“We’ll find him,” Luca told her.
“What happened? Where is he?” She pushed around Luca and stumbled into what remained of the room. She caught sight of the large breach in the ceiling and wall. She ran into the alleyway, and looked up and down the street.
“We got a number on the car,” Anthony offered, coming up behind her.
“You didn’t answer me.” She confronted Luca. “How could you let this happen?”
“I was in the other room. There was no one back here. I swear it,” he explained, raking his fingers through his hair. “When I heard him yell, I ran down the hallway and he was gone. You know we’re like humans during the day. I can’t chase down a car.”
“Are you fucking serious?” she growled. He attempted to reach for her and she broke free of his hold. “Don’t touch me. That is it. I’m done with this bullshit. Look at this.” She held up her phone, showing him the text.
“What?”
“The time and address. Tonight. He wants me to come alone.” She laughed. “I’m going all right. By the time I’m done with him, he’ll wish he’d stayed in that shithole prison.”
“Syd,” Anthony began.
“No. Don’t say anything, Tony. He’s fucking dead. This,” she hissed, allowing her fangs to drop. She gestured to her mouth and then to Luca who’d also exposed his teeth, “is who I am now. I’m not human anymore. I may have lived by human rules before, but those days are gone.”
“But…”
“She’s right,” Luca interjected.
“Last night you saw the best of me, but deep inside there’s a monster that’s going to be let loose. Every single human and vampire involved with taking Kade is going to die. You can either help or leave, but you will not stop me.”
“Sydney, you know I’ll always have your back…it’s just…” Anthony stammered.
“Tony. Please just stop. Are you with me? ‘Cause I know for damn sure Luca’s coming.”
“Fuck yeah,” Luca agreed.
“This asshole thinks that I’m weak…that I can’t feed because he’s got Mya. He thinks that because he took Kade, he owns me. But he’s so fucking wrong,” she growled. “He’s mine.”
Sydney took a long draw of blood from Anthony’s wrist while he lay back on the sofa. She’d been so concerned that she’d lose control that she insisted that Luca and Samantha stay with her in the room. After fainting in Mya’s apartment, she was determined to feed more often and stay strong. Concentrating, she’d focused like Kade had taught her. Reaching within her mind, she focused on knowing he was her friend, that she’d never hurt him. She cut off all sexual thoughts, but still ensured it was pleasurable for Anthony.
As she released Anthony’s arm, she felt a small comforting hand on her shoulder and glanced up at Samantha. The red-haired witch was full with child, and they expected she’d go into labor within the month.
“You did nicely,” she said softly.
“Thanks, Sam. You okay?” Sydney asked Anthony. Relief poured through her as his eyes flickered open and he gave her a grin.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
“Thank God,” she sighed.
“Not as good as last night, but with the big man out…”
“Don’t even joke about it.”
“We’re going to find him.”
“I know, but right now, I can’t think of anything else but getting Kade home safe.”
“He’s a strong vampire.” Samantha sat down next to Sydney and took her hand. “And you’re strong too. I can see it in your aura. Everything has changed. You and Luca can do this.”
“Hey, what about me? I’m startin’ to feel a little underappreciated here.” Anthony inspected his forearm and rubbed his fingers over the newly formed skin.
“You’re human. You must be careful,” Samantha noted.
“The humans never understand how truly weak they are,” Luca added, brushing his hand over Samantha’s hair. “It’d be comical if it weren’t so pathetic.”
“Hey,” Samantha scolded, glaring at the father of her child. “Not nice.”
“But true,” he countered.
“Still not nice. You’re going to have to learn some manners when our daughter is born.”
“I’ll teach her how to fight off the vampires who seek to court her.”
“She’ll be able to fight them off herself with magic. Now, don’t distract me.” Her eyes darted over to Anthony, who looked amused by their exchange. “Even though Anthony is human, he can still help. But he must be extra cautious. Remember, dear, I was able to defend myself.”
“But you were a witch when you did that. When you were mortal…darlin’, you know that didn’t turn out so well.”
