“You thought I’d wait for you to leave and then scream to draw a human,” she guessed.
“But you only screamed when this prick was hurting you.” He released her face. “Take a shower. Stay up there when you’re done. I’ll bring you something else to wear.”
He wasn’t lying to her, at least. She inched away from him and walked to the stairs. Part of her expected him to follow but when she glanced back, he was bending over Ted’s body. She hurried up the stairs and into a shop. The back door was closed but it showed damage from being kicked in.
Just out that door was freedom. The sun was down enough for her to be able to move in the shadows. Her best guess was within five minutes, it would be completely dark.
Glacier was trusting her. That meant something.
She glanced around and saw another set of stairs leading to a second floor.
Staying was the right thing to do. Glacier hadn’t hurt her. He’d protected her.
The bathroom was easy to find. She closed but didn’t lock the door and turned on the water, running her hand over her newly healed flesh. It didn’t hurt anymore but red streaks remained from the claw marks. They’d fade fast, though.
“You fucking idiot,” Glacier muttered, not sure if he spoke to the dead enforcer or himself. He went under the stairs and pulled out another folded canvas tarp, wrapping up the bloodied body. He would need to find the idiot’s keys, since he couldn’t very well carry the corpse on his bike.
It made him feel sick imagining what could have happened to Mandy if he hadn’t arrived so quickly. She was the Vampire who hadn’t been able to bite elderly people in a hotel because she felt compassion for humans. He should have trusted her to stay inside the shop and not chained her down, leaving her defenseless against an attack.
Lesson learned. It wouldn’t happen again.
He cocked his head, listening. Pipes squeaked. The old building had a lot of issues, including plumbing. She hadn’t run but was instead showering. He’d figured it was a fifty-fifty split on what she’d do if given her freedom. Now he knew. Mandy was smart. The council would be after her if they realized she wasn’t dead, and the Lycan packs lumped her in with the nest who’d murdered their kids. But she did have her Vamp friend in town to run to.
He carried the body up to the shop and dropped it on a counter. The back door was broken, thanks to the dickhead in the tarp. He lifted his phone, placing a call. Kelzeb answered on the second ring.
“I thought I wouldn’t hear from you again until you hit the nest after dawn. Did something go wrong?”
“One of Kevin’s enforcers decided to break into the shop I’m staying in and go after my Vamp. He’s dead now.”
Kelzeb sighed. “Your Vamp? I take it she’s alive still?”
He gritted his teeth and sucked in a deep breath before blowing it out. “Yes, she is. Mandy isn’t like most bloodsuckers. She’s good, Kelzeb.”
“Shit. What are you doing, Glacier? You killed a Lycan over a Vamp?”
“That bastard broke in here to hurt her. She was helpless, since I had her chained down. What kind of dick does that? He tore off her clothes, used his claws on her, and was about to rape her when I showed up. Don’t expect me to apologize for taking out garbage!”
Kelzeb took his time to answer, long seconds passing. “I would have done the same. I take it you have feelings for this Vamp, since you sound so enraged?”
“Her name is Mandy, and I don’t know what the hell I’m feeling. I just know she didn’t deserve for that dickhead to go after her. I also don’t know why the council trained her to do their dirty work. They must be idiots. I’ve spent time with her, and it’s clear that she’s too damn sweet to fit in with them.”
“Calling a Vampire ‘sweet’ disconcerts me.”
“She is. Wait until you meet her. You’ll see what I mean.”
“I don’t want to meet your Vampire. Hell, I don’t even want to know about her. I have to tell this shit to Aveoth. It always falls to me to spin some mess a guardian creates. This could become a shit-storm. The pack asked us to be there the help them, not kill one of their enforcers.”
“He deserved it.”
“Agreed, but it still won’t sit well with the alpha. It never does. They could attack you as soon as they find out. Are you asking permission to fly out of their city and let them deal with the nest on their own?”
“No. I’m going to finish the job. The nest killed Lycan kids.”
