Part 4
“Run the property,” Adam ordered. “If you find stragglers, deal with ‘em.” He led me back inside and shut the door. “That went well.”
“They showed up rather quickly, don’t you think?” the older man said.
I was beginning to wonder if I had been followed after all. If not by Trey or Ben, by Steven.
“Who pays for your phone?” Adam asked me. Not waiting for the answer, he picked it up and tossed it in the fireplace.
On instinct I ran to try to grab it, but stopped before I actually stuck my hand in the fire. “Ben does, but did you really have to do that? I’ll admit I don’t have much on it, but it was mine.”
“If he’s paying the bill, he can find you anytime he likes. If you want real freedom get rid of anything he might be able to track you with.” He turned to the older man. “Might be a good idea to check her car, Dad.”
“You or me?” He asked. After noticing the suit he was wearing, I was sure it would be Adam.
“Just don’t set fire to it, okay?” I said, collapsing on the couch.
He picked up my keys and smiled. “No promises.”
His dad sat beside me and put his hand on my knee. “Don’t mind him. I’m Paul, by the way.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said. “Although I’m sure it’s not the first time.”
“It’s not, my dear. I was Nicolae’s beta. I’ve known you your entire life. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner.”
“Adam said he had to let it play out.”
“Smart man, my son.” He got up and looked out the window. “Looks like he found something.”
Adam walked back inside and handed me my purse. “Ever been car shopping before?” I shook my head. “Alrighty. Think about what you want. We’ll go first thing tomorrow. Can you add her to my policy, Dad?”
“Sure thing. I’ll get that done tonight. When you get the car just come by the office. I assume same as yours?”
“Full coverage,” he answered. “You mind giving Dad your info?”
As happy as I’d be to have a brand new car, I hardly expected him to get it for me. “You don’t have to do that, Adam. Ben took care of that car for years before he let me have it. It’ll be fine for a few more.”
“Besides the GPS, it’s leaking oil. The motor sounds iffy too. I’d rather you not break down on the side of the road. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben’s not already counting on that.”
With that thought, I dug my license out of my wallet and handed it to Paul. He took it and disappeared into another room.
“His room,” Adam said when the door closed. “He stays out here sometimes. Mostly when it gets close to a full moon.“
“Thank you, Adam. You really don’t have to do all this for me.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not, but I want to. It’s obvious Ben never did anything for you. Hell, he wouldn’t even give you a place of your own when he green lighted the engagement to Trey. You deserve something nice.”
My thoughts went to the house I grew up in and the few things I had. With the exception of a shoebox full of old pictures my aunt had managed to save from being thrown away with the rest of my parents things.
“Adam?”
“Yes?” He sat down on couch facing me.
“Ben can have it. All of it. I’ll get a job. I’ll repay you for the car and I’ll pay my way here. The only thing I want is the pictures from my room. If you call my aunt, she’ll know what to look for.”
“Are you sure, Jenna? That’s a lot of money. It was never his in the first place.”
“It’s blood money. Had they not been killed, it wouldn’t be mine either.”
“I’ll make the call. Don’t worry about the car or anything else for that matter. If you want a job, I’ve been looking for someone to help me around the office. It’s yours if you want it.”
I snorted. “I’m not sure I’m qualified for the kind of help you need.”
He smiled and patted my thigh. “Good thing I’m a good teacher. Listen, the first thing I want you to do is take some time. Find you. We’ve got all the time in the world for everything else.” He phoned interrupted him. “All clear,” he said, sliding his phone back into his pocket. “Logan says they’ve gone home for the night. We’ll make that call to your aunt in the morning. I’ll let Ben know tonight you’ve been generous enough to let him keep what he’s stolen before we go to bed tonight. Maybe that will keep him satisfied for the time being.”
“What about Steven?” Ben scared me, but that man terrified me and he’d given up way too easy earlier for my taste. I couldn’t help thinking he was planning a surprise attack.
“After what Dad said, I don’t think he’ll try anything. At least not tonight. I’ll double check the house if you want me too.”
“Please. And Adam?”
“Yes?”
I felt silly asking, but I couldn’t shake the feeling and I didn’t want to be alone if it proved right. Werewolf I may be, I’m also willing to admit I’m not as strong as most.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” His smile practically lit up the room.
