Mia felt pain in her wrist—burning intense pain. A sharp stab in her back followed. It was just below her shoulder blade, and it felt as if her flesh were on fire. The pain increased, and the agony began to suffocate her.
She screamed. Jumping from the bed, her hands went to her body, searching it, inspecting herself for marks from the burns she was sure were there. Her breathing was rapid as her mind swirled, trying to make sense of which part was a dream and which was reality. She’d never felt physical pain from a dream before, and that was the strongest feeling she had ever felt. Shaken, her eyes searched the room. They landed on Cole’s shirt still lying next to her pillow were she had used it as a safety blanket.
Cole.
Franticly, she pieced her thoughts together. She bolted toward the door, halting as it blasted off its hinges and landed on the floor by her feet.
“Detective Gonela!”
“Are you okay?” He scanned the apartment, his nose was in the air, and his eyes were trained on any movement.
“Cole. They have Cole. He’s in pain.” Silent tears streaked her face.
Gonela’s features turned to stone as he picked up his radio and walked away from her. She stood in the doorway, cursing the daylight. What time is it?
She walked to the coffee maker, and her unsteady hand grabbed the pot. Detective Gonela grabbed her hands and slid the pot from her grip.
“Miss Starr, please, sit down, and let me get this for you. I have a car dispatched to Cole’s house to see if there is any sign of him there. And I have someone coming to fix your door. I’m sorry. I heard you scream and thought you were in danger.”
She stared into space as Gonela made coffee, his voice a hum in the background. She looked out the sliding glass doors to see that nightfall had just begun.
“Please, get yourself some coffee. I’m going to get dressed.” She couldn’t stop her hands from shaking as she pulled on a pair of jeans, boots, and a simple button down shirt.
Gonela poured a cup of coffee, pushing it toward her as she sat at the kitchen table, his radio breaking the silence. The dispatcher’s voice was clear. “That’s 54 on Barnett’s car at his 20.”
Gonela looked up, his eyes telling her everything. “Cole’s car isn’t at his house.” His tone was apologetic.
Mia grabbed the phone, flipping Nancy’s card between her fingers, she dialed. Gonela stared at her with raised brows when she finished leaving Nancy a message.
“What are you planning, Mia? These are vampire criminals. They won’t think twice about ripping you to shreds.” He stepped closer.
“I know. But I don’t feel that it’s my time to go, just yet. If Cole is in as much pain as I felt, I have to try to help him, and I have to try to find Cynthia. I’ve been brought into this weird alternate reality. I’m trying hard to be understanding, accept things for what they are, and… Gonela, I was dead inside before I met Cole. He woke me up and it feels great. Without him, I’m dead again anyway. So if I must die, I would rather go down fighting.”
Gonela bowed his chest then placed a kiss on the top of her hand.
“Mi Querida, you are a remarkable woman. I, too, would die for the one I love. You have no idea what I would do to protect what is mine. Tell me… what do you and Nancy have planned? I will help.”
“What are you?” Mia asked.
“You also have keen senses. I will reveal myself to you when the time is right. You are dealing with too much right now to even discuss it.” His answer confirmed her suspicions—he wasn’t human. In addition, her new friend was thoughtful enough to know when someone has had enough shit thrown at them for one day.
“I have to go pick up some items at a friend’s house. Do you want to follow me, or do you want to ride together?” She grabbed her purse, heading toward the door, then paused.
“If it’s a box labeled ‘silver,’ it’s in the hallway. Some guy dropped it off earlier.” Gonela picked the door up, and laid it against the frame.
Mia squeezed through the opening to retrieve the box. She shrugged at the irony of her constant imprisonment, and now, her apartment would be open for anyone to come inside, uninvited.
Excusing herself, Mia Left the room to add the new accessories her friend had made, then they’d play the waiting game. She paced the room, waiting for Nancy. Her hands fidgeted as she entwined her fingers and dug her nails into her palms. Her eyes constantly searched the room.
“Mia, you need to relax. We will do what we can.” His tone held an edge of concern. Mia knew this as well and tried to control her emotions, recalling what Cole had told her. Subconsciously, she just needed to hear his calm voice in her head. She thought back to everything he had told her, like it was a training lesson.
She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, breathing deeply as she focused on Cole. She searched for him, and her mind stumbled upon a faint vision of him wrapped in chains. His eyes popped open as she peeked into his mind. He felt me.
Gonela shook her arm, stealing Cole’s image away from her. “Don’t try to reach him. If the others find out that you are his weakness, it will make it worse for him.”
Mia nodded. Shit, I didn’t think of that.
“Why do you think I’m his weakness?”
“Because I have known Cole for decades, and he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. He has never lost control, either—until you.” His gaze held her in admiration.
Mia lunged toward the phone, only half a ring sounded before she jerked it from its cradle. Nancy gave instructions on where to meet, and Mia told her where to find the guy with the illegal immigrants.
Mia kept her mind open, trying hard to pick something up, anything that would help figure out why the hell they wanted these girls. I could see if they needed food, but why kill them? If they kept killing off their food source, they wouldn’t have any food left. She filled Gonela in on the plan and called Kevin to give him instructions.