“Elaina, love…” Henry’s ridged features softened when he saw me. “No. Absolutely not.”
Claire ran over to me, and helped hold me up. “You need to sit down.” Claire was trying to direct me back into the truck.
“I’m fine.” I was angry at them for treating me like I was fragile. I could hear Nick growling. “Get whatever you need to help him!”
Sophie, while still keeping an eye out for undeads, grabbed a pack, and started pulling out the supplies we needed to perform a draw. She stood, waiting for permission from Henry.
“I will not allow that to happen!” Henry snapped at me.
“It’s not your choice, is it? It’s my body!”
He shook his head, and began pleading with me. “Elaina, please. I feel you may have a concussion.”
“Okay. Okay!” Claire held out her arm to Sophie.
“Are you sure?” Sophie asked.
“Yes. Do it before I change my mind.” I have to admit, I was relieved Claire stepped up to the plate because I was pretty sure I would have passed out again.
While Sophie was performing a draw on Claire, I maneuvered my way to Nick and Henry. “Henry, let him go.”
“No, he can’t be trusted at the moment.”
“Sort of like you,” I mumbled. I looked at the scene around me, and I was finally able to speak about the nightmare that was consuming us. “I cannot believe you hid this from me! I still can’t believe I have been fucking a dead person. Do you know what that makes me? A necrophiliac!”
“Elaina...”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I had a right to know who I was sharing my bed with. I had a right to know who I was marrying!”
“I’m sorry. Please believe me when I say that I love you so much.” I looked at him with disgust, and I would have slapped him across his face if he wasn’t holding my brother. Henry tucked his Sig in the back of his pants. Nick was still struggling underneath him, trying to get free. “You know why I didn't say anything.”
“Am I going to get infected now since you stuck your tongue in my mouth? Or since you...?” I looked around, hoping no one was listening to our conversation. I figured Nick was too focused on himself so he wouldn’t even hear me, “released in me?”
“No. No. It doesn’t work that way. There has to be a blood/saliva mix in order for it to infect. My saliva, your blood.”
“So other fluids...?” I tried to say it without notice. I was blushing. I didn’t want to say out loud that I was wondering if his juice was contaminated. We had a few slip ups but, for the most part, we stayed protected…until recently.
“No. It doesn’t work that way. You’re safe. If not, I would have made sure to wear protection every time. I wouldn’t have risked your life just for sex.” Nick was still growling. I could see he was deteriorating, second by second. His eyes were graying.
“Hurry up, Sophie!” I yelled.
“I’m doing the best I can. I can’t force her blood to come out any faster!”
“I thought you said the process was slower for your kind!” Claire yelled.
“Once we become stable. He isn’t stable yet. It’ll take a few days. He needs a lot at first, but then his need slows down. Eventually, he will be able to live on a vial daily, plus a bag every few weeks, like Sophie and me.”
“This is a bunch of bullshit!” I was still feeling a little dizzy and I grabbed my head.
“Sophie, grab Elaina some water and something sweet to eat. Sit down before you fall, love.” I was happy to. With no grace at all, I plopped my ass down on the ground and rested my head on my knees.
“I only have two hands, boss. I’m trying to fill a bag here.”
Henry grumbled. “Shit.” He started sitting up, then he remembered. “Thomas!” he yelled. “Thomas, get your scrawny ass out here!”
The truck door opened, but he didn’t get out. “I’m not comin’ out there wit’ you freaks!” he shouted.
“Get Elaina some water and food.” Thomas was frozen in place. “I’m not asking. That was an order!” Henry had a knack for intimidation. He could intimidate Godzilla.
Thomas scrambled to the back, finding the items Henry demanded. He slid out of the truck and handed it to me, while keeping a close eye on Henry.
“Thank you, Thomas,” I murmured.
“Uh…yeah. Anytime.” He backed away one slow step at a time and made his way back to the truck. I began to refuel. I was feeling a little better after getting some more water in me.
