“Let Liam deal with what?” As foggy as my hearing had become, I barely distinguished the new voice advancing. I slid out from the man’s loosened hold and collapsed on the concrete into a crumpled heap—no longer having the strength to stand.
The ground vibrated as someone ran to where I lay. I steeled myself to being man handled again, but when I was tenderly lifted and carried through the alleyway, I was surprised. The newcomer took me to a car and gently laid me across the back seat. My rescuer slid in and rested my head in his lap. The others climbed into the front seat and after pulling the doors shut, the car was filled with silence. It wasn’t long before someone spoke.
“Explain this to me. Explain why I find you brutalizing a woman when I specifically told you to only look for those that are converted.” Anger was laced through the man’s voice and a sense of familiarity came over me. I didn’t know where, but I’d heard it before.
“She’s converted. You should’ve seen her laying into the guys we found her with. It was like she was possessed or something. It was harder to restrain her than it was the others.” The man named Scott answered.
“Did you check her eyes?”
“I didn’t need to, Liam. Her actions more than proved it.”
“Did you check her eyes?” It sounded as if he were barely holding onto the thread of patience he had left.
“She wouldn’t let me. I kept asking her and she wouldn’t open her eyes. What other reason would she refuse other than she’s converted and knew if we found out, she’d be taken?” Scott was beginning to show his anger as well, his defensive tone echoing.
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe she was hurt? Did you even stop to think maybe when you found her she was fighting for her life? Dammit, Scott, use some common sense. Take a good look at her now. Look.”
There was a brief pause and I could almost feel the weighty stares I was receiving. It was Liam who broke the silence.
In a quiet, tight voice he whispered, “Tell me, Scott, why didn’t she listen and open her eyes?”
There was no mistaking the shame that filled his reply. “Because she’s close to passing out if she hasn’t already.” The tension in the car suddenly deescalated and everyone seemed to release a deep breath.
“Exactly. If you weren’t so gung-ho on kicking ass you would’ve realized it. You need to control your eagerness before you hurt someone else that’s innocent. Consider yourself taken off street duty. Now start the car and take us back to the building.”
The car’s engine roared to life and the motion rocked my body, causing me to flinch a little. Noticing the slight movement, Liam cradled my head, nestling me in his arms. I felt his fingers trace my cheek, leaving a stinging trail from the salt in his skin as it mingled with my new cuts and bruises. Even though I knew he meant well, it left me whimpering softly.
“Shush, it’s ok. I’ve got you . . . you’re safe now. I’m going to take you to some people who’ll help patch you up.” Again I could feel him touch me, this time brushing a strand of hair from my face.
I reached down deep, feeling my resistance to the oncoming blackness crumbling, and parted my lips to say something. He must have sensed it because he told me to relax and I didn’t need to say a word.
I opened my mouth anyway. He placed his fingers over my lips, stilling me.
“Shush, you need to rest. I have you.”
His kindness filtered through my mind and I finally let go and gave myself over. I could still feel the pressure from his hand and imagining it was Quinn’s kiss, I sank into oblivion as the blackness swept over me.
Chapter Eleven
I was standing in the middle of the street with swarms of people milling around me. Everywhere I turned I was surrounded by a crowd, and the noise from their conversations threatened to consume me. Walking around in a circle, I had no idea where I was—everything unfamiliar from the landmarks to the street names. Movement jostled me back and forth, causing a wave of panic to fill me.
I searched through the masses looking for someone I recognized. Each face was a stranger and the panic was replaced with loneliness. Finding it hard to stand still, my body began to sway back and forth—the beating hearts of the crowd a silent melody.
Closing my eyes and covering my ears to block out the noise, a whisper floated across the air and engulfed me with security. Quinn was calling my name and I twisted about as I searched for him. I had no doubt he’d know what was happening, his strong presence always calming. Awareness made my skin tingle with energy—the overwhelming need to find him drove me through the crowd.
