"Never mind. I called because the twins couldn't get ahold of you. They want us over there right away. The old truck client is pissed about something and headed over."
There was no time to question why the twins couldn't call her, but called Will.
Once she yanked a t-shirt on over her bra and pulled on a pair of jeans that were semi-clean, she slid on some flip-flops, grabbed her purse and hurried to the front door.
Bing. Bing.
There was a text and she hesitated.
Thinking of you.
Ivan
What the hell did that mean? Jill rolled her eyes. Not like she didn't think of him first thing when she woke up.
Still looking at her phone, she stepped out the door and darkness fell over her. Literally. Some sort of black hood covered her face. She squawked and flailed, dropping her phone and purse. “What the hell?”
Being lifted by several men had been one of those fantasies that she’d often thought about.
However, this was different. The panic kind of ruined any romantic notions. Fear and her head being banged as she was stuffed into what had to be the back seat of a compact stopped any notions that, perhaps, Ivan was swooping her off to an exotic island.
The car was silent, which told her whoever her kidnappers were communicated with either sign language or telepathically. She voted for them not really having a plan and winging it.
With every turn and straight road, Jill concentrated on memorizing how many of each. So far it was four turns and several straight stints of about three or four miles each.
Thankfully, the ride was short. About ten minutes to be exact. If it weren’t that she lived in West Virginia, it would be a good sign. Unfortunately, in her state, there were dense wooded areas behind everything. Hell, they could be behind the police station and no one would know.
Once again, the silent people took her and shuffled to a place that smelled like dampness and rabbit. By now, she’d discerned the kidnappers were vampires. There had been no breathing in the car.
There was some struggling. Admittedly, she was the only one doing the struggling before being plopped onto a hard surface and having ropes tied around her waist.
“Is this really necessary?”
Finally, the hood came off and two things struck. First, Will sat in a chair eating pizza with tied hands and second, the blonde from in front of Ivan’s house, filming the commercial, was there. The bimbo who’d been squashed against her man just the day before now stood in front of her displaying a very prominent, deep camel toe.
“Surprise,” the blonde hissed. “Welcome to your worst nightmare.”
Jill blinked and looked to Will who shoved the last piece of pizza in his mouth and attempted to look terrified.
“This is not my worst nightmare. My worst nightmare involves Weight Watchers and pies.”
“They’re kidnapping us because of you.” Will provided the very useless information.
“What do you want?” Jill forced her gaze away from the woman’s crotch. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“You ruined our plan.” A vampire, who looked a lot like the blonde, spoke up. Next to him stood a muscular one who looked too much like one of Edward’s brothers in Twilight for her not to gawk. She didn’t ask. He probably wasn’t the actor. But he looked a lot like the guy. Damn, what was his name?
The clacking of the blonde’s heels reminded Jill that this was a dangerous situation. “Bitch,” Sheila spat and lifted a lip to show a bit of fang.
“First of all,” Jill started, “I have no idea what you three Scoobie-wanna-bes are talking about. Secondly,” she looked at the blonde, “yes, I am. Duh, I’m a wolf.”
The blonde rolled her eyes. The two males exchanged what could have been amused looks, but Jill wasn’t sure.
Will scooted his chair closer to her and leaned over. “They plan for Sheila to seduce and marry Ivan and then they will infiltrate the casinos and take over. But you ruined it when you...”
“When you slept with Ivan,” Sheila finished for him.
“Does the entire planet know?” Jill asked no one in particular. “First of all...never mind. We didn’t sleep together. So maybe he tripped and fell dick first into my vagina...whatever.”
This time, one of the vampires chuckled, quickly covering it up with a snort when Sheila, the camel-toed bimbo, glared at him.
“You’re a slut.” Sheila flung her hair back and did her best impersonation of Beyoncé with a wide stance and hands on hips. “And you’re not going to win.”
“Says the woman who plans to marry a guy and then rip him off.”