Sophie wrapped up the draw from Claire. She filled two vials for her and Henry, along with a partial bag for Nick. “Here, sit back. I’ll get you something to eat in a second.” Sophie helped Claire sit back in the truck. Then she rushed over to Henry. He helped Nick sit up, but he was still behind him, restraining him in a bear hug.
“Open up, already.” Sophie began squeezing the fresh blood into Nick’s mouth. Once he drank it all, he started to relax. Henry loosened his grip on him, but was still taking precautions until Nick calmed down enough to maintain an even temperament.
Finally, when Henry was able to let him go, he came over and sat down next to me against the ailing fence. Sophie handed him the vial she drew for him.
As I watched, Nick rolled onto his back. He looked like he was in ecstasy. He lay on the ground with his eyes closed, enjoying what looked like a high. I looked at Henry, who had started to tip back the vial. “Don’t you dare drink that in front of me.” I was angry, but then I could see the shame on his face. I knew it wasn’t his fault he was that way, but I was so pissed at him for everything. He started to get up and I grabbed his arm. “Wait. I’m sorry.” He looked at me with great uncertainty, and then sat back down. “I know this isn’t your fault. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” He had hope in his voice and his eyes.
“Yes.”
Henry tipped the vial back. I shuddered, and my stomach started protesting. I fought to keep the food down. I could see the euphoria on his face. I had seen that face in more compromising situations. A low groan rumbled out of his chest. “Fuuuck…,” he said in that gritty voice that always made my panties hit the floor.
He rested his head back on the fence with his eyes closed for a moment. He exhaled at great length. When he opened them up, they were more brilliant than they were before. He looked at me with concern again. “I’m so bloody sorry for all of this.”
I wanted to accept his apology, but I wasn’t ready to yet. “I need some time.”
“I understand.”
“Can we go and see if my mom is here now?”
Henry stood up and held his hand out to me. I grabbed it and he helped me up. He pulled me close so that we were face-to-face. I stared deep into his sorrow-filled eyes. He took my face in his hands. He began speaking to me in a soft calm voice. “Please understand… I love you. I could never stop. It is you that makes me whole. It is you that makes me want to keep going every single day. Having your love captured in here…” He took my hand and put it over his heart, “means so much to me. You rock my world, love. If you weren’t here at this moment with me, I would have sacrificed myself long ago.”
His words tore through me like a jagged arrow. It dug deep into my heart and soul. My sadness flooded to the surface, causing my eyes to fill with tears. I was afraid to speak, knowing that if I did, my words would come out in between my sobs. He wiped the tears with his thumbs. Then he kissed me on the forehead and whispered, “I love you, Elaina Cooper. You have no idea how much.” He let go of my hand, pulled away, and looked around for Thomas. I was absolutely overwhelmed.
I wanted to collapse on the ground, kicking and screaming like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum. I wanted to curl into my own body and cry. Why me? I looked up to the sky, searching, searching for the answer. Why? Why was this allowed to happen? I wanted answers, but I realized I was on my own and I needed to press on.
“Thomas, get out!” I didn’t like the way Henry was barking orders, but I was sure he was still
pissed about Thomas taking him hostage and tying him up. He scurried out of the truck and met us on the side of the truck. “Sophie, how’s Claire?”
“All pinked up and pretty.”
“All right. Nick, are you all set?”
He was lying flat on his back, as if he was crucified. He opened his eyes. “Yeah. I think so. For now, at least.” His voice was slow and drawn out. He was still experiencing some sort of crazy high.
“Have your weapons at the ready.”
“Can I get mine back?”
Henry laughed at Thomas’ statement. “Nope. You stay in the middle. I don’t trust you yet.” We walked single file, kindergarten-style, up onto the front porch.
I wasn’t sure if my trembling was from excitement, fear, or my head wound. Henry paused for a second, then quietly said, “No separating. We will search together. Ready, Elaina?” I nodded. After trying the doorknob, Henry knocked a few times, only to get no response. He dug into his pocket for his lock picking tool set.
