by K. N. Banet
“Maybe if he stood up to Davor—”
“He knows Davor is his fault. He’s trying. He is. If he can’t get Davor in line and I can’t, I’m going to ask Mother.”
“Why is Davor his fault?”
“What kind of example does it set when a man who lost his daughter decides to abandon all of his responsibilities and hide for a century? Sure, Father was grieving, but it was selfish grieving. None of us spoke to him much for those years until he Changed you. Davor, having been in love with Liza, got to see that as an example and thinks he can behave however he wants because he’s grieving. It’s been over a century. This family has dealt with loss before, and we’ve never tolerated someone to behave as Davor has for this long. I blame Father for disappearing and allowing Davor to spin out of control. Davor never listens to us unless it was an area of our expertise, but he listens to Father without question. Father needs to pull the trigger on our brother. He needs to go in and take his territory if Davor can’t finally clean himself up, especially when we’re dealing with something this big.” Zuri was huffing and furious again. I remembered the threat Zuri was mentioning and the shock it had sent through the family to hear it.
Kushim knelt next to her and rubbed her thigh. Definitely, a man trying to calm down his pregnant lover. It was affectionate and sweet.
They fell in love quickly.
“You promised your mother,” he reminded her.
She took several deep breaths. “I did, I know. I should go lie down.”
“Maybe,” he said, smiling a little, twisting the scars on his face.
I felt like the third wheel.
Nodding, she stood slowly, Kushim standing with her. He was tall, Hasan or Jabari tall.
“Jacky, email me when you hear back from the humans about another meeting. Keep me updated. I won’t get on family calls, and I can’t come to you because of this,”—she gestured to the baby bump—“but I’m here for anything I can do.”
“Do you think I can do this?” I wanted her reassurance.
Zuri tilted her head to her side, frowning. “Of course, I do. I know you’re willing to do whatever is necessary. I saw it with my own two eyes, the dedication you have. I was there when you fought and executed Lani for her betrayal. And while my twin is an idiot, he believes it, too. As do Mischa and Hisao, who saw you go across the world to rescue your human family. And Niko, who saw you overcome one barrier he never could and become friends with the werewolves, the people of his first family. We’re a rough family and are unaccustomed to being proven wrong or being forced to accept change, but you have our support in this. If they have all forgotten to say it, I’m sorry.”
“I just wanted to hear it from you. You would be so much better at this than me.”
“Would I?” She shrugged. “I’m an ancient, withdrawn from humanity, and I come off that way. I think the instincts of our family…no, your instincts for this are good. Maybe what humanity needs to see is someone like them…someone like you. Someone modern who best understands the world they live in and ours.” She smirked. “I couldn’t have picked a worse time to get pregnant, though. Sitting in on those meetings would have been a good course of action for me. We could have worked together, maybe.”
“Not that we picked this,” Kushim said, coughing softly. “Or that I mind the situation. You’re fucking gorgeous as a pregnant woman.” He reached out and touched the bump gently, smiling. “And I did this.”
“Don’t get it into your head, we’re going to do this again,” she said, looking down at his hands.
“Why not? The making was certainly one of the best things I’ve done,” he countered, pulling her closer.
“Don’t make me kill you again,” she said, both warning and joking. She didn’t elaborate as Kushim started to laugh. She reached out, and the moment her fingers touched the keyboard, the video call disconnected.
I was left staring at a black square.
Don’t make me kill you again? What?
“Well, that was something,” I declared, promising myself I would unpack every detail I could about that conversation the moment my head was clear enough to try—witches, an Immortal, and a baby.
I couldn’t honestly decide what was most surprising, but I was happy for Zuri. Leaning on my desk, I thought about her story about her first son and how that had turned out. She deserved a bit of happiness, and she looked happy. Kushim wasn’t the sort of man I ever thought she would be with, but there was a wonderful duality to them. My mind had a million trains of thought, all trying to go at the same time, so focusing on the cute new relationship my oldest sister found herself seemed the easiest.
Queen and bandit. That’s cute. Will the baby be a little royal like Zuri or a dangerous little criminal like him?
I’m going to be an aunt. I wonder how Hasan is as a grandfather.
Zuri is a witch, and Hasan doesn’t know. That’s pretty crazy. I can’t believe she told me.
She knows about me and Heath. I need to tell him.
That last thought made me feel more urgent than necessary. She didn’t plan to out me, but letting Heath know about this massive revelation was important. I grabbed a light leather jacket and walked out of my office. Oliver poked his head out of his office as I passed.
“I’m heading out, running some errands, and I need to talk to Heath. Dirk isn’t around, so you’re on your own.”
“I’ll lock your office for you,” he said.
“Text me if you need anything from the store or anything else,” I said, looking back at him before going down the stairs. I saw his wave and knew he heard me, feeling confident he could manage the bar on his own. Slipping out the back, I got in my car, then texted Heath, telling him there was something important I needed to tell him.
I don’t need to go there, but I need to get out of this bar. I can’t keep living like this, only going home for a ten-minute shower and sleeping in my office. When was the last time I left to buy groceries or anything else? I have to somehow reclaim that feeling of security.
