Catching an Evil Tail

by Mary Abshire

  "I'm not a politician."

  "I'll be there with you, at your side."

  I lowered my head as I considered his suggestion. Answering questions in front of a group that wanted me dead sounded an awful lot like a trial. Why would I willingly show up if my life was at stake?

  "Can't you convince them without me? If I show up and we can't convince them, I'm as good as dead."

  Drake dropped to his knees. Facing me with a dire look in his eyes, he took my hands in his and squeezed them gently. "I am fighting for you, and I will continue. But they need to hear your voice. They need to understand you, to know you."

  I swallowed hard. "And if I don't go?"

  "I know I can convince them if you come with me and talk to them."

  Despair crept within me from his avoidance to answer my question.

  "If I don't go?" I asked again.

  Drake rose, still holding tight to my hands. "You have to come with me." Though his voice was calm, the directive was clear.

  My heart sped with the realization I no longer had a choice in the matter. "Is that why Kuri is here?"

  "Because of our relationship, they think I might try to hide you. They sent him with me to make sure I bring you back."

  I looked away from him to hide the tears swelling in my eyes.

  "Jessie—"

  Before he could say another word, I shoved him back and ran to the curtained window. Standing with my back to Drake, I held my hands over my face. I wanted to cry and scream and rip someone's head off. But what good would it do?

  Drake's cool hands touched my bare shoulders. "Jessie—"

  I jerked away from him, wiping the few tears that had fallen. "Don't touch me."

  "Jessie, we can work this out. You can go back to your normal life and your friends—"

  I laughed. "Yeah, as long as I show up to your little trial and they grant me freedom to live."

  "You're looking at this the wrong way," he said, stepping forward.

  "How am I supposed to look at this?" I moved away from him. "You're not giving me any options."

  "I will protect you. I give you my word. Just trust me," he said, pleading.

  Drake backed me up to the edge of the bed. I believed he would protect me, but I didn't know how far he would go. If his own existence were on the line, would he sacrifice himself for me, a half-demon who could send souls to Hell? I believed he loved me, but I had doubts he would sacrifice his immortal self to save me.

  I sat on the bed with my gaze away from him, wondering what he would do if I ran away. Would he seek me out? I knew the answer. He'd find me, then take me to the VETOV. He'd have to bring me in to spare his reputation and possibly, his own existence. In a way, he'd already risked his neck by defending me. He'd managed to convince some members that my life was worthwhile. If I ran away now, I'd only make him look foolish. Did I really want to disgrace him after he’d saved my life for the third time in less than three months?

  "All right," I whispered my agreement, but refused to look him in the eye. "I'll go back with you."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Bright lights whizzed by in a blur as I stared out the window of Ryan's vehicle. I sat with my legs crossed and my elbow resting on the side of the door. The tip of my finger was wedged between my teeth. I'd been chewing on it for the last ten minutes, thinking about where my life was heading. All signs pointed to the toilet.

  Jeremy sat in the back with Drake and Kuri. I'd insisted on sitting in the front or taking a private cab to the party. Jeremy didn't want to sit next to any vampire, but he wasn't about to let me out of his sight. Neither were Drake and Kuri. Guess I was truly a celebrity now.

  The more I thought about my conversation with Drake, the more I wanted to lash out at him. For starters, he’d delayed telling me I had to go to Europe with him. He knew I would be upset and would resist giving up my job, friends, and my life as I knew it. By appealing to my desires, and gaining my affection, he figured he'd have a better chance at convincing me to go with him.

  He didn't know me well.

  Drake's sugarcoating of the details about meeting with the VETOV only made matters worse. He made it sound easy. All I had to do was show up and talk to them, then everything would be all right. I could walk away free. In reality, he and Kuri had to ensure I attended the meeting, and there was no guarantee I'd walk away alive. Because he hadn't been forthcoming, I questioned our relationship. Moreover, I questioned where his loyalties lie.

  "Are you nervous?" Ryan asked, jarring me from my thoughts. He sat behind the steering wheel, dressed in a formal blue suit.

