Cassie (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #3)

by Virginia Hunter

  Cassie rolled away from the bounty hunters, and staggered to her feet.

  Blondie had a hold of Right Hook, while the other guy crouched in indecision of whether to go after Cassie, or help his friend.

  “That’s bullshit!” Cassie lied, jabbing a finger at the pair. “These guys were looking for a good time!” It was a dirty move, but she wasn’t going back with them—no matter what.

  That was enough for Blondie. He slugged Mr. Right Hook in the face, and the fight was back on. Mr. Indecision came at Cassie with another pair of handcuffs. He didn’t charge like the first guy. Instead he circled her with caution, looking for an opening. Little did he know, it wouldn’t do him any good.

  Cassie’s anger was up, as well as her power. Energy coursed through her veins like liquid fire. Whenever that happened, people got hurt. A voice in the back of her head pleaded with her to stay calm, but it was starting to weaken in the face of her building rage. Five years was a long time to deal with this kind of shit, and she’d had about enough. In an attempt to force the bounty hunter’s hand, she pretended to slip on the slick pavement.

  Mr. Indecision went for the bait, and rushed in. He tried to get a cuff around her wrist.

  Cassie stepped aside, and punched his hand as hard as she could.

  Bones shattered, and the man screamed. He fell to his knees, clutching his mangled hand.

  “I told you to just go away, but no, you wouldn’t listen,” Cassie ranted. She stalked over to an old pickup, and punched the door. Her fist and arm went right through the metal exterior, and into the cab. Ease down. She took a deep breath. You don’t want to kill someone...again. She pulled her arm free, and glared down at the bounty hunter.

  His eyes had gone wide, and he scrambled to get away from her, as best he could. He finally got to his feet, and ran.

  That’s two. Cassie turned to face the pair of men still grappling. Blondie looked like he was holding his own pretty well, so she scanned the parking lot to make sure there weren’t any other people outside. It would be better for her to not have any witnesses. Thankfully the tournament and cold weather had kept everyone in the bar.

  She would have walked away just then, but her car was out of commission, and it didn’t seem right to ditch Blondie after he’d saved her bacon. Cassie sighed. Fine. She walked up to the fighting men, and grabbed hold of Right Hook’s arm as he was about to swing.

  Blondie launched an uppercut into the guy’s chin, and it was over. Right Hook crumpled to the ground in a heap.

  Cassie stepped back, and made sure she was standing between Blondie and the truck she had punched a hole through.

  “Friends of yours?” Blondie asked as he caught his breath.

  She scoffed.

  “Ex-husband then?”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  Blondie shrugged. “I’ve seen stranger things.” He wiped the blood from his lip. “You okay?”

  Cassie nodded, “Yeah. You?”

  “I’ll live,” he grinned. “This was a lot harder than buying you drink. Tell me I at least earned a kiss.”

  Cassie shook her head. Men. “Tempting, but I don’t normally kiss men who I don’t even know their names.”

  “I’m Caleb,” he offered his hand. “Caleb Snyder.”

  She didn’t take his hand, but decided to do her part of the introduction. “Cassie. Thanks for the help.”

  “No problem.” Caleb lowered his arm, and eyed her for a moment.

  A really uncomfortable silence followed. Those stormy blue eyes bore into her, while his chest still heaved a bit from exertion. And those biceps. Cassie wasn’t sure what to do. On any other night she would have at least flirted with him, but given the circumstances she needed to get the hell out of there.

  Caleb rubbed his jaw. “Well, it’s been exciting meeting you, but I should be going.” He tilted his head toward her, and started back to the bar.

  Cassie watched him go with a touch of regret, and then looked at the flat tire on her car. “Wait,” she called after him.

  He stopped, and turned with a raised brow.

  “Look, I’m kinda in a bad way here,” Cassie admitted, as she walked up to him. “Those guys trashed my car, and I need to get out of here...”

  Caleb smiled, “Let me get my jacket, and I’ll give you a ride home.”

  “Thanks.”

