Drakon Unchained (Blood of the Drakon)
Page 15
Now that was interesting. Oscar had always proclaimed he wasn’t around when his boss was killed by a dragon. “And why are you telling me this now?”
He swore. “If they suspect her of being with the Dragon Guard, they’ll kill her. Even if she is innocent, they’re not going to let her leave here, not after showing her the dragon.”
Luther had to agree. He had no intentions of sharing his plans with Oscar, but he was curious to find out what he had in mind. “What do you suggest?”
Oscar glanced around to make sure no one was close. “I know people who might be able to help.”
Oscar did seem to have some very unusual, very powerful friends. Luther wondered if those people included Nic and the unknown Tarrant, or if there were others.
“I also saw the way you reacted the closer we got to the holding cell. You were being affected by something that none of the rest of us felt.” Oscar moved closer, his voice so low it was barely a whisper. “You’re one of them, aren’t you? You’re a drakon?”
…
Victoria wished Luther was still in the room. Or at the very least Oscar. She didn’t trust Jenkins or Saunders, and she especially didn’t trust Mr. Temple or Caine. She was very much alone. Her mind was still reeling from the discovery that her friend was here. After all these years of searching, she was closer than she’d ever been to setting him free. But the reality of the situation was that she was also as far away as she’d ever been.
There was no way for her to get past armed guards and Caine’s security measures. If Sergei were at full strength, he’d have already found a way to free himself and his wife.
“You’re not eating,” Caine pointed out.
She shook her head. Mr. Temple scowled at her. He most likely didn’t want her to offend their host in any way. “It’s wonderful, but I’m afraid I’m not hungry. Seeing such a creature was a shock. I had no idea dragons were anything but a myth.”
“Of course you didn’t know.”
She hated Caine’s patronizing tone. He really was a condescending bastard. The only saving grace was he didn’t reach out and pat her hand like she was some shrinking damsel who needed to be reassured. She probably wouldn’t have been able to keep herself from punching him in the nose if he did.
She was shaken, but she was more angry than anything else. And more determined than ever to make sure Caine and Temple paid for what they’d done to her friend. She didn’t know how she’d accomplish such a thing, but she was smart and she had help. She’d figure something out.
“Only a handful of select people are aware such creatures exist. That puts you in an exclusive group.”
It was a group she’d just as soon not be a part of. But since she was now included, she could ask questions. “How could you capture such a creature? It seems ferocious. The claws must have been six or eight inches.”
“Victoria,” Temple scolded her like she was a child speaking out of turn at the dinner table. She really wanted to smack him. She wasn’t normally a violent person, but years of pent-up frustration were threatening to erupt. She swallowed back her retort, but still looked to their host for an answer.
Caine puffed out his chest. She’d taken his measure and knew he liked to brag, especially to a woman he was hoping to get into bed. She wasn’t stupid. She knew he wanted her. She also knew if she didn’t go to his bed willingly, he’d drag her there. This man took such things as his due.
“We have our ways.” He waved at Mr. Temple, and her boss subsided, but he didn’t look happy. “There are arcane symbols that create a force field to weaken the creature.”
“Really?” That was something she’d seen in one of her visions, but she hadn’t truly believed it until she’d seen it with her own two eyes. It seemed crazy, but since it obviously worked, she had to factor it in to any escape plan.
“Yes.” Caine leaned back in his chair. He was good-looking in his own way. His body was long and lean, his hair expertly styled. But his eyes were filled with malice. He enjoyed hurting people, having power over them. It turned him on.
She’d met a handful of people like him during her time in the orphanage and foster care. People who acted kind while doing something deceitful. He was a psychopath. And he had access to drakon blood that would help him live forever.
“We also have developed drugs that keep the beast quiet.”
She pretended interest and leaned forward. “Really? Isn’t it dangerous to try to inject such a beast?”
Caine gave her a smile filled with superiority. “We manage. We also have airborne drugs that slow him down enough for us to inject him. We have total control. You have nothing to worry about.”
Right, she should be fearful. Worried. She placed her hand on her chest, drawing his gaze there. “I’m so glad to hear that.”
“Business,” Mr. Temple reminded him.
“Forgive me, my dear,” Caine said to her before turning to her boss. “Your dragon managed to kill himself, leaving you in a bit of a lurch.”
Caine saw her expression and laughed. “You really didn’t know Herman here had a dragon of his own not that long ago?”
She shook her head, shocked by that revelation. And the drakon had somehow managed to end his own life rather than remain a prisoner. It was so sad and completely unfair. Her heart ached for the unknown man. For no matter what Mr. Temple and his kind might think, drakons were half human and capable of great love and kindness. She’d seen and witnessed both with Sergei.
“You’ve been keeping secrets from the pretty lady, Herman.”
“She didn’t need to know.” Mr. Temple put down his mug with a decisive crack. Her boss was not in the driver’s seat in these negotiations, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Of course not,” Caine soothed. “How about you and I head to my office to talk terms. I’ll have one of my men take Victoria somewhere she can rest.”
