by Jane Jamison
She wouldn’t, couldn’t stake anyone but the vampire. If he had anyone else guarding him, she’d have to figure out a way around them. Hurting anyone else, even someone close to the vampire, was unacceptable.
The blanket she’d used to keep warm was threadbare, but it was the best she’d been able to find in Shatland after she’d flown into Dallas and purchased the van at a used-car lot. She’d grabbed food, water, and the blanket and forgot about getting any other supplies while in Shatland. Just walking around that town had made her nervous.
If she could’ve found a hotel somewhere between Shatland and a larger city, she might have checked in. But she’d wanted to keep a low profile, and her quick trip to Shatland had left her paranoid that someone who knew the vampire would tell him where she was.
A tear slid down her cheek. She’d always felt alone in the world, not truly a member of her family. God knows her parents had never given any of their children much attention. But she missed Christine. Her sister had been the one person she could talk to about anything.
Charlie had always seemed closer to their parents than to either of her sisters. Still, it might do her good to hear her voice. She grabbed her phone, punching in the speed dial number.
Charlie answered on the second ring. “Shannon, are you all right?”
Shannon smiled, touched that her sister’s first words were to inquire about her well-being. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Where are you? Did you find him?”
As always, Charlie went right to the point. “I’m camping in an out-of-the way grove of trees I lucked into finding. And yeah. I found him. I found a man who told me Rollingsford had moved from Shatland to another small town called Forever.” She swallowed, hating that she had to tell her the truth. “I tried once, but I failed.”
“But you didn’t get hurt, that’s the main thing. Shannon, are you sure it’s him? I mean, I’m starting to doubt the private investigator’s findings. It just seemed so quick and easy for him to get the information. Almost like someone wanted him to find out who killed her.”
The doubt she’d had earlier rushed back and, just as before, she shoved it away. She couldn’t doubt the investigator now. If she did, she’d have to go home and start over. Could she stand to do that? “So you think someone led the investigator on? Or fed him false information? But why would anyone want to do that? No, you’re just nervous now that I’m here. Trust me. We’re on the right track.”
“I don’t know, sis. Something about it just seems off.”
“Charlie, we know Rollingsford or Deacon Slater or whatever he’s calling himself now, murdered her. It has to be him.” She racked her brain, coming up with reasons to support her stand. “What if it was easy for the investigator because someone who knew the truth figured that they could tell because no one would believe it anyway? I mean, how many people really believe in vampires? They could blab all they wanted because who would care? Especially since he paid them to speak up. And besides, look at how quickly the police dismissed the eye witnesses.”
“I guess.”
“Trust me, sis. He’s the one. He’s from Boston, and he lives in Forever now. The town couldn’t have more than one vampire, especially one from Boston.”
“Okay, okay. If you’re sure he’s the one, then that’s good enough for me.”
“So are you coming soon? I can meet you anywhere you want.” She sat up, excited at the prospect of having her sister help her.
“Not yet. I’m sorry, but we’ve had a major problem with distribution, and mom’s not handling it well. I can’t quit and leave her right now. But I swear, I’ll get there as soon as I can. I hope you understand.”
Shannon slumped against the side of the van. “Yeah, it’s no problem. I’ll take care of him on my own.”
“No. You need to wait until I can join you. Or come home and we’ll go back together.”
“Uh-uh. I’m too close to stop now.”
“But, Shannon, it’s not safe. Wait for me. Promise me you’ll wait for me.”
She’d waited long enough and gone through too much to quit. But she knew Charlie wouldn’t back down unless she gave her what she wanted. “Fine. I’ll wait here for you. But hurry the hell up.”
They said their good-byes and hung up. Shannon gazed up at the moon again. “Sorry, Charlie. I’m sending him to hell tonight.”
* * * *
“We haven’t seen any sign of her for the past two nights. That’s why I think we need to track her down. Once we get her into our house, we can talk some sense into her.” Daniel shifted, using his werewolf eyesight to scan the darkness.
“What if we can’t? What if Deacon’s already gotten rid of her? Just because we haven’t heard from him doesn’t mean she didn’t try again and he got the best of her.” Anderson sniffed, trying to pick up her scent.
They’d spent the last couple of nights glued to Deacon’s side, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have had one of his human or vampire associates get rid of Shannon. As they’d done on the previous nights, they’d had a quick dinner at Milly’s before walking to the Up All Night Pharmacy.
“If he’s hurt her, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my hands off his throat.”
“Only if I don’t get to him first.” Daniel growled, letting his inner werewolf vent its frustration.
“Why the hell does our mate have to be set on killing a vampire? Why can’t she have something else wrong with her? You know, like Emma and her brain tumor?”
Daniel didn’t reply since Anderson wasn’t looking for answers but just venting. Emma Rand-Carr had come to town dying from a brain tumor. But the Carr brothers, sensing that she was their mate, had claimed her. Their bite had rid her of her cancer and saved her life.
“If she doesn’t show up by tomorrow, we’ll hunt her down. I can’t wait for our connection to finally draw her back to us. Not after getting a taste of her.”
Anderson held the door of the pharmacy open then followed Daniel inside. “I know what you mean. But I’ve got it worse than you.”
