Risk (A Mageri World Novel) (17 page)

E
lla jumped
into Boris’s Lexus, relieved it was an automatic. She’d never stolen a car and would have been in a pickle if it had a standard transmission. Hannah’s guards were also the valets and often parked cars for visitors, so usually they left the keys in the ignition. Immortals weren’t concerned about auto theft unless they were parking in the human districts.

She made a swift assessment of her surroundings, going by memory and taking the route to Simon’s apartment that was off the beaten path. Ella had never driven a car before. Not really. She’d practiced a little with her dad, so the fear of a cop pulling her over had her checking the mirrors every five seconds. Simon told her that a Mage could use their energy to interfere with police radar, but she didn’t have the slightest idea how to do it.

She reached the park at dusk. Simon still wasn’t responding to her messages and calls, and she couldn’t shake the feeling he was in trouble. The red car was on the left side of the road, so she put on her blinker to do a U-turn.

Levi’s car was parked behind it and he was leaning on the side, his thick arms folded. She decided to park behind him in case they needed to move the red car, but she made the turn too wide and ended up jumping the curb. The pedal vibrated when the undercarriage scraped against the concrete, so she quickly threw it into reverse. Levi walked around, watching her with a look of amusement as she hit the gas and went flying backward, leaving tire tracks. When the back tires bounced onto the street again, she put it in drive and eased forward, her front right tire finally coming off the curb.

Levi walked toward her with both hands up, signaling her to stop. When she didn’t, he darted out of the way and appeared at her window, his mouth moving as if he were angry or shouting.

Ella didn’t give a shit what he thought. She was going to park that car a foot from his bumper whether he liked it or not.

Once the car was situated, she shut off the engine and got out. The sky was darker than usual, the moon bright and cresting the tops of the trees.

Levi kept touching his mouth with his left hand, making it impossible for her to understand what he was saying.

Ella reached out and gripped his right hand to shake it. Levi jerked his neck back in surprise. Shaking hands was a human thing to do, but everyone knew that Learners sometimes held on to old habits. Her ulterior motives had nothing to do with being courteous. She hadn’t touched very many people in the past few years, so she wanted to make that connection to see if there were others besides Simon that she shared that communication link with. When silence filled her head, she let go, discouraged.

She’d never spoken aloud to anyone but Simon, so she nervously placed her fingers against her throat, hoping she wouldn’t embarrass herself. “Someone’s been following us.”

He nodded as if he already knew. When he began speaking and looked over his shoulder at the red car, she gripped his arm. Levi was a big guy who looked like law enforcement. Most Chitahs were lean with muscle, but he was built like he spent hours at the gym.

Levi rubbed the stubble on his chin, scrutinizing her with a steady gaze. His Chitah eyes made her flinch, but there was something sweet in them that made her believe he was a man she could trust. Plus it was hard to be afraid of anyone who smiled as much as he did and had a chin dimple. Ella squeezed his arm to get his attention.

They were standing on a dark street, and Ella couldn’t see his face very well. If she didn’t confess her secret to Levi, then she might end up missing important pieces of the conversation. She couldn’t allow her pride to get in the way of finding out what had happened to Simon.

“I’m deaf. I can’t hear anything you’re saying, but I can read lips.” She switched places with him so the moonlight shone on his face.

“What happened?” he asked in such an exaggerated manner that she wanted to laugh.

“Two men followed us earlier, and I think it has something to do with his disappearance.”

His brows furrowed. “I can still scent them. Where are they now?”

“You don’t have to talk like you have molasses in your mouth,” she quipped. “I just need to be able to see your face. They’re over there.”

His yellow eyes sharpened, and he turned in a circle. “Where?”

Ella marched toward the red car and reached beneath the tire for the keys. She popped open the trunk and stood aside for Levi to see. “There.”

He peered in at the two naked men Simon had hogtied and gagged.

Levi smiled, and she guessed by his rocking chest that he was laughing. He stood opposite her and put his hands on his hips, peering in at the two men who looked up at them, veins bulging in their foreheads as they bellowed.

