Protection: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance (38 page)

“We’ll have to move right away. The Elders are restless, wanting to know when we’ll have the werewolves captured or terminated,” James said.

“As long as Camilla and I are far away when it happens, I don’t care what you do with the rest of them,” Tessa lied, glancing at Kat. Kat merely gave her a thumbs-up in response.

“Fine. Tell me where their nest is located. I’ll leave now.”

“Sorry, James. You led me around by the mouth once before, so I’m not ready to give you that information just yet. We’ll meet on my turf,” Tessa dictated.

“And where would that be?” he asked.

“Just get on I-10 going west and drive. I’ll call you with more instructions in an hour. If I’m not happy with how far you’ve gotten or I think you’re trying to pull something over on me, the whole thing is off.”

“Jesus. Alright. I have to get moving,” James said.

“James?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t screw this up. You won’t get another chance,” Tessa said, keeping her voice cold as ice.

As she hung up, Tessa let out a huge breath. Hugging herself, she looked over at the girls assembled before her.

“Well?” Kat demanded.

“It’s on. We should get moving if we want to get there before James,” Tessa answered, shaken.

Kat’s eyes glittered with mischief as she stood up and brushed herself off.

“Cera, do your thing. We’re going to need some cover to leave the portal without the males. We’re gonna catch ourselves an Ascendant male,” Kat said.

L
ess than two hours later
, Tessa stood alone in the parking lot of a dingy and forgettable roadside motel just a few miles from the Den. She shivered, despite the Louisiana sun beating down on the asphalt. Her heart raced. She’d given James the last instructions over ten minutes ago. If James had betrayed her, she’d probably be taken down by Legion soldiers any second now.

The silent but persistent anxiety and sadness she’d been feeling all day had been increasing with every mile they’d driven toward the motel. A couple of times Tessa had to stop and steady herself, struggling to draw a deep breath. She couldn’t afford to have a panic attack now.

She heard the crunch of tires on gravel. A black SUV turned into the lot and parked by room 104, just as Tessa had instructed.

She waited another long minute, trying to gauge whether or not there were more vehicles coming. When none appeared, she pulled a sleek black handgun from her purse and approached the SUV with caution.

There was noisy shifting around in the vehicle, and then the passenger side door opened. Camilla emerged, looking pale and withdrawn. When her eyes lit on Tessa, it seemed to register. Something was very wrong with her sister.

“Cami!” Tessa blurted, unable to help herself. Camilla looked at her again, but didn’t react. A gun appeared next to her neck, and James climbed out behind Camilla.

Tessa swung her aim away from her sister to avoid an accidental shooting. She dragged in another breath, trying to keep her cool in front of the others.

“Put the damn gun down, James! Are you crazy?” Tessa shouted.

“It’s my insurance policy,” he returned.

Tessa made herself breathe before she continued, moving around them toward the row rooms.

“Are you okay, Cami?” Tessa asked

Her sister looked down at her own hands, silent.

“She’s been sedated since she was captured. It will take some time to wear off. For now, it’s easier,” James commented.

“Camilla, go inside,” Tessa urged, motioning toward the door to room 104.

James nudged the drugged girl with his free hand. When she looked up at him, he pointed to the door. Camilla ambled to the door like a zombie, and then went in.

When James moved to follow, Tessa stopped him.

“No. She doesn’t need to see— she won’t understand,” Tessa said, keeping her voice low. She held both her hands up as a white flag, then tucked the gun back into her purse.

“She has no idea what’s going on,” James said, lowering his gun but not putting it away.

“I don’t think you get it. There are things involved with the ritual that are private. Sexual things,” Tessa answered, playing shy.

“You told me it was just a bite and some words,” James said, sounding ambivalent.

“I lied. I thought you would freak out if I told you that we had to… you know.”

“I’m not freaking out. I’m a guy, Tessa. I still have, you know, desires,” he mumbled, embarrassed.

“Can we not talk about it?”

“Okay. Uh. So we just…” he asked, tucking the gun in his waistband.

“I got us the room next door,” Tessa motioned.

“Well. Ladies first,” James said, inclining his head.

Tessa walked to the room 103 and turned the knob, hesitating for a second.

“James?” she asked.

“What?”

“Are you sure you want this? The werewolf thing, I mean. It’s a huge life change. You can’t go back once it’s done.”

“They’re going to kill me, Tessa. If I slip up, if I show resistance even one more time… that will be the excuse they need to do it. My uncle will probably shoot me himself. Erase the stain on the family name,” James spat, bitter.

“That’s terrible, James, but it’s not a good enough reason to change who you are,” Tessa persisted.

“Jesus. I want to change, okay? I hate my life, I hate everything about myself. I have to change, Tessa. Please,” he said, looking at her with pleading eyes.

“If you’re sure…” she said.

“I’m sure,” he blurted, his face heating.

