Authors: Mary Abshire
Chapter 17
Jackson escorted me from the tunnel to the garage, his hand clasped with mine the entire time. His head swiveled, nose fanned and eyes moved fast, scanning for life-forms. His hearing matched mine, and I never once heard another heartbeat near us. The only noise came from the clacks of my heels on the concrete. By appearances, we were alone and all seemed calm. Yet, we weren’t. We both knew at any moment a demon could emerge from the mist and attack.
“I think we’re safe,” he said softly, leading me to the parked police cruiser.
His words didn’t slow my racing heart. I wouldn’t feel truly safe until we removed the bracelet.
We stopped on the passenger side of the police cruiser. Jackson unlocked the door, then opened it for me like a perfect gentleman. I dropped into the leather seat and tucked my legs in the vehicle. He shut the door and took off around the rear of the car. My senses were on high alert and my accelerated heart beat like a ticking clock. I scanned the garage as I waited for him to settle behind the wheel. Two cars faced Jackson’s, an old red truck and blue sedan. Four other cars faced the wall near the entrance.
“See anything?” he asked as he started the engine.
“Nothing.”
He peered over his shoulder as he steered the car out of the spot. “Let me know if you see
anything
unusual.”
I dropped my purse on the floor near my legs and kept my hand on my kneecap, ready to grab my dagger on a split second’s notice. I doubted a demon would try to squeeze into the front seat of a police vehicle, but I wouldn’t take any chances.
Jackson sped through the garage. Each sharp turn forced me to bump my shoulder into the side of the door. When he reached the exit, I took a deep breath. The fun part of our adventure was about to begin.
Rain poured on the window as Jackson drove onto the street, heading away from the government center. Flashes of light lit up the sky.
“Is it ever going to stop raining?” I asked.
He drove fast, rounded a corner and gunned the engine. “Storm came out of nowhere, according to the news. We were supposed to have nice weather. Warm, but nice.”
Approaching a flashing red light, he slowed the car. He swiveled his head in both directions, scanning for other vehicles nearby. Finding none, he hit the accelerator. He repeated the same steps at each flashing light and turned multiple times, making me wonder if he thought someone might be following us.
“Where are we going?” I asked when we’d reached the outskirts of downtown.
Jackson slowed the vehicle. “Here.” He pointed to the high-rise apartment building on my side.
I stared out my window as he steered us through an alley between the building and parking garage. “Do you live here?”
He brought the car to a stop in the middle of the alley, underneath a crosswalk. “No, of course not. We’re meeting Tom here.” He twisted in the leather seat to face me. “He’s going to take the bracelet and hand it off to someone else.”
“But I’ll get it back, right?”
He reached over my legs and opened the glove compartment. “Don’t worry,” he said with a touch of exasperation. “You’ll get it back.”
In all honesty, I wanted to toss the damn bracelet into the White River. Yet, we needed more evidence against Galluzzi, which meant I had to return to work tomorrow.
Jackson took a dark object from the compartment and set it on his leg. The sound of Velcro ripping apart caught my attention. I leaned over the seat divider to get a closer look. He unwrapped a cloth-looking pouch and little metal tools, no bigger than my fingers, clinked against each other.
“Take off your boot,” Jackson said.
I reached down, unzipped my boot and slid my foot free.
“Swing your foot up here.” He patted his hand on the seat divider.
I hesitated for a moment, then hiked my skirt above my thighs. Twisting in the confined area, I brought my legs up and placed my foot on the divider.
His gaze slid along my bare legs before resting on the bracelet. His lips twitched, hinting at a smile. He wrapped his fingers around my foot and gently tilted it. “Nice color.”
Lavender nail polish coated my toenails. “Tabby picked it.” Darker colors were my preference, but since Tabby was with me the day we visited the beauty salon, I let her choose the tint. I wiggled my toes, and a grin broke free on Jackson’s face.
“Don’t tickle me.”
“Are you ticklish?”
“I don’t know.”
He lifted my foot and lightly dragged his fingers along the underside. I jerked my foot as tickling sensation shot straight up my leg.
Jackson gripped my heel, holding my foot in place. “Looks like you are ticklish.”