“True, but Sydney was the one who saved me,” Samantha countered. “And she was human when she did it. Now she’s like you. And more determined than ever.”
“Thanks for sticking up for me, ma’am, but I’m going no matter what these vamps say. I may not be all badass like Luca the Drac, but I’m a sharp shooter. I’m good with a stake too, if I must say. Been trainin’ at home.”
“You’re not serious.” Sydney shook her head.
“Like a heart attack. I just need a glass of juice and I’m gonna be ready to go here.”
“Do you feel okay?” Sydney asked again, her voice soft with concern. She placed her palm to his cheek. “Did I take too much? I’m really sorry. I thought I only took a little bit…”
“I’m fine. It’s like blood bank day at the station. Although I could use a cookie. Maybe a kiss to make it feel better.” He waggled his eyebrows at her and she slapped his arm.
“Stop trying to distract me. If anything happens to you tonight, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Ah, as much as I detest humans, I must give credence to the detective’s courage,” Luca said, giving Samantha a smile.
“He’s going.” Sydney blew out a breath and shook her head. “Dominique and Xavier stay home with Samantha.”
“I don’t need them,” Samantha protested. “I’m well able to take care of myself.”
“No arguments, darlin’. You and our baby are my world right now. Whoever did this will suspect I’m going with Sydney. They’ll know you’re alone.”
“Sam, I know how it is to feel a little…” Sydney searched for another word besides helpless. It wasn’t that Samantha didn’t have powers, but they couldn’t put her in jeopardy. She already had difficulty walking the distance between their homes. “…vulnerable. I know you got magic, girl, but with the baby? No…just no.”
“Hell no,” Luca added.
Samantha looked to Anthony, who shrugged.
“Sorry. Gotta agree with the two of them on this one. This is getting ugly and the last thing we need to do is put your baby in danger.”
“What about Logan? He could go with you,” Samantha suggested.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll give him a call on the way over. As wolf, it’s likely they’ll go undetected,” Sydney agreed. She glanced at the address on her phone one more time and flashed it at Luca. “This is in St. Tammany Parish?”
Luca checked the screen. “Yeah. Not too far out of the city.”
“As soon as the sun falls, we’re outta here.” Sydney shoved out of her chair, twisting her hair up into a knot. She dug a rubber band out of her jeans and made quick work of tying it up into a bun. “Weapons?”
“Yes, weapons,” Luca repeated. “If there’s one thing I have, it’s those.”
“I thought vamps didn’t need guns,” Anthony jibed.
“Just because I don’t need them doesn’t mean I don’t like them.” The corner of Luca’s lip curled upward.
Sydney ignored their banter. Her thoughts drifted to Kade and her chest tightened. She knew Pat sought to punish her in the worst possible way, to inflict immeasurable pain by taking the one she loved. She closed her eyes, taking a deep cleansing breath in an attempt to focus on her task. Whatever went down tonight, she’d kill Pat Scurlock.
The beast inside her would seek its revenge and she’d allow it its due. A night of reckoning would come, as her true nature was revealed.
The gravel beneath the tires spit up onto the car, cracking the windshield. The sound of the splintering glass should have startled Sydney, but she remained focused. From the satellite image, they determined that the secluded home was set deep into the forest. The lush landscaping had been well kept, indicating the property wasn’t abandoned. It belonged to one D. Tessa Saulnier.
Luca had scoured the security records, and no person of that name was a registered vampire, nor had Logan heard of her. They assumed the individual was human, but neither Sydney nor Anthony could find any connection between the prior murders, Pat Scurlock and the home. They’d considered the possibility that perhaps there was a relationship between Scurlock and Saulnier. Yet with no evidence to prove it, they surmised it was more likely that Pat had broken into the home while Ms. Saulnier was on vacation. Repeated attempts to call the phone number on record were ignored, as were the several texts Sydney had sent to Mya.
Sydney choked on the dust streaming into her open car window. She glanced at Luca, who quietly nodded, then set his eyes back on the road. The click of Anthony’s Sig Sauer told her he’d begun checking his weapon. It was a nervous habit she’d watched him do many a time when they worked together. Sliding the clip out and working the action, he made sure the weapon was loaded. Oddly, she found the sound of snapping metal comforting. They’d started this case together, arresting a murderer, and tonight she planned to end it.