“Yeah, what’s with that? I thought we agreed to keep hands off until we could take her together.”
“What can I say, cuz? She put a spell on me. Can I help it if you only got a kiss?”
“Are you two still discussing the hellcat that tried to punch a hole in me?” Deacon lifted an eyebrow in the usual Deacon-like manner.
“We are. And don’t refer to her in feline terms.” Daniel shook himself, demonstrating his dislike of cats.
“Perhaps she’s realized the futility of her mission and gone back to whatever hellhole she crawled out of.” Deacon scooped a handful of pills into a bottle then clamped the lid on top and stuck the label on the front of the bottle.
“Again, watch how you talk about her. She’s our future mate, you know.”
Deacon arched his eyebrow higher but kept whatever derisive terms he wanted to spout to himself. “As you wish.”
“Deacon, I’ve always wanted to ask you. Why do vampires need a pharmacy? It’s not like they get a cold or have a fever.” Daniel grinned as he ripped the wrapper off a candy bar and broke it in half, handing the other part to his cousin.
“Simply because we’re undead doesn’t mean we don’t have the occasional aches and pains. Plus, we’re responsible for our human servants and are required to take good care of them. Other residents of Forever, such as werewolves, werebears and even werecats use my services, too.”
Daniel scanned the interior just as Anderson was doing. “Makes sense, I guess.”
Anderson nudged Daniel then brought up the topic they needed to discuss with the vampire. “Look, Deacon, we don’t want to see her stake you any more than you do, but we need to have an understanding about what happens to her.”
“Yes?” Deacon continued to shuffle pills into other bottles.
“We don’t want her harmed. She is, after all, our future mate.”
“My condolences.”
Daniel didn’t
know whether he meant his remark as a joke or not. “Whatever she may try, you need to keep your hands, not to mention your fangs, off her. Do you get me?”
“Let me be certain that I understand you correctly. You want me to treat a woman who wants to end my days with kid gloves. Correct?”
The derision in Deacon’s tone was unmistakable, but Daniel wouldn’t back down or give in. “Correct. You can fight her off, and we’ll do our best to keep her away from you, but you need to think in terms of flight and no fight.”
“I cannot promise what will happen if I’m cornered and unable to, as you say, choose the option of flight. I’m sorry if that doesn’t sit well with your future mating plans.”
“Do the best you can, Deacon.” Daniel felt the amber spark in his eyes warning of the nearness of his inner wolf rising to the vampire’s bait. “But just remember. If she dies, you die.”
Anderson placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder, sending him an unspoken warning to get control of his emotions. “Are you sure you haven’t seen her since that first night?”
Deacon’s cold black eyes shifted their way. “I’m positive. On my word as a vampire.”
Daniel leaned closer to Anderson. “Does his word as a vampire pull much weight?”
But it was Deacon who answered. “Believe me. My word is everything.”
Daniel did believe him. Or at least he wanted to. But he wouldn’t rest until they’d found Shannon. “Good.”
“So…It’s a slow night, I guess. Not many customers.”
Good old Anderson. Always trying to keep everyone on an even keel. Anderson had brought him back from the edge in more than one situation.
Deacon followed Anderson’s musings. “Thursdays are usually slow. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to conduct and will be in my office in the back. I won’t need your protection there as I have a lock on the door and my office is windowless.”
“Okay. Then we’ll just hang around out front until Patrick shows up.”
Deacon’s cold gaze slid over Daniel. “If you wish.” Whirling around, he stalked toward his office.
* * * *
Shannon moved into hiding behind the pharmacy and waited until the black Cadillac pulled into the parking lot then came to a stop near the back door. Deacon Slater slipped out of the dark recesses and into the building.
“Damn. He’s taking no chances.” He’d even moved the Dumpster farther from the back door, leaving her nowhere to hide and attack him without warning. She gnawed on her bottom lip and tried to come up with an alternate plan. She should’ve known he’d take precautions, but she’d hoped her absence of the past two nights might’ve put him off his guard. Especially since she hadn’t see Daniel or Anderson. Could she have missed seeing them when they went inside the pharmacy?
She sighed then realized she was disappointed that she hadn’t seen them. “Stupid, Shannon. You’re letting your libido do your thinking.” It was a good thing they hadn’t stuck to Deacon. She didn’t need their distraction, much less their hindrance in taking down the vampire.
She had to make a frontal attack. If she could wait for a time when there were no customers in the pharmacy, she’d sneak inside and catch him while he worked. Until then, she’d bide her time in her van.
She glanced around then hurried to the other side of the street where she’d parked. She’d taken care to hide it in a different alley and farther away from the pharmacy, but still close enough to keep tabs on the comings and goings of customers.
Waiting had never been easy for Shannon, and she spent the time nervously going over her plan. If she tried and failed again, the chances of her getting another shot at him would be slim to none. She caught herself in the rearview mirror, saw the nervous energy in her eyes, and wished she could forget the whole thing. But the memory of her sister wouldn’t let her.
She was more than ready when, at last, the pharmacy appeared to be empty of customers. Gathering her holy water and the stake, she slid out of the van as quietly as she could and hurried to the pharmacy. She checked the back door and cursed when she found it locked. She’d have to do it the hard way.
