Freedom From the Evil Dead

by Mary Abshire

  I pried my lips away. "Where's home?"

  His hot breath tickled me. "Tease."

  I pressed my lips to his cheek, then dragged my tongue up the side of his face. "Where's home?"

  "New Mexico," he said, then swallowed. "And I have a serious hard-on right now."

  Grinning, I settled back against my seat. "Sounds like your problem, not mine."

  Jaw clenched, he glared at me. "Not fair."

  "Paybacks are a bitch. Remember who you're dealing with, demon."

  He shook his head. "We'll see who has the last laugh."

  I lifted my shoulder. "Sure. I got what I wanted. New Mexico, eh? Nice."

  "At least three hundred days of sunshine per year." He took a deep breath. "I bought a large piece of property near an Indian Reservation a couple of years ago."

  I gave him a questionable look. "How long ago?"

  "A few years. A chief from the res has been maintaining the property for me. I'm still working on the white picket fence. I may have to convince Shawn to put one up."

  The timing of his purchase seemed strange to me. Drake had left a little over three years ago. While Jeremy had failed to provide specific details, I found it unusual the two events might be around the same period. Coincidence? Maybe. But in the grand scheme of things, it really didn't matter. We had a home and that was all that mattered.

  "Is Shawn coming with us?" I asked.

  He gave a nod. "We worked out a deal. He'll have his own private place."

  A joyful smile formed on my face. I had freedom, a home in a state with plenty of sunshine, a boyfriend to make me happy, and a dear friend to keep my boyfriend and me from hurting each other in the name of fun. Yes, life was spectacular. I had a warm feeling it would only get better.

  The End

  The Evil Next Door

  Chapter One

  "Morning," Shawn said as I strode into the nook, the back part of the kitchen. The dark-haired demon sat at the round wood table dressed in a white Penguins t-shirt and a pair of shorts. He held a mug in one hand. A plate of food sat in front of him. Two other dishes were on each side of him with a stack of pancakes on one in the center.

  "Good morning," I replied, and headed for the sexy demon responsible for fixing breakfast. The only clothing he had on was a pair of red boxer shorts and that suited me just fine. My eyes never tired of looking at his fine sculpted body.

  Happiness filled my soul as I strode through the large, spacious kitchen. A breeze blew inside from the open windows while sun shined into the house. The aroma of coffee and bacon drifted in the air. It was another gorgeous day in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I shared a beautiful home with a wonderful man and I had a great friend living nearby. Life was grand.

  "Hey you," I said as I stopped at Jeremy's side. He stood near the stove, pouring the scrambled eggs into a dish. After he finished, he set the skillet down and it clanked on the hot plate. Then, he wrapped his arms around me.

  "Morning," he said before he smooched my lips. He gently hugged me. "Coffee?"

  "Yes, please."

  He handed me the dish full of eggs. "Take this over and I'll bring your coffee."

  "A deal too easy to accept," I said, then headed for the table with the dish in hand.

  Shawn stuffed a sausage link into his mouth while he swiped his finger across the screen of an iPad. His everyday friendly presence led me to consider him a brother more than a guard. He helped Jeremy and me whenever we needed him, ran errands, and ate meals with us most of the time. He had is own three-bedroom house above the detached garage out back, but he preferred spending time with us. I'd often told him to go out and have fun. His response—Jeremy and I provided enough entertainment for him. While I believed him, the demon still needed a better life. And a girlfriend. Given his bulky, muscular build and handsome features, I was certain he could easily find one.

  "Find anything good?" I asked as I scooted behind him to the chair closest to the windows. I set the dish of eggs on the table.

  "Nah, just political bull. Nothing of interest." He powered the device off.

  Jeremy headed toward us with a cup of java in hand. Since we'd arrived two weeks ago, his light brown hair had grown back. It was still shorter than normal, but not as short as a military-style haircut. Of course, it wasn't his head that held my attention when he dressed in so little clothing. His ripped abdomen and solid muscles throughout his body were a pleasure to view. The snake tattoo wrapped around the upper part of his right arm caught my gaze too. He sat across from me, then placed my coffee on the table.

