“It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.” ~ Epicurus
Collecting her bags and car from Aunt Paula’s house was like pulling teeth. Carissa glowered at the thought that her aunt assumed she’d share details about her and Xen. The devious glint in her aunt’s eyes had been the final straw.
“Thitsa, there is no way we are going to have any discussion about whether Xen and I got it on.” She slapped her hand on her forehead. “I can’t believe you even asked,” she gritted out, trying to keep her voice low so that Xen, Kane and Adam couldn’t hear their conversation. Her gut told her it would be useless. A flush crept up her throat. They’d heard her screams of pleasure.
“Well, I wanted to know if my proxy worked.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement and she practically beamed. Honestly, the woman had obsessive matchmaker carved on her face, and those past, failed setup dates were all too fresh and playing back in her mind.
The first guy took her to a bar and bought her a disgusting cocktail. At the end of the night she’d puked on him and he’d never wanted to see her again. The second had taken her to a movie and basically grabbed her breasts a quarter of the way into the movie. She’d jumped up and he’d stood too, giving her the perfect opportunity to punch him. She did, in the face, and then kneed him in the balls. Popcorn went everywhere; she’d left him there in agony. After that episode, she’d refused to entertain any of her aunt’s “I-have-a-nice-boy-for-you” ploys.
“Let’s just say your proxy arrangement is more than fine for now. I promise to clear some days in a month and come visit for longer. It’s unfortunate I’ve been called back,” she fibbed and her aunt bought it without too much trouble. She hadn’t mentioned that she was unfit for work, nor could she divulge anything about Xen, wolves and demons.
“Promise me you’ll keep me updated. I think you have a good catch there.” Her aunt emphasized this by sizing Xen up from head to toe and, speaking of the devil, he ceased his conversation with Kane and turned to give them both a dazzling smile that melted her panties. She hugged her aunt then tossed her bags into the trunk of her car.
Xen held out his hand for the keys.
“Oh no. This is mine.” Her feet were already moving to the driver’s side door, but she didn’t stand a chance with his speed. He had her with her back to the door while his muscled arms closed her in. His gaze collided with hers.
“The keys, koukla.”
“But I like to drive ...” The words died on her lips when Xen’s locked with hers.
His tongue swept against hers in a tangling dance, turning her body to soft dough. The sound of someone clearing their throat jarred her to reality. Everyone, including her aunt, had just gotten front row seats to their make-out session. The devious look on her aunt’s face said it all. She handed the keys to Xen and scooted around to the passenger side and jumped in.
Xen started the engine, his joy evident.
“What were you thinking? And in front of my thitsa.”
“If I’m not mistaken, your thitsa approved.”
“Oh stop. Just drive.”
During the trip back to Charleston, Carissa learned more about Xen and his world, but her bladder and her stomach desperately needed a pit stop.
“I need a rest break and maybe some coffee. I haven’t had anything this evening.” Because we were too busy and I missed dinner.
Xen picked his phone out of his pocket and with lightning speed, sent a text without taking his eyes off the road.
“Now that high speed texting ability could come in handy.”
His mouth curved up in amusement. A second later his phone bleeped. “There’s a gas station up ahead. We’ll stop there.”
“Thank you.”
“Tipota, it’s nothing. I probably should have gotten you something the moment I heard your stomach growl.
Heat rose to her cheeks. Great. A horrible thought came to her. “So if I let a silent fart go, you would smell it and hear it.”
A deep laugh tore from his throat. “Real charming, koukla.”
“No seriously, that would be utterly embarrassing.”
“Why are you even thinking this?”
“Maybe because when I’m hungry, I get a little deranged.”
“Then I’ll have to make sure that you eat after our horizontal exercise.” He winked at her.
She couldn’t help the silly butterflies in her stomach that reminded her of her fifteen-year-old self who had been crushing on a star athlete. Only this was more intense.
A few minutes later, the gas station lights came into view. The road lay deserted.
“It looks too quiet.”
“We have Kane and Adam and another vehicle three minutes behind.”
His reassurance did nothing to stop the hackles on her neck from jumping up to soldiery attention.
Xen pulled the car up near one of the pumps.
She hesitated a moment before pushing the door open.
