Taryn scoffed. “Not into married men.”
“Ahhh… yeah, that’s an orgasm killer right there.” Kylee leaned back into the sofa. “All the good ones are either married or gay.”
“Truth.” Taryn leaned over and clinked their bottles together in a toast of the single-women club.
“Hey…” Kylee suddenly sat up. “What about… what’s his face…” She snapped her fingers trying to remember his name. “Attor,” blurting it out with excitement. “Volos’ bro, he had eyes for you at the festival. He’s totally nailable, and not married.”
“Not sure he will be in any kind of ‘action’ anytime soon.” Taryn laughed. “Not after today.”
Kylee lifted her eyebrow slowly, she turned and scooted her leg under her butt. Twisting to face Taryn as she leaned back into the corner of the sofa. “Okay, that sounds like it has an accompanying story.” Grinning she said, “Spill.”
Shaking her head. “Nothing, he just snuck up on me, and unfortunately found himself on the receiving end of my lifted knee.” Shrugging as she continued, “I don’t like surprises.”
“Oh… my… God!” Kylee accentuated every word. “You kneed his balls?” When Taryn sheepishly nodded, she burst out into a loud and rambunctious fit of laughter. Her head falling back onto the sofa as her entire body jiggled with amusement. Sitting up, she gasped for air, while wiping tears from her eyes. She said between chuckles, “How did the big guy react?”
Taryn grinned. “He froze on the spot. I thought he wasn’t going to take a breath at first, but I think his little guy was throbbing for a long time.” She shrugged. “I reacted before I realized who it was. I really nailed the poor guy.” Biting the corner her lip in a grimace, she was really sorry.
Kylee could barely control herself, the waves of glee just kept coming. “I wonder if that’s what Payton had to ‘help’ Volos with.” A new wave of laughter hit her. “Maybe she had to hold Attor down while they did a ball-lectomy,” she howled with glee.
“Kylee, it’s not funny. The poor guy,” Taryn scolded her lightly. “I stayed with him while he recovered enough to walk home.” Taking a sip of her drink she then continued, “I’m sure whatever Payton was needed for, it had nothing to do with Attor’s impact injury.”
Taryn held her finger to her lips asking Kylee for silence, as she picked up her ringing cell for the second time that night. With a nod from her friend, she pressed the button and said, “Hello?”
“Taryn Spigoletti?” the male voice said down the line.
Taryn froze, the blood draining from her face as her world shrunk instantly in front of her eyes. The blackness threatening to encompass her entirely with bone-chilling fear. Her mouth wouldn’t respond to the silent screaming presently shooting from her brain.
“Taryn?” Kylee whispered. “You okay?”
“Taryn Spigoletti? I know it’s you, so I will just speak,” the male spoke. “I was asked to call you and relay a message. Grunt if you understand.”
She grunted softly into the phone, her eyes filling with unshed tears as the voice broke her carefully created the illusion of safety.
“Your father wants you to know… they know, and to tell you to… trust no one.” With a click, the line went dead, and a beep, beep, of an unconnected line now echoed in her ears.
“Taryn…” Kylee said louder. She could hear the beeping, but her friend was still frozen, holding the cell phone while she turned white as a ghost. “Taryn, what’s happened?”
“I have to go…” Taryn’s words were barely audible.
Kylee nodded. “Okay. I will come with you. Where are we going? The hospital?” Kylee assumed some emergency had happened with a family member and that she’d need to get there quickly.
Taryn shook her head like she was waking up slightly from a daze. She looked at her friend, wiping a fallen tear from her cheek. She shook her head again. “No. I mean, I have to go… leave town.” She jumped up and went to the laundry, pulling out a small suitcase.
“What? Leave town? You go get yourself fired?” Kylee tilted her head, a frown of confusion creased her forehead. “You can find another job, it’s all good.”
“No!” Taryn shouted loud enough to make Kylee jump, taking a deep breath, she turned to face her friend. “Just get out of here. Okay? If anyone asks if you know me…” Taryn paused slightly, “… say, no. It might just save your life.”
“Okay.” Kylee stood up. “Stop it. You’re scaring me now.” Her voice wavered against the energy her friend was throwing around the room.
