I stood up and stretched, trying to ignore the ache in my thigh. The clock said it was past two in the afternoon, but it was hard to tell by the dismal sky outside. We were in for more rain.
Cole glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and did a double take. “Whoa…” He came over and bent, lifting my arm in inspection. “That shit is real?” He turned to Wallace, eyes wide. “Is that what I think it is? Show me yours.”
“No.”
I turned to look at Wallace. He’d showered and changed his clothes in the time I’d been asleep. Did he get any rest at all? I frowned until I realized Cole was still touching me.
“Enough.” I moved to shove him and he blurred, reappearing near the door with a taunting grin.
“Feisty,” he commented, straightening his clothes. “So, you’re really bonded, huh? Wow. Who knew? And with Wallace of all people. That’s rough.”
Wallace took a menacing step toward his brother. “I’m not going to ask again.”
Sick as it was, I couldn’t help but shiver at his tone. The man had shown me how intense he could be last night, and the contrast kept me on edge. I wanted to see his guard down again.
“Easy,” Cole coaxed, holding his hands up. “I’m just here to make sure you don’t back out on me.”
Wallace’s thermal stretched as he crossed his arms, the black cotton hugging his shoulder blades. “Why would I back out on you, Cole? It’s not like you haven’t been forthcoming with details.” A second ticked by, and he cocked his head to the side. “Oh, wait. You haven’t.”
“Gimme a break.” Cole scratched the stubble on his chin. “It’s compli—”
“You said someone called you and threatened to kill Grandma if we didn’t show up,” Wallace interrupted. “Why don’t you start with what he sounded like? Or what he wants in return. Hey, better yet, how about why you let him get by with it?”
Cole let out an uncharacteristic sigh. “Okay, first off, it was a chick on the phone. She didn’t say what she wanted, but she made it clear what would happen if we didn’t show up. What was I supposed to say? It’s not like I can watch Grandma twenty-four-seven. She wouldn’t let me, anyway.”
My brows pinched together. “But why would anyone wan—”
“I’m not done,” he cut in, before I could finish my question. “I didn’t tell you guys the rest, because you’d think I was nuts. But, whatever. You have to know everything.”
Wallace rubbed his forehead. “Just spit it out already.”
“I was getting there,” Cole snapped. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. What I was going to say is that I’ve been seeing shit ever since the chick called me—glowing red numbers counting down to tonight.”
He closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Zero days, four hours, forty-six minutes, and seventeen seconds. Real comforting right? And when I go to sleep, I see all of this horrible, graphic shit happening to Grandma. I’m not even kidding. I am this close to losing it.”
I shuddered. That was creepy to consider, let alone believe. “Then why didn’t you just explain that to Wallace outside in the quad? It’s not like you guys aren’t familiar with weird, supernatural crap. He would’ve believed you.”
“Oh, so now you know my brother better than I do?” Cole clicked his tongue. “I didn’t have time to deal with his trust issues. When I saw the way he looked at you, I knew you’d make the perfect incentive for him to hear me out. Plus, get this—turns out you were great leverage, too.”
Cheeky bastard.
“So, where is this meeting supposed to go down?” Wallace cut in with a scowl. “It doesn’t sound like you know.”
“I didn’t,” Cole said, reaching into his jacket to produce a crumpled sheet of paper. “Until this morning. I woke up scribbling lines on this paper, like I was sleep-drawing or something.” He turned it around, and we both stared.
It looked like a map. There were lines intersecting all over the place with scrawled names and numbers around them. An arrow snaked its way through the middle, pointing to a series of dots. There were sloppy notes in the margins.
“You did that?” I asked.
Cole turned his palms up, moving the paper as he shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. I was asleep.”
“And you came here?” Wallace questioned, his eyes hard and unrecognizable. “If this woman is capable of getting inside your head, she’s capable of locating you. You could’ve endangered everyone on this campus by luring her here.”
Cole tilted his chin. “Well, would you have met me if I hadn’t come to collect you in person? We have to be there by seven.”
