Tainted (Vastow Vampires Book 1)

by J Johnson

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  Jordan pulls me in for a hug, and I can’t fight the tears any longer. They fall freely down my face like a dam that’s been broken. I need to call Zane, so I pull away and go to a corner to dial his number.

  “Hey love.”, he answers.

  “I can’t come over tonight.”, I say into the phone as the tears fall faster.

  “What’s wrong? What is it? Why are you crying? Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s not me. It’s Zoe. She was in an accident and she’s at the hospital. They just took her back to fix her up.”

  I explain to him what the doctor told us.

  “I’m so sorry, love. What can I do? I can come up there with you as soon as the sun goes down. You want me to bring you something to eat?”, he asks, trying to find a way to be helpful.

  “No, you don’t have to come. There isn’t anything you can do really, and Jordan is here.”

  “I couldn't care less if Jordan is there. I’ll be there in a bit for, at the very least, moral support. I can’t stand the thought of you being there by yourself, and Jordan doesn’t count.”

  “Fine, but promise me you’ll behave. No fighting at the hospital.”

  “I promise. You should tell him the same though.”, he says. “Love you and see you soon.”

  “Love you too. Bye.”, I say as I hang up.

  I look up and find Jordan watching me. I walk over to him and he starts in on me immediately.

  “Did I just hear you say you love him? Come on Ash, you know what he is. Why would you go back to him? Why would you want to be with someone like that?”

  “Jordan, what I do in my personal life is my business, not yours. He’s not a bad person.”

  “He’s not a person at all!”, he yells, then looks around us. He lowers his voice and steps a closer to me. “They are all the same, Ash. There is no difference in any of them.”

  “He didn’t choose this life. They took his life from him.”

  “It doesn’t mean he’s a good guy. By any means.”

  “He’s told me all about his life. He’s told me everything. I can’t say the same thing about you, now can I? You go around killing people just because of what they are. You don’t take time to find out if they’ve done horrible things or not. You just assume they have based on your opinion of them. How is that any different? He killed people when he was first turned because he couldn’t control it. Can I say the same for you? Can you not control yourself? You do it because you can, because you want to, and because you think it’s the right thing. But doing something because you think it’s right doesn’t mean it always is.”

  He sighs. “I understand what you are saying, but I’ve been around them long enough to know. If they haven’t done something horrible, they eventually will. They always do. I don’t know what else to say. This line of work runs in my family. We’ve been hunters as far back as the 1800s. You’re not going to change my mind about him. About any of them. They are who they are.”

  “I don’t know what to say either, but what I can tell you is this. Zane is off limits. I mean it. No fighting, no going after him, nothing. And if you’re around him at all, which you will be because he’s coming here, you will be civil. If you can’t then walk away.”

  “What if he hurts you, Ash? I can’t just stand by and hope it doesn’t happen.”

  “You can, and you will. He won’t hurt me. And if he does, you’ll be the first one to know, but until then do nothing. I mean it, Jordan.”

  “Fine. I won’t go after him, but I will watch him. And I’m only agreeing to this because you asked me to. But if he so much as looks like he might hurt you, that’s it. I will kill him Ash.”, he says as he turns and walks away.

  He stops a few feet away and is staring at something. No. Someone. It’s Zane and I can tell by the look on his face he’s heard everything. He walks up to Jordan and stops.

  “I understand why you don’t like me. It runs through your veins, but I can assure you I will never hurt Ashlyn. I love her and will never do anything to hurt her. She’s my mate.”

  “Yeah, something else that’s not normal. Why bring her into your life if you care about her so much? You live with danger around every corner. You are dangerous. Why not just let her go?”

  “I did. She came back to me. Why don’t you worry more about yourself and less about me and Ashlyn?”

  “We’ll see. But know this leech.”, Jordan says through clenched teeth. “If you ever hurt her or she gets hurt because of you, I. Will. Kill. You.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Nineteen

  ∞∞∞

  When I walk into Zoe’s room, I want to burst into tears at the sight of her. Her hair is matted up. Her face is swollen and bruised, and she has a cast on her arm and her leg. She looks like she’s been through hell. Literally. If this is how she felt when I was in here, I know why she cried so much. It’s awful seeing your friend like this.