I felt his stare on me, but he wasn’t anywhere I glanced. My whispered name became louder and louder until it reverberated in my ears. There was a sense of urgency in his voice—a need that heightened my panic as I relentlessly kept searching.
Just when it seemed hopeless, the crowds parted and Quinn stood twenty yards in the distance with a beseeching look. I instantly moved toward him, but before I could take more than a few steps, he began walking away. I screamed for him to wait, but my plea fell on deaf ears. He disappeared into the sea of people as the crush completely swallowed him and there was no longer any trace of him.
It spurred me into action. I began forcefully pushing my way through the throng, not caring who was in my way. Frustration roared through me as I continued yelling for Quinn to wait. When I finally reached the last spot I’d seen him, I spun around in a circle, straining to look over everyone.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him standing further down the street—his need for me blazing in his eyes. This time his mouth was moving and I caught the words, “Help me,” before he turned and kept walking.
I was adamant I wasn’t going to lose him again. I trained my eyes on him and surged through the crowd, stepping around and over anyone in my path. Moving faster this time and not being restrained by the crowd, I soon made it to where he’d been and spotted him turning onto the next street. With one more look over his shoulder, he disappeared.
I took after him at a dead run, finally turning the corner and screeching to a halt. Coming face to face with something out of my worst nightmares, Quinn was being tightly gripped around his neck, firm hands holding him in place. One wrong move and those powerful hands would snap his neck with lightening precision.
I surged forward, the need to protect him demanding me to take action. Dragging my focus away from his face, I was startled to see who was holding him hostage. With eyes the same maddening icy blue, Quinn’s perfect doppelganger stared at me—my heart clenching at the sight.
Not knowing how to reach Quinn’s mirror image without causing him to lash out, I studied him closely. The doppelganger’s expression was completely empty except for the piercing look of pure malice. Its gaze sent a freezing chill through me and I couldn’t stop my mind from reeling.
I slowly sensed a new presence, one that caused my skin to crawl. The air cooled by several degrees and the atmosphere became more sinister. When the General came from behind and stood beside me, rage seethed inside.
“Let him go,” I demanded, refusing to take my attention away from my Quinn as he remained at the complete mercy of his mirror image. “You don’t need him—give him back.”
The General’s responding chuckle stole all the warmth left in me. “You’re right, I don’t need him, but I want him nevertheless. He’s strong and that will make breaking him a challenge. When I’ve conquered him, then you can have him.”
I turned to strike the General but stopped when I heard Quinn gurgle out a groan. His evil counterpart had tightened his grip around his neck and with no oxygen reaching his brain, angry veins rose from his temple as his eyes began to bulge.
“Stop it!” I rushed forward, raising my fists to pound on the doppelganger’s chest, but before I could do any damage, he struck out with his other hand and sent me flying. The General merely stood there watching—a cold look of satisfaction covering his brutal features.
I picked myself up and tr
ied again, throwing myself against the creature. I hoped I could jar his hold over Quinn with my weight, but it proved futile. It felt like slamming against a brick wall as I collided and bounced off, stumbling backward before falling to the ground again.
Tears formed as I wiped away the blood from my split lip with my fingers. Wincing from the sting, I gave the General a look of pure hatred as I slowly drew myself up.
“Call your animal off. You can’t have Quinn, he’s mine.” I stood there angrily, my fists clenching and unclenching as I struggled to control my anger.
The Fae smirked and raised his hand, gesturing. As if in slow motion, the doppelganger moved his hands and placed them on either side of Quinn’s head in such a way one quick flick of his wrist could end Quinn’s life.
“Nooo!” I screamed, fully letting terror steal my reasoning. I threw myself at the General, falling at his feet in a position of humble submission. “Please, don’t hurt him. Take me if you have to, but please spare him.” Sobs wracked my body as I gave way to heartache. My mind struggled to keep from breaking—the idea of losing Quinn too much to bear.
