First and Only: Ember Lane (Book #1)

by Kelly Goode

  ‘Don’t,’ I repeated, and he changed direction. His lips skimmed lightly across my jawline and down the sensitive skin of my throat. As he reached the plunging neckline of my top, I felt something sharp dig into the material.

  ‘What’s this?’ Carter asked, pulling away slightly.

  I looked down at the small square piece of card that he was holding.

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘You had something tucked into your top that you knew nothing about?’

  I nodded and took the item from him, studying it carefully. It was unnerving that it had been there, and I hadn’t felt it.

  ‘Darrick must have slipped it in there when he tried to…’

  The expression on Carter’s face was enough to stop me elaborating. The card was an invitation to a private party at the club tomorrow night.

  ‘I’m sorry. I should have realised. He made some smart comment about me keeping the uniform to remind me of him. This must be what he meant.’

  ‘Stop apologising,’ Carter snapped, ‘and start focusing. It could have been a tracking device. Our cover would have been blown because you were distracted by a vampire.’

  ‘I told you at the bar that he could manipulate me. I told you I wouldn’t be safe around him so don’t give me that bullshit about me being distracted.’

  The elevator chimed, signalling that we’d reached the ground floor. Carter glared at me as he touched his earpiece.

  ‘Red Leader to base. Change of plans. We’re coming in.’

  47

  After five hours of broken sleep, the term “cranky” was the best way to describe my mood as I sat in the briefing room, listening to Chief Andrews and his men talk tactics. Darrick’s unexpected invitation had given them the perfect opportunity to expedite the next part of the mission.

  ‘You’ve certainly got them fired up,’ Mari said as she settled into the vacant chair beside me and handed me a cup of coffee, which I took gratefully.

  I’d hoped Harvey would sit with me or at least acknowledge me, but so far, all he’d done was throw a few sullen looks in my direction from the far side of the room.

  ‘I just want them to tell me what to do next, so I can get this over with and go home,’ I said, inhaling the rich aroma of coffee as I sipped my drink.

  Mari pushed her dark hair out of her eyes and squinted at me.

  ‘Me too, I can’t wait to see my daughters again. Do you think they’ll be pleased that I was released early?’

  I frowned. I didn’t know what relationship this woman had with her daughters so couldn’t comment. Fortunately, it was a rhetorical question, and Mari didn’t wait for my answer before changing the subject.

  ‘I saw you dance last night,’ she said in an exaggerated whisper, her pointy face turning a deep shade of red as she spoke. ‘You were amazing.’

  ‘It’s not what it looked like. I didn’t want to…’

  She laid a hand on my arm.

  ‘You don’t need to explain to me. We all knew there would be things we’d find difficult to do when we signed those contracts.’

  I wondered what difficult things she’d been forced to do since joining the team. She was as meek and skittish as her alternate rodent form, and so far, all she’d done was hide at the first sign of trouble.

  ‘What’s your part in all this, Mari,’ I asked. ‘Have you been given any specific weapons training?’

  ‘Goodness no! I’m just a cleaner at the club. No one pays much attention to the domestics, so I’ve been exploring the place in my rat form and reporting back to my handler so he can draw up plans based on what routes I’ve travelled.’

  My attention was drawn once again to Harvey as Sasha entered the room and made a beeline for him. She laughed loudly at something he said to her and for some reason I took it personally. The stupid silent treatment he was subjecting me to was driving me crazy. He was acting like a petulant child when he had no right to. I’d done nothing wrong.

  I turned away, focusing on Mari again.

  ‘Sorry, Mari, I didn’t catch that last bit.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re not supposed to talk about our individual assignments anyway.’

  ‘True,’ I said, and it hit me that I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone what I was ordered to do once I was alone with Darrick.

  More sudden laughing from Sasha made me cringe. I bit my lip, so I wouldn’t stand up and ask her what she found so damn funny.

  ‘Don’t let them get to you,’ Mari said.

  ‘Who?’

  She gave me a look that told me she wasn’t accepting my disinterested act, and I conceded with a sigh.

  ‘They’re not getting to me. Don’t worry.’

  Mari nodded. ‘I’m no expert on demon behaviour, but he cares for you, Ember.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s wise to care about anyone in this team,’ I replied frostily. ‘We’re just a group of prisoners put together by chance. There’s no loyalty between criminals. Don’t let anyone fool you otherwise.’

  Mari looked slightly pained at my answer and lowered her head.

  ‘We may be criminals, but not by choice. I thought you of all people would understand that. You shouldn’t let anyone fool you into not trusting them just because that’s the easier option.’

  She got to her feet, and I realised I’d offended her.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I didn’t mean to sound like such a bitch. I’m just tired.’

  ‘I know, Ember, we’re all tired.’

  With that, she walked away to refill her coffee cup. I caught Harvey watching our exchange but when I met his stare, he looked away. I was about to get up from my chair too when a shadow moved across me.

  48

  I looked up to find Gerrard approaching. I immediately stilled, the muscles in my arms tightening as he stopped beside me.

  ‘Can I have a word please, Ember?’