Seven? He expected Wallace to meet him in some secluded forest at night? “Uh, forgive me for bringing up the fact that you’re a sadistic asshole,” I cut in, “but how do we know you’re not making this up?”
“Rena, I’m hurt.” Cole wrinkled his brow. “I wouldn’t—”
Wallace held up an arm in intervention, having already lost his patience. “Why do we have to find it by seven?”
“Look at the map. There’s an ‘X’ marked CL.” He held up the paper and pointed. “It’s time stamped 1900 hrs. That’s got to mean something.”
“Initials?” I asked. “Or maybe C-L as in the beginning of Clara?”
Wallace’s eyes widened. “Or initials using her maiden name. Lawrence.”
Cole scrunched up his face. “Who would know that?”
“And who would be able to get inside your head?” I asked. “Have any relatives with freaky projection powers?”
Cole grunted. “We don’t really know that much of our family on Dad’s side. I mean, Grandma only had two siblings—a sister who died before we were born and a brother we see a few times a year for doctor’s visits. Our great-grandfather lives with him, but he’s the only other Dynari I know. The rest are spread out.”
“Then I guess that leaves us no choice,” Wallace said. “We’ll have to find out for ourselves.”
I sighed. “How far away is this place, anyway?”
Cole started to answer, but Wallace leaned past his ear to mutter a few incoherencies.
I cocked my head to the side as they both turned to stare at me. “What?”
“I need you to stay here,” Wallace said, shifting his weight. “I’ll call you tonight, if everything goes well.”
My lips pulled back as a wave of nervous laughter threatened to escape. “Are you serious?”
Cole slipped past us, headed for Gabby’s wardrobe.
“Wallace.” I steeled my features. “We’ve already discussed this. I’m coming with you.”
He gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and took my hand. “We didn’t know all of the facts then. Can we sit down and talk about it, first?”
Right. Talk about it. More like listen to a speech, I bet.
“What about Cole?” I asked as he led me to the bed.
Wallace shrugged and we both sat down, making the old mattress sag in the middle. “It’s not like we have much of a choice.”
Yeah, it wasn’t like he was super strong and could throw his brother out into the hallway. “Okay.”
He reached for my other arm and held my wrists oh-so-carefully with one hand. “Rena, I want you to know how much you mean to me…”
Was that his idea of an intimate gesture?
“And you know I’d do anything to protect you,” Wallace continued as something blurred in my peripheral vision, and he caught Gabby’s green silk scarf with one hand. “So, if this is what it takes, then so be it.”
My blood pressure rose like heated mercury, and I flicked a glance between them. What? Were they going to tag-team me?
I tried to jerk my wrists back, but Wallace held tight with a pained expression. “I’m sorry, Rena, but this is for your own g—”
“You have got to be shitting me.” A surge of panic ripped through my system as Cole walked over and tied the scarf in a complicated knot around my wrists. I fought against Wallace’s hold, but he wouldn’t budge. “No w
ay!”
“Relax, sis,” Cole chided, as he crouched down to hold my struggling legs. “You’re getting bound in front this time. The least you can do is hold still.”
“Get bent,” I hissed, turning to focus on Wallace. “And you, I thought we were in this together.”
Wallace let go of my wrists, but he didn’t say anything. He just kept that same stupid look on his face, like he’d rather be anywhere but here.
Cole’s hands were like ice as he wove a second scarf around my ankles. “If it were up to me, I’d bring you along, but—”
I hit him.
Without thinking, I’d cupped my right fist with my left hand and clubbed Cole in the head—restrained wrists and all. The shock of contact raced up my bound arms as he grunted, clutching his head.
“What the fu—ugh! I just said I would’ve taken you.”
“Cole,” Wallace warned in a tight voice as he stood. “That’s enough.”
“She freakin’ hit me!” Cole snapped, shifting his fiery gaze to mine. “I don’t know if I’m pissed or impressed, but I would advise against doing it again.”
