The second Jack’s hand clasped down on my shoulder, it was as if all the air was sucked out of me. My mind was thrown into a projected scene. It was literally as if I was watching myself.
Barefoot, dressed in sweatpant capris, though not my usual, and a somewhat loose-fitting t-shirt, I looked out the window of the hi-rise condo. I was in the middle of a city, though I couldn’t say for sure which one. I must have been in the center given the view of roofs and another tall building adjacent to my own. I let the curtain slide between my fingers as I turned and walked away. That’s when I saw it; my baby bump. I must have been at least five months along.
I walked over and plopped down on the black leather sofa. The décor of the place was ultra-modern, certainly not my taste. It must have been a hotel then, though the computer cubby in the corner, set up with a full computer, books and more disputed my idea. I jumped up, tossing the magazine, the second I heard the thud. Turning quick I saw the last of them land on the balcony. I wrapped a protective hand around my stomach and raced to the front door. A quick peek in the hall showed two racing straight towards me. I slammed the door, locking it before I leaned my back against it.
I scanned the apartment for a weapon, abruptly grabbing several knives from the kitchen of varying lengths. I could see the panic in my face as I glanced down at my belly, the tears already welling. There were four guys on the balcony, taunting me through the door, and another two right outside. I had no idea what they were waiting on, until I saw the Bluetooth in one of their ears. They were waiting on orders, an approval to bust through.
I stared longingly at the bedroom, but I was smart enough to know not to box myself in. I would have to face them head on, six against one, fighting to protect me and my unborn child at all costs.
“Where the hell is he?!” I cried out in a whisper to myself. I saw the resolve beginning to take form on my face. My jaw suddenly became set as fire lit in my eyes. I actually looked like a fierce force to be reckoned with.
I narrowed my eyes at the black girl with short twists on her head; she was focused on me, her eyes dancing between my face and my belly. Somehow I knew it would be her who did the most damage.
I heard the “Go!”come in over their headsets. I planted my feet shoulder width apart and firmed my grip on the knives, one ultra-long and another ultra-short. They crashed through the doors simultaneously. Like a trained assassin, I flew in circles around the men, quickly knocking three of them out. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the blonde guy pull the gun and aim it for me. I yanked his partner in front of me the second the trigger was pulled. The guy fell fast to the floor right as I tomahawked the large knife into the assailant’s chest.
I turned towards the balcony where she was standing, arms crossed, studying me. She was smart. She’d stood back and observed my fighting skills, learned my style.
“Such a pity to have to kill such a worthy opponent. You could have made an excellent sparring partner,” she said, her island accent thick, as she began to walk around the outer edges of the room. I watched her like a hawk eyeing its prey. My fingers pianoed the knife handle; it was all I had left, and it was short meaning I’d have to get close or aim hard and well. I instantly knew somehow though that it would be the first.
She continued her stalking, leaving me on edge, anticipating her spring, or perhaps she was hoping I’d be foolish enough to attack first. I heard the whirring through the air before I saw it; a tiny knife, the size of an envelope opener, flew pointedly towards my stomach. I dove down, my side across the floor knocking over the coffee table, barely missing its sharp blade. The second the item hit the sofa behind me, it sizzled and the material began to melt and dissolve.
“Acid?” She merely nodded with her brows, folding her hands behind her back.
I began to fidget; I was losing my patience. I couldn’t afford to do anything stupid though. As if sensing my disquiet, she turned and faced me head on. She withdrew a weapon with each hand; a knife and a needle filled with some sort of liquid. I swallowed; my throat had to be filled with serum by this point. My left hand caressed my stomach; it appeared I was gathering my strength, knowing this fight wouldn’t be for myself.
She released a war cry as she raced straight towards me. I waited until the last second to flee. She caught my neck with her arm yanking me back towards her; I threw her over me by her arm and kicked the knife out of her hand. Her free hand gripped my foot and sent me backwards on my ass. I used the foot she held to kick her, but she merely slid away for a split second and slid back, her grip on me tight. She looked at me, a gleam in her eye right as the needle jammed into my calf.
“No!” I screamed as the reality of it hit me. Summoning an unknown power, a light glow illuminating off of me, I did the same thing to her as I did to Keira. I was on her in no time ripping her to shreds with my nails and the knife. She fought back, but it wasn’t enough. It was as if I didn’t feel it because I continued on as if she weren’t attacking me in return, as if she weren’t shredding my clothes and scraping my skin. Blood covered the both of us.
I looked directly into her eyes. She lifted her chin in defiance, spitting in my face. Without further thought, I jammed the knife harshly into her chest. A second later her head turned sideways and she was dead. I burst into tears, blood and water running down my face.
