“See what?” Charger frowned, then looked behind where they stood to where Steve was pointing.
Bonnie’s heart was beating so hard it made her dizzy. Damn, that was close. Too close. “You didn’t see that?”
Charger’s eyes narrowed. “What in the fuck are you guys smoking back here?”
“Did you do that?” Steve looked at her wide-eyed, totally ignoring Charger.
Rolling her eyes, Bonnie glanced once again behind her, then looked at Steve and then Raven. “Let’s keep this between us, ’kay?”
“Shit.” Steve snorted. “You think I’m going to be able to keep that secret? And I thought watching you being swallowed up by lightning was intense. That was nothing compared to this because my ass was on the line this time.” Steve stabbed his finger at the empty field.
“What are you doing here?” Raven asked, her voice sounding normal, as if they didn’t almost get swallowed by a tornado.
“I’m here because obviously, no one here can answer a fucking phone,” Charger said, glaring at Steve. “And you’ve got a tracker on your bike still.”
“Why do you have a tracker on your bike?” Bonnie asked Raven with a frown.
“It’s protocol for a Guardian.” Raven glanced away from Charger. “I just haven’t removed it yet.”
“We need to go,” Steve said, pulling his phone away from his ear. “Sloan wants you.”
“Me?” Bonnie pointed to herself. “What did I do now?”
“Don’t know,” Steve said as he headed toward the path through the woods. “I was too busy getting my ass chewed for not answering Bishop’s call. I mean, excuse the shit out of me. I was almost blown to smithereens by a tornado. But does anyone care about that? Nope, they sure as fuck don’t.”
Bonnie noticed Charger looking at both her and Raven. She just shook her head. “Don’t ask.”
“Didn’t plan to,” Charger said, but once again, he glanced over their heads before turning away. “Bike is out by the road. Meet me out there.”
“Why do men always have to bark orders like we have to listen to them?” Bonnie followed Raven to her bike. “And why do they have to look sexy as hell doing it?”
Raven glanced at her phone as she got on the bike, then put it in her back pocket. “We don’t have to listen. Steve just texted me the address.” Raven started her bike. “And he’s okay.”
Bonnie snorted. “Charger is fucking hot and you know it. You’re such a liar.”
“Shut up.” Raven revved her bike, then took off in the opposite direction Charger and Steve went.
“Hey, where we going? They went that way,” Bonnie said, then gasped when Raven sped up toward the opposite side of the field.
“Just because they bark orders doesn’t mean I have to follow them,” Raven called out, taking a quick turn heading up a big hill. “Hold on. This may get a little sketchy.”
Sketchy wasn’t a word Bonnie would use during her bike ride from hell. This was definitely a more challenging trail than what they were on before, but she had to give Raven credit. The woman could handle a bike. It had to be twice as hard with her on the back, but Raven even laughed a few times during a few very dangerous maneuvers. She was crazy. Maybe even crazier than Bonnie was, and that was saying something.
They broke out of the woods and onto a road. Hearing a bike roaring up to them, she looked back to see Charger pulling up beside them. He didn’t look happy. He slowed just long enough to give Raven a disapproving glare before speeding past them.
“I think he’s pissed,” Bonnie yelled over the roar of the bike.
“He’s always pissed,” Raven shouted back, then sped up, passing Charger with reckless abandon. This time it was Raven who gave him a nasty glare as they passed.
If Bonnie wasn’t mistaken, a look of respect flashed in his eyes, but it was gone when he looked at her. For the rest of the ride, they rode close together, catching up to Steve. They pulled up to a large house with a lot of activity.
Once parked, they all got off their bikes, and she scanned the area for Bishop. Disappointed at not seeing him, she headed toward the house but stopped when she heard Raven’s and Charger’s raised voices.
“You do not put civilians in danger just to show your ass, Raven.” Charger was growling the words loudly. “You’re lucky you are not under me anymore because I’d be writing you up.”
“She was not in danger,” Raven replied, her voice even and calm. “Why am I even responding to you? You never listen to a damn word I say anyway.”