  “Zoe.”, I whisper, not wanting to wake her up if she’s sleeping. She turns her head towards me and smiles. Sort of.

  “Hey Ash.” Her voice sounds like a frog crawled in there and died. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wasn’t leaving you here by yourself. I’ll be here every day until you go home and then I might even go there.”

  She smiles wider this time, but it leaves immediately, and she groans.

  “What happened?”, I ask her as I sit on a stool beside her bed. “I thought I had lost you.”

  “Never. I’m not that easy to get rid of. I was getting food for me and Jordan when some asshole decided he’d run a red light going about fifty. He ran right into the side of my jeep. My poor jeep.”

  “We can replace your jeep. We can’t replace you. I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “I’ll be fine. He didn’t stick around though. He fled before the cops got there and I was so out of it I can’t even describe what he was driving. He’ll probably never be caught.”

  “Maybe someone else seen something and will turn it in.”

  “Yeah maybe.”

  For most of the day we talk and she sleeps. Every time she wakes up, it’s like she’s in pain for the first time again. It’s horrible to watch, but I’m here for her. Around four o’clock I tell her I have to go to the office for a while. My boss already gave me permission to have the day off, but there are a few things I need to handle with a case I’m working on. I hate to leave her, but I have to take care of the kids too.

  6 MONTHS LATER

  Everything is back to normal, mostly. Well, as normal as we can be. I have officially moved in with Zane, and we’re discussing our future together. He wants us to do the bonding ritual and wants to turn me into a vampire. I knew he would eventually, I just didn’t think it would come up so soon. I told him I’d think about it. It’s a big decision, even though I already know what I’m going to do. Doesn’t hurt to let him worry for a while, though.

  I want to tell Zoe about Zane, but I’m not sure how to go about doing it. Zane told me to ease into it. I don’t see how you ease into something like that.

  It still pisses Jordan off that we’re together and brings it up every chance he gets. I don’t blame him for worrying, but it’s getting annoying hearing the same crap all the time. He even has Jackson telling me the same things. I shut him up all the time, though. All I have to do is threaten to expose his little secret to Zoe, and he closes his mouth.

  Zoe and I have plans to go out tonight. Girls only. Zane freaked when I told him, but we finally agreed that we would go to the club next door so he can get to me if need be. He’s still looking for Dave, the man that tortured me, and I have no doubt he’ll find him one day. God help him when he does.

  I’m finally ready to leave, with a short black strapless dress on and black high heels. With my blonde hair it makes me look sexy, or so I’m told. I’m not sure I’ve ever looked sexy, but I can admit I look good. When I walk into Zane’s office, he looks
up and smiles. His eyes start glowing and I want nothing more than to straddle his lap. He’s on the phone, but it doesn’t stop him from giving me that look that makes me melt every time.

  “I don’t care, Dylan, investigate it. It may be something, and right now it’s all we have. I want him found. Get back to me when you have something.”, he says, then hangs up.

  I’ve heard that same conversation a thousand times in the last six months. I almost want to tell him to quit looking for Dave, but I don’t. He needs to be found before he does something to someone else. He gets up and walks over slowly undressing me with his eyes and plants a kiss on my lips.

  “You look amazing. And sexy. Too sexy for other men's eyes. I have to make a quick trip tonight so I’m having a few guys follow you and Zoe. They’re just going to hang out and you’ll never know they’re there.”

  I hate when he does this. I feel like a child, but I know it makes him feel better, so I deal with it.

  “Okay fine, but if they screw up my night, I’m blaming it on you.”, I joke.

  “Deal.”, he laughs.

  “We’re going out to eat, then back to the club next door. If you need me, I’ll have my cell and my hot new car to get away in.”

