“Actually, they do.” She went over every detail of when the Vampires had arrived and described the ones she’d seen. “Paula seemed to be in charge.”
“I’m in hell! I just want to run off with you and lock you in my den.”
“I’m going to be okay, Red. I have faith. Worst case, I fight. I’m not going in there without weapons. I just have to hold them off until you and the others come in after me. Just don’t accidently kill my grandpa, okay? Chances are, he’s going to be the Vampire closest to me if he has an option. He’ll put himself between me and the others.”
“I won’t kill him.” He turned his head and brushed a kiss on the top of her head. “Don’t die tomorrow.”
“I won’t. I promise.” She hoped she could keep her word.
Chapter Twelve
Graves had come to their hotel room first thing the next morning. He’d stayed in the room, giving her advice, and kept sniffing near her to make sure no trace of VampLycan remained once she’d showered. He’d also brought a bag of clothes freshly purchased at the gift shop in the lobby. It had been slightly embarrassing to discover he’d included a bra and underwear. She hadn’t asked him how he knew her sizes.
Red had sat in the chair across the room without saying a word. She met his grim gaze often but didn’t try to provoke him into talking. It was easier to deal with the silent treatment after he’d explained it was the only way he could keep control of his instincts and emotions.
At the end, when she was ready to leave the room and he stood, the desire to hug him almost overwhelmed her.
“You can’t,” Graves stated softly. “I’m sorry.”
She glanced at him.
“I don’t have a mate, but I know I’d want to hold her if she was walking out the door into uncertainty. You’d have to take another shower, I’d need to buy you more clothes, and we’re on a time constraint. We must go. The rental car we arranged has been dropped off.” He flashed his phone. “My brother accepted the keys but didn’t get inside. I doubt the Vamps will come out to sniff the car since they’d get burned unless you parked in the garage, which isn’t in the plan. But just in case, it smells all human right now. Better to be safe than sorry. For all we know, they could have hired a rogue Were for this job. He could sniff the car for them.”
Her gaze returned to Red. “I’ve got this. I know you’re coming for me once I’m inside. I love you. We’ll tell Grandpa about us and tonight, you can bite me.”
He looked positively tortured as he gave a sharp nod.
She sucked in a sharp breath and opened the door, stepping out into the hallway. Graves was careful not to touch her. They took the same elevator down to the lobby. He led her to the parking structure and she spotted Micah. No one else from their group was in sight.
“You drive the route discussed. No variations.” Graves glanced at his phone again. “Don’t break the speed limit either. We’ll get there right after you but watch the fucking time. Slow down if you’re too early. You hit that driveway right at noon. Not before.”
Micah chuckled. “I checked the dash clock. It’s twenty-one seconds faster than my phone.” He tossed her a key fob.
She caught it, noticing he wore gloves. “Thanks.”
“I put a surprise in the trunk. That’s why I had my brother buy you a baggy sweatshirt.” He tapped his inner forearm. “Straps on right here. You grip the sides of it near your elbow with both your finger and thumb, push the buttons at the same time, and a six-inch blade slides down. Make sure you curl your hand back and don’t accidently stab yourself. The spring on it is fast, and it’s sharp enough to do damage. Go for their throats and eye sockets if you need to use it.” He glanced at her, up and down. “You look utterly human.” He sniffed. “Smell like one, too. I hope to hell you’ve got some surprises of your own.”
“I’m faster than a human, and stronger. I’d put you on your ass to show you but we’re being careful of how I smell. You’d win in a fight once you drew your claws, but I’d give you a run for your money at first.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” It was gone fast. “Go in slow. Act unafraid to enter the house.”
“No problem.” She was afraid, but the Vampires wouldn’t be able to smell that unless they were close.
“Be loud once you’re inside. Raise hell but don’t give them a reason to hurt you,” Graves advised. “Try to avoid them touching you. Velder wants some of them alive and your mate is seriously on edge. He’ll probably rip apart any who carried your scent.”