“If that isn’t the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen,” Levi said.

He slammed the trunk, and when he sat on the edge, half the car dipped beneath his weight. “Doesn’t feel right. Simon wanted me to check out the car but didn’t tell me what was going on. I picked up a scent,” he said, his thoughts drifting off. “Anyhow, if he called me, then he didn’t want to get his hands dirty. If he’s not home, then there’s only one other place he would have gone.”

“Where?”

“The Red Door. He goes to other clubs, but tonight’s ladies’ night.”

Ella missed what he was saying when he got up and paced back and forth, his fist on top of his head as if he was working something out.

She snatched his T-shirt. “I can’t understand you.”

“I need to find out what they know. Why don’t you go home and I’ll call you in the morning?”

Ella poked her finger against his chest and stood on her tiptoes. “I may be small, but so is dynamite. I know how you Chitahs are all chivalrous and think a woman shouldn’t fight for herself, but I’m not one of your kind.”

His expression tightened. “Now that’s not it at all. Maybe I thought you needed a shower because I can smell blood all over you.”

“And I got the blood from fighting
them
,” she said, jerking her thumb toward the red car. “So you can either work out a plan with me or I can work one out myself.”

Levi’s eyes glittered with amusement, and he smiled wide, bending over and placing his hands on his knees. He lifted his head and looked up at her. “I can scent your tenacity and it burns the hell out of my tongue. You’re a feisty Mage and remind me a lot of my brother’s mate.” Levi straightened his back and anchored his fists on his hips. “I’ve learned my lesson about telling any woman what to do, but you gotta understand it’s not in my DNA to put a woman in danger. Chitahs just aren’t wired the same.”

Ella sighed. “Something’s happened, and I feel like I’m missing an important clue. He’s been keeping secrets from me, and you’re a part of it.”

Levi slid his jaw to the side. “I won’t know anything until I question these meatheads. Maybe then we’ll have a lead. Right now we’re wasting time, so why don’t you head over to the club and check it out. Look for his car before you go inside, and make sure you ask the bartender to see the private rooms in the back. Tell him I sent you. If you have to question anyone in the bar, only ask the women. Most of them know Simon by name anyhow.”

That remark made Ella feel small. Even if he was a manwhore, she had no right to judge him. It wasn’t as if they were in a relationship. And yet thinking about him with another woman made her want to stab someone in the eye.

Ella touched her throat to feel the volume of her voice. “Send me a message when you’re done with these guys. I’ll let you know what I find, and we’ll go from there.”

She turned around and headed back to the car. Seconds later, Levi gripped her arm and spun her around.

“I was just saying to be careful.”

He didn’t know her, but he seemed like a genuine guy who cared about her safety. “I have a knife strapped to my leg and a thousand volts at my fingertips. I’ll be fine. Maybe I should be more worried about you having to handle two naked men.”

He winked. “Wouldn’t be the first time, honey.”

* * *

A
fter draining
Simon’s blood and removing the stunner, James got a little cocky and poked him several times with the tip of the blade, remarking how he didn’t bleed very much. It hadn’t been the first time someone had tortured Simon.

“You’re an arrogant prick,” Simon muttered.

James picked up the fireplace shovel and hit him on the head with the handle.

“Out! Everybody out!” Boris commanded when he entered the room. “And prepare a gourmet meal; I’ll be dining with a guest this evening.”

James and Pippi hustled out of the room without a word.

Boris rolled up the sleeves of his dark button-up shirt. He lifted the iron shovel and studied the blood on the handle before approaching Simon. “No matter how many centuries go by, you always seem to be right in the middle of trouble.”

Simon lay on his side, conserving his energy for the right moment. His throat was parched after yelling profanities at James for an hour and threatening to do heinous things to his immortal soul in the afterlife.

“This is quite a predicament you’re in, Mr. Hunt. Whatever will you do about it?”

Simon had learned a long time ago that sometimes not speaking was the best defense. Men like Boris had a tendency to get frustrated and divulge more information than they should when met with silence.

