by Bianca D'Arc
Still, she knew she’d be mad at Deke later, when everything was sane again. When there were no flying beer bottles or bar stools, and no big men trying to beat the crap out of each other ten feet from where she stood.
“You guys know my brother?” she asked of the men at her side, proud when her words slurred only a little. She really shouldn’t have had that row of test tube shots. She didn’t even know what had been in them. But they were yummy.
“Sorry, doll. We don’t know your brother,” the guy on her left answered in a somewhat condescending tone.
“I don’t like you,” she blurted out, unable to filter her words in her drunken state. “Sorry,” she apologized belatedly, but she heard laughter from both of the guys that flanked her.
“It’s okay. He gets that reaction a lot,” the guy on the right guffawed at his buddy’s expense.
“So who’s Steve?” She really wasn’t very subtle when she was drunk.
“Heard that, did you? You mean you don’t know him already?” The guy on the left seemed recovered from her insult and a little more respectful this time when he spoke to her.
“No. Should I?” She almost looked at them, but the man who’d been casually fighting his way to her was almost upon them. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. He was even more good looking the closer he got.
“Yeah, judging by the way he just cleared a path to you, I kinda figured you two were already acquainted.” The guy on the left turned as the fighting drew nearer. He was watching the crowd, but she only had eyes for the guy who stopped right in front of her.
“You’re Steve,” she stated. Darnit, she was drunk. She was just blurting out whatever came into her mind, no matter how inane.
The gorgeous warrior cocked his head to the side, clearly puzzled. “I am. And you’re Trisha, right?”
She nodded, making herself dizzy in the process. “How do you know my name? We weren’t introduced. I’d remember.”
He had the greatest smile. She was glad she was still leaning against the barstool because her knees were in serious danger of melting when he flashed that crooked smile at her. His eyes actually twinkled. And glowed.
Wait a minute. Glowed?
She must be even drunker than she thought. That round of test tubes was starting to roil in her stomach and slide right into her bloodstream. Things were getting blurrier, not better. What was in those things?
Damn. Steve smelled drugs. The chemical-metallic tang of something bad came off her in waves—and not much else. The chemical scent was so strong it was overpowering her normal female scent.
“Trisha, do you feel all right?” Steve hated this. She might’ve taken the drugs or she might’ve been slipped something. Right now, he didn’t know which, and the fight was getting too damn close for comfort.
“No,” she admitted in a wobbly voice as she leaned heavily on the bar stool.
Steve paused to push two of the fighters behind him farther back. So far, the small group of wolves had been keeping the fighting at bay around the drunk women, but he didn’t know how much longer they could keep the status quo. Things seemed to be escalating instead of dying down.
And that didn’t seem right either. Something strange was definitely in the air tonight.
“Steady now,” he said in as soft a tone as he could manage over the loud noise of the fight. “Do you normally use drugs? Weed, crack, heroin?” He tried to be matter-of-fact about it, but he hated asking these questions.
“Piss off,” she cussed him, making him want to smile. “I’m not a druggie. I’m just drunk.”
“Do you feel just drunk, as you put it?” he challenged. He liked her spirit. She was feisty for a human.
She paused for a moment and her tongue peeped out to run over her lips. The sight of that little wet, pink muscle made his dick rise. Shit.
“Now that you mention it…” She paused to try to bring her hand to her face and missed. She was definitely not all right. Her coordination was shot. “Those test tube thingies must’ve been stronger than I thought,” she finished lamely. “I’m higher than a kite.” She smiled, then frowned. “I don’t like it.”
She made him want to laugh again, which surprised the hell out of him. She was kind of cute and very frank when she was out of it. It was an absurdly charming combination.
“I just got a text. The rest of the Pack is waiting for us outside,” Jed Robinson reported from Trisha’s right. He was the most senior of the wolves that had been flirting with Trisha and her friends. “There was some trouble out there, but they’ve neutralized it.”
He understood what the wolf was trying to say. There’d been an ambush waiting for the women. But why? Steve didn’t like this at all, and he didn’t understand what it was about this group of women that had attracted all this attention, but he would. Before this night was over, he’d learn why they were such a target.
“All right, let’s get out of here. The fight is more than the bouncers can handle and the cops will probably be here any moment. Unless you want to spend the rest of the night in jail, you should probably come with us, Trisha.”
She looked at him again, giving him a good once over.
“You’ve got to be my brother’s friend,” she surprised him by stating. “If anyone here was his go-to guy, it would be someone like you. You’ve got the look. Okay.” She paused, seeming to need to gather her wits. “I’ll go with you. If you can convince me that you served with him.”
How she knew her brother had called for backup in Vegas, he didn’t have to guess. Deke was pretty protective of his family, but Steve respected that about the man. Now he just had to prove to his cautious sister that he was the inside man.
“Deke and I served in Afghanistan together.” A few other places too, but those were classified. “My name is Steve Redstone.”
“Shit,” she cursed under her breath, but he heard it. “You’re Red.”
“At your service,” he replied, knowing they really didn’t have time to dally. The fight was really out of control and moving ever closer, though the wolves frowning presence kept most of it at bay. “Now can we get out of here?”
