Red Moon (Vampire Files Trilogy Book 2)

by RK Close

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “You all know that I was hired by the Taylors to find their daughter.”

  Sean nods. Cian just listens. I send Colin O’Donnell a pleading look, but his hard expression never wavers. He has much to lose when this is out, and he still feels it’s the right thing to do. Who am I to argue?

  Energy is rolling off every single person in this room—I can actually feel it. I’ve noticed this new ability recently but didn’t understand what it was until tonight.

  With everyone watching me, I continue. “During my investigation, I came across files that Madison Taylor had hidden in her bedroom.” Deirdre drops her head as if in shame and I know that she trashed Madison’s apartment.

  You can do this, Sam. Just say it.

  “Madison had videotaped herself with various men, some of whom I know she was blackmailing.” I wait for my words to fully sink in.

  Sean looks at the ground, shaking his head. Cian just stares at me like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. Leila looks sharply at the brothers. Colin is a stern-faced statue waiting for the rest of the story that he already knows. Deirdre continues to cry quietly.

  I give Jacob a sideways glance. “I know she was blackmailing her tennis coach and one of her professors.” Cian looks as though my words are not registering for him.

  “What are you saying, Sam—that Madison, my Madison was blackmailing people…men? For what purpose? Where’s your proof?” Cian says loudly.

  He really doesn’t get it. Love truly is blind. My chest tightens at the blow I’m about to deal him. Madison pulled the trigger, but I’m the bullet.

  There is a moment of sadness that flashes in Colin’s eyes, but it’s quickly locked away. He’s a master at hiding his emotions. I guess it’s part of the job description when you’re an alpha.

  “She has proof, Cian. Do you need to see the photos to believe her? Are you that blind, son?”

  The father and son have a silent battle as they stare at one another.

  “Am I on the video, Sam?” Sean’s voice breaks the momentary silence.

  “No.” He holds my gaze, but relief is in his eyes. “There was an empty file with your name on it.”

  The implication of our words finally registers with Cian. I can read it in the change in his body language and expression. He looks at me with what can only be described as shock.

  “What do you mean? She had a file with Sean’s name on it? What other files?” Cian asks like he doesn’t want to know.

  “She had a file with your name and a video, Cian,” I say, watching the color drain from his face.

  I can’t look at him any longer. Everyone in the room looks uncomfortable.

  “Tell him all of it,” Colin says.

  Once again all eyes are on me, except for Colin, who is watching Cian.

  “She had a video of her professor, her tennis coach, you,” I say, “and…” I pause and look at Colin again. He nods at me.

  “She had one of your father.” There is no sound but the crackling of the fire as this information is processed by everyone. Even Sean looks like he’s been slapped across the face.

  I catch a glimpse of Leila’s hurt look before her stoic mask drops back into place. Could she and Colin have something more than a working relationship? That would only add to the misery already about to engulf this room in flames. With all the hightened emotions floating through the room, I clutch at Jacob’s arm to remain steady.

  How can one woman wreak so much havoc on a single family? The realization that we may finally know what has become of Madison Taylor brings my focus back sharply.

  Sean places his hand on Cian’s shoulder, but he shrugs it off. Glaring at his father, he storms out of the room, knocking into Leila’s shoulder as he goes. She doesn’t react, only looks over to Colin with a question in her eyes. Colin shakes his head once, and their unspoken conversation is over.

  Sean starts to follow his younger brother, but Colin stops him. “He needs some time. Leave him be,” Colin says to Sean.

  “When were you involved with Madison?” Sean asks his father.

  “It was almost eight months ago. I didn’t know who Madison was. It was a bad night with too much booze. I let my guard down, and she took advantage of the situation. It’s not something I’m proud of, and I think you know it’s out of character for me,” Colin says to Sean but glances at Leila.

  This time, she looks away, and now I know there is more to their relationship. She has feelings for her alpha—it’s plain to see. I’m not sure if that means they are involved with one another or if this is just a one-sided crush, but I don’t know if I want to know anything more about this family’s private lives. I already feel like a peeping tom, and I’m supposed to be a PI.

