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Hours later, I lay with her sprawled across my chest, her light snores bringing a smile to my lips, but it was fleeting as I let my mind drift to the approaching sunset. My gaze drifted to the fading light leaking through the doors, painting shadows on the ceiling and I wondered what the sun would feel like.
If Lucifer found us, that’s exactly what the morning would bring and I had seen enough vampires reduced to dust to know it wasn’t a pleasant end.
Her head rose and she met my gaze.
“Stop worrying,” she whispered and stretched.
“Easy for you to say, you’ve never seen Lucifer in action,” I said and she stiffened, her eyes widening. It took me a moment to understand her reaction and then what I had said slapped into my brain.
“Oh, fuck,” I muttered and slid her off me. “Get dressed,” I ordered and crossed to the front of the container, grabbing my damp clothing and sliding them on. A glance at my watch told me we didn’t have much time before sunset, but it was enough to trap us in this metal tomb.
I heard the click of a gun and turned toward Naomi as she came around the boxes with her jeans, weapons belt and the skintight black camisole that made me want to forget about the coming danger. When she tossed me the gun in her hand, I stared at it and snapped my gaze back to her.
“You do know how to shoot a gun, right?”
“Where did you get these?”
“From those assholes that broke into Valerie’s house,” she said, flipping the safety on her gun and slipping it into her waistband. “You do know how to shoot, right?”
I nodded, it was one of the things I had learned over the years, but from her display at the house, I was sorely lacking in skill in comparison. I made sure the safety was on and slid the gun into my coat pocket before dragging her back through the maze. She kept glancing at her watch and the door while I packed up my computer, zipping the backpack before cracking open the cooler. A half dozen blood bags sat in the bottom and I pulled three out, tossing them to Naomi.
“Power up,” I said and did the same.
Naomi handed me her empties and slid on the black bomber jacket she had shoved in the duffel bag and stood looking every bit as formidable as she had that first night. She folded the mural and handed it to me.
“Do you have room for this?”
It fit neatly on top of the computer and I zipped the bag closed. My heart clanged in my chest with each passing minute and I stepped toward her, sliding my backpack over her arms and clipping it across her stomach before giving her a kiss.
I handed her the gun. “You’ll have to do the shooting. I’ll do the flying.” With a big inhale, I glanced at the watch again. “I’m not sure if we should open the door or barrel through it.”
“Will going through the door hurt?”
“No, but it will leave no doubt about where we had been.”
She pulled the clip out of the gun and stared at the neatly lined bullets before snapping it back in. “If you fly farther north, will you be able to loop around to the city without being seen?”
“We’ll find out.”
“How accurate is his intuition on where we are?”
I shrugged and took a deep breath attempting to settle the nerves skittering over my skin like a hoard of spiders. “I don’t know.”
“Then let’s chance going out the door. That way if no one is there, we can at least lock the place up,” she said.
I debated, weighing our chances. Another glance at my watch told me I only had seconds to make a decision before the sun dipped below the horizon. “Okay,” I whispered and she offered me a smile of support. “I won’t be able to fly far, not at twilight, but I think I can get us to a shopping center and then we’ll have to procure a car.”
“Procure?”
“It sounds nicer than steal,” I said and her dimples appeared.
“I thought you weren’t a thief?”
“This isn’t the time to razz me, love.” I turned and plucked the lock out of the track. “You ready for this?” I asked and she stepped close, flipping the safety off and positioning herself in ready stance, with the gun aimed toward the door.
“Go,” she said.
I leaned down and gripped the door, sending one more glance in her direction before I pulled it up and slid outside with her leading the way. It took me a second to flip the lock and I didn’t wait for her to give the all clear. Instead, I wrapped my arms around her and launched us over the building into the woods to the north.
No bullets flew in our direction and I landed at the edge of the woods near a strip mall. My heart still clanged in my chest, but the overwhelming fear abated a fraction. It had been years since I hotwired a car and I scanned the slim pickings and then glanced back at Naomi.
“None of these will work,” she muttered.
“Why not?”
“These shoppers aren’t planning on being here for a long time. We need more than fifteen minutes to get out of town,” she said and my curiosity bloomed.
“When we get out of here, you’ll have to fill me in on how you know that,” I said and unclipped the backpack, slipping it off her back and slinging it over my shoulder before taking her hand. “If not here, then where?”
“A mall garage would be best, but it doesn’t look like that’ll be easy to find here, so let’s look for something covered in frost or with a thin layer of snow. That’s a vehicle that hasn’t been used and the likelihood of it being reported right away is lower.”
