Bring Him Back, Jack

by Holly Day

  “Okay, let’s try it. We need to talk to Raina and Zev.” Ivan moved toward the doorway, but Malik reached for him. Malik pushed Ivan against the wall and looked into his eyes before his gaze dropped to Ivan’s lips.

  * * * *

  Heat washed over Ivan as Malik held him against the wall. “I’m not sure a fuck in the coatroom is the best idea right now.”

  Malik jerked and let go of Ivan as if he’d burned him. Crap! He’d meant it as a joke.

  He grabbed Malik’s arm before he could move away farther. Sliding a hand up over Malik’s shoulder and onto his neck, Ivan pulled him down. He pressed his lips to Malik’s. How did you kiss a vampire? He ran his tongue over the seam of Malik’s mouth and hooked his leg around Malik’s hip.

  Malik put a hand on Ivan’s ass and lifted him, easily trapping him between his body and the wall. When Malik’s tongue pushed into Ivan’s mouth he moaned and rubbed against Malik’s hard length.

  Malik froze and started to untangle Ivan. “We shouldn’t.”

  Ivan made a frustrated sound. “Perhaps not.” He reached out and cupped Malik’s hard cock. Damn. He was rewarded with a hiss, fangs showing and all.

  “Ivan.” It was more growl than anything else.

  “I know, but…It could be quick.”

  Malik’s eyes got so wide, Ivan had to go through what he’d said in his head.

  “I will not…We can’t…It’s not right.”

  “Not right?” Because they were two guys? Hadn’t Malik said he was Ivan’s?

  “I’ll want to mate with you and—”

  “It’s what I’m offering, dude. A quick fuck in the coatroom. You can’t say you’ve never fantasized about it.” He wiggled his eyebrows and Malik shook his head.

  “Not a quick fuck. Mating, and mating isn’t quick.”

  “Oh, you make it sound hot.” Ivan grinned, but it only made Malik shake his head. Disappointment filled Ivan’s chest. It was for the best. They were here to steal a diamond and save their lives, not get off in the coatroom. He sighed and dropped his shoulders. “Okay, let’s get to work.”

  Malik watched him in a way that had his heart accelerating. He looked like he wanted to eat Ivan up. No one ever looked at him like that.

  “Malik?”

  “I want you. I want to be with you in a place where no one will walk in on us, where no one is hunting us, where I can take my time and touch every inch of your body.”

  Ivan shivered. “I’m holding you to it.”

  The smile Malik gave him made his heart ache. He didn’t think it would happen.

  Ivan would make it happen. He’d steal the diamond. He’d buy Malik’s freedom. And they would find a place to live where they didn’t have to worry about being caught or found out. There was always a risk Ivan would be found out, but he could be more careful than he’d been up to this point.

  “Okay, let’s fill Raina and Zev in on the plan. If you peek, can you spot Zev?”

  Ivan watched Malik look around the doorpost, and soon Zev slunk into the coatroom.

  Chapter 14

  Malik took a deep breath. This was not how he’d dreamed his life would go. After years of being locked up in the basement, only to come out when he was gonna do some mission, he’d always dreamed about the day he would be free to do what he wanted. Not what Master wanted.

  It had always been far-fetched; he’d never truly believed he ever would leave the basement and not come back. He’d watched Cassius, certain it was his fate. Year in and year out, he’d serve his master, risking his life and enduring his punishments, until he one day was too old to do so. He’d be trapped in a cell, starving and weak, and he’d watch the continuing abuse without being able to do anything about it.

  Then Agent Snow had walked in—a small human with no sense of what was best for him. A man who’d treated him as if he was a living, breathing, thinking creature instead of a slave.

  He would die for Ivan.

  Peeking out of where he hid in the coatroom, he saw several familiar faces. Remington Redwood was here with his vampires—Malik’s brothers and cousins. They had to know he was there. There were a lot of scents with this many people in the same building, but Malik could smell them there. They were in his every breath. Remington was somewhere nearby, but Malik couldn’t see him.

  He turned and watched the tables. All the guests were seated, the first course had been served, and there was a hum of conversation.

