You’re driving home, right?” Kyle said.

  I paused in my climb onto a barstool, raising an eyebrow. “Now, I know you’re shitting with me.”

  He patted my arm, pleading with his eyes. “Come on. How often do I get to take a hot bird out?”

  “You’re not taking one out now. She asked you to dinner, remember?” My eyes flicked to peer over his shoulder at movement near the door, and my lips curved into a smile. “And she must think you’ve stood her up.”

  “What?”

  I gestured with my chin. “She’s looking for you.”

  Kyle whirled round as a smile spread across the blonde’s face. She lifted a hand, wiggling her fingers and revealing toned muscles. The strapless bodice of her black dress looked like it had been spray-painted on to fit so snug.

  Kyle grinned at me over his shoulder. “She’s smokin’.”

  My lips twitched as I shook my head at his blatant admiration.

  “I’ll see you later.”

  I grabbed for his shoulder when he went to walk off. “Just do me a favour.” At the lift of his brows, I said, “Don’t forget why you’re meeting her, okay?”

  “’Course not.” His low chuckle carried back to me as he strode the width of the room to greet her.

  “Are you ready to order, sir?”

  I swivelled on my stool and rested my elbows on the bar. “Guess I’ll have water, please.”

  • • •

  I didn’t keep count of the number of times I hopped off my barstool to peer through the restaurant doors and check on Kyle, but it bordered on ten too many. With her back to me, his companion remained oblivious. The tiny flicker of Kyle’s eyes at each of my visits, on the other hand, told me he was plenty aware of my over-cautious behaviour.

  By seven, I’d worked myself into a deep enough hunger that I’d have considered changing in a nearby bush just to hunt something down if I had to wait much longer to eat.

  I nodded to the barman as he placed another water in front of me. “You do food in here?”

  He reached a hand beneath the bar and handed me a card menu. “Knock yourself out.”

  “Thanks.” I browsed the stated meals, landing on their biggest steak. “I’ll take the twenty-two ounce, with chips and whatever else it comes with.”

  “Sure.” He took the menu back from me. “Grab yourself a table, and I’ll bring it over.”

  Leaving it to the last minute, yet again, ensured I chowed down my meal like a rabid beast. I didn’t doubt the steak’s deliciousness, and would have savoured it had it been allowed the chance to hit my taste buds before swallows. About halfway through my meal, Kyle’s scent infiltrated the rich aroma drifting up from beneath me. I lifted my gaze and found him coming through the bar doors with the female hanging off his arm.

  A second look at her brought details I’d missed on first appraisal, like the hem of her dress barely concealing any underwear she wore, and the gaping cutout of the rear to expose hard muscle across her back. Kyle’s hand against the flesh there, as he guided her to a barstool, told me he’d very much noticed it, too.

  Her tight curves settled onto one of the padded cushions. She held onto Kyle’s shoulder, seemed to steady herself, and trailed her fingers down his arm before dropping her hand. Her position revealed soft waves of blonde bouncing across her shoulders, and the wiggle of her butt when she adjusted once more. From the smiles that passed between them, they must have progressed pretty fast for a ninety-minute dinner.

  I popped a couple of chips into my mouth and chewed as I watched the gentle touches, the way Kyle leaned in close to her ear, and the curve of her body into him when he spoke.

  He glanced my way, lips still moving, and a grin spread across his mouth. When he left her to head across to me, my eyes narrowed.

  “Hey.” He slid into the seat opposite me and drummed the table with his fingertips.

  I speared a breaded mushroom and fed it to myself. A working of my jaw, a swallow, followed by another of water, and I stared hard at him. “Answer’s no.”

  Kyle’s mouth opened and closed as his palms lifted. “Come on.”

  Chomping on my last piece of steak, I shook my head.

  “But …” He blew out a breath, ran a hand through his hair. “She’s done nothing but hint that if I had a room booked … Come on, Ethan. Do this for me.”

  “No.” I nudged my plate across the table. The cutlery clattered as I pushed to my feet.

