by Mary Abshire
"I'm fine." My appetite had died thanks to him.
Ron looked at Missy. "I'll have a double cheeseburger with all the fixings."
"Do you want fries with that?" she asked.
"Yes, and I'd like a chocolate shake after my meal."
"I'll get your drink and put your order in."
As Missy walked away, I scanned the restaurant for Gabe. He wasn't in sight. I wondered if he was waiting outside and if his broken arm had healed.
"Where's your friend?" I asked.
"He thought you were heading back to Phoenix," Ron said. "Don't worry, he'll be here soon."
The confirmation he was working with Gabe spiked my anger, but I remained calm. Jeremy was on his way. I just hoped he would arrive before Gabe. One thing I knew for sure was I couldn't run. Too many werewolves were around and I really wanted to avoid a werewolf attack.
"So how did you get here so fast?" I asked.
Missy set the glass of Coke on the counter and dropped a straw next to it. Ron picked up the straw and tapped it on the counter as the waitress walked away.
"I was waiting to meet him near the border." He stuck the straw in the glass and sipped his drink. "I told him he shouldn't underestimate a demon."
I almost chuckled. "Why do you and Gabe want to get rid of me?"
He drained half his glass before he replied. "Matthew doesn't want you anywhere near him."
Matthew—the scumbag werewolf who raped and murdered women. I should've known he was behind my kidnapping.
"He's a coward," I said boldly. "A murdering, son-of-a-bitch who deserves to go to Hell."
Ron chuckled. "Tell that to his face."
"I plan on it."
He glared at me with bone-chilling eyes. "If I were you, I would be worrying about Gabe. He's pissed at what you did."
Missy appeared with Ron's food and set the plate on the counter in front of him. "Here you go. Can I get you anything else right now? More Coke?"
Ron nodded, then shoved a fry in his mouth. Missy grabbed his glass and left. "Mmm…" He picked up another fry and gobbled it down. "These are really good."
The juicy burger and greasy fries aroma normally would cause my stomach to yell at me, but not at the moment. The cheeseburger was huge and the thick fries were fresh from the fryer with a light layer of salt coating them.
Ron picked up a fry and offered it to me. "Sure you don't want any?"
Although his food looked appetizing, I had no desire to eat. Better yet, I refused to accept food from an enemy.
"I'll pass." I wrapped my lips around my straw and sucked on my water.
While I waited for Jeremy to arrive, Ron took his time eating. I surmised Ron must not have been in the restaurant when I had called Jeremy. If he had been, I was certain the werewolf would have done everything and anything to persuade me to leave. Since Ron didn't mind waiting, neither did I. I remained calm and collected as he talked about how good the food was. The temptation to run gnawed at me, but to do so would've been unproductive. I had nowhere to go. Moreover, Jeremy knew where to find me if I stayed here. All I could do was sit and wait.
I glanced out the window a few times, trying to ignore politely the werewolf next to me. The sky darkened and the lights in the parking lot illuminated. I had hoped Jeremy would find me before nighttime settled in. As usual, my hopes were unrealistic.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I said, and slid off my chair.
Ron grabbed my arm and stopped me. "Don't get any ideas."
His energy penetrated my skin and made my flesh itch. A cramp in my stomach tightened, warning me I was in danger. As I stared into his dark eyes, I realized he was the brown werewolf in my dream.
I held up my wrists and tossed the sweater over one hand, revealing the cuffs. "In case you hadn't noticed, I can't go very far." Though I had managed to get away from Gabe with the handcuffs on, I had kept my mouth shut. For my own safety, there was no need to brag or remind him of the obvious.
He grinned and slid his hand off my arm. "Remind me to take care of that for you when you get back out."
"Why not now?"
"I'm still eating." His plate had maybe five fries left. Asshole could've taken a minute to unlock the cuffs. After sending him a heated glare, I headed for the bathroom.
Using the restroom in handcuffs was not easy. I cursed a few times. Fortunately, no one was around to hear me. I washed and dried my hands, then paced in front of the stalls. Where was Jeremy? Yes, it was a long drive, but he should've been driving super fast. What was keeping him?
