by Wendi Zwaduk
Chapter Four
Gale surfaced from the sleep of death and palmed the sheet. He expected to find a sexy, warm woman in his bed and his best friend by her side. Instead, he touched chilly blankets. Gale opened his eyes and rolled onto his side. Vic had sprawled out on his back with one arm across his chest and morning wood tenting the sheet. Where was Kitty?
“Kitty? Little one?” Gale sat up and rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hand and his fingertips. “Kit?” He listened for her and sniffed the air, hoping he’d catch a whiff of her. Nothing. The place was too quiet.
Gale slapped the bed, then surged out from under the sheets. “Vic. Get up.” He searched the floor for her clothing. Her shoes and the remnants of her lingerie lay strewn on the carpet.
“What?” Vic snorted. He stretched and his bones crackled. “Why are you up already? Come back to bed so we can be with Kitty.”
“Kitty isn’t here.” Gale rushed out of the bedroom and into the living room. No Kitty. He searched the kitchen, spare bedroom and balcony. Still no Kitty. “She’s not in the den or the weight room. I’m telling you she’s not here.”
Vic sat up and thrust his fingers into his hair. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, dumb ass. Do you smell her here?” Gale grabbed a shirt and fresh underwear from the bureau. “Did I say something or did you do something to freak her out? I know I mentioned something about not using rubbers, but that shouldn’t have been enough to make her run.”
“No.” Vic shook his head. He yawned. “I had this dream last night that someone was chasing you and her with a knife. I have no idea what the guy looked like, but I’d remember his voice anywhere.”
“Okay?” Gale stepped into the underwear, then a pair of jeans. “What’s the point? Is that one of your visions?”
“Maybe. When I came back to bed after my run, she was here. You had your hand on her hip and I thought you were both asleep.” Vic climbed out of bed. “You don’t think I was right in my vision?”
“She had a time limit. That bracelet. No matter how much we paid, someone at the Store Front wanted her back there. I don’t know what it would do when she reached the end of the time, but I have the feeling that’s why she left.” Gale shook his head and stuffed his arms through the sleeves of the shirt. “She’s a stickler for rules. If she thought she’d suffer the wrath of William, she’d go back.” His blood ran cold and he stopped where he stood. “We need to pay the price to free her—whatever that is. The rule at the Store Front is supposed to be freedom whenever the human chooses, but with the understanding that he or she could be harmed once they leave the premises. William enforces that rule with an iron fist. Vic, if she thought he’d hurt her, then she’d go back just to placate him.”
“But what about us? We love her.” Vic yanked on his socks, then hiked his underwear up his legs. “We offered her the world.”
“But we didn’t actually mate with her.” Gale grabbed his boots from the floor. “That’s what would’ve saved her. We need to find her and get her out of there.”
“Or what?”
“William could force her to mate with him.” Gale loosened the knot on his left boot. “The mating requires passion and love, but he rules with fear. If she truly believes he’ll kill her or us if she doesn’t comply, she’ll do whatever he expects of her.”
“Good thing you’re the brains of the operation.” Vic tugged his pants up over his hips. “What’s the plan?”
“I feel her fear. I can’t see where she is or hear her, but I feel what she’s feeling. She’s scared to death.” Gale laced up his boots. “You’re the brawn. We go in there and you find her. At all costs, find our girl. I’ll take care of William.”
“Don’t want me to beat his ass?” Vic asked. He balled his shirt in his hands. “I will kick some vampire butt if you’ll let me.”
“He’ll use his speed against you. I can’t risk him doing something crazy in order to keep her under his control. Trust me and find her. Make sure she’s safe, then we take William down.”
“You’re sure she went back?”
“Can’t see where else she’d go. That’s about the only place to allow humans without a supernatural escort.”
“You know, I’m glad we’re together.” Vic strode through the penthouse to the balcony, then wriggled into his shirt. “You’re my best friend and the only person who gets me. I can’t lose you.”
“The ying to my undead yang.” Gale bit back a chuckle. Even at the heaviest times, when no one should’ve been laughing, Vic knew how to settle down the situation enough to keep Gale thinking straight.