Mr. Temple all but jumped from his seat. “Excellent suggestion.”
She knew he couldn’t wait to get down to the business of buying some of Sergei’s blood. Sickened by both men, Victoria slowly rose, not wanting to leave the conference room. What if they took her somewhere Luther couldn’t find her?
Caine must have given some kind of signal, because the door opened and several of his men walked in. “Take Ms. Marshall to one of the guest suites?”
“Yes, sir.” One of the men indicated she should walk ahead of him.
Having no other choice, she nodded to her host and her boss and left the room.
…
Luther wondered if Oscar would trade Luther’s secret in order to save himself. He wanted to keep him alive, could use his help, but he wouldn’t allow anyone to cage him. That would leave Victoria and his father as Caine’s prisoners.
His fury must have shown in his expression, because Oscar held up his hands. “Don’t kill me, okay. I can help you.”
“And why should I trust you?” It didn’t matter that Oscar seemed to have other drakon friends. Luther didn’t fully trust anyone here except Victoria.
Oscar met his gaze without flinching. “Because I’ve already helped free one of you.”
All the pieces suddenly fell into place. “Dent’s drakon?” That must have been where Oscar met Nic. Was he the drakon that had been freed, or did he know that drakon? So many questions, and no time for answers.
He nodded. “Long story involving some ancient artifacts, but I’m on your side. My family has been since the very beginning.”
“The beginning?” He needed to know how deep Oscar’s knowledge went.
“Four thousand years.”
“You’re part of this Dragon Guard you mentioned, aren’t you?”
Oscar nodded. “Founding family.”
“And you think you can get help? Do you have a tactical squad?”
He shook his head. “Better.” He pulled out a small phone from an inside pocket in his suit jacket.
“How in the hell did that get by security?” They’d confis
cated all their phones and scanned them.
Oscar smiled. “Let’s just say I have a friend who has access to a technical genius. The phone emits some kind of field that keeps it from being detected. And when I handed over my regular phone, they didn’t think to check for a second one.”
Okay, I’m impressed. “You’ll contact your people?”
“One person. Keep a watch.”
While Luther kept an eye on the guards, Oscar opened the phone and hit the one listing in the contacts. It was answered immediately.
“Where the hell have you been? What’s going on?”
“I have a situation.” The phone was on speaker and held between them. Oscar couldn’t put it to his ear. The guards would see it in a heartbeat.
“Go.” The male voice was deep and recognizable. This was Nic, the man he and Victoria had visited while they’d slept.
“I’m about an hour outside Cedar City. Your friend can get an exact location from the GPS. This is a Knight’s facility. A man called Evan Caine is one of them. Temple is here as well. And they have a drakon locked down in a holding cell.”
“Shit. Give me time to think. I’ll call the others and see what I can do.”
Luther wished he knew more about this Nic, but beggars weren’t choosers. He’d take any help he can get.
Since it was on speaker, Luther joined the conversation. “There is one woman, possibly two inside as well. Both are innocent.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Luther Henderson.” Luther was gambling with his life, and the lives of Victoria and his parents. He only hoped Nic could be trusted. “And it’s my father they have locked up down there. I’ve been searching for him for twenty years.”
There was no sound from the other man for several moments. “That’s impossible.”
“No, it isn’t. And I believe they have my mother, too. She’s fully human.”
“And you’re like your father?”
“Yes. I’m a drakon.”
“What kind?”
Luther glanced at Oscar, who seemed to be taking this all in stride. “Air. My father is an air drakon.”
“I’ll get back to you.” The line went dead.
Luther wanted to swear but nodded toward the guards walking their way. “I think our outing is about to be cut short.”
Oscar quickly slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned toward the guards.
“Time to come inside.” The big one held his gun at the ready.
Luther nodded. “I could use some coffee. It’s a bit chilly out here today.” Everything was fine until they reached the conference room only to find it empty. Luther slowly turned to the guard, anger churning in his gut. “Where the hell is Ms. Marshall?”
…
“Everything okay?”
Nic looked up and smiled as Constance strolled into the room. “That was Oscar.”
“And how is our friend?”
“In trouble.”
That wiped the beginnings of a smile from her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Let me contact Tarrant.”
His brother answered on the first ring. “What do you want?”
That was his brother, always surly when his privacy was interrupted. The only one he didn’t seem to mind disturbing him was his mate, Valeriya. “Oscar called. He says they’re at a location outside of Cedar City.”
“Yeah, I got that from GPS.”
“You were right. It’s a Knight’s compound owned by Evan Caine.” He hesitated before adding, “And, Tarrant, according to Oscar, he has a drakon there. One he’s had for twenty years.”
Nic held the phone away as Tarrant roared. They all hated the Knights, but Tarrant most especially.
“Tarrant. Tarrant.” Nic had to call his brother’s name a few more times before he calmed down. “That’s not all.”
“What the hell else could there be?”
“The drakon’s son is with Oscar.”