I had to wait for nearly five minutes to get out of my own parking lot, thanks to a rush of people driving by. It happened. Sometimes, there were no cars on the highway where I had built Kick Shot, and sometimes, there were too many. I looked at the time. It was six, and it all made sense. People were still trying to get home from a long day of work and responsibilities.
As I waited, two trucks pulled up behind me. One honked for me to hurry up, so I stuck my hand out the window and flipped him the bird, getting him to honk louder.
“Wait a fucking minute, asshole,” I yelled out the window. “I own this fucking parking lot!”
The honking stopped.
It was another minute before there was a gap to get out of Kick Shot’s parking lot. The honking truck hit the gas, too, causing the tires to squeal as the truck stayed on my bumper.
18
Chapter Eighteen
I lost the asshole in town. As I passed through, my phone started to ring.
“Hey.” The way he said it, deep, calm, and pleased, sent shivers down my spine.
“Hi,” I replied. “I’m on my way over. I needed to get out of the bar. That call was Zuri. There’s some stuff I need to tell you in person.”
“Carey and I are about to have dinner. I’ll make sure to set a third spot at the table for you. We’re going to be talking about her upcoming birthday, too. That’s just around the corner. She’s already got a horse. How do I top that?”
“I…I don’t know,” I admitted. “But you’ll figure it out.”
He chuckled. “I’ll let you drive. See you soon.”
“Definitely,” I promised. I dropped the phone back into its cupholder. Heath didn’t like me talking and driving because I didn’t have a fancy dashboard that picked up my calls.
Oliver isn’t the only person who needs a ride. I need to update.
I was minding my own business, driving the speed limit thanks to the traffic, and finally hit an open st
retch of road when a new truck decided to get right behind me and stick to my back end like he was glued there. The road clear, but this guy—I assumed a man was driving—hovered right behind me.
“Pass, asshole. What the fuck is wrong with everyone driving today?” I checked my rearview mirror. The windows were too dark for me to see anything, but I hit the gas, trying to pick up a little speed. Five over would have to please this guy.
He matched me and stayed there. I rolled my eyes before focusing on the road. Trying to ignore the truck, I thought about how I was going to tell Heath about the call with Zuri. That was the least pleasant part of this small diversion. Heath’s cooking was better than any takeout I could get, and an evening with Carey would be good for me, too. I hadn’t seen her since I had broken down at their home, mostly because I just wanted to hide in my office and didn’t want her to see the sorry state I was in.
I heard the glass shatter and felt glass sting my face, cutting open my cheeks. I closed my eyes for a moment. Something stung my shoulder, and the suddenness made me jerk the wheel without thinking. My ears were ringing as I straightened myself out.
What?
It was then my mind registered the gunshots tearing up my backseat and dashboard, then the sound of silenced gunshots, hidden under the roar of the wind through my broken windows.
I looked up at my rearview mirror to see the truck wasn’t there anymore, forcing me to look back if I wanted to see who was shooting at me. I took the risk, trying to turn to look over my shoulder without sending myself off the road. The same truck was there, and there was someone hanging out the passenger side window, holding a gun I couldn’t identify. He was reloading already, which gave me a moment’s break.
I focused on the road again, slamming the gas pedal to the floor. I slid down, trying to keep a view of the road and stay safe at the same time. The fact I had only been hit once was a blessing. Shooting out of a moving vehicle was harder than the movies and video games made it seem.
I heard one of my tires pop and started losing control, then a bullet clipped my right hand, barely missing my head. I dropped the hand into my lap, hissing as adrenaline kept me focused on driving.
The truck decided to ram me, and my little Nissan Versa couldn’t take it. I went off the road, bumping into the ditch on the side. The stop slammed my head on the steering wheel, causing the damn car to honk. I groaned as I sat up and grabbed my phone.
I need to call Heath.
This was car accident number three for me. Luckily, it was the least severe. As the truck stopped on the side of the road, I unclicked my seatbelt and crawled to the passenger’s side. I got out of the car as the two guys got out of the truck and started firing blindly into my car. There was no one around. I was out of Jacksonville, on the stretch of highway between my town and Tyler. Heath was only five minutes away, but there wasn’t anything with good enough hearing to catch the silenced gunfire.
“Die, you fucking freak!” one of them screamed.
Freak? Who are these guys?
“We don’t want your kind here!” he continued.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I yelled back. “I own a fucking bar!”
“We know what you are!” More gunfire.
That’s why you’re not getting close, huh? You’re going to stay up there and eventually hit me.
Two options—fight or run as a human. Can’t Change. Don’t have time to strip, and my clothes will get in the way if I don’t.
The answer was clear. I didn’t know who these two were, but it was broad daylight and on a main road. They were bold for trying to kill me right now, but I wasn’t bold enough to kill them. The BSA was already onto me. Killing humans, no matter why, wasn’t something I could do right now.
