by Ginna Moran
“I’m going to make this up to you,” he says, tightening his jaw.
I purse my lips. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to hide in a trunk. Just be quick. I’m really over small, dark spaces.”
His lips curl in a frown, but he doesn’t have a chance to say anything as the vehicle navigates into an underground garage beneath a tower. I’ve never been into this city before, which means it probably belongs to the Anderson Coven.
“Hurry, get in,” Everett whispers, helping me slide through the small opening. “I swear, I will make this up to you. Anything you want. I’ll do it.”
I twist my lips. “Feed me on the way home?”
He smiles. “You bet.”
The car comes to a halt, and I curl my knees to my chest, pulling what looks like a sun blanket over me just in case. Vampires can handle short bursts of direct sunlight, so keeping a blanket like this helps somewhat if they have to abandon the car during the day. Everett must’ve been antsy if he just used a hoodie. The tree coverage helped.
“Everett, love. It’s so good to see you.” The sugary voice of Francisca muffles through the trunk, even over the hum of the music Everett flicked on.
“Francisca,” he says. “What a pleasant surprise.”
I press my lips together as not to react. I can’t believe how jealous I am. I mean, what the actual hell? I guess I’m more vampire than my family would ever like to admit. The strange need to burst from the trunk to tell Francisca off consumes me worse than the fear and hunger colliding in me.
“Yes, yes. There is no time for pleasantries,” Corona says. “I’d like to have the transfers signed off on. Please go over the donors with me one more time.”
I hold my breath, trying to concentrate on listening for Bronx, Jameson, and Mikkalo. If they’re around, they’re too quiet for me to hear. A door slams, and I startle.
“Gigi,” Jameson whispers. “It’s taking everything in me not to yank this seat down to grab you. I’ve missed you.”
I want so badly to respond to his quiet voice, but I know if I try, I’ll give myself away. There is no chance I can control the volume of my words right now. Not with my wild emotions running rampant. I’m freaked out enough as it is that my stomach chooses now to roar and send pain through me.
“Damn,” Jameson murmurs under his breath. “Just hold tight. One more minute.”
I grip onto my knees, holding my breath to listen to the outside noise. A com device chimes, and then another and another. Corona growls, and something thuds on the trunk of the car. Hands—the hit so hard that I hear the crunch of the metal under the force.
“Was this you?” Corona asks, his voice deep with a threat that scares me worse than him smacking the trunk.
“Back off, Mr. Anderson,” Mikkalo says, his voice cutting through the pounding of my heart. “Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve been with you all day and most of last night.”
“Your brother—”
“Was in Crimson Vista,” Everett says, speaking up. “Do you want proof?”
“What I want is your cooperation in helping get back what belongs to me. My head of the night security is dead. My daylight too,” Corona snaps.
Bronx sucks in a breath through his teeth. “Shit.”
“That bite,” Mikkalo adds.
I nearly lose my shit, listening to them watch what I can only assume is security footage from my nearly failed escape. And not just any footage, the video of me chomping on that vampire guy’s thigh.
“Looks like Blood Rebels got her,” Bronx says, a master of acting in control. I can only imagine how much seeing any of my time at the Anderson Coven’s estate makes him want to rip some heads off.
Something crashes and Corona snarls, the sound of his voice ripping a wave of panic from me. I heave a few breaths, trying to calm myself down to stay quiet. A thud hits the top of the trunk again, startling me. I hear the latch click, and I curl up as small as possible, praying the blanket covers me completely.
“Calm down, Corona,” Francisca says. The taps of her heels grow closer. “It’s one donor.”
“You don’t understand—” Corona snaps his mouth shut and something thuds on the trunk again. It bangs closed. “I—I liked her.”
“And we’ll find her, right, Mr. Royale?” Francisca asks.
Bronx hums gruffly. “I’ll put out all available guards to sweep the area.”
“And when you find her, you’ll call me immediately,” Corona says.
“Yes.”
