Shiver (Night Roamers #2)

by Kristen Middleton

  “I’m thrilled for you,” I mumbled, opening the front door. I walked outside and stared at the Mustang, which was empty. “What the hell?”

  “Nathan!” yelled Ethan, his booming voice louder than I could have possibly imagined.

  “Ethan,” I winced, covering my ears.

  He walked towards the Mustang and bent down. “There’s been a scuffle,” he said, pointing towards the dirt.

  I looked down towards the ground; sure enough, someone had either been dancing or struggling with someone else.

  “Crap,” I said. “Where do you think he is?

  He shrugged. “The club?”

  I raised my eyebrows. “The club? Why in the world would he be there?” I asked.

  “Something tells me that Faye has him. She owns Club Nightshade.”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  “You’re not coming,” argued Ethan. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “Well, you’re definitely not going alone. You didn’t fare too well last time all by yourself,” I said. “Besides, aren’t you still pretty weak?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Ethan, if you need blood…”

  “Are you offering?”

  I swallowed. “Only, if it’s going to help save Nathan.”

  He smiled seductively and touched my stomach. “Right now, blood isn’t what I’m craving.”

  I ignored him. “As I was saying….I’m going with you, like it or not.”

  He blew out an exasperated breath. “Don’t you see? It’s what she wants. She’s using your brother as bait.”

  I scowled. “I don’t care. You have to let me go with you. How do we know that she isn’t trying to separate us? I’d be even more vulnerable if you left me alone. Maybe that’s her plan.”

  Ethan sighed. “Good point.”

  “Damn right it is.”

  “Fine,” he grumbled, finally relenting. “You can come, but that means you do exactly what I say.”

  Okay,” I said.

  His eyes narrowed. “Exactly, Nikki.”

  “I said I will.”

  He nodded. “Okay, start by removing your clothes.”

  My eyes widened. “What?”

  There was a twinkle in his eyes. “See, you’re already questioning my orders.”

  “Ethan,” I warned, biting back a smile.

  He smirked. “I had to try.”

  “We’re wasting time.”

  “Okay then, let’s go,” he said, moving towards me.

  “Whoa…how about we drive this time?” I said, taking a step back.

  “That takes much too long,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Like you said, we’re already wasting time.”

  I held my breath as he launched into the air. Seconds later, we were behind the club and I was fighting another wave of nausea.

  “You okay?” he asked, looking down at me.

  “Just a little dizzy,” I mumbled, pulling away. The last thing I wanted to do was puke in his arms.

  “Don’t worry, Nikki. You’ll get used to it.”

  “Right,” I said.

  “Well,” he said, trying to open one of the delivery doors.

  “I thought you were really powerful. Can’t you just rip the door off?”

  “There’s probably and alarm on these doors. It would give us away.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Obviously it’s closed, and we can’t just enter through the front, either. She’s probably monitoring the entrance.”

  “What do you recommend?”

  He looked up. “We should try the roof. Ready?”

  I backed away from him as he advanced towards me.

  “Why don’t you come back down and let me in through one of these doors?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you alone. This was your idea, remember?”

  “Fine, let’s go.”

  As it turned out, there was a penthouse on the roof.

  “This is where Faye stays when she’s in town,” he said. “I haven’t been up here yet, but she told me a little about it.”

  “Right,” I mumbled.

  He grinned. “I haven’t. Seriously.”

  “How can you enter her place if you haven’t been invited in?”

  “But I have been invited, Nikki. I never said I hadn’t.”

  “Oh.”

  I followed Ethan through a sliding glass door that led to a wide, open living room which was more luxurious than anything I’d ever encountered.

  “This place is amazing,” I said.

  The walls were covered with different types of artwork that probably cost more than my mother’s annual salary, and the contemporary leather furniture sitting next to white fireplace reminded me of something I’d recently seen in some magazine.

  “She lives pretty lavishly,” said Ethan, motioning towards the white piano sitting in the corner of the room.

  “I guess,” I murmured.

  “At least she isn’t here,” he said. “I can’t smell her.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “You could smell her?”

  “Our senses are superior to those of humans. It’s what makes us good hunters.”

  “Oh,” I shuddered.

  He bit back a smile. “Let’s go.”

  We left the penthouse and made our way down the emergency stairwell. When we reached the bottom, he looked at me. “Stay behind and don’t say anything. I’m going to try and reason with Faye.”

  “Will that work?”

  He frowned. “Probably not.”

  He opened the door and we stepped into a long hallway near the same elevator I’d taken to the lower level.

  “Ethan, I’ll bet they’re in the basement.”

  “Maybe, but as long as we’re here, let’s check the main club area first.”

  I nodded and followed his lead.

  Most of the lights were out in the club as we snuck inside, but there were a couple of employees cleaning the bar and stocking the shelves with more booze.

  “I don’t see any sign of your brother, nor do I smell his bullshit,” he whispered as we crouched down behind one of the walls separating the large dance floor.

  I elbowed him. “Very funny.”

  He bit back a smile. “I guess that leaves the basement.”

  “What if he’s not here?”