Boris knelt down and gripped a handful of Simon’s hair, forcing him to look up. “What’s your relationship with Hannah?”

Simon refrained from smirking.

“Make it easier on yourself. At first I thought you were just an obstacle, but now I’m beginning to wonder why Hannah would place one of her Learners in your care. She’s a prideful wench who trusts no one… Well, except maybe her Learners.”

He let go of Simon’s hair and tossed the shovel aside. Boris wasn’t an impressive man in stature. His legs were too skinny for his body, and his hands were actually manicured. The curly black hairs on his ankles stood out since he wasn’t wearing socks.

“What are you to her?” Boris continued. “Do you owe her a debt?” Silence stretched between them. “Her lover?”

Simon couldn’t hold it in any longer. He lost it. A peal of laughter erupted from his throat, making him sound like a wild hyena. He rolled onto his back and clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face.

“That’s enough,” Boris grumbled, rising to his feet. “You’re not as smart as I thought you were. You’d be more valuable to me if you meant something to Hannah.”

What the bloody hell did he mean by that? Boris clearly had a vendetta against Hannah, but then again, who didn’t? Simon’s laughter died in the back of his throat as he collected his thoughts.

“Are you
Ella’s
lover? Is that why Hannah’s involved you in her affairs?”

“Boris, you were always jealous of my sexual endeavors. It’s good to see that after two centuries nothing has changed.”

Boris’s phone went off, and he answered. “This is Boris. … Oh, that’s a relief. … Yes, of course. I look forward to it.” He hung up and gave his watch a cursory glance. “We’ll have to finish this later. Perhaps I can get more information from Hannah.”

Simon smirked. “Careful where you poke your willy, you might not get it back.”

Boris unrolled his sleeves, carefully straightening them at the cuff and securing the buttons. “That’s not where my cock will be spending time. I have a bonding ceremony to arrange.”

Simon pushed himself to a seated possession. “With Hannah?”

Boris laughed haughtily. “No. With her precocious little Learner. What a sweet face to go with that sweet body,” he said, his words trailing off. “At least I won’t have to listen to her mouth.”

“If you put one finger on her,” Simon growled, his energy pulsing like a heartbeat.

“You’ll
what?
” Boris approached Simon with a look of contempt in his beady little eyes. “You don’t have a single clue as to what’s going on, and if you did, you would keep your distance. You’ve meddled in my affairs enough. After dinner, I’m going to have a discussion with Hannah to make sure you’re of no importance. If not, I’ll be returning swiftly to finish you off.” Boris’s shoes scraped on the gritty floor as he turned. “You better pray that you’re valuable to her.”

“And if I am?”

A devious smile touched Boris’s lips. “You’ll get an extension on your life, but I’m afraid I can’t afford to set you free. You might have an inclination to come after me, and that won’t do. I wasn’t expecting you to be in the picture, so it’ll take me some time to come up with a plan that Hannah will appreciate.”

“Keep flapping your gums,” Simon replied hoarsely. “This game is far from over.”

Boris reached the door to Simon’s right, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m afraid this is one game you won’t win.”

S
hortly after Boris left
, Simon gathered his energy and stood up to examine his surroundings. The torture inflicted upon him paled in comparison to the suffering he’d endured in his life, but his predicament was still dire. In addition to draining his blood, they’d also juiced on his energy for a high. Simon weakly jerked at the chain, which was securely mounted to a metal ring in the wall. The chain was shiny and stood out amid the decay.

Simon had resorted to talking to himself. “No, I refuse. I didn’t spend the past three centuries getting shot, hanged, locked in a coffin with a rat, hunted by a maniacal Chitah, thrown off a boat in the middle of the Pacific, and trapped on a transatlantic flight with a flatulent man, only to have it all end here.”

Simon staggered toward his clothes and stopped when the chain ran out of slack. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the best way to reach his pants was to lie on the floor and use his feet to drag them over. When he bent over and sat down, the wounds on his chest and abdomen reopened and began to bleed. Simon didn’t have anything to stanch the bleeding, so he covered the deepest wound with his hand.