I carefully slid off of her and removed the needle from my calf. It was still full, but I looked empty. Using the unharmed edge of the sofa, I hoisted myself up, wrapping my arms around myself, hugging my baby as I drowned in despair.
I glanced up at the sounds of someone running down the hall. I jumped back, preparing for the worst, though it didn’t seem like I had anything left in me to fight with. The second he saw me, Alejandro was at my side taking me in his arms.
“Where is he? Where is he?” I kept crying as he held me, surveying the disarray of the room and the fight I’d just been through.
I gasped when Jack released me. I felt the tears running down my cheeks. He gave me a hard gaze, one brow lifting then falling quickly, the only question he was asking me over what I’d seen.
I looked around at the others, their faces full of either anger or sadness; the worst of what I saw though was pity. They were looking at me with eyes fully of pity. I huffed, blocking my thoughts. Now I finally understood why Will had kept the future to himself. It did change you. I would be waiting, expecting this fight, praying I could find a way to avoid or change it.
“Next time, keep your skills to yourself Jack,” I said.
He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Well, again, I apologize for my son Alexa. I’m sorry I didn’t get here in time for your show; I heard it was spectacular. I was hoping to visit Charleston soon and would love to stop in if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Just let me know when.”
“Jack, walk your dear mother out. It was a pleasure meeting all of you,” Imara waved.
“Fumbling juju beans,” Craig laughed. “Wait until Mel gets a load of this crock.”
“I don’t know if she’s going to laugh her butt off or be pissed that she missed out. Probably a bit of both now that I think about it.” I looked at Al and grinned wide. “Wait until Auggy hears about this!” Al chuckled for the first time, his eyes lighting up with amusement.
“That’s if you can pull him away from Claire,” he joked.
“Oh God Kellan. Could you imagine calling him Uncle Auggy?”
“That’s a negative son,” he did his best Auggy impression, which was surprisingly almost spot-on.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen,” Jack clapped his hands and he walked back in. “I hate to do this, but I’d like a little alone time with my future wife.”
“Future wife?” My brows couldn’t go any higher on my forehead.
Gabi was blushing like a school girl, and was as giddy as one too. I hated to admit it, but she was never this happy with Rafi. “Jack’s agreed to align with the Bladangs and Vamp Army if I marry
him,” she beamed.
“Doesn’t the saying go, ‘Don’t mix business with pleasure?’”
“Oh I always mix business with pleasure,” Jack smirked, pulling Gabi to him and kissing her passionately.
“Ok! And we’re going. Bart! I need directions out of this place!” I yelled.
“Of course,” the man appeared with a smile. “You can use the elevators. It will deliver you to a one way tunnel. Follow it out to the basement door. Go up the stairs and you will find a vehicle waiting for you. Have a wonderful day, and thank you for coming by.” He bowed as if he was a butler.
I grabbed Kellan’s hand. “We’re all walking out alive,” I smiled.
Chapter 31
“I can’t believe I missed all the fun!” Mel cried. “But zita zappitas is it great to have you back!” She squeezed me and Craig at the same time. She’d been waiting for us at my house with Beth when we returned and immediately made us tell her everything.
“Well, in less than two months you’ll be one of us,” I reminded her.
“I know! The time is flying by. I swear I’ll blink and see everything just like Bella,” she squealed. “Of course there’ll be a whole lot of freaking out in between, which you’ll have to hold my hand through. Which reminds me. Party of the century is being planned for me! It’s going to be the week after I turn. I’m praying that they take some of what they whittled off of you and stuff it in my boobs and butt.”
“You didn’t get out much while we were gone, did you?”
“No. I sat glued to the phone, freaking out that I’d miss a call from you guys. Which also reminds me, spa day, me and you, and of course Gabi when she gets back from her honeymoon. I can’t believe she flew to Jamaica and got married the next day! Jack must be some vamp.”
The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up with Mel and Beth who, I was surprised to find, had gone out a couple times shopping together while we were gone. Later in the day, I called Aunt Claire, but was advised by Auggy’s assistant that while she was doing wonderful, she was otherwise preoccupied with her employer. I had a feeling wedding bells would be following them soon.
“Hey babe, I’m gonna go out for a bit. I’ll be back later.”
“Oh, ok. Have fun?” I didn’t know where he was going. He’d been a bit quiet all afternoon, although with Mel around, I didn’t know if he didn’t have anything to say or just wasn’t being given the chance to speak.
The second he walked out the door, Craig looked at me. “He’s been weird today. Not his usual Ellen self.”
“I was hoping I was the only one to notice.”
“Did you get a gander inside his noggin?”
“No. Wall’s been up all day,” I frowned.
“Well, it’s great to have you back. I was a little lonely without you all,” Beth smiled, distracting us from her son.
“It’s great to be back!”
“And it’s only going to get better when I join the gang!” Mel exclaimed.