  “We’ll go back to your cabin then. Maybe that’s where they’re holding him, waiting for you to show up.”

  “What about my mom? Caleb talked about bringing her to Vegas tomorrow.”

  He frowned. “Faye owns a hotel in Vegas. I’ll bet he’s taken your mom there.”

  “Do you know where it is?” I whispered.

  He nodded. “I can show you.”

  “Thanks, Ethan.”

  We ducked out of the bar and made our way to the elevators, but didn’t see any kind of stairwell leading down to the basement.

  “They must have an emergency exit somewhere else,” he said. “I don’t know if I want to take the elevator and announce our presence.”

  “But it might be the only way to save Nathan.”

  He nodded. “I know. We have to find another way, though. I’m not risking you getting hurt.”

  Just then, the elevator lights were blinking. Ethan grabbed me and whisked us away back into the club, where we ducked down under some tables. Seconds later, Faye walked into the club with a large bald guy wearing a suit. He reminded me of a gangster.

  “I need a drink,” declared Faye, moving behind the bar.

  The barrel-chested man said nothing, only sat down across from her at the bar.

  “So, Lucas, what have you done with the boy?” she asked.

  He cleared his throat. “We took him back to the cabin to wait for his sister.”

  She filled herself a shot glass full of whiskey and slammed it. “Good,” she replied breathlessly, refilling it again. “I’m sure they’ll head back that way. What about the other kid?”

  “He’s on his way, I’m sure. I
told him you’d help his…cause.”

  “Ah… I’m sure he’s pissed. What about Caleb? Did he leave town?” she asked.

  “I believe so.”

  She sighed. “I can’t believe he’s so gung-ho about that human. If I didn’t need Caleb, I’d kill them both.”

  “Caleb has definitely become a loose cannon,” said the bald guy. “He’s going to put us all at risk with his actions. If I may make a suggestion?”

  “Certainly,” she replied.

  “You should consider getting rid of that entire clan of Roamers. You know, there’s going to be a deep investigation with all of the recent murders. It might put some heat on you and that would be bad for business.”

  “You’re probably right. It would be a pity to kill Celeste; however, she’s been so useful.”

  He sighed. “You’d have no choice. She’d seek revenge if you killed her father, Faye.”

  Faye nodded. “Very well, do it quickly.”

  My breath caught in my throat.

  Ethan put a finger over his lips as warning.

  The bald man’s cell phone went off and he answered it.

  “The kid is here,” he said after he hung up.

  “Good,” replied Faye.

  Seconds later we watched in shock as Duncan was ushered into the bar.

  “Duncan,” smiled Faye, holding out her hand. “Very nice to meet you.”

  “Where is he?” growled Duncan, ignoring the friendly gesture.

  Faye stared at him for a second and then sighed. “We aren’t sure. He’s escaped.”

  Duncan’s fists were clenched. “I’m going to kill him.”

  I turned to Ethan, whose expression was unreadable.”

  “Did you see him do it?” asked Duncan. “Did you see him kill my father?”

  Faye nodded. “Yes, it was him. I saw it with my own eyes. He killed your father, broke his neck without a second thought. All for that… girl,” she snarled.

  “But, you saw him do it?”

  She touched his arm. “Yes, I’m sorry and want to help you. We all know that Ethan is a coldblooded murderer and needs to be stopped once and for all.”

  “So, you’ll really help me find him?”

  A slow smiled spread over Faye’s lips. “Oh, yes. I’ll help you if you help me.”

  Duncan frowned. “What do you want from me?”

  “Nikki. I want her.”

  Duncan’s lips thinned. “Why?”

  Faye tapped her nails on the bar. “Because,” she sighed, “Nikki is Miranda.”

  “What do you mean by that?” he asked.

  Before she could answer, Ethan grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bar.

  “We have to go,” he whispered.

  I stopped walking. “Why did she call me Miranda?” I said. “This is so ridiculous.”

  “Don’t listen to her. We have to leave now. Your brother’s life is in danger, as is your mom’s.”

  “As is yours,” boomed a voice behind us.

  Ethan and I turned to face Duncan.

  “Duncan,” I said, stepping towards him.

  Ethan pulled me back.

  “You killed my father,” growled Duncan, stepping towards us.

  “No,” I said, moving towards him again. “It wasn’t Ethan!”

  “Don’t lie for him, Nikki,” snapped Duncan. “He’d say or do anything to keep you interested in him.”

  “No, it’s true,” said Ethan, stepping between Duncan and myself. “I wasn’t there. I’ve never even met your father.”

  “Don’t listen to them,” said Faye, walking up behind Duncan. She placed a hand on his shoulder. “They’re both trying to trick you. Don’t let them.”

  “You lie, Faye,” snapped Ethan. “This game you’re playing must end.”

  “Games?” said Duncan, taking another step towards us. “You know all about them. That’s why Nikki is so brainwashed by your lies. I think it’s time to end your games, once and for all.”

  I watched in shock as Duncan leaped towards Ethan and in a whirl of fists they began to fight.

  “No!” I yelled, backing away.