“I’ll fuel up, you’re low.”
“Thanks.”
She spied Kane and Adam pulling up in one of the parking spaces. The urge to leave ran a marathon through every nerve in her body and only intensified when she saw that the clerk wasn’t behind the counter when she walked in.
Okay, let’s get the peeing done and get out of here. A spike of unease stabbed her chest and quivered all the way to her stomach.
Strong arms locked around her and dragged her to the back of the store. She tried to scream, but a hand closed around her mouth. Vile-smelling breath fanned her ear. “Stop it, you bitch, or I’ll slit your throat here.”
Her brain went into instant combat mode. She latched onto the hand that covered her mouth then stomped down hard on her attacker’s foot. He loosened his grip and it gave her space to pivot and elbow him in the stomach. She yelled out.
“Xen!”
“Fuckin’ stupid bitch,” her assailant roared, grabbing her and placing his hand over her mouth again. This time he squeezed her nose, cutting off her air and fogging her senses. He exited through the back door of the service station, dragging her with him.
Her mind screamed. Stop. Stop. Stop.
He ceased dragging her for a split second. Seizing the opportunity, she broke free and ran. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Spying a dumpster, she headed for it. Crouching, she waited to calculate her next move.
“Come out, bi—” Her attacker’s words were silenced. She heard a grunt and a thud, then nothing.
A scream dislodged itself from her throat as arms banded around her.
“Shh, koukla.”
Her brain wheeled back into motion. Xen’s aftershave wafted past her nose. Did vampires really shave? “You scared the shit out of me!”
“It’s either me or them, koukla, and yes, we do shave.”
She was sure he was smirking. “Better you than them,” she threw in. Adam appeared beside him.
“How many have you scented?”
“Three rogue vampires including the one you just decapitated. And demon, but the scent seems further away,” Adam reported.
“I have the same estimations. We need to hurry. It smells like an ambush.”
“Let’s play.” Adam made it sound more like a game of football than a fight with the bad guys.
“Carissa, stay here.”
It was definitely a command. She wasn’t given a chance to say anything before they disappeared. Any protest she had been about to voice appeared pointless. She peeked around the dumpster in the direction she assumed they raced toward, her vision adjusting to the darkness.
Adam fought one vampire while Xen fought another. A wolf appeared and went straight for the jugular of one of the rogues. Adam finished him off with his sword. With a flash of steel, the other rogue was eliminated too.
“Koukla, come out.”
Slowly she stood and walked towards the men, shocked when a very naked Kane stood next to Adam. She slapped her hand over her eyes.
“Kane, you know you can get arrested for indecent exposure? Has no one ever told you this?”
Kane let out a deep and throaty laugh. She still had her hand over her eyes, trying not to look at that perfect body. Gods, a girl could go blind looking at these guys.
“Save your vision, koukla, you will need it,” Xen said through clenched teeth.
Oh, I think I hit a raw nerve there. Possessive. She made a mental push and it was like a door came down inside her mind.
“Carissa, what did you just do?” Xen demanded.
“I’d like my thoughts to myself for a while.”
Kane and Adam laughed.
“You can look now. Your eyes are safe,” Kane joked.
Carissa dropped her hand from her eyes. Her lips tugged up at the corners in silent satisfaction. The thought of Xen being jealous entertained her, but also made her body tingle.
“Let’s move,” Xen commanded in a gruff voice.
She wanted to giggle at the exchange, but thought better than to poke at a somewhat proprietorial and adrenaline-fueled Xen-bear. She’d wait until he’d calmed down a little.
Carissa walked around to the passenger side of the car. Her fingers touched the door handle, but she didn’t get the opportunity to open it.
Hard, steel-like arms banded around her waist and pulled her back. Her abductor’s movements were accelerated, which meant it had to be a vampire. Kane, Adam and Xen made a move, but it was fruitless because they were surrounded by two vampires and four demons. She dropped the wall and opened her mind to him.
Xen, don’t. Let them take me. You can follow. You are outnumbered. Do the math.
“NO.” Xen’s roar split the air.
The clink of metal and crunch of bones were the last impression of Xen that registered in her mind.
Darkness filled her eyes as the arms around her pulled her into a swirling vortex. Intense contractions in her abdominal muscles started and the contents of her stomach rose to her esophagus.