  "Thank you," I said.

  "My pleasure. Now, eat."

  We took turns filling our plates with food. I gathered a couple of slices of sausage and bacon, then added the eggs on the side. My appetite for food still hadn't returned to normal, but I was getting a little more into me. Jeremy collected twice as much food on his dish.

  "I missed you last night," I said to Jeremy before I took a bite of bacon.

  "I fell asleep watching TV down here," he said before he shoveled eggs into his mouth.

  The last two weeks had been nothing like I'd expected. Typically, the demon couldn't keep his hand off me, but since we'd arrived, he'd acted just the opposite. He spent a few nights sleeping in the same bed as me, but most nights he either slept in a spare bedroom or downstairs on the sofa. It bothered me when I had the bed all to myself. I'd been alone far too long and now that Drake was gone from this earth, I especially longed for the touch of a man, even if only to be held.

  "Fall asleep watching porn again, eh?" Shawn snickered before drinking more java.

  Jeremy chewed on a piece of sausage and glared at him. I ignored them and kept eating. The two got along as if they were brothers. Sometimes they argued. Most times, they chatted and enjoyed each other's company. Over all, Shawn took everything in stride. He didn't seem to mind listening to me when I needed to vent, which was a bonus for me. Of course, he heard plenty from Jeremy, too. Shawn never complained.

  "I need you to stop at the store later," Jeremy said, his attention directed at Shawn.

  "Sure. Got a list?"

  "I'll send it to you in a little while," Jeremy said.

  I sipped some of my caffeinated drink, then set the cup down. "We can go after my doctor's appointment. I need to pick up a few things, too."

  "Is that today?" Shawn leaned back in the wooden chair. "For some reason, I thought it was later this week."

  "It's at nine this morning," I assured him.

  Excitement flowed through me with the expectation the doctor would remove my stitches. During my involuntary stay at the Fort in Alderney, France, the Vampires for the Ethical Treatment of Other Vampires, also known as the VETOV, decided to experiment on me. The evil vamps sliced me open from my chest all the way down past my belly button. Jeremy and his pals later rescued me, but my wound had torn open. His doctor had sewn me up, but I ripped most of the new stitches again when we met Nassar, Constantine, and Viktor in the Catacombs of Paris. On the bright side, I sent Viktor's soul to Hell and saved Jeremy's life. But the damage led to more patchwork and a week of bed rest. After we arrived home, I saw a doctor. She took some scans and MRIs, then told me to rest for two more weeks. I'd limited my movements, but there was no way I could stay in bed that long. A few times, I'd felt the sting when my flesh had been pulled too far, but I had confidence my wound had healed enough for the string to come out.

  "Time flies," Shawn said. "I hadn't realized we'd been here two weeks already." He snatched another piece of bacon from the dish near the eggs.

  I looked at Jeremy. He grinned while he chewed. Though he hadn't told me the reason why he was avoiding sleeping in bed next to me, I suspected it had something to do with my injury. I hoped his attitude would change after the stitches were gone.

  "Maybe tonight you can sleep upstairs instead of watching smut on television," I said. "But the choice is yours."

  Shawn paused, fork in hand with a slice of pancake at the tip. "I
know what I'd choose." He shoved the food into his mouth.

  Jeremy shot another hateful glare at Shawn before giving me a smile. "I'll be sleeping in bed with you tonight."

  And with that said, my day looked brighter.

  We finished eating, then Jeremy went upstairs to clean up and dress. Shawn and I rinsed off the dishes. I did the rinsing. Shawn stuck everything in the dishwasher.

  Dogs barking outside caught my attention. I lifted my gaze to the window above the sink. Jeremy's two Doberman pinschers ran by. He'd picked them out a few days after we'd arrived and paid a hefty price for them. The previous owner had trained them well and they were nearly a year old. Jeremy took them to additional training for a few hours a couple times a week. So far, they seemed quite obedient.