  Raina appeared, carrying a tray with several glasses, and seconds after, Zev and Ivan stepped into the room. Malik steeled himself. For a few moments, he allowed himself to watch Ivan. His small frame, the way he moved as gracefully as if he was dancing, his black hair tousled. His dark eyes met Malik’s and for the first time, Malik wished he hadn’t been wearing the lens. Ivan wasn’t of this world, but he shouldn’t have to hide who he was.

  An ache spread in his chest. This might be the last time he saw Ivan and he wished he could tell Ivan. Tell him he was Malik’s—not snarl it in frustration or while grinding against him in a parking lot. Malik wanted to tell him, he was the one, the one Malik was to spend the rest of his life with. The one Malik would die for.

  Raina neared Lady Zelly, ready to drop the tray. Malik filled his lungs with air and stepped into the room. Dante, Malik’s brother, locked eyes with him but didn’t move. Malik spread his arms. He needed them to grab him. The plan was to cause a ruckus so Raina could drop her tray and everyone would be focused on the fight or the dropped tray while Ivan melted into the wall behind Lady Zelly.

  Dante didn’t move, instead, he motioned for Malik to go back into the coatroom. Urien, their cousin, appeared next to Dante, his gaze slid over Malik, then fastened on the wall behind him.

  Malik took another step forward. He loved them, but he needed them to do their job, dammit. Why weren’t they trying to catch him? If Remington found out they’d seen him and done nothing, they’d be punished.

  For a few seconds, he was certain the plan would fail, then he heard Remington approach. “There he is! Jack, grab him!”

  There was a crash, and Malik risked a glance in Raina’s direction—she’d dropped the tray with wine glasses right over Lady Zelly. The graying man Malik assumed was Lord Zelly called out and vampires swarmed around them. One tried to push away Raina, but both she and Zev had grabbed napkins and were trying to mop up the spill—or making it appear as if it was what they did.

  Ivan was nowhere to be seen.

  Someone grabbed Malik’s arm, and he punched whoever it was—Cazimir. Malik liked Cazimir and didn’t want to hurt him, but it was the plan.

  “Sorry.” Malik’s whisper wouldn’t carry far, but the ones closest would hear him. Then he kicked and hit, pulled and shoved, punched and thrashed. It wasn’t pleasant, but more and more vampires were gathering around him, both Remington’s and a couple Malik assumed worked for the hotel. He had a short-lived moment of triumph when he noted several of the Zellys’ vampires were there, too.

  Then someone knocked him right in the jaw. His cheek shredded on the inside, and the world momentarily went black. Malik caught himself before he hit the ground. He kicked, dislodged a knee—poor Dante, he’d apologize if he got the chance.

  The last thing he registered before a blow to the back of his head had darkness sucking him under was Zev’s fingers curling around something while stepping closer to the wall.

  * * * *

  Ivan gritted his teeth. When Malik had said he’d cause a distraction, Ivan had assumed he’d push someone and run, set off the fire alarm or something similar. He wasn’t prepared to see Malik take a beating out of this world.

  Zev growled as he watched the scene, but he didn’t leave his position between Raina and Ivan. Lord Zelly, or who Ivan assumed was Lord Zelly since he was seated next to Lady Zelly, gestured for some of his vampires to go help Remington subdue Malik.

  It was the perfect chance, and Raina took it. She pretended to wipe some of the spilled wine off Lady Zelly’s
neck, unhooked the necklace with a precision he hadn’t known she possessed, then she wiped at Lady Zelly’s collarbone and caught the necklace in the napkin. She pretended to stumble and bumped her hip against Lady Zelly’s shoulders, apologized profusely, and handed the napkin with the necklace to Zev, who stepped back close to the wall.

  Ivan fought to free an arm from the cold wall and curled his fingers around the necklace. Moving out of sight again, he stuffed it in his pocket and waited.

  He bit his lip not to curse as Malik went down. Stupid fucker. How would Ivan save him now? He had to stay in the wall until everyone had left. He moved a few steps closer to Malik, but he couldn’t get close enough to hear if they said anything.