  Zane bought me a brand-new car because it worried him that my old car would break down somewhere. I tried making him take it back, but he wouldn’t. I finally got tired of arguing with him and kept it. I’m glad I did because I love my car.

  “I’ll try not to bug you.”, he chuckles. “I know I can be overbearing sometimes, but it’s because I love you so much and that maniac is still loose. Go. Have fun and I’ll see you later tonight.”

  He bends down and kisses me again. We get caught up in the moment, which happens often, and I have to pull away before I back out of my date with Zoe to go to bed with Zane.

  He laughs when he sees my expression. He knows what he does to me and he enjoys it. I give him the look. The look that says, ‘knock it off’. He’s learned that look and when I make it, he throws his hands up in surrender and backs away. He’s still grinning, so I shake my head and smile.

  “Alright, Casanova.” That’s my new nickname for him, and he hates it. “I’ll be back later.”

  “Casanova implies that I am after more than one woman.”, he says for the thousandth time as he blocks the exit. “And I, my dear, am only after one woman.”

  He picks me up and I wrap my legs around him as he kisses me again. He breaks away after a minute and puts me down. “Now, go have a good time with Zoe.”

  My panties are soaked, and he knows it. “You are so going to pay for that when I get back.”

  “Oh, I’m counting on it.”, he winks.

  “Asshole.”, I whisper as I’m walking out the door.

  I hear him chuckle and I smile. He can be hard to handle sometimes, but I love him.

  I meet up with Zoe at the restaurant and we eat, talk, and laugh with each other. It’s been a while since we’ve been out. Between our jobs and our men, we have had little time to hang out.

  She’s been seeing Jackson more often. I listen to her talk about him and she seems so happy. I wasn’t sure they were going to work out at first, even with the vision, but they seem to make it work somehow. She says something that puts me on alert immediately. My ears perk up and I wonder where the question is coming from.

  “Ash, do you believe in supernatural stuff?”

  “What do you mean?”, I ask cautiously. Did she somehow find out about Zane?

  “I mean supernatural stuff. Like ghosts, werewolves. Um… vampires?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, I’ve debated on whether to tell you this. You’re my best friend and I usually tell you everything, but this is kind of odd. You know how I kept telling you I thought Jackson was hiding something?” I nod. “Well, he finally told me what it is and I’m not sure if I believe him or if I think he’s crazy and I should move to another country so he can’t find me.”

  “Go on.”, I tell her already knowing the secret he’s been keeping. It’s the same one Jordan keeps. “Well, he said that he and his whole family hunt down vampires and kill them.”

  She waits for my reaction, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve wanted to tell her about Zane, but I always chicken out. Mostly because I’m afraid she’ll think I’m nuts. He told me I can tell her, but only if I trust her. Only if I’m certain she won’t blab it to other people. I know she’ll keep the secret, but something always stops me.

  “I believe him.”, I say slowly.

  “Really? You believe that vampires are real? Why? I’ve tried to imagine it in my head, but it just keeps coming back as crazy.”

  I sigh. “Zoe, what I’m about to tell you can’t be repeated. To anyone.”, I look around the restaurant and realize there are too many people here. “Let’s head towards the club and I’ll tell you in the car.”

  She looks like she’s about to explode, waiting on whatever I have to say. When we get outside, there’s a chill in the air. I look around for my protectors, but just like Zane said, I don’t see them. We get to her car first and she climbs in.

  “Wait. We’re taking separate vehicles. How are you going to tell me in the car?”

  I lean down closer to her. “Zane is a vampire, Zoe.” She gasps.

  “What?!” I laugh and tell her we’ll talk about it later. I don’t like standing out here. Something is bothering me, and I don’t like it.

  “Okay, but you will tell me everything tonight. Do you hear me? Everything. See you there in a few.”

  I laugh and nod at her. Leave it to Zoe to believe this kind of thing without hesitation. When she drives off, I start towards my car but then stop because I hear something. I turn around, but there’s nothing there. I start towards my car again and hear the noise again. My heartbeat speeds up and I fumble with the keys. I get the door open then hop in, locking it behind me. I exhale a breath I didn’t know I was holding and look around again. I still see nothing.