Three demons lay at Xen’s feet. One remained only because he allowed it. Adrenaline coursed through his body.
“You too, demon, will meet your demise.” He pointed his sword at the demon’s head.
The demon growled.
The squeal of tires on the road sounded. Xen didn’t need to look in the direction of the slamming doors. Paris appeared alongside him with two other men.
“Sorry I missed the party.” He scanned the damage Xen, Adam and Kane had caused. “Might I have the honor of this one, at least.” His sword was already unsheathed.
“Not this day, Paris.” Metal sliced through the air dislodging the beast’s cranium. It did nothing to calm the ferocious typhoon that spiraled out of control within him. Uncontrollable tremors coursed through his body.
Kane sped to his side. “We’ll find her, Xen. You know we will.”
“Alert. Everyone. Now!” He clutched his sword tightly. Carissa’s words still pounded in his ears.
Xen watched as Adam punched numbers into his phone. The grim look Kane and Adam gave him told him his command had veered off-course. He needed to rein in his self-control and not give in to his emotions—something that’d never happened before.
“I’ve just sent a message to all the Phi,” Adam said as he put the phone back in the pocket of the black vest he wore.
“Get as many eyes and ears out between here and Charleston as possible. They’re bound to exit the portal they used midway. I’d be really surprised if they used more than one portal. Even for a vampire those things can sap the energy out of you,” Xen proclaimed.
“If they exited and are in a set of wheels, we will find them,” Paris said.
“Adam, take Carissa’s car and follow. Paris, you lead in front, and Kane, we’ll ride together.” Xen’s torrid anger had only diluted a fraction when he sat in the passenger side of the SUV. He hummed from the intensity of it.
Time was a critical beast. If they were to have any chance of intercepting Carissa’s abductors, they’d need to move fast.
“Would you recognize her scent?” Xen asked as they sped along the highway.
“I got her scent yesterday and I’m sure I can follow if we are near.” Kane’s power of scent sat equally with his own, but in wolf form it was far superior.
“I’m going to kill the ones responsible.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” Kane paused. “This isn’t about you, is it?”
“No, our suspicions were correct. They had the opportunity to jump any of us, but they didn’t. They wanted her. The question is, why?”
Pain laced through his chest, a throb he didn’t know he could possess for a female. “Diki mou—mine.”
“Xen, we will do everything to help you get her back.”
“You are a true friend, lykos.”
“You would do the same for me.”
“Unquestionably.”
A deep groan escaped Carissa’s lips. The pounding of her head intensified when she tried to move and found that her hands were tightly bound, adding a burning layer to her discomfort. They were in a Hummer and speeding along the freeway.
“What do you want with me?” she questioned Goon One. He didn’t answer.
“Where are you taking me?” Nothing. So much for throwing questions out there. She wiggled her wrists, but the rope only chafed her skin.
“You guys are very talkative, you know.”
“Shut up, bitch, before I cut your tongue out,” Goon One said.
“You guys must have taken classes for your manners.”
Goon Two just growled.
She rolled her eyes. It would be fruitless to try and obtain details. Her thoughts turned dark, and to Xen and his men. They had been outnumbered when she’d been pulled through some sort of black hole. What the heck was that and how did people not accidently step through these things? Questions. She had lots, but no one to give her the answers.
And how had Xen faired? she wondered. He’s a warrior, it’s what he does—kills the bad guys. He can handle them and more. True, she should be thinking about how she would get out of the clutches of these goons. What did they have on the agenda for her? Judging from their hateful tone, kicking and screaming would be involved.
The sign for Route 501 came into view. A sense of relief washed over her. She knew this road so well. They were approximately two hours out of Charleston. The car veered to the right, gravel skidding under the tires. If they stayed on this road, they’d be headed to Myrtle Beach.
When the car stopped, Goon One moved at lightning speed and pulled her from the car by her hair. Pain stabbed her scalp.
“Let go, you bag of shit!” Her legs refused to work properly as he pulled her along. When she gained a little balance and co-ordination, she shot her leg out in a kick.
“You stupid slut!” he bellowed.