  Within five minutes they were in his 1967 Shelby Mustang. It was a sweet ride. Black with white stripes, leather seats, and an ass-ton of speed. A rock song from the 70’s blared from his stereo, as they cruised down the highway.

  Caleb turned the volume down. “What was all that about back there, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “It was a mistake,” Cassie replied. “I don’t really wanna talk about it.”

  “I get that, but those guys were trying to rape you. That’s pretty serious. I mean, don’t you want to press charges or anything?”

  The guilt of her lie, and her past, suddenly weighed down on her. “What’s the point? It’s not like anything would be done about it.”

  “Well, it’d go on their record at the very least,” Caleb said. “Might not be much, but it’s something.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  He glanced at her. “You are a felon, aren’t you?”

  Shit. Of all the people to get a ride from, I had to get one from Sherlock Freakin’ Holmes. Cassie rubbed her temples, but didn’t say anything.

  “It’s cool,” Caleb said. “I just don’t want to get knifed or anything.”

  Cassie barked a laugh, “I’m not that kind of felon.” Well, technically she was, but he didn’t need to know that.

  “That’s comforting.”

  “Look, you can let me out here,” Cassie said. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I’m not that big of an asshole,” Caleb chuckled. “A ride home isn’t a problem. Just don’t knife me. Deal?”

  Relief flowed over Cassie, and she smiled. “Deal.”

  When they pulled up to her hotel, the parking lot was pretty scarce. Not unusual for this time of night, but it set Cassie on edge considering the evening she’d had. The realization that her world had been disrupted, and the life she had built here was over, started to sink in.

  “You sure you’re gonna be okay?” Caleb asked.

  “Yeah,” she replied lamely. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I can get us something to eat if you want.”

  Cassie laughed, “You are persistent, I’ll give you that.”

  He gave her that enchanting grin. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  As gloomy as she felt, Cassie couldn’t deny the man’s charm, and at this point it didn’t matter if she kissed him or not—she’d be gone in the morning. Okay handsome, let’s see what you’ve got. She leaned over, took his head in her hands, and planted one right on him.

  Cassie had kissed men before, but since she’d been on the run for so long, that particular activity had been few and far between. Even so, none of them had felt like this. His lips generated a lightning bolt of desire that went straight to her core. She was wet instantly, and an urge to devour him like candy took control.

  Caleb returned her passion, hungrily sucking, and biting her lips. He pulled her close in a crushing embrace. Their clothes had become a barrier that prevented the closeness Cassie desperately desired. She needed to touch his skin, to press her naked body against his. She clawed at his shirt, until the neckline tore. Heat akin to her power rifled through her veins, driving her mad with want.

  This isn’t right, Cassie thought suddenly. My power... She pulled away from Caleb, panting. His eyes were wide, filled with as much shock and desire as she felt. Does he feel it too? The electrical pulse she’d experienced during their kiss continued to ebb from his chest into her shaking hands. “What’s happening—”

  Caleb kissed her again, pulling her back into his embrace. His hands were everywhere, rubbing, and squeezing. Their clothes came off, and were flung heedlessly away.<
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  She climbed into his lap, straddling his legs in the driver’s seat. She eased down onto him, and shuddered. It’s so hard. A moan of delight escaped her, as she began to rock back and forth. The tingling from before now charged every part of her that touched him. It was glorious. One of his hands cupped her breast, while the other gripped her hip, urging her to rock at a greater speed. She slammed her hands on the roof of the car, as she bucked against him. His lips and tongue played with her hardened nipples, causing her to gasp, and grab a handful of his hair. An orgasmic wave crashed into her. She screamed out while clinging to him. Caleb called her name, as he too released his ecstasy.

  Cassie collapsed. Her arm streaked the condensation that had built up on the window, as it fell to her side. The tingling from their touch continued to ripple across her entire body.

  “I think I might have broken something with that one,” he remarked, as he tried to catch his breath.

  She laughed, and then realized what had just happened. I had unprotected sex with a stranger...in a damn car! What the hell was I thinking?! She slid off of him, shuddering again. She instantly regretted the lack of contact, yearning for that electrical touch, but refused to acknowledge it. She scrabbled at the floorboards in search of her clothing. I’m a total slut. Ugh, the humiliation.

