My throat closed as the tears threatened to choke me. I rushed to the door and tried the handle. Locked. “We have to get out.”
“I know. I’m working on it.” He tried the handles on the back doors. They were locked, too.
“We’re trapped.” I swallowed hard and slumped to the floor. “This is all my fault.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s mine. I should have… we should have left together.”
“I didn’t believe you.” The confession slipped out before I could stop myself and oddly it felt good. “I thought, this whole time, you were trying to scare us.”
“Julia,” he breathed. “This isn’t a joke. This is very real and… I don’t know anymore. It doesn’t matter the good I wanted to do with your blood.”
I sucked in a sob at his despair. I’d misjudged him, and in the process, I’d betrayed Nicholas. “What are they going to do?”
Visions of being hooked up and watching my blood being drained from my body terrorized me. The van shifted to the right and we slammed into the wall. I hung onto the strap hanging from the ceiling tighter.
“My best guess is once they get you wherever, you won’t have a clue. If I were to take you and didn’t want a fight, I’d put you in a coma, then clone you. That would give me all the blood I needed. Cancer will soon be a thing of the past. Only for the wealthy.”
Another sob broke loose. My life was over. I might as well be dead. “And what about you?”
“I’m collateral damage. Once they realize there’s no formula, they’ll dispose of me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said through broken raspy gasps.
“Whoever they are, they’re trained. They’ve infiltrated the cops, it appears, and maybe my men, too.”
I closed my eyes, remembering the interview with Harry. He was more concerned with the formula, than with finding out who’d destroyed my house. Was he the mole?
Mr. Cruor grunted, rolling to his knees. “Let’s look on the floor. Maybe we can use something as a weapon. I’m not going down without a fight.”
We felt around in the dark, but Mr. Cruor moved more slowly than me. He grunted again, then collapsed.
“Mr. Cruor!” I rushed to his side. “What’s wrong?”
“I—I’m just so weak. I haven’t quite gotten my strength back.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find something.” I felt on the floor through the trash and oily rags. There wasn’t anything but wadded up fast food bags and plastic straws dangling in empty cups.
The tires on the van screeched, jerking our bodies to the back of the van. My hand missed the cord, then I flew in the other direction, slamming into the wall. Breaking glass and crunching metal filled my ringing ears. Warm liquid poured down my head, stinging my eyes. I looked upward at the stars floating above me.
Then light poured into the van.
“There she is!” I heard a girl say. “Holy crap. Jules!”
“Hold on.” Strong arms encased me and lifted me. Then I was outside in fresh air. I sucked it in.
“Stay with me,” I heard Phil say. “I can’t lose you.”
I fought to stay conscious, then drifted somewhere safe and warm.
CHAPTER NINE
A pounding headache woke me from my perfect slumber, and I pried opened my eyes.
“Oh, Julia!” My mother sat at my side. “She’s awake, Russ.”
Soft hands gripped and squeezed my swollen fingers. Though I tried to return the gesture, my hand lay limp, void of strength.
“What happened?” I tried to say from cracked lips. Everything hurt.
Dad moved to the other side of the bed and touched my arm. “You were in an accident.”
“Accident?” Slowly things began to come back to me, and I cringed. The guy. The abduction. The van. Mr. Cruor.
“Yes.” Dad nodded. “You were kidnapped and the van miraculously plowed into a tree. Your friend Phil saw the whole thing. He called the cops.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank God you’re alright.”
“Phil?”
“Yes,” Mom said. “He’s been in the waiting room this entire time.”
“Entire time?”
“You’ve been out a few days, sweetie.”
“Days?”
“Your head took the brunt of the fall. You had some swelling. They weren’t sure…” Mom stopped, unable to talk as tears flowed down her cheeks. Tenderly, she hugged my shoulder. “I’m just so glad you’re okay.”
Okay? Hardly. I closed my eyes and blinked a few times, then reached up and felt a mound of gauze instead of hair. “Where’s Nicholas?”
