Caught in the Middle

by Desiree Holt

  Her grandmother had tried to teach her Latin, but Madison hadn’t been very good at it. She could only pick up one out of several words, but the words she could pick up were bad. Invoke, evil, sacrifice.

  When Matt started the chant over again, Madison could feel the change in the room. The air sizzled around her. The flames of the candles grew.

  Madison closed her eyes and concentrated on her own magic. It had been years since she had practiced, but as she started the spell to ward off evil that her grandmother had thought her, the words flowed easily to her mind.

  Madison repeated the spell over and over as her brother’s voice rose.

  The air snapped in front of her and the candles blew out. She opened her eyes and saw her brother watching her. A flash of surprise crossed his face but was quickly replaced with an angry frown.

  “What did you do?” he asked her angrily.

  Madison bit her lip, not really knowing. Matt twisted her hand in his, making her palm face forward.

  “I thought you didn’t practice,” he accused.

  “I don’t.”

  “She’s lying,” one of the women interrupted. “Couldn’t you feel the white magic surrounding her? She did a spell.”

  Matt laughed, still looking at her. “You were always full of surprises.” He reached behind him and held up a shiny silver dagger. “But then, so am I.”

  He sliced a line down the middle of her palm. Madison cried out as he squeezed, causing the blood to flow faster. He turned her hand down and let the blood drop onto the floor.

  As the drops of blood hit the scarred hardwood, they started to smoke. Madison watched as the smoke rose and circled in front of her. She felt it enter through her nose and fill her body.

  She tried to move away, but Matt still held her hand, and the more she fought the faster the smoke invaded her body.

  Madison could feel the change. She became dizzy and started to cough. Matt started to chant again, and she could feel the smoke inside her responding to it. Then, as if she was in a fog, she felt herself slip away.

  Chapter Nine

  Madison knew something wasn’t right. She could see Matt kneeling in front of her, arms raised and chanting. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She tried to move. For the first time since she entered the circle, he wasn’t holding her, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.

  She couldn’t turn her head and look around. She was helpless and could just stare at the man who had once been her best friend. Matt lowered his arms and opened his eyes, the deep black depths penetrating through her chilling her body.

  “All you had to do was follow directions,” he told her.

  Madison couldn’t respond and he smiled, amused. “Sucks, doesn’t it?”

  If she could have panicked, she would have. Instead she just watched as he pierced the tip of his finger and added his blood to where hers had landed. Even though they were inside, she felt the wind raise her hair off her shoulders.

  The door slammed open behind her, but she couldn’t turn her head. The others around the circle scrambled away, right before a large grey-and-white wolf flew through the room.

  Madison knew it was Tom but couldn’t call out to him. He cornered the others against the back wall as movement to her right alerted her. She had to wait until he moved into her eye line, but she could have collapsed with relief as Dante stood next to the circle.

  Dante tried to walk between the candles but stopped. He looked at her, confused.

  “Sorry, vampire, but you can’t get in here,” Matt told him, laughing.

  Dante slammed his fist in the air, meeting the invisible barrier.

  “Madison, are you okay?” he asked, clearly frustrated.

  Madison couldn’t speak or even shake her head. She didn’t know what was wrong with her.

  “She’s just fine,” Matt answered for her before she felt the dagger he’d used to cut her hand at her neck.

  She watched as Dante changed in front of her. His eyes began to glow a moment before his teeth lengthened and he hissed.

  “Bad vampire,” Matt taunted. “But I have to say I was expecting you.”

  He moved his free hand, and the curtains in the room opened. Dante hissed again and covered his face. As he retreated to a dark corner, Matt laughed.

  Commotion echoed through the room until Madison saw the wolf land hard beside the circle. A dart in his side showed how ready they really had been.

  “Now you have to make a decision. Help me and I’ll let you all go. Don’t and I’ll kill both your lovers and your friend.”

  Madison didn’t have a choice. She would have died for Angie, and she would die to make sure Dante and Tom were okay.”

  “I take it you’ll do what I want you to now.” He moved the knife down. “Now I need more blood so where should I take it from?”

  Madison managed to get her eyes closed. She didn’t want to know. She felt the cut on the same hand he’d opened earlier. As the blood left her body, she felt her limbs start to tingle.

  Madison moved her fingers.

  “Pretty neat huh? As I drain your body of blood, you will slowly regain possession of your body.” He laughed next to her ear. “But I’ll let you in on a secret. You won’t get it all back before I have all your blood.”

  The blade sliced into her leg. Her hoarse scream echoed in her head.

  “Hurry, the vampire’s trying to get loose.” Another voice came from behind her.

  Madison focused on her body, trying to bring it back to her faster. She ignored the next cut and the next. She brought a picture in her head of a page in the book she remembered seeing. It had to do with healing.

  Her grandmother had never let her practice that one, saying she wasn’t ready, but that had only made her want it that much more. She had memorised that spell when she was only twelve.

  A sharp pain in her right side had her flinching, but she refocused and chanted the spell over and over in her head. She felt heat flow through her hands and legs.