A car door slams and tires screech across the concrete of the underground garage. I release a breath at the sound of three more car doors closing. My body shifts as someone puts the car in gear and drives out of the parking structure. I can’t see anything, but I can sense it. Relief washes over me the longer I remain in the trunk.
“Gwen, you’re safe,” Jameson says, shifting the blanket from my face.
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to keep my shit together. But damn. It’s so good to see Jameson.
His green eyes widen, drinking me in for a second before he hooks his fingers under my arms and tugs me into the backseat. Silence greets me as four gazes smolder over me, making me squirm under the intensity. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I look like I just dolled up with the way they peer at me like I’m the best thing they have ever seen—even with my messy hair, dirty clothes, and soaked in blood.
“Damn, Gigi,” Jameson says, pushing my hair over my shoulder to get a better look at me. “Are you hurt?”
Everett slides his fingers through mine, unable to resist touching me. “None of the blood belongs to her.”
I glimpse myself in the mirror and grimace. I knew I had blood on my face, but shit. This is worse than I thought. I look nasty as all get-out. Heat burns up my cheeks, and I cover my face with my hands, hoping the four of them will get the hint that I want them to stop looking at me. This wasn’t exactly the reunion I imagined.
Cool fingers lace around my wrists, gently easing my hands away. Everett smiles at me. “Don’t mind my brothers. You’re fine. Still stunning.”
“The best thing I’ve ever seen,” Bronx says softly, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.
My heart flutters at his words. I can’t wait to hug him.
“He’s right, but Gigi, you’re confusing the hell out of me. I can’t decide if I’m jealous or hungry just looking at you. I mean, I thought I was the only one you’d ever use those teeth on ever again.” Jameson wipes the dried blood on my bottom lip with his thumb.
Mikkalo swivels in his seat and grabs onto Jameson’s shoulders. “Knock that shit off. I’m proud as hell of Gwen. She strategized perfectly. Used what she knew. Our girl is bad-fucking-ass.”
Jameson groans. “I am proud of her. I’m just, get over here, Gigi. I need you to bite me. I need your mouth all over me.”
I release a breathless laugh, my stomach roaring at his suggestion, proving how much I want to. “Jamie.”
He holds his hands out to me, but Everett hooks his hand to my waist. I catch the scent of his blood before I even see it, and I moan so incredibly loud that Jameson doesn’t even release a growl at his brother. His eyebrows shoot up on his forehead, and he looks away as I swivel and grab onto Everett’s arm, pulling it to my mouth without hesitation.
“So good,” I murmur, sucking hard enough to pull a sexy as hell moan out of Everett. I find myself on his lap with my back resting on his chest, keeping him pinned under me in a way that turns the both of us on.
“Damn,” Mikkalo says, keeping his gaze trained out the windshield. “Me next.”
“I’ll fight you for it,” Jameson says, scooting closer already.
Their need to take care of my needs prods at my dhampir nature, and I hum under my breath, reaching out to dig my fingers into Jameson’s leg.
“Give her space. We don’t even know what she’s been through. This is probably so much for her to handle,” Bronx says, keeping his voice low like if he dares rai
sing it, it might set me off.
I meet his gaze in the rearview mirror. He’s the only one who looks at me as I drink from Everett. His mouth tilts in a frown, and I blink my eyes, stopping any tears from falling. Pulling away from Everett’s arm, I manage to control my still furious hunger.
“I’m okay,” I say, my voice barely coming out a whisper. “I’m just so happy you came for me.”
“I promised you we would,” Bronx says, still not gracing me with the smile I love. He looks more sad than anything, even though I’m here now. “You’re our girl.”
I bob my head, any form of response staying locked in my throat.
“Now let the rest of us take care of you,” Jameson says, wiggling his fingers at me. “I could use your arms around me.”
A smile breaks across my face. “Okay, Jamie. Just be prepared. I’m starving.”
He tilts his head, showing off his neck. “Take as much as you need. I’ll gladly die under those kissable lips of yours.”
I kiss his throat. “It’s a good thing I want more of you later.”
