Bitter Black Kiss (24 page)

Chapter Twenty-four

“What do you want to do with him?” Lorenzo poked Brody in the ribs with a cautious finger.

It was stuffy and hot inside the car. The scent of sweat and fear was thick. He stayed extremely still hoping they would think the sedative was still working. He was a bit groggy, but the adrenaline pumping through him wouldn’t allow him to doze. Even the druggy fog had lifted somewhat. Now he just bided his time and waited for a chance to escape whatever they had planned.

He had no idea where they were going. He’d lost track of the direction and how many turns they made. The car flew at an above average speed, the front end shimmied and the engine whined.

Jamie twisted in the seat to look at him. “We could take him to lockup. Let him sleep it off.”

“Great plan. And when he wakes up, he’ll have quite a story to tell, won’t he?” Vasquez’s palm smacked the dashboard. “Idiots. God, sometimes I can’t believe we’re cousins. I should have hired someone with some brains to help me!”

The man tried to respond, but she cut him off. “The slut probably told him everything she overheard. Don’t you think it might be risky to let him walk away now? I don’t know why Sean even let her go. But we would be screwed for damn sure if they were both telling the same story.”

Jamie made apologetic sounds. “It’s just that I’ve never killed anyone.”

“So what about the girl?” Lorenzo cut in. Up until that point, he’d been quiet. The taser lay forgotten in his lap.

“What about her?”

“What are we going to do about her?” Lorenzo’s English was much clearer than Jamie’s. “If Sean won’t take care of her, we’ve got to. After we’re done with this trash, I’ll find her.”

It occurred to Brody that Lorenzo wasn’t new to this line of work. Jamie may have qualms about taking a life, but Lorenzo hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Brody watched Vasquez’s face in the mirror through lowered lashes. Her features darkened and she scowled. She answered with words that were clipped. “Sean wants to take care of her himself.”

“I’m sure he’s taking good care of her.” Jamie whistled and somehow made the laugh that followed sound lewd.

The sound of Vasquez’s slap resounded in the cramped car.

Jamie stammered, “I just meant…”

“Shut up. We have a job to do so let’s get it done.” Lorenzo spoke in a voice filled with purpose. Brody suspected he was about to see the business end of a gun.

The car made a series of turns before it finally rolled to a stop. Vasquez twisted in her seat to stare at Brody who kept his eyes shut. “Is he awake yet?”

Lorenzo jabbed him in the ribs. It was all he could do to keep still. “No. Not yet."

Jamie opened his door. “I’ll help you get him out, Lorenzo. Don’t forget to take the cuffs off.”

“Wait. Give me a minute. I used to work with the kid.” Vasquez’s voice dropped low like she might have a few second thoughts. At least he hoped she did.

Brody fought the urge to open his eyes. He lay slumped against the door, eyes closed and breathing slow.

Lorenzo’s rough hands jerked Brody’s arms up. He twisted the cuffs off and dropped them onto the seat. “Don’t worry, cousin. I’ll do it quick. He’s unconscious and won’t feel a thing.”

“Just hang on, okay?”

“Si,” Lorenzo agreed. “Make it quick, we don’t want him to wake up.”

Both men got out.

Brody cracked an eye open. He watched Vasquez lean over to reach the glove box. She searched through paperwork and junk then withdrew a zippered pouch. She snapped the compartment closed and sighed. “I’m sorry, Brody, but you’ve become a liability.”

Brody watched through closed lashes as Vasquez filled the syringe with whatever was in the glass vial. She held the needle up and tapped a fingernail against the barrel.

Undeterred by his lack of response, she continued to talk. Maybe it was her way to cushion the guilt. “I’ve got enough BST in this syringe to kill you. But don’t worry ‘partner’, it should happen fast. They’ll just think you’ve been out partying too hard and overdosed.”

Movement outside the car forced his attention to slide in that direction. Jamie and Lorenzo were talking in low voices about how close they were to the Wild Hunt.

“It makes sense, you know? You’ve been accused of terrible things.” She sighed and continued to stare at him. “Your life has fallen apart and you just couldn’t take it anymore.”

It was a chore to sit still. He wanted to throw the car door open and make a run for it. The knowledge that Lorenzo and Jamie were armed kept him in the car.

“I’m doing you a favor. I can’t take back all the evidence I planted against you, so I’m offering you a way out.” Her hand reached out and caressed the hair off his forehead. Her voice was full regret, but Brody didn’t believe it was for him or his imminent demise. “Everyone at the station believes you’re the one who killed that drug dealer and the private eye. Hell, they think you might’ve raped and killed Amy too. Life was about to get real tricky for you, Brody.”

The passenger side door swung open. Jamie’s broad face peered in at Brody. Behind him, Lorenzo said, “Come on, Eva. Let’s get this over with. The pack will be coming this way soon.”

