Shadows & Secrets (Lick of Fire Book 4)

by Jane Hinchey

  “Sure.” I shrugged, picturing Henry the Gunslingers face in my mind. He was a handsome man, strong jaw, clean shaven except for the thick bushy moustache, sparkling blue eyes – which surprised me because I’d thought a vampire’s eyes would be dull. And red. Dark hair brushed back from his forehead and almost reaching his collarbones. Yep, I could definitely draw a clear picture of him.

  “I take it he was easy on the eyes judging by that smirk on your face.” Jordan huffed and I snapped myself out of my daydreaming.

  “I’ve only got eyes for you, babe. But Henry? His Gunslinger title is apt. He looked like he just stepped off a Western movie set.”

  “I like that.” He murmured, tracing his finger over my collarbone. Distracted by his touch I frowned. What did he mean?

  “You calling me babe. Usually, it’s asshole. Or douche. Babe is an improvement.” He winked and quickly kissed me before standing up.

  “Go take a shower, no offence, but you stink of smoke. I’ll call this in to HQ, see what intel we have on Rampage. Here.” He set a pile of clothes on the bed, “I stopped by your place and got you something to wear.”

  “Why?”

  “Because none of my clothes would fit you.”

  I chuckled, “no, I mean why bring me here? Why not my place?”

  “Because that’s the first place they’d look for you.”

  I nodded. Right. That made sense. Sliding out of bed I gathered up the clothes he’d brought for me and carried them to the bathroom. Sitting on the edge of the bed, phone to his ear, he watched me, eyes appreciative. I closed the door on a smirk. Yeah, he was hot – and the sex was phenomenal. I was definitely falling for my SIA Agent. I’d suspected it when the witch had drained him and I thought he was dead – the way my heart had frozen in my chest at the thought of losing him. The overwhelming relief when I realized he wasn’t dead. Pretty sure he’d wormed his way into my heart. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I was prepared to explore the possibility of maybe having an ever after with Jordan Buchanan. I’m as surprised as you are, believe me.

  Flicking on the shower I laid my clothes on the top of the toilet when I noticed my underwear was MIA. As much as I love to be a rebel, going commando in a pair of jeans wasn’t my idea of fun – rough fabric on my lady bits, rubbing and chaffing? No thank you. As it was I was feeling a little tender in that particular area thanks to one sexy SIA Agent sitting in the next room. Poking my head around the door I searched for my missing underwear then froze when I heard my name.

  Jordan had moved from the bed and was now standing at the window, back to me.

  “You want me to bring her in?” He said, running a hand around the back of his neck.

  Was he talking about…me? My breath froze in my lungs as I stood and listened, unnoticed.

  “Yeah, I know her blood is special…yeah…no.” It was difficult only hearing one side of the conversation but I was getting the gist of it. The SIA wanted me – for my blood. Just like the vampires did. But I was confident Jordan wouldn’t throw me under the bus – he loved me, and he knew being locked away, experimented on, was my worst nightmare. He wouldn’t do it to me, I was certain of it.

  “Okay. Yes. Fine. I’ll bring her in. Yes. Today.” He disconnected the call but didn’t move, remaining at the window. Planning how he was going to bring me in?

  That’s when I knew I loved him. When my heart broke. For the pain in my chest now was crippling. He wasn’t fighting for me. He was going to take me to the SIA and let them stick needles in me, keep me against my will – for I would never voluntarily go to such a place, not after being locked away in an asylum for three years. Small spaces and locked doors were not my friends, add medical personnel and syringes to the mix and you had an over my dead body scenario.

  Spotting my panties, I silently retrieved them and retreated to the bathroom. Leaving the shower running I dressed. I wanted to confront him, I wanted to rant and rave and set his ass on fire. I wanted to scream at him for betraying my trust, for letting me fall for him, when all along his job came first, that orders from the SIA came ahead of me. That I was just a pawn in whatever the hell was going on in Maxxan.