I felt the air change as the General crouched and viciously grabbed hold of my chin. His gaze pierced mine as he looked into my face with disgust. “Tell me why I should spare him?” His fingers dug cruelly into my flesh. “Answer me.”
“Because I love him,” I answered, speaking straight from my heart.
He abruptly released his grip, pushing my face away as he stood. “Love.” He spat the word out. “That’s what makes you humans so pathetic . . . so weak. You allow your emotions to dictate your lives. Unfortunately for you, such feelings don’t hold sway with me.” He looked over me, ready to give his signal.
I wrapped my arms around his legs, the idea of begging this heinous fiend produced shudders of revulsion. I was desperate, however, and held nothing back. “Please, anything. I’ll do anything, just let him go.”
He quickly raised his hand to stop the creature from proceeding. “Anything?” he asked with a twisted smile on his face, raising his perfectly sculpted eyebrow. The innuendo in that one word caused my stomach to rebel and I hastily swallowed back bile.
“Whatever you want, I’ll do it.” My voice sounded frantic, barely recognizable.
I watched the General think over my offer and the moment seemed endless before he pulled me up, victory shining in his features. I ignored Quinn’s restrained cry for me to run.
I pushed aside any part of me that was capable of feeling, welcoming the numbness that enveloped. I needed to survive this with my sanity intact. As the General brought his face closer, his sweet breath caressed my cheek, and he hovered near my ear.
My legs crumbled as he turned me around—pulling my back against his chest so Quinn could see his next move. Tears filled my eyes when I looked at Quinn and saw the pain radiating from him. With little room to move, he shook his head and repeatedly mouthed for me to stop.
I whispered I loved him and felt myself shudder as the General took one of his hands and raised it to my breast, brutally squeezing it. He chuckled as I struggled not to fight, shuddering as he moved his other hand over me.
“Still willing to do anything to save your lover?” He bit my ear hard.
I clenched my mouth, terrified I’d beg him to stop, and vigorously shook my head. My heart hammered in my chest. The tension was killing me and the sooner it was finished, the sooner Quinn would be safe. Gripping my chin again, he jolted it forward toward Quinn as his next words froze my insides and stole all hope.
“You have nothing I want.”
Invisible hands dove into my chest, tearing out my heart as he signaled to Quinn’s double. With a resounding crack that pulsated through me, echoing in the air, Quinn’s neck was snapped and his lifeless body fell to the ground.
Anguish so unbearable tore through me as the doppelganger smiled. “I told you it was too late to save me.” Repulsed by his gloating tone, I shattered into a million small pieces. I’d lost the man I loved and was being mocked for it.
Bolting up in bed, a thick sweat drenched me and I found myself trapped in twisted sheets. My voice was raw with emotion as I screamed myself awake—the realization it had been a horrible nightmare driving me to tears. I clutched at my throat trying to compose myself, but my trembling hands did nothing to calm me. I was falling apart.
It didn’t matter I knew it wasn’t true. I couldn’t extinguish the sense of foreboding that lingered in my heart. This may have been my overactive imagination taking a toll, but fear also dominated, reminding me it wouldn’t take much for the dream to become reality.
I let out a shaky breath and allowed the surrounding silence to soothe me. I focused on my heartbeat, its rapid pounding slowly returning to its normal pace. Stretching my tense muscles, I untangled myself from the bedding only to remember I didn’t know where I was.
Startled, my gaze darted around the darkened room, looking for anything that could shed some light. Movement in the corner drew my attention quickly and as a form stepped out of the shadows, my mind kicked into action. I scrambled against the headboard and I did the only thing I could—I screamed.
Chapter Twelve
I kept yelling until I ran out of breath, forced into silence by burning lungs. My focus never left the emerging form and when he was completely revealed, I recognized him as the man who’d carried me to the car. My brain struggled to recall information—his name on the tip of my tongue. He sensed my uncertainty, stopping before me, and raised his hands up as a sign he meant no harm.
“I’m not sure if you remember anything because you were pretty out of it when I found you but my name is . . .”