Will, the ever-helpful friend, leaned into her ear again. “They’re going to give him some kind of potion today when they shoot the commercial.”
“Shut up!” Sheila screamed then looked to her goons. “Do something. Make sure they can’t get away.”
“Aren’t you going to kill us before you leave?” Will asked, whistling through his teeth.
“Shut up, Will!” Jill did her best Sheila imitation.
The blonde looked down her nose at them. “We’re not killers.”
“Just thieves,” the blond male said.
The muscular one tested their ropes and sniffed at Will. “What kind of wolf are you, anyway?”
Jill couldn’t help it. “Saber tooth.” She began giggling and, when Will scowled at her, she guffawed so hard, her chair fell backwards.
Afraid she’d peed her pants, she finally stopped laughing out loud, but her shoulders kept shaking as she tried hard to control her mirth. Someone set her back up and the three vampires glared at her.
“We’ll release you in a few days.” The blonde stalked off, leaving Jill to wonder how much chaffing was happening.
A car engine started, followed by tires spinning over gravel as the vamps drove off.
Jill eyed Will. “How long have you been here?”
“Since last night.”
“And you didn’t leave because?”
“I’m tied up.” He looked to the pizza box. “Besides, they brought me pizza right before they went to kidnap you.”
The long sigh was mostly to keep from screaming. “If you shift, you can easily get out of the ropes. Then you can untie me. We’ll both shift and run away. Who knows, maybe we can warn Ivan or something.”
Will’s eyes rounded as he studied his bound hands. “I didn’t think of that.”
Moments later, they were both outside the shed. Will bounced from one foot to the other. “I really have to pee.”
Jill considered if she should kill him. In her wolf form, it was hard not to. Instead, she sent the obvious message by biting his tail.
The Flash had nothing on a scared squirrel that had to pee. He beat Jill to her condo, standing in front of it after she suspected he’d visited one of her bushes since he was no longer doing the shuffle.
Thankfully, her purse and cell phone were still on the ground where she’d dropped them.
She picked up her purse, unlocked the door and looked around. They needed to get inside before her neighbors wondered what she and a guy were doing standing in front of her house naked.
“What happened to you two?” Her eighty-year-old neighbor, Loretta, called out from across the street. Too late.
“Locked ourselves out, Miss Loretta. Have a good day.” Jill waved.
The woman grinned. “Nice buns.” She waggled her eyebrows at Will, who smiled back at her.
“Thanks!”
First things first. Jill went to the kitchen and started coffee. Second, she texted Ivan and, third, she pulled on her discarded night shirt. As she waited for the coffee to finish filling her cup, she dialed Avian.
Avian was the leader of the local vampire council. He was deadly and totally yummy. Jane had dated him in high school, which meant Jill had many an occasion to be around him. The vamp was nothing like Ivan. Avian was more easygoing and, although deadly, he made a person comfortable to be around him.
“What’s up?” The
deep voice sounded and she smiled.
“There’s some blond vampires that are planning to drug Ivan today. Then they plan to seduce him and rip him off. Well, the female is, anyway. Eww, I hope it’s only the female. Their plan is to go to Vegas to take over the casinos.”
“How do you know all this?” Surprisingly, Avian remained calm.
“They kidnapped me and Will.”
“The squirrel?”
“Yeah.”
“Glad to hear he’s alive. I think a friend of mine may have hit him the other day. Accidentally, of course.”
“Of course. Anyway. Can you stop the whole potion, seduction thing? You’ll recognize the woman. She’s sporting a camel toe and has a bad habit of hissing.”
After a few more questions, mostly about what a camel toe was, Avian promised to check it out.
Will appeared from her bedroom wearing a pair of her shorts and a long t-shirt.
At her mouth falling open and impersonation of a catfish out of water he explained the attire. “Your pants are too high-water for me.”
“And you think Daisy Dukes would be a better look?”
Chapter Nine
“So, have you seen Ivan?” Jane lifted her margarita and took a sip. “This is very good.”