  Raina and Zev needed to leave before someone noticed the necklace was gone. He wanted to step out of the wall and make them promise to get Malik. If Remington brought him back to the house, he was dead. Ivan didn’t think Remi would kill Malik in a room filled with society people, but who knew. Remington Redwood wasn’t the sanest of men.

  Raina gathered the napkins and grabbed the tray. She glanced at the wall where Ivan would’ve been if he’d stayed in his position and gave it a small nod. Zev trailed behind her as she headed for the kitchen.

  Ivan’s heart beat fast. They had to save Malik. Zev would understand the urgency—he hoped. He tore a foot free of the wall. Fuck the necklace, he had to save Malik. As the sole of his shoe touched the floor, a huge vampire limped over and stepped on it. Ivan clamped his lips shut and rapidly pulled his foot back into the wall. The vamp stared at the floor, then at the wall. It was the same one who’d noticed him in the wall in Raina’s apartment. He sniffed. Stepped closer, and inhaled again. A crease formed between his brows.

  “We’re leaving, Jack.”

  The vampire didn’t react to Remington’s words, instead, he raised a hand and tapped the wall with his forefinger.

  “Agent Snow?” It was a low whisper. “Are you in there, Agent Snow?”

  Ivan held his breath. How could he know? Scent?

  “I only know of one man who has shoes like you, and I saw a shoe. I can smell you.” Many wore black Converse shoes, though Ivan guessed perhaps the people who visited Ridiculous Remi didn’t.

  “Jack!” Remington’s voice cracked like a whip.

  “He’ll have us kill him.”

  Ivan didn’t dare speak while in the wall, and he couldn’t risk showing himself.

  “If you’re…” He grew silent, his frown deepening. “I know he’s just a vampire, but…” The vamp took a step closer. Had Ivan not been inside the wall, they’d be flush against each other. “He’s my brother.”

  Ivan studied him. There was a resemblance. The eyes Ivan had noted the last time, and he was tall but not as tall as Malik. His face held similarities, but it didn’t have the scars Malik’s did. Ivan only hesitated for a moment before he freed a hand from the wall and touched it to the vampire’s.

  When strong fingers curled around his wrist, he cursed his stupidity. No one could pull him from a wall, at least not without magic, but a vampire was so much stronger than Ivan, he could hold onto Ivan’s hand until he had to step out into the room.

  So stupid.

  “You don’t have long, Agent Snow.” The vampire squeezed his hand and let go.

  “Jack! I’m pushing the button.” Remington walked toward them, his face red with anger.

  “I smell him here, Master.” The vampire gestured at the general area around them.

  “Who?”

  “Agent Snow.”

  Remington stiffened. His gaze landed on Lady Zelly, who was on her way out of the room after having excused herself from the table, most likely to go change clothes since they were drenched in white wine.

  Ivan waited to see if he would alert her to missing her necklace. She would notice soon, if not now while walking, then she would become aware when she changed clothes. Ivan was sure of it.

  Remington didn’t say anything, instead he motioned for his group of vampires, including Malik, to leave the building.

  Ivan fought the panic rising in his chest. He had to get out, had to save Malik.

  Chapter 15

  When Malik came to, he was shackled again. It was dark, but he didn’t need light to see to know he was in the vehicle Master used when he transported several guards at once. They were all chained to the wall.

  A glance at his chest told him they hadn’t reinstalled the stake, but then again, why would they? Malik would die. As soon as they were away from people who didn’t belong to the house, he’d die.

  “Why did you do it?” Dante’s voice was low, and Malik looked up at him. He was shackled to the opposite wall.

  “Sorry about the knee.”

  Dante shrugged. “It’s healing. Why did you put yourself at risk?”

  Malik took a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

  “You could have run. Agent Snow removed the stake, and he’s not strong enough to force you to stay.”

  Malik sighed. “I didn’t want to run.”

  Dante shook his head. “He’ll force us to kill you.” His voice broke.

  “I’m sorry.” Switching seats was out of the question, but Malik managed to touch his foot to Dante’s. “He’s mine. I’d rather die in an attempt to help him escape than live in the basement, never seeing him again.”

  The strangled sound coming from Dante told Malik he was fighting tears.

  “It’ll be fine, brother. I hope you don’t have to be the one doing it, but I’ll never hold it against you if it is.”