“Ha-ha.”
He beamed with happiness, clearly entertained by my displeasure. Okay, maybe being tickled wasn’t so bad.
Bright lights flashed at the front window. We both looked. After the windshield wiper blades cleared the rain, I saw a police vehicle come to a stop in front of us.
“Tom?” I asked.
“Yes. I need to get this off.” Jackson tilted my foot to the side. “Hold still.”
He removed two tools from the pouch on his leg. Eyes focused on my ankle, he gripped the pendant between his fingers, lifted it and inserted the tip of one of the silver instruments.
“Don’t move.”
I didn’t. Holding the pendant steady, he slid the other tool into the spot. His arm moved slightly. When nothing happened, I began to fear the damn bracelet wouldn’t fall off. I bit down on my lip while I held my foot in an awkward position. He carefully moved the two instruments in different directions. Seconds ticked by and the fear within me started to morph into anger and frustration. When the bracelet finally slackened and fell off my ankle, cool relief flooded me.
“Oh thank God.” My tense body relaxed against the seat.
Jackson moved fast. He slid his tools back inside the dark pouch and then rolled it together until it resembled something like a burrito. While he fastened the tool kit, I grabbed the bracelet and slid my foot back underneath the dashboard. The charm touched my hand and within seconds, I felt an annoying itch.
“I really hate this thing.” I dangled the bracelet away from my hand.
“If you hate it so much, why do you want it back?” Jackson asked as he flashed his lights at the car in front of us.
“Because it allows me to search for documents in the warehouse. Galluzzi will know if I show up to work without it. I don’t want to be escorted off the premises when we need to find more evidence to convict her evil ass.” Annoyance tickled my tongue. Jackson knew how determined I was to find proof. He should’ve known not to question me.
Grunting, he snatched the bracelet from my hand. “I think you’re too obsessed with the investigation.”
I gaped at him while a door slammed on the vehicle facing us. Obsessed? The temperature in the car suddenly felt a whole lot warmer.
Tom rushed between the vehicles. Jackson lowered his window as Tom came to halt outside Jackson’s door.
“I’ll send you a message when I get back,” Tom said, snatching the bracelet from Jackson’s hand.
“Be careful,” he replied loudly since Tom had already headed back to his car.
Jackson’s window couldn’t raise quick enough. Rain drenched his arm and the inside of his car.
“What did he mean when he said he’d contact you when he got back?” I asked.
He shifted the gear and faced me. “He’s going back to the warehouse after he hands off the bracelet.”
“Who is he giving it to?” A touch of panic ignited within me. I wondered if I should’ve kept the blasted thing. How could I be sure I’d get it back? Watching the car in front of us back out of the alley fueled my uncertainty.
“Don’t worry,” Jackson said, allowing the car to roll forward. “It will be in safe hands.”
Frowning, I avoided looking his way while I pushed my skirt down and fiddled with putting my boot back on. I trusted Jackson, but doubt still pricked at me. His continued efforts to talk me out of returning to the capital made me wonder if he had some alternative plan worked out.
When I leaned back against the seat, I noticed we were back on a main road, heading out of the city. The car wasn’t racing through flashing lights this time, but rather cruising at regular speed.
“Please tell me you’re not planning on keeping me from returning to the basement.”
Jackson’s hand tightened on the wheel. “What if I was?”
My stomach started to cramp. “Then I’d say you’re a real asshole, and I’ll find somewhere else to stay. Pull over.”
“Calm down.”
His gentle tone did little to ease my anxiety, my frustration and my climbing temperature. Nor did it lesson the ache in my gut. The last time I drank blood from Jonas was a few nights ago. Given the extra stress to finish the investigation early, the fights with demons, and the concern for my friend’s lives, I sure needed another bloody drink.
“Don’t bullshit me, Jackson.”
He shot a heated glare at me. “Like you bullshitted me?”
“Do us both a favor. Pull over and let me out.”
“No. I won’t. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get your fucking bracelet back.”
The knot in my gut tightened. I balled my hand to the side of my leg. I hated arguing with him. He wanted to help me and had good intentions, but I had my own way of handling the investigation. I didn’t need someone making choices for me–not Boss, not Jonas, not Jackson or anyone else.
