Capture (Elite Supernatural Trackers Book 2)

by Heather Renee

  “You could always make him feel a completely different way,” Mason suggested.

  “Nah, I reserve those mind games only for you. Speaking of, it’s been a while since I made you cry…” Blake grinned with a twinkle in his eye I hadn’t seen in a couple of weeks.

  “Don’t you fucking dare,” Mason growled.

  Leaning down, I whispered into Blake’s ear. “You do whatever keeps that smile on your face, handsome.”

  Mason whined. “Hey, I thought I was your favorite.”

  “You’re all my favorite. Favorite to hate, that is. I can’t stand all of you equally,” I deadpanned.

  The look of shock crossing both of their faces had me and Nixie laughing hard.

  “You’re an asshole,” Mason grumbled.

  My brow raised. “Is that really a surprise after living with the four of you for weeks?”

  Blake snorted. “You were far from innocent when you met us.”

  “Touché, my friend. Now, tell me what happened with Deacon and why nobody invited me,” I said, getting comfy on the couch with my feet in Blake’s lap and Nixie in mine.

  “A plumbing line blew in the kitchen, but it wasn’t water like we were told. It was septic. I cleaned myself off, Yeti and Ace managed to stay clean, and Hawk got sprayed with some sort of liquid substance that smelled a lot like week-old tuna.” Mason shuddered.

  No wonder Jaxon had waltzed right into the bathroom. Hopefully he was headed to the communal showers at least after he stormed off. I wasn’t going to let him back into the lair if he smelled like ass when he returned.

  I laughed to myself. Right. Like I could keep him out of the lair. Well, maybe if I was walking around naked…

  Mason continued the story while Blake filled in his own parts, with Nixie joining in whenever she felt like insulting them. I did my best to pay attention, but once I knew it was nothing serious, I couldn’t help wondering when Jaxon might be back and if Spencer was able to keep him from taking his aggressions out on anyone undeserving.

  Jaxon never returned that evening, and I was worried it was going to ruin our plans. Nixie didn’t want to wait much longer to go see Greggor, and I didn’t either, but neither of us could have predicted the turn of events throughout the day.

  “You just had to take a bath like a damn princess and push the demon beyond his breaking point,” Nixie droned. She was clearly upset I’d inadvertently put a dent in our escape.

  “Hey, there is such a thing called knocking. He could have done so. Regardless, if he’s not back by the time the others go to sleep, then we’ll take off anyway. He might not even be at the prison anymore for all we know,” I said.

  She nodded. “Well, then I’m going to get ready.”

  My brow furrowed, not understanding what she meant. Nixie always wore the same tiny blue dress that more resembled leaves sewn together than actual cloth with kickass matching ankle boots. I just kind of assumed she magicked her outfit clean and never questioned it.

  I was completely wrong.

  Her entire body glowed silver and faded away. When she reappeared, I hardly even recognized her. She was wearing a dark grey bodysuit, and her hair was shorter and spiked out at the back with killer smokey eye makeup that had her eyes popping.

  “Holy shit, why haven’t you ever done that before?” I asked, inspecting every millimeter of her.

  “Because it’s exhausting. Just remember, you’ve only known me at my weakest. As soon as Greggor fixes me up, there will be plenty more tricks coming out.” She yawned and lay down next to me. “Now, let me sleep until the coast is clear or I will cut you.”

  Some days, I could barely handle the Nixie I currently knew. I wasn’t sure if anyone could properly prepare for a more powerful version of her, but I was ready to see how it changed the dynamics of our situation.

  Over the next couple of hours, Nixie slept while Mason, Blake, and Spencer went back and forth between searching for Jaxon and checking on us. Finally, about ten, they called it quits.

  “He’s a big boy. I’m sure he’s fine and if he’s not, it will be of his own doing,” Mason said, sitting next to me and throwing his arm around my shoulders.

  “Has he done this before?” I asked.

  Blake glanced down at me from his door across the room. “Yeah, but not for a long time.” Slipping into his room and shutting the door, his answer only left me with more questions, but I had other plans for the evening and didn’t intend on pressing for more information.