  My initial instinct was to say no and blast him with a fireball, but he seemed calm and controlled so against my better judgement, I nodded my head and indicated Mari’s vacated chair.

  It was a relief to hear his soft Irish voice rather than his usual manic mumbling and twitching.

  Gerrard nodded his thanks and sat down. The small chair groaned under his immense size, and he looked like an adult forced to use a child’s school chair. When he bent his knees, they almost touched his chin.

  I stared at the spider web tattoo on the side of his face as I waited for him to speak.

  ‘How’s your arm?’ he finally asked, wringing his giant hands together.

  ‘The doc gave me a few stitches to close the wound, but they’ve dissolved now. Physically, there’ll be no lasting damage but I’ll probably be left with a scar.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  I didn’t reply, as I wasn’t ready to accept his apology.

  ‘I don’t remember much of what happened that day,’ he continued, seemingly compelled to fill the uncomfortable silence I’d deliberately left. ‘In fact, I don’t remember much since leaving the detainment unit, but I’m back on my medication now and things are starting to settle down. I wanted to face up to what I did and tell you that you don’t have to worry about me repeating-’

  ‘Wait a minute,’ I interrupted. ‘Did you say back on your meds?’

  The half-ogre nodded.

  ‘Yeah, I told them what would happen if I didn’t have my tablets on time, but they wouldn’t listen. That’s how I ended up in a cell the first time round.’

  Fucking bastards!

  Chief Andrews had denied Gerrard his medication solely for that stupid test, to provoke us all into using our powers so he could see what we were capable of doing under pressure.

  ‘What medication are you on?’ I asked.

  ‘Antipsychotics.’

  I didn’t know much about those types of drugs, but I was sure you weren’t supposed to stop suddenly taking them.

  ‘What are the side-effects of not taking them?’

  ‘Vomiti
ng, stomach ache, dizziness, shaking…but the worse thing is that the voices come back.’

  I shivered at the thought of what had been going on inside Gerrard’s head when he’d lashed out at me with that knife.

  ‘What do the voices tell you?’ I asked.

  Gerrard stared directly into my eyes.

  ‘Kill the women,’ he said. ‘Kill all the women. Kill, kill, kill.’

  49

  Harvey only sat down at the table once Chief Andrews called everyone to attention. He was being petty, but he didn’t care. He was pissed off with Ember for dancing on that podium, but more so at himself for caring. He could feel her glaring at him, but ignored the insane need to acknowledge her, keeping his eyes fixed firmly forward.

  ‘We had a surprise turn of events last night,’ Chief Andrews said. ‘Ember secured an invitation from Darrick to a private party he’s hosting-’

  ‘What?’ ‘When?’

  Harvey and Sasha both spoke at the same time. Sasha sounded incredulous, so Harvey sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest, feigning indifference.

  ‘I thought I was supposed to be working on gaining Darrick’s trust,’ Sasha whined. ‘I just need a few more days.’

  ‘You’ve been working at the club for a week and made no progress,’ the chief replied. ‘The vampire has shown an interest in Ember and so we’re going to work with it.’

  Sasha’s face twisted in fury and Harvey got a glimpse of the ugly hag that she usually hid so well behind her beautiful facade.

  ‘Bitch,’ she hissed under her breath.

  ‘What was that?’

  Harvey tensed as Ember spun round in her chair and addressed Sasha. Her green eyes were glowing with anger, and he subtly shook his head at her. He’d warned her before about crossing a succubus.

  ‘You heard me, witch. Do you think you can just waltz in and take over my mission? Take away my chance of freedom?’

  ‘That was never my intention. Darrick knows you’re a succubus. He made it clear he wasn’t interested in you…’

  ‘So you swooped in. Ember to the rescue.’

  Chief Andrews raised his hands, and the women fell silent.

  ‘Yes, Ember to the rescue,’ he repeated.

  ‘I didn’t do anything,’ Ember insisted, and Harvey could remain quiet no longer.

  ‘I’m sure the dancing helped,’ he said sarcastically.

  Ember’s heated gaze locked with his and he immediately felt like such an arsehole. What was wrong with him? No strings, he’d said and yet he was trying his hardest to make her feel like shit.

  ‘Darrick used his glamour on me, Harvey. Something I tried to explain to you last night but you were too pig-headed to listen. When I said I had no choice but to get up on that podium, I meant it physically. He used a vampire trick on me.’

  Harvey took a moment to digest that piece of information. He was about to reply when Carter stepped forward.

  ‘I’d like it noted that I don’t agree with sending Ember to the party.’

  The chief’s eyes narrowed and Harvey hoped the old man would do something radical like shoot the bastard.

  ‘It’s been noted already, son.’

  ‘There are too many risks,’ Carter continued. ‘If Darrick can turn Ember into a puppet, what chance has she got of defending herself?’

  Chief Andrews inclined his head.

  ‘The risks have already been calculated. Darrick likes her. She has a way into the club so we proceed as stated.’

  He turned towards Ember.

  ‘Ember, you need to step up and take control of this assignment. You need to do whatever it takes to get inside Darrick’s office and find out where he keeps his safe. Can you do that?’

  Ember nodded.

