“Because it’s dangerous.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I turned away from him and found the nearest exit. I made it to the hallway where only a few people lingered. I found the bathroom. Long white sofas filled a waiting area. They sat empty, as did the main bathroom. I walked to the nearest sink and turned on the water, splashing my face, letting the chill bring me to my senses.
Falling for Memphis was something I’d expected. Falling for him this bad was not. My emotions were getting so out of control that I had trouble thinking while he was near. How could anyone make rational decisions while they were in love?
I needed my good common sense if I was going to help him stop the Revens and rescue his sister, but how did I find it?
I turned off the water and found the paper towel dispenser. I pulled off a sheet and used it to blot my face. Studying my reflection in the mirror only drove home the point of my desperate situation. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes bright and alive, more than they needed to be. My pulse throbbed in my neck, echoing the droning beat in my ears. It felt wonderful to be in love, and I hated it.
Memphis must have thought I was such a powder puff, snotty little flirt. He was older than me. He’d been in the military long enough to make Special Forces. It didn’t matter what I wore or how cute I acted. He didn’t like me. He’d never like me the way I liked him. Maybe he didn’t hate me, maybe he even considered me a friend, but he would never love me.
Still, he’d opened up to me, which I doubted he did for many people.
I fell onto the sofa, exhaling a deep breath.
None of this mattered.
Stopping the Revens. Rescuing a helpless girl. That’s what mattered.
I let those thoughts calm me as I made my way back into the ballroom. Surprisingly, I felt better. My stomach resumed its natural state of unknotted-ness. My heart rate calmed. I could do this.
I found Memphis where he said he’d be. He leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. My heart wanted to leap at the sight of him, but I suppressed it.
“We’ve got fifteen minutes,” he said after glancing at his wrist phone. “I hope Naomi’s getting ready.”
“She won’t let us down.”
“I hope you’re right.”
He held out his hand. “Shall we dance until it’s time?”
“Actually, I’d rather not.”
He shot me a quizzical glance. I cleared my throat.
“You don’t want to dance?”
I eyed the food table. I felt a little sheepish around him now that I’d given him my word to always be there for him and then been denied. My head still needed time to clear. I hoped he understood. “I’m a little hungry. I think I’ll wait by the tables. You could ask someone else if you’d like.”
He looked perplexed. “We need to stick together.”
“I’ll be within eyesight. Don’t worry so much.” I wandered away, leaving him alone and looking lost in the middle of the dance floor. It couldn’t be helped. I had to keep my distance from him before I admitted to any of my other emotions.
I dodged the dancing couples and walked to the food area. Artful displays of red and green bell peppers, crackers and cheese, and trays of hummus filled the nearest table. I reached for a cracker when a server appeared, blocking me. “No need to serve yourself. Let me help you.”
He arranged the food and handed me the plate.
“Thanks,” I said as I took it from him. I turned away when he caught my arm. Alarm bells went off in my head. I rounded on him and he released my arm.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to know if this is your first time in Arizona.” He smiled an innocent-looking grin. His pressed white uniform and serving cap couldn’t hide the nervousness I saw in his eyes, or the inconsistent cadence of his heart. Something was up.
“Yes, it’s my first time here.”
“Excellent. May I suggest Phoenix’s museums? The Heard Museum’s Pueblo artifacts might interest you. There’s also the Arizona Capitol Museum if you’re interested in our state government.”
I raised an eyebrow. He only looked a few years older than me. Why did he speak down to me? Was it because he was a server and was trying to act professional? “Thanks,” I mumbled and turned away. He blocked my path.
“The museums are nothing compared with the desert, of course. There is an untamed beauty in the wild that is unsurpassed. I could also show you the Botanical Gardens or—”
“Look, Mister,” I glanced at his name tag, “Mike. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to the dance floor.”
He moved a clump of limp, straw-colored hair away from his eyes. Something about him seemed so off, but I couldn’t decide what made me feel that way.