“Okay,” I said and let her lead the way. She handed me the gun and I stashed it in the backpack before we stepped out from the woods. We crossed through the parking area and circled behind the building. A car with a frost-bloom pattern on the windshield sat behind the building. “Like that?”
“No.”
“Why not?” I asked, trying to squelch the budding irritation.
“Because I’m willing to bet the owner works here and is just about ready to leave.”
As if on cue, the door on the back of the store swung open and a man with grey-speckled hair and a weathered face stepped into the alleyway, taking a moment to light a cigarette. With it hanging from his lips, he pointed his remote at the car and it beeped.
We were in the shadows, less than ten paces away and I traded a glance with Naomi, seeing the spark in her eyes. Perhaps our luck had changed and when the car door opened, I nodded my head in his direction. Naomi understood and she stepped out of the shadows, clearing her throat.
The man spun, and his eyes widened, but the cigarette didn’t move from his lips. When his gaze focused on her, it softened.
“What’s a sweet thing like you doing hanging out here?” he asked.
Naomi shrugged. “I think I’m lost,” she whispered and the confused pout she wore even suckered me in. When she slowly stepped toward the man, I almost laughed at his incredulous expression. “The last thing I remember was taking a drink at a party and then I woke up in a deserted car. I don’t have any idea where I am. Can you help me?” She stopped a few feet from him.
“Are you hurt?” he asked and concern laced his voice.
Naomi shook her head. “I don’t think so. Can you tell me where I am?”
“You’re in Albany, darling.”
Naomi let out a sharp laugh and looked around, raking her fingers through her hair. “Oh my god,” she whispered. “I’m from Pittsburgh.”
Her ad-lib was priceless and I covered the grin.
“How in god’s name am I going to get home,” she said, her voice rising with panic.
“I can take you to the bus stop if you’d like,” he offered and pulled the cigarette from his lips.
Naomi blinked at him and then rummaged through her pockets. I swore her chin quivered. “I don’t have, I don’t have any money,” she whispered, her voice lilting the way a girl about to cry does. She crossed her arms and shivered.
“Look, let me get you out of the cold and if you’d like, you can use my cell phone to call someone.” He waved to the car and she hesitated before offering a nod and rounding to the passenger side. When she closed the passenger door and took the cell phone from his hand, I moved, opening the back door and sliding in before either of them could react.
Her eyes widened when I placed the barrel of the gun to the back of his head.
“Drive,” I snarled and had to hand it to the old man, he kept his cool and slid the keys into the ignition.
Naomi clung to the phone and moved herself against the passenger door, her expression one of absolute fright and I nearly lost the glare in my expression.
“Is he with you,” the man snarled at Naomi and her gaze moved from the gun to his face.
She shook her head and whispered, “No.”
Even I believed the lie.
He stared at her a moment and then met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Son, I suggest you put that gun away before someone gets hurt.”
“I suggest you drive before someone gets hurt,” I snapped back.
His lips thinned and he put the car in gear, pulling out on the road.
“Where exactly am I driving?”
“South, towards New York City,” I said and glanced at Naomi. “What are you looking at?”
Her gaze dropped to the phone in her hand and she turned toward the windshield.
“You don’t have to be rude,” she muttered and I almost burst out laughing.
“Why don’t you show me what you have in your hands before I blow your friend’s brains through the windshield?”
Naomi stiffened in the seat and she slowly raised the phone. I reached forward and plucked it out of her grip. She gave the driver another one of those forlorn looks.
“What’s your name,” I asked and she glanced at me.
“Anna,” she whispered, using the same name she had with Valerie.
“Well, Anna, you might want to stow the attitude, otherwise this is going to be a very long three hour ride.”
“What are you going to do with us once we get there?” the man asked as he pulled onto the freeway.
“Nothing. You’re just on a six hour joy ride as long as you both cooperate.”
“Bullshit,” he muttered and glared at me.
“What are you doing with such a hot thing anyway?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“I was taking her to the police station,” he said, sending me a challenging stare.
“I thought...” she began and stopped. Instead of continuing, she crossed her arms and slumped in the seat. “New York City, Albany, it doesn’t matter,” she muttered. “It’s still a long ass way from home.”
“What’s your name?” I asked and tapped his head with the barrel.
“None of your fucking business,” he snapped and I smiled in response.
“Okay, in that case I’ll just call you Lebaron, after your shitty car.”
* * * *
THE REMAINDER OF THE ride was quiet and despite Lebaron’s less than subtle attempts at flagging for help, Naomi remained quiet and subdued in the front seat. Staying in character despite the silence.