Chapter 32
KELLAN
This was something I felt I had to do. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I’d feel better knowing I had.
I parked in front of the Bladang’s lakehouse, using the front door rather than the garage without Lexi. Kai opened the door on the first knock.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?” He eyed me for a minute debating before nodding once and stepping back so I could enter.
“What’s up?” His body was tense, his hands stuffed into the front pockets of his jeans.
“I don’t like you, but for some reason she loves you. Let’s not make this a Jacob and Edward thing, but if anything happens to me I want you to take care of her.” I clenched my jaw. I never thought I’d be saying these words to the damn vamp, especially since I almost lost Lexi to him once before. This wasn’t about me though; this was about her. Knowing what that stupid binder said and what Jack had shown of the future, I had to face the fact that anything is possible, especially death, and I loved her enough to make sure she’d be taken care of and protected long after I was gone. “As much as it pains me to say this, you’re the best man for her in that situation. You’d sacrifice yourself to save her, and that means a lot.”
He didn’t relax his stance, only continued to glare at me, eyes narrowed as if assessing whether or not I was telling him the truth. Satisfied with whatever he saw, he nodded and offered me his hand. We shook on it.
We tucked our hands into our pockets, awkwardly avoiding eye contact until Kai finally broke the silence. “I’ll always love and protect her. As much as you hate it, know I hate it too. It’s hard as hell to watch you with her; you don’t make it easy slobbering all over her every chance you get. I’ve always planned to wait for the moment you’re gone to pursue her again. It’s not like I needed your blessing to do it, but it’s nice that I can at least tell her you gave it to me,” he said, relaxing a bit as the idea formulated in his head. I knew the second the picture was complete when a genuine smile broke out on his face, despite his eyes being off in the distance.
I struggled to control my anger. Serum oozed over my teeth and gums, my fists clenched at my side. I’m doing this for her. I had to remember that. This wasn’t about me.
I took a deep breath, my nostrils flaring on the release as I struggled not to picture the same damn picture I knew he was. I’d already glimpsed it once before, losing her to him; them locked in each other’s arms happily gazing into each others’ eyes. Damn it!
“Glad we worked this out.” I strained to remain polite. He nodded, understanding remotely in his view. He knew this was hard as fuck, but it didn’t stop him from gloating in it.
I turned and walked out, needing some fresh air to clear my head and reassure my heart that I’d made the right decision. I was doing this because I loved her, but the selfish part of me wanted her to mourn me forever. I wanted some stupid Twilight parallel where she avenged my death, but couldn’t handle the thought of her losing her life to do it, especially if the projected vision was right and we had a child together.
Damn him! He’ll be raising my damn child over my dead body. Great. How fucking ironic a phrase to use.
I sighed. A baby. With Lexi. I couldn’t picture anything closer to perfection. She was gorgeous with her rounded belly, and just as graceful in her fight sequence. Now that I’d seen that fight though, I knew I would be there for her. It wouldn’t play out like that.
Fuck it! I was going to make sure all this shit never happened. I’d be damned if any man raised my child or kissed my wife besides me. She’s mine; only mine. I didn’t give a shit what some quack job predicted; I didn’t care what I had to sacrifice to be beside her forever. I’d do whatever I had to ensure it. She was never going to lose me. Never.
EPILOGUE
Years later…
“What story do you want mommy to read you tonight?” I asked, carrying my son over to the bookshelf to make his selection. He immediately reached out to grab the well-worn binding we’d read more times that I could count.
“Mommy and Daddy! Mommy and Daddy!” he shouted excitedly, nearly dropping the heavy journal as he jumped in my arms.
“Again?” I smiled, kissing his chubby toddler cheeks. My heart fluttered as his emerald eyes beamed back at me, a small dimple in his left cheek as he laughed.
“Again, again!” His laughter was music to my ears, and I could never say no to him anyways.
I lay down on the bed and cuddled him in my lap, pulling the blanket over us both. He helped me turn to the first page before leaning back against my chest and placing his thumb in his mouth. I kissed his messy dark brown hair.
“Hundreds of years ago, a vampire and vampeen couple was predicted…”
“Mommy and Daddy!” he exclaimed.
“Yes, Mommy and Daddy,” I laughed. So we were…
Dear Reader,Thank you for purchasing this book. Based off the Epilogue, many have feared that it was the end of the series, but rest assured there is much more to co
me. The Vamp Chronicles continues with book 4, Vamp Versus Vamp.
Please feel free to visit my website for regular updates, excerpts, contests and more: www.christinlovell.com
I always love to hear from my readers as well. Feel free to contact me via my website, facebook, twitter @christinlovell or via email at [email protected]
Thank you for continuing to invest in the Vamp Chronicles series.
~Christin
3 Hit the Road Jack Page 23