“Still, this is the part I hate.” Vic grabbed hold of Gale’s waist. “I feel like Kitty should be in between us when we fly. Then it wouldn’t be so awkward.”
“Then let’s find her so we can keep her between us.”
Gale stepped backward, then bounded forward off the balcony with Vic clinging to his side. Yes, traveling with his best friend attached to his hip wasn’t ideal, but flying would get them to the Store Front faster than walking or taking a vehicle. Besides, he wanted to rescue the woman they loved. Until she was safe, he wouldn’t rest. She mattered too much.
“I summon the power of the gods and the power in my human’s blood. Grant me the strength to do what’s expected of me and to keep my mates safe,” Gale murmured. “Please, help me rescue our mate.”
In three bounds, he made the trek across town to the Store Front. The windows had been shuttered and the door closed. Gale released Vic, then grabbed the door handle. The knob didn’t budge.
“He locked them in.” Gale rattled the handle again. “Damn it. This place never closes. He’s got to have locked them in.”
“Let me.” Vic took a step back, then kicked forward. With his full might behind the kick, the door smashed open. “Better?”
“Much. Go find her. I’ll deal with William.” Gale started forward, but Vic grabbed his arm.
“Hold up. In my vision, I saw you minus your head. She’d had her throat slit. I don’t know if that means he will kill you, but keep your wits about you so you don’t get crazy, lose it and give him the chance to hurt her and lop off your head. I can’t handle not having you in my life.” Vic squeezed Gale’s biceps. “I’m not usually this sappy, but I have to say this. I need you.”
Vic wasn’t kidding. His words were the closest thing to sticky-sweet emotion Gale had ever heard coming from Vic’s mouth—unless they were talking about Kitty. “I promise. We kick his ass, save her ass then get our asses out of here.”
“Damn straight.” Vic grinned. “Holler if you need backup.”
“I will.” Using his vampire speed, Gale raced through the building to the office. The stench of death and anger meandered through the air. He shoved the door open, afraid of what he might find.
“Thought I might see you back here.” William sat behind his desk with a shiny revolver in hand. “Your girl is dead. Killed her myself with this gun.”
“Bull shit.” He still felt her fear. Wherever William was keeping Kitty, she teetered on the edge of panic. If he could feel her, she wasn’t dead. “You’re bluffing.”
“I don’t bluff.” William wiped the barrel of the gun with a white cloth. “She screamed right until the end. I hated to kill her, but women can’t be trusted.” He crossed his ankles on the desk. “She wasn’t supposed to fall for you. Supposed to fuck you then move on.”
“William, don’t be a fool. You wanted her.” The very thought of Kitty lying down with William sickened Gale. William didn’t deserve to touch her soft body or feel her warm kiss. The bastard needed to rot.
“I did and I had her. Made her beg for me.” William’s eyes narrowed. “She wanted me.”
“Then why kill her?” Gale assessed the situation. Stalling William by talking wasn’t going to settle anything. He grasped the handle of his butterfly knife in the sheath on his belt. He needed to time the attack just right—by striking once William made the first move.
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br /> “I killed her because she begged for you and that filthy wolf.” William jumped out of his seat and lunged over the desk with lightning speed. The move pinned Gale between his body and the wall. He pressed the barrel of the gun against Gale’s chest. “She said she loved you.”
“Sucks to be you.” Gale kept his calm exterior, despite the fear creeping up within him. He believed William to be bluffing, but the man wasn’t right and could’ve hurt her.
“Don’t you dare use this, vampire.” William grabbed at Gale’s hand, which was holding a knife. “You’re not fast enough to kill me. Save your energy.” He clawed at Gale’s fingers. “Put the fucking knife down.”
“I’m good where I’m at.” Nose to nose, Gale met William’s glare with one of his own. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be,” William snapped.
“You’ve killed innocent humans. You torture them in order to make them lay down for the supernaturals. They fear us.” Gale notched his chin in the air. Kitty’s blood coursed through his veins, giving him extra strength and healing his wound. “You’ve done ungodly things to them in order to keep them in line. We used to be like them. Fearing us only hurts our cause.”