“Of course.” He moved aside. I walked past him and he stayed silent. I glanced back, hoping he wouldn’t follow me through the crowd. He moved back to the table, busying himself with another guest. I supposed I was on edge, and anyone here could have been a threat. Still, something seemed wrong.
I found a corner and leaned against the wall. Scanning the crowd, I found Memphis dancing with a woman with dark cropped hair and wearing a bright yellow dress. She looked twice his age. I felt relieved that he’d found someone else to dance with. I nibbled a cracker, though my appetite escaped me.
He stood tall, his shoulders straight, his suit jacket accentuating his lean frame. His hair was pulled away from his face to reveal his strong jaw. He smiled only once, but I felt its influence over me from here. The woman in the yellow dress didn’t seem immune to his smile either. She actually blushed. I felt thankful that she danced with Mr. Flint Stone and not me.
I checked my wrist phone and read the time. Five minutes. I hoped Naomi had found the surveillance room. She’d guaranteed us that she knew how to handle these situations. I knew she did, but I still worried about her. She was my best friend and closest confidant. If she got caught, what would happen to her?
I pushed the worries from my mind as the song ended. I intended to make my way back over to Memphis, but he still stood with the woman. His back was turned to me as the lady talked and giggled like a twelve year old.
Did Memphis realize that he had the power to make grown women act like hormonal teenage girls? I kept my distance as the woman continued to embarrass herself.
I wandered the edge of crowd as it pressed in. I lost sight of Memphis. Someone stepped on my foot and apologized. A song with an upbeat tempo began to play. The voices grew louder. I squeezed through, feeling as though the air were sucked from my lungs. An arm brushed mine. I rounded to find Mike the server standing behind me, leering.
“You really should have taken me up on that sight-seeing adventure.”
“Excuse me?”
“Now everything’s gonna get really complicated.” He gripped my arm. I pulled back, but found him stronger than he appeared.
“What are you doing?”
He pulled me away from the crowd. I tried to scream, but he wrapped me in a tight hug, his thick hand covering my mouth, my head pressed to his chest. His other hand tightened around my ribs, so tight I couldn’t draw in enough air to fill my lungs.
He steered me toward the back entrance and pushed me into the hall. I dug my heels into the floor but it didn’t help. He shoved me forward, his grip so tight I could’ve been bound with steel cables.
Panic threatened to take over.
The hallway stretched ahead, leading to an open door. The red EXIT sign glowed over us as he pushed me through. I attempted to bite his hand, feeling desperate to do anything to get away, but he held my face with an iron grasp.
He pushed me outside. Lights glowed from the path, illuminating the rocks and cacti that spanned the length of the sidewalk. We passed a wide pool where lights shimmered in the clear water. It would have been serene had I not been trapped. A gnarled tree grew at the edge of the property and he shoved me toward it, my heels digging into the concrete, though it only slowed h
im down.
When we reached the tree, two shadowy figures wearing leather and paintball masks emerged. One of them took both my wrists and tied them behind me, locking them tight with a zip tie. I struggled, trying to leverage my shoulders and elbows so that I could break free, but Mike the server held me close.
He shoved me to the ground. Three men loomed over me. Mike stood out with his white apron and hat. The other two I also recognized.
Revens.
They’d finally caught up.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The tree’s bark cut into my back as I stared at the three guys looming over me. Slash and Chains removed their paintball masks. The last time I’d seen these guys was back at the Shine facility on Green Wood Pointe. They’d dumped me in exchange for cash. Memphis had managed to take me and the cash with him, which I supposed had ruined their pool party.
Slash carried knives in his boot and belt. Although his dark Hispanic features could have made him attractive, I’d never seen him without a scowl, which made him look slightly more eye-catching than a dog biscuit. Between him and Chains, he was the stronger of the two, though I feared Chains more.
Living up to his nickname, chains dangled from the guy’s belt. They looked heavier than him. His skinny ostrich neck and pimpled face he couldn’t help, but in his eyes I saw hunger and lust, a bad combination for a guy who caught girls for a living.
“Leave the masks on,” I said between breaths. “You look better that way.”