  “Dammit, Malik.”

  “Quite.” He tried to smile but a lump was growing in his throat. He looked around and took in the empty spots around them. “Where are the others?”

  Dante blew out a breath. “Guarding the hotel. Master thinks Agent Snow is still in there.”

  Ice filled Malik’s chest. That was not the plan. Everyone should go back home to the estate and witness Malik’s death.

  Dante blew out a breath. “I didn’t tell anyone, but he’s in the wall. How can he be inside the wall?”

  Malik thumped his head against the metal bar behind him. “He’s…phantasm.”

  Dante chuckled, though it held no joy. “You don’t believe that shit, do you?”

  Malik’s muscles stiffened. “He is one. He’s wearing contact lenses or whatever they’re called. One eye is blue, he showed me. And he can melt into things.”

  “I noticed.”

  Malik held in a growl. Had the plan failed? Had they seen Ivan walk into the wall?

  “He touched my hand.”

  This time Malik didn’t stop the growl wanting out.

  Dante sighed. “I don’t think a human ever has touched me if not to cause pain.”

  “He’s not human.” Though Malik thought of him as human, too.

  “Close enough.”

  “Phantasm.”

  “Don’t be stupid. There is no in-between with life and death. You’re either alive or you’re not. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It matters.” It mattered because if Ivan wasn’t a phantasm, then Malik could take him for his mate, for real.

  “You won’t live much longer.”

  Malik tested the shackles. He’d always been too scared to fight with the stake ready to pierce his heart, but he didn’t have it now. Remington couldn’t push a button and paralyze him.

  He pulled and yanked. The metal of the hoop keeping the chain in place across his chest groaned in protest.

  “What are you doing?” Dante’s voice held a note of panic.

  It didn’t take long until Malik noted he didn’t have his old chains. The cuffs didn’t have stakes going through his wrists. With a roar, he pulled on the chains. He put as much of his weight and strength into each tug as he could, and with a snap, the hoop broke.

  “Shit. Can you run?”

  Malik shook his head while panting. He’d freed his upper body but the shackles around his feet were still attached to a hoop in the flo
or, and it looked to be thicker. “Floor.”

  When the driver hit the brakes hard enough to make the tires squeal, Malik fell forward. He crashed into Dante with a grunt.

  Malik chanced a glance at Dante. “I guess they heard the hoop break.”

  Dante flashed fangs, and Malik scrambled off him and readied himself to meet whoever opened the back door. When nothing happened, he glanced at Dante. “What’s going on? Who’s driving?”

  “Urien. Master is with him.”

  The door opened and Malik peeled his lips back and showed his fangs.

  “Let’s be civil about this, Malik. Ivan wouldn’t be pleased if you bit me.”

  Malik instantly concealed his teeth as Raina waved a gun at Remington and Urien. Zev was by her side, a gun in hand, too. He wanted to believe in the relief filling him, but how had they gotten here? Where had they found guns?

  “Unchain him.” Raina grinned at Remington.

  “He is my—”

  “I don’t care, Remi. I’m stealing him. You remember our deal, yes? Me stealing one of your vampires without triggering the alarm.” She shrugged.

  “Him, too.” Malik gestured at Dante.

  Raina stiffened. “It wasn’t the plan, Malik.”

  “He’s my brother.”

  Raina looked Dante up and down. “Ah, fuck.” She glanced at Zev. “What do we do?”

  He shrugged. “Whatever we’re doing, we need to do it fast.” He looked around—cars were slowing down.

  “Crap!” She waved the gun at Remington. “Unchain them.”

  Remington grinned, looking like a reptile when he did. “I can’t. They’re bound by magic.”

  Raina laughed, not a pleasant laugh, but one that sent a chill down Malik’s spine. “I know you think I’m stupid, Remi, but I know a thing or two about magic.”

  Remington’s eyes narrowed.

  “I know you need a wizard or someone equally powerful to bind the chain to the cuffs. I removed Malik’s cuffs, and I see you haven’t put them back on. The cuffs he’s wearing now don’t go through the bone, the chain isn’t magic, and since the brother was in the hotel without chains, my guess is his aren’t either.”