Emma picked up on the urgent concern in his voice. “Where have you taken my aunt? She needs her medicine.”
“It’ll be okay,” the woman said in a calm tone, then her voice turned harsh, accusatory. “You gave her too much.”
Emma wasn’t sure if the woman was speaking to her or the man. “Needs her meds,” Emma mumbled, her words slurring.
“Go test her blood. Once her head is clear, I’ll give her a shot instead of a pill for expediency.”
“Not me!” Emma insisted. She didn’t need the pills. Her aunt did. The man seemed to know she was talking about Mary, even though he’d called her Margaret. The woman didn’t. Why was everything fuzzy and blurred when she tried to see them? Why wouldn’t her eyes cooperate? God, her head felt like it was going to explode right off her body. The horrific throbbing seemed as if her head was bouncing on the hard surface she was laying on.
Emma smelled the man’s fear spike when he’d asked about Margaret’s health. How could she smell his fear? She didn’t know how, but the sharpness was undeniable. Yet she sensed nothing, not a trace of a scent, from the woman. It was as if she didn’t exist, like a ghost with a voice.
Straps came around her wrists, making Emma’s heart rate soar. The woman spoke again. “I wouldn’t want you to fall. He gave you too much. ‘Wanted to get you out quickly,’” she said, mimicking the man’s raspy voice. Leaning closer, she continued. “It’s going to take you a while to come out of it. You rest for a bit. I’ll be back once we have the test results. We want to make sure you’re healthy.”
“My aunt!” Emma thrashed and her throat burned with the need to scream. Her voice croaked. Tears of frustration rolled down her temples, wetting her hair. In the back of her mind, she wondered why they wanted her blood, but her aunt was her first priority. “You have me. Let my aunt go.”
Cool fingers lightly brushed across her forehead. The touch was so faint that Emma wondered about ghosts once more. “Rest. We’ll take care of everything.”
A door opened and closed. They were taking care of Mary. Relief washed over Emma, but after a few minutes alone in the quiet room, her paranoia rekindled and grew. She lifted her head and blinked to try and see her surroundings. White walls and metallic silvery shadows—reminding her of hospital-style medical cabinets—was all she could make out. The room felt sterile and cool, like an exam or operating room.
They wanted to make sure she was healthy? The thought made her heart hammer against her chest. Were they going to experiment on her? Did they kidnap me for my organs? Oh, God. She’d heard stories about such things but thought they were just urban legends. Jerking against the straps around her wrists, she tried to pull free, but her arms where held down too tightly.
Her pulse whooshed in her ears and she blinked several times to try and focus. Nausea rose from her belly, settling in the back of her throat. Her head swam from the burning sensation and she had to lay her head on the table once more to regain her equilibrium and settle her stomach.
She’d taken several deep breaths to calm herself when she heard a light tapping noise to her left. Emma turned toward the sound and saw a shadow outlined by what looked like a window.
Panting in fear, she opened her mouth to scream when a male voice spoke quickly in her mind. Don’t scream. I’m here to get you out.
The voice sounded so familiar. Someone she trusted. The scream in her mind gave way to quiet mewling in her throat and she blinked again to try and force her eyes to work. It sounded like a window was being jimmied, then lifted, and a few seconds later the man was closer. Had he come inside? But she’d heard his voice clearly a second ago when he was outside. She blinked to clear her confused mind, but his image remained blurred and hazy. When she squinted, desperately trying to see, dizziness ensued once more.
All she could do was close her eyes and nod. What man did she trust? She racked her brain and could only come up with the name Jared. She knew him somehow. She’d gone to him when she was worried about her aunt. I trust Jared.
A couple seconds later, he was leaning over her and a gloved hand touched her face. “Emma! Can you hear me?”
She felt a jerk around her wrist and her arm was free, then her other arm was freed from its restraint, as well. She bit back a cry of shock when he lifted her in his arms. He was soaking wet and freezing cold. “Did you take a shower?” she whispered.
