Following a hug, Ariane found it difficult to focus on what he was saying, her mind elsewhere. As the fog lifted, her vision centered on the beer bottle waving in her face. The contents shook. “What?”
“What on earth is in your beer?” Jesse curled his lip and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll get some fresh brews.”
Her mind whirled with images of Sabree and her cheeks burned. “It’s a listening device, a bug. Wayde’s spying on us. Don’t tell Brian, or he’ll freak.”
As soon as Jesse returned with two full bottles, keys jingled in the front door lock. Brian entered ahead of Eric without announcing their return. He darted in and out of every room as though something were amiss, unable to pinpoint what troubled him. When he rushed back into the living room, his eyes widened. “Why do I smell fresh-baked cookies? Are you okay? Your color’s a sickly gray.”
She waved him off before he smothered her with brotherly concern. “I’m going to bed. Sorry, Jesse.”
3 3 3
Early next morning, Sabree stood on the ledge that overlooked the Colton homestead designed to blend in with the environment, a one level ranch with a small stone courtyard in front. The rich terrain, cluttered with sagebrush, cacti, and sparsely planted trees, boasted an efflorescence of red, yellow, and white blooms. Layers upon layers of sandstone, shale, and limestone, ranging from gold to sunset-red, painted the unique rock formations. Contorted shapes and jagged cliffs afforded the countryside a three-dimensional vista, untamed and as wild as his spirit.
His gaze rested on the path he had climbed, the trail filled with overgrown scree and prickly cacti. Keen eyesight recognized the spot where he had parked and camouflaged the red Jag, covering it with a canvas cloth and sagebrush. Pleased he traded in the silver Porsche for the new ride, his attention returned to the adobe house.
From this vantage point, he could keep the Colton twins in sight with high-powered binoculars. He tucked them, along with an electronic listening device, between two large boulders and leaned against the lone Palo Verde tree. Washout exposed its root system along the rim of the ledge. A warm desert breeze rustled the sparse vegetation and caressed his sunburnt cheeks. To his benefit, he brought enough gear to compensate for any discomfort. Home sweet home for now.
Behind the tree trunk, he continued to spy on the haven below. Inhaling a deep breath cleansed his lungs. The oxygen spread to the tiniest cells in his capillaries. His joints no longer felt like someone had knitted the cartilage together with wire. For reasons unknown, Sabree had not healed entirely until now. The unraveling of this enigma would have to wait. For now, he would move into the neighborhood. “It would be terribly rude and impolite of me not to welcome myself. I have housewarming gifts for everyone.”
Sabree misted inside the house, moved from room to room as it became vacant, and planted a listening device in a non-conspicuous place. Inside the kitchen, he noticed a crumpled card in the trash can. He smoothed it out and read the contents.
“So that’s where you went, Colton.”
The last room to place under surveillance was the master bedroom. Before he hid the bug behind the dresser, Sabree peered through the French doors and saw Ariane lounging on the porch with Jesse. “Ah, Ariane Rose, my most excellent bugging device.” What failed to work on the brother, might work on the sister, especially if combined with his passionate wiles. Also, to his advantage, the anti-vamp serum weakened her ability to stand up against his will. He vanished only to reappear on the ledge seconds later. Mission accomplished.
22
WHO LET THE SHARKS OUT
J am-packed in heavy traffic, I laid on the horn when another vehicle failed to signal and cut me off. My patience had worn thin long before the end of our seven-hour drive. Getting up at four in the morning to make the four-hundred-mile trek to the Long Beach Aquarium added to the stress. “At this rate, we may have to stay overnight,” I said without looking at Eric. Couldn’t afford to take my eyes off the road for a second.
“Nope, I refuse to leave Ariane alone all night.” Eric slapped the passenger window. “I don’t understand women. She was pissed because we came home early last night. At least Jesse was in the kitchen and not on the couch snuggling with her. Bet he’s gay.”
I eyed the traffic ahead and to the left. “Jesse’s wise beyond his years not to fall for my sister—a metro male.” I chuckled. “Next left, right?”
“Right. She snubbed me last night. Hey, go left.”