Chains let out a nasally laugh that filled the air with his toxic breath. “Funny you should say that.” He knelt beside me, his oily, pimpled face looming in my vision. “I like you better this way, too.” He ran his finger down my arm.
Slash grabbed his friend and pulled him back. “Knock it off, will you?”
Mike stepped between them, his face hard, unlike the guy I’d seen earlier by the food tables. “Where’s my cash? You promised to give it to me if I pulled her out of there. You’d better be telling the truth.”
“Silencio, dude. I’ve got your cash.” Slash pulled out a wad of bills. The server snatched the cash. His eyes lit up as he counted. “That’s a lot of money for one chick.” He nodded toward me.
“That’s not even half of what we get,” Slash said. “Capturing Shines is easy money. Most of the time.” He shot an annoyed glace at me.
Chains snickered, as if he’d thought of something dirty and couldn’t keep it to himself. “That’s right. That’s not half of what we get.”
Slash shoved Chains back. Chains fell on his backside, his chains clattering. Slash balled his fists. “I told you to leave this one alone.”
Chains looked up with wide eyes. “I am. I mean—I will. Lay off me.”
Mike stuffed the money into his apron’s front pocket. “You think there’re any Shines around here?”
Slash shrugged. “No idea. We only work in New York, but I hear that Shines are everywhere.”
Mike glanced at me, eyes narrowed, as if he looked at an object rather than a person. He turned away from me. “I’ve got to get back,” he said.
“This stays between us,” Slash called after him.
“Of course,” Mike yelled over his shoulder. He disappeared inside the mansion.
“What do we do now?” Chains asked.
Slash caught one of my arms and hauled me upright. “Get out of here quick before anyone notices us. Come on.”
They pulled me toward a wrought iron gate. But I wouldn’t go anywhere with them.
Slash had made two mistakes. He hadn’t checked me for weapons. If he had, he would’ve found my knife tucked inside my boot and within easy reach of my hands. Second mistake, he hadn’t checked my restraints. Zip ties may be lightweight and easy to carry, but they make lousy handcuffs. Cutting through them with my knife took all of five seconds.
I shrugged free of his grasp and jabbed my elbow into his windpipe. He fell back, grasping his neck. Chains lunged at me, but his oversized jewelry made him unbalanced. I took advantage of his weakness. I grabbed the chains and ripped them forward. He stumbled.
Slash came at me again, knife aimed for my abdomen. I spun away, but thick chains encircled my neck. The rough links tightened, making it impossible for me to breathe. Someone grabbed my arms from behind and tightened a chain around my wrists. The metal links were so tight they cut into my skin. I struggled, but couldn’t get free of the chains. Slash shoved a wadded black sock inside my mouth. It tasted sour with sweat. I would have gagged if I could breathe.
The two Revens carried me through the gate and into a back field. A white van sat off the road, halfway concealed by the scrub brush.
I panicked as they opened the van’s back door and shoved me inside. I landed on the van’s floor, my heart like a freight train in my ears. The door slammed shut. My world went black.
Thoughts spiraled through my head. I had to get free. I couldn’t go back. I had to get out. I heard the two guys get inside the front. Their doors banged shut, and then I heard the engine crank.
I moved my hands back and forth, trying to loosen the chains, but the metal links held tight, and I only managed to cut my skin.
I tried to breathe through the sweat-permeated sock. My heart beat loud in my ears. Concentrating, I willed my heart to slow down.
Slow breaths. Stay calm. Think.
My frantic thoughts calmed a tiny bit, letting me think instead of panic. I rose onto my elbows, and then onto my knees. I peered over the back seat into the cab of the van.
The console’s display illuminated the silhouettes of Chains and Slash. Slash sat at the wheel. The floor rumbled beneath me as we traded the ditch for pavement. Their voices came to me. I crawled forward, listening over the whirring wheels.
“…Why can’t we dump her at the facility out here?”
“They wanted her back at Green Wood.”
“Why?”
“No clue.”