  Madison waited until Matt moved closer to her hand. When he was within reach, she opened her eyes. She could hear Dante struggling behind her, and she could see Tom’s leg twitch. It was now or never.

  Before Matt could cut her again, she grabbed his wrist. He jerked his arm in surprise, but Madison was ready for him. She elbowed him, causing his head to snap back. Breaking out of his hold, she stood and stumbled to the edge of the candles.

  She knocked one over, causing the flame to spread and dance away. Madison glanced down at the fire and stepped away, knocking into another one.

  She heard a yowl and turned in time to see Tom stand on his four legs. He growled and, Madison looked around to the fast spreading fire. The others in the room backed away before making a run for the door. Dante screamed in rage and grabbed for her, lifting her from the flame.

  “Angie,” she whispered, her throat raw.

  Dante pulled her over to her friend and easily crushed the cuffs that held her. Angie clawed at the necklace, drawing more blood. Dante managed to push aside her hands and remove it.

  Madison jumped as she felt something touch her leg. The soft fur that came in contact with her skin had her relaxing quickly. She buried a hand in his neck.

  “My heroes.”

  Dante picked up Angie in his arms and held her close to his chest. . Using Tom as a brace, Madison started forward as well. Before they could make it more than a few steps, Matt blocked their way.

  “Matt,” Madison cried, wobbling on her feet.

  “This isn’t finished,” he said, holding the knife up. “I haven’t come this far to let you ruin everything.”

  The room spun and Madison gripped Tom’s fur to ground herself. “Let it go.” she told her brother tiredly.

  He screamed and dove for her. Tom lunged but not before the dagger sliced her one last time. As Madison fell, the last thing she saw was Tom’s teeth around her brother’s neck.

  Chapter Ten

  Madison opened her ey
es and found herself in a small hospital room with only a lamp off to the side for any light. Looking around, she saw the blinds were closed tightly, and the figures of two men in chairs beside her told her she wasn’t alone.

  She tried to sit up and hissed in pain as her stomach pulled.

  “Stay still,” Dante commanded from beside her.

  Madison looked over to him. His face was in the shadows, and she reached for him. She needed to touch him. To feel for herself that he was okay.

  Dante leaned forward and grasped her hand. As his face moved into the light, she saw the angry red burns that covered him.

  “Oh my God!” Madison cried and tried to move again.

  Hands held her shoulders down. “Calm down.” Tom’s voice penetrated through her panic. He sat on the side of the bed as Dante held her hands between both of his.

  With her free hand, she brought it to the side of his face. “I’m so sorry.”

  Dante leaned farther towards her and kissed her gently. “This is nothing. I will heal, sweetheart. You are the one who was hurt.”

  Madison couldn’t stop the tears. It seemed she’d cried so much lately. “How? This couldn’t have happened from just the window.”

  Dante sighed and looked over to Tom. Tom rubbed her shoulders and bent down to kiss her. Just as softly as Dante had.

  “It was a long drive to your grandparents. And he was in direct sunlight when he entered and exited the house,” Tom told her.

  Madison covered Dante’s hand with hers and looked at the other man. “And you…are you okay.”

  He smiled and Madison couldn’t help but return it.

  “No worse for wear.”

  “And Angie?”

  “Already healed. Shifters heal quickly, honey.”

  Madison shifted on the bed. She had one last question. “My brother?”

  Tom looked away, so Madison turned to Dante.

  Dante shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”

  Madison sob caught in her throat. Tom started to pull away, but she caught his hand. “Not your fault. He was going to kill me.”

  Tom met her eyes again. “I…”

  Ignoring the pain, she leaned towards him. “Not your fault. Hold me please.” She looked back to Dante. “Please, both of you hold me.”

  Madison was surrounded by arms and she relaxed into them. Taking the strength they offered her.

  Epilogue

  Madison walked into the cabin with a bounce in her step and a plan in her mind. She had closed the store early and needed to prepare for the night.

  So much had changed in the six weeks she had been recovering. Angie and Chad had taken a vacation but would be returning from England soon.

  Dante and Tom had stayed with her every night. Their clothes and belongings had slowly started to take over her house until they decided they needed more room. They had argued over where to stay. Dante’s house was big enough for the three of them and her dogs but had been his, and Tom wanted something that was theirs.

  Construction would start in a few weeks for a new house on Madison’s property. It would be big enough for all of them and a family they were hoping to have in the future.

  She couldn’t give Dante children. That was something that he had given up when had had been turned into a vampire, but she would share any children she might have with Tom with him.

  Tom had unselfishly told the other man that any children they had would be just as much Dante’s as his. There was still a lot to work out between the three of them, but Madison knew they were all in for the long haul.

  She loved her men and had committed to both.

  Stripping out of her sweater, she quickly headed for the shower. Six long weeks had passed, and Doc had told her she needed to be careful. She’d been stabbed nineteen times.

  The men had taken the doctor at his word when he told them no activity that could pull her stitches, which meant she hadn’t been physically loved in too many weeks.

