Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4)

by Kelley, Morgan

  Not now.

  “I’ll feed you, baby.” Flynn opened his arms so Jolie could crawl into his lap. When she was comfortable, he leaned down to her mouth, so she could feed from his throat.

  Instinctively, he placed a protective hand over her belly. A silent message passed between them during the feeding.

  Jolie needed to protect their babies.

  She needed to keep herself safe.

  For them.

  For her children.

  Flynn didn't have to share the words because she was his heart. Jolie would know. She’d see how scared he was.

  When she pulled away, Flynn’s eyes met hers. He saw so much love there.

  “You have my word.”

  It was more than enough.

  ‘I love you, Flynn.’

  ‘I love you too, baby.’

  Now it was time to save a life.

  ∞ Chapter Thirteen ∞

  Entering the abandoned coalmine was going to be creepy, even for the undead. Once they entered, they weren’t sure what they would find.

  Would they be too late?

  Would Tommy Gress be dead?

  “We’re here,” stated Jacques, exiting the vehicle to flank his mate. “We need to move fast. We’ll all be weak, and soon. If we waste time, Flynn’s going to have to defend all of us.”

  He took that as his cue. “Let’s go,” Flynn stated, checking both guns. He had a feeling it was going to be a double sidearm kind of day.

  “We’re probably going to need them.” Jacques admitted, as he began scanning the area through the trees. With his body, he protectively shielded his mates. If this was a trap, he wasn’t risking his family. “We’re alone.”

  Jolie moved from behind her mate. “I can’t feel anything in the mine,” Jolie whispered, glancing back at her other mate. Even though he was harder to kill now, she still worried about him. “There are way too many mineral deposits.”

  “Silver?” asked Flynn.

  “Yes.”

  Jacques glanced over at Mathew, reaching for his mind. ‘Guard her with your life.’

  ‘Yes, Jacques. No one will get near her. I promise.’

  ‘Make sure. She needs to be protected now more than ever,’ demanded Jacques.

  “I understand, Master.’

  They continued through the trees and into the mouth of the mine. Pausing, they all listened for any sign that someone was there.

  Then they heard screaming.

  Yeah, this was creepy and miserable.

  “He’s still alive, for now. If we can’t scan for them, they won’t be able to do the same. It looks like we have a level playing field.”

  “Come on. We have to hurry. Tommy can’t hold out while we chit chat,” ordered Flynn, feeling sick. The sound of his friend screaming in pain was almost too much to handle. “We have to save him.”

  Jolie called for Death and the tendrils floated from her body. Almost protectively, they wrapped around her like a cocoon.

  That was new, but she didn't question it.

  For now, time was of the essence.

  Through the darkness, they each cautiously navigated their way toward the wails of agony. Once around the corner, they knew they were close.

  The screams intensified.

  Not far from them stood one of the enemy. Touching her mates as they prepared to attack, Jolie instead sent the darkness surrounding her.

  “Feed,” she whispered, giving the command.

  They waited.

  The misty claws sought the meal, and when it found the vampyre, there was no hesitation. Death took the offering with greedy enthusiasm.

  He began screaming, drowning out Tommy Gress.

  As the other undead turned, Jolie gave the next command. “Stop!” she ordered, forcing the undead to comply.

  Unfortunately, there was no sign of Zola.

  “Free him, Mathew, and move quickly. I can’t hold them for long.”

  Her guardian in training pushed past the male vampyres to reach Detective Gress. His flesh was shredded and oozing blood. He was a holy mess. Under his eyes, there were deep gouges that he knew would never heal.

  The man was blind.

  Tommy whimpered in pain at Mathew’s touch.

  “Where’s Zola?” she inquired, walking toward the first vampyre. “Truth.”

  “We don’t know. We were told to kill him and deliver his body to his old friend. We decided to torture him first.”

  While torture was horrible, the fact that they’d wasted time was the only thing that had saved Tommy. Had they obeyed, Zola, they would have been too late.