Betrayal swelled in my chest and made it hard to breathe. I didn’t care. I’d hit both of them, if I got the opportunity. How could Wallace do this to me, after everything we’d been through?
Cole brushed at his pants and stood, pulling away from my strike range. “Be a good girl and sit tight. I’m sure somebody will be along to find you sooner or later. You have a roommate, right?”
“You think this will stop me?” I asked, trying to find the balance to stand with my ankles bound.
“Rena, please.” The words seemed to echo as Wallace bent to meet my eyes. “Please,” he continued, softening his tone. “Stay here. For me. I can’t fight with you there.”
“You shouldn’t have to fight.” I stood up and wobbled, giving a little hop. “Like Clara said, if this woman had the power to really hurt you guys, wouldn’t she have done it by now?”
He faltered for a second and shook his head. “We can’t count on that.”
“Then let me help. I’ll—”
“You’ll get in the way,” he snapped, straightening to his full height. “Just stay here.”
Ouch. The mark on my arm began to throb as he closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
“Stay,” he repeated, placing a quick kiss atop my head, before turning to cross the room. “I’ll talk to you later.”
My eyes widened as he opened the door. “Wait. Wallace!”
He stepped out into the common room with his brother close at his heels.
“Cole,” I called next, desperation leaking into my voice.
Cole turned around and offered a small shrug. “Later.”
I didn’t make it in time. The door clicked shut, and I tripped in my last-ditch effort to reach it. “Ugh!” My body jarred the second it made contact with the floor, and I rolled over with a groan. That was it.
Someone was going to pay for this.
Chapter Forty-Two
Gabby cracked the door open and shielded her eyes. “Girl, you two better be dressed and de-stressed, ‘cause I can’t take those geekers any longer.”
“Just get in here and shut the door,” I hissed, still reeling from the incident.
She uncovered her eyes and blinked, looking around the room. “Kinky.” Without breaking stride, she jerked the scrunchie off the door handle and slipped inside. “Where’s Ace?”
“He had to go. Come get these off.” I held up my wrists. “Please.”
She tossed her stuff on the floor and knelt down, making quick work of my bindings. “Are these my scarves?” Her eyes widened. “What’d you two get up to last night? Oh my gosh. Don’t tell me. You didn’t…” She undid my wrists and stared into my eyes, trying to gauge my reaction. “You did, didn’t you? You dirty, little—”
“We didn’t,” I corrected, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. Time was ticking away, and I had a bad feeling about what was at stake.
“How far did you get?”
“Second base,” I admitted. “…ish.”
She shrieked and covered her mouth.
A grin tugged at my lips as I bent, freeing my ankles. Like any other red-blooded female, I found a sense of accomplishment buried within a little gossip—especially when it involved me and my new hunk of a boyfriend. I just didn’t have time.
I handed her the scarf, and she gave my body an appraising sweep. “Sharpie?”
“Huh?”
She nodded toward my arm, and I froze. Shit.
“Did he draw on you?” she asked, turning my arm to stare at the jagged lines. Thankfully, the colorful mirage had faded with the light of day. That was one less thing to explain, not that it made things any easier. “Is he an artist?”
“Actually…” Crap. What could I say? If I lied and said it was temporary, she’d know within a few days. “We, uh…got matching tattoos last night. This morning, really.”
“Are you serious?” She dropped my arm, stunned. “My little bestie is growin’ up and markin’ her body for a hottie?”
I stood up, rubbing at my wrists. “Afraid so.”
“Rena Elizabeth Collins!” She leapt to her feet, ready to hound me for details. “Where? When? Why?”
“You’re forgetting ‘who,’ ‘what,’ and sometimes ‘how.’”
“Shut up.” She smacked my other arm and collapsed onto her unmade bed. “Now tell me all about it. I can’t believe it’s not red or anything.”
“Me neither.” I bit my lip and turned around, moving toward my dresser. “Guess I lucked out this time.”
“And?”