  “Deirdre, what happened to Madison Taylor?” I ask.

  She turns her tear-stained face towards me, then looks at her father and brother.

  “I killed her,” Deirdre says.

  Sean drops to his knees and buries his head in his hands.

  Colin O’Donnell drops into the nearest chair and looks as though he’s going to have a heart attack, while Deirdre sobs.

  Jacob and I look at each other—both as surprised as the other. I assumed she was involved, but I did not expect this confession. Apparently neither did her family.

  “Deirdre, what happened? Why did you kill Madison?” I ask.

  She pushes away from Sean and looks at me.

  “I didn’t mean to kill her. I only wanted to threaten her, convince her to leave my family alone.” Deirdre stops and looks at Sean.

  “Originally, she was planning to undermine Dad’s position in the pack when she saw you.” She looks at Sean. “She changed her plans and started pursuing you. It was all about you. She was in love with you and wanted you to love her back. When she couldn’t get you, she started on Cian to make you jealous. When you rejected her again, she convinced Cian that she loved him and not you. I’ve never trusted her, so I followed her for a couple of days. That’s how I discovered that she was seeing the tennis coach. I knew she didn’t care about Cian, so I confronted her.” Deirdre watches her words have their effect on her family.

  “She gloated about her plans, and how she would get what she wanted or take our entire family down for the hell of it. That’s when I learned about the photos and decided to do something about it. All I meant to do was scare her. I told her that I’d convinced Sean to give her another chance. I let her think that I was terrified of my own shadow and that I’d do anything she wanted, to protect my family,” she says, pausing to look at the flames in the fireplace. “She actually thought I was her errand dog.”

  When Deirdre looks back from the fire, her eyes are glowing amber pools, and I’m reminded of the wolf that attacked me. She has that fierce look in her eyes now. Not a hint of innocence to be found. The look on her face is nothing less than ferocious.

  “I am the daughter of the alpha. She was naïve to think I was the weakest. I’m as strong and fast as either of my brothers.”

  All four pairs of wolf eyes are glowing in the dimness of the room—fired up by Deirdre’s words.

  “How did it happen?” I ask.

  Her eyes lose their glow, and she looks sad again.

  “I told her that I was taking her to meet Sean at our cabin in the mountains. She was suspicious at first, but also vain enough to believe that he wanted to talk privately with her. I told her that he was jealous of Cian, but didn’t want our brother to know they were meeting. She believed me.” Deirdre looks around the room.

  “I took her to the edge of a cliff, in the White Mountains. She became suspicious again and started questioning me. That’s when I told her all the ways that I hated her and what she is. I told her that I’d kill her if she ever came near my family again. It got heated and ugly, and before I knew it, we had both gone wolf, and a vicious fight followed.” A single tear rolls down Deirdre’s face as she pauses. Maybe she is reliving that moment. Those of us in the r
oom hang on her every word—knowing a train wreck is coming, but unable to look away from the tragedy.

  Sean’s eyes are wet with unshed tears. I’m sure he and his father feel they played some part in Deirdre’s personal train wreck. Even Leila’s emotions are floating just below the surface. She looks like she wants to gather Deirdre in her arms and shield her from the world.

  Deirdre continues without prompting. “At some point during the fight, we started to slip down the cliff. I truly thought we were both going to die, but I caught hold of a tree root with my teeth before I slid completely off the edge.” She looks up from gazing into the fire, her eyes glossy. “Madison wasn’t as lucky. When I looked back, she was gone. I searched for her body, but couldn’t find where she landed and there were plenty of places that I couldn’t get to. She couldn’t have survived the fall, and there were a hundred places she could have ended up before hitting bottom. They’ve had an early snow. We won’t be able to find her until spring.”

  I pull my gaze from Deirdre’s dazed expression to look at Colin. Pain is written all over his stern face. His eyes are glossy, but no tears fall.

  Sean doesn’t seem to care, and his tears flow silently as he hugs his young sister to him.