  Spencer was next to say goodnight, and then it was just me and Mason. “Why don’t you take Jaxon’s room? Might as well use it if he’s not here, and I’m pretty sure the schedule is off anyway from our late night yesterday,” he said.

  “Nah, I’m good. I don’t want to cause added problems if he comes back in the middle of the night. Better I’m out here.” Then a thought struck me. If they thought I was in Jaxon’s room when they woke and didn’t see me, it would give us more of a head start. “Actually, you know what? Serves him right for leaving without saying when he’d be back or where he was going. I’ll take his bed.”

  He grinned. “That’s our little Siren. I was starting to think you were going soft on us.”

  “Hell will freeze before that happens, Fabled Fucker.”

  He snorted. “What did you just call me?”

  “Oh, I guess I normally only use that in my head or with Nixie. Yeah, that’s what I call all of you when you’re being asscrackers. Hope you don’t mind.” I shrugged, then picked up the still-sleeping Nixie to carry her into the room.

  “Pretty sure you were dropped on your head as a baby,” he teased.

  “Pretty sure there was a lot of bad shit done to me as a baby.” Like neglect and lack of love, but hey, who was keeping track?

  His face turned serious as he stood even with me. “You listen to me, Siren. You are one badass chick. You are worthy of love and respect. You are everything your family never gave you credit for, and it’s their loss, not yours. Let that shit go and know that we won’t let anyone else ever make you feel the way they did. If someone miraculously sneaks past us, know they’ll get theirs eventually.”

  My heart twisted with emotions I wasn’t used to feeling. Sure, I considered the Fabled Four my friends now. I cared for each of them, but what Mason was saying sounded a lot like family and unconditional love. Something I’d never had before. Something I wasn’t sure I was capable of giving or receiving.

  His hand lifted my chin. “Don’t overthink what I said. Just remember the words, and when the time is right, we’ll be there to prove it’s the truth to you.”

  A smirk crept up on my face. “I never would have guessed you’d be the first one to get all mushy with me.”

  “I don’t wanna be an asscracker no more… I’m not an asscracker, I just crush a lot.” Instead of saying the words normally, he rapped them from one of the songs I often sung around the lair, making me grin even harder.

  Setting Nixie down, I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed tight. “Thank you for understanding me.”

  He held me just as firmly, and it was another rare moment since I’d met the Fabled Four that I felt truly safe. Mason would have my back. My heart had no doubts about that. I just needed to make my brain accept it.

  “Now, don’t mention this to anyone. I don’t need you ruining my street cred. I have a rep to uphold,” he joked.

  “I’d never even consider it. Now, go to bed. I need my beauty sleep.”

  He tapped me on the nose. “You got it, Siren. Sleep good.”

  Guilt slammed into me, because there would be no sleep for me that night, but Nixie was also my friend, and she needed me to do this for her. Hopefully, they would understand that when we came back safe and sound. Better yet, more powerful and with useful information.

  Picking up Nixie, I entered Jaxon’s room before sitting her on the bed and gently shaking her awake. Then, like the smart person I was, I backed away in case she tried to cut me like the feisty f
airy was so prone to doing.

  “Is it time?” she groaned.

  “Yep. So long as Jaxon doesn’t show up while we’re leaving.”

  She rolled her eyes. “He’s more dramatic than the two of us combined.”

  There’d be no arguing from me about that statement as we waited another ten minutes before tiptoeing into the living room to get my stuff.

  Gods, I hoped I didn’t regret this.

  Chapter 7

  After sneaking out to grab a change of clothes, I slipped back into Jaxon’s room. I opted for black leather pants, a grey tank, and finished the look off with a black leather jacket that I’d bought at the same time as the pants.

  I’d assumed it had been a frivolous purchase in the moment, but the outfit was fitting for our venture. We needed to be badass bitches, and nothing screamed that more than a chick in leather, showcasing her best assets.

  Once I was ready, I placed Nixie on my shoulder and peeked out to check for the guys again. The room was still silent, so we crept out. Opening the front door had never been more nerve wracking, especially knowing Jaxon was out there somewhere and could catch us at any second.