The wall of stopped cars ahead made me pause, even though we were approaching the George Washington Bridge. Traffic here wasn’t uncommon, but my internal alarms started tripping and my gaze shot beyond the traffic to the red and blue flashing lights beyond.
I swiveled my gaze to the man. “Pull over.”
He saw the red and blues too and his hands tightened on the wheel.
“Pull over or she dies,” I said, moving the barrel in Naomi’s direction. I played the bluff and it worked. Muttering under his breath, Lebaron pulled to the side of the road. “Now please step out of the car.” I kept my gaze on Naomi. “I’m talking to you, not him,” I clarified.
Her jaw dropped. “But,” she started.
“Get out,” I growled and she blinked before sliding out of the car. She shut the door and I swung the barrel against Lebaron’s head. “Step on the gas.”
Lebaron hesitated and when Naomi reached for the door handle, he peeled away from her. I got a quick glimpse at her aggravated features before I focused on the man in the front seat.
“You’re going to drive right by that barricade unless they wave you over to the side of the road. If they do, then I’ll make sure to keep them busy and you just drive away. Understand?” I asked and he looked at me like I had sprouted another head. “I was desperate, okay? I needed to get to the city as fast as humanly possible and I really need to get through that barricade.”
“What about the girl?” Lebaron asked and I inhaled looking out the window at the approaching checkpoint.
“I didn’t want her caught in the middle if this gets nasty.”
He leveled another glare in the rearview mirror and gave a curt nod.
“I’m gonna fade into the shadows back here, but I still have the barrel of the gun aimed at your back, so please don’t make this any uglier than it already is.” I leaned back in the seat, using the shadows to my advantage. Lebaron glanced back at me and his eyebrows creased. “Drive,” I said and he snapped his gaze back at the road.
The closer we got to the checkpoint, the more the supernatural chill bit at my bones. The bastard was here and when the state trooper turned his flashlight on our vehicle, I clenched my teeth.
Lucifer stared right at me before moving his gaze to Lebaron.
“Sir, please pull to the side of the road and put your hands on the wheel where I can see them.”
As Lebaron pulled to the side, I dropped the gun on the seat next to him and whispered, “As soon as you hear the door, hit the gas.” I met his gaze. “I’m serious, if you don’t, you’ll die tonight.”
When Lucifer had crossed half the distance, I opened the back door and rolled onto the pavement, landing in a crouch, facing the devil himself. I rose to my feet, irritated that the car still idled behind me.
“Where is she?” Lucifer asked and unclasped his gun.
“Gone,” I answered and my heart slammed in my chest as I looked around at the number of demons converging on the scene, every one of them wearing the skin of a cop.
“Hands on the wheel!” a voice growled behind me and I closed my eyes.
“I held a gun to his head and made him drive me down here,” I said.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to skin the bastard who sold her out.”
“Get on your knees and put your hands on your head,” Lucifer growled.
The click of a hammer made my teeth clench and I dropped to my knees on the cold pavement, putting my hands on my head. The burn of platinum bit my wrist and I winced as one of the officers secured my wrists in specially designed handcuffs.
Lebaron started arguing with one of the demon officers and I heard the click of another pair of handcuffs.
Lucifer yanked me to my feet and surveyed the onlookers, he shoved me in the back of the squad car and leaned in. “You’re going to wish I had shot you before this night is over.”
The door slammed and I leaned back, closing my eyes. All manners of torture danced over my eyelids and I ground my teeth together to keep them from chattering. When the door on the opposite side of the cruiser opened and Lebaron was shoved into the cage next to me, I met his gaze.
“You should have listened,” I said and he just glared at me. The poor soul thought we were going to the nearest precinct. I knew better and when the car pulled into an abandoned warehouse, I let out a breath of air at the chains glinting in the center of the building.
My gaze rose to the upper level, specifically to the upper wall of windows on the east side of the building.
“What time is it?” I whispered to no one in particular.
Lucifer pulled the keys out of the ignition and turned. “You have a little over eight hours before sunrise.”
“This isn’t the police station,” Lebaron snapped interrupting Lucifer’s concentration. “And why is my car here?”
I looked at Lebaron. “Because they don’t leave loose ends.”
Lucifer stepped out of the car and opened the back. He reached in and grabbed a handful of my hair, dragging me from the car before tossing me toward the waiting chains. Platinum utensils glowed on the table and I swallowed the fear constricting my throat.
