“Please let me go with you.” Jenny tried again, hoping to persuade him, fear creeping in at the severity of the situation. People she loved were in danger and sitting back, doing nothing, didn’t sit right with her.
“You’re staying here and don’t cross me this time. Do you hear me? I mean it.”
“Keep your cell phone with you and update me on what’s happening.” She followed him down the stairs. If he wasn’t going to let her go, the least he could do was keep her informed.
“I’ll call you as soon as I have an update. Ivanna, Dmitri,” he called out.
“What’s wrong?” Dmitri entered the room, pulling a shirt over his head.
“We have a problem. I need your help.”
Jenny paced the room to rid herself of the nervous energy plaguing her. She’d promised Dane she would stay put, even though her instincts screamed to do the opposite. He had been gone for over twenty-four hours and now she was beginning to worry. He hadn’t called to give her an update and she was furious.
She placed the cell phone to her ear for what had to be the twentieth time and pressed redial. The voicemail came on but when the prerecorded message ended, there was no more room in the inbox to leave a message. She shoved the phone back in her pocket with a silent curse.
“Will you stop pacing? Your mate’s fine.” Ivanna sat on the couch, watching her. “You’re going to leave permanent tracks in my bearskin rug if you keep that up.”
“I can’t help it. Dane should’ve called by now.” Jenny struggled to mask her irritation but it wasn’t easy.
“Maybe he doesn’t have anything to report yet. I wouldn’t worry. No news is good news in my opinion.” She dismissed Jenny’s misgivings.
“Sure, that’s easy for you to say because it’s not Dmitri out there right now.” She didn’t need Ivanna’s patronizing advice right now. He should’ve called.
“True, but I know my mate can take care of himself. He isn’t Alpha of this pack for nothing.”
Jenny remained silent, wishing she had the same amount of faith in Dane. But fear was beginning to eat away at her resolve to stay behind and wait for his call. “I know you mean well but what if Dane kills my friend or she tries to kill him?”
“Remember what I told you about trust?” Ivanna reminded her of their earlier conversation.
“Yeah, I do.” Jenny blew out a breath and stopped her incessant pacing. It wasn’t helping anyway. She came over to the couch and flopped down next to her friend with a huff. Still, if he didn’t call soon, she might have to do something drastic.
Ivanna gave her a warning glare. “I know what you’re contemplating. Don’t.”
Crap…she busted me.
“He should’ve called.”
“You’re staying here.” Ivanna’s tone was sharp as she leaned forward in her seat to glare a warning. Her eyes turned black.
“Calm down, I’m staying put.” Jenny rested the back of her head against the couch and closed her eyes. Obviously Ivanna didn’t get how upset she was over the situation.
Ivanna didn’t respond. Instead she allowed her some space, which Jenny appreciated. There were so many unanswered questions rolling around inside her brain. This wasn’t Marley’s personality though. She’d rather die than hurt those she cared about.
Wait, dear god, that’s it. What if…no!
Jenny stood up.
“What’s wrong?” Ivanna asked.
“I know what’s going on with Marley. I think Lucia might’ve taken over her mind like she did with me.” It made sense, especially when it came to some of her references to Dane.
“I’ve heard your kind is most vulnerable when you sleep. Is Marley a heavy sleeper?”
“She sleeps like the dead. We used to laugh about it.”
“If she was unaware it was happening to her, it might have given Lucia the leverage to gain complete control. In your case, she was only able to gain temporary control because you were aware of what was happening to you and fought her off.”
“I have to get a message to Dane. Damn it, why doesn’t he read his goddamn text messages?” She felt the blood drain from her face. Poor Marley, she was going to be devastated. She dialed again.
Dane, pick up…please.
“You’re jumping to conclusions.” Ivanna hesitated.
“I am not.” Jenny’s eyes narrowed. This was the only logical explanation for what had happened to Marley. Alarm quaked through her.
“If your assumption is correct, there isn’t much anyone can do until Lucia decides to release Marley’s mind.”