Nick said, “There’s a storm cellar entrance around back. She might be down there. If not, we can get in and search the house.”
“All right then. Lead the way.”
Nick stepped off the stairs and, at a slow and even pace, headed toward the back of the house. He seemed to be trying to get used to his new self. Everyone stopped in front of the doors. Sophie was continually scanning the area for undeads, or whatever else could possibly pop up. Nothing would have surprised me at that point.
Henry tried to open the doors, but they were latched from the inside. He pounded on the doors. “Mrs. Cooper?! It’s Henry! Are you inside?” He spoke in his American accent so as to not confuse my mother if she was down there. When I heard the latch unlock, my heart raced. My mother was in there! I knew it! I couldn’t wait to see her. I nearly pushed Henry down. The door creaked as it opened an inch at a time.
I gasped when I saw them.
Chapter 18
A
brilliant pair of emerald eyes danced in the darkness of the cellar.
“Back up! Now!” Henry shouted to all of us. Everyone took a couple steps back, except for me. That probably was one of those moments that I should have listened but, of course, I had other plans.
“Mom! Mom, are you in there?” I yelled in desperation.
“Get back!” Henry growled at me, while he yanked me back by my shirt. Henry had his Sig aimed at the eyes. “Come out! Now!”
“I knew you would get here eventually, Liam.” The voice was deep, and rumbled like thunder when he spoke. It made my skin crawl.
“I said, come out now!” Henry growled.
An overgrown gorilla of a man climbed up the stairs and hoisted himself up to the ground with zero effort. Henry still had his Sig trained on him. I scrambled, trying to get to the cellar. I needed to see if my mother was down there.
“Elaina, no!” Nick grabbed me and held me tight with his good arm. “I won’t let you down there.” I struggled with an intensity that only I possessed, but he was much too strong for me, even in his weakened state.
“Nick, take the others to the truck now.” Henry didn’t take his eyes, or his Sig, off the overgrown gorilla. He was standing in front of Henry with his hands on his hips, grinning like an asshole without a care in the world. His clothes were filthy, but he looked strong and healthy. There was certainly no suffering on his part.
“No! No, I have to see.” I began crying. “Please.” I clawed at Nick, begging for him to release me from his unyielding grip.
“Nick, take them now!” Henry had a look about him that I had never seen before. He looked like he was out for blood, and not in the way that he needed to continue living. Thomas voluntarily ran to the truck, and Nick grabbed Claire’s arm and dragged both of us with him.
“Ah, Sophie. You are looking especially delicious, love. Come here so I can feel you next to me again. I have missed your luscious body. I could go for a quick one right now just seeing you. You miss me plunging into your fanny, don’t you?” He winked at her. She didn’t move a muscle, and worked hard not to show her fear.
“Sophie, go! Keep an eye on them.”
“I am not leaving you alone with this piece of shit.”
“I’ve got this. Go. Now.”
“Henry…”
“Go now, goddamn it!” He had never sounded so ferocious. She knew he meant business. The rage burned deep inside of him, and he wanted to make Kellan pay for everything he and the rest of the head-fucks had done to Sophie…for everything they had done to the both of them.
Sophie backed off and headed toward the truck, but she kept Henry in her peripheral vision.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Kellan?”
“On assignment, of course. Why else would I be in this splendid paradise?” They were eyeing one another, neither one giving in. It was nothing but a contest of who was more dominant.
“Where’s Elaina’s mother?”
“Downstairs.” He smirked as he thumbed over his shoulder.
“Is she alive?”
Kellan laughed. “Of course she is. How do you think I’m still moving around so freely?” He rolled his neck, and smirked in a sinister way.
“Go get her.” Henry’s voice was calm, but commanding.
“Well, that might be a problem.”
“Go get her now!” he demanded.
“Well, you see…what happened? Ah, yes. That’s correct.” His sarcastic tone turned explosive. “She’s gagged and tied up! Sound familiar?! I have her tapped. She’s ready for another draw. You needing some?” He stood in front of Henry with his body relaxed, even though there was a gun aimed right between his eyes.