“He’s here, too.”
I wanted to see him, but the lights were too bright and Mom talked too loud. The beeping of the monitor felt like an icepick in my temple, making my skin crawl. “Can’t they turn that down?”
“Turn what down?”
“Shhh,” I begged. “Stop yelling.”
“I’m not yelling.” Mom rang the nurse’s station from the remote next to me. “My daughter’s awake.”
A slew of doctors and nurses came in, wide-eyed and curious. After listening in, I discovered they’d expected me to have brain damage. And as if to their disappointment, I could squeeze their fingers and respond to pin pricks on the bottoms of my feet just fine. Yet no matter what questions I answered, there were more. After a while I began to moan. All I wanted was more morphine and quiet.
“She needs rest,” the nurse said, as if reading my mind, and made everyone leave.
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Someone walked in and rustled the trash just as I drifted off. I peeked open one eye as he turned to me. I started to scowl, then I tried to scream. Nothing would come out.
He put his finger up to his lips and smiled. “I’m watching you.”
I pawed my covers for the call button, unable to find it. Alarms began to blare from the monitor over my head. My heart rate was through the roof. When I turned, he was gone.
“What’s going on in here?” the nurse asked as she ran in. “Bad dream?”
I couldn’t catch my breath. I couldn’t speak. Had I imagined him? “He. Was. Here.”
“Who honey?”
“The man. The one who took me.”
She stepped out into the hall and scanned both ends.
“The orderly,” I said. “It was him.”
Her lips curled downward. “I’ve been outside your room this entire time. I didn’t see anyone. Besides, this is a locked floor. No one can get in or out without clearance. You’re safe.”
I gripped the covers. “I saw him!”
She pulled a syringe from her pocket. “I promise you’re safe. We’ll have psych come speak with you in the morning, okay? For now this will help you rest.” She plunged the needle into the IV on my hand and coolness floated through my veins toward my heart. Before I could stop myself, my eyes fluttered closed. “That’s it, Julia. Just rest.”
A moment later, I heard, “Rise and shine.”
I opened my eyes and blinked at the bright sunlight. “What? So soon?”
“You can’t sleep all day.”
A dark-haired nurse wrote her name on the whiteboard in front of me—Bettina. I gasped. She turned quickly. “What’s wrong?”
I stared at her wide-eyed, expecting the dark-haired twin who’d led Alora’s coven, but it wasn’t her at all.
“See a ghost?” she asked.
“No,” I squeaked out. “You just look familiar. That’s all.”
“Oh.” She smiled and walked over to press the button to raise my bed. “I get that a lot. I have a twin. You can call me Betty. Up for visitors?”
I peeled my body off the cardboard sheets drenched in my sweat and ran my tongue over fuzzy teeth. “Who?”
“Some cutie named Nicholas.”
“Um…” I smoothed the ends of my greasy hair. “Can I get a toothbrush?”
“Of course.” She took plastic film off a pink plastic wash bin and fished aro
und, producing a toothbrush and toothpaste. “Here we go. And today, we’re going to get you out of that bed. Okay?”
I gratefully took the toothbrush and cleaned my teeth with the water and rinse bowl she provided. “Can I get a mirror?”
She pressed her lips together for a moment, and nodded. She set down a pocket-sized mirror, then touched my hand. “Remember. You’re healing.”
I blinked at her for a second, then braced for the worst. Cuts dotted my face as expected, but the yellowing bruise covering my left eye and cheek made me look like I’d been dragged on the ground face-down. I set the mirror on the table and turned from her beautiful face. “I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Oh, sweetie. Are you sure? Maybe your mom brought your makeup bag.” Bettina thumbed through some of my things.
“I doubt it.”
“Hmmm…” she said. “Hold on.” She returned moments later with tiny bottles of product. “We had someone give makeovers recently. Can I?”
I nodded. With a flick of a Q-tip here, and a swipe of a cotton ball there, Betty managed to cover up my bruise and helped me look somewhat presentable.