“Sure thing.” She tried to stand but her legs clearly wouldn’t support her. Still, she gave it her best shot until she managed to stand, leaning heavily on the small table.
She put one hand to her lips and issued an ear-splitting whistle. Her friends—most of whom were as drunk as she was, or worse—immediately looked at her. Well, that was one way to get the ladies’ attention.
“This is my brother’s friend Red,” she shouted to her friends. “We’re getting out of here.”
Slow nods and a few worried looks answered her pronouncement, but the women did start moving. Purses were gathered. Short, tight skirts were pulled downward as they hopped off bar stools. Flirtatious hands sought the werewolves’ arms for support, but all the women managed to stand, though several of them swayed alarmingly.
Steve put his hands out to catch Trisha as she almost fell over, but she managed to right herself and take a few steps before she nearly slid to the floor. Steve caught her on the way down and put one arm around her waist, holding her as she took wobbly steps toward the door. He would have carried her, but she was still able to walk and he wanted at least one arm free to fight, if need be.
“We took cabs here,” Trisha babbled as they headed toward the door. She fit nicely against him.
“I know,” he admitted, watching everything carefully.
The wolves were flanking the group of women, with Jed on point and Steve bringing up the rear. It was as good an arrangement as they could manage until they got outside. Luckily, the door wasn’t that far away.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” She kept talking while they neared the exit. “How long have you been following me? Since I landed, I bet. Deke probably called you the moment we left home.”
“Not quite. I only picked up your trail about two hours ago. Deke held off calling as long as he could, but t
he guy’s always had a sixth sense for trouble. Guess he was right, eh?” Steve paused long enough to deliver a back kick to the guy about to attack them from the behind.
She gasped as the man went flying and didn’t answer. Steve hustled her out the door and into the protection of the wolf Pack that was waiting outside. Jed was organizing the women into waiting vehicles. It was a measure of how far gone the women were that they didn’t really question who the guys were or where they were going. It was more than obvious to Steve that they’d all been dosed with something that had not only altered their scents, but also decimated their better judgment.
The way to the three vehicles had been cleared and kept that way by the wolves. Steve tossed the keys to his Harley to one of the younger guys, knowing he’d follow on the motorcycle. Steve wasn’t letting go of Trisha. She’d been drugged and nearly abducted. She wasn’t leaving his sight until this was all sorted out.
He helped her into the back of the last vehicle, a big SUV driven by the wolf Pack’s Alpha, Pete Newmar, whom Steve both liked and respected. Pete had been in the Marine Corps for a while. He’d left the Corps and learned his trade as a stone mason. In fact, he was one of the finest Redstone Construction employed and in charge of many of the really finicky projects that clients loved. He held rank not only within his own Pack of wolves, but within the larger Redstone Clan that encompassed everyone who worked for Redstone Construction—almost all of whom were shapeshifters of one kind or another.
The moment the doors were closed, Pete took off. One of the other girls was sitting next to Trisha, who was in the center of the back bench seat. Pete’s youngest son, Jeremy, was in the front passenger seat.
Steve’s sensitive hearing picked up the sound of his beloved Harley bringing up the rear. They made a neat little convoy as they headed out of the city and drove toward the development on the outskirts of Las Vegas where the Redstone Clan had settled.
Steve checked their back trail, as he knew the others were also doing. So far, there was no sign of pursuit.
“Where are you taking us?” Trisha’s head lolled against the back of the seat, as did her friend’s. The only difference between the two women was that Trisha was a little more awake.
“To safety,” Steve was quick to assure her. “You can call Deke if you want to make sure we’re on the level.”
“Are you kidding?” She shot him a look full of disbelief. “I’d sooner paint myself green and stroll naked down Main Street. No, thank you.” She was carefully enunciating each of her words and Steve guessed it took a lot of effort.
He admired her grit and he had to laugh at her reaction to calling her big brother. Steve would think long and hard before he made that call. On the one hand, Deke had always been a great man to have on his side in a fight. On the other, Deke probably wouldn’t be all that rational when it came to his sister. And there was the paranormal aspect of all this to consider. As far as Steve knew, Deke had no idea there really were such things as werewolves, vampires and all the rest, much less that Steve himself was a werecougar.
“So we’re going to your place?” Trisha insisted on picking up the thread of the conversation, such as it was. “Is it big enough for all of us?”
“We can take them to the Pack house,” Pete volunteered from the front. “There’s plenty of room there for all of them.”
Steve realized that was probably the best plan. Wolf Packs tended to enjoy the company of their Pack mates a lot more than other kinds of shifters, and they often built big Pack houses where the entire Pack could congregate for meals or events. It was also a rooming house, of sorts, designed to help out Pack members or friends in need. There were probably enough suites in the place this Pack had built to give every one of the women a place of their own.
“Sounds good,” Steve agreed with Pete, then turned back to Trisha, who was now leaning against him. She was a nice, warm bundle at his side, and Steve was sorely tempted to put his arm back around her. “Trisha, I’m not sure how much of this you’ll remember, but the man driving is my friend Pete. His son Jeremy is the one who helped your friend into the car. He’s in the passenger seat. They have a bed and breakfast. That’s where we’re going. Okay?”