Brody bolted upright and planted a kick square in Jamie’s face. The man’s stocky legs carried him backward into Lorenzo. They both fell.

Vasquez screamed and the syringe full of clear liquid swooped toward him. Brody snatched Lorenzo’s forgotten Taser from the seat beside him and jabbed it into Vasquez’s armpit. With his free hand, he grasped the wrist of the hand wielding the syringe and bent Vasquez’s arm. Her eyes widened, aware the sharp end faced her. He couldn’t take the chance that she’d manage to stick him no matter how hard she was thrashing around. As he went to push her away from him, her arm jerked up and she fell forward. The syringe plunged into her left shoulder. He pulled it out, but more than half the barrel of BST had been released into her system.

Voltage rocked through his ex-partner. Her body jerked and her eyes rolled in her head. Her cousins scrambled on the sand and Jamie came at him through the open door. Lorenzo headed around the back of the car.

Brody dropped the Taser. Vasquez slumped against the steering wheel. The horn blared in a continuous howl. He experienced no remorse whatsoever. Just pity.

Jamie gripped one of his legs and his shoe came away in his hands. Brody swung his fist and clipped him across the brow. The sharp tang of blood filled the enclosure and threatened to push Brody over the edge.

Lorenzo wrenched the other door open. He found it tricky to pull a shirtless Brody from the confines of the car. He dug his heels into the seat then threw himself backward. Lorenzo’s large body broke his fall. Within seconds, he was on his feet. He lost his other shoe in the process.

Vasquez stumbled from the car. Her hair was tangled and her eye makeup was a gooey mess. Tears left black mascara trails down her cheeks and her eyes were wild. She appeared possessed as they rolled to show the whites. Thick, ropy drool hung from her chin.

Lorenzo’s hand fell on his hip and his fingers brushed the butt of his gun. Brody knew he was in trouble.

Brody’s body shuddered with change and his emotions ran rampant. The pop and crack of his ribs were drowned out by the crash of waves. The men might not hear the changes that took place, but judging by the startled look on their faces, they could see them. The seams of his jeans ripped to allow room for his new body.

Jamie backed away, his weapon forgotten. A string of broken Spanish poured from him. Lorenzo whipped his arm up, the gun held steady in his hand. The barrel was pointed at Brody’s furred chest.

Vasquez’s eyes were glazed and rolled in her skull. Her lips pulled up in a snarl to show her blunt, human teeth. She bent her hands in Tyrannosaurus fashion. Brody gripped her arm and jerked her toward him. He’d do what he must to survive, even if that meant using Vasquez like a shield. He hooked an arm around her chest and took a couple steps backward. She stumbled against him.

The weapon in Lorenzo’s hand faltered. “Let her go.”

Vasquez’s body jerked and she hung her head. Her limbs went through one spasm after another. She pitched forward and heaved frothy vomit all over the sand.

“She’s having a bad reaction, boys. Looks like she’s having a seizure.” Brody held her tight even as her limbs thrashed against him.

“She’s going to die,” Brody threatened in a raspy voice. “Put the weapons down and get in the backseat.”

“Dios mio,” Jamie pitched his. The weapon slapped the sand a few feet away. Then he slid into the car and waited for further instructions.

“You have to let her go. We don’t have time for this. She needs medical help.” Lorenzo looked sincere with worry.

“Drop yours too.” Brody’s voice sounded less and less human.

Vasquez stared at the moon. Blunt nails scratched at her arm and left pink welts on the flesh. She continued to claw at it until crimson pooled in the paths she’d made.

Tossing the gun aside, Lorenzo cursed beneath his breath. He scanned the dark stretch of sand behind Brody. “The Wild Hunt…”

Brody didn’t recognize the desolate stretch of sand they occupied. It was rocky and uninhabited. “Where are we?”

“I don’t know.”

Vasquez’s limp body began to sag. He hefted her up and shifted her weight to the other arm.

There was no dishonesty in Lorenzo’s eyes. “We were going to give you the shot, then dump you out. It was supposed to look like you were left behind after the party.”

Brody threw Vasquez at her cousin and whirled to run in the opposite direction. His transformation complete, he dropped to all fours. He could cover more ground that way. According to Lorenzo, the Wild Hunt was just up the beach. In his current state, he found the event very enticing.

Behind him, Vasquez’s howl turned into a half-hearted howl. Her voice sounded raspy, raw, and very human. Lorenzo screamed for Jamie to help him get her to the car. Brody didn’t look back as he ran down the vacant beach.

Chapter Twenty-five

Nicole’s throat was raw and achy. Her head bounced against the window each time the car bumped over a rough spot. She cracked an eye open and spotted the busted dashboard of Aaron’s old Toyota hatchback. A hand, not her own, was nestled between her thighs.