“Thanks,” Jill replied, shaking her head. “No. I called Avian and he said it was handled. I texted Ivan several times, but I haven’t heard back.” She’d considered both calling and going over but, each time, she was afraid to find him canoodling with the blonde.
From the shade of an overhang in front of Scootie’s porch, Jane and Jill watched as the twins and Scootie’s husband walked around a newly painted truck. “What is it with males and stupid vehicles?”
“Same thing with us and purses or shoes.”
“That’s different.”
“True.”
Will filmed as each of the men took turns describing different aspects of the job. As hard as Jill tried to find it entertaining, a lot of it was boring. Will, however, was totally into it.
“Oh-oh, here comes trouble.” Jane motioned to Walter, who stalked over.
Jill sat up straight. “Will, catch this.”
Walter scowled and shook like a dog being hosed before nearing the truck. “Get your asses back to work. We’re behind on the antique and that customer is on his way. Still need to shine up the wheels.” He whirled on Will. “Squirrel, if you don’t get that fucking contraption out of my face, I’m stewing your skinny ass for supper.”
Will squeaked and passed out.
“Oh no, my camera.” Jill put her drink down and hurried to where Will lay. She stepped over him and picked up her expensive electronic device. “Mr. Walter, please don’t scare him when he’s holding the camera. It is very expensive.”
The huge wolf studied Will then looked to her. “The twins will pay for it if it needs to be replaced.” With that, he stormed away.
“What happened?” Will lifted his head and looked around. “Am I dead?”
“Not yet,” Jill replied.
“Call him,” Jane said as soon as Jill sat back down. “You know it’s best to talk. I’m not sure which one of you two is more stubborn.”
Jill considered arguing, but it was true. It was sexist to not tell Ivan she loved him. A part of her wanted him to say it first.
What if she admitted it and, in usual Ivan fashion, he stayed quiet? Or worse, what if he said it back because he felt it was the right thing to say?
“You’re overthinking it.” Jane stood and looked to where Luke was standing, still ogling the truck. “Hey, Babe. Why would a guy move across the country to be with his girlfriend?”
The wolf didn’t look up, his attention on the truck’s interior. “Only one reason. He’s in deep.”
“See, I told you,” Jane said with a smug look. “He’s in love with you.” She made twirling gestures with both hands. “You got that hunky vamp all wrapped up.”
“He is hunky, isn’t he?”
With imperfect timing Scootie bellied up to the table, a tall glass filled to the rim with margarita drink. “Of course, if you mate tomorrow night then all bets are off. Even if that vampire is fangs over ass in love with you, a mate trumps all that.”
Jill froze, her eyes threatening to bulge out of her head. “Oh, shit.”
The woman slurped noisily. “Where’s Walter? I thought I heard him screaming at the boys.”
As if on cue, the pack leader emerged from the garage, looked over and smiled at his wife. Jill’s heart melted at the sweetness in the gruff man’s expression. Was it possible that if she mated with a wolf, she’d lose her feelings for Ivan?
Jane leaned forward to look at her and echoed her thoughts. “I wonder if you mated, how you’d feel about Ivan?”
Scootie turned toward her. “Don’t ask me.”
One thing was for sure...okay, maybe two. First, she had to ensure that she didn’t mate and, secondly, she had to reach Ivan and tell him how she felt.
“I don’t have to attend the run. I can go by myself.”
“You’ll be at the run tomorrow.” Luke suddenly lost interest in the truck and focused on Jill. “Both packs will be there tomorrow.”
When angry, it was normal to scream or to cuss. For Jill, it meant tears. She hated to angry cry, but it always happened.
She did not want to look stupid. Well, unless one counted the fact she was in love with a vampire who was about to move to Las Vegas with or without a camel-toed blonde, as she’d not heard from him yet.
“I need to call Ivan.” Jill stepped down the steps and walked to stand next to her car.
On the third ring, Ivan answered. “Hey.”