Tessa nodded and opened the door, dropping to the ground as soon as it swung all the way open.

WHOOSH.

James cried out and cursed. Tessa looked back to see him pulling several bloodied bits of metal from his chest. He glared at her for a moment before his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed in a heap.

Kat sprung up from her hiding spot behind the hotel’s musty and overly-used double bed.

“I can’t believe I finally got to use this dart gun,” Kat said. “Thank god I got the rhinoceros tranquilizer to go with it. A girl likes to be prepared.”

Tessa turned and bolted for the other room, leaving Kat to deal with James. In a flash, she was huddled next to Camilla on the double bed, hugging her so hard it felt like Camilla might break. Tessa rocked her sister in her arms, murmuring soothing words.

Angel stood by and watched, but Emmy came over and knelt before the sisters. She stilled Tessa’s rocking, then proceeded to feel Camilla’s forehead for fever, check her eyes, and examine her arms.

“We must get her back, Tessa. She doesn’t look very well,” Emmy said. Turning to Angel, Emmy began issuing orders.

“Angel, you will take Tessa and her sister back to the Den. Take the big truck the man brought,” she fired off.

Angel nodded and moved over to the bed, helping Tessa get Camilla to her feet. The other two girls followed them outside.

Kat met them just outside, looking satisfied.

“Everything all right on this side, then?” Kat inquired.

“She’s sedated, but I think she’s fine,” Tessa said of her sister.

“Great. Let’s all get going, then. The boys already shut Cera down, so we’ll have to figure out how to tell them what we’ve done,” Kat said.

There was a nervous silence for a moment. At last, Tessa shrugged. The feeling of anxiety pressing down on her hadn’t let up for a second; if anything it was growing worse. Tessa struggled to put together a coherent statement.

“We did what needed to be done, and we did it well. No one was hurt. We got Camilla back, not to mention James. They’ll just have to deal,” she said.

“I’m thinking the boys aren’t going to see it that way,” Angel said with a grin. “Especially one Jace Copeland.”

Tessa cocked her head.

“You just leave him to me. I owe him a few words already,” she said.

Tessa wasn’t sure how she was going to approach her former-almost-mate, but it wasn’t going to be pretty.

Slipping her shoulder back under Camilla’s arm, Tessa sighed and helped her sister into the SUV so they could begin the short trip back to the Den… and back to Jace.

“
T
essa
.”

Tessa opened her eyes to find Shaw staring down at her with a frown. She cleared her throat and straightened from her slumped position. She sat in an uncomfortable armchair next to the infirmary bed, where Camilla lay sleeping. She couldn’t believe she’d actually fallen asleep like that, but the aches and cramps she was now experiencing couldn’t be denied.

“Uh,” Tessa said, nearly squirming under Shaw’s intent gaze. She was filled with a painful anxiety, as if someone had a blade to her throat.

“I need you to come with me,” he said, his deep baritone putting Tessa even more on edge.

“I have to stay with my sister,” Tessa replied. She’d been saying the same phrase to every person who came in the room. No, she didn’t need to go rest in a real bed. No, she didn’t need a hot meal. No, no, no. She just needed to be here when Camilla woke up.

“Kat will stay with your sister. You need to come with me,” Shaw said.

“Listen. I know that everyone hates me, except Kat and the girls. I know that I’m probably going to be kicked out of the pack. I get Jace is never going to look at me again. Frankly, the only thing I have to look forward to is apologizing to my sister. Which is why I need to stay here and wait for her to wake up,” Tessa said, her shoulders slumped in resignation.

“It’s Jameson— James. He won’t talk to any of us,” Shaw said, pain filling his voice.

Tessa looked up at the Alpha Shifter for a moment and then sighed, trying to find the words to explain.

“They’ve been teaching him that Shifters are demons. He’s been raised thinking we’re all pretty much the devil incarnate, and the Legion is a champion for mankind,” Tessa said.

“He’s been asking for you.”

Tessa stared down at her hands, twisting them in her lap. She wasn’t sure what Shaw wanted her to say.

“I don’t know anything more than I told you,” she said.

“I need him to calm him down. We have to know what the Legion is planning against us, and we need him on our side for that. There are ways we can force his compliance, but…” Shaw trailed off, looking frustrated and sad.

“But you think he’s your brother,” Tessa finished for him.

“I don’t think anything. I know. Have you ever for a second wondered if Camilla was really your sister?” he asked.

“No, of course not,” Tessa said.

“Exactly. That’s a Shifter ability. James is my brother Jameson. My wolf recognizes him. I think he’s been through enough without us coercing him into helping us. Please come with me, Tessa,” Shaw asked, not bothering to mask his desperation.

“Okay. I mean, of course. I’ll come,” she said, standing and attempting to straighten her wrinkled dress and smooth her wild hair.

Shaw nodded and motioned for the nurse who’d been tending Camilla. Kat followed her in, watching the nurse as she checked Camilla’s vitals. Kat gave Tessa a soft smile, encouraging her.