Anxiety rushed through my veins, readying me to take action, readying me to run and get away. But damn it, I couldn't. I had to wait, and the wait was killing me. Sighing, I draped the sweater over my hands and strode out of the bathroom.
When I sat back down on the stool, Ron drank his shake with effort. His puffy cheeks curved inward while he sucked on the straw. After he finished, he set down the glass and pinched his nose. "Damn rush."
I chuckled. Sympathy for him was not an emotion I entertained. "Got a key for these cuffs?"
He dug into his pockets and withdrew a set of keys. The sweater fell on the floor as I held my hands steady for him. Following a small click, the first cuff came undone, then he unlocked the second. I sighed with relief when my wrists were free from the metal clasps.
As I picked up the sweater from the floor, the restaurant door swung open. Gabe strolled in with four other men behind him. The men were huge in height and muscle. I swallowed hard.
Ron faced Gabe. "Oh, looks like the show is about to begin." He slid the handcuffs in his back pocket.
Show?
Anger and a touch of fear flamed within me as I watched Gabe and his four accomplices approach, swaggering arrogantly. Gabe had a grin on his face that made me wish I had broken his neck instead of his arm.
"Hello, Jessie." He held his bandaged arm close to his chest. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
"Not mine." I turned away from him, reclaimed my stool, and placed the sweater on the counter.
Gabe sat on the seat to my right. Ron stayed on my left. I assumed the four other men were behind me. Was I really that much of a problem that it took six werewolves to get me?
Missy strode over with a hesitant and fearful look. Her eyes were wider than normal. "Can I get you boys something to drink?"
"We're fine," Gabe replied.
Missy looked at me. "I'll have another glass of water." I removed from my pocket the dollar Becca had given me, then placed it on the counter.
"Sure, honey. I'll be right back." She backed away and disappeared into the kitchen. Part of me prayed she'd call the cops. I needed some kind of support against six werewolves.
"Take care of the waitress," Gabe said to someone behind me.
From the corner of my eye, I saw two of the large men pass the counter. My heart pounded as they strode into the kitchen. I wanted to do something to help her, but I knew I wouldn't even make it off my seat.
"I think we got off to a bad start," Gabe said. "Why don't you come with me, and we'll go for a ride."
"No, thanks," I replied. "I'm cozy here. Besides, I didn't like your ride last time."
"Now, there's no reason for anyone to get hurt. All you have to do is come with us."
Missy strolled out, carrying a glass of water. The two werewolves were behind her. One stayed near the kitchen door. I breathed better seeing that she hadn't been harmed.
"Here you go." Her hand shook as she set the glass on the counter.
I took the straw from my empty glass and stuck it into the water. "Thanks, Missy."
She attempted a smile, but worry had claimed her. She kept her gaze lowered and backed away slowly.
"How's the arm, Gabe?" I asked.
He grabbed my shoulder and squeezed. Pain shot through my shoulder and cut off the circulation. I clenched my jaw, restraining myself from showing any emotion.
"You need to come with me," he said, growling.
"Let me finish
my drink, and I'll go with you." I needed to stall as long as possible to give Jeremy time to arrive.
He removed his hand and the pressure on my arm ebbed. "Finish your fucking drink," he grumbled.
I dragged out ten minutes. It helped that Ron was still working on his shake, and Gabe played around with his cell phone. He was texting someone. Every minute I could stall gave time to Jeremy. He had to be getting close.
Gabe slid his phone into his pocket. "All right, time to go." He stood.
"Actually, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since early this afternoon," I said.
Gabe chuckled. "We're leaving now."
He gripped my arm and tugged me off the stool. Two men walked in front of us. Ron and the rest of Gabe's welcome crew were behind us. A few customers stared as we passed by. I wondered if any would have enough sense to call the police.
"You know, Gabe," I said before we reached the door. "I changed my mind. I don't want to leave with you."
He squeezed my arm and the pain spread fast. "Tough."
I pressed my feet into the floor, trying to delay our exit. "How about we sit and talk about this for a bit? I'd love to hear why you're doing this."