  Her hands finally came across a shirt, unfortunately, it wasn’t hers. Cassie sat up and offered the torn t-shirt to Caleb, unable to meet his eyes. “Sorry about the damage.”

  “It’s okay,” he replied. “I’m sorry about this...” The Taser hit Cassie full in the ribs, bringing all thought to a grinding halt, as she convulsed into unconsciousness.

  The cafeteria was crowded, as it always was this time of day. The jocks, nerds, preps, and goths, had gone to their corners, leaving the central wasteland open for those who didn’t fit in with any of the major social orders. Cassie was one of those “unclassified” nomads that roamed the uncharted areas in relative peace. Every so often a few of the majors would stumble upon her, only to be banished with a baleful stare, or barrage of harsh language. It was Cassie’s way, or it was now at least. It hadn’t always been though. Jocks and preps alike used to welcome her, and she them, but that had been a long time ago. Her new role was more appropriate nowadays, and with this being her senior year, wouldn’t last much longer.

  Cassie loitered the halls that intersected with the lunch room, rarely entering the cesspool in hopes of avoiding confrontation. Not that she was afraid of getting hurt, it was more the fear of hurting someone else. She tended to lose control when things got physical, and had been expelled several times for beating a few kids senseless. They deserved it, Cassie thought with a grim smile. She stopped and looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows, wishing she could be anywhere else but here.

  “Cassie Gallagher,” Mrs. Keller’s voice crackled over the intercom system. “Please report to woodshop. Cassie Gallagher, report to woodshop.”

  Crap. She’d known that call would be coming sooner or later. After her last project had caught on fire, and almost burned down the entire shop, a reckoning with Mr. Garber had been lingering on the horizon.

  Taking one last look at the rolling hills in the distance, Cassie shuffled off toward the shop room. A few snickers followed her, as she made her way. Of course, the whole school knew of her blunder before class had let out on that terrible day. The looks and wisecracks had been limitless, as well as ruthless, and only after Carl Zimmerman had created juicer gossip by coming out of the restroom without his pants, did the teasing relent. Thanks Carl, she thought as she approached room 1009. Even if it wasn’t intentional.

  Cassie shouldered the door open, and walked into the woodshop. The scent of freshly cut pine filled her nostrils. The smell was something she actually enjoyed about the class. The room was empty, as it would be during lunch hour, giving the place an eerie post-apocalyptic feel. She hurried past the various work stations, saws, and planers, to the back of the room where Mr. Garber’s office was. It looked like a little shack compared to the vaulted ceilings of the rest of the room—an afterthought shoved in the corner. The lights weren’t on, and the door was locked when she tried to open it.

  Cassie frowned. “Mr. Garber?”

  “He’s out Cassie,” a familiar voice answered from behind her. “But I’m the one who wanted to...see you.”

  Cassie spun around, startled. “Mr. Carson?!”

  Her English teacher stood in the middle of the room with his fists on his hips, and a belt in one hand. He wasn’t exactly old, but his salt and pepper hair wasn’t doing him any favors. Neither was the receding hairline.

  “What the hell, man? You scared me.”

  He smiled. His dark mustache fanned out across his face, and the black framed glasses he always wore raised, as his eyes squinted in delight. “An added bonus.”

  Cassie gave him a hard stare. “Look, if this is about that essay thing, I’m not going to be turning it in.”

  Mr. Carson’s only response was to push his glasses back up on his nose.

  Frustrated, and a bit creeped out, Cassie stomped toward the exit. “Whatever.”

  His belt crashed into the side of her face, as she tried to pass by him. The searing pain lit up her cheek, and knocked her back into the table saw.

  She brought a hand to her bruised face. “What the fuck?!”

  Mr. Carson was on her in a flash. The belt was around her neck, and his free hand ripped her shirt open. He leaned in on top of her, the smell of Old Spice overshadowing every other scent.

  Cassie pushed at him, but she was bent backward over the table, and had no leverage. She tried to scream, only to find her vocal cords crushed by the belt.