“You’re the fool.” William gnashed his teeth. “They’re beneath us.” He yanked Gale’s hand. “Give me the fucking knife.” When Gale refused to let go, William clicked the safety off the gun. “One last chance.”
Gale noticed movement behind William. Shadows shifted from side to side. “I’m not worried,” he said, although his concern grew tenfold. Either Kitty and Vic were there, or William’s henchmen had come to back their boss up.
“Fucker.” William shoved the gun into Gale’s chest, then fell into Gale’s arms. His eyes rolled back into his head and a rivulet of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He slid down Gale’s chest, revealing the reason for his collapse.
Blood was smeared all over Kitty’s arms and chest. She wore one of Gale’s dress shirts and his belt, but nothing else. Tears streaked down her dirty cheeks and her hair stuck out in wild tangles. She sank to her knees, then curled up on the floor. Vic crouched next to her, but pointed a gun at William’s back.
Gale shoved William to the floor. The blade of a sword poked out of his chest and blood poured from the wound, collecting on the ground.
“I killed him,” Kitty whispered. “I had to.”
“Son of a bitch.” Gale swung open his butterfly knife. “You won’t hurt anyone else. Not today, not ever.”
In one swift move, he drew his knife across the neck of the older vampire and slicked clean through the muscle and ligament. William’s lifeless head rolled across the floor to the foot of his desk. The sight of the dead man sickened Gale. He closed his eyes and sent up a prayer to the gods. “Take the bastard. Rid him from this earth to kill no more.”
When he opened his eyes, William’s body erupted into flames. A green light cascaded around the room for a split-second before extinguishing and bathing the space in darkness.
Gale slapped the wall for the light switch, then flicked the knob. Yellow light from the bulb in the ceiling illuminated the space. He rushed to Vic and Kitty.
“Are you okay, little one?” He scooped her into his arms. “Vic?”
“He had her cuffed to the wall,” Vic replied. “She’s cut up bad, but I don’t see anything broken.”
“Fuck.” Gale ripped into his wrist, drawing blood. He coated her mouth with the blood. “Drink, Kitty, please.”
From under heavy-lidded eyes, she watched him. She darted her tongue across her lips. The moment she ingested some of his blood, her color changed. His power would help revive her and give her strength.
“Let’s get out of here.” Gale stormed through the building, but when he entered the common room, he stopped in his tracks. When he’d come to the Store Front before, he hadn’t noticed the dinginess of the place. The humans were huddled together in tattered clothes and didn’t look at him. Some appeared to be starved, too. Only a few light bulbs gave the room any illumination. How did these people manage to live? His heart lodged in his throat. He’d been just as bad as the other supernaturals. He’d come to the Store Front with Vic in order to get his fixes. The humans deserved better.
“They can’t live like this,” Gale said. “It’s not humane.”
“No, it’s not.” Vic shoved his fingers into his hair. “What if—what if we took over? Give the humans a refuge? It wouldn’t make up for what we’ve done, but it would help them.”
A refuge. Exactly. Nothing could atone for the sins of the supernaturals, but they would be the chance the humans needed. He couldn’t change the law to free the humans, but if he gave them a place to go and be safe, then maybe they wouldn’t fear so many of the supernaturals. He and Vic wouldn’t have to lose Kitty. Gale kissed Kitty’s dirty forehead, then dropped his voice to a whisper. “The Store Front has come under new management, yes?”
“Great plan.” Vic nodded and grinned. “Best thing I’ve heard all day—except that Kitty’s back in our arms.”
Gale placed Kitty on the closest couch. “Where are you hurt?” He brushed her hair from her eyes. “No one will hurt you again.”
She touched his chest. “My spirit is broken and my wrists are raw, but I’ll live.” A tear slipped down her temple. “I’m sorry.”
