Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance) (77 page)

Julia looked up at him. “I hope you have insurance.”

“I hope ye no ha’ any kin.”

“My, aren’t we in a threatening mood this morning?” Julia said sarcastically as she quickly pulled a gun from her purse. “Stand away from the car.”

  
Dallan listened to Lany mutter something about ‘knowing better’ and did what she said. Julia smiled with satisfaction and shot Tomy’s front tires, the gun’s silencer keeping any curious ears from hearing anything.
Though no houses could be seen she knew there were a few just around the bend in the road.

Tomy, however, did manage a healthy scream of anger. “What do you think you’re
doin
’? Are you crazy?”

Julia raised the gun and aimed it back at Dallan. “
Shut up
, Tomy.  You
," she raised the gun higher.  "
Come here… slowly, and get in my car.”

Dallan glanced at Lany in the back seat, then back to Julia. Lany could take care of Shona while he took care of Julia. He began to move toward her.

“Get your hands up where I can see them. In fact, put them behind your head.”

Dallan hid a smile and followed her directions. Go to the car, back in, take the gun from her and they could be on
their
way again. He stopped when he reached the missing rear door. Julia, he noted, had backed herself out of his reach.

“Get in,” she ordered coldly.

He shrugged. She was too far
away,
he had to get her closer. “I dinna think yer car is safe to ride in. Cold too, from the looks o’ it.”

 
Julia’s eyes narrowed. “I said, get in.”

“No.”

Her mouth pressed into a line of rage and she took a threatening step forward. “I want you to get in that car.”

He looked about himself as if confused. “Now?”

She took another step and raised the gun higher. “Now!”

He watched Lany grimacing out of the corner of his eye. “I dinna like cars.”

“Get in!”

She wanted him alive that was certain. If not, she’d have shot him by now. Dallan shrugged again and backed into the opening, his hands still behind his head. He sat slowly and calmly watched Julia’s face light with satisfaction, then raised a curious brow.

“Get all the way in, please,” she ordered, coming closer.

He complied with her wishes and now sat in the car, his head bent slightly in the closed space. “Now what? We go for a ride?”

“No.” Julia surprised him and put the gun in her purse, simultaneously pulling out another one. “You take a nap.”

Dallan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized what she held.

She smiled. “If I can’t deliver Shona, you’ll do just as well. And you know something? I love paybacks.”

“I gathered
ye’d
be the type that ‘twould.”

She thought on that a moment then shot him twice.

Both darts hit him in the left leg, reminding Dallan of the time his uncle had nicked him in the same spot while teaching him how to fence. He made to get out of the car and get her while the deadlier gun was in her purse, but instead pitched forward, his chest hitting the seat in front o
f him. Funny, Shona was not aff
ected this quickly, why was he?

Julia had the other gun out now, her voice a cold hiss, “Works fast, doesn’t it? I formulated them for Shona, but two in you will work even more quickly.” She turned to Tomy’s car. “Don’t follow. If you do, I’ll kill him.”

Tomy shook her head in disbelie
f as Angus and Lany seethed. Th
e gun in her hand now a deadly annoyance, helplessness a brutal fact.

Julia shoved Dallan further into the car with her foot. He moaned and landed with a thud against the other door. “Ye wee witch… I hope they dinna let ye d… drive… a… ye…” The thought lost, his body useless, he
succumbed to the heavy drug, one last chance in his mind.
Shona, she’s
coming for ye. Get out o’ the house! Go back to the shop where the others can
keep ye safe! Ye need to… to…

But even had he not lost consciousness, it still would have been too late.

* * *

“What have you done with my father?” Shona’s voice faltered slightly as she spoke.

Philip continued to stroke Kitty’s cheek with the barrel of his gun.
“He’s here, if that’s what you’re worried about. And alive.” He smiled icily. “For now.”

He held Kitty, one arm painfully behind her back, the gun at her face, and studied Shona. They had entered through the front door where he’d been waiting. It was easy to grab one of them, and lucky for him, he got the one he wanted. Shona would do anything to protect her friend.

“Philip, please,” Maggie pleaded. “Don’t do this. Why can’t you just leave it? You haven’t a chance
! Dallan has Shona now. It’s fi
nished.”

Philip glanced at her, face calm. “Comfortable, Maggie?”

Maggie glared from her awkward
position, on her side on the fl
oor, bound hand and foot to the stubby legs of a sofa. “You won’t win, Philip.”

“I’d be quiet if I were you. You’re hardly in a position to do anything should I decide to run the water in the bathroom.”

Her eyes widened and she silently cursed him.

“That’s better. Evan’s quite comfortable where he is. I’d hate to ruin his little nap by getting him wet.”

Shona stood between her mother and Philip, her face panicked. “Where is he?”

Philip chuckled. “Trussed up and napping in the bathtub, of course.”

“What?” Shona looked desperately to her mother.

Maggie’s eyes went from cold to helpless and back again. “He’s unconscious. Philip tied him in such a way that if the water is run, he’ll drown.”

Shona gasped then spun on Philip. “You would not!”

“Of course not.” He stated and smiled again. “As long as you come with me and do as I say.” He tightened his hold on Kitty, causing her to whimper in pain. “Your father and mother will live, and so will this little bit of baggage. The choice is yours, Shona”

Shona tried desperately to contain her panic. What to do?
Dallan! Dallan, where are yo
u?
No answer. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I have the power to kill you now.”

Philip raised a brow in amusement. “Oh my dear, sweet girl, I am well aware. However, I am also aware that you haven’t the slightest idea how any of it works, and I doubt you realize what you’re dealing with.”

“Zara told me I would be stronger now. I could beat a man easily.”