The storm and wet clothes make it hard to smell me, he replied. As soon as he set her on the floor, her legs refused to work. She would’ve collapsed if he hadn’t had a good hold on her arm. I’m going to have to lift you through the window. Think you can help me? Just nod if you think you can.
Frowning, she bobbed her head in agreement. She realized why he’d sounded like he was inside the room before. He was speaking in her mind, but why did she hear his voice in her head? Focusing, she gritted her teeth and forced her wobbly legs to hold her upright. The next thing she knew, he’d lifted her and turned her facedown toward the ground as he slid her legs out the window first. Something crunched along her hip as he slid her across the windowsill. She winced at the pinching sensation.
Hold on to the ledge, then I’ll grab your hands and lower you to the ground. Understand? he said in a commanding tone.
Emma nodded, even though the world around her was spinning on its axis. Upside down was suddenly right side up. Her body was dry yet shivering with cold. She was so confused, but strangely she trusted him to keep her safe. His big hands cinched tightly around her wrists and then she hung suspended in the air. “I’m flying,” she whispered in awe as she glanced toward the fluffy white cloud below and kicked her feet in glee.
You’re flyin’, all right, he mumbled. Focus! I’m going to let you go. The snow should buffer some of your fall, but be ready to roll so you don’t break a leg. Got it?
And then Emma was set free to fly. Her flight of freedom was over way too quickly and she landed on her side with a heavy thump. When her right hip began to throb, Emma remembered vaguely she was supposed to roll. “That hurt,” she moaned as he landed on booted feet beside her.
She was scooped up in his arms once more. “I told you to roll,” he chided in a low, concerned tone.
Emma realized it was snowing as a burst of frigid air and heavy snowflakes blew against them. The snow was coming down hard, and the whiteout, combined with her blurred vision, made it impossible to see his features. She wrapped her arms tight around his cold coat and settled her face against his cold collar. He smelled wonderful—how could he say wet clothes dulled his smell?—and his body radiated warmth underneath his coat. She inhaled and rubbed her nose along his shirt. “Thank you for rescuing me, Jared.”
His grip around her tightened and his brisk steps stopped for a second. Then the wind whistled around them as if they were moving at a rapid speed—like they were gliding. Emma’s breath caught against the bitter cold air. By the time he stopped and set her feet on the ground next to a truck, her teeth were chattering and her body shivered uncontrollably.
She blinked and tilted her head when the passenger door’s handle came off in his hand. Damn, it was colder out here than she realized for the handle to break like that. She didn’t realize freezing-cold metal crumpled so easily, either, she thought when he tossed the mangled handle to the ground. Above the whistle of the wind, someone was yelling off in the distance. He jerked open the door and she stepped up on the runner, then flopped into the seat. When did Jared get a truck? He normally drove a beat-up Jetta. Emma’s muddled mind pondered as the driver-side door opened and he climbed inside.
Before she could ask about his new truck, he pushed her to a seated position and quickly snapped the seat belt around her. A second later, after he’d messed with some wires under the dashboard, the engine roared to life. That’s odd. Where was his key?
The moment he jammed on the gas pedal and they began to move, the window on the driver side burst. Emma screamed as glass flew everywhere and a man’s dark head came through the wind
ow. He snarled and grabbed at her rescuer, throwing haphazard punches as the truck swerved in the snow.
Emma panted and leaned to grip the steering wheel while the two men grappled with each other. She had no idea where the truck was heading. All she could think to do was hold the wheel straight and pray they didn’t slam into a wall.
Jared howled his fury and drove his fist into the man’s face, and then, in a swift move that left her reeling in shock, he twisted the man’s head. The sickening snap gave way to complete silence right before he pushed the intruder out of the window.
Lights flashed behind them as her rescuer took hold of the steering wheel and said in a gruff tone, “They’re coming. Hold on tight. They’re closing the gates on us.”
Pulse racing, Emma had barely gotten the words “What gates?” out when they slammed into something. Sparks flew and metal ground against metal right before a piece of chain-link fence bounced against the windshield, cracking the glass right down the middle.
