“Wow,” Aida breathed while Doug made his way around the white, wicker furniture with its blue cushions.
Mike glanced out the windows facing the beach they’d left behind, but the sand remained deserted.
“I think someone lives here,” Mollie whispered.
Mike frowned as he took in the boathouse again. “What makes you say that?”
“It’s too… too homey,” she murmured. “You don’t make a place you’re only shuttling guests through this nice.”
“There’s a lot of money tied up in this operation, and the vampires who arrive here expect the best. Presentation is key,” Doug said as he searched the white bookshelves closest to the kitchen.
“Do they expect food too?” Mollie asked. “The kitchen in the mansion was explained by Scott cooking for the prisoners, but why would they have a kitchen here? This building looks newer than the others; it’s more modern.”
Mike glanced at the small kitchen with its white cabinets, blue countertops, and island with an oven. The refrigerator hummed, and a towel sat neatly folded next to the sink. The building smelled of the sea and lavender; he didn’t detect another presence inside, but then, he couldn’t see all of the loft.
If there was another door or balcony up there, someone could be hiding outside and could enter again. The club had humans like Scott working for them; they moved freely through the day and would happily slaughter anyone if it would help and increase their chances of becoming immortal.
“No, they wouldn’t expect food too,” he murmured. “Doug, we have to go.”
Mike’s hand fell on the knob again as a step sounded from above, and a shadow fell across the wall of the loft. Someone was up there.
“I’ve got the keys!” Doug cried and hefted a key ring into the air.
The keys jingled at the same time a shot rang out and an alarm blared.
Chapter Forty-Three
Mollie cried out when the bullet slicing across her arm tore away a chunk of her skin. Instinctively, she closed her hand over the wound to staunch the flow of blood. It was only a flesh wound, but it burned like someone had taken a hot poker to her arm.
“Mollie!” Mike roared when the scent of her blood hit the air.
Leaping forward, he threw himself on top of her and shoved her to the ground as the next bullet burrowed into the back of his thigh. “Son of a bitch!” he snarled as fire lanced up his leg.
“Are you okay?” Mollie demanded.
“Yes.” Mike positioned himself more firmly over the top of her to make sure little of her remained exposed.
“Where’s Aida?”
She struggled to find her sister, but all she saw was Mike’s solid body covering hers, and the white, front door only inches away from her fingertips. They were so close to freedom, but the way they were lying blocked the entrance and the easiest escape route for Aida and Doug.
Mike lifted his head as Doug ran for Aida and, grabbing her arm, raced with her toward the sliding doors at the back of the house as bullets slammed into the floor. Shards of tile burst into the air around them, but none of the rounds hit their target before Doug and Aida ran under the loft and out of the shooter’s range.
While the shooter was distracted trying to take out Aida and Doug, Mike dragged Mollie to her feet. He kept her in front of him, offering his back as a target while he stepped back and flung the door open.
Lifting Mollie against him, Mike staggered into the day. Bullets followed them out the door, but no more struck him or Mollie as they fled the shooter.
And then he saw they were no longer alone on the beach.
Mike pressed his back against the boathouse. He kept Mollie in front of him to protect her from any bullets that might come through the wall as he surveyed the ten vampires gliding across the sand toward them. Dressed all in black, Mike recognized the golden, triangle patch on their coats as the same ones the security in the barn wore.
Judging by their thick glasses and heavy clothing, he suspected these security guards were on their way to becoming full blown Savages, but their employers made sure they didn’t go over the edge. These creatures would be of no use to those in the club if they couldn’t at least tolerate some sun.
Barely visible in the light of day, a red light flashed over the sand from the boathouse, and Mike recognized it as a beacon used to alert security they had people or vamps trying to escape. There were probably caves nearby that these security members hid in during the day in case someone went for the boats.
The blaring siren of the alarm sounded for a few more seconds before abruptly ending. There was no need for it now that the human inside had done their job and notified their masters they had escapees on the beach.