I waited for a moment of silence, then took off into the trees, running faster than I believed I had ever done before. I heard them firing and saw bark explode on the trees, but I didn’t look back, didn’t have the luxury of looking back. I ran until they stopped shooting. I ran until I knew they couldn’t catch me. I just ran. Luckily, I knew the terrain. This was my territory. I knew every game trail, every path people had worn down with their dirt bikes and four-wheelers. I angled and headed in the direction of Heath’s home.
My legs were on fire when I decided to slow down to a jog. I looked back, seeing only trees, and finally stopped.
“What the fuck?” I asked, then winced as the throbbing pain in my shoulder made itself known. I reached up with my free hand and gingerly tried to find where I had been hit.
Just a graze. Oh, that could have been so much worse. They knew I wasn’t human and were trying to kill me.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what that meant. The BSA either just tried to have me killed or had a leak in their organization. There were fringe organizations that killed supernaturals, but they rarely made the news. Most supernaturals were hard to kill. They would rant and rave about the dangers of werewolves, witches, or fae, but no one took them seriously. There were lots of people who didn’t like supernaturals, but most of those people preferred to ignore the new reality that supernaturals existed.
I never gave the fringe killers any thought and had never heard of a case where they actually succeeded. Living in secret meant they were never going to be a threat to me.
But I’m not living in secret anymore. The BSA caught me.
I focused on everything around me as I tried to call Heath.
“Heath?” I said when I heard him pick up. All I got was a crackling noise on the other side. “Heath! Someone ran me off the road. They were shooting at me. I’m out in the woods near your place, and I’m walking. I would love a ride, though.” I knew he had off-road vehicles for simple work around his property. A ride on a four-wheeler would have been nice.
The call disconnected.
“Fuck!” I snapped, shoving the phone into my pocket. Useless.
Walking it is.
It took twenty minutes. A five-minute drive was a lot longer on foot through the hilly terrain of East Texas. I had to cross two back streets, hoping none of the humans who lived there saw me. I found his property line and was so exhausted by the time I staggered into his backyard. At first glance, I didn’t see anyone, but I knew my service was better near his place. As I walked to his back door, I pulled my phone out and sent Oliver a quick text to stay safe, and I would explain more when I had the chance. Then I sent a message to Hasan, asking for the family to get back together, telling him I was attacked and would be home soon. Texting with one hand was a pain in the ass, but I was trying to ignore the terrible throbbing pain coming from my bleeding right hand. I certainly didn’t want to look at it.
I heard screaming in the background, someone saying my name, but I didn’t look up, glaring at my phone, waiting for my texts to be read.
By the time I made it to Heath’s backdoor, he was there, opening it with a terrified expression. I shoved my phone back into my pocket, looked between them, then entered the house in silence. Carey was pale, but she wasn’t screaming anymore. Neither of the Eversons said anything as I went to their kitchen and grabbed the ice pack I knew they kept in their freezer with my left hand. Heath grabbed the first aid kit and met me at the table.
“Want to tell me what happened?” he asked, his voice tight. “Carey, find some towels, so we can clean up Jacky.”
“Okay, Dad.” She ran out of the dining room.
“I was run off the road,” I said simply. “Well, I was also shot at, a lot, but the off the road part is the reason I’m walking through your backdoor looking like I got into a fight.”
“I’m going to assume nothing is too bad if you’re here like this,” he said, the tense note in his words refusing to give way.
“A graze on my shoulder, the bump forming on my forehead, glass scratches from the windshields being blown out.” I lifted my right hand, which was a disaster. “This. I’ll need a hospital. The bullet hit and broke bones. It wasn’t a hard e
nough crash to deploy airbags, though. I don’t know if the bullet was silver. I didn’t have time to really register the pain. Once I had the chance to run, I did.”
Carey came back with an armful of washcloths, went to the sink, wetting one, then gave it to me.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to give her a smile. I winced as I wiped my face. “They called me a freak and said they didn’t want my kind around this part.”
Heath paused as he looked over my shoulder. “Extremists?”
“The BSA must have a leak,” I said softly. “I’m going to handle that. I need a ride home, though. My Nissan is out of commission. Ironically, I was considering finally buying a new car.”
He didn’t look amused. “I’ll get you back to the bar. You’re handling this well.”
“I’m not handling it at all,” I said softly. “I’m pretending as if it’s a normal day, and eventually, that’s not going to work. We both know that, so I would prefer to continue ignoring what this means for me and just get on with what needs to be done about it.”
He nodded.
“Carey, you’re coming with us. If we have an extremist group going after Jacky, there’s a chance they don’t like werewolves, either.”
“Why me and not you, though?” I hadn’t thought about that yet, but Heath brought up a good point. “You’re out. They know you’re a werewolf. They would have only just found out I’m a werecat.”
“You’re alone and vulnerable. That’s how wolves stay safe from these people. Witches, too. There’s strength in numbers. Attack one of us and get the pack or the coven. Do they know you lived?”
“They didn’t follow me into the woods, they were smarter than that, but yeah, they know I lived. If they really want me dead, they’ll try again.” I winced again as Heath cleaned off my injured shoulder. “Silver?”