“For?” Vic sat on the arm of the couch. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I ran away.” Her voice broke. “I should’ve stayed, but I was afraid of what he’d do. I love you. He said he’d kill you if I didn’t return. I shouldn’t have believed him, but I did.”
Gale met Vic’s wide-eyed stare. They’d both wanted to hear those words from her lips for a long time. He turned his attention back to Kitty. “You’re the only woman we want in our bed and the only one in our hearts.”
“But I killed someone,” she murmured.
“Self-defense.” Gale leaned over her and kissed her lips. “Vic and I witnessed the whole scene. You protected yourself and us. You’re our hero.”
“Couldn’t have done this without you, babe,” Vic said. He trailed his fingers down her cheek. “No more humans will suffer.”
“Let’s close this place down for a while, Vic.” Gale kissed Kitty again. “The humans are getting an upgrade.” While Vic ran across the main room to the front doors, Gale switched on the rest of the lights. The humans, mostly women, huddled together and shied away from him. The fear in their eyes haunted Gale. He could only imagine what they’d been through.
“From now on, things are changing.” Gale forced himself to sound strong. He stood next to the couch to keep an eye on his mate. “No one here is working for William. You don’t belong to anyone.”
Vic stood beside him. “None of you deserve to live in fear.”
“As of this moment, the Store Front is closed for business but open as a refuge. Food, a place to stay, a shower… Whatever you need to survive, you may have it.” Gale folded his arms. “You’re under our protection. You may leave if you choose, but no one is forced to be here.” He lowered his voice and spoke directly to Vic. “Call Dalton, Jett and Xander. We’ve got a job for them. Lots of humans to protect and aid.”
Vic grinned again. “I love the way you think.” He strode to the other side of the room and twiddled with his phone.
One of the women, a thin blonde with shining blue eyes, inched up to Gale. “Is Kitty okay?” Her gaze shifted to Kitty. “We’ve been worried about her.”
“And you are?” Gale held out his hand.
“Maddox.” The blonde pulled her robe tight across her thin body. “Kitty’s my friend.”
“I’m okay, hon.” Kitty sat up and yanked her shirt closed. “My mates rescued me.”
Gale’s spirits leaped. Her mates. He cupped the back of Kitty’s head, massaging the base of her skull. Soon, he’d show her exactly how much they loved her.
“It’s going to be hard for us to trust you,” Maddox said. “We’ve been taug
ht to fear the supernaturals—except to feed you or have sex. We don’t even have clothes other than the stuff William made us wear to entice clients.”
“Then I’m putting you in charge of shopping.” Gale sat beside Kitty. “Once Vic rounds up the boys, we’ll have more protection and will be able to properly clothe everyone. Food won’t be a problem.”
“Thank you,” Maddox whispered. “I’ll tell the others.” A light finally sparkled in her eyes. She left Gale and Kitty alone on the couch.
“They’re on their way and thrilled.” Vic plopped onto the arm of the sofa. “We did it.”
Kitty’s gaze switched between Gale and Vic. “I meant what I said. I love you.”
“Love you, too, babe.” Vic slid onto the cushion and palmed her thigh. “You and Gale are mine.”
“Gale?” She stared at him. “What about you? I don’t want to break up what you have with Vic.”
“Little one, you and Vic are what I want. Soon you’ll be ready to accept us as your mates. When you’re ready, we will be, too. You broke down our defenses and showed us exactly who we needed for our third—you.”
“I’m ready.”
Gale tipped his head to the side. Ready now? She’d been hurt. “Take all the time you need.”
“Don’t need any,” Kitty replied.
“Then let us pamper you.” Gale curled his fingers under her chin. She’d been through a lot in the last few hours. Everything was going too fast and he needed her to be sure of what she wanted. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“I don’t want to wait. I want to be your mate now.”
Chapter Five
Vic clapped Gale on the shoulder. Before he could reassure his friend and partner, Maddox hurried up to them.
“There’s someone outside.” She clutched a blanket around her shoulders. “What do we do?”
“I’ll handle it,” Gale said. He forked his fingers through his hair, then stormed off to the front door. Maddox followed hot on his heels.