  I did none of those things. Instead, I shimmied out of the bathroom window, shoving down the pain that was bubbling inside me, pushing it into a little box and cramming the lid closed on it – in its place, an icy calmness. I’d let him in, and the humiliation of being played burned beneath my skin…I embraced it, used it to fuel me. He’d know I was missing soon enough, I didn’t have much time.

  Bear appeared beside me just as I realized I had no mode of transportation. Jordan’s truck was parked where we’d left it, but my truck was at the ruins – or the old barn, for I’m guessing the witch probably took it. I wouldn’t be able to steal the nark mobile without him hearing – or seeing. But I could ride Bear, like Tyler and my mom had done. First, I needed to slow Jordan down, for he’d follow, he wouldn’t let me go this easily – he had a job to do after all.

  On a stroke of luck, another tray top was parked in the motel’s lot and I scanned the contents of the bed – bingo, a toolbox. Opening it I helped myself to a screwdriver and made my way to the big black nark mobile. With a great sense of satisfaction, I shoved the screwdriver into one rear tire, smiling grimly at the hiss of air. Glancing at his room I waited to see if he’d heard it – but there was no movement, no twitch of the curtain. Stealthily I made my way to the other side and repeated my actions – two flat tires should slow the asshole down I figured.

  Returning the screwdriver, I clicked my fingers to Bear and climbed onto his back. Bending low I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, “home.” He took off so fast I almost got whiplash. Hellhounds were friggin fast and silent and right now that was exactly what I needed.

  “Take that asshole,” I said under my breath, wiping away tears I didn’t know I was crying. Maybe going home wasn’t the smartest idea because that was the first place he’d look. And if the Gunslinger was after me too, he may already be waiting – although I suspected now they realized there was a dragon in town they may have fled. But the truth of it was, I needed somewhere to gather my thoughts, make a plan. I couldn’t hide out in Maxxan indefinitely, which meant leaving, which meant breaking the terms of Grandma’s will and letting everyone down. The thought of it magnified my pain and I clenched my fists until my nails dug painfully into my palms, damn him. Damn him to hell.

  My tears had stopped, but they weren’t real tears, they weren’t the heart-wrenching sobs that waited to come out, needed to come out. I’d shoved them into the box with the rest of the pain. Maybe one day I’d lift the lid, but not today. But despite all the suppressing of my emotions, I still couldn’t focus, my mind was in a fog. I knew I needed a plan but I was at a loss to come up with one, a decent one that is. All I had right now was the idea of stopping at the house, grabbing my meagre possessions and hitting the road out of Maxxan.

  The thought of leaving my family, the new bond I’d forged with my brothers and cousins, saddened me. I didn’t want to go I realized. Which left one option. I’d have to fight Jordan – he’d try and restrain me and take me to SIA HQ in Redmeadows – I wouldn’t be going. I know if I called my brothers and cousins they’d help me – they wouldn’t want to see me suffering, for they’d know, just as I did, that my unique blood meant the SIA would be studying me, examining me, hurting me.

  I had power now, control. I was better equipped to defend myself. I didn’t know if I was good enough to go face to face with Jordan but I was done running.

  * * *

  There was no-one in sight when we arrived home. Sliding off of Bear’s back I opened the front door and stepped inside – that’s when Bear growled, the long low rumble like thunder, shaking the house.

  “What is it, boy?” I asked. He barked, loud, and I covered my ears with my hands. Someone was here. A threat. Did he know already that Jordan was no longer a friend, but now a foe? Did he sense it? But there
was no way Jordan could have gotten here ahead of us. And there were no vehicles outside.

  “Where?” I whispered. I had the advantage. Only those close to me could see and hear Bear, which meant that whoever was prowling around my house may have felt the vibration of his bark, but not the sound. Bear headed into the den and I followed. The place had been trashed. The books that were still on the bookshelves were now strewn across the floor and the bookcase that hid the secret cave was pulled out from the wall.

  It didn’t take a genius to figure out it was my dad who’d let himself in and trashed the den, searching for…well I didn’t know one hundred percent what he was searching for, but most likely it was the info Grandpa had gathered that I’d already found. Crossing to the hole in the wall I peered inside. I’d left the bookcase up against the wall, the only person who knew about it was Jordan. It could only be my dad but for some reason, I hesitated. Did I really want to confront him? Did I really want to know the truth?

