by Brenda Trim
“Pour me another drink, and I might do more than tell you,” Cassie purred and leaned forward, giving him an eyeful.
“Damn, I like you,” he confessed and emptied the remaining contents from the shaker to her martini glass. “Be right back with that food, darlin’. I can’t have you drinking on an empty stomach then getting behind the wheel.”
“Is that an offer to drive me home?” Cassie didn’t feel like playing games or going out on a few dates with Mr. Bartender. She wanted to get shit-faced and have sex. The real dirty kind that would leave her sore for days.
Without warning, Derrik jumped over the bar like it was nothing. He spun Cassie, so she was facing him, and wedged himself between her legs. Her heart galloped in her chest. But not from excitement. It was panic. Was she ready to do this?
Derrick cupped her face in his warm palms and forced her to look at him. His dark eyes penetrated to her core, and Cassie gulped.
“I will take you wherever you want to go, and do whatever you want me to do. Just say when,” he husked then quickly turned and walked toward the small kitchen.
Cassie’s chest heaved as she tried to gather her thoughts. Part of her wanted to run from the bar and drive home as fast as her car would take her. But the other part needed this. If she was going to put Ryan behind her, this was the first step. Taking a few deep breaths, she decided to stay. Why not, right? She was single, and Derrik was fine as hell.
She scanned the small bar and noticed several people had walked in since she arrived. A few more staff had also joined the scene, and the tempo in the place was picking up. The music was decent, the drinks were good, and the bartender was ready, willing, and able (she hoped, anyway). The night was looking much better than it had an hour ago when she left work.
She turned back to the bar and took another swig of her drink then attempted another olive. Now that she was prepared for the fire, it wasn’t nearly as spicy. She was going to have to find out where Derrik got these. She needed a supply on hand at her house. Come to think of it, Cassie hoped her house was clean, especially if the bartender was going to drive her home. Did she even make her bed this morning? Oh well, she wasn’t out to impress Mr. Bartender with her neatness.
She felt someone sit on the stool next to her, and turned to see a familiar face. And her buzz died a quick death. “Bart, I’m really not in the mood for your shit tonight,” she blurted and gave him the death stare.
“Good, because I’m not in the mood for yours, either,” Bart replied.
Derrik appeared with her plate of food and set it in front of her. He looked to Bart and back to Cassie, narrowing his eyes.
“Derrik, this is Bart––”
“I know Governor Smith,” Derrik interjected. “He’s a regular here. How do you know each other?” he asked.
“Umm, we have a mutual friend,” Cassie shared and glared at Bart.
“Ouch, that hurts,” Bart replied. “Derrik, I’ll have a Crown and Sprite, and you might as well open a tab,” he added and reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out his wallet then handed Derrik a credit card.
“You got it. Let me know what you think about the tacos,” Derrik said and nudged Cassie before he made his way to the back side of the bar.
“They smell delicious,” she announced as she picked up one of the stuffed tortillas.
“So, what brings you here?” Bart asked.
The food was better than she expected, and Cassie wiped her mouth before answering. “Couldn’t sit at home alone.”
“What about Lawson’s brother? Ryan, right? Thought you two were hot and heavy,” Bart relayed and took a deep swig of his drink when Derrik set it in front of him.
“We’re done. He’s a douchebag, and I’m on the prowl tonight,” Cassie said and motioned to Derrik. “Don’t forget about my martini. Or, your offer,” she said with a knowing look.
“Not a chance, darlin’,” Derrik said and blew her a kiss. Yeah, she was on the hunt alright.
“I can see that. Take it from me, Cass. Jumping in the sack with the first guy that flirts with you won’t make you feel any better,” Bart explained and finished off his drink in one long swig. Cassie wondered what had him pounding the liquor tonight. He held up the empty glass, indicating to Derrik he wanted another.
“Maybe, maybe not. But I’m willing to give it a try,” Cassie confessed and looked over at Derrik. He was busy making drinks and chatting with a guy at the other end of the bar, but he continued to make eye contact with her.