“Shit,” he hissed.
“Aida!” Mollie breathed when Doug and Aida skidded around the corner of the house.
“There’s more behind us!” Doug said and nudged Aida toward them.
“We have to get to the boats.” Mike lifted Mollie and ran toward the dock.
The second he started sprinting, the security guards broke into a run too. They’d been more than content to prowl forward before, but now they had a chase, and like their masters, they also loved to hunt.
His feet skidded to the side when they landed on the metal dock, and he almost went down but managed to keep his balance. His wounded leg throbbed like a son of a bitch as the bullet worked its way free of his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself onward as an excited shout erupted from the security guards. Doug’s feet pounded behind him, and the first thud of the Savages’ feet hitting the dock reverberated it.
He didn’t dare glance back as he slid to a halt next to the yellow boat simply because it was the closest one. He placed Mollie on the bow and turned back for Aida when Doug stopped beside him. He set Aida next to Mollie as Doug leapt over the side, and fumbling through the keys, slid the first one into the ignition.
Mollie scooted across the front of the boat and slid over the side to where the seats were before turning back to help her sister climb down. She searched for Mike, but he was not behind Aida as she’d expected.
“Mike!” Mollie shouted while he untied the first line connecting the boat to the dock and then the second. He didn’t jump into the boat but put his foot on the front of it and shoved it away from the dock. “Mike!”
Mollie scrambled to the front of the boat as he remained standing on the dock with those things charging at him. The creatures desire to slaughter anything in their way emanated from them as inhuman sounds issued from them and the dock bounced beneath the weight of the approaching stampede.
“Mike!” she screamed as the creatures closed in on him.
“Get in the boat, Mike!” Doug yelled as he tried another key.
Mollie swung her rifle free and barely aimed before she started firing at the vampires. Bullets bounced off the decking, one caught a vamp in the shin, and another in the shoulder, but they did nothing to deter the monsters bearing down on Mike.
Mike didn’t dare jump into the boat; if he did, the Savages would only follow him straight to Mollie. By staying on the dock, he provided a distraction to the vampires and would be able to take out some of them while Doug worked on finding the key.
Mollie steadied the trembling of her hand as adrenaline coursed through her. They were only feet away from Mike, and he showed no sign of getting out of their way. Aida fell at her side and started firing her weapon as the first one crashed into Mike’s chest and knocked him back.
“No!” Mollie screamed.
Tossing the rifle onto her back again, she scrambled off the seat and onto the front of the boat. Her feet slid on the smooth yellow surface as the rocking boat and the swaying dock caused water to splash over the sides of both.
She remained crouched to keep her balance as she scurried across the front toward Mike. They’d only floated a few feet away from the dock, and she could still reach it. She was about to leap off the boat and back onto the dock when Doug snagged her leg
and snatched her back. Pain lanced through her knees when they smacked off the boat’s surface, but she bit back a cry.
“Here!” Doug thrust the key ring into her hand. “Don’t try the silver ones.”
Before she could reply, he darted across the front of the boat and leapt onto the dock. Running forward, Doug crashed into the vamp Mike was fighting. The vampire was knocked to the side, but he dragged Mike with him until they almost toppled into the water. Mike caught his balance at the last second, and palming the creature’s face, he pried the vamp off him and tossed it in the water.
Mollie reluctantly turned away from the fight as two more of the guards reached Mike and Doug. Scrambling back to the driver’s seat, Mollie set her rifle on the ground next to her where it would be within easy reach. She fumbled through the keys, ignoring the silver ones in favor of the gold. She settled on one and slid it into the ignition and tried to turn it; nothing happened. The next one was the same.
Grunts and cries filled the air as the thuds of fists hitting flesh and bone shattered the stillness of the once tranquil day. Aida stopped firing her weapon once the battle ensued and they were all so close together. Mollie didn’t dare look up; she knew she’d only panic if she saw what was happening.