  Bear gave me a push with his nose and I squared my shoulders. Yes. I deserved the truth if nothing else. I was done with everyone keeping things from me. Climbing into the narrow passageway I made my way to the ladder and climbed down as quietly as I could.

  I wasn’t prepared for the sheer disappointment when I spotted my father at the bench. I mean, I’d known it would be him, yet I’d hoped secretly that someone else was involved, that someone else was responsible for all of this. Anyone but my dad. He hadn’t heard me and I stood for a moment, watching him frantically shuffling through the papers. Bear landed beside me, his presence undetected by my father. I cocked my head, pondering on how all that worked but I knew I was delaying the inevitable. It was time to get my answers once and for all.

  “Dad.”

  He must have jumped a foot in the air. Spinning, papers clutched to his chest, he looked at me, his face a picture of surprise.

  “Rae. What are you doing here?” For once there was no hostility in his voice, just shock.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” I looked at the papers and then back at him. He clutched them tighter.

  “I have every right to be here.” He said defensively, a flush of color creeping up his face.

  “As do I. After all, this is my home now.”

  “Not that you deserve it.” Ah, there it was. The hostility was back and I was glad, it made it easier.

  “You think you do?” I cocked my head as if considering his words, “because I’m pretty sure both Grandpa and Grandma would roll in their graves if they knew you were a drug dealer.”

  “What?” I figured his surprise was due to the fact that I knew the truth about him.

  “No, no, you’re right. You’re not the dealer, per se. What title did the Gunslinger give you? Foreman? Production Manager? Farmer?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about Rae. You’re delusional.” Turning his back, he placed the papers on the bench.

  “That’s what you’d like everyone to think, isn’t it? But I heard it from the Gunslinger himself. Henry. Remember him? I heard he was looking for you.” I strolled forward, watching. He was frozen, back ramrod straight, head down as he listened to what I had to say. “He tells me you’ve been producing the crops that are used to create Rampage. That you’ve been doing this for…oh…at least twenty-three years.”

  Slowly he turned to face me, his face hard, unreadable, set in stone.

  “What do you want?”

  “The truth dad. I want the truth.” Bear came and sat by my side, leaning heavily against my leg, forcing me to brace myself or topple over. Dad didn’t even flinch, oblivious to the Hell Hounds presence. He was mulling over what he was going to tell me, I wondered if I’d get the truth or a spin.

  The silence stretched out too long and I couldn’t help myself, I had to fill it.

  “Why are you hiding? Because the Gunslinger is back? Why is he after you – what did you do? Do you know they took mom?”

  “They did what?” This got his attention. His head snapped up, his eyes flashed. Relief flooded me that he at least cared about his wife, even if he didn’t give a damn about his daughter.

  “Two rogues took mom, to try and lure you out so they could turn you over to the Gunslinger for what I assume are great rewards.”

  “Is she alright?” He whispered, lips drawn, the flush of color leaving his face. He suddenly looked ten years older.

  “She’s fine. She’s with Aunt Martha and Uncle Glenn.” His anguish unsettled me, I didn’t know how to handle it. “Dad, what have you gotten yourself in to?”

  “It started years ago.” He began pacing, rubbing the back of his neck, “we needed cash, the business wasn’t going well, jobs were falling through. The economy had tanked and we were going to go under.”

  “So you took a sideline growing crops for a vampire?” It was one hell of a leap.

  “I thought I’d try my hand at growing marijuana, sell it to the kids in town, just to get some cash. I’d heard whispers there was demand. Dad had plenty of land, far enough away that no-one would discover it. So, I planted a small crop, only I couldn’t keep the water up to it. The crop failed. I was out there one night, drinking myself into a stupor, wondering what to do next, when a vampire stumbled across me.” He blew out a breath, remembering, “man I thought he was going to kill me. But he didn’t. He was interested in the setup I had and offered me a deal. Grow a crop of Deadnettle for him and in return, he’d pay me – ten thousand – cash. That was a lot of money back then.”