“Hey, Cass. Look at me,” Bart muttered, and Cassie met his gaze. She saw hurt and pain behind his blue eyes. She almost pulled him into a hug, but then remembered all the shit he’d put Liv through lately. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret. Moving on is fine, but only if you’re ready,” he murmured in a rare, vulnerable moment. It wasn’t often Bart let her see beyond the political façade he wore.
“I’m not a child, Bart. So what if I’m not ready, or if I wake up with regret. I just want to stop thinking about Ryan,” Cassie divulged as her buzz returned with force.
The room started to spin, despite the fact she was sitting on a barstool. Admittedly, she drank the martini too fast and was paying the price. She pushed her plate to the side. If she took another bite, she might end up puking all over the bar.
“All I’m saying is having sex with some stranger isn’t going to make you stop thinking about Ryan. In my experience, it only makes it worse,” Bart said and shook his head.
With those words, Cassie knew just what was wrong. Bart was referring to Liv. The guy had it bad for her friend. She wished she could say something to make him feel better, but she couldn’t lie to him. Liv was madly in love with Lawson, and they were happily married. Bart didn’t stand a chance.
Derrik walked over and handed Bart another drink. “So, did you not care for the tacos?” he asked and looked to Cassie.
“Oh, they’re fantastic. I love the slaw, but I’m not feeling very well. I should probably get going,” Cassie announced and reached for her purse.
Derrik held up a hand. “Nope, this one’s on the house. Can I drive you home?” he asked with a wry smile.
Cassie glanced at Bart and shared a look with him. Should she ignore his advice, and take Derrik to her bed? It was very tempting.
She released a heavy sigh. The truth was, Bart was right. As much as she wanted to forget Ryan, she wasn’t ready. It felt like betrayal, and she couldn’t go there. At least, not tonight.
“Thank you so much, Derrik, but I think I’m good. Rain check?” she asked with a slight shrug.
“Sure. You know where to find me,” Derrik replied and reached over, grabbing Cassie’s hand. He placed a tender kiss to her knuckles as he stared into her eyes. “Don’t make me wait too long.”
Cassie smiled. Maybe she would come back and see him. She suspected he’d be worth it.
“Let me follow you home, just to make sure you get there safely,” Bart offered.
“That would be great,” Cassie responded and waited while Bart paid his bill.
They walked out together, and the cold air sobered her enough to think more clearly. Cassie was grateful Bart showed up when he did. If he hadn’t, she would’ve made an abysmal decision. One that would’ve haunted her, she concluded.
When they reached her vehicle, Cassie turned to Bart. “Hey, I just want to say thanks. You were right. I’m not ready,” she admitted.
“Hey, what are friends for?” Bart responded and gave her a hug.
Cassie fought the choking emotion as she embraced Bart. She wanted more than anything to forget about Ryan and their time together. But the sexy shifter held a piece of her heart, and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever get it back.
Chapter 11
Ryan blinked open his eyes and waited for his vision to adjust to the darkness. The Ravin growled in his head, letting him know he was there, and still in charge. He felt weight at his wrists and tugged. Metal clanged and then his movement stoppe
d abruptly. Panic assailed as he scrambled to a sitting position. His surroundings came into focus in the next breath, and Ryan realized he was chained to a wall.
Flashbacks of his previous captivity bombarded Ryan as a sterile stench attacked his nostrils. He immediately bent over and vomited on the concrete floor. It was incomprehensibly surreal. This couldn’t be happening to him again.
The room looked and smelled identical to the last hellhole where he and his dad were held prisoner. He’d never forget the torture and abuse they suffered at the hands of humans or the fact that his father was murdered by the selfish bastards.
He wished he could erase the images from his mind but he couldn’t. It seemed like yesterday when Ryan struggled to break free as the guards dragged his father from their holding cell. Jacob Scott was a large, muscular male and it took four guards to overpower him.