Aaron’s gaze drifted her way then back to the streetlights that whizzed past. Neon flickered across his face. There was something in his eyes, something dark and deviant, each time he looked at her.

His hand lifted and returned to the steering wheel. “I know you’re awake.”

Revulsion roiled within her. She was dizzy and unable to hold her head up. A wave of nausea made her guts clench. She supposed this was one of the effects of being choked unconscious.

Her voice was thick and rough. “Where are we going?”

“Just sit back and relax. We’re almost there.”

Nicole recognized the dangerous squint to his eyes. “Aaron, don’t do this. It’s not too late. Just let me out of the car. I’ll pretend tonight never happened.”

“Sorry, can’t do that. Dave wants you at the Wild Hunt.” He made a left turn, off the main road and onto a dirt one. The hatchback bounced over potholes and rough patches. Despite the condition of the road, Aaron did not slow down.

Her mind wasn’t running at full capacity yet. “What does the local Alpha want with me?”

“I told you this. He wants to use you against Stone. He thinks Stone will forfeit the fight if he thinks you’re in danger. He’s hoping he’ll care more about pussy than pride.”

“No. He won’t.” Nicole fidgeted in the seat. Her hand curled around the door handle and she considered bailing from the car. “Sean doesn’t care about me. He never did.”

Aaron shot her an incredulous glance. “I know that, but Dave doesn’t.”

The nose of the car dipped into a deep washout. Nicole’s teeth snapped together. “Sean’s an even bigger asshole than you are.”

He returned his attention to the path ahead.

Nicole tried to think of another way inside his head. “Why were you following me? Did you really want to make things right between us?” The idea revolted her, but she laid a hand on his arm. Her fingers brushed the skin just below the hem of his sleeve.

Aaron’s laugh was cold and left a twinge of dread within her. “Not anymore. Tell me, why would I want you back when everyone else has had you? You’re a whore, Nicky.”

“But you came looking for me.” Her hand fell away.

“Sean asked me to mess with your head. It sounded like fun.” Aaron grinned. “Plus, he pays well.”

The road, if you could call it that, became impassable. Other cars were parked by the sandy, rocky pathway. The murmur of many voices rose above the crash of waves.

Aaron killed the engine. “We’ll have to walk from here. Don’t try anything, I will knock your ass out again.”

He reached across and cupped her chin. His fingers tightened and forced her to make a kissy-face. Aaron’s free hand withdrew a syringe of clear liquid. He squirted away the air bubble.

Nicole grunted and slapped at his hands. If she could just knock the syringe away… His fingers tightened, forcing tears from her eyes. He’d probably break her jaw just for the fun of it.

She winced as the needle slid into her skin. The ooze of liquid ran through her veins then turned fiery-hot the next instant. She squirmed against the seat and tried to jerk her face from his grasp. He took the opportunity to get out of the car while she was dazed.

Nicole grasped the syringe that still hung from her arm and slung it to the floorboard. There was nothing left in the cylinder. A woozy, euphoric wave of adrenaline vibrated through her. She stumbled from the car. All senses were hyper-aware of her surroundings.

Aaron was a few feet away, watching.

“What was that?”

He joined her and wrapped a rough hand around her upper arm. “A special cocktail I make for bitches like you. Come on, let’s get a move on. We’re a few minutes late.”

He yanked her forward. She stiffened her legs and refused to move. The idea that her senses were awakened empowered her. The roof of her mouth might explode. A sharp twinge of pain rocked down her spine and made her knees quiver.

Something snapped within Nicole. Her body shuddered and she sucked in a sharp gasp. The changes inside her forced her onto the ground. Aaron yanked her back up.

She jabbed him in the ribs then wheeled to run toward the car. He was on her in a matter of seconds.

Aaron dragged her past a ledge of rocks, toward a group of people gathered on the beach. “It’s no use, Nicky, you can’t fight it. Just let it do its thing. It’s a lot easier that way.”

“What do you hope to gain from this?” Nicole demanded.

He glared at her then gave her another shove. “Let’s go.”

“Sean will throw you out with the trash,” Nicole informed him. “That’s what he does with garbage once he’s done with it.”

Aaron said nothing. He merely gave her another shove to force her to move.

They maneuvered through thirty to forty people, all of which were focused on something at the head of the group. There was a mix of men and women, young and old. They were in various stages of undress. Some were unclothed while others wore only their underwear. A few curious glances followed her and Aaron’s progression toward the front of the pack. Their lips curled or they scented the air with twitching noses.

Being this close to a pack of werewolves frightened Nicole. The changes that took place within her might trigger a response from them. She spotted Sean and the man he’d talked to in his office. They stood inches from each other, in mostly human form.

“He’s the Alpha?”