“And what of Mandy? Do you plan to turn her loose or are you taking her with you when you go on your next assignment?”
Glacier opened his mouth, not sure what to say.
“Let me make it very clear that you’re responsible for her actions if you allow her to live. Make damn certain she’s worth putting your ass on the line for. You set a killer free and any deaths are on you. You keep her at your side, and she falls under our laws. Including punishments.”
“I hear you.”
“We also have another problem if you keep her. You can’t feed her, Glacier.”
“I know.”
“I mean it. It’s too fucking dangerous.”
“I know,” he rasped.
“Are you thinking about making her your mate?”
He didn’t know that one. But the idea of keeping her didn’t sound half bad.
His silence must have answered for him.
Kelzeb loudly sighed. “It was stressful enough when Aveoth brought Jill here. She only has partial Vampire bloodlines. He loves her, and she’s made him happy. Everyone deserves that. There’s no way in hell you can bring a full-blooded Vamp home to the clan, though. We’re not miracle workers. You know the damn history we have with Vampires. Some of the clan will full-out rebel.”
“I didn’t say I wanted to bring Mandy to the cliffs.”
“Good. To be clear, I also didn’t say you couldn’t keep her with you, since you don’t live here. Update me if anything else happens.”
“I will.”
Kelzeb ended the call and Glacier shoved his phone into his pocket. He felt a bit stunned. Kelzeb hadn’t ordered him to kill Mandy again, just made him responsible for her actions if he kept her. The threat of refusing a direct kill order from his boss was off the table. The tension eased inside him.
He didn’t live at the cliffs, barely visiting the clan home, instead moving from job to job and whatever location he was sent. He could keep her. That was a real option now.
It changed everything.
He respected the hell out of Kelzeb for giving him the green light to proceed as he wished. Lord Aveoth would abide by his best friend and advisor’s decision. The two of them were as close as he was to his own brothers.
He jogged upstairs to get Mandy something to wear. The water in the bathroom shut off right as he dug through his bag.
“I’m coming,” he called out to her. “Just a minute.”
Chapter Five
Mandy wore another baggy long-sleeve shirt and a pair of boxer briefs Glacier had given her. He’d led her into the bedroom. It was small, cracks marred the walls, and the only thing decent as far as furniture went was the queen-size bed. The sheets on it looked new, despite how it was unmade. He pointed at it and she took a seat. He crouched in front of her.
“Here’s the deal. I need to get to the pack and plot going after the nest at first light. I’d let them handle this situation on their own but they’ve proven I can’t trust them. Lycan kids are in danger if that nest remains functional. I refuse to let children pay for having a stupid alpha who doesn’t vet his enforcers better.”
She nodded.
“I’m not going to chain you up again to leave you defenseless. Ted might have equally stupid friends who could show up here.”
She was surprised he’d trust her.
“I think you still have a heart in that bosom of yours, Mandy. Whatever you do, from this moment forward, my ass is on the line. I’m accountable. You fuck me over, my ass is going to be handed to me.
Do you understand? I’m vouching for you.”
Her mouth hung open but she closed it quickly. “Why would you do that?”
“Maybe I’m stupid, too.” He glanced away but then back at her. “I’m willing to take the risk. Just be straight with me. Are you going to run? Leave the shop while I’m gone?”
She shook her head. “I’ll stay.”
“No luring anyone in, either. Fangs to yourself. You just fed.”
“I promise. I won’t need blood for days.”
He put his hands on each side of her but keep inches of space from her hips. “You’re allowed to defend yourself. Any Lycans come in, hand them their ass. Try to keep them alive though. Kill only if you must.” He hesitated. “Fuck. Don’t screw me over, Mandy.”
“I won’t.” She peered into his eyes. “I swear, Glacier. I want you to take out that nest and keep them from hurting other children. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be right here when you get back.”