Ryan’s brow beaded with sweat as he recalled trying to break free of the handcuffs to help his father. There was no worse feeling than helplessness, and his father’s reassurance did little to assuage Ryan as tears streamed down his face.
Ryan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and scanned the room. It was empty except for a mattress on the floor. The stone walls surrounding him closed in with each passing second. Was he in the same facility as before? How did he get here?
Memories flooded his mind. The small cabin in the woods, skeletal remains of a Ravin, and three males barging in and attacking. He’d never seen the humans before, except for Gary. He was the dumbass that chased Ryan from the café into the forest. Were they the humans responsible for missing shifters?
Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The Ravin growled low, and Ryan nodded his head in agreement. As powerful as the creature was, it could break free of the thick chains, right? He pulled and yanked several times, but the sturdy links held their own against the force. He tilted his head back and roared, hoping to draw attention to his cell.
When no one replied, his beast pounded the stone wall. Tiny pieces broke free and tumbled to the floor. Maybe he could bash his way to freedom. He punched and kicked the wall like it was his worst enemy. Small particles of dust clouded the room as he pummeled the concrete. Ryan beat the stone until he was so exhausted he couldn’t lift his arms. He stepped back a few feet to assess his progress and almost broke into tears when he realized the wall suffered minimal damage. It would take a lifetime to beat his way out of the prison.
Heaving a deep sigh, Ryan walked to the mattress and sat down. He should save his strength and utilize it when a better opportunity presented itself. In a remote part of his mind, Ryan’s wolf howled. His counterpart recognized the severity of the situation and demanded Ryan release him.
A sudden click startled Ryan, and his head jerked toward the sound. The metal door to his cell slowly opened, and two human males stepped inside the room. He didn’t recognize either of them but noted their matching attire of black shirts and pants. His gaze snagged on the logo across the breast pocket. The initials PRL made his gut turn. But how was that possible? The owner of Primary Research Lab was Jim Jensen, and Ryan burned that motherfucker’s body after Liv killed him.
The echo of heels tapping concrete grabbed his attention, and Ryan watched a blonde-haired female enter the room. She came to a halt beside the guards and cocked her hip.
“I’m glad you’re awake, werewolf. My name is Elaine Jensen,” she began and pinned Ryan with her dark brown eyes. “I’m aware of your unique situation.”
What the fuck was she talking about?
“I know you have a wolf inside, and that you can shift at will. I’m not interested in this hairy…thing I see before me,” Elaine quipped with a wave of her hand.
The Ravin bared its teeth and snarled.
“Whatever. Don’t take it personally, werewolf. Are you hungry?” Elaine asked, quickly diverting the conversation. He assumed this female was Jensen’s wife, which made her the enemy.
His gaze perused the female from head to toe. Her tight skirt and low-cut top told Ryan all he needed to know about the female. She might be Jim’s wife, but she didn’t give two shits about her dead husband. She was dressed to kill, and Ryan imagined she had some lackey under her thumb, eager to climb her corporate ladder.
Elaine’s eyes narrowed. “Nothing to say?” she asked and crossed slender arms over her chest. Her ample bosom spilled over her tight top, and the guards’ gazes shifted to glimpse an eyeful.
“Well, suit yourself,” she snapped. “I’ll get right to the point then. I don’t believe in beating and torturing animals, so you’re safe under my supervision. It’s simple around here. Shift so we can take samples of your wolf blood. After I collect what is needed, I’ll release you. I’m not a bad person,” she informed him with a half-smile.
Did this cunt think he was a complete idiot? There was no way in hell she planned to release him. He snarled, pacing back and forth as much as the chains allowed.
“Look, werewolf. This facility is trying to cure cancer, that is all. I don’t suppose you’ve met my ex-husband, Jim, but he was a fucking barbarian when it came to shifters. I think you’ll find me quite hospitable,” Elaine relayed matter-of-factly.
“And, if I don’t shift?” he snarled, his raspy voice echoing in the small space.