Goon Two gave her a push that sent her tumbling to the pebbled ground. With her hands tied, there was no way she could break the fall. She went down right shoulder first then her face skidded on the ground. Pain speared her skull, the intensity of it shooting through to her body. She rolled over onto her back. The night air blew across her face making the graze sting.
Goon One grabbed her and pulled her to her feet. He shoved her through an open door and forced her to her knees on the floor of the living room. Goon Two pulled her hair as he walked by.
What I wouldn’t give to fill you both with lead. “Asshole!” she yelled.
Goon One’s eyes turned red. The burning graze on her cheek distorted her clarity. She didn’t anticipate the kick that landed in her stomach. She collapsed to the floor in agony. The force of the kick brought thick bile racing up her throat. She retched and vomited on the floor. She wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and welcome the darkness that danced behind her eyelids, but her instinct refused to give in. Fight it.
How long she lay in the fetal position staring at the coffee table legs, she didn’t know. The sound of a vehicle approaching startled her out of her pain-induced, open-eyed coma. Gravel crunched.
Please let it be Xen.
The front door opened and closed.
No, not Xen. He would have smashed everything.
She heard voices. Footsteps pounded in her direction. She blinked at the pair of caramel-colored shoes that greeted her line of vision. With a slow rotation of her head she looked up to see a tall blond man with piercing blue eyes, dressed in a white suit, staring down at her.
“I said bring her here undamaged. It does not look that way,” he said through gritted teeth.
Okay, so this guy doesn’t want to hurt me. At least not yet. White Suit crouched down and pulled a knife from his pocket. Okay, maybe he wants to kill me instead.
He leaned over to cut the rope that bound her wrists. She rubbed them to ease the soreness. He helped her into a sitting position and took in her appearance.
“I should slit both your throats,” he barked at the goons. “Get out of here—now!” They left without a backward glance.
He turned to her. “It was never my intention to have you harmed. I am sorry if you have suffered at their hands.”
She ached and wasn’t in the mood for fluff. “What do you want?” she croaked out.
He laughed and ran a finger down her grazed cheek. His palm came up to caress her skin, his thumb rubbed her bottom lip. “I want many things, and some of those things cannot be obtained by conventional methods.”
“So, you take them instead, and without permission.” She raised her voice.
“Would you have come willingly if I came and asked you?”
She looked at him. Was this bozo serious? She sure as hell didn’t know who he was or what he wanted. “I don’t understand. Why would you want anything from me? I don’t know you and can’t say I’ve ever met you.”
“Sometimes we forget.”
Her brain did a quick scan of criminals she’d put away over the years. She’d remember someone like the man in front of her. He held an intensity about him she couldn’t explain, his eyes mesmerizing blue Aegean pools.
“I think you should clean up while I organize dinner, then we’ll talk.”
The mention of food reminded her stomach and brain that she had yet to eat. Her stomach growled in approval and hunger.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Sounds like dinner is a good idea.
Mortified she said nothing.
He held out a hand to her and pulled her to her feet, then indicated the direction of the bathroom. She walked quickly and closed the door with a light click. Inside the room, she scanned the windows. “Bars. Pfft. There goes that idea.”
It meant one thing—she’d have to put up an impressive fight to escape. The cabinets were well stocked but lacked any antiseptic to clean the graze on her face. Taking a facecloth, she wet it with warm water and cleaned around the wound, the sting causing her to flinch. When she’d finished, she opened the drawers of the vanity and found a brush. She ran it through her hair.
“Might as well have nice hair as the knife gets wedged in,” she mouthed to her reflection. With her needs taken care of and a partial tidy-up done, she made her way back to the living room.
“Come and sit over here,” Mr. White Suit instructed. He stood near a dining table off the living room. The design was open plan and very airy. A negative if I want to get out of here.
Carissa sat down. “So, I didn’t get your name.”
“I never gave it to you.”
“Well, it would be good manners to at least—”
Muffled voices and a knock on the door interrupted her question. An entourage of people walked through with a chef in tow. What the—? Her mouth opened to ask but her words were lodged somewhere in her throat. This was beyond strange. Who kidnaps someone and then throws a party?
“Are you okay?” he said softly.
“I’m perfectly fine and what are we celebrating?”