“Here,” Luca said, pointing to an entrance that sat fifty feet up the road.
He pulled the car over into the grass, got out and slid into the back seat with Anthony. Sydney jumped over the console and sat in the driver’s seat. The large SUV’s tinted windows blocked the view from outside, so only the faint outline of a driver could be seen inside the vehicle.
“We do this like we planned,” Sydney told them. “I go in first. I’m who they want. Tony, you go around back with Luca. Get Kade before you come for me. If Mya’s still alive…”
“Doubtful,” Anthony stated. “It’s been more than twenty-four hours. There’s a good chance he’s killed her by now.”
“I have to agree with the detective.”
“Like I said, Kade’s the priority. Once you get him freed, come help me. If by some miracle Mya’s still alive, we’ll try to get her out.”
“I’m not thrilled about this plan.” Luca shook his head and placed his palm on her shoulder. “If something happens to you, Kade’s going to kill me.”
“Luca,” Sydney began. She caught the flicker of his eyes in the rearview mirror. “We already went through this. I’ll be the first to admit it; this half-baked plan of ours sucks, but we don’t have any options. If they see you or if you try to go in after me, they’re going to kill him. Knowing Scurlock, he’s got him in the basement cuffed and silvered, with someone waiting on standby to stake him.”
“He’ll try to do Kade before he does her,” Anthony noted. “He’s keepin’ him alive. He wants her to watch when he kills him. It’s all part of the high …getting off while his vics cry and plead. He’s got a hard on for torture, I’m tellin’ ya, man.”
“As soon as I’m in the house and the door shuts, you go round to the back. If for some reason they rush us, we go balls out with fire power and hope to hell that we make it. But that is like plan Z as far as I’m concerned. I’m not gonna park too close to the house. I’ll run up to the door to keep the focus on me. Hopefully, they won’t try to search the car. If they try to, I’ll make a scene, and they’ll take me inside faster.”
“This is some fucked up shit, Syd. We don’t even have backup,” Anthony said.
“Logan will be around,” Sydney reminded him.
“If things go south in the first two minutes, they’ll join the party. But they won’t get involved right away,” Luca cautioned. “If we can handle this on our own, that’s best. The last thing we need is to be responsible for one of the Alpha’s wolves getting hurt, or worse, dying on us.”
“Remember, take the path around to the back door. It used to be his M.O. to chain up his vics in the basement but we don’t know what we’ve got going on here. This is Louisiana, so if there’s no basement, he could be in the garage. He doesn’t like to make a mess in the main living areas. When we caught the son-of-a-bitch, you would have thought he had a maid, it was so clean in there.” Sydney patted Luca’s hand and then turned the keys in the ignition. She kept the lights off and put the car in gear. “He’s not going to kill me right away. This asshole wants retribution. But he’ll want to torture me first. If I can keep him talking long enough for you to get Kade, then we have a chance. You need to find him.”
“We’ll get him, Syd,” Anthony assured her.
“Once we get Kade, we’re taking everyone out,” Luca told him.
“Scurlock is mine,” Sydney reminded them, her voice cold and even.
“Anthony, if we run into any trouble, let me handle it,” Luca ordered. “No heroics, you hear me?”
“Jesus, you vampires are bossy. I think I can handle it. We’re the ones who got Scurlock the first time.”
“Well, he’s out now, so as far as I’m concerned humans created this shit show. What I say goes.”
“Hey, chill. Save that testosterone. In a few minutes, you’ll be able to kick as much ass as you want,” she promised.
The conversation died as they approached their destination. She turned into the entrance, noting the huge decorative pillars that loomed on the corners of the property. Ominous gargoyles sat atop their stone perches, warning visitors of the impending danger that awaited them. She slowly navigated the winding herringboned driveway which was lined with Southern magnolia trees. In the distance a light flickered on the porch of the restored colonial revival mansion. Modernized, its exterior appeared freshly painted, its elaborate landscaping illuminated with spotlights. Two Mercedes sedans sat parked in the circle. Instead of driving through the carport, she opted to turn the car around so it was facing the street.