  “It’s time to leave. Leila, bring Deirdre. The Gathering will start soon, and we have a long drive,” Colin says, turning to leave the room.

  His abrupt departure surprises me, and I look at Jacob. He shakes his head at me as Sean and Leila help Deirdre to her feet. They lead her from the room, and Jacob and I follow on their heels. Once Deirdre and Leila are in the large dual-cab truck, I touch Sean’s arm before he opens his door.

  “What will happen at the Gathering?” I ask.

  His eyes hold a great sadness when he answers me. “Deirdre will be accused and sentenced by the Luna Pack.”

  When I give him, a questioning look he adds, “It’s a death penalty, Sam.”

  34

  The Gathering

  Sean’s words hit me like a physical blow. My legs want to give out from under me. Jacob gently nods as if confirming Sean’s words. I glimpse the back of Deirdre’s red hair as she sits between her father and Leila in the front row of the truck. She glances over her shoulder, but she’s no longer crying. Her steady gaze says she’s resigned to her fate.

  Am I the only sane one who knows this is totally wrong? Sean looks down at my hand on his arm, and I realize I’m still holding it. Reluctantly, I release him.

  “We can’t do this. We cannot hand her over to be murdered. It was an accident. This is so wrong. How can you go along with this?” I plead, on the edge of hysteria.

  Sean gives me a sad, but stern look. “Sam, these are our ways. I don’t want this any more than you do. Do you think this isn’t killing me? She’s my sister. If we don’t follow the law, then who will? You don’t want a world where werewolves are not governed by a tight leash,” Sean says, and nods toward the truck. “You don’t have to go.”

  I want no part of this, but I can’t leave Deirdre to these crazy people. Someone should be the voice of reason. I step into the back cab of the truck and slide in next to Jacob. Sean climbs in next to me as the engine roars to life.

  “What about Cian? Is he not coming?” I ask.

  “He just needs some time. He’ll be there. I’m sure he’s already on his way.” Sean turns his head and stares at the darkness beyond the window.

  ***

  We drive silently for over an hour. The mood in the truck is somber as we wrestle our own private demons on the way to the Gathering. I’ve no idea where we’re going until highway signs inform me that we’ve arrived in Sedona.

  Darkness doesn’t allow me to see the stunning and colorful red cliffs that inspire artists, naturalists, and spiritualists to call this place home. Sedona’s a major tourist attraction, but it’s never felt like that when I’ve visited.

  We turn off the highway just past town and drive along a dirt road for another twenty minutes. It feels like we are rising in elevation again as the pine trees thicken.

  Eventually we arrive at a plateau with enough vehicles to fill a grocery store parking lot.

  How many werewolves could there be in these two packs for crying out loud?

  People are milling about—talking, drinking, smoking. Once we step out of the truck, it’s like an announcement has been made, and people begin to move closer to a huge bonfire blazing in the center of the field.

  Everyone’s eyes follow us as we move toward the flames. I feel Jacob’s hand on my back as we move closer. Genevieve, Robert, and Chad Taylor are standing in the center, closest to the fire. Mr. Taylor, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, looks like he might kill someone. Robert wears his grief like a savage mask. Tonight, he looks nothing like the polished businessman I met over a week ago.

  Genevieve’s gaze is steady, and it never leaves Deirdre. Interestingly, Chad stands apart from his parents and doesn’t look thrilled to be here. He also watches Deirdre, but I can’t read his thoughts from his expression.

  The crowd is divided into two groups, and I can tell by position who’s with what pack. It’s as though there is an invisible line that nobody wants to touch.

  Where do I stand? I think I’ll stand on the side that argues for leniency and mercy for a young girl who made a terrible mistake. My biggest concern is that neither side expects any mercy.

  Stupid werewolf laws!

  I should be looking for Adam. He would know what to do. I believe he would help me figure out a way to save Deirdre.

  One problem at a time, Sam.

  Genevieve walks toward Deirdre, but Leila is in her path before I see her move. Genevieve stops short and glares at Leila. They have a silent battle of wills as the women stare each other down. Finally, Genevieve takes a couple steps back before she yells to the crowd.