“When will that happen?” Jenny’s nails bit into her palms as she tried to temper the urge to trace.
“Maybe when she sleeps or possibly feeds. I’m not sure.”
Jenny could only assume that Lucia had killed the young family then traced to the cabin and had taken over Marley while she slept. But she’d bit into the child’s body to feed—or was it just a show to shock her?
“I can’t get a hold of Dane by phone.” She was desperate to do something, anything but sit here and wait for news.
“Your panic will get you killed.” Ivanna shook her finger at Jenny. “The rules have changed, remember that. You must never let your guard down or run off half-cocked on a hunch.”
“It’s not a guess. I know Marley well enough to realize what I witnessed was completely out of character for her. You say you know me. But you don’t.” Jenny’s temper flared. She was tired of everyone giving their opinion but not giving a damn what she had to say. Marley was her best friend and her gut instinct was screaming that the woman who’d killed that family and attacked Harris wasn’t her.
“You’re right.”
“What?”
Ivanna is agreeing with me. Well, that’s a first.
“I concede you have a point. But that doesn’t mean I agree to let you run off. Dane will call. Come, let’s go work off some of that energy radiating out of you.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“How about we train? Are you up for another sparring session?”
Jenny wasn’t stupid. Ivanna was trying to distract her, but so be it. The more she mastered her skills, the better chance she had in a fight if she did encounter her enemies. “Sure…”
If Dane didn’t call soon, she was going no matter what the consequences.
“Good, let’s go.”
* * * * *
Dane traced to Central Park and discovered Marley’s victims under the bridge.
“Damn!” he cursed under his breath as he approached the victims. The scene was gruesome. Blood was splattered everywhere. He rubbed his palms down his face and decided it was probably best not to tell his mate about this. It would devastate her if she learned her dream was real. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
Shit, not now.
He decided to let her call go to voicemail.
He knelt next to the first victim and noticed deep gashes to the throat area instead of clean puncture wounds. It was a vicious attack that appeared more like a mauling than a vampire bite. What a despicable thing to do to an innocent child.
I hope he didn’t suffer.
He ground his teeth, disgusted by the vicious scene. He had no compassion for Jenny’s friend. Not after seeing her handiwork. What she’d done was barbaric. It would be difficult to spare this bitch’s life. Lucky for her, this area was remote, a spot few New Yorkers frequented—probably why no one had discovered the bodies yet. He could bury them, at least, without being disturbed.
He was about to dig the first hole when an unnatural breeze rushed past him and Harris stepped into his line of view.
“Did you find anything?” Harris seemed oblivious to the carnage. It wasn’t surprising since the traitor had given in to his dark nature. He probably saw these poor victims as nothing more than food.
What an asshole.
“No, I’ve been busy cleaning up the bloody mess your mate left behind. She killed a family.” Dane didn’t try to hide his disgust. He wanted to kill Harris and his bitch mate.
“Something isn’t right here.” Harris cast an anxious glance his way, probably sensing his rage. He should be worried.
“I don’t give a shit. She’s out of control and the only reason I’m not hunting her ass right now is because of Jenny.” He stabbed the earth with a shovel he’d found in a repair shed. The moist soil gave way without much effort and he threw it over his shoulder. He had to distract himself or he’d launch himself at the fucking prick.
“Are you blind? This is the handiwork of a more experienced Rogue trying to make it look like an amateur. The vampire who did this chose her victims to make a point. It was for shock value. Why pick a remote location, huh? I’ll tell you why—because she wasn’t planning for humans to find the carnage. She was hoping one of us would. And why is that? Before you draw a conclusion, do the math. You’re wrong about my mate. She’s not a fucking baby killer.”
“Give me one good reason why I should believe anyone else did this when Jenny saw Marley do it?” There was no mystery here. No conspiracy theory. These poor folks were in the wrong place at the right time. He continued digging, almost done with the first hole. Fucker didn’t get it.