As they sped down the street, the snow made it near impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them, or even if they were on the right side of the street. Then Emma saw the blinking yellow caution sign that warned of something in the middle of the road—construction maybe? She jerked her gaze his way. “Do you see it?”
“I do.” He jammed harder on the gas and kept the truck straight ahead and on a collision course.
When they were within two seconds of hitting it, she panted erratically and screamed, “Turn!” At the last second, he jerked the truck to the right and she breathed a sigh of relief, quickly glancing behind them. The SUV chasing them didn’t have time to react. The vehicle hit the cement median and flew through the air. Landing on its side in a metallic crunch and shattered glass, it skidded across the snow-covered road.
Five minutes later, they pulled up beside another truck. Once he’d carried her around and set her inside the cab of the second truck, locking the seat belt around her, he said in a gruff tone, “They’re not going to stop that easily. Another vehicle wasn’t far behind that one.”
Right before he turned the key to start the engine, he lifted something from the seat between them and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Here’s your coat. It’s going to take a while for my truck to get warm.”
As the vehicle lurched forward, Emma realized through all the chaos she missed hearing his deep voice in her head. And now that he’d spoken to her directly a couple times, his voice sounded different than she remembered. Her mind was starting to clear a little, even if her vision was still moving in and out.
All she could make out was shadows in the cab and white everywhere she looked outside the truck windows. She was amazed she even saw the yellow marker in the road. Apparently blinking warning lights and self-preservation were powerful motivators. She turned toward his shadow to see he was holding his hand up to his ear.
“I have Emma. If you want the Velius, here’s their address.” He rattled off an address, then paused before he spoke again in a harsh tone. “She’s all drugged up and can barely say her own name, Landon. I’ve got someone coming on my tail. I’ll shake them and then I’m taking her somewhere safe until she can detox.”
The phone snapped closed at the same time she heard the ring tone shut down sequence that indicated he’d turned off the cell phone. Her rescuer had spoken long enough for her to realize…“You’re not Jared,” she whispered in a shaky voice.
He didn’t say a word. Instead he set the phone on the seat, pulled off his glove and reached over toward her. Emma swallowed a small scream and tried to cringe away as he slid his fingers under her hair and curled his fingers around the back of her neck. She gasped when his touch locked her still in her seat. Warm heat and an inviting smell enveloped her as an electric sensation spread all the way to her belly and beyond.
Emma gripped his wrist and her heart jerked as her body recognized what her impaired sight and muddled mind couldn’t. Tears streaked hot trails down her cold cheeks. “I know you, but…but my mind is all confused.” She shook her head in frustration.
“It’s nice to be kind of remembered,” he said before he pulled his hand away.
They turned onto a highway and the vehicle fishtailed on the slick surface, making her stomach roil. Emma closed her eyes and put her hand over her mouth. Her stomach heaved again. “You have to stop,” she moaned.
“Emma, we need to get you out of here. They’re not far behind.”
The urgency in his voice went right over her head when her mouth began to water. She was going to puke. “Stop the truck now!”
Quickly jerking the vehicle to the side of the road, he slammed on the brakes. Emma managed to unbuckle and get the door open just in time. She leaned out and tossed everything in her stomach onto the stark white snow until only dry heaves racked her body. Vaguely, she realized that he was holding her hair back from her face when he said near her ear, “Are you okay?”
Emma moaned and nodded. Taking the bottle of water he offered, she swished the water around in her mouth, then spit once more into the snow. Straightening, she set the container inside the door holder before she closed the door. Snow coated her hair once more, making her shiver all over. The truck began to move again and she closed her eyes, trying not to think about her stomach. When her head lolled from one shoulder to the other in exhaustion, she felt a tug on her shoulder and a strong hand pushed her head down toward his lap. “Lay down, Emma. We’ve got a hell of a drive ahead of us in this snow.”