“I don’t understand why you are so stubborn. I’m looking out for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He paused for a few seconds while he turned a dial on the dashboard. “I, and everyone within the pack, want to see Galluzzi convicted. Therefore, it’s imperative we gather enough evidence for a final report to the council. But know this…my pack brothers and I can handle the search without you.”
He effectively laid one heavy guilt trip on me. Yes, my life meant something to him, but it meant more to ensure the Senator received retribution. Jackson’s loyalty to his deceased Alpha and pack brothers remained strong. He wanted vengeance, and so did I for my mother and everyone Galluzzi had murdered.
“I appreciate your concern,” I replied in a softer tone, yet refusing to look at him. “It’s nice to know the weight is all on
my
shoulders.” My words came out a bit snippy, but they reflected how I felt. He didn’t need to remind me how important the investigation was.
Jackson smirked, but kept his mouth shut. What more could he say to lighten the situation? We both knew our roles.
Minutes later when he exited the interstate, I dug my cell from my purse. The time approached midnight, the end of my shift. Boss and Jonas, or one of them, would be waiting for me.
“What are you doing?” Jackson asked.
I typed a message on the screen of my phone. “I’m sending a text to Boss so he doesn’t freak out when I don’t show up after work.” I kept the message short and sweet.
Don’t look for me. You won’t find me. I’m safe. I’ll call you tomorrow.
After I sent the text, I powered off my phone and slipped it back inside my purse.
“I hate to say it–”
“Then don’t,” I said. I didn’t need another reminder that my actions were going to cause an issue. “It doesn’t matter if I send this now or later. The outcome will be the same.” They were going to be angry, and they’d simply have to deal with it.
Jackson kept his mouth shut for the rest of the drive. When he drove into an apartment complex, I breathed easier knowing all my friends were safe and I could catch some peaceful rest too. He parked in front of a building that had four doors, two on the left side of the building and the other two on the right. Nightlights near the doors gathered an array of moths.
“You live here?” I asked as he shut off the engine, eliminating the light from the car. For some reason, I pictured Jackson living in a farmhouse out in the country where he had land to run wild.
“No, this is my brother’s townhome. He went on an assignment in another state, and he won’t be back for another week or so. I’m watching over his place.”
Maybe my guess about his home was accurate. Although I’d hoped to see where he lived, in reality it didn’t matter where I stayed as long as the dwelling was safe.
We left the car at the same time and met on the sidewalk. I followed Jackson to the second door on the left, marked forty-six. Clutching my purse in my hand, I waited at his side while he unlocked the door. Fortunately, the rain had slowed, and we weren’t getting soaked.
Jackson strode inside and flipped on the lights. “You coming in?”
I stepped inside the humble abode and stopped a few feet past the entryway. White walls were bare, and dark brown furniture filled the room. The home had a warm, cozy feel with two sofas and a coffee table. Not far from where I stood, an entertainment center with a large flat television in the center backed along the wall.
“Are you hungry or anything?” Jackson asked, coming to stop in front of me after he locked the door. He held up his thumb and pointed it behind him. “There’s drinks and food. I can fix something for you.
Before I had a chance to answer, he stepped into the half kitchen half dining area and switched on the lights. I followed, then stopped near the round wooden table and set my purse on it.
He opened the refrigerator. “I have left over pizza from Papa John’s if you’re hungry,” he said, his body hidden behind the door. When he emerged, he held a beer in his hand. “If you’re thirsty, I have beer and water.” He extended the brown glass bottle toward me.
I looked at the bottle before meeting his eyes. “No thanks.” I was thirsty, but not for beer or water. Boss had stored extra vials of Jonas’s blood for me at the house. Had I been thinking properly, I could’ve taken one, hid it in my purse, and excused myself to solve my growing problem. Too late now.
He shut the door and then removed the lid with a bottle opener. “It will help you relax.”
“I’m not…” I hesitated telling him what I thirsted for, unsure of how he’d react. He knew I was part vampire, but he didn’t know my feeding habits. I never discussed the details of that part of me. “I’m not thirsty for beer.”