“You can stay with me as long as you like.” He leaned forward, touching his forehead to mine. “No strings attached.”
He kissed my cheek and stood up. After a good stretch, he walked to the front door, locked it and set the alarm. “I’ll call Ben while I’m checking the rest of the house. Go on up. I’ll be there in a bit.”
I watched him walk into the kitchen and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. Before I crawled in, I looked at the clock on the nightstand. Midnight had come and gone long ago. I pulled back the covers and snuggled in. The deep blue sheets were softer than anything I ever felt. The comforter was so warm it could have had a heater in it. In no time at all, I was asleep.
A hand over my mouth startled me awake. My eyes shot open to see a black figure leaning over the bed. I struggled to get away, but another figure moved out of the shadows and held me down while the one who had been covering my mouth replaced his hand with a gag. After they flipped me over, they tied my hands behind my back and tossed me over their shoulder.
I kicked as hard as I could, trying to get away with no luck. As we descended down the stairs I looked for Adam. When I found his crumpled, bloody body lying motionless on the ground in front of the fireplace, I screamed as loud as I could, hoping to alert Paul. The two men laughed. I took that to mean I was completely on my own.
Outside the house, waiting in the driveway, was a dark colored van. They tossed me in the back and slammed the doors shut. As soon as they climbed into the front seat, the engine roared to life. Tires squealing, the vehicle tore out of the driveway.
Desperate, I tried working the bindings on my wrists loose. If I could wriggle free, I might have a chance.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit still,” a deep, familiar voice said. I squinted my eyes, trying to see whom the voice belonged to. “Nobody wants to pay top dollar for damaged goods.”
Headlights from on oncoming car lit up the inside of the van revealing the man’s identity. It was one of his own. It was Logan.
“They showed up rather quickly, don’t you think?” the older man said.
I was beginning to wonder if I had been followed after all. If not by Trey or Ben, by Steven.
“Who pays for your phone?” Adam asked me. Not waiting for the answer, he picked it up and tossed it in the fireplace.
On instinct I ran to try to grab it, but stopped before I actually stuck my hand in the fire. “Ben does, but did you really have to do that? I’ll admit I don’t have much on it, but it was mine.”
“If he’s paying the bill, he can find you anytime he likes. If you want real freedom get rid of anything he might be able to track you with.” He turned to the older man. “Might be a good idea to check her car, Dad.”
“You or me?” He asked. After noticing the suit he was wearing, I was sure it would be Adam.
“Just don’t set fire to it, okay?” I said, collapsing on the couch.
He picked up my keys and smiled. “No promises.”
His dad sat beside me and put his hand on my knee. “Don’t mind him. I’m Paul, by the way.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said. “Although I’m sure it’s not the first time.”
“It’s not, my dear. I was Nicolae’s beta. I’ve known you your entire life. I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner.”
“Adam said he had to let it play out.”
“Smart man, my son.” He got up and looked out the window. “Looks like he found something.”
Adam walked back inside and handed me my purse. “Ever been car shopping before?” I shook my head. “Alrighty. Think about what you want. We’ll go first thing tomorrow. Can you add her to my policy, Dad?”
“Sure thing. I’ll get that done tonight. When you get the car just come by the office. I assume same as yours?”
“Full coverage,” he answered. “You mind giving Dad your info?”
As happy as I’d be to have a brand new car, I hardly expected him to get it for me. “You don’t have to do that, Adam. Ben took care of that car for years before he let me have it. It’ll be fine for a few more.”
“Besides the GPS, it’s leaking oil. The motor sounds iffy too. I’d rather you not break down on the side of the road. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ben’s not already counting on that.”
With that thought, I dug my license out of my wallet and handed it to Paul. He took it and disappeared into another room.
“His room,” Adam said when the door closed. “He stays out here sometimes. Mostly when it gets close to a full moon.“
“Thank you, Adam. You really don’t have to do all this for me.”
He shrugged. “Maybe not, but I want to. It’s obvious Ben never did anything for you. Hell, he wouldn’t even give you a place of your own when he green lighted the engagement to Trey. You deserve something nice.”
