Jared (36 page)

“That’s what I want to know.”
Duncan walked in looking pissed off. “Who the hell is in charge?” He glared at Otis.

“I’m in charge.” A short heavy man walked toward them. “Officer Simms. What can I do for you gentleman.”

“You arrested
half-breed
s tonight and we need them
handed over to us right away.
This is Council business.
” Duncan’s authority filled the room.

The man shook his balding head. “We have been ordered by your
C
ouncil
that they are to stay with no bail until court. Because of the incident in a public place it is up to us to take care of the matter.”

“And I just got off the phone with Sloan Murphy head of
the Vampire
Council
who
never gave those orders.” Duncan held up his phone. “I have him on speed dial.”

Fear flashed in the older man’s eyes. Obviously he has had run ins with Sloan Murphy before. “Release them.” He told Officer Preston.

“I’ll go with him.” Sid followed the officer out.

“I’m sorry about the mix up.” Officer Simms replied looking at them, one eye twitching
nervously
. “We followed protocol and was told what I just told you.”

“Did the person you talk
ed
to give a name.” Duncan asked his pissed off look still evident on his face.

“It was Sloan, but come to t
hink of it
” Simms scratched his clean shaven
chin. “
I
t really didn’t sound like Sloan Murphy, but I never thought anything
of
it until now.”

Jared and Duncan looked at each other. “Just a heads up.” Duncan turned his attention back to the officer. “We never change our protocol without
notifying
the human police force. We can never work together if we
don’t
communicate. So if it doesn’t seem right, then get a hold of me.” Duncan handed him a card with his information on it.

Taking the card he nodded his head
. “I will. If you need anything else let me know.” He walked away.

Duncan turned his focus on Damon and Jared. “We have a huge problem boys.” Duncan ran his hand through
h
is long blonde hair in frustration. “Chad Evans is gone again
.
”

“That son of a bitch has more lives than a fucking cat.” Jared cursed.

“Not for long because next time
I see the bastard his nine lives are going to be up
.” Damon growled dialing his phone. “I don’t care what the
C
ouncil does to me.”

“How in the hell did he get out this time?” Jared was pretty floored by the news. “We had top security around the son of a bitch.”

“Levi.” Duncan said what Damon and Jared were thinking.

Sid walked out with Adam, Jill, Steve and Dillon following. “
They’re
taking care of everything and will transfer it to the
C
ouncil
’s
office.” Sid informed them.

“Where’s the others?
” Damon ask
ed
with the phone still to his ear. “He said there were ten of you.”

“That son of a bitch who was at the fairgrounds came in and got them out.” Adam growled still looking ready to kill something.

“Sparkles?”
Jared frowned.

“Yeah, and he had a message for you.” Steve shifted nervously. “Ah, he said…”

“What the fuck did he say?” Jared grabbed the front of his shirt.

Steve grabbed Jared’s arms his eyes wide with fear. “Red heads were his favorite and he would soon find out if she was a true red head.”

“Son of a bitch.” Jared headed for the door. “This was a fucking set up.”

“Nicole isn’t answering.” Damon growled running past Jared.

Adam stood still his eyes narrowing
dangerously
. “Get to the bar…now!”

********

Tessa was behind the
bar grabbing her stuff when the door slammed open. Her eyes met Nicole’s. “Run!” Nicole yelled as she turned to face the threat.

Tessa
totally ignor
ed Nicole’s order. Diving
under the bar
she grabbed
the shotgun
Bobby
always kept
there
. Standing back up she kept the gun hidden.

The
half-breed
from the fairgrounds walked into the bar as if he owned it. At least ten other
half-breed
s followed him in. His hand shot out and with no warning Nicole flew against the wall pinned by an unseen force. “Get her under control.” He ordered
to t
he others who headed toward Nicole.

The sliding sound of a shot gun being pumped stopped everyone in their tracks
. “Take one more step and I’ll blow
your head off.” Tessa held the gun up with expert ease
praying the shaking in her body didn’t radiate to her hands
.
“Let her go asshole.”

“
Now is that any
way to talk to your mate.” The
half-breed
took a step toward her, but stopped when she swung the barrel toward him.

“This may not kill you, but I’m betting it will hurt
….a lot.
” Tessa held steady. “I’m a sure shot especially at this range and I can rearrange that face of yours.”

He laughed, which wasn’t a good sign. “Oh you are going to make a great mate.”

“I’m not your mate asshole.” Tessa spat keeping her eyes on everyone in the room. “I don’t even know you.”

He bowed his head slightly. “I’m sorry, but the last time we were together I wasn’t able to introduce myself like I should have. My name is Travis McDonald.”

“Honestly
,
I don’t care what your name is. Let her go before I start shooting.” Tessa
raised the gun slightly more.

“Boys this is why I like red heads. They’re spunky in and out of bed.” His grin turned wicked. “You are a true red head aren’t you Tessa.”

“You’ll never know.” Tessa saw one half
-
breed from the corner of her eye move toward her, but before she could
swing
the gun
toward him it
was
ripped away from her and in Travis McDonald’s
hands
before she could blink
.