  "No, not really," I replied as I turned to face him. "Did you warn Alan about the four others working with Gabe?" Though I didn't have names, I gave him plenty of descriptions to track the four other werewolves.

  "I told him everything you told me." Ryan glanced at me for a few seconds before returning his gaze to the road. "He said Gabe is avoiding his calls. Assuming Gabe and the others are helping Matthew, they will be expelled from the pack and the company."

  "Does that mean Alan is going to let them walk away?" I asked, surprised.

  "Alan is turning his back on them, which means anyone is free to take them down," Jeremy said.

  Leather softly moaned as I twisted in the seat to face Jeremy. "Are you planning to go after them?"

  Jeremy's lips hinted at a smile. "If I can get to them first."

  I glanced at Drake, sitting in the middle. He wore a black shirt to match his pants and sat with his hands folded together on his lap. Face impassive, he stared at me.

  "Do you plan to kill them?" I asked.

  "Do you expect us to let them live? Gabe attacked you, kidnapped you, and struck you. The others did nothing to stop him," Drake said with an eerie calmness that frightened me.

  "Gabe could have killed you," Jeremy said.

  I twisted around, then returned my gaze to the window on my side. Based on Jeremy and Drake's words, I doubted Gabe and his buddies would live to see the next day if they had the balls to show tonight. Even if they didn't make an appearance, their days were numbered. And while I didn't want to think about them being killed, I wasn't going to prevent their deaths.

  The remainder of the drive was a quiet one. By the time we reached our destination, I was ready to move around. Long drives tended to put me to sleep. Ryan slowly steered the vehicle toward the entrance of the resort. Several men dressed in red vests darted between the luxury vehicles ahead of us. Ryan moved the car over on the side, out of the line for valet, then parked the SUV.

  "We can walk in from here." Ryan lifted the divider between the seats, withdrew a plastic card, then handed it to Drake. "There's a parking lot down the hill if you follow the path. This pass will get you into any lots of your choosing."

  Drake took the card from Ryan's hand. "What time shall we expect you to leave?"

  "Ten-forty. I’ll notify you if anything changes," Ryan said before he pushed his door open.

  Without saying a word, I slid out of the SUV. My shoes hit the pavement with a clap. Kuri and Drake were at my side within seconds. The Asian vamp stood so close the hairs on my neck twitched uncontrollably, telling me to get away.

  I met his gaze. "Don't worry. I won't run off."

  "I doubt you will. But if you change your mind, I'm sure we can find you," he said, keeping his hands hidden in his front pockets.

  Frowning, I shifted my attention to Drake. He took a step toward me and I turned away. I was still mad at him, and he needed to realize how upset I was. With nothing more to say, I headed for the bright entrance.

  I strode up the small hill. The warm night air, along with Kuri's comment, sparked an instant rise in my body temperature. I needed to get away from the bloodsuckers and into cool air, fast.

  Past the main entrance, a crowd of people waited at the security checkpoint. After I'd reached the end of the line, I glanced over my shoulder. Ryan and Jeremy were catching up with me. Both men looked devilishly handso
me in their suits.

  Though I hadn't said a word to Jeremy, I felt a little resentment toward him. He’d known Drake's plans and failed to mention them to me. But I couldn't really place blame on him since I'd spent the day in Drake's arms. What did I expect Jeremy to do? Beat down the door and tell me? No, it wasn't his fault. At some point, I needed to break the silence and find out exactly what he did know.

  The line moved quickly at the checkpoint. Four male and two female security guards were standing by, but only three were checking bags and conducting quick searches. A table was set up on each side. Two men worked on the left and one woman on my right. When I reached the female guard, I twisted to face Ryan. He stepped closer to me, and the guard's attention swiftly darted to him.

  "My name is Ryan Foster. I’m on the special list with Jessie Garrett and Jeremy Ward," Ryan told the closed-lipped woman.

  She picked up the clipboard from the desk, then flipped through a few papers. She held pages up with one hand while she studied the document in front of her. "Ryan Foster—"

  "And two guests," Ryan said.