Micah stepped aside. “Get in the car, adjust the seat, and take your time. Everyone is meeting us at the van. We’ll get to the property a few minutes after you. I put a tracker on the car just to be certain of your location at all times.”
She fisted the key. “Got it.” She stared at him for a moment. “You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep. I shifted instead and did some scouting. It would have screwed up everything if we couldn’t find the tunnel entrance. It hasn’t been disturbed. The Vamps haven’t discovered it, or I’d have noticed that it had been opened recently. I’m leading everyone there. It was well hidden. Good job.”
“Grandpa did that. I only helped him dig it out.”
“I just hope it’s not too fucking tight.”
“It’s not. Grandpa isn’t a small Vampire. He has some muscle to him and he’s tall. He fits fine.”
Graves got her attention. “Watch for anyone coming at you the closer you get to the house. We’ll be a few miles behind you. As I said, they might have hired rogue Weres. It’s paramount that you reach that house and not be taken to another location. Micah couldn’t risk getting too close to the house while scouting but he saw lights. It would be a fucking nightmare if they’ve switched homes and tried to grab you on the way.”
“In other words,” Micah added. “Turn this vehicle into a weapon if you have to. Don’t get kidnapped.” He nodded and left, heading for the van.
“As you said, you’ve got this.” Graves hesitated. “I deal with a lot of unstable situations, considering what I do. Just try to stay calm and use your head. Don’t panic even if it seems like everything is going to hell. You have the advantage no matter what, because you know we’re going to show up. They don’t.”
“Thanks.”
He left too, and she approached the rental. It was something she wouldn’t have chosen. A four-door sedan in a light brown. It looked like something a conservative family would pick. She got in, adjusted the seat and mirrors, and put on her belt. The engine came to life without problems when she inserted and twisted the key.
She knew the area well, since they were in the larger town near where the house was located. She’d steered toward its lights the night she’d gone off the roof. It would be a twenty-minute drive, and the tank was full.
“I can do this,” she whispered, putting the car in reverse to back out of the parking space. “I’m coming, Grandpa.” He’d be pissed at her, but at least he’d be alive. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened.
Traffic wasn’t bad once she left the city. It was part of the reason they had moved farther away and up into the mountain. The roads were curvy as she made her way up a back on they’d chosen. It wasn’t her normal route. Her gaze kept going to the trees and heavily wooded areas as the homes thinned. It would be the perfect place for a Lycan rogue to run out into the road.
“I’ll run you over. Not stopping. Not getting kidnapped,” she muttered. “Your ass will be roadkill, only I doubt you’d die. You’d just want to.”
She glanced at the clock and slowed down a little. No traffic was behind her but on a curve, she quickly glanced down the mountain and saw the top of the commercial van. Red and the others were following. She finally came to the turn that would take her to the house, and knew they’d go straight. She hit the brakes at the stop sign and said a little prayer.
“Hey, Mom. Don’t be mad at me, please. I know you lost your life saving mine. You can’t blame me for risk
ing mine today. Watch out for me and Grandpa. We could use a little guardian angel help about now.”
She took her foot off the brake and glanced at the clock. She turned right and, down the road, slowed again, watching for the driveway. Grandpa had thought about installing a gate but hadn’t. He considered intruders surprise snacks if anyone ever showed up to rob them. So far, no one had ever tried to break in.
That made her smile. Grandpa’s sense of humor always cracked her up. She glanced at the clock again as she spotted the gap in the trees and paved road. “Here we go. I’m on time. Well, a minute early, but I’ll drive slow.”
She turned and crawled up the narrow road. The house came into view and she hit the brakes again. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining and not even a little overcast. That was a good thing. Nothing rushed at her on four or two legs. That was an even better thing. Maybe the Vampire Council didn’t like working with rogue Lycans. She was fine with that. What waited inside the house would be bad enough.
The clock on the dash hit noon and she drove slowly forward and parked in the circular driveway. About thirty feet separated the car from the front door.