“Good. You should be scared. Run. Go home. Forget about me,” Taryn pleaded. “Please.”
“Someone is after you?” Kylee whispered.
Taryn nodded as the tears flowed over her cheeks, her breath hitching as she started to grab her clothes and put them in her bag.
“What’s happening, Taryn?” Kylee asked, her voice still quiet, as she laid down on the end of the bed watching her friend in full panic flight. “Maybe I can help.”
“No one c-can help me. I j-just have to r-run.” Taryn’s words were broken as she tried to stop the tears.
“Hon…” Kylee started to say.
“Stop! Kylee,” Taryn shouted. “You have no idea who I am. What I am,” her voice pitched high. “My whole story is fake. I am…” She hunched over, her hands clutching her bag as her head hung defeated between her shaking shoulders.
Suddenly her face lifted, her eyes puffy and red from the tears and the panic written clearly along every line her face had. She gave her friend a dead stare. “They’re going to kill me, Kylee. I am just trying to buy more time.”
Kylee pulled her cell out and pressed a button.
“Who are you calling?” Taryn’s asked nervously.
“Payton,” Kylee said.
“No!” Taryn shouted as Kylee held up her hand to stop, but the phone call obviously answered. Taryn slumped heavily onto the floor, as she listened to the one-sided conversation Kylee was having with Payton. Taryn tucked her legs into her chest as the tears flowed hard and heavy.
“Hey Pay, we have an issue here…” She listened to the reply.
“Yeah, it’s really important.” Nodding.
“You know how V helped you?” Kylee asked.
“Yeah, that important.” Adding, “Taryn, correct.”
“I understand he has shit going on, but…” She looked at her friend who was presently a sobbing mess on the carpeted floor. “Taryn’s life is on the line,” she blurted the last part. Kylee didn’t know the details yet as to why her life was on the line, but in order for Payton to listen, she needed to go hard from the beginning.
“Right. Yes. Got it,” she said. “See you soon.”
Kylee clicked the button the end the conversation and looked to Taryn. “Okay, honey… pack what you need and let’s go.”
“Where?” Taryn looked up from her knees.
“My place, for the moment.” Kylee shrugged. “We will work it out from there, Taryn?” Kylee said to gain her attention. “I got you, it’s going to be okay.”
Taryn knew it was a bad idea. She knew this would ultimately cost more lives of her friends. Yet, she was powerless to stop it right now. She had gone to so much trouble creating her story, even to the minor details of leaving a note for her family. Telling the very people who were helping her hide, that she was leaving. Her cleverly orchestrated illusion of smoke and mirrors was slowly clearing to show her as a fraud.
How am I going to explain my way out of this one?
How am I going to keep my friends alive?
Taryn didn’t have answers to the questions running through her mind. She would wait until they all fell asleep and make her move. It didn’t matter which direction she ran, as long as she was the only one who knew.
Closing the door behind her, Taryn followed her friend down and out onto the sidewalk. She nervously glanced left and right, waiting for an attack at any time. She and Kylee hurriedly walked the few blocks to a temporary s
afe house.
Or at least Taryn hoped it was safe.
Volos knocked on his brother’s door, poking his head through as Attor walked out from the shower. V had already cleaned up, seen his American visitors off on their return journey when Payton received a call that brought a new worry into an already full house.
“That was the single most disturbing thing I’ve ever witnessed.” Attor rubbed the towel on his hair. “Four showers later and I’m still feeling gag-worthy.” Throwing the towel at the mirror where it hung on the edge perfectly he continued, “We’ve both seen some evil shit in our battles, but that?” He looked directly at his brother, who was still visibly shaken by the recent events. “That was a new low. I was looking for a tracking device. I thought from the start that it was a strong possibility,” Attor lowered his voice. “But a bomb?” The shake started at his head and traveled down his body as he physically reacted to what he’d witnessed.
“Agreed, brother, the phoenix have sunk lower than I ever thought—” V started to say when he was interrupted.
“Exactly,” Attor’s word was loud enough to echo around his room. “Q isn’t fucking around, it’s time we didn’t either.”