The melodic tune of pots and pans began to dance in the kitchen. The aroma of garlic assaulted her nostrils and that Benedict Arnold stomach of hers growled.
Before she could summon any words, waiters set cutlery, plates and wine glasses before the two of them.
Through the whole episode, Mr. White Suit eyed her every reaction.
“So, are we going to talk?” she demanded.
“All in good time.”
She gave him a hard stare. Where have I seen those eyes before?
Something familiar pinged in the dark recesses of her mind, but she couldn’t quite place him. Her recall was interrupted by a plate of scallops that now stared up at her strategically. She’d have to play along to find out what his game was, and there was no point in wasting good food. Right?
Good one, Carissa, always thinking with your stomach.
Taking the first bite, the scallop melted on her tongue. Delicious. She realized she must have moaned at the taste because Mr. White Suit watched with a smirk on his lips. Good going, Carissa, show how much you’re enjoying the charade and the food.
“So do I get the pleasure of knowing your name?” What man doesn’t tell you his name? One who wants to kill you. IDIOT. She mentally slapped herself.
He laughed. “In due time.”
Her plate disappeared and new a one replaced it, the sinful aromas wafting up to her nose.
“Are you always so mysterious?”
“Actually no, but it’s fun watching you stew.”
She bit back a retort. No. She would not give him the satisfaction of her anger because he found it amusing. She clammed up for the rest of the meal. She could play his game and beat him at it. Even with his goons that were stationed everywhere, she’d sure as hell go out fighting.
When the last of the plates were removed, she excused herself. “Thank you for the delicious meal, but if you have nothing further to say, I’d like to get some rest. It has been an eventful night.”
“I do have something to say, Carissa, and you will listen.” Okay, he knows my name. So maybe he’s a stalker or serial killer who likes to know his victims.
“Firstly, you should make yourself comfortable because you will be my guest for a while. I will bring you fresh clothes in the morning.”
“What do you really want? Cops don’t make enough money, so I can’t help you there.” She reached for the glass of wine that hadn’t been cleared away.
He laughed. “Money ... no, no. You’ve got it all wrong. I have more lewd plans and they only require a bed.”
The wine left a burning path in her throat, as did his words. Okay, this guy was all levels of psycho. “Why?” The feeble word, barely audible, made its way through her voice box.
“I have always wanted you. I watched you from across the street when we were children.”
“Children,” she mouthed. Her brain raced through a maze, turning at every corner to find the answer.
The lightbulb turned on and it lit the whole room. Her eyes widened in recognition. We were friends. We hung out, we played together, we even did the whole Greek Sunday lunch with lamb on the spit.
Her body tensed as relief and anger washed through every cell of her body.
“Oh gods. Hal.”
She dropped the glass of wine back on the table. The contents sloshed out of the glass and onto the tablecloth. “I can’t believe you would do this. This is insane. You know there’s nothing wrong with looking people up the proper way. Ever heard of reaching people through social media?” A multitude of emotions zigzagged through her body, but the most prominent one—anger—threatened to burn her from the inside out. In her lap, she clenched her fists.
“Carissa, there is no point getting upset. I had no option. You were getting too involved with a vampire, and I couldn’t allow that.”
She scoffed at the ridiculousness of it all. “Are you serious?”
“Very. They are parasites and must be destroyed. When I have enough men and the power to go with it, you’ll want to be on my side.”
“You’ve got it wrong, Hal. They protect innocents. It’s you who have sided with the bad apples.”
His complexion reddened. “I will not have my plans thwarted by what you believe is right. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He gulped down the remaining wine and she watched in utter disbelief. “Trevor,” he yelled and goon number two appeared. “Take her to the guest room. Goodnight, Carissa. We shall continue our discussion tomorrow.”
“I’m not finished, Hal. This is stupid.”
“You don’t call the shots.” He stood. “I do and you’d best remember that.”
“Round one to Hal.” She got to her feet and let Goon Two lead the way to the guest room. He pushed her in and locked the door. “Gamoto,” she swore to the empty space.
Walking over to the bed she dropped her ass on it and recalled the young boy she knew from her childhood. What had happened to him? He used to be kind. Not that man out there. No, that man out there had serious twisted and delusional ideas.
“Find me, Xen,” she whispered to the walls.