She took some deep breaths, masked her features in case they had figured out how to access the security cameras on the outside of the house, and climbed out of the car. She stretched, her gaze darting toward the woods around her. They kept it mostly cleared in the front. No movement. So far, so good. She closed the door and strolled to the trunk as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
The fob had a button for the trunk. She hit it and the trunk popped open, revealing a bag, and next to it lie a metal weapon with Velcro. She mentally went over where the cameras were and stepped closer, blocking the view. It took her only a few seconds to see it was a thin, narrow blade in a holder, one side revealing the sharp tip and the other solid. Two buttons rested along the sides near the hilt. She shoved up her sleeve as she leaned in, quickly putting it on. The baggy sweatshirt hid it as she yanked the sleeve down to her wrist. She grabbed the bag and slammed the lid closed.
The van should have reached where they planned to park. The only unknown was how long it would take them to crawl through that tunnel one at a time. It wasn’t as if they could test it out beforehand. She walked around the car to the front passenger side and bent, as if examining the front wheel. Later, she’d apologize to Red for what she was about to do. She’d implied she was going in armed. Vampires would smell guns.
She rose up and stretched again, trying to appear as if she’d just driven a long way. She even stopped a few times on her way to the front door and did some knee bends and rubbed the middle of her back. She’d have aches if she’d just spent a lot of time behind a wheel.
To waste more time, she took a little stroll to the grass, rubbed her shoes the way she’d been told, and picked up a stick, tossing it into the bushes. It was time to go in.
She left the grassy area and got back on the walkway to the front porch.
She focused her mind hard on her grandpa. “Grandpa? Can you hear me?”
There was no answer inside her head.
“Grandpa, please answer me.”
It scared her when he didn’t respond. He would have if he could. Was he sleeping or had they hurt him? She needed to get inside.
She stopped at the alarm box and shut it down before she had the system unlock the doors. Not just the front, but all of them. She also took a moment to reset the code to a new one. That way the Vampires couldn’t turn it back on. She forced a yawn as she worked quickly. There was a camera looking down on her from above, but the lens couldn’t see the pad or anything she entered.
No one jerked open the door as she reached for it, though she was half expecting that. It turned in her hand and she walked in.
Her gaze took in the living room and stairs. No one waited to grab her. She closed the door, pretended to lock it by doing a half turn of the lock, then turning it back. The bag, she dropped at her feet, then she turned to glance at the stairs and entryway to the kitchen.
“Honey, I’m home!” she yelled. “Yo, sleepy head. I drove all night. The least you could do is get your old ass up and greet me!”
Movement from above came from the corner of her eye. She jerked her head up right as Paula dropped from one of the beams that ran the length of the living room. She had to have been lying in wait.
“Fuck!” Emma didn’t mean to, but she stumbled backward in surprise and slammed her head against the door. It didn’t hurt but she stayed still.
Another Vamp came from the kitchen. Two more stepped out of her grandpa’s office to her left. She looked up, seeing three more at the top of the stairs.
Her gaze returned to Paula. It wasn’t hard to fake fear. She felt the real thing.
“Hello, Emma.”
“Fuck,” she repeated. “Where’s Malachi?” She purposely used his name.
“He’s tied up at the moment.” The Vamp strolled closer, the color of her eyes getting brighter.
Emma lowered her gaze to her lips to avoid being mind-controlled. “What’s going on? He said you left.” She hoped her acting was up to par as she crossed her arms protectively over her stomach, hoping to hide the weapon strapped to her inner arm, more than worrying the assassin would gut her. “Oh shit…you tricked me.”
“It was easy to do.” Paula came closer and sniffed her. “Human…” She quickly backed up. “I don’t understand. Eduardo!”
Emma flinched as the woman bellowed.
Paula hauled her away from the door. “You run, and I kill Malachi. Understand? Don’t try to flee outside.” The Vamp shoved Emma into the living room but let her go.
Her worst nightmare came out of her grandpa’s office. “How are you awake during the day?”