  Beside her, Flynn and his demeanor said it all. He was angry that the two vampyres thought so little about a human life. Jolie was glad they’d rescued the man--if not for Tommy, for his friend.

  As they stood there, death crept toward the frozen bodies of her enemy. “You made a grave error. I’m here to end your life,” she said softly, as he continued to mock her with laughter.

  “Good luck,” the vampyre replied.

  Jolie’s energy flooded the mine as her hand tore through his chest, ripping his heart from his body. When she threw it across the cavernous space, and to the ground, it was her turn to laugh.

  The look of pure surprise, as death began feasting on his dying flesh, was priceless.

  But she wasn’t done.

  “Kill them, Flynn. Do it for your friend,” she ordered, stepping away from the vampyres. At that moment, she was irritated that Zola wasn’t there. There was nothing more she wanted than to hurt the woman in the worst possible way for causing Tommy and Flynn pain.

  He approached the undead, so much anger in his heart.

  “Hurry, Flynn! The sun is rising, and I can’t hold them much longer.”

  The gun shots rang through the mine. Only then did Jolie release the vampyres, so they could fall to the ground.

  Now, they had to get out of there, and fast.

  “We need to move!” Jolie started for the mouth of the mine, her mates and Mathew following behind. As they left that miserable place, Jolie recalled the tendrils, and they willingly returned. In fact, there was the audible sigh of contentment from Death. For now, the hunger was satiated and there was no more lust for killing.

  Jolie slid her sunglasses back on as they moved through the predawn light. The entire entourage was grateful to climb into the Hummer. For now, they were safe.

  In the back, Jolie took Tommy from Mathew’s arms to cradle him against her body. She knew just from looking at him, that it was going to be a hard fought battle.

  He was a mess.

  “Tommy,” she whispered.

  Her voice woke him.

  Tommy screamed in fear and pain.

  “Shhhh, it’s Jolie. You’re safe now. Flynn’s here, and we’ll help you.”

  “No! NO! NO! You’re one of them!” He fought to escape. “She said you were one of them!”

  “Tommy, it’s Flynn!” He tried to keep him from thrashing and hurting himself and Jolie. “I swear she won’t hurt you. I promise that you’re safe now,” he reassured, taking the man’s hands in his.

  Slowly, Tommy turned toward his friend’s voice. “Flynn? Is that really you? I can’t see. I can’t see,” he whispered. “She blinded me.”

  It was obvious that Zola had enjoyed her work.

  His eyes were ruined and without intervention, he wouldn’t be the same ever again.

  Flynn reached for his mates’ minds.

  ‘Can you save him?’ he asked, his eyes closed as he fought back the anger and the revulsion of what had been done to someone he cared about.

  ‘They’ve blinded him, Flynn. If he lives through this, then he’ll remain this way.’

  That wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

  ‘Please, Jolie. Help him for me or just tell me if I can do it myself. I know you hate bonding humans to us, but I need this.’

  ‘He’d have to return to New Orleans with us and give up his life.’

&nbs
p; This wasn’t what he wanted to hear.

  If they wouldn’t help, he would. Grabbing the silver dagger from her boot, he prepared to open his own vein.

  ‘Can I feed him?’

  Jolie rocked the injured detective. When she stared into Flynn’s eyes, she wasn’t prepared for the tears. One slid down his cheek, almost beseechingly.

  How could she say no?

  ‘Flynn, we don’t know if your blood will work. You aren’t exactly a textbook case of vampyre.’

  ‘Please! For me!’

  Jacques would do it on one condition. ‘It has to be his choice. If he agrees to it, we’ll save him for you, Flynn.’

  He saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, he only had to persuade his friend to trust creatures that had abused his body.

  “Tommy, she can save you, but you won’t be the same anymore.”

  “I don’t want to be like them,” he whispered through his damaged throat. “They’re killers and cruel! She destroyed me.”

  Jacques understood his fear.

  Flynn touched his friend’s cheek. “You’re going to have to trust Jolie like I did. If you choose not to, then you’ll be blind and disfigured for life,” he said softly. “You’re a mess, Tommy, and they can help you if you let them.”