“I was safe,” Bonnie said, knowing she had to stick up for her girl. “Raven wouldn’t do anything to put me in danger.”
“Watch yourself, Raven.” Charger leaned toward her. “I’m watching you.”
Bonnie cocked her eyebrow at that, then glanced at Raven whose calmness from a few seconds ago went bye-bye.
“Why is that?” Raven leaned in even closer. “Why now? Huh? You sure as hell didn’t care when I was a Guardian. Why now that I’m a Warrior?”
Steve, who stood beside her, whistled under his breath. “Damn, girl has a bite.”
“Shush.” Bonnie wanted to hear what Charger was going to say to that, but was disappointed because he didn’t say anything at all. He actually turned toward her. “Come on. They want you inside.”
He gently took her elbow and directed her toward the house. That was when she saw Bishop covered in blood, and everything else going on around her disappeared.
Chapter 28
Bishop and Viktor dragged Joe up the steps. It was one of the hardest damn things he’d ever done. The man was fighting them every step of the way. He was under some kind of spell, which clued them in that he was probably newly turned and was once a half-breed. His eyes were blank, but his body fought them as he tried to get to the pod that had been in his pocket, which now was in Slade’s possession.
Viktor barely dodged a blow to his nuts and growled, “I’m going to knock this fucker out.”
Honestly, Bishop was wondering why they didn’t go ahead and do that, but Bonnie should be there any minute, and they needed answers. He had a feeling this guy was going to spill everything, so knocking him out would only delay that process.
Not wanting Bonnie anywhere near the basement, he made the decision to bring him upstairs. Once in the kitchen, Viktor and Bishop slammed him on the kitchen table, scattering everything that had been on it everywhere. Adam and Sid came in.
“Bonnie’s here,” Adam said, then helped Viktor hold down Joe as Sid took Bishop’s place.
“Hurry the hell up.” Sid struggled against Joe’s legs.
Bishop left the kitchen and hurried outside. She was watching Charger and Raven having an exchange before she turned, her gaze landing on him. Bonnie’s eyes widened and he realized even though he was probably healed, his blood was still all over him.
“How bad are you hurt?” She ran toward him and he couldn’t help but like the worry for him in her eyes . She scanned his body and frowned. “Not your blood?”
“You sound disappointed.” He cocked his eyebrow at her. “Yes, it’s my blood, but I’m already healed. Got hit in the head with a crowbar.” Bishop rubbed the area.
“Someone hit you with a crowbar in the forehead, and you’re waltzing around with a possible concussion?” Bonnie put her hands on her hips. “Does Slade know?”
“Ah, not sure.” Bishop shook his head. “I’m fine, just bloody. And I don’t waltz.”
Bonnie rolled her eyes, then nodded. She looked behind him at the house, then back to Bishop. “I’m glad you’re okay. So what’s going on? What does Sloan need me for?”
“Bishop!” Steve called from the front door of the house. “Sid said if you don’t get back in there, he’s going to kill the guy. He sounded pretty serious. That dude is going insane.”
“What’s he talking about?” Bonnie asked as Charger walked up with Raven.
“Bonnie.” Slade headed toward them before Bishop could answer her. He held out th
e pod in the palm of his hand. “Do you know what this is?”
Bishop saw definite recognition in her eyes as well as emotion. “Yeah.” Bonnie’s voice was hard. “It’s what Orjyll gave to everyone. He would put them under a spell, so if caught, they would take it. Orjyll had a twisted way of having people be loyal to him. He trusted no one. Expected anyone if caught to expose him.
“What would it do to a vampire?” Slade asked, his tone serious and concerned.
Bonnie reached out to take the pod, but Bishop grasped her wrist, stopping her. “It’s fine. It has to be ingested. When Orjyll first thought of this sick punishment for being caught, he had two different kinds.” Bonnie took the pod, holding it up. “Then realizing he could just add a little bit of silver to the poison, he could kill two in one, so to speak. When you hold it up, you can see flecks of silver.”
“Flecks?” Charger also looked at the pod she held up.
