The bright afternoon sun beat through the windshield as Jordyn sped down the wide-open country road with minimal traffic. My brain rifled through everything in my life and what decision to make. Jordyn and Rianne knew what they wanted to do, but I couldn’t decide. I wanted to be a cop, but first, I had to find out what was wrong with me.
I was tempted to tell Jordyn to head east to Massachusetts right that second. But it wasn’t our truck, and as much as I would have liked to continue to piss off my uncle Jack, it was time I confronted him once and for all.
I kicked my feet up on the faded vinyl dashboard. “I’ve decided what I’m going to do first.”
Jordyn gave me a sidelong glance. “What? Call Sam? You should before we get to the ranch.”
I loved my sister dearly, but if she persisted in shoving Sam down my throat, I would jump out of the truck while it was moving.
“No,” I snapped. “I have questions for Uncle Jack, and it’s time he and I have a come-to-Jesus meeting.”
She flinched, her big brown eyes lingering on me before she turned her attention back to the road. “Are you sure about that?”
I drummed my fingers on my leg. “One hundred percent. It’s time. There’s been over two years of tension in this family since Dad died, and I want answers.”
“Like why they didn’t hunt Dad’s killer?”
I rested my head against the seat. “That and who the lady Dad had been dating was.” And why did my uncle hate me so much?
She glanced in the rearview. “I think we’re being followed.”
I popped forward. “What?” I checked over my shoulder then the side mirror.
“That gray sedan has been behind us since we left the restaurant.”
I wouldn’t put it past Uncle Jack to have someone watching us, especially after reading Sam’s text. “Maybe that dude at the restaurant was hired by Jack to keep an eye on us.”
I should’ve been paying more attention when we left, but I had my nose buried in Sam’s text, debating whether to respond to him.
She slowed to a four-way stop. “Let’s find out.”
The driver in the vehicle stayed about four car lengths behind us.
She turned right, which wasn’t the way to the ranch. “Maybe I should’ve gone left. The only thing down this road is an old, abandoned sawmill. We might be trapped. What if Vera breaks her deal with the military vamps?” She made a U-turn. “If we want to confirm our suspicions, then let’s do it in a more public place.” Her knuckles were white against the steering wheel.
I wasn’t as spooked as she was—I was irate. But I could understand why a sheen of sweat formed on her face. She’d been through hell with Sasquatch. And in my opinion, a wolf shifter was far scarier than a vampire.
No sooner than she pressed on the gas, the gray sedan came toward us.
“Slow down. I want to see who we’re dealing with,” I said.
She stiffened, easing up on the accelerator as we approached.
I turned my head slowly as both vehicles were side by side for a mere second.
The man from the restaurant grinned at us.
I wagged my forefinger to the side of the road. “Pull over. Let’s see what he wants.”
“Are you nuts?” she squeaked.
“Jordyn, the guy looks harmless. Maybe he’s a lawyer and wants to serve us papers. Maybe Dad had some unfinished business.”
“Two years later? I doubt that,” she argued. “And disarming men in suits… they’re the kind you should run from. The ones that don’t look like they can hurt a fly, but when you get up close to them, they’ll rip your intestines out. Um… remember Roman, who wore a suit to a fight?”
I shivered at the mention of him. I hadn’t forgotten, either. I rooted around the floor in the back to see if there was a crowbar or anything I could use. “If anything happens, call for help.”
“I don’t like this.” Her voice cracked twice.
The vehicle was turning around.
I came up empty as far as a weapon. “Stop the car, please.”
She huffed, pumping the brakes. “Fine. I will kill you if you die.”
“Noted.” I jumped out and checked the truck bed for a crowbar or something to use. But all I found was hay. Then I marched toward the driver, who’d stopped and was staring at me.
Jordyn rushed up. “You’re not doing this alone.”
It would have been nice right about then to have had some sort of supernatural power.
“Get back in,” I snapped at her. “I can handle this.”
“You know I don’t listen well. Besides, he won’t be able to handle both of us.”
The dark-haired man lifted his cell to his ear, then his lips moved.
“Who do you think he’s talking to?” Jordyn asked.
I had no idea. As I crossed my arms over my chest, my heart punched my ribs like a jackhammer on steroids.
He climbed out of his vehicle with his phone to his ear.
Jordyn slid closer to me. “You go for his balls. I’ll gouge his eyes out.”
I laughed. I didn’t know why that was funny. Maybe because the dude was broad and muscular and could squash us in a second flat. Or maybe because the last time I kicked a man in the balls, he barely reacted. Sam hadn’t been fazed when my knee had connected with his manhood.
Grinning at us, the man handed me his cell. “Someone would like to speak with you.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline. “Tell whoever it is to pound sand.”
Jordyn snorted.
The handsome stranger stood stoically with his arm still extended like he’d been flash frozen. His only movement was his eyes flickering from hazel to black then hazel once again. Great, we were dealing with a vampire.