  "I see them." She returned the clipboard to the desk. "You may go in."

  We passed the guards and entered a large, open hallway. A round table sat in the center. A coat check and bathrooms were located on one side while the other had two large, open doorways. At the end of the hall, men and women crossed paths with drinks and napkins in their hands. Given the massive size of the resort, I estimated Alan must have spent a sizable amount to utilize it for a party.

  I headed for the open doorways. Ryan followed me. Stopping at the side of the entrance to the room, I peered inside. People were gathered around tables of food and the two bars in the back. After a couple passed by, I followed them into the resort.

  "Is this the only bar?" I asked, pointing in the room.

  "No, there are more on each end of the resort."

  "How many rooms are in this place?"

  "Too many. The Fourth of July and New Year’s are our biggest gatherings. By ten p.m., this place will be packed."

  I drew in a deep breath, not sure if I wanted to be surrounded by so many werewolves. At least everyone was in a dress or suit.

  "All right, I'm going exploring," I said.

  "I can find you and Jeremy later. Your scents are easy to pick up."

  I half chuckled. Our demon scents had already acquired a couple of looks. I had no doubt he could find us with little effort.

  Jeremy stood nearby. His gaze was elsewhere, taking in the activity. Without saying a word, I walked away from him. Company or not, I was going to get a drink.

  I wandered down a hall with red and gold carpet. Large, framed artwork decorated the walls. All the oil paintings were of scenes. I turned a corner and strolled along another long hall with doors wide open on both sides. Music from the far end of the hall nearly drowned the chattering guests. I continued until I reached the room with music. Inside was an abundance of women in black cocktail dresses. Dressed in red, I stuck out like a sore thumb.

  After a deep breath, I entered the dimly lit room. A long bar extended along the side. I headed for it. Similar to the other bar, people crowed it. I started to wonder if werewolves were heavy drinkers. Near the end of the bar, I found an open spot. Since there weren't any chairs, I stood and tapped my hands on the counter. A bartender on each end was busy serving drinks. Lucky for me, one was heading my way.

  "Did you think you would get rid of me that fast?" Jeremy rested his hand on my lower back. His heat quickly penetrated the fabric of my dress.

  "Truthfully, I wasn't trying to get rid of you," I said.

  The bartender stopped in front of me. "What can I get for you?"

  "Four shots of your strongest vodka," Jeremy said before I could get a word out. The bartender took off to get our drinks.

  I twisted halfway around so I was able to keep him in view, but not give him my direct attention. "Are all of them…"

  "Yes. Servers, bodyguards, waitresses," Jeremy said as the bartender appeared with four empty glasses in hand. He clanked them on the counter.

  "Are there any humans here?" I asked as the bartender filled our drinks.

  "A few."

  "Do they know?"

  "I doubt it. This is a private party for families to mingle. They allow for a few guests, but from what Ryan tells me, they are very selective."

  The bartender slid our drinks in front of us. "If you need anything more, just wave your hand."

  "Thanks," I said.

  Jeremy and I each picked up a glass.

  "To us," he said, extending his drink to me.

  I hesitated at first to toast since the meaning behind it wasn't clear to me. Then I decided to place. No harm could come from a toast anyway. I tapped my glass with his. "To us." I tossed the clear liquid into my mouth. It didn't take long for the alcohol to light a fire inside me.

  Jeremy slid the other full glass in front of me and lifted his. "Want to talk about anything?"

  I had plenty on my mind to talk about, but the timing didn't seem appropriate.

  Shaking my head, I lifted my drink.

  "Then how about we toast to tonight?" he said.

  I touched my glass with his. "To tonight."

  After we finished our drinks, I leaned back against the bar as the liquor relaxed me. The contemporary music lacked a good beat, yet the dance floor overflowed with guests. I didn't know why, but I'd thought werewolves would find more entertainment in rock or dance music.

  Jeremy bumped my shoulder. "Want to dance?"

  I chuckled. "To this?"

  He took my hand and pulled me away from the bar. "Come on."