He jerked my arm and I stumbled forward. "We can talk outside."
One of his men opened the door and held it. Gabe shoved me through the exit, then led me down the sidewalk. Nighttime had settled and bright lights shined down on the abundance of parked semis on the parking lot. With each step, a cramp in my gut tightened, warning me of what was to come.
We walked across the parking lot until we reached an open row with trucks parked on both sides. Gabe stopped and shoved me forward. I staggered until I regained my balance.
"I owe you a broken bone," Gabe said.
"Actually, we're even. If you recall, you broke my nose when you slammed me into the car."
"A broken nose doesn't compare to a broken arm." He moved closer to me. I stepped back. Ron and the rest of the werewolves watched me closely.
"Tell me, do you beat up every woman you meet like your friend Matthew does? Maybe I should consider sending your soul to Hell too."
He came at me in the blink of an eye and slammed his fist to my face. Sharp pain branched out from my nose. I stumbled back, hands covering my injury. Blood leaked from my split lip and spilled into my mouth.
"I'll rip you to shreds before you get a chance." He snarled like the wolf he was.
I wiped my upper lip with the back of my hand, clearing away some of the blood. Gabe came at me again, swinging his good arm. This time, I ducked and stepped away from him. When I straightened, I swung at him and hit his ribs. It was my first time throwing a punch. I surprised myself that I'd actually hit my assailant. But I was slow backing away and Gabe snatched my hand. From his quick response, it appeared my hit had no impact to his ribs. He gripped my fingers and swiftly jerked them backward. Bones snapped and broke through skin. Screaming in agony, I sank to my knees.
"That's a good start," he said. "But not nearly equal to a broken arm."
Tears raced down my face as I held my bloody hand. Bones stuck out where they shouldn't. A wave of nausea crawled up my throat. I bit my lip and painfully moved my broken fingers so they could fuse back together with the other bones in my hand. If Drake were around, he could've licked my wound to speed up my recovery.
I lifted my head and saw Gabe's foot rushing toward me. Consumed with the pain in my hand, I failed to react. He kicked me in the ribs and I flew sideways, gasping for air. I hit the pavement hard and my head smacked the ground. Stars glittered in my eyes.
I was in a world of hurt. Sharp and intense pain throbbed in my ribs as I struggled to breathe. Each breath brought a jab of agony. My hand burned hotter than lava as the bones fused together.
Ron stood over me, his hands balled into fists. "I think you might have broken a couple of ribs." He bent and touched my side.
Pain gnawed at me. I attempted to roll to the other side, but the little bit of movement caused more hurt. I quickly stilled. "Fuck you!"
Men laughed. Cowards.
"I don't think she likes you," Gabe said.
Ron stood. "What should we do with her?"
Gabe stood on the other side of me. "Matthew thinks we should hold onto her for a couple of days." He took his cell phone out and held it over me.
"For what?" Ron asked.
"He might want to have some fun with her." Gabe smiled and peered at his phone. "Now, that's a nice picture." He twisted the phone around to face Ron.
He shook his head. "Whatever."
Ron and Gabe strolled a few feet away. Their voices turned to mumbles.
I remained still while my bones healed. The heat in my ribs and hand drove my temperature sky high. Beads of sweat appeared all over my body. Breathing hurt, but with each intake of air, I could feel myself healing and getting stronger. I just needed a little time to gain enough strength to get up and run.
A few minutes passed before Ron came over. He squatted next to me and smiled. "Ready to go for a ride now?"
I turned my head. Gabe stood several feet away and was talking to the other men. This was my chance. I had to run now.
Body aching, I rose and shoved Ron off balance. As he tumbled backward, I leaped to my feet. I took off running as fast as I could, zigzagging between the rows of trucks. I heard loud voices behind me, but I couldn't make out the words. When my breathing grew labored and the ache in my ribs flamed, I stopped near a wheel and crouched low.
A chill ran down my spine. I breathed in scents of blood, sweat, and burning rubber. Not far away, I heard growls and snarls. This was it. This was my dream.