I swerved into the exit lane. A horn blared behind us. “That was close,” I said, glancing at the rearview mirror. Signs posting full lots blocked the front and side parking zones. “Looks like we’ll have to park in the back lot.” By the time I parked, and we walked several blocks to the aquarium, the sun hit its zenith.
We wandered around the outside wharf to make sure no one had followed. Judging it safe, I left Eric to keep watch outside while I entered the main lobby to purchase tickets. In contrast to the sunny day, the cave-like interior chilled me to the core. I removed my sunglasses and gave my eyes a minute to adjust to the florescent lights. With tickets in hand, I waved Eric inside.
Mobbed with people, I prodded him toward the stairway. Coming on the holiday weekend wasn't one of my better ideas; however, the crowd might work in our favor.
We toured the second floor, weaving in and out of exhibits, only to repeat the tour twice to make sure the coast was clear. Together, we kept a sharp eye out for familiar faces, namely Wayde and his men.
On the third lap, I paused between the Tropical Pacific Gallery and the restrooms. Eric stepped beside me as I stared beyond the Coral Lagoon to the place where Diane Lei claimed she hid the drive. Alone for the moment, I glanced to the left and then behind Eric and squeezed my eyes shut to conjure my enhanced speed. Tiny specks of light, magnified into brilliant stars, burned behind my lids. Muscles and joints flinched at first, now quaking as if my body was preparing to launch like a rocket. Empowered, I nudged Eric. “Going for it. Watch my back.”
Tearing open a stick of gum, he nodded.
My body lunged forward. I grabbed the drive hidden behind the suggestion box and stuffed it inside the back pocket of my jeans, hoping no one had detected the bold theft. With the drive tucked away, I nudged Eric’s arm.
“Well, get going already,” Eric said. He glanced at the wall, popped the stick in his mouth, and then glanced at me.
“Wow, it worked.” My smile broadened. Eric had never even noticed that I had left his side for a millisecond. “Done, let’s continue the tour.”
“What’d I miss?” Eric scratched his scalp as he stared at the display. “Wow, you’re getting a grip on your speed. You never even twitched, which means you moved faster than my eyes could detect.” He swallowed the wad of gum. His stomach growled loud enough for me to hear. Eric pointed at the plump sea turtle inside the center tank. “Let’s grab a bite to eat.”
“Later,” I said. “On the way home. McDonald’s maybe.”
“Burgers?” Eric grunted. “Lead the way.”
The third lap around the upper level completed, Eric and I returned to the tropical exhibit. Together, we waited for the right moment to race downstairs and out the front door. Neither of us saw Wayde and his men lurking about.
3 3 3
Someone else failed to detect Brian’s lightning-speed retrieval of the flash drive. Sabree had misted outside the aquarium and followed the pair inside where he shadowed them as they moved in and out of exhibits. Boredom took hold as he mangled the ticket into a pulp. His imagination ran amok as he envisioned himself snacking on a few selfie-obsessed tourists. He felt justified enough to eat their phones as well.
Up ahead, Eric’s complaint about his empty stomach drew Sabree’s interest. He counted the times Brian and Eric circled the Tropical Reef habitat in the center. Sabree matched their pace while he hugged the huge marine exhibit, circling and watching them from the opposite side. His peripheral vision detected movement inside the tank. He smirked and purpose
ly licked his lips.
A colossal reef shark, well fed from years of lazy tank life, swam alongside him. Its gray, lifeless eyes studied him with keen interest. Sabree bared his own fangs as he kept pace with the fish. He almost toppled over when he saw Brian lingering a few feet in front of him. An abrupt U-turn delivered him out of sight. Why was he so distracted of late? One thing came to mind: drinking Ariane’s blood. Damn the potency of the serum. What else could it be? He held his breath when Brian leaned against the tank, his amber eyes magnified the size of two oranges as he peered through it. Had the ghoul seen his reflection in the glass?
3 3 3
My stomach tightened as I choked on bile. Something or rather someone caught my eye. Either a guilty conscience troubled my mind, or I really did see Sabree’s reflection in the glass. I glanced sideways to make sure I was alone except for a troop of Boy Scouts gaping at a large shark. I raised both arms overhead, sucked in my gut, and twirled in place to maneuver around the excited youngsters. My eyes scanned the area for my partner-in-crime. “Eric?” I asked, looking for neon green.