  Kyle grabbed my arm. “Please.”

  “I’ve just eaten some mediocre meal whilst you dined your rear off with Miss Loincloth over there. I haven’t even had chance to call in on Shelley and make sure she’s okay.”

  Lines etched across Kyle’s brow. “You got a thing for Shelley?”

  I hesitated for too long as memories of the night before flashed through my mind. If he’d asked me three days earlier, the answer would have been an easy no—before I’d gone and made everything complicated.

  Kyle’s forehead eased up as his eyebrows lifted. “You have.”

  “Did you even get the answers you were supposed to?” I asked.

  “Yes. I told you I would.”

  “Good. There’s no reason to stay any longer then.” I flicked my wrist from his grasp. “I’ll meet you outside.”

  His quiet growl and uttered, “Fuck,” hit my ears as I strode off.

  More guests occupied the lobby than on first arrival. I weaved through them like a disgruntled bull.

  As though he’d spotted my mood and unwillingness to remain any longer, the doorman swung open the door before I reached it, nodding to me on exit.

  Coolness from a strong breeze hit my face and accompanied the first waning of light. The graze on my head prickled with the encompassing freshness. Long steps carried me through, but I’d only made it to the car park border when I slammed to a halt.

  “Shit!” I rubbed a hand over my face, dropped it to my hip. “You bastard, Ethan.”

  I spun and headed back to the entrance, tugged out my mobile and hit number one on the speed dial. By the time I reached the door, the call connected. “Dad?” I ducked back into the building, nodding to the doorman as he dipped his head.

  “Everything okay?” Worry tinged his tone.

  “What?” I sidestepped a suitcase that wheeled past in the hand of a suit. “Yeah, everything’s fine, but we won’t be home tonight.”

  “The two of you staying at Shelley’s?”

  My mouth opened and closed; I came pretty close to putting him straight, until common sense told me it would be a damn sight easier to go with the idea he’d unknowingly offered up. “Yeah.”

  “Kyle find out an
ything off that female?” he asked.

  “Yeah, he did. We’ll update you in the morning. Drop me a text as soon as you’ve decided where you want us to hit up, and we’ll head straight out and get started earlier.”

  “Good idea. Dan’s taking my place with Connor tomorrow. They’ll meet you first thing.”

  “’Kay. Speak tomorrow.”

  I reached the front desk with no other obstacle to hinder my path.

  A blue-bloused female turned to me with a smile she’d probably been trained to give. “May I help you?”

  “You have two doubles? Preferably adjoining or next to each other?”

  Her gaze lowered to the screen on her desk as her fingers tapped across a keyboard. “They’re not adjoining, but they are together.” She glanced back up and seemed to have to make effort to keep her gaze below the battered top half of my face. “How will you be paying for those, sir?”

  Thank goodness for company credit cards.

  The transaction took little time, and within minutes, I had two keys in my hand. I paused in the doorway to the bar, scanning for a moment.

  Back at the stools, Kyle had taken a seat beside the blonde. He paused in the sipping of his drink and turned like he’d sensed my presence.

  A jerk of my chin drew him over. “I was an—”

  He slapped my shoulder, cutting off my words. “Don’t mention it.”

  I held my palm out.

  He went to shake it until I jiggled the key balancing in the dip of my hand, and he slid a finger through the ring. “What …”

  “Room two-eleven. I’m right next door, so …” I smiled. “… don’t make too much noise—please.”

  He chuckled. “I owe you.”

  “Yep.” My head cocked to the side. “You do.”

  10

  The lift ride up to the second floor would have been more comfortable if the car didn’t have mirrored walls. Behind my own reflection, the blonde’s fingers toyed with Kyle’s hair, sliding around his neck to tug him to her—like they could get any closer. Even Kyle seemed to forget my presence when his nose dug in and nuzzled at her neck.

  God knew how he tolerated the manky perfume she’d doused herself in again; the headache I already had worsened with each intake of fumes.