“And we decided to try the whole together thing, okay?”
“No shit? Wow. Were you guys drinking?”
“His parents were killed by a drunk driver, remember?” I sighed and dug through my clothes, snagging a tank top and a pair of jeans. “No drinking.”
“So, what do they mean?”
I tossed some undergarments onto my pile.
“The tats? Well, I guess they’re kinda like…promise rings.” That sounded stupid. “You know, like, to keep us faithful to each other and who we want to be as people.” Worse. Stop talking.
“That’s so sweet and…really out of character for you, girl.” She leaned back and put her arms behind her head. “Maybe he’s corrupting you.”
“No doubt,” I mumbled, headed for the shower. I needed some time to think. Alone. “How’re Aiden and Josh doing?”
“Oh, oh!” She sat up again, too excited to say whatever it was lying down. “Get this. Aiden’s date for Wednesday night? Tutoring session.”
I paused by the door to the bathroom. “Aww. I was kinda excited for him.”
“Pfft, don’t feel too bad for the guy. Those tutoring sessions can get pretty hot sometimes. Once, I made out with a rocker chick during a Spanish lesson.”
“Why would you take a Spanish lesson?”
A wicked grin lit her features. “Exactly.”
My eyes rolled so far back in my head, I worried they’d get stuck.
“Like you can talk. Gettin’ all kinky and tied up, without even goin’ all the way.” She waved me off. “I still can’t believe he left you there.”
My face grew warm. “We’re…playing a game. You know, like hide-and-go-seek,” I explained, wrenching the door open. “Joke’s on him, because I’m going to shower first.”
“You and Ace got some closet freak goin’ on.” She lay back, not even noticing someone had slept in her bed. “I think I like this side of you two.”
“I’m thrilled,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll be back.”
But I didn’t plan on sticking around.
After I finished getting ready, I left Gabby with the impression that I would be spending the night with Wallace—which was more or less true. I just didn’t have any idea when, or even if, I’d be home.
No. I couldn’t afford to think that way.
My hug caught h
er off guard. I felt her stiffen as I pulled away, but there was no time to dwell on it. I squared my shoulders, took the elevator down to the lobby, and made for the parking lot. I was the rain-tinged breeze. I was momentum. I was strong.
Puddle water splashed my boots as I marched toward my car. Over the past hour, the Mark of Nexus had developed separation anxiety. My arm ached with loss every time I thought about Wallace, pulling my soul toward his. Its urgency bled into mine, and before I knew it, I was a woman on a mission. A real mission.
I would find Wallace Blake, whether he wanted to be found or not.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand his reasons for leaving me behind. A little distance from the situation had cut through his act with embarrassing transparency. He was trying to shield me. Again. But the thing was, I never signed up for the Wallace Protection Program.
His intentions were sweet, noble even, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being locked away in some tower. His problems were mine now. I wanted to be on the frontlines with him, staring down the barrel of whatever life had thrown our way. Didn’t he get that? He didn’t have to face things alone anymore.
If the situation were reversed, he wouldn’t sit idly by, waiting for me to endanger myself. He’d come barreling in like he did at the warehouse, and God help whoever had come between us. So, why was it different for me? Was it because I was a girl? A human? The more I thought about it, the more it didn’t matter. For once in my life, I was going to take a chance on something I believed in.
Us.
I unlocked my car and scanned the lot. No sign of Wallace’s truck or Cole’s SUV. Apparently, they didn’t ride together. I got in and cranked the engine over—or, at least, I tried to. Nothing happened.
“Are you kidding me?” I turned the key again, missing the familiar rumble of power. “Not today,” I murmured, and ran my hand over the dash in an attempt to soothe the car. “C’mon, Beast. I need you to work for me.”
Another try. Nothing.
“Damn it!” I slammed my fist against the steering wheel and jerked the door open. “Why today, of all days?”
“Rena?” I got out and turned to find Aiden staring at me with a mix of horror and amusement etched into his freckled face.
Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) Page 25