“Going home,” she mumbled with a heavy sigh as she put her coat on his wet thigh and laid her head down on top of it. The sensation of the vents blowing warm heat over her and the swishing of the windshield wipers lulled her tired body.
He gave a strange, almost sad-sounding laugh as his knuckles ran along her cheek and jawbone. “As bitterly ironic as that statement is, yes, we’re going home.”
Chapter 5
E mma awoke when the truck rolled to a stop. Her head felt as if someone had stuffed it full of sawdust. She sat up and stared out at the white world outside the truck. Gusts of snow buffeted the vehicle and through the haze of white she saw the outline of trees in the darkness around them.
“We’ll have to walk from here.”
A deep voice drew her attention. Her vision had cleared enough for her to see him. Pitch-black hair and eyebrows brought out the emerald green in his hazel eyes. With the snow reflecting the partial moon’s light through the windows as if it were almost daylight, the effect defined his cheekbones, while the overnight beard coating his jaw hollowed his features in sharp, vivid clarity.
Caine. She remembered his name now. He was more primal and hauntingly attractive than the dim nightclub light had given him credit for. God, whatever drug those kidnappers had used to knock her out earlier really had sent her mind off to la-la land for her to have had such a hard time remembering him.
“Caine.”
“You remember.” He touched her cheek, and the tingle from his touch was surprisingly warm, considering she could already see plumes of frost from their breath as the truck’s cab quickly cooled down.
He literally sucked the air from her lungs when he looked at her the way he did—like he would’ve done anything, touched her everywhere and then some, to make her remember him. Her smile wobbled. “Just bits and pieces.” But her peace suddenly evaporated as her past worries came back to her full force. “My aunt! Did you see an older lady in that place where they kept me?”
Caine frowned. “No, I didn’t.” He cupped her jaw, his expression intense. “You were my priority. I’ve sent friends back to the building, though, and if your aunt is there, they will get her to safety.”
Emma vaguely remembered a phone call he’d made earlier. “Can you call and see if they found her?”
Caine shook his head and released her to slide his cell phone into his jacket pocket. His coat appeared to have mostly dried. “I tried to check my messages earlier, but the storm has apparently knocked out the
cell tower’s reception.”
“Wait! I have my cell.” Emma dug into her front pocket and pulled out her cell phone. It fell apart the moment it was free of her jeans. “Damn.” She tossed the ruined cell to the floor and frowned at him, feeling utterly useless. Please let Aunt Mary be okay.
When a strong gust of wind whistled around the truck, rocking the vehicle with its ferocity, Emma glanced out the window and shivered. “Where are we?” She racked her brain, trying to remember. “Did I give you directions to my house?”
“Your home isn’t safe. I went there after you were taken from the club. I found—” He paused and his jaw flexed. “We have to get you to a safe place.”
What was he about to say? Emma grabbed his hand. “Is something wrong with my house? Did it burn down or something?” Caine clasped her hand, locking his fingers with hers. The electric buzz between them seemed even stronger now.
Heavy thumps of snow thudded on the roof and hood of the truck, falling from the trees above them. “No. Your house is fine.” Squeezing her hand, he continued. “We need to get out of my truck before more snow falls and blocks the doors. Come on.”
She held fast to his hand before he could pull away. “Why are you helping me?”
His expression hardened briefly. “That’s a good question…” He glanced down at their clasped hands, then ran his thumb across her palm. The spark and sizzle that followed his finger’s wake made her breath catch. The sensation was seductively erotic. His gaze snapped to hers, piercing sharp. “We’ll talk later.”
When he pulled away, his expression had turned guarded once more. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Caine opened the door and climbed out. Facing her, he held his hand out for her, his tone curt. “I’ll expect full honesty, Emma. Safety first, answers later.”
Emma shrugged into her coat. As she buttoned it, she wondered what in the world Caine was talking about. He appeared displeased about something. Was he upset she didn’t tell him why she was at the club? She had no idea she was going to be kidnapped, for Pete’s sake! “Yes, of course,” she said as she started to put her hand in his.
Scions: Revelation Page 7