He smiled wickedly. “True. But I’m not any man.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was once joined with a Muiraran. I am as strong as one, and therefore stronger than you.”

“You cannot hold Kitty indefi
nitely.”

“Oh, I don’t plan to.” He calmly smi
led. “I plan on subduing you fi
rst, then dealing with her.”

Shona looked confused and began to shake her head. “You are crazy. Dallan will be here soon and then what will you do?”

Philip winked at her. “Little… Bo… Peep.”

Shona gasped as her knees buckl
ed, her body heading for the fl
oor, down, down, while an all-consuming terror rose up out of nowhere to bind her like invisible chains. She stared at Philip, horror sketched across her face.

He smiled in triumph and pulled Kitty closer as he began to laugh sadistically. “Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and let this be a reminder. That all lost sheep are naught bu
t meat for any of those that find her!”

Shona, on her knees, doubled ove
r and fell to the fl
oor, helpless.

“Shona!” Kitty yelped.

Philip twisted her arm painfully and breathed into her ear. “Shut up, or I’ll see to it you’re tied in the bathroom upstairs!” He dragged her to the sofa where Maggie lay bound and tossed the gun on the cushions. Still holding Kitty, he pulled a length of cord from his pocket, twisted her other arm behind her and
lashed her wrists together.
Th
at done, he shoved her to
t
he fl
oor and tied her ankles.

He then looked to Shona, now curled into a ball. He snee
red as he crawled across the fl
oor to where she lay, his voice an evil hiss. “Yes.
You will be mine
,
do you hear
? I can still take you.”

Shona struggled to her knees and fought the fear ruthlessly holding her prisoner. “No!”

Philip smiled boyishly and quickly whispered, “Little Bo Peep!”

Shona dropped to the fl
oor again.

He laughed gaily and slapped his leg. “Oh, Julia, you’ve outdone yourself! Superb! Absolutely superb!”

“Why, thank you, Philip. It’s not often a compliment escapes your lips.
What you’re witnessing took fi
ve years work.”

Philip’s head turned to where Julia stood in the sliding glass doorway to the outdoor deck. “Oh, do come in,” he began with feigned happiness. “Join my little party.”

She left the doorway, not bothering to close it. “You’re losing your touch, Philip. You didn’t even hear me enter.” She glanced at
a bound
M
aggie and Kitty, their
features frozen in fearful anger. “Quite the party. Am I allowed to bring a guest?”

Philip’s brow raised in silent question.

Julia smiled. “He’s not in much of a festive mood right now, but he’ll come around in an hour or so, I’m sure.”

Philip’s eyes grew bright, his mouth half-open with pleasure. “Julia…Julia you precious commodity, what have you done?”

Julia’s own eyes were cold and hard. “Something you should have been able to do last night.”

“Last night, I unfortunately found myself unwillingly incarcerated.”

 
Julia smiled at that. “I was the victim of unsavory circumstances as well.
Today is diff
erent.”

Philip licked his lips and glanced to Shona, w
ho still lay helpless on the fl
oor. He reached into his jacket and pulled out an odd-looking pair of handcuff s, then grabbed her, pulled her wrists together behind her back and bound them. “Where is he?” He asked, never taking his eyes from the Maiden.

“Sleeping like a baby in my car.”

“Good. You have the gun?”

Julia reached into her purse and pulled out the tranquilizer gun.

Philip stood. “Give it to me.”

She handed it to him without question. “It’s loaded.”

“Correct formulation?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He turned and shot Shona.

Her body jerked as the dart impacted her shoulder, the pain snapping her out of the brainwashed stupor Philip had so easily triggered. “NO!” She struggled wildly, her legs kicking toward him in an attempt to bring him down. Philip and Julia jumped quickly aside as she fought her way to a sitting position, her face a mask of rage. “Don’t you
dare
hur
t him!
”

“Oh, joined to the last, aren’t you?” Philip whispered to himself.

Shona sprang to her feet and lunged at him. He caught her
and threw her back onto the fl
oor.

“Why isn’t it working?” Julia asked as she quickly ran to close the still-open door should Shona decide to use it.

Shona was already on her knees by the time Julia returned. “Sta
y away from him! Or I swear I will
kill you both!”

Julia looked to Philip, confusion her only feature.

He caught the look and glanced back to Shona who now teetered precariously. “Her instinct to protect her mate is strong. I’d go so far as to wager that if he were harmed, the Muiraran hearts protecting her would kill in the same way as if she were the one hurt. Fascinating. I’ve never heard of it happening. Bartrol was right.
Th
is Maiden is unique.”

“What are you talking about? Who’s Bartrol?” Julia demanded coldly as she watched Shona’s head fall to her chest.

“Bartrol is… an associate of mine. What you’r
e witnessing is her instinct fi
ghting the drug because she knows you have her mate in your car. Muirarans will kill anything threatening a mate. Quite a fearsome sight.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve seen it happen several times myself.”

Julia threw him a quizzical
look as Shona toppled to the fl
oor, unconscious.

Philip clapped his hands together. “Well, I’d say this about wraps it up.” He suddenly caught the venomous look in Maggie’s eyes and began to chuckle. “Ah, I’d almost forgotten about you.” He went to where she lay and bent down on one knee as he patted his breast pockets, searching. “You’ve been such a wonderful help all these years, Maggie. I wish we could part on happier terms. But that, at this point, is a complete impossibility.” He found the handke
rchief he wanted, cruelly stuff
ed it into her mouth and then began to fumble with his tie. “I will, however, leave you with a kept promise. I wouldn’t want you to think I don’t keep my promises.” He anchored the handkerchief into place with his tie, gagging her and stood. “So, I will now go to the bathroom and,” he leaned toward her slightly, “turn on the water.”