  Closing the door behind me as softly as I could, I glanced both ways down the hallway before taking off at a sprint. “Hold on, Nix. We need to be quick.”

  She grunted as if I’d insulted her but didn’t say anything as my legs sped toward the exit by the vehicles. Soon, we were in the admin section of the prison. None of them stuck around after hours, so there was nobody out to question us, which helped a lot.

  Going around the desk, I opened the drawer I’d seen Spencer use so many times and grabbed the first set of keys I saw with a Jeep logo. I knew we’d need four-wheel drive. Even though we were nearing spring and the snow didn’t fall as often, I wasn’t going to risk getting stuck.

  When we exited the building, I hit the unlock button and searched for lights to the vehicle the keys went to, but nothing lit up. “What the hell?” I said.

  “Grab another set,” Nixie suggested.

  Turning back toward the door, I tugged on the handle, but it didn’t budge. “Are you kidding me? It’s locked!”

  Nixie huffed. “You’re a witch. This is a human lock. Don’t tell me your first thought wasn’t to use your magic to simply open the damn door.”

  Shit. She was right. I had grown so much over the last six or so weeks, but even still, I’d been told I was weak for years. Sometimes it was hard to forget that wasn’t the truth.

  Placing a hand over the lock, I sent a surge of power through it until I heard the click sound, then yanked on the handle with my other hand. Dashing toward the desk, I grabbed three sets of keys, not caring what make they were, before racing back outside. I clicked the first set and a big SUV lit up. The second one was a small sports car, and the third was a single cab, lifted pickup.

  “That one.” I pointed to the truck without hesitation.

  Nixie didn’t argue, and I could tell she was still worn out from using her magic to change her appearance. Greggor better be able to fix her or I would compel the bastard to sing children’s lullabies on repeat for the rest of his life. Or even worse, the tremendously annoying lamb song that used to drive me batshit crazy as a kid. This is the song that never ends. It goes on and on, my friend…

  Without wasting any time, we backed out and I grabbed the phone the guys had given me for when we were on missions. I pulled up the map app to punch in the town for Greggor’s house. I didn’t remember the address, but I was hopeful we’d be able to make it there once I got us to the general vicinity.

  GPS said it would take about fourteen hours, but I wasn’t worried about being pulled over since I could persuade myself out of a ticket, so I was estimating it would be closer to twelve hours if we didn’t stop. Sure, I wasn’t supposed to use magic on humans, but I was already in prison for that, so I didn’t really give any fucks about it.

  Ready or not, we were either about to make the biggest mistake ever or the best decision ever.

  Six hours into the trip, my eyes refused to stay open, and Nixie was drained of any resources to help keep me awake. So, after the third time I’d nearly went off the side of the road, I pulled into a truck stop just outside of Pittsburgh.

  Using the alarm on my phone, I set it for one hour. A cat nap was all I needed to get us back on the road and I’d grab plenty of coffee when I woke. Nixie was still passed out, so I double-checked she was hidden from sight and that the doors were locked before closing my eyes.

  Much to my dismay, I likely wasn’t even resting for more than ten minutes before the sound of something tapping on the window woke me. With a sneer on my face, I sat up and glanced out the window.

  A dude with disgusting facial hair, a missing front tooth, and matted hair was waving at me with a gun in his hand. I hadn’t been in the mood to kick someone’s ass, but I was tired as hell, so he was going to get it.

  Deciding not to waste any time, I jerked open the door and hit his hip with it. “What?” I snapped.

  “What’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here all by yourself?” His breath reeked of alcohol, and he twirled the gun around like an idiot.

  “None of your damn business. Now, go away before you get hurt.”

  He laughed, making me gag from his stench. “Oh, you’re a feisty one, eh? We’re going to have some fun with you.”

  We? I thought just before a hand wrapped around my mouth. I groaned. After weeks of getting my ass kicked by supernaturals, drunk dirtbags didn’t worry me, but they sure did piss me off.

  “That’s one fine piece of ass, Stan,” the newcomer drawled, pushing me into the truck.

  “Should we take her home?” Stan asked, and I was over their games.