“Okay. I have to go and find dickhead’s SUV to tote his body in. Come downstairs with me and guard the door. I can’t lock it since it’s broken. Once I take his body out, use something to block it that a human would have a tough time pushing against. I want you to cover the windows up here while I’m gone, too. That will keep you safe at dawn. There’s some plywood in a closet on the first floor. The basement is safer but it’s too bloody. I know you don’t do well scenting that. You’ll stay up here tomorrow.”
He rose up and held out his hand. She placed her smaller one in his and he pulled her to her feet. He let go and turned, giving her his back. It was a sign of trust.
She followed him down the short hallway and to the first floor, where he jerked open the back door and walked into the alley. The sun had gone down, and she felt at full strength thanks to the darkness and the blood she’d drank. Minutes passed, and then she heard an engine. A big white SUV pulled up in the alley and Glacier got out of the driver’s seat. He entered, nodded at her, and then lifted Ted’s body.
“Block it after me. I’ll return well after the sun is up. Sleep in the bed but leave room for me. I’m going to be tired. Tomorrow night, we’ll discuss what we do next.”
“Be careful,” she whispered.
He met her gaze and grinned. “This is what I do…and I’m damned good at it.”
He left and she went to the door, watching as he shoved the body into the backseat, paying more attention to the street at the end of the alley than her. She was ready to take over any human minds if they saw anything. No one came down the alley though.
Glacier got in the driver’s seat and drove off. Mandy closed the door and shoved hard to seal it.
She examined the busted doorframe and figured she could do her best to fix it if she could find some tools. It didn’t take long to locate the closet with the plywood. A small toolbox rested on a shelf. Memories hit of her childhood but she pushed them back. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d patched a door. Her father and brothers had been hell on a house with their short tempers.
An hour later, she entered the basement and began to clean up all the blood. It made her fangs come out but hunger didn’t gnaw at her. The worst part about it was the strong chemical smells of bleach in the contained space with no window or fan. It was good to be a Vamp though, as she held her breath for minutes at a time, only taking in small amounts of air when her lungs burned for it.
She finished, then went back upstairs to wait.
* * * * *
Glacier slammed what remained of Ted down on Kevin’s war table, scattering papers. The alpha and four of his enforcers appeared shocked at the body-shaped canvas.
“Ted decided to break into my lair to go after my prisoner.”
Kevin gawked at him and then snarled.
“Don’t.” Glacier allowed his skin to partially shell in case the stupid bastard tried to attack him. “That prick tore her up and tortured her. I walked in while he was about to rape her. Do you really want to die for a piece of shit who didn’t deserve his title?”
Kevin dropped his gaze to the tarp. “He wouldn’t have done that.”
“I brought you the body as proof. Unwrap his ass. His dick is still hanging out. I didn’t close his pants, and you sure as hell won’t find my scent on his crotch. Check his claws, too. You’ll smell Vamp blood. I had her strung out flat on a counter with her legs together and her arms above her head. She didn’t have a chance of fighting him off.”
Glacier tore off his shirt and threw it at the alpha. Kevin caught it.
“Smell the blood on it. That’s hers. Compare it to what’s on him. My prisoner, in my lair, and that’s your enforcer who went after her.”
Glacier spun away and walked to a marked cabinet in the corner, yanked it open, and found a spare shirt in his size. All Lycans kept clothing in their war rooms since sometimes anger made them shift. He put it on and returned to the table. “Now, are we going to fight over an enforcer you couldn’t control, or are we going to take out this nest who murdered some of your children?”
Kevin lifted Ted and carried him to the floor, unwrapped the canvas, and examined the body. He finally got to his feet, strode to the table, and began to sort the papers. He shoved one at Glacier. “You were right. There are some old sewer tunnels under that building. Two ways for them to escape. The water pipes were also upgraded in the seventies but they aren’t big enough for anyone to crawl through.”