  There was a pause as he considered it.

  “Are they really vampyres?”

  “Yes, they are, but they aren’t like the one who took you. I swear, Tommy, that Jolie is good and kind. She’d never harm you. Jacques will keep you safe too. I trust them with my life.”

  “She can heal me?” he asked, skeptically. “I don’t want to be blind, but I don’t want to see what she did to me either. I don’t want my eyes back if I have to be a monster.”

  Jolie gently caressed his blood caked hair. “You’ll be good as new, Tommy. I promise that I won’t hurt you, and you won’t turn into a vampyre.”

  Funny. She’d said those same exact words to Flynn, and look where that got them.

  “What do I have to do?”

  “You’ll have to remain near us.”

  Just then, Mathew hit a bump in the road. It jostled all of them, especially Tommy.

  He screamed in pain, so Jolie sent energy into his body to ease the hurt.

  “We don’t have much time,” Jacques warned. “Decide.”

  “I don’t know,” he whispered. “Will I have to drink blood? I can’t drink blood, Jolie.”

  “No, you won’t drink blood, but you will need to consume energy every day. I’m sorry, but your life here is over, Tommy. You’ll need to be near us. We can’t help you in Philadelphia, and once my mark is on you, my enemies here will hunt you.”

  The three stared at each other.

  Waiting.

  He didn't move.

  “Let her help you, Tommy. Trust me. It’s the best thing that can ever happen to you. I wouldn’t lie. I’m stronger, faster, and tougher than I was before.”

  Tommy blinked his blind, scarred eyes. “Will it hurt? I don’t think I can take any more pain. It’s been a horrible few days.”

  She lovingly dropped a kiss to his battered face. Here was her mate’s surrogate brother.

  Tenderness was important.

  Love was important.

  She needed to heal not only him, but Flynn in the process.

  “It won’t hurt. You’ll drift off to sleep, and I’ll do the rest. Are you prepared to say goodbye to your old life?”

  He was confused.

  “You’re disfigured, Tommy,” Flynn stated, taking in his ruined face and body. “You won’t be able to go out in public like this. I’m so sorry.”

  That was all he had to say.

  “Get it over with,” he hissed through the pain as his body bowed in agony. “I hope you’re right, Flynn!”

  Jolie reached into his mind, taking hold of his control. Doing this at dawn would drain her, but she couldn’t bear to see Flynn’s pain for his friend. Carefully, Jolie picked up Tommy’s wrist and bit down. She only took enough blood to do the bonding. Anything more would kill him.

  “Did that hurt?” Jolie asked when she was finished.

  “No, but I’m sleepy.”

  She was in his mind. “Then rest, Tommy. Slip into the darkness,” she murmured, giving him the command. When he was just about under, Jolie knew she had very little time.

  “I have to feed him.”

  Jolie was draining fast.

  “Okay,” he slurred. “I’d like a cheeseburger.”

  Flynn knew the man’s days of all kinds of foods would be coming to an end. He ached for his ex-partner.

  Things were about to change.

  Jolie held out her wrist to Flynn. “Cut me.”

  He didn't hesitate. Time was waning.

  When the deed was done, Jolie held her wrist to his mouth, so he could drink. At first he didn't swallow, but eventually, he did, taking that step across the line.

  No one spoke.

  They all knew what was being lost and gained at the same time.

  This was the price of immortality--humanity.

  Jolie waited until he had plenty of her ancient blood. When he was done, she pulled her wrist from his lips.

  Now he needed to sleep.

  In the distance, she saw their home on the horizon.

  “Tommy needs to rest. Mathew, may I place him with you in your room?”

  “Yes, Mistress,” he replied. This was the first time he’d ever seen a human bonded to one of their kind. “I’ll keep him safe for Master Flynn.”

  “Thank you, Mathew,” she answered, fighting to keep herself awake.

  Truth be told, Jolie was beyond depleted. She felt like death warmed over.