“Marley made me swear to her that I would never bite another human. She was adamant about it, so for her to do this doesn’t add up. She wanted to forfeit her life for Jenny’s sake and was pissed off that I refused to listen to her. Even the way she attacked me didn’t make sense. It was like she was possessed or something.”
Dane froze. “Lucia!”
“She’s here?” Harris whirled around.
“I think she’s the one responsible for the killings and if I’m correct she’s taken control of Marley’s mind and is using her. Fuck!”
“Lucia is capable of mind control?” His jaw clenched.
“Yes.” Dane winced. He didn’t like the sudden regret consuming him.
“Thank god.” Harris’ relief was palpable. “How do we stop her without hurting Marley?”
“We have to kill her, that’s how.”
“That’s not a fucking solution. What about Marley?”
“We’ll wait until Lucia releases her hold on Marley’s mind. Shit. I need to contact the Order and let them know what’s happened. This whole situation has gotten way out of hand. I need backup.” He was about to call when Jenny’s number flashed on the screen again. Not now. She’d panic if he told her of his suspicions.
“You can’t! The Order doesn’t know I’m still alive. They’ll arrest me.”
“I have no choice.” He couldn’t worry about a traitor.
“Fuck you. I’m out of here.”
“Your mate is on a killing spree and needs to be stopped. I’ll talk to Marcus and let him know about my suspicions. If it is Lucia controlling Marley, no harm will come to her.” That was generous, wasn’t it? Shit. What did the asshole expect? It was just a hunch. He could be wrong and then what? He couldn’t let her continue killing humans.
“What if they won’t listen and decide to kill her anyway? I can’t chance it.”
“I’m sorry. This is too big. I need their help.” He sent a text message to Marcus and put his phone away, ignoring Jenny’s call. This was too messed up to even begin to explain it to her right now.
“You can take that chance but I can’t.” Harris disappeared.
Dane winced. He was torn. Part of him struggled between his loyalties to the Order, his mate and what he believed was the right thing to do. Harris’ predicament sucked. But why should he feel sorry for a traitor? Jenny, on the other hand, was a whole different story. He couldn’t deal with that right now.
He lifted the tiny victim and placed him in the grave.
He had just finished filling in the last hole when Ta’breyian appeared next to him.
“You’re a little late.” Dane threw the shovel on the ground.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” He pressed his lips together in displeasure.
“A family was murdered here. Where are the fucking Hunters who are supposed to be protecting the park? It’s a free-for-all out here.”
“We’re spread thin at the moment.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I didn’t. Marcus sent me here on another matter. Things are heating up. Not just here but other places. It’s a long story.”
“Is that the reason you didn’t return to the cabin?” He’d been out of the game and it bothered him.
“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate but whatever.
“What kind of situation?”
“There was a spy trying to infiltrate Voss headquarters in London. Your brother dealt with it but complications have arisen.”
“What kind of complications? Is Christian okay? Damn it, why hasn’t anyone contacted me?”
“Marcus decided he would handle it.”
“Is Marcus with him? Tell me what’s happened. I have a right to know.” Dane was pissed. This was his fucking brother they were talking about, for Christ’s sake.
“The Dracus coven has declared war against the Order because your brother won’t give up a female who is under his protection. It’s a long story.”
“Damn it, does he need my help? I should go there.” He was torn. Jenny was safe with the pack but the idea of leaving with Lucia out there made him uneasy.
“I wouldn’t worry. Marcus is in England with Christian. It’s nothing they can’t handle. Take care of your mate. If you’re needed, Marcus will summon you.”
“I need to be back in the game. This is crazy.” He knew Dorian couldn’t be trusted but to go after his brother… “Is there anything else I’m not aware of?”
“Rogues have also become more brazen. They’re attacking humans on crowded subways, bus terminals and even in Times Square. It’s as if they don’t care if they are seen.”
Dane scowled angrily at the current events unfolding. But his real concern was for Christian. “Maybe I can leave Jenny with the pack for a while and help get these things under control.”
“It’s not necessary. Marcus has deployed the Sentinels. You should stay close to your mate and wait for word.”