“Bloody hell,” he murmured. “Never thought I’d know what it feels like to be a fountain.”

He lay on his stomach and stretched his leg as far as it would go, but his toe barely touched the end of his pants. He pushed himself closer, the clamp around his neck cutting off the circulation.

“Brilliant,” he croaked. “Asphyxiate yourself, why don’t you?”

Simon gasped and scooted to a sitting position. The chain stretched about seven feet, and Simon stretched another six. It still wasn’t enough.

“Boris, you vapid little gobshite,” he said gleefully, spotting something within reach.

He’d almost missed it because shadows covered the dirty floor. Boris had tossed the iron shovel into a dark corner, close enough to reach. The only light within the room shone from two bright floodlights. One was on a tall cabinet and aimed at the table, the other was duct-taped to a pipe that ran up the wall by his chain.

It was too good to be true.

He neared the shovel and then picked it up. The only thing that would break his chain was a set of bolt cutters. It wasn’t worth expending his energy on beating it with a shovel.

But at least he could reach his pants now.

He lay back down and wedged his toes through the hole in the handle and used his other foot to raise it up. After he lowered the spade onto his pants, he dragged them toward him. He sat up, his breathing labored. Calling someone to rescue him was out of the question; a man had to think about his pride. His mind switched on, planning a route of escape. Traveling up the main road would be a mistake, so he’d have to take his chances across rough terrain. Talk about flashbacks.

The metal cuff around his neck pinched at his skin, and Simon ran his fingers around every inch of it, including the metal cuff, but grew frustrated when he couldn’t find the keyhole. He crawled over toward the wall, dragging his pants in hand. The chain looped around a thick ring of metal bolted to the wall, secured with a padlock. Not a very sophisticated operation. James had taken his dagger from the sheath as a souvenir, but Simon always came prepared. Of course, he hadn’t anticipated someone stripping him naked.

That only happened on ladies’ night.

Inside the waistband of his leathers, he’d cut a small hole to put a few paperclips and bobby pins. The gap was sealed with black thread to prevent them from sliding around. For this kind of pin tumbler, he removed two bobby pins. He bit the rounded ends off one, straightened it, and then bent one end to use as a handle. He placed it between his teeth while he worked on shaping the other bobby pin by bending it where they connected. He inserted that one into the lock and put tension on the lever.

“Brilliant master plan, Boris. The only people capable of escaping a padlock are primary students and thieves,” Simon muttered to himself. “A millennia could pass and you’d still be an amateur.”

He inserted the bobby pin that had been in his mouth and began working on the lock pins, feeling each one and searching for any that were harder to push. He slowly moved the makeshift pick upward until he heard an audible click. When he found a second pin, he repeated the step, taking his time and making sure not to push them too high.

After a minute, he used the other pin to turn the lock, and it clicked open. Relief swam through him when the padlock dropped onto the floor and he pulled the chain free from the wall.

“I guess I’m ready for a night at Club Hell,” he muttered, realizing it was going to be a long walk with a chain around his neck.

Simon stepped into his leathers, hiking them up as fast as he could and retrieving his knife. He gripped the wall, dizzy and out of breath. He thought about calling Justus, but he was all tapped out of favors. Most immortals didn’t have a throat large enough to swallow pride, so they figured a way out of their own mess. He also didn’t want to put a fissure in their friendship. They’d fallen out of touch once before after Simon had gotten into a jam and Justus had bailed him out, nearly jeopardizing his standing with HALO.

The thought of Boris or his minions returning lit a fire in him to get moving. He shoved open the heavy door, and the moonlight iced over his skin, making the blood that oozed from his various wounds look like ink. He couldn’t flash. His heart would probably explode from lack of blood and energy.

Clouds rolled across the moon and shrouded the world in darkness, but not before he turned around and glimpsed his surroundings. The building had been spray-painted with graffiti and had two stories, which surprised him since he didn’t remember a staircase. He could sense north and south, but without knowing where he was, he didn’t know which way to go.