He’s fine, she told herself. Stay focused.
Sweat coated her as she fumbled for another gold key. There were at least a dozen keys on the chain, six of them were silver and the rest gold; she was running out of options.
What if the ring doesn’t possess the key to this boat? Don’t think it, don’t think it. But it was already too late; the thought had embedded deeper than a hungry tick.
The boat bounced on the sea and water splashed over the sides when something slammed into it. She looked up in time to see a vampire crouched on the front of the boat with its fangs extended while it leered at Aida.
Mollie fumbled for the rifle, but Aida lifted her gun and shot the creature point-blank in the face. It squealed as it fell over backward. Mollie turned her attention back to the keys.
She slid the next key into the ignition, turned, and got nothing. Cursing, she slapped her palm off the steering wheel. She selected another key as a loud crash sounded and the front of the boat nosedived. Mollie’s head shot up to find two vampires creeping closer to Aida.
Aida lifted her weapon and fired at the first one, but it dashed to the side, and when she turned the gun on the second one, nothing happened. Aida looked helplessly at her empty gun before rushing back toward Mollie.
Mollie slid the next key into the ignition but didn’t have time to turn it as the vamps bounded after her sister. Snatching up her rifle, she aimed at the one closest to Aida. When she pulled the trigger, blood exploded over the seats, and she realized she’d shot the thing in the stomach. Which only served to piss it off more as it howled and focused on her with a lethal glare.
Mollie pulled the trigger again, but nothing happened.
Stay calm. Stay calm.
She had more bullets in her pocket, but she’d be dead before she could reload the gun. Lifting the rifle, she prepared to batter the creature with it as the vampire leapt toward her on all fours like some demented, bloodsucking monkey.
Mike launched another one of the guards off him and into the water as Aida’s shout drew his attention to the boat and the Savage jumping at Mollie. She swung the rifle at the vamp and caught it in the cheek, throwing it off its murderous intent. The attention of the remaining guards shifted from him and Doug to the easier prey in the boat.
“Go!” Doug shouted at him when another Savage pounced on the boat.
Mike leaned back on his heel before bolting across the deck and leaping across the six feet of distance separating the boat from the dock. When he landed, his feet skidded on the slippery surface of the fiberglass hull, but he threw out his arms to keep his balance.
He didn’t have time to slaughter the first Savage. Lifting it by the collar of its shirt, Mike picked it up and heaved it overboard as Mollie again swung the butt of the rifle at the vamp hunting her. The creature dodged the gun while the other one narrowed in on Aida who was backing away toward Mike.
Jumping off the bow, Mike smashed into the monster stalking Aida. Thrown off balance, the Savage staggered back but didn’t go overboard. More gunshots filled the air and pinged off the metal dock. Mike assumed whoever had been in the boathouse was now coming for them, but he didn’t look at the beach.
When the Savage charged her, Mollie threw herself down with so much force she knocked the air from her lungs when she hit the floor. But the move threw the creature off, and it didn’t succeed in getting its hands on her, yet. Struggling to breathe, she rolled toward the bench seat at the back of the boat.
Her back connected with the seat, halting her escape attempt as Mike pounced on the Savage stalking her. She didn’t see what followed, but the Savage’s headless body fell beside her seconds later. Mollie scrambled away from the blood flowing across the white floor and pulled herself up onto the bench seat. Behind Mike, Doug jumped onto the boat and tossed the one who’d been stalking Aida overboard.
More gunshots peppered the dock, running straight up the middle of it. Mollie searched the beach for the shooter but saw no one there. When she tipped her head back, she spotted a man standing at the top of the cliffs with a rifle against his shoulder and a woman at his side.
“It’s Jack!” Doug blurted as Mike slid into the driver’s seat and turned the key.