We had agreed to wear bright shirts. Eric wore a green tank and I wore safety-yellow. This way, if separated, we could find each other with ease. I spied the bright green tee pushing its way through the crowd until a bald man shoved Eric into an alcove of lobster exhibits. I craned my neck and saw the barrel of a gun pressed into Eric’s gut. Damn it, Wayde’s goons.
Like a pinball, I bounced off people until I skidded to a stop. A few feet ahead stood a man whose backside looked like Sabree—same hair and build. I slipped behind a crowd of onlookers close enough to hear the gunman who blocked Eric’s escape.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“There goes lunch,” Eric said.
“Shut up.” Wayde’s bald henchman kept an eye on the nearest exit. “Piece of cake separating you from Colton.” He frisked Eric and confiscated his mobile phone, tossing it to the dark-skinned man who rounded the corner. Wayde grinned as he caught the device. Another man shadowed him. All three evoked an aura of standing out of place, overdressed for tourists.
I leaned into the glass. The chill that iced my veins came from the cold tank against bare skin, but I didn’t leave out the chance sighting of Sabree and Wayde. My acute ears picked up Wayde’s order for Chase Unwin to rid them of the immortal pest, Sabree. The pressure behind my eyes burned as I watched Eric try to escape, perhaps to warn me until the gun slammed into his gut to prevent the tip-off. My gaze settled on the weapon under Chase’s jacket when the he leaned in my direction. If nothing else, this altercation confirmed Eric had worked with Duncan only.
Concealed behind a support beam, I continued to eavesdrop on them. Should I enable my warp drive? Zip past Sabree, knock Chase over, and then grab Eric? What about the bald henchman? Unlike the rest, he might be good at his job. My mind raced with what-ifs while Chase advanced on Sabree as he lurked near the central marine exhibit. Sorry, Sabree, you’re on your own.
“Freeze, Saber,” Chase growled. “That’s right. The DanJal helped us identify your sorry ass. Colton’s our man, bitch.”
“The name is Sabree,” the immortal replied. His nose rose enough to suggest snobbish arrogance.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered, my blood congealing from his coldhearted tone. When someone tapped me on the shoulder, my backbone straightened. Another of Wayde’s henchmen had circled the tank to intercept me, his weapon jabbing me in the back.
Wayde approached from the opposite direction and stepped in front of me. “So, we meet again, Colton. This way, please.” On cue, the middle-aged henchman with round spectacles jabbed the barrel against my back to urge me toward a blank wall away from the crowd.
“Who let the sharks out?” I snarled the words through clenched teeth. A quick scan confirmed the bald man still held Eric at gunpoint near the lobster display. “What took you guys so long?”
Wayde scoffed and directed his anger at the two youngsters staring at them. “Get lost!” He snickered when the kids scattered. “Meet Johnson.”
The brute face-planted me against the wall and pinned me while he frisked me. “Mohjo has Tripper at gunpoint,” Wayde said, “so I suggest you take me to the flash drive. All I need do is sneeze into my mobile and he’s dead.”
So careful and still all hell broke loose. I groaned, my face mashed into the stucco until I bit my lip. A stream of crimson puffed into dust as it trickled down the wall. I squirmed when Johnson slipped his hand into the pocket of my jeans.
“By Jove, he already has it.”
“We must have overlooked the retrieval.” Wayde examined the red metallic drive and stepped aside when Johnson tightened his grip, twisting my arm.
The wrenching made my eyes water. The rustle of paper, followed by Wayde reading the letter aloud twisted my gut into knots. I hoped he knew nothing of anagrams.
“Brian, use metal detector by jerk. Ariane, excel in bro’s medals. 627-523-1050.” Wayde entered the numbers into his cell. A whining screech sounded off. “More gibberish.” Wayde crumpled the note and tossed it aside. He pocketed the drive and switched it for his automatic, aiming the barrel at the back of my skull. “Remember, Eric Tripper’s a dead man if you move.”
3 3 3
Sabree stared at the silencer pointed at his gut before he glared into the human’s eyes. He willed Chase to lower his weapon, but it had been a little over a month since he last drank the man’s blood. Eye-to-eye contact also failed. Either his attempt failed because of his weakened state or because his influence over the mortal had faded. “You will regret this,” Sabree snarled.