  It’s your imagination, Ash. Calm down. Relax. Breathe.

  By the time I get to the club, I’ve convinced myself that it was all in my head. Zane has two guys watching me, so I’m safe. Nothing is going to happen. I pull up in front of the tattoo shop and park. The club is right next door, so I’ll just walk. I can see that Zane’s car is gone so he must be out like he said. I don’t worry about being alone anymore outside because of the men he has watching me. They’re with me all the time. If they aren’t, then he is.

  As I head towards the club, I hear something again and stop. There’s no one outside in either parking lot, so I start walking again. Zoe must be inside already. I’ve only taken about 3 steps when someone grabs me from behind. My training kicks in. Zane has been teaching me how to defend myself. I use my head and snap it back to hit my attacker in the nose. It causes him to lose his hold, but only for a second. He’s not hurt though. He was just caught off guard because he didn’t think I’d fight back.

  “Hold still, bitch.”, he grinds out. That voice.

  My fight or flight response kicks in and I’m frantic to get away. I thrash, kick, punch. Anything I can do to get him away from me. He covers my mouth muffling my screams, just like last time. I try to get away, but he’s too strong.

  Not again. Please. No.

  When I come to, I’m lying on my back and sit up to survey my surroundings. This time I’m in a bedroom. There’s a steel cuff wrapped around one of my ankles, with a chain attached to it. I trace the chain across the room to a steel beam that is coming up through the floor and goes all the way up through the ceiling. The chain is wrapped around the pole and locked with a master lock. There is a doorway on the same wall leading to a hallway.

  Directly across the room is another door that leads to a bathroom, and to my left is a closet and a dresser. The dresser has knobs made of duct tape, which only catches my eye because of how hideous it looks. Right behind me and the bed I’m sitting on is a window with iron bars on the outside. If I
open it, I still wouldn’t be able to squeeze through.

  Shit. Okay, don’t panic Ash. You can figure this out.

  I open the window, grab the iron bars and yank and wiggle, but they don’t budge. It doesn’t surprise me, but I had to try. There is nothing outside except field and trees. No cars. No houses. No people. I don’t even see animals. I yell anyway, hoping someone hears me, but again, no luck.

  I walk over to the steel beam and yank on the chain, knowing it isn’t going to come off, but I try anyway. I look around to find anything to use to beat on it or pick the lock, but there’s nothing.

  The dresser is full of bras, panties, socks and of all things, lingerie. In the closet are more clothes, jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops. When I enter the bathroom, I look around for anything to use to my advantage. A razor or something, but that’s not what I find. There’s a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and a brush. The drawers contain tampons and toilet paper. Apparently, he thinks I’ll be here a while. That or this stuff belongs to someone else. Maybe another one of his victims.

  “Well, well. Look what we have here.”, Dave laughs as he enters the room. “Might as well get comfortable sweetheart, you’ll be here a while.”

  “What the hell do you want from me?”

  “From you? Nothing, really. I just like to have a plaything around for my enjoyment and since your boyfriend insists on continuously looking for me, I figured why not take something he’ll look for more? It makes it more exciting. Don’t you think?”

  “You’re fucking crazy. He’s going to kill you when he finds us.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. He’s been looking for me for months and I haven’t moved from this spot. He hasn’t found me yet, so I don’t think he will.” He laughs again.

  “Stay the fuck away from me, you sick bastard.”

  “I’m not going to do anything to you yet. But trust me when I say, I’ll be back to take what I want. What I wanted before but didn’t take. Right now, I have other things to do, like send your boyfriend on a wild goose chase.” He claps his hand together like an evil villain. “This is going to be so much fun.” He walks over to me and I try to run, but I can only go so far. He pushes me up against the wall and leans in to smell me. “Mmm... I’ll be back later for you.” I shiver and try not to throw up as he walks back out.