Two demons stepped out of the shadows, yanking me to where the chains lay. I struggled and when they unclasped the handcuffs, I twisted out of their grasp. My right fist landed in the middle of one of the demon’s faces and I had a moment of satisfaction at the feel of bones crunching under my knuckles.
All those years of different martial arts disciplines kicked in and I used the momentum of the second demon and spun him, tossing him into the first asshole. More demons came out of the woodwork and I have no idea how many I took down before the click of a hammer caught my attention. I turned toward the noise.
Lucifer held the barrel of the gun against Lebaron’s temple.
“I think that’s enough, don’t you?” he asked.
“Fuck you,” I snarled.
“Let me put it a different way. If you don’t cut the shit, I’ll blow his brains out.”
My fists clenched as tight as my jaw and I sent a glare, but when the remaining demons grabbed me, I didn’t struggle. Instead, I let them pull me into the center of the warehouse, over the dead bodies of over a dozen demons to where the chains awaited.
My chest rose and fell with the fury filling my cells, making the fear seeded in my stomach abate. Fabric ripped and I jerked my shoulder away, reviving a fraction of my fight as they stripped the shirt off my back.
A growl formed in my chest until Lucifer clucked his warning, tapping the gun on Lebaron’s temple as a reminder. When the first stab ripped through my left shoulder, a protest of pain peeled from my throat.
The burn of the platinum hook locked my ability to reason and when they pierced my right shoulder, I started spouting curse after curse, alternating between my native Greek and English. Each wrap of the chain around my arms burned and the fuckers had the audacity to laugh. There wasn’t a god damn thing I could do now and I struggled to remain standing under the crippling pain.
Lucifer gave a nod and one of his henchmen turned a crank, tightening the chains until my arms stretched to the sides.
Lebaron just stared at the spectacle, his eyes blinking rapidly and his mouth hanging open in shock. I could tell he didn’t have a clue what was coming.
“You’ve made your point. Let him go,” I said, mustering up enough anger to send a glare at Lucifer.
The report of the gun silenced Lebaron for eternity and I bit down on the flash of envy that gripped me at his quick death. What I had coming was worlds away from quick and I ground my teeth together, grasping at the fleeting fury, trying to hold onto some semblance of sanity.
Lucifer glanced into the darkness to my right and I followed his gaze. A man stepped out of the shadows. A human, and the anger came back full force, enough so I lunged against the chains, the motion creating a ripping agony in my shoulders and I thundered my discontent.
I knew exactly who this fucker was and he waltzed up in front of me, his smug expression just as infuriating as the memories of how he treated Naomi.
“You’re the asshole who sold her out,” I said, my voice raw from pain.
“Yes, and you made the mistake of intervening.”
I allowed a smile to form. “The mistake was yours.” I straightened, standing tall. I narrowed my eyes, inspecting him in a way that made him shift uncomfortably, his eyes bouncing from my face to the barbed hooks piercing my skin.
“What kind of loser sells out his girlfriend because he can’t get into her pants?”
“Shut up,” he snapped.
“And while we’re talking about that, why was it you couldn’t get her to do the deed? Oh yeah, it must be because you’re a world class dick,” I taunted, pushing his buttons and watching his aggravation grow.
“Like she would ever sleep with a vampire,” he laughed.
I raised an eyebrow and produced a knowing smile, letting my mind flow over every nuance of her. The memory gave me strength and I inhaled.
“Mhm, and she was so fucking good.”
I let the words hang on the air, enjoying the effect they had on her ex. His face turned a shade of red that I wasn’t readily familiar with, one usually reserved for heart attack victims.
“Worth dying for?” Lucifer asked.
“Yes.”
Both Lucifer and Mark blinked, not expecting my immediate answer or the smile that accompanied the single syllable.
It took a second and Mark’s face scrunched into a mask of anger. His brass-knuckle-clad fist slammed into my cheek hard enough for me to stumble back a step, but the chains kept me in place. He didn’t stop with just one swing either, and the brass knuckles he wore were platinum-plated for maximum damage.
I blinked away the gray spots in front of my vision in time to see Mark pick up a whip from the table. He had worked himself into a frenzy while Lucifer leaned against the car, watching the beating with amusement. The rest of the demon horde had spread out around the perimeter, to watch the show.
The first snap of the whip sliced a trail through my back, dropping me to my knees and forcing a bellow of anguish from me. A pain-filled haze gripped me, tearing at every cell and my gaze rose to the windows.
“Michael, keep her safe,” I whispered at the night sky and another crack of the whip followed.
The sunrise couldn’t come fast enough.