Glacier relaxed and focused on the job at hand. “You’re going to need to send two-person Lycan teams into the sewers to block off the openings here and here.” He pointed at the blueprints. “I don’t see gas lines in these plans. I’d go with automatic weapons. Go for brain shots if they enter the tunnels and take their heads after they’re down. We don’t know how many can day move. They won’t be at full strength, but I’d rather be safe than have your Lycans overpowered.”
“Weapons aren’t honorable,” Kevin rumbled.
“Neither is a nest stealing children and tormenting them to the point of pain-induced insanity to get them to fight each other to the death. They should have stuck to the rules if they expect us to. No offense, but the master is going to be coming through those tunnels when we breach the basement door. Shoot first and remove the head when they’re down. I’d be the one going into the tunnel if there was only one. But there’s two.”
“It’s only seven Vamps. I’m sure we can handle them without guns.”
Glacier stared at Kevin and shook his head. “You’re assuming the master hasn’t made more, and that he hasn’t mind-fucked armed humans into helping defend his nest. They will have guns. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done this shit. I know what I’m doing. Your Lycans will be armed, Kevin. That’s not up for debate. I’m sure they’re excellent fighters, but they won’t be if they’re shot to shit by humans before the Vamps rush them.”
Kevin paled.
“Been there, seen that happen. This asshole will have day guards, and they’ll be armed. We’re hitting them while they’re trying to sleep. Do you want your Lycans shot full of holes, or able to defend themselves when the Vamps come rushing into those tunnels after sending in humans first?” Glacier arched an eyebrow.
“Fuck.” Kevin turned to a blond enforcer. “Arm our men.” He faced Glacier. “It will be loud though if there’s gunfire. Humans will be drawn.”
“That’s why we’re going to clear out all the humans in the restaurant above and blow the basement when we’re done. We go out the sewer tunnels. Have vehicles waiting here.” He pointed at the map of the tunnels. “The cops will arrive where the gunfire originates. We’ll be long gone.”
“Blow? We don’t have any explosives.”
Glacier grinned. “I do. This is not my first nest, as I’ve said many times before.”
“How do we clear the humans?”
“We’re going to dress up before we go into the restaurant as employees of the local gas company. Someone reported a gas leak and they need to exit the building fast.
We hit hard at that point. I’ve already paid someone to steal the uniforms and two vans.”
“Who?” Kevin frowned. “You trust a human not to screw us over?”
Glacier smiled again. “It’s Graves.”
Kevin paled. “The Graves?”
“Is there more than one?”
“Who the fuck is Graves?” Teenie had come in.
Kevin shifted his stance but kept quiet.
Glacier didn’t hesitate. “He’s the one packs normally call in when someone needs to die and for whatever reason, the alpha can’t do it. His body count is so high, he’s earned the name. He’s also a friend. I called in a favor since he’s between jobs.”
“You brought a killer into my territory without my permission?” Kevin glared.
“You’re never happy, are you? You complained because I wasn’t a team player. I get in line and use a partner, yet here you are, doing it again.”
“I wanted you to work with my pack.”
Glacier jerked his head toward the body on the floor. “Yeah. Because you have your enforcers totally under your control.” He snorted. “I trusted Ted to be smart enough to stay away from my prisoner. He wasn’t. She works for the damn Vampire Council. Do you know much about how the council works, Kevin?”
The alpha shook his head.
“She does. Ted tried to kill our best source of information. I told Kelzeb.” He glanced around at the other enforcers. “He’s going to report what happened to Lord Aveoth.”
Kevin looked visibly ill.
“Are we on the same page now? The Vampire prisoner in my lair is off limits to your damn pack. She’s not a part of the nest who took your children. Lord Aveoth is very interested in learning about the Vampire Council. Am I clear?”
“Yes.” Kevin didn’t look happy though.
Glacier didn’t give a damn as long as it kept anyone else from going after Mandy. “Make sure your pack is aware of that, Kevin. Your enforcers are supposed to follow your orders. Otherwise they can join Ted there on the floor.”