Pressing her back against the building, she edged around to the front window and peeked in. No customers were inside. At least she had that going for her. Still, she’d have to move quietly and quickly in order to have a chance of catching the vampire by surprise. She ducked under the window and worked her way to the front door.
Opening it only as much as she needed to get inside, she slipped in and headed for the farthest aisle from the pharmacy counter. Deacon was working behind the counter and, luckily for her, he had his back to her. If she could sneak up on him and stab him between the shoulder blades, she’d then pour the holy water on him for added protection.
This is it. Maybe my only shot at killing him. Drive it in hard and deep.
She took a deep breath and hurried forward. Luck was on her side again as she rushed toward the counter and saw that the swinging door used to get into the employee area was open. She was through it in a second and, raising her hand, held the stake in the air.
Now. Do it now!
She hurled herself at the vampire, arcing her arm to bring the stake down into the middle of his back with enough force to drive it all the way through his body and into his heart. With her other hand, she thumbed the top of the holy water off the small vial, ready to toss it on him as soon as she’d driven the stake between his shoulders.
She was inches from sinking the stake into his back when something big and hard hit her from the side. She cried out, both in fear and frustration. The air whooshed out of her in a grunt as she landed on her back.
Chapter Five
Anderson grabbed the stake and tore it out of her grasp. She managed to toss the holy water, vial and all, a second before Anderson captured her other arm. The vial and water struck the vampire squarely in the chest.
Deacon looked down at the shattered vial at his feet then at his black shirt and frowned. “Now look and see what you’ve done. You’ve gotten me wet along with making a mess to get cleaned up.”
Anderson’s amber-flecked eyes shone under his eyebrows that darted toward his nose. “Damn, we thought you’d given up trying to wipe Deacon off the face of the earth.”
She struggled against Anderson, but he was too strong. Panting, she glared at him and wished she could burn him to ashes. Either that or push him between her legs and make him put out the fire that was already raging in her pussy.
Daniel leaned over the counter and added his frown to Anderson’s and Deacon’s. “Shit, Shannon. Will you give it a rest?”
“Get her on her feet and I’ll make sure she never bothers me again.” The vampire’s dark eyes grew even darker, pitch-black against his pale face.
Anderson pulled her up with him and held on to her. “Not a chance, Deacon. We’ll handle her.”
“So she can continue to bother me?” Deacon’s fangs peeked out of his mouth.
Shannon gaped at him. She’d known he was a vampire, but she’d never seen a vampire’s fangs before. “Why didn’t the holy water hurt you?”
“Should I tell you what you’re doing wrong?” Deacon inched closer.
A chill not born of any air conditioning swept over her, and she tried to keep from staring into his eyes. Anderson moved in front of her and blocked her view.
“Don’t look into his eyes, Shannon.” He shot her a sultry look. “Gaze into mine instead.”
The chill left her as the heat from Anderson flowed into her. She glanced at Daniel, whose eyes were as amber-flecked as Anderson’s. Both men drove her wild with just one look, and, if the vampire hadn’t been standing near them, she might’ve suggested Anderson hold her in a completely different way.
Deacon started toward the back of the building then spun around. “Let me give you a little advice, woman. Don’t believe everything you’ve seen or read about vampires. Most of it, including the effect of holy water, is a crock of shit.”
&n
bsp; She studied him as he moved. He looked as though he was floating and a long black cape was billowing around him. He was graceful, smooth, and deadly.
“Shannon, we need to talk about your incessant need to kill Deacon.”
She brought her attention back to Anderson. Had he loosened his grip on her arms? “I don’t need to talk. I’m going to get him one way or another.”
“You can’t.”
Something about the way Daniel spoke made her hesitate. Had she heard a yearning in his voice? She looked at the two men, her body screaming to do more than just look, and couldn’t help but feel the amazing attraction to them. It was as though she’d known them all her life, and, even more surprising, she trusted them. But neither one of those feelings was right. She hadn’t known them and still didn’t. Then how could she think she could trust them? And yet, there they stood, staring at each other as though they didn’t have to speak to communicate.
Am I going crazy? She dropped her gaze and saw that they were as excited as she was. Or am I just crazy for them?
Patrick’s arrival startled her back to reality. Anderson let go of one arm as he dragged her from behind the counter. Daniel took her other arm and, together, they led her from the pharmacy. She didn’t bother fighting them as she had no chance of getting free.
“Where’s your van?” Daniel’s voice was gruff, but it sounded more like it came from lust rather than anger.
She watched him grit his teeth, glance at her, then dart his attention back to the road. Anderson did almost the same thing, with his glance lingering just a while longer. “It’s in the alley over there.”
She wasn’t sure why she’d told them, but she didn’t regret it. If they were going to turn her loose, then all the better to do it close to her van. She wanted to get out of town, regroup, and figure out another way to get at the vampire. They broke into a trot, dragging her along with them.
Once at the van, Anderson took her and pushed her back against the vehicle. “This has got to stop. You’re fucking things up. Why the hell are you so intent on killing him?”