Steve tried to keep it simple and at the same time wanted to reassure her that she was in safe hands. She seemed calm, but that could be a byproduct of whatever drug she’d been given. He didn’t want to cause her any more distress.
She nodded, then clutched her stomach and made a face that Steve understood all too well.
“You’d better pull over quick, Pete,” Steve instructed, taking Trisha’s free hand.
“The lead car just pulled over too,” Pete reported as he rolled to a stop on the side of the desert road. “One of the gals is barfing into a cactus.”
Chapter Two
Steve heard Pete’s words from inside the SUV while he threw open the door and helped Trisha out. She stumbled, so he put his arm around her middle, holding her when she doubled over and emptied her guts into the shrubbery.
It was hard to watch, but he knew she’d be better off getting the remnants of the toxic brew she’d been given out of her system as quickly as possible. This was one way. Humiliating, but expedient.
“Oh, God. I’m so sorry,” she gasped between bouts of gagging and upchucking. “This is so embarrassing.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got you, Trish. Better out than in.” Steve tried to soothe her.
He knew from past experience with his own sisters that most women really hated to be embarrassed. Steve held Trisha’s hair back from her face for her and rubbed her back, trying to ease the tension that overtook her body every time she vomited the vile liquid that had very nearly poisoned her.
The chemical smell was even more overpowering now that it was out in the open, and Steve was glad whatever it was hadn’t had time to get completely absorbed into her system. She was wobbly enough with the little she had already digested. He hated to think what would result from the full dose.
Pete got out of the SUV and rummaged around in the back for a moment. Reappearing at Steve’s side, he held an open plastic bottle of wet wipes.
“Bebe had these in the back from our last picnic. They might help the lady,” Pete said by way of explanation.
“Thanks.” Steve took a wad of the wet wipes out of the bottle and nodded. “The other woman could probably use those too.”
Pete sent Jeremy ahead with the bottle of wipes while Steve saw to Trisa. She was trembling in his arms, but the bouts of vomiting were coming to an end. He spread out one of the wipes and pressed it to her forehead. She sighed and reached up, taking it from his hand with shaking fingers. She wiped her face and mouth while Steve pressed another clean wipe to her forehead.
“Are you feeling any better?” he crooned, hating to see her in such distress.
“Shoot me now,” she whispered and Steve had to chuckle at her response.
“Not gonna happen. You’re too pretty to shoot,” he teased.
She straightened from her bent-over posture and stood on shaky legs while Steve supported her. Her back was warm against his front and he marveled again at the nice way they fit together. It was rare he found a woman tall enough to fit him.
“Is my bag somewhere around here?” she asked, breaking into his dangerous thoughts. “There should be a bottle of water in it. I’d really like that, if you can find it.”
“It’s in the car. Can you walk or do you need my support?”
“I’m okay. I’d just really like the water.” He noted that she’d sidestepped his question, but he let it go. She was standing on her own for now. Walking would come.
Steve got the big bag out of the back of the SUV and brought it back to her. No way was he going to rummage around in her purse without her permission and direction. He knew from growing up with his sisters that women’s purses were sacred territory. Enter at your own peril.
“Unzip it,” she directed as he fumbled with the big, slouchy leather bag. He
held the opened bag up for her inspection, glad when she reached in and pulled out a bottle of water on the first try.
She uncapped the thing with trembling fingers and then took a sip, swishing and turning slightly to spit out the water into the scrubby grass at the roadside. It was obvious she was still embarrassed, but she was dealing with it. He liked that. In fact, the more he was around her, the more he liked her.
The water seemed to revive her as she was able to clean out her mouth and even swallow a sip. It was like watching a wilted flower revive before his eyes. Whatever had been in those cocktails she’d consumed had been potent, but now that a large portion of it was out of her system, she was starting to sober up.
She kept her back to him, walking a short distance away from the spot where she’d lost her dinner toward the other girl up ahead who was doing the same. Steve came up alongside her, sensing her concern for her friend.
“Lynda looks a lot worse than I was,” she offered quietly.
Jed was supporting the other woman about twenty yards away as she continued to tremble. Even from this distance, the woman was surprisingly pale. Almost as if moonlight reflected off her skin. Trisha’s friend Lynda was a stunner, he’d seen that from the moment he’d assessed the small group. But Steve had liked Trisha’s earthier looks even better.
There was something about Trisha’s long, dark hair and tall frame that had tempted him from fifty paces. Up close, she was even more gorgeous, while her friend was more elfin. Short, wispy, ethereal. Pretty, but not Steve’s type. At least, not after he’d set eyes on Trisha.
“You’re looking a lot better,” Steve observed. “How are you feeling?”
She looked over at him and tried to smile. “Steadier all the time.” She paused to dribble a little water onto a clean wet wipe he’d offered her. She ran the soft, wet square over her hands and arms. “This has to rank right up there with the most humiliating moments in my life. I apologize for…well…all of this. We just wanted to have one wild night out. Drink a little. Dance a lot. Somehow it all got out of hand.”