I interrupted him before he could say another word. I knew who he was. “Your name is Liam.” My voice came out as a croak. Without another word, he left the room and returned shortly with a glass of water. Handing it to me, he stepped away, giving me space and sat down with his back against the far wall.
“And you’re?”
“My name is Bri.”
We sat in silence as I slowly sipped on the water, its cold wetness easing my burning throat. I studied him openly, wondering about this change in circumstances. He reminded me a little of Quinn, his build the same, but that’s where the similarities ended. Liam kept his light brown hair shorter, cropped to his scalp, and his eye color was the same as mine—green. He was definitely handsome, but lacked the seductive allure Quinn possessed—though I was sure there were a number of woman who would find him attractive. All of that aside, I was just grateful he’d been there to intervene.
When I’d finally had enough water, I leaned over the bed to place the glass on the floor. The sudden movement set my head spinning and it took all my energy to push myself back up.
“Where am I?” I took a tentative glance at Liam—trying to estimate how much danger I was in. Vague snippets surfaced in my memory. He may have been the one who stepped in and saved me earlier, but the events of the last several hours warned me not everything was as it seemed. The man sitting opposite me had temporarily been my savior, but it wouldn’t stop him from turning on me. Sometimes being paranoid saved lives.
“You’re safe. No one will harm you while you’re here.” The room returned to silence and the quiet pacified my frazzled nerves. With the only light coming from the well-lit hallway outside the room, I sat in partial shadow—the darkness offering a sense of security.
“After what I’ve been seeing, I find that hard to believe. I can’t stay here . . . there’s somewhere I need to be.” I winced, hurting as I moved.
“Whoa, you’re not going anywhere. You can trust me. You’re safe.”
“I won’t be until I get to 324 Spring Rd. They know how to help. Noah . . .” I let my sentence fall away. It was a stupid move giving away information to someone I barely knew.
“Then you’re in luck. You’ve arrived and I can take you to him.”
I studied his features, looking for any telltale signs of deception. I took i
n a deep breath, finding none. “Tell me the truth. I don’t think I can take much more.”
“On my word of honor,” he said solemnly, placing his hand over his heart. Silence filled the air—neither of us speaking as I weighed my options. He didn’t look like he was lying, and he’d had plenty of chances to hurt me. My gut told me I was safe.
“That must’ve been some seriously messed up nightmare. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone scream like that before. You sounded . . . tormented.”
I shuddered. Tormented was only part of it, I thought. Add gut wrenching and soul shattering and maybe that would come close.
Even though my body had returned to normal, the intense emotion was still there, right below the surface. The dream had seemed so real—too personal to share with a stranger.
“I really don’t want to talk about it.” My voice quivered. I knew Liam wanted to help—his concerned look obvious. I desperately wanted to open up—voice my fears instead of burying them.
“Are you sure? Because I know it’s dark, but I can see you’re still shaken. My mom used to tell me nightmares don’t seem so scary when spoken out aloud.” There was sincerity in his voice, and something inside me whispered I could trust him. I needed someone to confide in and help me make sense of everything.
I gathered my courage and took the risk. “I dreamed about my boyfriend. Some things happened and we got separated. I think the dream was me subconsciously worrying over it. It was pretty graphic so I just can’t go into . . .” My voice broke and tears welled in my eyes. It hurt too much.
Liam quickly rose and crossed the room, gently sitting down beside me. “May I?”
I looked with blurry vision and saw his outspread arms were offering comfort. The fact he asked first instead of assuming, touched me. I nodded before moving into his embrace.
Everything came crashing down as a torrent of tears streamed down my cheeks, soaking his shirt. Sob after soul shaking sob rattled through me as I gave way to the grief I’d been bottling. It felt strange in another man’s arms after being with Quinn—different, but welcomed. Peace worked its magic as I drew on Liam’s strength and was grateful for his compassion.
Broken Promises (The Brianna Lane Series) Page 9