“I’ll be here with her the whole time, Tessa,” Kat promised, dragging the now-unoccupied armchair over to sit beside Camilla’s bed.

“Thanks,” Tessa replied, then looked to Shaw.

With that, Shaw lead her out of the room and down to the other end of the hall. It was the same padded cell Tessa had been kept in just a day earlier, and she still found it suffocating.

“Can’t you put him in a regular room?” she asked, keeping her voice down.

Shaw shook his head.

“He’s already hurt several of the guards, and tried to hurt himself as well. We can’t keep him safe anywhere else.”

They stopped in front of the cell door.

“He’s restrained and sedated. It’s the only way we can keep him from becoming violent. Still, you’ll need to keep your distance from him,” Shaw instructed.

“Alright. I’m ready,” Tessa said.

Shaw pulled open the cell door to reveal James, bound tightly to a cot with leather restraint straps. Tessa’s heart wrenched as she started toward him. Shaw placed a restraining hand on her shoulder, keeping her several feet from the Ascendant’s still form.

“James?” she called.

No response. Tessa stepped closer, pushing away Shaw’s hand when he moved to hold her back again. Stepping next to the man, she placed a hand on his chest and felt for his heartbeat. It was rhythmic and steady, and Tessa relaxed a tiny bit.

Her heart went out to the other Ascendant. He hadn’t had any more choice in his service to the Legion than she had, and he’d had twenty years of their cruel treatment. Could she truly hold a grudge against him? Tessa thought not.

“James?” she asked again, a bit louder.

He stirred, eyes opening and locking onto Tessa.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Well, I did,” she said, sitting on the cot next to him. She reached out and smoothed some hair out of his eyes, feeling almost motherly toward the man.

“I want them to let me go, Tessa. I need to go home,” James pleaded.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t go home. You’re going to stay here with us,” Tessa said.

“They’ll kill me!” James said, struggling a little against his restraints.

“James, look at me.”

James turned his head, looking up at Tessa.

“Will you trust me?” Tessa asked, her tone soft.

After a long moment, he nodded and laid his head back down. Tessa felt a surge of hope at his acquiescence.

“Shaw and I only want to help you. He can help you be stronger and better, like we talked about before.”

James stilled.

“He’ll help me become a werewolf?”

“Yes, but there are some conditions. You won’t be able to go back to the Legion, James. And you’ll have to help us, too. Do you think you can do that?” Tessa asked.

James thought for a moment before nodding.

“We think the Legion is going to come here and hurt some of the nice people that live here. What can you tell us about that?” she asked.

“My uncle wants to capture as many of them as possible. He said they need to study live specimens so the Legion can make some kind of super-werewolf.”

A low growl came from Shaw, but Tessa talked over him.

“How are they going to do that?” she asked.

“They’re going to use flash grenades and stun guns and tranquilizer guns. The Elders have been debating how best to take over the camp. My uncle was advocating a pincer approach,” James said, as if reading from notes.

“I see,” Tessa said, even though she didn’t really understand.

“Then they’re going to bring in a bunch of trailers and load the wolves up in cages to take back to the compound.”

“When is this supposed to happen?”

“The initial strike is supposed to happen at 0300 hours on Thursday. The… fifteenth, I think.”

Shaw cursed under his breath and Tessa looked back at him. Shaw motioned for Tessa to come outside with him. As she turned to leave, James spoke again.

“Tessa?” he asked.

“Yes, James. I’m here.”

“I am sorry for… you know, all of this,” he said, his speech slurring with exhaustion.

Tessa patted James on the shoulder.

“I know you are. Thank you, James. I’ll be back in a little while.”

“And then you’ll help me change?” he asked.

“We’ll see. Just rest for now.”

Slipping out of the cell and closing the door, Tessa faced Shaw.

“If what he’s saying is right, we have less than 48 hours to fend off a strategic attack,” Shaw said darkly.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.

“Go get some rest. I’ll meet with the pack and we’ll figure out the next step. We’ll need you to question James again in a few hours.”

Tessa nodded and turned toward the door, unsure of her destination. Perhaps Kat would let her crash for a few hours of much-needed rest.

“Go tell your mate I need his assistance,” Shaw added as she reached the door.

Freezing, she turned to correct Shaw’s mistake. Before she could even open her mouth, Shaw stopped her.

“It’s an order, not a request. Go tell him before you find someplace to crash,” came his command, coupled with that intense stare.

Tessa swallowed and nodded. She’d rather face Jace than Shaw at this moment, which was saying a lot.

“What are you waiting for?” Shaw said.

Feeling like a scolded child, Tessa frowned at him before turning to leave. She flung open the door to the infirmary as she left, the black cloud hanging over her growing larger and darker by the second. A drumbeat of frustration and anger pounded in her chest, and it was all she could concentrate on.