I heard something move behind me, near the end of the truck. I spun around and held my breath. My heart pounded, ready to leap into my throat. Something was there, but I couldn't see it.
A growl from my other side jolted me. I twisted around. A large brown werewolf stood a few feet away. It growled and the full set of sharp canines glistened under the bright light. Fear told me to run, but I knew that was the worst thing to do.
Slowly, very slowly, I rose to my feet. The wolf's growl deepened. I took a step back and heard something move behind me. I didn't dare look. My focus stayed on the vicious wolf with pointy teeth staring at me. I took another step back. The wolf snarled. When I lifted my leg, it lunged for me.
I threw up my hands as the brown wolf came crashing down on me. The weight of the beast forced me backward and I hit the pavement. My head thudded on the ground. Darkness clouded my vision and threatened to steal me away. Then, in an instant, the weight of the wolf was gone.
My thoughts drifted in and out as I tried to hold on to consciousness. Near me, I heard a shrill cry. After a few seconds, the sounds died off and I was left in silence.
Cool arms wrapped around me and lifted me off the ground. "I'm here for you, Jessie."
My heart jumped. The voice sounded like Drake's and the cool embrace felt like his. Maybe I’d hit my head too hard.
"Drake?" I asked, blinking to clear my vision.
"I'm here for you," he repeated.
It was Drake. Was I dead? He was supposed to be in Europe. How did he get here? Maybe I was dreaming.
"How…how did—"
"Shh." He held me tight to his solid chest and pressed his lips to my head. "Hold on. I'm getting you out of here."
I reached around his neck and locked myself to his body. His long hair brushed over my arms, tickling my skin. He smelled of leather and warm sandalwood, not his usual scent, but pleasing nonetheless.
"Are you bleeding?" he asked. "I can smell fresh blood on you."
"My hand," I said.
He stopped. "Can you stand if I set you down?"
"I think so." Although my head throbbed, I was certain my legs would hold me.
Drake carefully lowered my feet. My legs trembled and I leaned into him for support.
His cool fingers wrapped around my wrist. He lifted my hand. My bones had healed, but a large tear on the
underside exposed too much flesh and bone. I turned my eyes away, unable to tolerate looking at it for long.
Drake brought my hand close to his face. He glided his wet tongue along the gash. A sharp chill crept up my arm and my skin twitched. He licked at my wound again and again with soft and gentle strokes. Tingles spread from my nipples and went south with each delicate, cool, wet lap of his tongue. All my aches soon disappeared and were replaced with pleasure.
"Oh God, Drake," I breathed out, enjoying his wet caress.
After a few more strokes of his tongue, he kissed my hand and then lowered it.
"Thank you," I said, feeling warm and aroused.
Fast footsteps came toward us. I twisted and saw Alan with three other men. They were all wearing tight jeans and t-shirts. Their defined muscles and stern expressions made them appear ready to tear something apart.
"Jessie, thank God." Alan put his hand on my shoulder. "Are you all right?"
A zing of energy rushed through me from his warm touch. "Better now." Much better, now that Drake was with me.
Drake's dark eyes met Alan's. "I'm taking her to the car. If you search a few trucks behind me, you'll find one of them."
"Good. The others got away from us, but we'll find them," Alan said. He passed Drake, heading for the trucks. "If you want to head back to the hotel, we can catch you later."
Drake smiled and lifted me into his arms. "Ready?"
"More than ready."
He carried me across the parking lot to an SUV with tinted windows. It was parked off to the side of the truck stop, away from the bright lights and flow of traffic. Stopping at the back of the driver's side, he set me gently on my feet. After he opened the door, I slid into the back seat and stopped midway.
"Jessie, are you all right?" Jeremy asked, leaning over from the driver's seat.
"Sore, but I'll live," I said.
I glanced at the man sitting in the passenger seat. His inky black hair faced me. From his backside, I didn't recognize him, but I knew he wasn't a werewolf. His energy chilled me, so he had to be a vampire. I could only assume he was a friend of Drake's. Glad to have my lover back, I decided to ask about his friend later.
Drake climbed into the vehicle, then shut the door. The light went out, leaving a soft glow from the dashboard.