  “Luna Pack.” She looks from one side to the other. “Mojave Pack. We are here to see justice served. One, from the Mojave pack, has taken a life from our own. This act is against all wolf law.” She turns her gaze back to Deirdre. “Deirdre O’Donnell, you are accused of killing Madison Taylor, my daughter. How do you plead?”

  Deirdre steps away from her father and brother, looking small and fragile. But then she stands straighter, lifts her chin, and looks directly at her accuser. “Guilty,” she says.

  Excited growling and shouts break out from both sides of the circle. My skin crawls and I have the desperate urge to run screaming back to the truck. Jacob’s eyes are glowing bright blue as he reacts to the potential threat, so I know it’s not just me.

  We are surrounded by werewolves. I’m confident that I’m the only human—if I am human.

  Coming here may have been a mistake. My hand automatically moves to feel the dagger under my jacket. Not that it could save me if the wolves decided to turn on me. There’s too many of them.

  I glance at Colin, and he is watching his only daughter. His face is void of emotion. But I know this is ripping his heart out. Does she look like her mother; I wonder?

  I want to ask Jacob if there’s any way out of this for Deirdre—anything we can do, but we are too close to the epicenter of this event to not be overheard. That, and I feel like any wrong move could start a killing frenzy with these highly charged groups. Howling has begun in full force from the Mojave side as if, already mourning their loss. I clamp my hands over my ears, not wishing to hear their sad song.

  “Silence!” Robert Taylor roars, his voice is amplified beyond normal range. Growling, howling, and all other sounds are quickly silenced. This is the power of an alpha. I must admit the silence is a welcomed reprieve from the deafening noise of the crowd. Every nerve in my body is shot.

  He motions to his wife. Genevieve and Creepy Stalker Guy, whom I hadn’t noticed until now, advance on Deirdre. Leila steps in front of the young girl and growls louder than I thought possible. Her hands are already claws, and her mouth has way more teeth than before. Anthony and Genevieve drop into a battle-ready crouch, and look rea
dy to attack. Their own hands and faces begin contorting as bones seem to move under their skin.

  Colin steps up quickly and places a hand on Leila’s shoulder. She flinches until she realizes it’s her alpha. She instantly straightens, and I watch as her mouth changes back to the lovely feminine lips of an attractive woman. There is a look of sadness Leila shares with Colin for the briefest of moments, but it’s gone just as quickly. Then she turns her gaze back to Genevieve. There’s a warning in Leila’s eyes that promises violence in the future. I would not want to see those two ruthless enforcers go at it, but right now my money would be on Leila.

  Deirdre turns to Leila and gives her a warm embrace. This seems to soften some of Leila’s hard edges. Next, she turns to her brother Sean, and she kisses his cheek as unshed tears shine in his eyes. Their embrace is long, and she silently mouths the words, “I’m sorry” to him before pulling away.

  Finally, she turns to her father and lowers her head obediently. He nods at her but doesn’t move to embrace her. My heart feels like it’s in a vice-grip, watching this unfold. To hell with their stupid laws! I can’t let this happen.

  Deirdre begins to search the crowd. It dawns on me that she’s looking for Cian. I find myself looking as well. When she doesn’t find him, her face falls as she turns toward her fate. Genevieve and Anthony take her arms to lead her away, and just as I’m about to speak up, I hear Cian yell, “Stop!”

  Cian moves from the back of the circle and all eye’s watch as he runs to his sister. She pulls out of her captors’ arms and throws herself at her brother. He buries his head in her long wavy red curls, his body shuddering. Deirdre does cry then, maybe from relief. Even I must wipe away tears running down my cheeks as she says, “I’m so sorry, Cian. Please forgive me.”

  Her captors pull her out of her brother’s arms, and Cian looks on as they lead her to the center of the field. That’s when I see the O’Donnell family turning their backs away from the spectacle that is about to take place. Panic rises in my throat and chest as Genevieve, Robert, and Anthony begin to turn partially into wolves in a horrific display.