  "I bet they're headed to the barn," Shawn said, gazing out the window with me.

  "The cats won't be pleased," I said.

  "When are they ever?" Shawn chuckled.

  He had a point. The two cats stayed outside, but mostly in the barn. The older black and white male named Thomas was my favorite. He ventured to the house sometimes for some attention. If he was in the barn and saw me coming, he'd greet me and then follow me around. He didn't seem to like Jeremy or Shawn as much. Thomas growled whenever they were around. Denise, the two-year-old orange cat, had an attitude toward all of us. From what Jeremy had told me, both felines were brought to the property from the nearby reservation after he'd purchased the ranch a few years back.

  I handed the last cup to Shawn, then turned off the faucet. "We should probably get going. I don't want to be late for my appointment."

  Shawn snatched the towel on the counter, then wiped his hands. "I'll get the car and pull it around."

  "Sounds good."

  He gave me the cloth before he left. I wiped the countertops and the table, then finished tidying the kitchen and nook. Minutes later, Jeremy walked in dressed in jeans and a plain white t-shirt. I gave him a curious look. The forecast called for highs in the upper sixties. I'd dressed in loose-fitting Capri pants and a thin light blue blouse to stay cool. Since demons always kept a temperature above one hundred, I wondered why he hadn't chosen to wear shorts.

  "A bit over dressed maybe?" I passed him as I headed for sink. I set the towel on the counter.

  "I'm going for a ride with Howard for a little bit." He walked around the center island, then stopped at my side.

  Three horses stayed in the large barn past the detached garage. Jeremy had them delivered five days ago. With help from one of the chiefs from the reservation, he'd started learning how to ride the horses. Did I mention we had a large chicken coop, too?

  I faced him. "Enjoy your ride."

  He placed his hands on my hips, then tugged me toward his body. I smiled when I bumped into him.

  "You should go for a ride sometime. I think you'd enjoy it," he said with a wicked grin.

  His words and tone created a wave of heat inside me. "I'd very much like to do that." I entwined my hands around the back of his neck, then pulled him to my lips. "Later tonight."

  He kissed me, then took a step back. "You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to tonight."

  Given the strength his longings had been in the past, I had a good idea how powerful they were now. And if I'd guessed accurately, it was the reason he avoided sleeping next to me. There wouldn't be much sleep if he did.

  I slid my hands down his solid chest. "I have to go. Shawn's bringing the car around."

  He gave me one last kiss. "Until later."

  "You better believe it," I said with an equally twisted grin as I left the kitchen.

  I grabbed my cell phone from the stand near the door, then headed out of the house, tucking it into a front pocket. Pausing on the front porch, I noticed dirt flying in the distance from a vehicle approaching. Our house sat on a large piece of property with a gated entrance and an invisible fence. Jeremy didn't believe Nassar or Constantine, the only VETOV members left, would look for us, but he wanted to be prepared in case they did—hence the unseen security barrier. Close friends and people who helped us on the ranch had the code to get past the gate. Whoever was driving toward the house must have known the digits.

  Shawn drove the SUV in front of the house, then parked it. The windows were down and he had one elbow sticking outside. I strolled down the front three steps as a red car approached on the dirt road.

  "Is that Kari's car?" I asked Shawn as I reached the SUV. I'd seen it once or twice before. She mostly came with others.

  "Looks like it," he said as the car drew nearer.

  The red sedan slowed as it passed by. Kari sat behind the steering wheel. The older Native American woman had long peppery hair. Her seventeen-year-old granddaughter, Sevita, or Sev, sat beside her. She had long dark hair similar to mine, except hers was longer. As they both waved, I noticed a dark patch on Sev's face. They continued past the house. I suspected they were heading toward the barn to take care of the chickens and horses.

  "Did you happen to see Sev's face?" I asked as I hopped into the SUV.

  "No. I was too busy looking for a decent station," Shawn said as he twisted the nob near the radio, lowering the volume. "Why?"

  "It looked bruised."