Simon took a chance and jogged to the right, stumbling over broken concrete and overgrown weeds. Pippi had tossed his shoes across the room, and it hadn’t occurred to Simon to get them until he stepped on a sharp stone. He sure as hell wasn’t turning back now. The chain dragged behind him, so he gathered it up.

“Fucking hell!” he shouted, hopping forward on one leg. He charged through an overgrown bush and got whacked in the face by a slim branch.

He might as well have been blindfolded. After shoving his way through the dense brush, it eventually thinned out until he was jogging across tall grass. Just as moonlight penetrated the clouds, Simon realized the peril he was in when his foot hovered over a deep trench.

Unable to stop the momentum, he jumped and tried to reach for the other end, but fell anyway.

Sharp razors sliced at his skin and he cursed, bouncing slightly and twisting around before realizing the trench was really a trap filled with barbed wire. His flesh ripped in every direction, biting through his leathers, digging into his bare back and dangerously close to his neck. Every movement sent a torrent of pain.

As Simon stared up at a cloud moving swiftly beneath the moon, he realized he was too tangled—too weak—to escape. The trench looked five feet high, and the ground wasn’t below his back, so one false move could send him even farther into the barbs. Coils and coils of wire surrounded him, and his right ankle was twisted up something fierce.

“Couldn’t give a bloke a break, could you?” he asked, grimacing up at the moon. “Karma doesn’t just come back around; it saves up all my payments and delivers them at once like a buffet of misfortune.”

Simon’s phone rang in his back pocket. He stared at the sky, listening to the happy melody. Either it was going to slide out of his pocket or he was going to have to move and try to get it. Simon winced as the barbs snagged and bit into his skin when he reached beneath him with his left arm. The hard case was poking out of his pocket, so he carefully extracted it.

Unable to bring the phone to his face due to the way the wires were tangled around him, he propped it on his belly and activated the speakerphone. Blood trickled down various parts of his body, and his right arm was lacerated so severely that he didn’t dare move it.

“Hello,” he said, his voice strained.

“You’re an asshole,” Levi announced. “Can’t you answer your phone? I’m out here questioning two naked men and worried about your safety, and you’re probably busy getting laid.”

Simon laughed to himself, speaking wearily. “I can’t deny that I’m all tied up.”

“Bastard.”

Simon contemplated his fate. Boris would soon discover Hannah had no use for him, and if he didn’t get out of this hole, he was going to end up dying at the hands of a man who’d once lost his horse because he’d forgotten to tie it to the post.

“What’s wrong?” Levi asked quietly. “You’re not your usual chatty self.”

Simon had the urge to move but stayed absolutely still. His ankle was so twisted that if he fell, it might tear off his foot.

He licked his lips. “Tell Justus that he can have all my files. HALO might find some of them useful.”

Levi’s voice fell to a growl. “Where the fuck are you?”

“In my soon-to-be grave.”

“Location?”

“Abandoned building.” A quiet laugh rose in his throat. “I don’t have a clue where I am, except that I’m lying in a trench with the moon laughing down at me.”

“What’s the building look like?”

Simon furrowed his brow. “As if you know every abandoned building in Cognito.”

“Maybe I do. Now describe it.”

Simon thought about it. “Two stories, at least ninety years old, dilapidated, weeds growing through the broken concrete, miles of land around it… Who the bloody hell puts a business this far out?”

“Some Breeds used to live on the outskirts for a long time before they moved into the city. People didn’t like driving all the way into town to get their groceries, so a few of them opened up small businesses. What else did you notice?”

“Nothing, you silly Chitah. Just a bunch of graffiti.”

“Of what?”

Simon wanted to burst out laughing when the image flooded his mind. “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

“I’ll be there in ten.”

When Levi hung up, Simon nearly dropped the phone while reaching for it.

He glanced back up at the moon’s pale surface and thought of Ella. Then thoughts of Boris putting his hands on her filled his mind with disgust. Why would Hannah arrange a bonding ceremony after all the progress they had made? It didn’t make sense. Simon needed to find out the truth, even if it meant torturing Hannah by means of rubbing his naked, bloody body all over her snowflake wallpaper.