  A wee bit lightheaded, I didn't argue. I followed him through a maze of dancing werewolves dressed in expensive clothes and fine jewelry. A few heads turned to look at us, no doubt smelling our demon scents. Finding an open space, Jeremy stopped and spun around to face me. He held one of my hands and slid one arm around my waist.

  I rested my hand on his shoulder and, with half a smile, I said, "I'm not a good dancer. This music isn't my forte."

  He grinned. "I'm not either. If we're going to embarrass ourselves, at least we'll do it together."

  My smile widened.

  "Now that's what I wanted to see. And, by the way, you look spectacular in that dress."

  "Thank you, Jeremy," I said, genuinely grateful. Aside from all the struggles going on in my head, it was nice to hear a compliment.

  "I think you should sneak it back home with you," he said.

  I laughed as we danced slowly, walking in a circular pattern while keeping a small gap of space between us. To my surprise, Jeremy minded his manners and didn't grope me. He even kept his temper under control when he caught the occasional werewolf looking at my legs.

  Older couples danced around us with bright smiles on their faces. They'd probably spent their lives together, raised children, and loved each other passionately. I longed for that type of commitment and passion. When I'd met Drake, I thought maybe we had a chance, except for the children part. Now, I didn't know.

  Jeremy squeezed my hand and pulled me closer. Warm energy trickled over my skin and spilled into me from his touch. I met his eyes and he said, "Are you sure you don't want to talk? I'm a good listener."

  Although he was inches from me, his warm energy radiated through me, offering me support and strength. I stared into his bold eyes and was half tempted to tell him my fears and worries. But I didn't want him to use them against me.

  "You can trust me as a friend," he said. "And if it makes you feel any better, I'll find some peanuts and we can go hide somewhere. You can talk to me while we try and catch nuts in our mouths."

  I laughed. "You are too creative."

  He pressed his forehead to mine and gazed into my eyes. "You are the love of my life. I'd do just about anything for you."

  For a change, I didn't back away from him. His closeness comforted me. I longed for some support in my unstable life. He tigh
tened his grip around my waist, nudging me closer to him. I felt his warmth, his strength, and his intense energy bubbling with life. It was intoxicating, and the demon part of me wanted more.

  "May I cut in?" Alan asked.

  Surprised by his sudden appearance, I took a quick step back. My heart thumped fast as I stared at the werewolf and his outstretched hand. He stood out from the crowd with his elegant black suit and deep red tie. He'd even combed his wavy hair back, giving him a sleek, sophisticated, and sexy style.

  Alan directed his gaze to Jeremy "Would you mind?"

  Jeremy looked to me for an answer. I nodded.

  "I'll be around," Jeremy said before he walked off the dance floor.

  "Did I interrupt anything?" Alan asked.

  "No. It's okay." I was grateful for the interruption. Although Jeremy was consistently a thorn in my side, he had a way of appealing to my inner demon. I had to maintain control, and that was often a challenge with him when I was distressed.

  I placed my hand into Alan's while he slid his arm around my waist. His energy zinged through me, different from Jeremy's, yet very strong.

  Alan smiled. "You look exceptional in that dress."

  "Thank you. Did your secretary pick it out?" I asked as we swayed ever so gently.

  "She did, but I gave her specifications. I told her it had to be above the knees, but not too short, sleeveless, and it had to be red."

  "She did well then," I said with a smile. "Maybe you should give her a raise."

  He chuckled. "I'll let her know you said that."

  A sense of peace and security filled me as I stared into his eyes. My body relaxed as we danced and I found it quite easy to stay in line with his steps.

  "Did Ryan warn you about Gabe and his friends?" I asked.

  "Yes, he did," he said with remorse in his eyes. "Jessie, I cannot apologize enough. I trusted him. I trusted Ron."

  "I hear you're turning your back on all of them."

  "I would kill them myself, but I'm in debt to your friends. I can't begin to explain how awful I would feel had something happened to you."

  "Do you think they will show up later?"

  "I don't know. I hope they do," he said with a slight curl of his lips.