  “He’ll be fine, Flynn,” Jacques reassured.

  “Thank you,” he said, taking Tommy from her arms. He’d place him with Mathew, and then tend to his mate.

  When he was gone, Jolie tried to stand. The garage around her went gray. She wasn’t going to stay upright for long.

  In fact, she was being pulled under.

  Blackness enveloped her.

  As she fell to the concrete floor, she only hoped that she didn't hurt the little lives just beginning to thrive.

  He barely had time to catch her.

  When Jacques came around the side of the Hummer, he saw Jolie start to crumble, and fortunately, he caught her before she hit the floor.

  “I have you, my love. I’ll always have you,” he whispered, cradling her in his arms.

  Jacques wasn’t surprised that she was gone. Saving Tommy, holding the vampyres at bay, and cheating death the previous night, had greatly cost her.

  Carrying Jolie to their room, he began stripping her from the blood stained clothes. Once in the tub, he held her lovingly in his arms as he bathed her skin.

  Jacques heard their other mate coming.

  “Is she sick?” he asked in concern. Despite his overwhelming need to save a friend, he was worried. Flynn knew what she did would cost her.

  “No, she’s just empty.”

  That didn't really make him feel any better. Technically, she wasn’t empty. Jolie was carrying their future in her body.

  “Will it hurt the babies if she keeps doing this?” Flynn asked his mate in alarm.

  Jacques held her close. “No, my friend. It won’t. Since she’s the undead, and so are the children she is carrying, they’ll also go to death with her.”

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  No one wanted to think about their child and death in the same sentence. It was horrifying.

  “That’s why a vampyre’s gestation is longer than a human’s. The developing child won’t grow while the mother is dead,” added Jacques.

  Flynn stripped down. He, too, was covered in gore.

  “Would you heat up the water, Flynn? I’m too weak to do it.”

  His mate didn't have to ask twice. Flynn would have done anything for them at that moment. They’d saved his old partner and friend.

&nbs
p; Using his mind, he saw the water steaming. When he opened his eyes, it was doing just that.

  He was pleased with himself.

  “I see you have one more trick from us.”

  Flynn tried to grin, but he was too worried about Jolie and Tommy. Instead of dwelling on the negative, Flynn opted to picture Jolie further along.

  He could see her round with a child.

  It made his heart pound in his chest.

  Picturing her waddling around the house, immediately filled him with peace. Without thinking, he dumped more of her favorite bath oils into the tub.

  “Flynn? Are you lost?” Jacques asked, handing him the sponge.

  “She didn’t have to save him for me.”

  “Yes, she did. We love you, Flynn. This is a small thing compared to what we’d do to make you happy.”

  It was true.

  Flynn held half of their hearts.

  “I don’t know how to thank her for what she gave me today.”

  Jacques didn't reply. Instead, he was watching his friend gently wash Jolie’s body as it rested against his. “She doesn’t like to see innocence ruined, and she doesn’t like to see the ones she loves hurt. His loss would wound you, and that’s not what she would want. You never owe either of us for helping protect your heart, Flynn. That’s what people who love each other do.”

  “I never loved anyone like this. Not in my entire life, Jacques. I fear losing both of you.”

  “I know, my friend. I can see it in your face. Like just now, you were thinking about her. Whenever you do, you grin like you’ve just been given a prize.”

  He laughed. “I was.”

  “We’re both lucky.”

  Flynn thought about it. “I have to ask you something, and I hope you don’t get upset,” he said before taking Jolie’s hand in his.

  Jacques lounged in the tub, holding Jolie as he waited for the man to continue. He wasn’t sure what Flynn was thinking, but he couldn’t imagine what he’d say that would upset him.

  They already shared the woman they loved.

  What more was there that could possibly come between them?

  “Jolie’s carrying my child. In my world, when you knock a woman up, you marry her. I know that’s not possible, but I want to give her a ring and make it more permanent. I don’t want people to say, here’s Flynn and his fiancée, when it’s not true. I need to share with Jolie something that symbolizes how I feel about her.”