“All I hear are empty threats from a deadbeat vamp. One shot will put a three-inch hole in your gut. Please give me an excuse to test my theory.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” Sabree said. A Clown fish darted back and forth chasing a blue angelfish. Sabree’s mind drifted from the immediate peril of the gun as his finger tapped the glass to distract the fish.
Wayde’s voice snapped over the Bluetooth earpiece, ordering his troops to regroup. “Time to go, but first—” Chase backed away from him and fired.
Sabree had other plans. His body misted, the bullet sailing through him without injury. At first, the glass absorbed the shock of the bullet until tiny veins fractured and crisscrossed the length of the tank. Water trickled from the cracks.
“Son of a bitch,” Chase muttered and dashed off to join the others.
The passageway filled with screams from the thunder of gunfire. Water and flapping fish burst through the splintering glass. Sabree faded completely.
3 3 3
Rushing water spilled across the Tropical Pacific Gallery floor. Tourists floundered like fish out of water as they scurried toward the exits. Wayde cursed Chase. “Remind me to fire his ass.” He shoved me toward the stairwell. “Until we meet again.” The man concluded his farewell by slamming the butt of his gun against my skull.
I clung to the banister. My vision blurred as I tried to focus on the fleeing forms of Wayde and Johnson. My consciousness faded in and out, but I fought hard to see them dodge the mob of adults and frightened children. Everyone rushed toward the nearest exit.
A lime blur streaked into view. The man in the shirt ran against the crowd, avoiding people as they raced downstairs along with the water. I called out to Eric, but my voice cracked. A piece of paper floated by me. I snatched it. The abrupt grasp made my head spin as if I were experiencing a shakedown cruise where the captain had tossed my mind overboard.
“Brian,” Eric cried, “Are you all right?” He knelt beside me and pulled my hands away from my head. He examined the wound, the healing process already underway. “C’mon, let’s get out of here before security blocks the exits. Can you believe those goons shot a tank—a large one at that. There’s fish and water everywhere.”
My head reeled as he helped me to my feet, certain I had suffered a severe concussion. I stood upright and grabbed Eric’s arm to recover. “Wayde took the drive,” I growled
, leaning close. Aware Eric’s temper would unravel, I staggered down the staircase and stepped into six inches of water, the entire lobby flooded. Water filled my sneakers.
“Damn it, Brian,” Eric yelled as splashes from his footfalls caught up. “How could you be so careless? You’re supposed to have super-vamp powers. You should have zipped out of here. What happened?” Eric beat me out the door by skirting around a troop of scouts.
“No choice—Wayde had you at gunpoint.” I tripped over a stuffed whale and almost bumped into a scout leader on the way out. Once outside, my quickened stride matched Eric’s brisk pace. “The bastards caught me off guard. What was I supposed to do? Leave you behind?”
I ran ahead and stopped to catch his answer. Wayde’s theft of the first flash drive pissed me off, but I was angrier at myself for letting Sabree’s surprise visit throw my guard off.
Eric pulled alongside me. “Thanks, dude, for not leaving me behind.” His tanned face puckered. “You’re so pale; your lips are blue.”
“I’ll live.” Chilled from the waist down in wet jeans, I wrapped my arms around my torso. Eric’s constant babble thrummed between my ears as we hurried to our vehicle.
“How’d Wayde find out about this location?” Eric bumped my shoulder as the path narrowed. “I thought we got rid of the bugs.” He stopped in front of the car. “Look, there are other drives. We’ll be ready for them next time.”
“Sure thing.” Except I’m going alone.
Eric slapped the passenger door and swore under his breath. “Hey, that reminds me. One of Wayde’s men went after some blond dude called Sabree. Guess three bullets didn’t finish the job after all.”
“Bugger, guess not.” I glanced down at my soggy sneakers and shook my head. Sabree showing up terrified me more than Wayde’s empty threats. As promised, the fiend had returned to act on vengeance. Was he the one inside the Porsche? I uttered a curse. Losing the drive to Wayde disheartened my will to go on. Exhaustion would eventually do me in. “Let's go, we have a long ride ahead.” Together we climbed into the car before security closed the park to gather witnesses.
Amongst the Fallen Page 14