The years hadn’t done Eduardo’s memory justice. She’d forgotten more than she thought she had. He could have passed her on the street and she wouldn’t have given him more than a wary glance. He looked younger than she remembered, maybe nineteen, almost boyish. He wasn’t tall or solidly built, either. He stood at maybe five feet six, perhaps weighing in around one thirty. His hair had been cut close to his head. Her four-year-old memory had him looking way meaner and bigger than the reality.
Then their gazes met, and she was sure it was him by the pure hatred he directed at her.
He sneered at her. “I drank blood from friends.” Eduardo tore his attention to Paula. “Why are you mad? We have her. I told you she’d come.”
“You also said she was VampLycan. She doesn’t smell like it.” Paula lunged, moving fast and grabbing him. She lifted him a few inches off his feet and flashed fang, hissing. “This is the human who warms his bed. I met her when we first arrived.”
Eduardo struggled until the woman dropped him, and then glowered at Emma. “She looks exactly like that malamute bitch Mal sired. She’s his kin. I don’t care what she smells like.”
Paula turned to Emma, studying her intently. “Are you VampLycan?”
Red and the group should have reached the tunnels. She hoped so, anyway. It was time to keep the Vamps’ attention. “I’m not answering shit until I get to see Malachi.” Then she glared at Eduardo and started to yell. “Did you kill him? You’re such an asshole. Do the world a favor and go find some cow’s tit to suck on, you sniveling baby! Oh, poor you, your master left you. Who the fuck wouldn’t? I know all about you. You turned on him after he saved your life. You’re nothing but a fucking pussy!”
He roared in rage and flew at her. The other Vampires rushed forward, two of them grabbing him.
They weren’t allowing him to get to her. It encouraged Emma.
“You call Kallie a malamute bitch? Ha! You’re a traitor. And did you tell the council how you risked exposing Vampires by killing at least twenty humans in that community you butchered? I bet you didn’t. Because they’d kill your stupid ass instead of helping you track a master who doesn’t want you! You’re fucking pathet—”
An open hand slamming against her
chest had Emma flying backward, and she landed the couch. It hurt. She rolled through the pain and jumped over the couch, grabbing the first thing her hand could reach. It was a statue of a horse. She’d bought it in Spain.
It could be replaced.
She threw it at Paula’s head, since she was the one who’d hit her.
“What?” She kept yelling, grabbing another statue. “You don’t want everyone to hear what Eduardo did in the past? There are rules Vampires must follow. That asshole broke them. Why are you even here instead of ashing his ass?” She chucked the statue at a male Vampire who’d taken a step toward her, and then dashed to the fireplace. Neither of the statues had hit their targets, but they made lots of noise as they smashed on the floors, breaking when the Vamps dodged them.
She grabbed the fire poker and shovel, waving them. It wasn’t an accident when she hit a few things on the mantel and they came crashing down next to her. She glared at Paula. “You want to know what I am? Where the fuck is Malachi? Answer me and I’ll tell you.”
Paula’s eyes brightened and Emma threw the poker at her. The Vamp slid a few inches over and it slammed into the glass table behind her, shattering it.
Emma yelled again. “Malachi? Where are you?”
“Enough!” Paula stormed closer.
Emma chucked the shovel, hitting the mirror over the fireplace. It shattered. She used every ounce of speed she had to avoid the enraged Vamp and threw her body out of the way. She hit the floor hard, rolled under the long side table they used to separate part of the living room from the walkway to the kitchen, and came up on the other side. It wouldn’t stop a Vamp but the bitch would have to jump over it.
Emma made it to the kitchen hallway and grabbed the glass cabinet that stored some china. She slid her fingers behind the heavy piece of furniture and shoved with all her strength. It crashed over, almost landing on top of Paula. She ran into the kitchen to the pantry, tore open the door, and grabbed one of her grandfather’s swords. No one had moved it. The Vamps probably hadn’t searched where human food was stored.