V nodded. “We have another problem,” he said. “And by we, I actually mean you.”
Raising his head to look at his brother, his brow creased with curiosity at what problem he could have that would be important enough to interrupt a dragon being blown up in their hallway.
“Payton received a call from Kylee. It appears that Taryn’s life is in danger.”
Attor’s breath froze mid-way up his throat. “In danger?”
“I don’t know the details,” V said. “The girls are beside themselves with panic. This, of course, leaves us with a choice… well, no, specifically you with a choice.” V walked further into the room and leaned his back against the wall. “Fate chose this woman as your mate. This will only happen once in any dragon’s lifetime. For some, it never happens, so it’s not something to ever take lightly.”
“The timing though?” Attor said.
A small snort escaped V’s chest. “Agreed. The timing could have been better, but it is what it is. Fate has planted the seed, it’s up to you to provide the environment for a flower to grow.”
“What’s the choice?” he asked of V.
“As I see it, and once again, I don’t know the details of her problem. However, she obviously needs protection of some sort, I assume you would like it to be you providing that protection?” V looked at Attor who nodded firmly. “As I would do the same brother, and have if you remember?” Another nod of understanding from Attor as Volos continued, “The clan is in need of all its dragon warriors, so…” V shrugged. “You will have to bring her to you.” Holding his hand up to silence Attor’s quickly opening mouth. “You can’t provide protection to her and the clan from the surface. But from the Nest? You can. I can’t see any other way.”
Attor shook his head. “V, she wouldn’t even say yes to a date. If I go all dragon on her, she is likely to do worse than king hit my balls next time.”
“Next time?” V tilted his head.
“Don’t ask. Let’s just say she’s not a woman who appreciates surprise greetings.” Attor winced as he tenderly adjusted his jeans. “I am not sure lil’T will ever be the same again.”
“Ouch,” V grimaced in sympathy. “There’s not much of an option here. You could stay on the surface with her, but what if the clan needs you? I think the only way is to expose her and keep her close to you at all times. That way, Payton can also help with keeping an eye on her.”
Attor nodded. “Agreed, but she isn’t going to like it.”
“She might surprise you?” V shrugged.
“Fuck, I hope not.” Attor laughed. “Her surprises hurt like a fucking bitch.”
Attor watched V laugh as he left, leaving him to finish getting ready. He was about to go get his woman, show her his beast, and bring her to his underwater home. He looked around suddenly wishing that his leathers came with a steel-capped cup of protection to match his boots.
Kylee hung up the call, it was the seventh call she had taken from Payton since they had arrived safely back at their apartment. Looking over at Taryn, she was sitting huddled into the corner of their sofa, legs tucked up under her, staring off into the distance.
“I knew they could help,” Kylee said. When Taryn didn’t respond, she continued, “The boys have a place you can hide. I knew they would.” She sat down opposite Taryn who was still zoned out. “It happened in Canada, too. Something about the environmental jobs they have. They tend to ‘ruffle feathers’ was what Volos told me. They always need somewhere they can be out of sight.”
Both their heads snapped to the sound of the intercom buzzer. Kylee used her hands to silently tell Taryn to calm down, as she walked over and pressed the conversation button. “Who is it?” she spoke into the wall mounted silver square.
“Attor,” came the raspy reply from below.
Kylee pressed the release button and waited by the door for the knock. It came a few minutes later, and she opened the door slowly, looking left and right to make sure he was alone.
“Just me, kid.” Attor smiled as he walked into the apartment. His eyes falling immediately on the frail and terrified looking woman who was cowering in the corner, drawing protection from the pillows she had built a temporary fort from.
“What on earth?” he exclaimed to Kylee. “All this from one call?” His eyes flickered around trying to find where the independent woman who had been strong enough to kick him in the nuts had disappeared to.
Nodding, Kylee said as she saw Taryn had returned to staring blankly at the wall. “I know, right? It was instant. We went from laughing uncontrollably about your nut-ectomy before the call, to this…” she pointed to Taryn, “… a virtual zombie.”
“Well…” Attor snorted about his injury, “… it was a lucky shot.”