  But Doc had given her the go ahead, and she planned to take her men to bed and not let them out until they were all fully sated.

  Madison showered quickly, not taking time to play, wanting to be in bed when the men got home. Drying her body, she wrapped a towel around her head and opened the door to the bedroom.

  And stopped in her tracks at the sight of two men naked and waiting in bed.

  Placing her hands on her hips, she glared at them. “How did you know?”

  Both men laughed before Tom answered. “I saw Doc in town. He told me I needed to hurry home and take care of a pressing matter.” Reaching down, he fisted his cock. “And let me tell you, baby, it is pressing.”

  Madison blew out a breath and shifted her gaze to Dante. He was fully healed as he’d promised, but Madison would always remember how he had sacrificed himself for her.

  Now the beautiful man was stroking his erection ever so slowly. Blowing out her breath, she shrugged and ran and jumped on the bed.

  “Careful, sweetheart,” Dante warned, pulling her up and between them.

  Madison straddled his waist and licked his lips. “No more being careful.”

  Dante nodded and his lips went to her throat. Madison reached over and grabbed Tom’s wrist.

  “Mine,” she growled, prying his hand from his shaft.

  Tom sent her a dazzling smile before he moved up behind her. Teasing her slick folds, he nipped her shoulder. “Yes, it is.”

  Dante’s mouth moved lower, his lips sealing over one nipple while Tom cupped her other breast from behind.

  Madison wiggled her hips. “Inside me. Both of you.”

  The men’s eyes met and they shared a smile. “Your wish…”Dante started.

  “…is our command,” Tom finished. “You little witch.”

  About the Author

  Crissy Smith lives in Texas with her husband, daughter, and three Labrador retrievers. When not writing or reading, she enjoys hunting, camping and shooting.

  But she has a girly side too and is addicted to pedicures and coffee.

  She has been writing since she was a teenager and still loves everything to do with the paranormal. Her stories and characters all have a place in her heart. She loves the alpha male, the dominant werewolf, or the Master vampire which find their way in most of her books.

  Crissy is currently working on her first series for Total-E-Bound called Were Chronicles. She will introduce her readers to a hidden world of wolf shifters and their unpredictable mates. The first book Pack Alpha will be released in May 2009.

  Email: cmsmith0328@yahoo.com

  Crissy loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com/.

  Also by Crissy Smith

  Savage Love

  Seduced by the Neighbour

  Were Chronicles: Pack Alpha

  TROUBLE FOR THREE

  Sascha Illyvich

  Dedication

  To Michele, my editor, for putting up with my shit and making this a better story than when she got it. To my support, my pack. I love you all. Morgan as always, thanks for the kick in the ass. Kayelle, Kiernan, Francine, Stephanie, Seletta, Kaitlyn, and anyone else who put up with me while I suffered trying to write this book. Thank you.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Mazda: Mazda Motor Corporation

  Laz-E-Boy: LZB Properties Inc.

  Indianapolis 500: Brickyard Trademarks, Inc.

  Chapter One

  Anneke was so fucking through with this mess. Men like Jones were an incompetent lot, and there sure were a fuck load of them.

  “Ugh,” she stormed around the office, aware of the lush furniture that complimented Jones and his seemingly expensive taste. In truth, she’d been with him when he’d made his last few purchases, all discount knock-offs of clothing and furniture that would make the average
woman sick from the sheer amount of his cheapness.

  But that was only one straw out of many on the camel’s back.

  “You were fucking another man last night and that whore. What more is there to say?”

  “But Anna, wait!” Standing, he reached out to her over his cluttered desk. His hair had been parted in the centre so that it curled upwards, showing off his dark skin, delicate jaw and soft features. Dressed in a power suit that showed off clean lines and a tailored appearance, he had the looks all right.

  But she didn’t care. Anneke spun on a heel and marched towards the door. Reaching for the handle, she looked over her shoulder, an angry smirk on her face. “Fuck off, Jones. We’re through. Deal with it.”

  She stormed from her former lover’s office. She started down the hallway, aware he was calling her name. She had no time for fools. Running a hand through her auburn hair, she lunged down another hallway until she came to the elevator.

  The previous evening, Thom Jones had left her high and dry for the last time. He’d started off with some excuse about how he’d been busy until late at work, but she knew better. He was with that fucking whore of an ex of his—the woman who could probably suck a tennis ball through a garden hose. What was her name?

  Jennifer.

  Evil bitch.

  Not that Anneke could blame Jennifer. She’d met the woman once and realised within ten seconds that Jennifer was just as shallow as Thom. They’d be a perfect match for each other until the sniping started, and Jennifer realised Thom liked dick.

  Oh well. Anneke stepped inside the elevator and vowed never to darken this doorway again. Tomorrow, she’d look for some excitement of her own. Tired of the same old bullshit routine of dating a man, fucking him if he was commitment-worthy, or dumping him if he was a slob, she decided what she really wanted was two men. Well hell, she actually seemed to need two men. One wasn’t enough for her, that much she’d found out early on.