“Hi. Are you at home?”
“No, I’m in Nashville. At the airport.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll be back in a couple days. Have to talk to my brothers about the whole attempt to take over. Sheila and her goons were not working alone.”
“Oh.” She really needed to say something else. But, of course, it was hard since a lump the size of an orange was stuck in her throat.
“Are you okay?”
“I--I don't want you to go.”
“I’ll be back on Sunday.”
“Okay.” There she went with the eloquent vocabulary. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
“Maybe you’ll see all of me. If you’re lucky.” His deep chuckle made tears spring and she sniffed.
“Jill? Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just having a moment.”
“Imagine me hugging you. I’ll see you Sunday, okay?”
“Be safe.”
She shuffled back to the comfort of her margarita. Scootie let out a sigh. “Since you didn’t finish the streamer braids, we have to work on those tonight.”
Jane shook her head. “Seriously, Aunt Scootie. Since when is there a party before a run?”
“Who the hell knows? You know those wives from your husband’s pack ain’t right. They’d have an easier time pole dancing than planning a proper run.”
“True that.” Jane drank and looked to her husband. “What do you think about this barbeque party at the run?”
“We’ve got a huge grill,” Luke replied and motioned Jane to get up. “Ready to head home? I’ve got meat to marinade.”
“Men and their meat,” Jane mumbled and then giggled. “That’s funny.”
It was hard not to join in her mirth. Jill and Scootie both laughed.
No matter the outcome of the run, just for this night, Jill planned to have a quiet evening at home. “Will, I’m heading home,” she called out, heading to her car. “Goodnight, Scootie.”
“Goodnight. Don’t get yourself kidnapped. You need to rest so you can bring your A-game to the party tomorrow.”
Now, why did that sound almost normal?
Chapter Ten
Luke’s pack had a specific location for their runs. It was a campground, complete with RVs, fire pits, a huge covered pavilion and bathrooms.
The wooded area was maintained by a couple who lived in a cabin on the property. There were golf carts to go back and forth all over the campground, paddleboats and even a playground.
When Jill pulled up, she sat in the car and watched all the activity. The gathering seemed more like a family reunion than a werewolf run. The streamer braids, secured on the posts around the pavilion, blew gently in the breeze and she had to admit it was pretty.
Smoke already streamed into the air from a huge grill around which a dozen or so males gathered with hands on hips as if supervising the meat.
Younger wolves hung out near the playground, a couple of the teen females attempting to look cute by sitting in the swings and swaying just enough to make their hair blow back, while the boys pretended not to notice.
The day was ending, which made the shadows longer and the air crisp. Although it was a relatively warm day, as the weather didn’t tend to grow cool until the end of October, there was already a change with not as much humidity.
Jill considered if she should keep her sweatshirt on and decided to unzip it to remove before shifting. As she made her way to where Scootie and her sister, Charlene, stood, she studied the males present.
There were always others present during runs. It was a new tradition started by the pack leaders. She noted Walter, Luke and Dale; a wolf who was about to take over Walter’s pack huddled with a huge male and Avian. The large male and Avian both turned to look her over at the same time.
It was hard not to turn and look behind to ensure it was she they studied. By his dark brown skin, the huge guy was either a panther or some sort of black feline. She’d have to get closer to smell, but would rather just guess.
Finally, she gave them a quick grin and wave and both turned away.
“What was that about?” she mumbled to herself.
“What?” Scootie danced to the music, a new country song Jill heard played a lot. “You already talking to yourself?”
“What’s with the power pow-wow? We eat, party, shift, run and come back. Surely they don’t expect something to happen.”
Scootie narrowed her eyes at the group of leaders. “You know guys. They like to pretend it’s a matter of national security. Put those four in a sack and flour them and you’d barely get a good coatin’.” She huffed and began dancing again while Jill tried to figure out what she’d meant.
Magic and Mayhem: Reality Shift (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Southern Shift Book 2) Page 5