“You guys ready to rock and roll?” Sydney whispered. “‘Cause I’ve got dinner waiting and this one’s going down screaming.”
She didn’t bother waiting for a response as she exited. The front door flew open, and two large men wearing suits came toward her. Their leather masks, while distracting, did little to intimidate her. Showing no fear, she didn’t resist as a pair of meaty hands dug into her forearm and hauled her into the house. As she stumbled into the foyer, the stench of cigarettes wafted into her nostrils, and she remembered that Pat was a chain smoker.
Sydney took note of the condition of the home’s interior as her captors guided her into a large living room. From its impeccable cherry hardwood floors, to its ornate crown moldings, to the oriental carpets, the luxurious décor had gone unmarred. In the corner, a thick plastic tarp was spread across the floor. Mya’s lifeless form lay wedged in the corner, blood splattered around her in speckled flecks. Blindfolded, her wrists tied with a belt, she’d been dressed in a black satin corset. Sydney caught sight of red panties that peeked through a long white tutu. A heavy black leather collar coiled around her neck. Several puncture wounds lined her pale shoulder and Sydney inwardly cringed, knowing she’d been violated. Despite the deadly silence, Sydney breathed in relief as she heard the shallow thump of Mya’s heartbeat.
“Mya.” Sydney wrenched her arm away from the guard and ran to Mya, her preternatural strength no match for the humans.
She reached for the weapon in her holster and fired off two shots. The bullets whizzed through the air, cleanly piercing through the leather that covered their foreheads. A trace of recognition that she’d just killed two criminals without thought as to whether or not they had a weapon on them flittered through her mind, but the animal inside her would seek a justice of its own. No longer encumbered by human law, she’d seek retribution without guilt.
“It’s ok
ay,” Sydney assured Mya as she removed the bindings from her wrists. She studied the leather choker, looking for its buckle. As she ran her fingers around the back of Mya’s neck, she discovered the small metal studs and rectangular battery. She stifled her disgust and removed the electrocution device, revealing angry flesh burns. “Oh my God, what the hell…”
“No,” Mya moaned, to Sydney’s relief.
“Hey, Mya. It’s Sydney. Remember me from the club?” she asked.
Sydney heard footsteps behind her and went to turn but was too late. The nightmare she’d put away behind bars stood in the vestibule pointing his gun at them. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the glare of the red laser dot on Mya’s forehead.
“Long time no see, detective,” he sneered.
“What do you want?” Sydney asked, already knowing full well he wanted her. She prayed Luca and Anthony had found Kade, but until they arrived, she’d have to hold her own.
“I’ve been waiting for so long, it almost feels like Christmas,” he chuckled.
Sydney observed his appearance, noting that he’d lost weight. While still tall in stature, his gangly legs swam in his jeans, his thin tattooed arms poking through a muscle shirt. He looked as if he were a scarecrow, broomsticks for arms with not nearly enough straw stuffed into his middle. She knew better than to mistake his scrawny build for weakness. It was his mind, not his body that his victims feared.
Her heart began to race, anticipating the violence to come. The battle. His imminent death. She’d come to him as judge, jury and executioner and was prepared to carry out the sentence. But it would not come without cost.
“You shouldn’t have come to New Orleans.” She glanced to the gun in her hand.
“Drop it, detective.” He swirled the red dot on Mya’s skin, reminding her of his true hostage. “You can probably shoot me. You might even kill me, but I’ll definitely kill her. Do you really want to be responsible for ending an innocent life?”
Sydney knew he’d murder Mya in a New York minute. She was certain he was waiting to parade a shackled Kade in front of her, his grand finale of torture. What she didn’t know was if there were more victims in the house. She wished her supernatural senses would kick in so she could hear what was happening in the other parts of the house, but so far, her ears were almost as human as the murderer standing in front of her.
Romancing the Paranormal Page 35