“Not for your nuts, it wasn’t.” Kylee chuckled loudly.
“Hmmm…” Attor mumbled as he walked past Kylee and over to the true reason for his visit. “Taryn?” His voice was quiet and as non-threatening as he could muster. She didn’t flinch at the sound of his voice. “Taryn,” he said it a little louder as he sat next to her. He already knew what she was capable of doing when she was surprised, so he didn’t know how far to push her. Attor looked for a cushion and placed it on his lap if he was going to touch her again, he was going in protected. Reaching out his arm, he touched her arm. Her head instantly flicked to look at him, making him jump slightly back in his own unease.
“Taryn,” he said again. “Do you know who I am?”
Taryn took a minute to look at the large man who was perched uncomfortably on the sofa next to her. Her eyes dropped briefly to the cushion he’d strategically placed in his lap. It’s such a shame, she thought to herself. He really is one sexy son of a nutcracker. Lifting her eyes back to his, the bright blue of the ocean came like waves as he stared intently at her, and for a brief moment she wondered what he would be like in bed. Would he use his massive size to dominate her sexually, lift her effortlessly on to the bench top, rip off her panties and thrust his rock hard cock, deep into her wet pussy? Perhaps he would be the big gentle giant type she pondered, covering her with a thousand kisses, tantalizing every inch of her body with his lips until she screamed with hunger to have him inside of her. Taryn released the heated breath she’d been holding. In a different life perhaps, she thought silently wishing things were vastly different.
“Attor,” she said. “How’s the balls?” She resisted the urge to ask if he needed her to check them, she wasn’t a nurse, but she would take one for the team right now. At least that way, when her past finally caught up with her, she went out with a smile on her face. There was something about him being in her space that calmed her. She couldn’t explain it, but it was nice.
He laughed. “Still attached, thank goodness.” He saw the corners of her mouth tweak as she smiled,
and he let a little of his tension release as she started to respond. “So, you got some nasty followers, huh?”
“I just need to sleep. We all need to sleep,” she said, leaving off the ‘with you’ part her libido wanted to add. Taryn added, her voice shaky but gaining strength slowly. “In the morning I’m sure it will all be sorted.” She knew her best bet was to sneak out while they were all asleep. She’d been unsuccessful in asking Kylee to wait until morning to call anyone. Now she had the mountain sitting here, so she had to get them both to snooze long enough to run.
“Excellent idea,” Attor said. “I have the perfect place for you to get those zzz’s.” He stood up and offered his hand to Taryn. “Quicker we go, the quicker the sandman can visit.”
Taryn stood up and went to grab her bag. “We will come back to get that tomorrow. Right now, it’s easier to travel just us,” Attor said as he looked at Kylee. “You will stay and look after it, correct?” Kylee nodded, so Attor continued, “Great! Let’s get moving then.”
Taryn’s head flicked between her friend and the mountain, she hated that either of them were involved. She hardly knew the man her body wanted to devour, but to keep Kylee from asking too many questions, she decided to go along with it.
Just until they fall asleep, she told herself. Then I’m gone.
Taryn nodded and hugged Kylee tight. “Thank you for being the best thing in my life.” She knew it would be the last time she saw her, so the embrace was tighter than normal.
“Hey…” Kylee chuckled. “You squeezed my boobs out of shape.” She readjusted her bra with a laugh. “I will see you tomorrow. Yeah?” Kylee looked to Attor who nodded.
Taryn paused as she took in the smile of her friend. “Yeah, tomorrow.” She turned and walked out of the apartment, silently wiping a tear that was rolling down her cheek.
It’s for her safety, she told herself. It has to be this way.
She walked the darkened streets with Attor by herself, the silence was their only companion as she assumed Attor was doing the same thing she was. Listening for any tiny sound that might dictate an attack. Stopping suddenly when his hand reached out in front of her, looking at him, he pointed down. Following his fingertip, she gasped, she was an inch away from walking directly into the ocean below. They stood on the edge of a concrete retaining wall, in front of them was a steep drop straight into Tokyo Bay.
Depth (Apalala Clan Book 2) Page 10