“Is that so?” He grinned
while
aiming the shotgun toward Nicole.

“No!” Tessa screamed scrambling from
behind
the bar. “Please! I’ll do anything you ask. Please don’t.”

He aimed for a few more minutes before lowering the shotgun. “Okay.” He handed the gun
off to someone and walked to Tessa. “So beautiful.”

Tessa tried not to cringe away from his touch. “What do you want?”

“You.” He ran his thumb across her trembling lips. He leaned down and replaced his thumb with his lips.

Tessa pulled way, bile rising in her throat, but she choked it down. “Why?”

“You were taken for me, but bad girl that you are you escaped before I could make you mine.” He hugged her to him smashing her face to his chest.

Okay, this guy was crazy and that scared Tessa more than anything. “Let her go and I’ll do whatever you want.” Her voice was muffled against his chest.

He sighed gripping her hair in a brutal grip pulling her head back. “
You’ll do whatever I want anyway.” He took her arm and led her to the pool table. Lifting her up
he
slammed
her down on the edge, spread her legs and stepped between them. “Oh yeah, this will do
quite nicely
.”

“He said to wait.” One of the others said from behind him.

“
I don’t care.” His grip tightened on her legs making her wince. Running one ha
n
d up her leg to the middle of her chest he slowly started pushing her back against the pool table.

Tessa started to panic, especially when she heard Nicole screaming and yelling at them.
H
er fight and flight mode
kick
ed
in full force. “No!” She screamed kicking out, but her feet hit
only air
.

“Hold her arms down.”
He ordered the others
before slapping
her hard across the face. “Hold still.”

Tessa ignored him
fighting with everything she had
. He slapped her again causing her vision to blur.
She had to force herself not to fade out. Hearing rustling she focused enough to see him working his belt.
She
continued to fight
;
no way was she going down without a fight. Hearing Nicole she twisted her head enough to see three
half-breed
s holding her back, blood tears running down her face.
Tessa started fighting
again, but stopped when he gripped her around the throat
and squeezed
.

“You need to stop fighting before you get her killed.” He nodded toward Nicole. He let go of her throat leaving her wheezing for breath. He leaned close to her f
ace. “I will have you Tessa.”

“Never.” Tessa slammed her head into his face almost knocking herself out in the process.

“
I warned you.” His eyes narrowed, wiping his nose to check for blood. “Kill her.” His order echoed in Tessa’s brain.
Her eyes tracked the
larger
half-breed
of the group
who
grabbed Nicole by the head ready to twist.

“Okay…okay…I’m sorry.” Tessa couldn’t take her eyes off Nicole’s. “I
give everything freely. Please Travis
….
don’t do this.” She turned her pleading eyes to his
doing her best to hide
the hate. Sh
e used his first name hoping…God she didn’t know what she hoped.

“I like my name on your lips.”
H
is hand
slowly trailed
to the button on her jeans. Flicking it open he started to work the zipper. “I want to hear you cry it out when I’m inside you.”

Tessa could see from her
peripheral
vision the huge
half-breed
step away from Nicole. “Whatever you want just please let her go.”

“I would do anything for you….but that.” He smiled down at her, his eyes looking more craz
ed
.

“Car’s coming.” Someone said from Tessa’s left stopping Travis from going any further. “It passed.”

“I think we need to wait.” Another said, this one behind Tessa. “He isn’t going to be happy.”

“I don’t care. I’ve waited long enough.” He continued to work her pants, finally he had them to her ankles and then completely off. He fingered her light blue underwear. “So pretty.” His finger caught the front
of her underwear
band
tugging it up and down, playing games with her.

Tessa decided then and there she needed to leave, leave her body, her mind. Staring up at the pool table light over her head
,
Jared’s face flittered through her mind, but she pushed it back. She didn’t want to associate Jared with this nightmare. Tears slipped out of the corner of her eyes running down into her hair.

“What the hell is going on?”
A voice boomed echoing off the walls. “Dammit
,
can’t you follow directions?”

A man Tessa has never seen walked up and smacked Travis in the back of the head. The pressure from being held down loosened and without a second thought she
tried to
back away.

“Kenny?”
Nicole cried out, c
onfusion clouded her eyes as she fell
t
o her knees when the arms holding her dropped away.

“Well look who we have here.” Kenny slapped his hand to his chest bending down to her level. “Nicole Callahan in the flesh.”

“You’re a half-breed?”
Nicole gasped shocked. “Pam never said anything.”

“That’s because she was warned not to.” Kenny smirked giving her hard taps on the head. “Oh, now I see the wheels turning. This is just classic. Just wait, there’s more surprises and reveals coming up.”

The door opened again making everyone jump. Chad Evans and Levi walked in pushing Pam in front of them. “Look what we found
sneaking
around outside.” Chad pushed her clear across the room where she fell at Kenny’s feet.

“Get the fuck up.”
Kenny
grabbed her hair pulling her up to his face. “Trying to be a hero?”