  “Grab her, Lucas!” hollered Faye, staring at me with a gleam in her eyes.

  Before I could move any further, Lucas grabbed me from behind and pulled me towards the elevator, which was now opening. “Ethan!” I screamed, as I was shoved inside. The next thing I knew, Faye joined us and the elevator closed.

  “Finally,” sneered Faye. “I have you, Miranda.”

  “You’re crazy!” I cried. “I’m not Miranda!”

  She stepped in front of me and grabbed my chin. She stared into my eyes. “Oh, but you are. I see you in there.”

  “Please let me go,” I begged as the elevator door opened at the top floor. “I’m, seriously not who you think I am.”

  “Let you go? Now, why would I want to do that?” she chuckled.

  “Please, don’t do this!”

  They ignored my pleas and forced me into her apartment.

  “Lucas, go back downstairs and shoot both of them,” said Faye. “It appears we don’t need Duncan now.”

  “Shoot them? I didn’t think that would work,” said Lucas.

  “Shoot the Roamers in the head. It will immobilize them until I can come back down and finish the job,” she said.

  He nodded and left the apartment.

  “Why are you doing this?” I asked.

  Because it amuses me…

  “You’re insane,” I said.

  Just then something came crashing through the large plate window from the courtyard.

  “Incompetent idiot,” sighed Faye as Ethan stood up straight. She quickly grabbed me around the throat.

  “Let her go,” growled Ethan, stepping towards us slowly.

  Faye’s grip tightened. “Step away from us, or I’ll break her neck.”

  He stopped. “Faye, don’t do this.”

  “Why? Because you can’t live without her?” she barked.

  “Because she’s just a girl. Look, she’s not Miranda.”

  “She must die, like the rest.”

  He frowned. “Like the rest? What do you mean by that?”

  “The bodies that Miranda has used to try and come back. I’ve worked very hard to stop her.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “She thought she could fool me, but I… I could see her in all of their eyes.”

  “Whose eyes?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Amy, Tina, all the others. Miranda used their bodies to return to you, and now she’s in Nikki’s. But not for long. I’m going to find a way to stop your little bitch for good.”

  “You killed all of those girls?” I whispered hoarsely.

  “Shut up,” she growled, squeezing my throat tighter.

  Just then Lucas stormed through the front door. “I got one of them,” he said.

  My chest grew tight. Duncan!

  “The other one is here, now finish the job.”

  Ethan smirked. “You’re kidding right? I’m a little faster than your bullet.”

  Faye pushed me to the ground. “Better yet, kill the girl instead.”

  There was a loud blast from the gun and then total darkness.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  My dreams were a jumble of terror, grief, and hunger. When I finally woke up, there was an overwhelming need in the pit of my stomach, which ached to be satisfied.

  “Ethan!” I gasped, sitting up.

  I looked around and found myself alone in a strange bedroom, wearing nothing but an oversized man’s button front dress shirt.

  The room was cold.

  I began to shiver in spite of the warm fire cracking in a nearby fireplace. I pulled the scratchy blanket in tighter to my body and stood up to get closer to the heat of the fire.

  “Hey,” said Ethan, walking through the door, holding a cup.

  “Ethan, oh thank God,” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

  “Get back into
bed,” he said. “You’re much too weak to be on your feet.”

  “What’s happened?” I asked, sitting back down on the edge of the bed.

  He put his cup down on the nightstand and sat down next to me. “You don’t remember anything?” he asked, grabbing my hand.

  I shook my head.

  He sighed. “You’ve been in and out of consciousness for a few days.”

  “What? Where are we?”

  “In the mountains of Montana,” he said. “This place was deserted when I brought you here.”

  I licked my lips. “What’s happened to my family?”

  He stared into the fire. “I’m not really sure. The only thing on my mind has been you.”

  “Ethan, we have to go find them,” I said, trying to stand on two very shaky legs.

  “Wait,” he said, pulling me towards his lap. “You need to rest longer. You’re too weak to do anything right now.”

  “Then find me something to eat, so we can leave,” I pleaded, feeling my stomach growl in agreement. “Please.”

  He pursed his lips. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

  I scowled. “About Faye?”

  “No, about you.”

  I stared into his eyes. “What?”

  He touched my stomach. “You were shot.”

  I looked down where his hand was. “Shot?”

  He traced a circle near my belly and I grabbed his hand. “Stop, that tickles.”

  “You weren’t going to make it,” he said, pulling me closer.

  I shivered as his lips brushed the hollow of my neck. “That’s ridiculous. I wasn’t shot.”

  “Nikki,” he said, lifting his face to stare into my eyes. “You were dying and I had to save you.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

  He lifted me up, carried me over to a large, full-length mirror and set me down.

  “What?” I asked, staring at my reflection in the mirror. I was very surprised to see his refection next to mine, since he was supposed to be some kind of vampire. Obviously, that was another misguided notion. A vampire in Shore Lake does cast a reflection.

  He stood behind me and raised my chin so that my neck was exposed.

  “What in the heck is that?” I whispered, shaking his hand away. I walked closer to the mirror and examined the scar.