I broke free from Nick, and ran past Sophie. She tried to grab me, but missed.
“What do you want from me?” Henry asked.
“Henry! Where is she?” I screamed, running up to them.
“Elaina! Get back in the truck!” he growled.
“No!” I was scared for my mom. I wanted to find her, see if she was alive. Henry was focused on Kellan. Sophie came up from behind me, grabbed and held me in a bear hug.
“Ah, now, let her stay. We can have some fun. Two is always better than one.” Kellan had an evil grin plastered on his face. “She is quite beautiful. That long, silky black hair would do wonders for me, brushing along my body.” He let out a sinister chuckle.
“Answer my fucking question! What do you want from me, Kellan?”
“Ah, yes, where was I…?” He looked down just enough to shade his eyes, and he was rubbing his chin. “Ah, that’s correct.” With his eyes only, he looked up at Henry. He was pure evil. “Roger wants you to come back to the complex.”
“I don’t work for him anymore.” Henry’s words came out in a snarl.
“Right. He said you would say that, but here is the problem.” Kellan stepped forward and pressed his forehead against the muzzle of the Sig. He brought new levels to insanity. “You can never quit working for him. My instructions were that if you did not come with me peacefully, I was to… How did he put it?” Kellan pushed harder, and Henry’s arm began to buckle under the strain of his massive weight. “Bring you back in a body bag, which is what I’m going to do.”
“No!” I screamed while still being held back by Sophie. “No! Leave him alone!”
“Well, isn’t this a scene? Did that upset your little whore? She is rather foxy. Oh, the things I could do to her.” Henry’s arm was shaking. His anger began to bubble up to the surface. “You cannot out power me and you fucking know it!”
Then it happened. It was so quick. Kellan pushed Henry down to the ground, his Sig went flying in the air, and he was on top of him, raining blows down. He didn’t have a chance. Kellan’s huge body was straddling him, pinning him. Henry struggled, trying to hold Kellan back so he could get a few punches in, but Kellan out-powered him.
“Nick!” Sophie screamed for him to help. She still had me in a death grip, with her dagger-like claws digging into my forearm
s.
“Stay here, you two,” Nick commanded. He took off running toward Henry. Sophie was trying to look for a good shot while they were rolling around the ground, holding me back at the same time.
Kellan was punching Henry so hard I thought I could hear bones cracking. Time was moving in slow motion, then everything went silent. I could only see the scene in front of me.
“Henry!” I screamed until I was hoarse while fighting and clawing, trying to free myself from Sophie’s grip. Nick grabbed Kellan and he swung at him. He landed a couple good punches, but nothing seemed to faze Kellan. He was in the zone, and he looked to be enjoying every moment of it. He growled at Nick and shoved him off.
Kellan was beating Henry to a pulp. I had a feeling that was how Henry was beaten into submission many times under Roger’s authority. Kellan grabbed him by the throat and brought him up to his face. Henry was covered in blood. “Had enough yet, you worthless piece of shit?” Henry just looked at him, gasping for air while blood ran from every orifice in his face. “No? Was that a no? Oh, good, because I wasn’t done yet!”
He was on his knees, pulling him up and slamming his head into the ground. I was paralyzed. Just when I thought this fucker was going to kill him, I heard two pops that echoed deep within my mind. He let go of Henry and swayed for a moment, then fell on top of him.
Sophie and I spun around, and there stood Thomas, pale and as gaunt as anyone could be, pointing a Sig toward the situation. At that moment, I became forever in debt to that hairy-palmed little twerp.
Nick got up and ran over to Henry. He pulled Kellan, who was shot in the back and thigh, off of him. Kellan lay on the ground groaning, drifting in and out of consciousness.
I could do nothing but watch. My feet felt like they were made of lead.
“Henry! Henry! Come on, Henry. Wake up!” bellowed Nick. He was listening to his chest, looking for a pulse. “Come on, man! Don’t you die on her! Don’t you fucking dare!”
Broken Dreams Page 36