Chapter Forty-Four
Relief filled Mike as he gazed at his friend on the cliffs. Jack was alive! Mike had tried not to think about the possibility his friend could be dead, but it had been a nagging worry at the back of his mind. Somehow, they would get Jack off this island now too, if he could get the boat started.
Mollie’s heart lurched when the boat engine chugged but didn’t turn over. They had the key! More shots peppered the dock, denting the metal and causing sparks to fly up as the vampires on the dock jumped into the water.
“Please start,” she whispered as some of the monsters started swimming toward the boat while others disappeared under the dock.
The boat lurched when fingers curled over the side of it and a head popped up. Water poured down the face of the vamp as he leered at Aida. Mollie jumped to her feet, and Aida grabbed the fire extinguisher from where it hung near the steering wheel. Lifting the extinguisher, Aida bashed the fingers of the vamp trying to climb inside. The creature howled, and its broken fingers couldn’t retain their grip on the boat.
The engine chugged again, caught, then died. Mollie snatched up her rifle and hammered the butt of it into the face of the next vampire whose head popped over the side of the boat. Blood spurted from his broken nose, but he didn’t lose his hold.
“Son of a bitch!” she spat.
Mollie smashed him in the face again and again. When she knocked some of his teeth out, he finally released the boat. The rifle fell to her side, and her shoulders heaved as she searched for another threat, but she didn’t see any more of the bastards trying to climb aboard.
Then, like a shark slipping beneath the surface of the water, something thudded against the bottom of the boat. Another thump followed by a silence more unnerving than the noise. Mollie stared at the floor as if she could see through it as their predators sought some new way to get at their prey.
A screeching sound shattered the silence and set her teeth on edge. It took her a second to realize the noise was being created by fingers scrabbling over the bottom of the boat, seeking purchase, or something… worse.
“I think they’re trying to disable the boat!” she yelled to Mike.
Gunshots continued to ring over the dock though no vampires remained there that Mike could see. Jack wouldn’t swing the gun in their direction to take out the Savages in the water for fear of accidentally hitting one of them or disabling the boat. His friend was only trying to keep the Savages on alert for those bullets.
Mike ignored the sounds from under the boat
that reminded him of mice scratching at walls as he turned the key. The boat didn’t have an outboard engine, so the Savages couldn’t dismantle that, but he didn’t know if they could do something else while under there.
“Fucking start,” he muttered.
The engine chugged, sputtered, and died again. What if the damn thing didn’t have any gas? They couldn’t jump into the ocean with the Savages swirling through there, or what if they had somehow managed to disable the boat already?
When he glanced up, he saw the shoreline getting closer as they drifted toward it. If the boat didn’t start soon, they would end up beached, and the vessel would be useless to them.
More gunshots rang out, but these weren’t as metallic sounding. Mike lurched back when a bullet racing past his nose kissed the tip of it. His head rose as he realized these shots weren’t coming from Jack.
Glancing at the shoreline, he spotted a woman standing there with her legs spread and a two-handed grip on a gun. He suspected she’d been the one firing at them from the loft in the beach house. Sand sprayed up in front of the woman as bullets rained down from above, but Jack’s rounds were a good ten feet in front of her as his angle on the cliff made it impossible to get a good shot at her.
“Get down!” Mike roared as more bullets peppered the side of the boat.
Mollie lunged for Aida as a Savage who had managed to climb into the boat tore the extinguisher from her sister’s hands. A bullet pierced the boat at her feet as she grasped Aida’s shoulders and shoved her down.
Releasing Aida, Mollie bashed the butt of the rifle into the Savage’s face as a bullet whizzed past her ear. For a second, Mollie almost pissed herself as the whistle of the bullet replayed in her mind, and the Savage staggered backward but didn’t topple out. It wouldn’t do her any good to hit the ground with this thing still in the boat; she may not get shot, but she would get eaten, and she’d rather take a bullet than be vampire steak tartare.
Consumed: The Vampire Awakenings, Book 8 Page 26