Through the front windshield, a human form appeared in the road, directly in front of the van. Dark clothes. Darker eyes.
Slash cursed. He jerked the wheel. The van spun sideways. The piercing shriek of tires sliding on pavement filled the air.
The van veered off the road. A tree appeared in the headlights, gnarled branches and brown leaves.
My breath caught in my throat. The world seemed to slow. We smashed headfirst into the tree.
Glass shattered.
My body slammed against the backseat. Pain exploded through my shoulder where I took the brunt of the impact. My breathing sounded loud in my ears. I tried to focus. I heard the two Revens up front. One of them was screaming. I only heard a low moan from the other guy.
Someone opened the van’s back door, letting in a thin stream of milky moonlight. I squinted my eyes against the light.
A hand tightened around my arm. The sock came free from my mouth. I coughed and sputtered, the smell of body odor still strong from the sock.
Someone dragged me away from the van. I saw stars overhead. Millions of them. Tiny pinpricks of light billions of miles away, though to me they seemed close enough to touch.
I blinked. Focus.
I lay on the ground, but I didn’t remember how I got there. Someone stood over me.
Memphis.
“You?” I gasped.
“Lay still.”
His hand rested on my shoulder. Gentle fingers nudged my deltoid. I flinched.
“How bad are you hurt?”
Stars. They were so pretty. Why had I never noticed?
“June.”
Like butterflies. Thousands, millions, of diamond butterflies. All floating out in space. Why couldn’t I be a butterfly?
“June!”
His face filled my vision. His eyes matched the stars. The butterflies. He had a butterfly somewhere, someone he loved.
Warm arms encircled me. I felt his heartbeat against mine. Calming. Bringing me back. Slowly bringing me back. “I’m getting you to a hospital.”
We walked away f
rom the van. I saw it crushed against the tree. Chains and Slash were still in there. Would they survive?
Memphis’s voice came to me. I heard his words for the first time.
Hospital.
“No.” I pushed away from him. It hurt. Pain bled through my shoulder. I wanted to scream. But I couldn’t. I had to be strong, even if everything inside told me I couldn’t. “Put me down. I can walk.”
He eyed me.
“No hospitals. Please.”
“You’re hurt.”
“It’s not that bad. Just my shoulder. I’ll live.”
He eyed me. “You’re lying.”
“I’m fine.”
The mansion appeared as a white block against the horizon. The Revens hadn’t taken me as far as I’d thought. Did we still have time to get the maps? I listened to my own heart, allowing it to slow, letting the whooshing beats heal my shoulder.
I’d never tried to use my own heart for healing, but was it possible? I concentrated, letting the blood flow freely into my wound, a poultice. There wasn’t much to heal. At worst I would have a few bruises. “Memphis,” I said, my voice slow, controlled. “Put me down. I can walk.”
He stopped, studied my face. He placed me on the ground. I stood straight, feeling only a lingering dizziness.
“Do we still have time to find the maps?” I asked.
He nodded. “Are you sure about this? June, you were in a wreck, you could be—”
“I’m certain. Let’s find those maps.”
He glanced back at the wrecked van. Steam hissed from the ruined engine. So far, no one climbed out. Somehow I doubted Slash and Chains were dead. I wanted to get as far away from them as I could, and as soon as I could.
Memphis pulled out his phone and dialed an ambulance. The Revens wouldn’t get me as long as they were in the ER. After the phone call, Memphis turned back to me. “Follow me. Quietly.”
I nodded. We neared the house. The sound of laughter came from the building. The soft glow from the windows illuminated the lawn and surrounding property. We entered through a back gate, thankfully not guarded. I wondered where the guards had gone when I spotted them.
Two security guards rounded the corner of the mansion’s far side. Their voices echoed across the immense lawn. They both seemed focused on the roof. One of them spoke into his walkie-talkie. “Camera three is out.” I heard his voice echo. Both guys were too far away to notice us yet, but I didn’t want to hang around to see when they did.
Shine: Season One (Shine Season Book 1) Page 76