He hums. “Hurry up, Bronxy. Let’s get our girl the hell home.”
Chapter 3
Mind Manipulation
“THIS IS THE WEIRDEST BONDING experience of my life,” Bronx says, reaching over to touch my cheek. “But thanks for inviting me. I know it’s Everett’s time with you.”
I cup his hand, pressing it into my skin just to feel the weight of his fingers. “I think it might be the best one for me.”
“Which is why I agreed.” Everett slides his hands around my hips to shift my body slightly so that my back faces him. It takes everything in me not to react to his stiff boner poking my back, and I’m nearly certain my constant wiggling gives it away.
“This would be better if Mikkalo didn’t go crazy with the bubbles. I can’t even see your tits,” Jameson says across from me. He scoops up a handful of bubbles and blows it, sending the foam into the air.
I flick water at him. “Behave.”
“Yeah, the bubbles were more for our benefit,” Mikkalo says, pulling my legs to sprawl over his lap, risking me turning him on.
I grin at the three of them while sneaking my hand underwater to trail it over Everett’s leg as he massages shampoo into my hair. He leans into me, his soft moan tickling my shoulder.
“And you think we need to behave,” he whispers, tugging my hair gently so I sink more into him.
I laugh. “I can’t help it. I’ve missed you all. You have no idea.”
I hadn’t planned on taking a bath, intending on just going straight to bed after my shower, but I couldn’t sleep over the soft murmurs of Bronx, Mikkalo, and Jameson as they hung out in Bronx’s room while I snuggled with Everett. I could tell they all wanted some attention, so I mused that I was still achy and wanted a bath in Mikkalo’s tub since it was the biggest.
I couldn’t just intrude on Mikkalo with Everett, so here we are, the five of us sitting together and proving how big the tub really is. And hot. I love getting to peek at all the muscles and delicious bodies every time the water shifts. I’m the luckiest ever.
“And I really love the bubbles,” I add, sliding my leg across Mikkalo’s now raging erection. I’m nearly certain no one’s going to leave the tub at this point. “After the...week?” I frown, thinking about the time locked away on Corona’s estate.
“It’s been two and a half days,” Bronx says, keeping his voice even.
“But it felt like fucking eternity.” Mikkalo runs his hands up and down my legs. “I was going crazy.”
“We all were,” Everett murmurs, moving my wet hair from my shoulder to brush his lips to my skin.
No one reacts to his affection, though Jameson looks like it’s taking a whole bunch of self-restraint not to try to move to sit between Bronx and Everett to get closer himself. And not because he wants attention. He looks ready to smother me.
“Well, I’m back and everything’s g-great.” My voice hitches with my words. “Like that nightmare didn’t happen.” Except it did. The harder I try to suppress the memory, the more it fights to return to me.
The four of them fall silent, turning their gazes from me to each other. Talk about pouty as hell vampires. Even my brothers could never master such brooding expressions. It gets to me more than it should. Because I have nothing to be upset about. I wasn’t mistreated that much nor was I with psycho Corona for long. So many more people are worse off. Grayson would smack me upside the head if I even dare feel sorry for myself.
Jameson risks reaching out to touch my leg under the water. “Gigi, you don’t have to pretend you’re okay if you’re not. What happened with your brother—”
“Please, don’t.” I grab his hand and scoot away from Everett to face Jameson. “I’m fine. He betrayed me. Told Corona what I was in an attempt to free my other brothers and punish me for being a traitor to humanity. He was a stupid, stupid jerk. He should’ve trusted me.”
I heave a breath, suddenly feeling too hot in the water. I stand up, dripping bubbles everywhere in an attempt to get out, but I don’t make it far. There are too many legs to climb over that I end up slipping. Jameson catches me, my body sliding against his. He tries to hand me to Everett, but I clutch him tighter.
“You know, I don’t know why I’m so messed up over this. Look at what he did to us. You almost lost your heart,” I say to Jameson. And then I swat him. “And I can’t believe you were going to give it up for me.”
Jameson doesn’t respond. He doesn’t look at me either.