“Now can I ask Nicholas in?”
I looked away and blushed. I still felt ugly, but what would a few days matter. “Sure.”
My heart took off like a race horse as I waited. What would he say? Would he be mad?
A hand pushed aside the curtain and his glorious face flashed to me. I braced for his reaction. A mix of pity and relief clouded his eyes. “Julia,” he whispered.
“I know.” I turned away. “I’m hideous.”
He was next to me, caressing my cheek and coaxing my face upward to look at him. “No. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I’m just so thankful.”
He lowered himself down and pressed his lips to mine. His sweet kisses lingered, growing in passion. My stomach burst in butterflies and my body responded, craving more. The monitor next to us rang out, alerting Betty.
“I’ll just shut this off for now.” Betty winked as she turned off the alarm.
I bit my lip and tried to hide my smile. Nicholas’ warm hand encased mine. “What happened? We found Donald knocked out and you were gone.”
I searched his face unsure where to start. Yes, the cops interviewed me, but I’d left out certain parts to protect Sam.
“Donald came in the girls’ locker room. He wanted me to leave right then and there, and I didn’t want to go without you. Sam got the wrong impression and she hit him with her gym bag.”
Nicholas’ face morphed from anger to surprise. He started to say something, then chuckled. “Seriously?”
“I know—” I interrupted. “Mr. Cruor’s big bad bodyguard was all sprawled on the floor from an oversized history book.”
“Makes me feel better, I guess.”
“Better?”
He looked away, ashamed. “You were taken on my watch.”
“No. I was taken under everyone’s watch. You, the cops and even Mr. Cruor’s men. I should have just listened and left with Donald right away, but after he attacked me—”
“He attacked you?” Nicholas set his jaw.
“Not now. Before. In L.A. He would have killed me—if it wasn’t for Phil.” Nicholas’ eyes narrowed at Phil’s name. Phil had saved me more times than I could count and I knew that didn’t sit well with him. “I don’t see Donald as Donald. I see him as Slide and I don’t trust him.”
“Do you still see Horace as Cain?”
“I don’t know anymore.” I inhaled deeply and winced from the pain in my ribs. “Wait. Is he okay?”
“He’s fine and at home, under the care of his personal physician apparently.”
“Oh.” Envious, I envisioned him in a plush bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, 5-star meals and absolute quiet. “Do they know who took us?”
“Not yet.”
I leaned forward, then sucked in a breath when the memory and pain hit at the same time. “But I saw him. Last night. The same guy. He was here.”
Nicholas’ eyes narrowed. “Here?”
My eyes unfocused as my brain tried to work through the sludge the drugs had left behind. “He was dressed as an orderly. He took out the trash.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m totally sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I did. My nurse didn’t believe me, then she put something in my IV that knocked me out.”
Nicholas blew out a breath. “Then you’re not safe. We have to get you out of here. Today.”
I licked my chapped lips. “They’re not going to let me go anytime soon.”
“Then we’ll have you transferred.”
“Transferred? Where?”
Nicholas’ lips curved into a disarming smile. “Where you should have been to begin with. Horace’s.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure in my life.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Betty peeked around the corner, “but there’s two more heroes demanding to see their distressed damsel.”
Nicholas pulled out his phone.
“Not in here, you don’t. Out.” Betty pointed at Nicholas’ phone and then to the NO CELL PHONE sign.
Nicholas sighed, kissed me on the forehead, and then disappeared around the curtain the same time as Sam and Phil appeared.
I held my hand over my face as a shield. “Warning. I’m hideous.”
“No, you’re not.” Sam pulled my hand down.
“You look way better than when I saw you last.” Phil’s smile lit his entire face. The bags under his eyes told the truth of his sleepless worry for me.
Sam hit him in the arm. “Be nice.”
He shrugged. “What? I’m always nice. She looks awesome.”