“Yeah, only the best for the bastard. No liquid silver for him.” Bonnie gave the pod back to Slade. “There’s such a small amount that a vampire can carry it on them without it causing any type of issue. But once ingested, that’s a different story.”
“And these dumbasses agreed to this?” Raven said, taking the pod from Sloan and holding it up so she could see.
“No.” Bonnie snorted. “No one in their right mind would agree to that kind of loyalty to a psychopath. It’s the spell. Why do you think he’s trying to produce more and more half-breeds?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “So he can control them with magic. If they are too strong, he gets rid of them. Even half-breeds.”
Thinking of what lay inside the house behind him in the basement made Bishop curse to himself at the unfairness those innocents suffered just because this sick fuck wanted to control them.
“Speaking of which, seeing that pod means one of Orjyll’s guys survived.” Bonnie looked back to Bishop. “Is he going crazy right now? Is that what Steve was talking about?”
Damn, Bishop was regretting calling her in. He could see her battle-ready, though he really didn’t want her involved. But that wasn’t fair because she was involved more than he was comfortable with. He needed to step back, make sure she was safe, and let her do her thing. That’s what a real man would do. While he was an alpha, he was also fair. She was strong, no doubt about that. Stronger than any woman he had ever known.
“Yes,” Bishop said, then stopped her before she could pass him to go inside the house. They stared at each other for a long moment, but then Bishop turned and escorted her to the kitchen.
“What’s the smell?” she whispered as she walked in, her gaze taking in everything.
They could hear the commotion coming from the kitchen—Warriors cursing and thrashing going on. Sloan, who stood just outside the kitchen door, turned to look at them.
“Can you do anything for him?” he asked Bonnie without explanation. “Sid is about ready to kill him, and we really need this guy alive.”
“I’ll try,” Bonnie said, but Bishop stepped in front of her and entered the room first.
“Hold him,” Bishop ordered before letting Bonnie completely in the kitchen. He felt her looking around him, but he made sure Joe was secure.
“What in the fuck do you think we’ve been doing for the past ten fucking minutes?” Sid growled, then cursed some more.
Bonnie stepped around Bishop, and it took everything he possessed not to grab her and take her away from all of this. He kept having to remind himself that this was what her life had consisted of way before he’d met her. As much as he hated it, she was needed here, and he had to support that. Support her.
Staying as close to her as he could, Bishop focused on Joe. His arm slipped from Adam’s grip as he thrashed violently and would have hit Bonnie if Bishop hadn’t pulled her back.
“Dammit.” Adam grabbed his arm again. “Sorry. This dude is determined.”
Sloan came in to lend a hand. Once they got control again, Bishop let her go. She walked up to Joe and laid her hand on his forehead. She closed her eyes and began to chant low, her words unrecognizable to anyone in the room. She had a hard time keeping her hand on his forehead, but she managed to do it, her eyes closed the whole time. Finally, Joe started to quiet, the thrashing dwindling to only jerks of his body.
Bishop watched Joe’s eyes begin to clear and come into focus. They widened at seeing all of them around him and realized he was being held down. He began to fight again, but for different reasons. He was freaked out.
“Where am I?” he yelled as he jerked, trying to break their hold. “Get off me.”
Stepping into Joe’s vision, Bishop carefully moved Bonnie out of the way. “Remember me? Crowbar to the forehead?”
Joe stopped trying to fight as he stared at Bishop. “Ah shit,” he cried out, then looked around at everyone again. “What happened? Why am I on the table?”
“Because you were going crazy,” Sid grumbled. “I’m letting you go, but if you even try anything, I will kill you. Got it?”
He nodded and glanced at Bishop. “I ain’t trying anything. I just want to get up.”
Everyone looked at Sloan, who bobbed his head. Joe sat up slowly and rubbed his face. “Did I black out?”
“Were you a half-breed before being a full-blood?” Bonnie asked, her eyes observing the guy carefully. When he nodded, she sighed, then looked at Bishop. “Did you pull a gun on him?”
“No,” Bishop said, shaking his head. “Why?”