My thoughts went to the house I grew up in and the few things I had. With the exception of a shoebox full of old pictures my aunt had managed to save from being thrown away with the rest of my parents things.
“Adam?”
“Yes?” He sat down on couch facing me.
“Ben can have it. All of it. I’ll get a job. I’ll repay you for the car and I’ll pay my way here. The only thing I want is the pictures from my room. If you call my aunt, she’ll know what to look for.”
“Are you sure, Jenna? That’s a lot of money. It was never his in the first place.”
“It’s blood money. Had they not been killed, it wouldn’t be mine either.”
“I’ll make the call. Don’t worry about the car or anything else for that matter. If you want a job, I’ve been looking for someone to help me around the office. It’s yours if you want it.”
I snorted. “I’m not sure I’m qualified for the kind of help you need.”
He smiled and patted my thigh. “Good thing I’m a good teacher. Listen, the first thing I want you to do is take some time. Find you. We’ve got all the time in the world for everything else.” He phoned interrupted him. “All clear,” he said, sliding his phone back into his pocket. “Logan says they’ve gone home for the night. We’ll make that call to your aunt in the morning. I’ll let Ben know tonight you’ve been generous enough to let him keep what he’s stolen before we go to bed tonight. Maybe that will keep him satisfied for the time being.”
“What about Steven?” Ben scared me, but that man terrified me and he’d given up way too easy earlier for my taste. I couldn’t help thinking he was planning a surprise attack.
“After what Dad said, I don’t think he’ll try anything. At least not tonight. I’ll double check the house if you want me too.”
“Please. And Adam?”
“Yes?”
I felt silly asking, but I couldn’t shake the feeling and I didn’t want to be alone if it proved right. Werewolf I may be, I’m also willing to admit I’m not as strong as most.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” His smile practically lit up the room.
“You can stay with me as long as you like.” He leaned forward, touching his forehead to mine. “No strings attached.”
He kissed my cheek and stood up. After a good stretch, he walked to the front door, locked it and set the alarm. “I’ll call Ben while I’m checking the rest of the house. Go on up. I’ll be there in a bit.”
I watched him walk into the kitchen and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. Before I crawled in, I looked at the clock on the nightstand. Midnight had come and gone long ago. I pulled back the covers and snuggled in. The deep blue sheets were softer than anything I ever felt. The comforter was so warm it could have had a heater in it. In no time at all, I was asleep.
A hand over my mouth startled me awake. My eyes shot open to see a black figure leaning over the bed. I struggled to get away, but another figure moved out of the shadows and held me down while the one who had been covering my mouth replaced his hand with a gag. After they flipped me over, they tied my hands behind my back and tossed me over their shoulder.
I kicked as hard as I could, trying to get away with no luck. As we descended down the stairs I looked for Adam. When I found his crumpled, bloody body lying motionless on the ground in front of the fireplace, I screamed as loud as I could, hoping to alert Paul. The two men laughed. I took that to mean I was completely on my own.
Outside the house, waiting in the driveway, was a dark colored van. They tossed me in the back and slammed the doors shut. As soon as they climbed into the front seat, the engine roared to life. Tires squealing, the vehicle tore out of the driveway.
Desperate, I tried working the bindings on my wrists loose. If I could wriggle free, I might have a chance.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll sit still,” a deep, familiar voice said. I squinted my eyes, trying to see whom the voice belonged to. “Nobody wants to pay top dollar for damaged goods.”
Headlights from on oncoming car lit up the inside of the van revealing the man’s identity. It was one of his own. It was Logan.
Dawn Kirby lives in West TX with Jamie, her husband of 17 years and their three wonderful children Tristan, Aishlynn and Shelby. She's the author of SECRETS, DECEIT and TRIBULATIONS. All three part of the paranormal romance Serenity Series published by Twisted Core Press. Her work is also featured in several 7DS Books anthologies such as SEVEN DEADLY SINS, A MAN’S PROMISE, LINGER, among several others. Another short, DATE NIGHT was published in 13 Tales of the Paranormal by Firefly and Wisp. To find out more about Dawn's work please visit www.dawnmkirby.com.
Places to find Dawn Kirby
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I would love to hear your thoughts. :) HAPPY READING !!!!