“Not for much longer.” Aaron gave Nicole a less than gentle shove. She stumbled forward and fell to her knees in front of the two men. Both peered down at her. Surprise flitted across Sean’s face.

“What the hell?” Sean’s gaze slid in her direction.

Dave grinned. “If you’re going to make a play for the title, you’re bitch ought to be here.”

Nicole’s fists curled in the damp sand as the nails grew into claws. Fine blonde hair sprouted across her arms. Her nose reshaped itself into a snout, forcing her to gasp for breath. Her ribs cracked and popped, an iron band around her chest couldn’t have hurt more. She tried to focus on anything but the pain as she struggled to her feet.

Someone to her left grabbed her arm and yanked her closer. A fat man smelled her hair and tried to kiss her. She shrugged him away only to be grabbed by another. This one wasn’t as polite. The man grabbed the front of her shirt and ripped it open. Buttons littered the sand around their feet.

Nicole growled then shoved him away. The crowd was fidgety, anxious to get the night’s festivities underway.

A shadow of concern briefly darkened Sean’s face, but was replaced by a mask of calm indifference.

Dave puffed his chest out in triumph. “Aaron mixed up something special for her.”

Sean glanced at her, but refused to allow his eyes to meet hers. He would allow them to do whatever they wanted. He’d told her nothing would get in the way of the title of Alpha. She believed he meant it.

Nicole struggled to pay attention to their words. The fact that the crowd had inched closer, that Tony and Aaron were a whisper away, forced her to move. To run would be a mistake, they’d follow en masse. She was as sure of this as she was anything.

She wrapped her arms around her middle and gasped. Her ribcage moved beneath her fingers, the bones reassembled and formed something new. Searing pain shot through her sternum. If she was lucky, maybe she’d pass out again and wouldn’t have to feel the changes her body was going through.

Dave watched Nicole with interest. His nostrils flared and he struggled to pull his attention away. “That’s right. Did you forget Aaron is a janitor at Pharm-lab? He found this combination made a powerful aphrodisiac. I believe he uses it on all his dates.”

The corners of Sean’s mouth turned downward. “You gave her BST laced with wolf pheromones?”

Nicole took a step toward Sean. The idea of owing him a favor repulsed her, yet stiff legs carried her in his direction. “Sean?”

Tony moved into her line of sight. His one-eyed stare was trained on her with growing interest. Other parts of his anatomy grew too.

“Fuck off!” Nicole shoved him away. He stumbled, but didn’t fall.

A man who looked like a younger version of Dave slunk toward her. His hand twined in her hair. He took in her scent and groaned with approval. The tip of his pink tongue caressed the curve of her jaw.

One lithe, brunette pushed through the group of men. Her face twisted into a scowl and she yelled over the voices and growls. “She’s not even part of this pack!”

“Who cares? She’s ripe for the taking. She’s begging for it.” Dave’s brother stroked a hand down her back. The other circled one of her wrists.

Nicole snarled and slashed her claws at him.

The strange sensation of fur sprouting across her back forced her to shudder. Tony moved closer and stripped off his jacket. The woman who had moved from the group had dropped her skirt. A naked man walked toward her, his erect penis bobbed in front of him. A shiver ran up Nicole’s spine. It was about to begin and she was outnumbered.

“You could end this now.” Dave sneered at Sean. “You can take your mate and walk away.”

Sean looked at her, an expression of confusion and anger on his face.

She sucked in a shaky breath. She’d never been more scared in all her life. The idea of all these people screwing her until she was nothing but a raw mess disgusted her.

Those around her lifted their heads and sniffed at the air. A chorus of approval rang out. It reminded Nicole of dogs smelling a bitch in heat.

Nicole wanted—no, needed—to stop this now. She had to find a way to turn off her body’s single-minded determination to be in wolf form.

“Sean, please...” She reached for him, but she was jerked backward into the crowd.

More hands groped her, each touch more demanding than the last. Fingers trailed through her hair. Someone’s tongue ran up the back of her calf. Another grabbed hold of her ass. The rest of the crowd surged forward, but still hadn’t touched. They looked at Dave, eager for the go-ahead.

Someone squeezed her breasts through the fabric. She landed a kick to his shin. He snapped at her with teeth that were still human. Nicole snapped back and clamped teeth onto his arm.

The shock of blood in her mouth forced her to let go and she staggered backward. His own surprise sent him back into the crowd. She brought a hand to her mouth and wiped it away. But, God it had tasted good. Her body bucked, bent her at the waist. Something terrible was happening. The blood had triggered the primal instincts within her. Desires arose that had nothing to do with sex. She wanted to hunt, to tear her attackers from limb to limb, to make them bleed. Someone’s hands closed around her upper arm and spun her around. A growl rattled up her throat.

Sean pulled her against him. His mouth closed over hers. It didn’t seem to make any difference to him that she was in between forms.