Absolute silence. Not surprising. Nic was having a hard time digesting that one himself. “His son?”
“Yeah,” Nic confirmed. “It’s Luther Henderson.”
“Shit. No wonder I couldn’t dig up a whole lot on him.”
Drakons were smart at covering their tracks. “According to Luther, they’re holding his mother somewhere there, too.”
“That makes sense,” Tarrant pointed out. “Threaten her safety and a drakon would do anything to protect her.” What went unsaid was a drakon would give himself up to the Knights rather than see his mate harmed.
Yeah, that was a twist none of them tried to think about. Their women were their vulnerability. They were also their strength.
“What are we going to do?” Nic asked his older brother.
“I want to find out as much about Caine’s compound as I can. I’m redirecting a satellite now to get intel. And I’ll start hacking their systems. There’s always a way in.”
Nic was always surprised at how easily his brother navigated technology. “Call the others and tell them what’s going on. I’ll get back to you.” The line went dead.
Constance wrapped her arm around his shoulder, and he pulled her onto his lap. “What are you going to do?”
He pressed a kiss against her temple. “Whatever I have to.” No way could he leave a fellow drakon as a captive of the Knights. And he certainly couldn’t leave an innocent woman with them. Or women. That’s what Luther had said. Nic wondered who the other woman was. Did he mean Temple’s assistant, or was there another woman inside? He shrugged. Tarrant would find out. He always did.
…
Luther stalked toward the mercenary. The guard automatically raised his weapon, but Luther didn’t stop, not until the tip of the gun barrel was touching his chest. “Where is she? I won’t ask again.”
Primal instincts were pushing down on him. His skin began to tingle. He struggled to control himself. If he shifted now, he was dead. They all were.
Oscar held up his hands and interceded. “Hey, how about we all take it easy. Our job is to protect Ms. Marshall. We didn’t expect her to be moved anywhere without us. You take us to her, we’ll check on her, and everything will be okay.”
The two guards glanced at one another and then the one with his gun against Luther’s chest slowly nodded. “Okay. Follow me.” He backed away but didn’t lower his weapon.
With one guard in front of them and the other behind them, Luther and Oscar went down several corridors and up a flight of stairs before coming to a stop at a door with yet another guard outside. Luther was beginning to get a mental picture of the place. This was like mapping an underground cave, something he, as a drakon, was very good at doing.
Luther lifted his hand and pounded on the door. It was opened almost immediately. The look of relief on Victoria’s face almost undid him. She started to surge forward but pulled herself back and gave them a crisp nod of greeting. “Yes.”
“We are your protection detail. That means we go everywhere with you.” He didn’t wait for an invitation and stepped into the room. She moved out of the way. As soon as he and Oscar were inside, she shut the door in the guards’ faces.
Luther motioned Oscar to the right. Before Victoria could speak, he held his finger to his lips. She nodded and kept silent. That was one of the things he admired about her. She was quick to understand and to act.
She strode back to the small table and chairs set against the far wall. All that was missing was the window. But since they were underground, there was nothing more than a wide beige expanse. There was a king-size bed, as well as a desk and sofa in a small sitting area. It also had a small bathroom. This was a bedroom suite. The fact Caine had put her here set Luther’s blood boiling. He was going to rip the man’s head off for what he’d done to his parents and now for his obvious intentions toward Victoria.
Victoria belonged to him, and Luther wasn’t about to let any other man touch her.
“Where were you?” she demanded, her voice cool and direct.
Oscar discovered one listening device and killed it.
“Well, you were wrong, weren’t you? What if Mr. Temple had needed you?”
“Jenkins and Saunders are with him.” Luther checked the lamp on the bedside table and discovered another bug under the base. He quickly took care of it.
By the time they’d circled the room, he’d found another device under the desk. Oscar had found two more, one behind a picture and another on the draperies.
Luther began looking for cameras next. He knew there was probably one. He didn’t care if they saw him and Oscar destroying listening devices. They’d expect that, would be suspicious if they didn’t check.
He found two cameras, one in an air duct, which was an obvious spot. The other one was better hidden, a tiny hole in the pattern of the wallpaper on the wall opposite the bed. Oscar found one in the bathroom that pointed toward the shower stall.
Victoria gave him a questioning look. He looked at Oscar, who reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone he’d smuggled in. Except this time, he didn’t use it to make a call. He hit a button and nodded. “If there are any more devices in the room, this should negate them.”
Luther didn’t bother asking why Oscar hadn’t just done that first. They had to be seen as acting as naturally as they would in such circumstances.
Victoria was pale but steady. “You left.”
He heard what she didn’t say. You left me. The softly spoken accusation brought him to his knees in front of her. “Never again,” he promised. He dragged her into his arms and simply held her. What would he have done if something had happened to her while he was away?
She wrapped her arms around him and gripped him tightly. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled her unique fragrance. She was in his arms and was safe. That was all that mattered. His job now was to keep her that way.
He understood his father so much better now, had a much deeper appreciation of the relationship between his parents.