“Because the spell begins when the person knows there’s no escape.” Bonnie still watched Joe carefully.
“We handcuffed him,” Viktor clarified; he also stood ready if the guy went berserk again.
“Spell?” Joe frowned, his voice shaky. “No one put a spell on me. I’m a vampire.”
“If you were previously a half-breed, then yes, you can have a spell put on you.” Bonnie frowned. “Did you meet Orjyll, or are you just one of his lackeys?”
“Never met that guy, but he’s the one who was paying me. Heard his name a few times and figured he was the main dude.” Joe looked confused as hell. “Listen, all I know is I answered an ad online for work. Got a text to meet up with some guy at Melly’s Brew Crew in downtown. Don’t know his name, never asked and he never gave it. He gave me the address here and told me the times I needed to be here to keep an eye on the place. Said there would be a bonus if there were no problems, and if there were problems, to take care of it. He gave me a phone number and cash.”
This time everyone but Joe looked toward Adam. “Truth.” Adam nodded. “All of it.”
“Sorry, man.” He glanced at Bishop. “I just needed the money and was doing what I was told. I shouldn’t have hit you with the crowbar. I can’t even believe I did that.”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Bishop agreed, shooting him a narrowed look.
“Spell,” Bonnie said absently, pulling out her phone. Bishop watched her search for something, then held the phone out toward Joe. “Is this the guy?”
“Yeah, that’s him,” Joe replied with a frown. “Who is it?”
“Wyrick,” Bonnie said, but not to Joe. She looked straight at Sloan. Sloan had unfinished business with Wyrick after being shot by him.
“I swear I never went in the basement. If I had, I would have walked away. That is not something I would ever do.” Joe shivered as he glanced toward the basement. “I just thought I was working a little security detail for the guy. I didn’t even have a key. I came in after seeing the door was open, and then you came up from the basement.”
Bonnie looked at Bishop. “What’s in the basement?”
Joe started to answer, but Bishop pointed at him. “Shut it,” he ordered, then peered down at Bonnie. She didn’t need to see what was down there, and he definitely didn’t want her to see what was down there. Hell, he wished he hadn’t. “You don’t want to go down there,” he said to Bonnie, but by the look on her face, he knew that’s exactly where she was going to go.
Chapter 2
9
One thing Bishop needed to learn about Bonnie was when she was told she shouldn’t do something, she was sure going to do it. She couldn’t help it. Maybe she had a problem with any type of authority. Perhaps she was too much of a free spirit, but now she needed to see what was in the basement. By the looks on everyone’s face, she knew it wasn’t good, and she probably would regret her stubbornness. Obviously, it had everything to do with her bastard of a father, so not going down there was not an option.
Surprised Bishop didn’t stop her, she walked to the door then down the steps. Turning the corner, she saw the cages immediately. What took her a minute was to process what was inside them. Steve, Damon, and Duncan were busy as they carefully removed bodies out of the cages.
The odor throughout the house didn’t really register with her upstairs, but now the pungent odor of death hit her. Stepping further into the basement, she felt Bishop behind her. She knew he was there and actually appreciated his presence because she was afraid she was going to go into shock.
Men, women, and teenagers filled the cages. Their naked bodies gaunt from starvation. She stepped even closer to see the gunshot wound in one woman’s forehead, her lifeless eyes staring at Bonnie. Overwhelming guilt slammed into her. If she looked close enough, Bonnie knew she would see blame in the woman’s eyes.
“I could have stopped this,” Bonnie whispered as her eyes went to a young guy in a smaller cage curled up in a ball, his lifeless eyes staring toward her.
“That’s enough.” Bishop grabbed her shoulders and turned her away from the horror, but she still saw it. She knew she would see it for the rest of her life.
She let him lead her upstairs back into the kitchen and toward the front door, but she stopped and looked first at Joe and then Adam. “Did he have anything to do with any of that downstairs?” Bonnie asked, her voice low and even. She didn’t even give Adam time to answer before she yelled, “Did he?”
“No, he didn’t,” Adam said, then shook his head. “I would tell you if he had.”
Bishop Page 18