  “It’s a lot of money now.” Holy shit. No wonder dad caved. About to go bankrupt when a big juicy carrot like that is dangled in front of you.

  “Deadnettle is the plant that makes Rampage?”

  “It’s the base. They extract a chemical called Cyncon from the Deadnettle. That’s what gives the vamps the high. Rampage is just a street name.” He informed me.

  “Was the vampire the Gunslinger?”

  Dad shook his head, “someone who worked for him. He was scouting. They knew Deadnettle needed hot dry land to grow. Maxxan was on their list of places with potential. They chose it just like dad did. Hot. Remote. It was perfect – and I already had a field I’d cultivated, I just needed a crop.”

  “And then what happened? What led to this?”

  “Things were going well, then dad, your grandfather, started to get suspicious, started asking questions, poking around. I tried to keep him out of it, but word got out…the vampires knew he was sniffing around.”

  “They killed him,” I said flatly. “And nearly killed me.”

  He nodded, not able to voice the words.

  “Then what?” I wanted to ask why he’d turned against me, when did he start hating me, what had I done to deserve it, but I held off. I wanted the full story first. Then I’d drill him.

  “It was the weirdest thing.” He looked at me and away again, still walking back and forth, back and forth, “the vampire bit you and he died. Word spread. Like Chinese whispers, I guess – that a child with deadly blood lived in Maxxan. It makes no logical sense but the vampires? They fled. They didn’t want to be anywhere near you, it’s almost as if you were some prophecy, some big threat to them. Instead, you were a kid who was clueless to what was going on.”

  “I struggled to get workers for the crops. The vampires didn’t want to work here. The crops got smaller and smaller – I couldn’t sustain it and the Gunslinger was becoming impatient. He threatened you. Your brothers. Your mother. All of us. He wanted you dealt with – gotten rid of. You were out of control and when you were arrested, well it didn’t take much to bribe the judge to have you locked away.”

  You could have heard the proverbial pin drop in the silence that followed his admission. My dad bribed the judge to have me committed. I had never, in my wildest dreams, expected that. Memories of that day flashed before my eyes, me screaming, being dragged from the courtroom, mom crying. And dad? He’d turned his back and walked away. Job done.

  “With you gone, th
e vampires returned, business returned to normal. Life was good.”

  “Life was good? Life was good!” My shout had Bear’s hackles raised. “It wasn’t good for me father! I was drugged. Abused. Treated worse than you’d treat a dog – no offence Bear – hurt, tortured. All so you could continue building your little drug empire?”

  “It wasn’t my empire!” He protested.

  “Oh, you had your finger in a very big piece of the pie. You sacrificed me for it. For the money.”

  “I had to protect the family.” He protested.

  “I was family to dad. Me. Your daughter.” My cheeks were wet and I wiped my hand across my face absently. “You could have asked for help. What about Uncle Glenn and Uncle Roy? They could have helped you.”

  “They didn’t know. The fewer people who knew the better. I’d already risked-”

  “What did you risk dad? Nothing you weren’t prepared to lose eh?”

  “It turned out okay didn’t it?” He shouted. “You got out. Moved to Alaska. Had a life.”

  “Are you fucking serious?” I yelled back. “I was damaged goods. They broke me. BROKE ME. Can’t you get that through your thick head? YOU did this to me. YOU!” My tears were coming thick and fast I could barely see. Bear was growling, a long low rumble like the thunder of an incoming storm.

  “I didn’t! It was the Gunslinger! He forced me into it.”

  “Bullshit.” Dragging in a gulping breath I calmed myself. Lowered my voice. “I messed it up for you when I came home didn’t I? That’s why you were so hostile. So angry. Because with me back in town the vampires were antsy again, they didn’t want to be near the girl with the poison blood.”

  I wasn’t prepared for the lick of fire he launched at me. It caught me in the shoulder, hard, and I staggered backwards, clutching my shoulder in pain.

  “Touch her again and you’re a dead man.” Jarrod’s voice behind me made me jump. I hadn’t realized he was there. Stepping up beside me, his pyre gun aimed at dad, he glanced over at me. “Are you okay?”