  ‘I can,’ she said firmly.

  ‘Whatever it takes,’ the chief repeated and Harvey saw the moment Ember realised what he was implying.

  She opened her mouth, and he hoped she was going to say there was a line she wouldn’t cross, but she shut it again and nodded resolutely.

  Shit!

  Harvey could tell that Carter wanted to argue his point again just from the way his hands were clenched down by his sides, but like a good soldier, he remained silent. Harvey could also tell that for all the bullshit the agent had spun about not caring about any of the recruits, he viewed Ember differently.

  Carter had a weak spot.

  Shame it was the same one that he had too.

  50

  I left the briefing room and headed for the gym. I wanted to go somewhere quiet to process what Chief Andrews had said, and there were only so many rooms that my palm print allowed me access to.

  As I began a slow jog on the running machine, my mind whirled with questions. The main one I kept coming back to, was how far was I prepared to go for the sake of this mission? Trepidation burned in the pit of my stomach, as I feared that I’d already signed a contract stating I would do anything that the chief ordered.

  I switched apparatus, sitting down on the rowing machine and strapping my feet into the footrest. Since joining the unit, I’d been building up my stamina and strength, and was now starting to see some slight muscle definition as my arms contracted with each stroke.

  After a few minutes, my face burned from the exertion but I didn’t stop rowing. I pulled harder, hoping a solution to my problems would appear like an epiphany.

  Then I sensed his presence.

  ‘What do you want?’

  My breath was ragged as I exhaled.

  ‘I came to check if you’re ok,’ Carter said, stepping out of the shadows and I wondered how long he’d been standing there, watching me.

  I stopped rowing and sat still, my chest rising and falling as I fought to settle my breathing.

  ‘I’m fine,’ I finally said.

  ‘Fine going back to the club tonight? Back to Darrick?’

  Carter was fishing for a reaction, but I wouldn’t give him one. I kept my face as neutral as possible as I got up from the rowing machine and moved across to the punch-bag hanging from the ceiling.

  ‘I didn’t know you boxed,’ he said, as I lightly jabbed the bag.

  ‘I don’t. But if I don’t hit something, I’m going to set this damn place on fire.’

  I jabbed harder this time, as if to emphasize my point.

  ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

  I shook my head. ‘The time for talking is over. I know what you people want me to do.’

  Carter came closer.

  ‘I wanted to argue with Chief Andrews,’ he said, ‘but that’s not the way things work around here. There is a chain of command. Orders I have to follow.’

  ‘I get it.’

  ‘Do you?’

  I nodded. I understood it, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. I increased the power behind my punches, liking the sound my knuckles made as they connected with the leather.

  ‘How about a little one on one?’

  ‘I’m not fighting you,’ Carter said, as I stepped away from the punch-bag.

  ‘Come on, tough guy,’ I baited. ‘Are you scared I’ll show you up?’

  ‘Don’t be silly.’

  ‘Take me down then.’

  ‘Fighting won’t make you feel better…’

  He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as I let out a frustrated cry and lunged for him. I pushed him hard in the chest and flames sprung from my hands, singing his t-shirt. My timing had caught him unaware, and he stumbled backwards, landing hard on the floor.

  ‘What the hell are you doing?’

  ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall,’ I goaded.

  Carter sprung to his feet. I was pissing him off, but I didn’t care.

  ‘You really want to do this?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I’m not going to hit you, Ember?’

  ‘Why? Because I’m a woman?’

  I began to circle him, and he turned his body in time with my movements, never letting me get beh
ind him.

  ‘Yes, because you’re a woman. It’s not a fair fight.’

  ‘Nothing about this place is fucking fair,’ I shouted.

  51

  Ember’s green eyes were loaded with so much blame that Carter faltered. He’d already explained that he couldn’t challenge the chief’s orders. What more did she want?

  ‘Fair or not, you signed that contract.’

  Ember raised her hand, and a small ball of fire appeared on her palm. Carter knew he wasn’t as in control of the situation as he should be, but he was reluctant to signal for help, as he knew the consequences would be severe. They’d view her as a threat and kill her.

  ‘A contract that allows me to be treated like an object, expected to trade sexual favours for the good of the mission.’

  ‘You’re part of the team.’

  ‘A team where I’m attacked with knives because another prisoner was denied their medication. Where I’m-’

  ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ he interrupted. ‘What medication?’

  ‘Don’t bullshit me. You knew about Gerrard and his antipsychotics. You must have.’

  ‘Only Chief Andrews and his handler would have been given access to his medical records. Are you really going to jeopardise your chance at a normal life after this? For what? To hurt me? You don’t need a fireball to do that.’

  Carter made a grab for her shoulder, but his hand slipped down her slick, sweaty skin. The fireball flickered from her palm and up her arm, burning his hand.

  ‘Shit, Ember. What the hell are you trying to prove here?’

  He moved closer, despite the heat she was emitting, and grabbed her around the waist.

  ‘Let go of me,’ she barked as he lifted her off her feet. She thrashed wildly, catching him painfully on the shin with her heel before digging her nails into his skin. That hurt less than the burning sensation on his arm.