  “Fight all you want, you little bitch,” Mr. Carson panted into her ear. His warm breath moistening her neck. “But no calling for help.” His grip tightened on the belt.

  Spots clouded Cassie’s vision, as she continued to struggle in vain. This can’t be happening, kept repeating in her mind. Hadn’t enough bad things happened to her? What had she done to deserve being shit on by the universe so much? What the hell was the point of going on? She started to blackout, her resistance waning.

  Mr. Carson leaned back, unzipping his polyester slacks. “Hell, if this goes right, you might even pass my class.” The sound of his pants hitting the floor was so soft, Cassie could barely hear them. His hands rummaged at her waistline, until he was able to pull her leggings and underwear down. “Oh yeah. I like it shaved. Now you relax, this is gonna be good for—”

  The rest of what he was saying burned up in a fiery surge of rage that suddenly raced through Cassie’s veins. In that second, her mind cleared, and strength returned to her fatigued limbs. With a grunt of anger, she pulled her knees up to her chest, and kicked at Mr. Carson with all of her might.

  The belt tore from her neck, and Mr. Carson gurgled out a cry of agony, as he flew over thirty feet across the room to smash against the cinderblock wall. He fell to the ground in a heap, leaving a circular bloodstain, where his head had made impact a dozen feet from the floor...

  Cassie jolted awake with a gasp, escaping the nightmare. Jesus I hate that, she thought while blinking the sleep and grogginess away. To this day she could still see the shock in Mr. Carson’s dead eyes. He’d always thought of her as a victim. Things had changed on that day. The recurring flashbacks of the terrible incident always made her feel sick to her stomach. She tried to rub her belly, but found her hands were restrained behind her back. What the hell? She craned her neck around to see handcuffs on her wrists. Shit. Not the first time she’d ended up in cuffs, but the how and why evaded her at the moment. Where the hell am I?

  She glanced around to find she was laying in the back seat of a car. The interior was black, and made from some kind of tough fabric; though not the softest of seats, they were better than a lot of the places she’d slept on. The low, constant hum and vibration of an engine, told her that the car was moving. A wire netting stretched between her and the front
seats. She struggled to sit up, and caught a glimpse of the driver once she righted herself.

  His blonde hair was short in the back and longer on the top. Not a skater cut or emo. It had a choppy feel to it, but with a bit of styling. A pair of stormy blue eyes glanced at her in the rearview mirror.

  Son-of-a-bitch! The previous night came flooding back. “You tased me you piece of shit!”

  “Sorry about that,” Caleb said. “I saw how you fought last night, and didn’t want to take any chances.”

  “You tased me after we had sex!” she continued. “Who does that?!”

  He glanced again through the mirror, but was at a loss for words.

  “I guess it’s a good thing you’re not ‘that big of an asshole,’ right?” She could feel her anger start to rise. “I mean, it’s not every day I get taken advantage of by some prick!”

  “Look, I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Caleb finally responded. “There was something...strange going on. I never get involved with clients.”

  Cassie couldn’t argue with the first part; she’d felt it too. She could still feel the memory of that glorious tingling, but that was no excuse. “You’re an asshole!”

  He actually had the nerve to look guilty. “I... you’re right.” He sighed. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m taking you back to Canada.”

  Shit! I knew it! No, I should have known it. He was a damn bounty hunter. She would have felt more humiliated if her anger wasn’t hogging up all the space. How could I have been so stupid?! She’d let her guard down. That moment of weakness after being attacked, had opened her up. The fear of facing the trials of her situation alone softened her to his offer of companionship, and the heavenly feel of his touch.

  Stop it! Cassie shook her head, banishing the images of the previous night. In all truth, having sexual relations with a man had been a difficult hurdle for her after the whole thing with Mr. Carson. But after five years on the run, she’d been able to get over most of that pain and fear. Even so, the events of last night had thrown her for another loop. The pleasure, the betrayal...What a sick twist of shit. I’m swearing off men. I’m swearing off people. Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction. She glared at Caleb through the rearview mirror. “Oh pretty boy, what a mistake you’ve made.”