  Shawn shifted the gear, then accelerated. "Maybe you can check on her when we get back."

  "Yeah."

  After a twenty-minute drive to get to a highway, we spent another twenty minutes stuck in early morning rush hour traffic. When we grew tired of bitching at the slow drivers, we listened to the news on the radio. But that didn't last long either. Shawn steered with one hand while he leaned his other out the open window. Given his frown, I wagered the stop-and-go movements frustrated him as much as they did me.

  "I know it's only been a few weeks, but do you miss any of your old life?" I asked him.

  He shook his head. "Nope."

  "But you enjoyed playing hockey, right?"

  "Well, yeah. I loved it." He glanced at me.

  "Don't you miss it?"

  "Some, but this is fine."

  "Driving me around and running errands is okay with you?" I asked. "I'd think playing a game you love would be more exciting."

  "You're right on both parts." He tilted his body slightly as he withdrew his buzzing cell from a pocket on his shorts. Eyes darting from the road to his phone, he touched the screen. He took a glimpse at it before setting the device in the cup holder between the seats. "Jeremy's grocery list."

  "Don't you get bored here?"

  "Jessie, I know the VETOV messed you up. But just to remind you, there's this thing called the World Wide Web."

  I sighed. Why did demons have such a smartass attitude most of the time?

  "But don't you want to go out and maybe pick up a chick?" I asked.

  "There are chicks on the ranch."

  I smacked his arm with the back of my hand. "You know what I mean."

  "I can go out anytime I want. When I feel like bar hopping or bringing home a lady, I will. Don't worry."

  I crossed my arms while I stared at him.

  "Look, I don't have any complaints about living on the ranch with you and Jeremy. It's only been a few weeks. I promise you won't always see my pretty face in the future."

  A grin formed on my face. "I don't mind seeing you. I just want you to be happy while you're staying with us."

  Shawn veered into the next lane. "I'm quite content with my new digs and job, thank you very much."

  From the interstate, Shawn navigated down several streets to reach my doctor's office. He walked inside with me and even sat at my side after I signed in with the receptionist.

  "You can stay here when they call me back," I said softly.

  Head down while he gazed at his phone, he nodded. "He's got a big list for the store."

  I leaned closer to him and saw everything from pet food to cheese, meat, and at least twenty other items.

  "I need to get a few personal things, too," I said.

  He met my g
aze. "If it's what I'm thinking, I refuse to touch those things. Jeremy can buy them for you if you can't get them yourself."

  I chuckled at the typical male response.

  A woman in nurse scrubs appeared from behind a door, then called my name.

  "See you in a few," I said before I left him.

  The nurse weighed me, then took me to a private room where she collected the rest of my vital signs. She told me to undress and left me with a thin gown to cover with before she disappeared. Anxiety flowed through me as I took off my clothes. I couldn't wait to have the stitches out so I could move like normal again. Better yet, I could get some one-on-one time with Jeremy and work on fulfilling the deal I'd made with him.

  Sitting on the examination table, I waited alone for what seemed like an eternity before the doctor and nurse reappeared.

  "Ms. Garrett, nice to see you again," said the slightly overweight woman with wavy blond-tinted hair. "How are you feeling?"

  "Much better, Dr. Morgan. I'm ready for these stitches to come out."

  "Well, let's see how they look. Go ahead and lie back," Dr. Morgan said as she put on a pair of latex gloves.

  I scooted back over the flimsy paper underneath me until my ankles reached the edge of the bed, then I laid back. Dr. Morgan parted the edges of my gown, then peered closely at my injury. I stared at the ceiling while she touched a few areas.

  "We still don't have your records about the surgery," she said while she studied me. "Have you had any luck getting copies?"

  I'd told the doctor I'd had a heart attack during a visit in France and the doctors had performed open-heart surgery. It was a bit of a stretch given my age, but anyone at any time could have one. I couldn't explain why the incision ran lower, which left them questioning the medical techniques used in France. Since my wound proved I'd had some kind of major surgical procedure, the doc bought my story.