“Layla,” a husky voice that was deep and throaty and embedded in my brain forever shouted through the phone. A voice that sent heat straight to my nether regions, awakening a part of me that had been dormant since I’d left Sam. “Layla,” he said again.
The man shoved the phone at me. “My boss needs to talk to you.” If not for the urgency in Sam’s tone or the man’s, I might just have walked away. I had too much other shit to deal with and jumping back into a world I wasn’t ready for wasn’t on the list. Hell, I would never be ready to see Sam or fuck Sam or be with Sam.
Yet, I’d learned one thing about the gorgeous vampire who’d rocked my world in the bedroom: he was persistent. If I didn’t take his call, he would probably teleport to me—if he could.
I glued the cell to my ear. “What do you want?” My tone was brusque. “You know, you’re a big pain in the ass. Can’t you take a hint? I’m trying to forget you.” Liar. Liar. Liar.
“I miss you too, baby doll,” Sam said in his smooth, delicious voice. “I understand you need my help.”
I ground my molars. “Who the fuck told you that?”
“Didn’t you know?” I could picture Sam’s smug grin. “Your aunt Tab and I are fast friends. She has me on speed dial.”
I rolled my eyes as I regarded my sister, who must’ve heard Sam because her mouth was hanging open.
The man in front of me went back to his vehicle.
Tipping my head at Jordyn, I covered the phone’s speaker with my hand. “Find out who he is.” As much as I had my own issues with Sam, he wouldn’t hurt us, which meant his man wouldn’t either.
She strode over to the gray sedan while I walked around to the front of the truck. “My aunt called you?”
“She’s worried about you,” Sam said in a serious tone. “I am too. Why haven’t you returned my messages?”
As much as I was trying to forget him, just hearing his voice settled the turbulent storm of nerves in my stomach. “What didn’t you understand when I told you I needed some space?”
He growled. “I gave you space. Eleven days.”
A light breeze blew, kicking up the brush along the sides of the road.
I swallowed thickly. “You’re counting?” He was slowly worming his way into my heart. Maybe if I programmed it not to engage in any emotions, it would be easier. Relationships had never been my thing.
He made a weak noise of some kind. “Baby doll, tell me what’s going on. Your aunt led me to believe that something is wrong with you? Although in the picture Conrad sent me of you, you don’t look sick.”
“Picture?” It was my turn to growl.
“I have to say, you’re looking as hot as ever, baby doll.”
I rolled my eyes even though the compliment made my heart flutter. “I had the flu. That’s it.”
“Then why did your aunt make it sound like you’re still sick? What are you not telling me?”
I shivered more from the notion I could have vampire DNA than the cold gust of wind ruffling my auburn hair. “You really want to know?”
Silence reigned.
I looked at the screen. Sam was gone. Then I checked the bars in the upper right. The cell service was fine.
Then Conrad’s phone vibrated in my hand.
“Hello,” I said.
“Sorry.” Sam sounded frustrated. “I’m in a bad spot. I might lose you again. You should—”
“Sam?” I checked the phone. Yep, the call disconnected. I stared at the screen for a second before I tapped on Sam’s number. The line went straight to voice mail.
I was about to return to Conrad and Jordyn when Sam called back. “Hey.”
“I have to make this quick before I lose you again,” Sam said in a rush. “You should return to Massachusetts and let Dr. Vieira do a complete physical on you.”
I wondered how much my aunt had told him or what Conrad had overheard at the restaurant, not that it mattered. “I appreciate your concern, but I have too much unfinished business here.”
“Layla.” My name in his gruff tone sounded like a threat and a prayer. “I highly suggest you rethink your plans.”
I laughed. “Or what, Sam?”
He lost that demanding tone and chuckled. “I’ll throw you over my shoulder and bring you back myself.”
Another laugh barreled out of me. “You have to catch me first.” The minute that line left my lips, I knew I was in trouble. Harley, Webb’s assistant, had told me Sam loved a good game of cat and mouse.
I also knew he was confident, arrogant, and possessive and that I shouldn’t be so cavalier about his idle threat. But I was finding he drew out a side of me that made me want to scream at him and kiss him at the same time.
“You can’t run or stay away from me, Layla Aberdeen.” So much confidence infused his arrogant tone. “This is your last warning. You have forty-eight hours to get your sexy ass back here, or Conrad will tie you up and bring you to me.” Then dead silence.
I glanced at the phone to find that the call had ended. I wasn’t sure if he’d hung up or lost the connection for a third time. Either way, I was ready to fling the irritating piece of technology away when Jordyn ran over with Conrad on her heels.
“You must be Conrad,” I said as I handed him his phone.
He tipped his chin down. “I am. Your sister has my info. If you need help, please call me.”
Jordyn smiled as though she’d found a five-carat diamond. “He lives here.” I didn’t know why she sounded so surprised about that. Although to her credit, Conrad seemed as though he was from a big city like New York.
Regardless, I thanked him. Then I hopped back in the truck, flustered and ready to strangle Sam Mason after I fucked his brains out.