“You barely know me, Jamie. I’m not worth dying for. I’m an anomaly, and you guys probably can’t help the attraction you feel for me. Laredo always said he thought part of my predatory nature was to hypnotize—”
Jameson spins me away from him and toward Everett, who interrupts me with a kiss that leaves my whole body buzzing. Everett doesn’t pull away until he’s sure I won’t continue with my rant. “Why don’t we get out of here, Gwen? You’ve been through a lot.”
“I’ve been through worse,” I say, lowering my voice. Everyone’s tense as hell now. I’ve ruined what was supposed to be a time to relax and forget, but my head just wants me to remember. I’ve never had such a difficult time shoving something to the back of my mind. “Spending a couple of days alone in the dark doesn’t compare to Laredo killing...” I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t even remember my one and only sort of...boyfriend? Lover? Distraction? Whoever he was. “Or...damn it.” I can’t remember my former blood source’s name before Laredo either. “What is wrong with me?”
Bronx gets out of the tub and grabs a towel, wrapping it around his waist. “All right, dandelion. Time to get out. This was too much.”
I place my hands on my hips. “Was not. I’m just...fuck. I can’t believe this shit. Why can’t I suppress it like everything else?”
No one responds to me right away as Bronx hands his brothers their towels and holds one out to me. Everett helps me from the tub so that I can step toward Bronx. Bronx wraps me up, taking a moment to hug me. It’s the first one he’s given me since I’ve returned because Everett has barely stepped away from me, except for Mikkalo and Jameson to give me more of their blood in the car.
“Gwen, I think I know why you feel so overwhelmed,” Everett says softly. He wraps his arms around both me and Bronx, resting his chin on the crook of my neck.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Mikkalo asks. “Our girl—”
Everett turns and shakes his head at his brother. “Yes, she’s been through a lot, but I think it’s more than that.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
Bronx eases away from me so I can turn and look at Everett. I glance at the four of them, taking a minute to study their faces. Bronx and Mikkalo remain expressionless, but Jameson can’t control his grimace, his eyes flashing silver as he realizes whatever thought Everett has about me—a thought I can’t guess.
Everett sighs. “You keep saying you don’t understand why you feel what you
feel.”
“Well, yeah. It’s not like I’m a stranger to losing people. It’s my life,” I say. “I mean, I watched my former blood source rip my dad’s throat out, and I didn’t feel this bad. Kyler doesn’t deserve my grief.”
Jameson groans. “Fuck. You’re right, Ev.”
I hug my arms around myself. “Just spit it out. I can’t read your minds.”
“Gwen, I think Laredo manipulated your mind so that you never had to deal with these kinds of emotions,” Everett finally says.
“It wouldn’t be the first time a Blood Rebel had dealt with something like this,” Bronx adds. “From what I know, some rebels ask to have things manipulated from their minds. They think it makes them stronger. Allows them to do things they wouldn’t normally do otherwise.”
I shake my head. “No. That’s not true. A Blood Rebel would never allow or ask a vampire to get into their heads.”
“Maybe you did. I can’t imagine dealing with the death—”
“I’d never,” I say, jerking my attention to Mikkalo.
Jameson clears his throat. “I think it was Grayson. He was her keeper.”
“He’d never...” Ah hell. Yes, he would. Grayson cared the most about our purpose in life. If I feel this way about Kyler now, even though he betrayed me, I can only imagine how I was after Dad’s death. It was enough to push me into killing my blood source, and Grayson found Laredo quickly after that. I don’t even remember how. Grayson just showed up with Laredo a couple of days later, and that’s when we started putting all of Dad’s training to use.
I blink a few times, trying desperately to remember. But the harder I try, the more my head hurts.
“Gwen?” Everett says, drawing my attention to him. “You okay?”
“I don’t know,” I respond. “I—I can’t think.”
He hugs his arms around me. “Can I take you to our room?”
I slowly nod and glance into his blue eyes. “Will you fix me?” My mouth asks before my brain can catch up.