“Well, that’s where we’ll have a problem. In that case, you’d leave me no choice but to force the shift,” Elaine replied curtly, and Ryan tilted his head. What kind of game was this female playing?
“You don’t believe me?” Elaine asked with a raised brow. “Have you ever heard of electroshock therapy?”
A menacing growled left his throat. If this bitch thought for one second she was hooking him to a machine and frying his brain, she was fucking crazy.
“You see, I’ve found the method to be very effective on your kind. It produces a shift almost instantaneously. Of course, I prefer not to go that route. It’s hideous,” Cassie said with a twist of her mouth. Her red lips pursed, and her nose wrinkled in disgust.
“How thoughtful of you,” the Ravin sneered.
“Tell you what. I’ll send some food to your cell, and you can make your decision after you eat. I can’t expect you to think clearly if you’re hungry, now can I? Any requests for lunch?” she inquired.
The Ravin glared her way. He’d like nothing more than to slice her in two and watch her organs decorate the concrete floor. That would be a delicious lunch.
“No? I’ll surprise you then,” Elaine replied held up a finger then spun it in a circle before she turned on her heels and left the room.
As soon as her form rounded the corner, one of the guards stepped closer. “If I were you, I’d do as she says,” he murmured. “She wasn’t kidding about electroshock therapy. I thought J.J. was a mean sonovabitch, but this broad makes him look like a fucking saint,” the male commented with a laugh.
“Be back shortly with some food, Wolfman,” the other male threw over his shoulder, and the two guards made their exit.
Ryan leaned against the wall. The cold stone felt good against his back. Good thing Ravins were hairy creatures, he thought as he recalled how cold he was during his previous incarceration. They gave him a pair of sweatpants and nothing else, and he spent as much time shivering as he did recovering from the beatings he suffered.
What the hell was he going to do now? At least when Jim was in charge, he had a choice. He had to withstand a few thrashings, but he called the shots regarding his shift.
Ryan didn’t believe Elaine for a second. She would never release him. At least, not until she found a cure if that was even possible. Liv was also trying to find the link between shifter blood and curing cancer but hadn’t been successful, yet. For all Ryan knew, the humans were on a wild goose chase.
The last thing he wanted was to shift for these assholes. They were selfish creatures with no regard for his species. At least Liv cared about shifters.
Thinking of Liv brought his brother to mind. The last time Ryan was imp
risoned, Lawson risked everything to save him. If it hadn’t been for his brother, he would’ve died right along with their father. He wondered if his brother was searching for him this time? Probably not, after what he did to Cassie.
Her beautiful face flashed before him. She must hate him after his betrayal. It was necessary to trick her so he could escape, but she’d never understand or forgive him. He shoved that notion aside. He couldn’t think about her right now. It was a painful distraction he couldn’t afford. All that mattered was getting out of this shithole before Elaine lit his ass with electricity.
The question was, how? Lawson rescued him before. The situation was different this time. No one was coming for him. Ryan alienated his family and friends when he escaped Liv’s lab. He’d wanted to leave his old life behind and live in solitude as a Ravin. Great plan that was, he thought. Guess he fucked that up, too.
He leaned his head against the wall and looked to the ceiling. He wracked his brain, trying to figure a way out of his predicament. There had to be something he could do. Maybe if he told Elaine, he would shift but needed a larger space to do it. Then he could break free during transport. The Ravin could easily overpower several humans. All he needed was the right opportunity.
He looked up when the handle clicked again. One of the males from earlier walked inside the room, holding a tray of food. “Well, Wolfman, consider this your last supper. Unless you’ve come to your senses, that is,” the stocky male announced then set the metal platter onto the floor. He gave it a shove, and the tray slid toward Ryan.
“Tell your boss I’ll shift, but I can’t do it in this cramped space,” Ryan offered as he picked up a roll and took a large bite. The thought of eating food repulsed the Ravin, but if his plan was going to be successful, he needed his strength.