“Man, do I owe you both a load of thanks.” I gestured to the chairs next to my bed. “Have a seat.”
“Are you feeling any better?” Sam sat in the closest chair to me.
“The drugs are nice.” I cracked a small smile. “Other than that, I can’t wait to get out of here.”
Phil leaned forward, his face intense. “I think you should stay put as long as you can.”
“What? Why?”
“Because they haven’t found who did it yet.” He sat back and folded his arms. “It’s like fort Knox in here. You’ll be safe.”
I balled up the sheets in my lap. Phil hated Mr. Cruor and if he knew Nicholas was talking to him right now, he’d freak. “Is it really as serious as that? I shouldn’t have left my bodyguard to begin with.”
“Who? That dummy I clocked with my history book?”
I laughed. “Not him.”
Sam looked left then right, then lowered her voice. “Phil had to pull his car in front of the van to get it to stop. If it weren’t for the idiot driving who tried to get around him and plowed into a tree, you’d be gone, Julia.”
“You what?” I turned to him in shock.
Phil laughed. “I improvised. It worked.”
“You almost killed yourself, you mean,” Sam said harshly. “But the stars were in alignment, or something. But I’m with Phil. If I can knock out your so-called bodyguard, and someone dressed as a cop can just snatch you in plain sight, you’re not safe anywhere, especially that fleabag hotel.”
“Then I’ll stay with Mr. Cruor.” I lifted my chin.
“What?” Phil stood. “No!”
Sam grabbed his arm. “Take a deep breath, Phil.”
“I won’t take a deep breath. This entire thing reeks of him. The break in. The kidnapping. He was barely hurt when I found you in the van, and he threw a fit when they wouldn’t take you to his private physician. He claimed he was your guardian.”
“He cares about me,” I argued.
“All he cares about is what’s pumping in your veins.” The tendons on Phil’s neck pulled taunt. “How can you trust him after all of this?”
I tried to see things Phil’s way, but after seeing Mr. Cru
or’s fear in the van, I trusted him.
“I don’t have a choice. I’m not safe, even here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I saw him. The guy who took me. He was here.”
Phil scanned the doorway. “When? Why didn’t you call anyone?”
“I did.” I sighed. “It was last night. Nicholas is on it. He’s getting me out of here.”
Phil’s eyes pushed into slits. “Are you doing this because of him?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He leaned forward. “What stopped you from telling me the truth about the past, Parker? You barely let Sam in on it and she’s your best friend. It’s Nick, isn’t it?”
“What? No.” I frowned. “He’s my boyfriend if you’ve forgotten.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
Sam’s face radiated horror. She squeezed Phil’s hand and pulled him to sit down. “We did it to protect you.”
Phil’s disapproving glare landed on Sam. “Really? Why?”
“Because,” Sam started, “we weren’t sure if remembering would undo everything, like a time collapse or something.”
“You act as if we’re the only ones who remember.” Phil smirked at both of us. “More of them remember than you think.”
“Like who?” Sam asked.
“Katie for starters.”
I ground my teeth together at the mention of her name. She was second on my shit list.
“See?” Phil radiated his smug smile. “You didn’t deny it.”
“Yes, she knows something, but I don’t think it’s that,” I mumbled. “I overheard her bragging to the ex-vamp tramps that she’s Mr. Cruor’s personal assistant now and is supposed to go with him to New York. Her and Tyler.”
“Bingo!” Phil sat in the chair, arms crossed and a winning smile on his face. “That’s it. They know.”
“How does that prove anything?”
“It proves that you need to stay as far away from Cain as possible,” Phil said. “And him leaving for New York is a start.”
I rolled my eyes, not daring to tell him that I was scheduled to go, too. “He’s not Cain.”
He smirked. “He’s never been anything but Cain. I know pure evil when I see it and he’s out for blood.”
I sucked in another breath as Nicholas entered the room with a mixture of annoyance and relief on his face.
Blood Wars: Book 4 (The Talisman Series) Page 13