  Using my legs, I pushed away from the side of the truck, catching the guy by surprise, and then plowed my knee into his balls. “Keep your damn hands off me,” I snapped when he let go, then pushed him onto the ground before turning to Stan, who no longer seemed confident about using his gun.

  “Oh, no you don’t, slimeball.” I grabbed the grimy ponytail at the nape of his neck as he tried to run away, jerking him toward me before tripping his legs up. Hearing the thud of his head smacking into the pavement was pure joy.

  He groaned, but I didn’t stop. Placing my foot over his throat, I lowered into a crouch, and took the gun he’d tucked into his pants. “Listen, Stan. Women don’t like to be woken up and disturbed by dirty fleabags like yourself. You want a woman? Show her some damn respect. Otherwise, I will come back and I will find you. Then I will rip your balls off. Do I make myself clear?”

  He nodded since he couldn’t speak, and I glanced back at his friend who was still recovering from my knee shot. “What about you, Douchebag? Are you going to make me come back here?”

  “You’re a fucking psycho bitch,” he spat from his knees.

  I stood up, turned to him, and punched him in the face three times. “First, don’t call people names. It’s not nice. Second, I think you’re going to jail.” I hit him once more, and his body went slack and fell to the ground.

  “What are you going to do?” Stan sputtered.

  “I’m going to call the cops on you assholes, and then you can explain to them why you’re tied up. I’ll be long gone before they get here, so have fun telling them you got beat up by a woman.” Reaching behind the seat of the truck, I grabbed the roadside kit I’d seen earlier, and was glad to see there was rope.

  Cutting it in half, I tied each of them up to the light post I’d parked next to and got back in the truck. After tossing the gun into the glovebox, I grinned at Nixie who was finally awake and laughing hysterically. “Are you really going to call the police?”

  “You bet your ass I am. Even if I won’t be around to give the cops evidence, at least it will put those assholes on their radar.”

  Once we were on the road, I placed the call, only telling the dispatch I was someone driving by and saw two guys harassing a woman. Five mi
nutes later, two cop cars went flying past us and I grinned. Served those dipshits right.

  “Shit. I didn’t get my liquid gold.” I hit the steering wheel, not only pissed off I wasn’t rested, but I was also without caffeine.

  Nixie walked across the bench seat and zapped me. “There. That’s a million times more effective than your disgusting coffee.”

  I considered reprimanding her for insulting my drink of choice, but her pissy attitude reminded me of something I’d thought about a few days ago. “Totally random, but do fairies get periods? Just wondering if your extra salty mood has to do with PMS or you continually overusing your power to keep me awake.”

  She glared. “Fairies have no weaknesses like your human body. So, if you have a problem with my mood, you’ll just have to get over it.”

  Grinning, I let her get back to sleep since she’d given me another boost. She might have been temperamental, but she was a good friend. There was nothing about her I wouldn’t accept.

  After making two more stops to pee and get food, we made it to Springfield the following day around three in the afternoon. I was exhausted, body aching from lack of sleep, but I pushed through as I told myself the trip from hell was almost over.

  Nixie gave directions to Greggor’s house once we hit the outskirts of town, and my body tensed as we got closer. It was probably the stupidest thing I’d ever done, showing up at an all-powerful demon’s house, hoping like hell I got lucky twice being able to compel him. Yeah, not smart.

  “Shut that damn human mind off. It’s giving me a headache with all the overthinking you’re doing. Greggor isn’t a monster. He’s a businessman. As long as we keep the peace, so will he,” Nixie said with a huff, somehow knowing what I was thinking without me saying a word.

  “Fine, but if we end up in the basement as slaves of some sort, then I’m ripping your other wing off as retribution,” I replied, keeping my tone serious.

  “I’d love to see you try, Witch.”

  I’d done enough stalling since pulling into Greggor’s driveway and finally opened the truck door. Nixie was placed back on my shoulder, and I could feel the excitement pouring off of her. Though, it still didn’t settle my nerves. Those wouldn’t be going anywhere until we were back on the road and headed through a portal home, preferably created by Nixie.