Blood Judgment (Judgment Series)

by Nickie Asher

  A dozen or so humans milled about the lobby. A man focused on them. “What the hell?”

  “Holy shit!” A young man in a lab technician’s coat gaped at them.

  Chaos erupted.

  A woman screamed.

  Two officers leapt from behind a desk and a third materialized from around the elevator bank.

  An alarm went off.

  The other lobby occupants scattered like roaches, taking cover wherever they could.

  Guns held ready, Ashton and Slade plowed forward. Julian didn’t think the people in the lobby realized they were vampires. The humans were focused on their artillery not their fangs.

  A shot rang out. Ashton jerked and returned fire.

  One of the officers fell and someone, a woman, shrieked.

  The pungent odor of blood burned through Julian’s senses.

  Slade squeezed off a shot and the two guards fired in unison.

  A bullet tore a red, burning trail across Julian’s bicep. He hissed and tightened his grip on Vali before pawing for his own gun.

  He freed the weapon from his jeans, brought it up, and fired. The gun kicked hard, the shot going wild.

  A man howled. He’d hit an office worker.

  Fuck!

  Another shot rang out and Ashton staggered. He caught himself, but before he fired, Slade dropped the guard with a well-aimed shot. A hole leaked blood from the man’s forehead like an injured third eye.

  Vali struggled weakly. “Hold still, damn it.” He fired another wild shot into the melee.

  The remaining guard fired in their direction in a series of wild shots.

  Slade hissed and returned fire.

  The guard dropped.

  They bunched together in a tight knot and shuffled toward the double doors. Ashton limped and blood stained his jeans just above his right hip. Slade kept his weapon ready.

  Ashton yanked one of the doors open and held it long enough for Julian to pass through with Vali’s limp but heavy body. Slade exited a second behind him.

  They sprinted toward the car. Ashton struggled to keep up. Slade dropped back, gun ready to defend them. Julian wrestled Vali’s unconscious body into the back seat and piled in with him. Ashton and Slade dove into the front.

  Ashton keyed the car to life and tore out into traffic amid a blare of horns. He mashed the gas pedal to the floor, dodging cars and cursing in a race to save Vali.

  Ashton dug out his phone and dialed. In a grim tone of voice, he gave Jason a rundown on what to expect.

  To Julian’s relief, they reached the yellow house in record time. He didn’t want Vali dying in his arms. And death hovered close. The stench hung around the youngster like a heavy blanket of rot, choking Julian with each breath of the foul air he drew into himself.

  Jason met them at the door, a frown on his face. “Bring him down to the clinic. Damn, you’re all bleeding.”

  “We’ve had a busy night,” Ashton growled. He had a shoulder wound in addition to the hip injury. Slade’s sleeve was covered with blood.

  Julian carried Vali down the steps to Jason’s treatment area. His own arm burned like fire, but he wasn’t badly hurt. He’d fared better than his companions.

  “In here.” Jason motioned for him to take Vali into a little room.

  Julian laid him on a gurney and stepped out of the way.

  “Ashton, sit your ass down.” Jason indicated the single visitor’s chair. “You two help me get him undressed so I can see what we’re dealing with.”

  “As soon as I get him stabilized, I’ll take care of you guys.”

  THREE HOURS passed before Jason attended to the rest of them and sent them home.

  Saranna took Julian’s hand, and he settled deeper into the worn but comfortable sofa and tried to let some of the tension in his body dissipate.

  “You need to feed. Let me take care of you.”

  “I’m okay,” he lied.

  “I smell your hunger. You can’t hide it from me. Besides, it will help you heal faster.”

  “I can put it off a while.” Ravenous, he salivated at the mention of feeding, but if she was uncomfortable he wouldn’t touch her. He would hunt instead.

  “It’s okay.” She touched his face for a moment.

  “Do you want me to use your wrist?”

  “No. I’m not ready for sex, but I need to feel you close to me. I need to bond with you.”

  “If you want me to stop, I will.” He breathed in her scent. Lilacs. A delicious, sweet scent kindling a fire in his blood.

  He gathered her in his arms. A tremor ran through her and she tensed. He pushed aside the waves of silky yellow hair and nuzzled her throat. Unable to stop himself, he licked over her pulse. She quivered in his embrace and he involuntarily tightened his hold on her. Groaning, Julian sank his fangs into her warm flesh.

  She jerked and her fingers clamped hard on his shoulders. He closed his eyes and drank. Her blood slaked his hunger, but didn’t eradicate it.

  The pleasure of holding her in his arms, taking from her, overpowered his senses. He didn’t want to release her. He shifted and pulled her onto his lap. She settled against him, but her body was tight with resistance.

  Against his will, his cock stiffened and pressed against her. She shuddered. His heart twisted with hurt even though he understood. He forced himself to stop feeding and licked the bite mark clean.

  She slid from his lap, but cuddled close to his side. Still hungry, he slipped his arm around her. With a sigh, she burrowed into him. Julian shifted, trying to hide the bulge in his pants.

  “It’s okay.” She said. “Stop trying to fight nature.”

  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  She leaned over and kissed him, a light brush of her lips, but quickly broke the contact. “I’m so glad you came into my life.”

  He ran his hand through her hair in a sweeping stroke. “I’d probably be dead if it hadn’t been for you and the others. I didn’t know what to do or where to go.”

  But it went deeper. What he felt for her was unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Protective and possessive feelings. And others he couldn’t label.

  He wanted to play the violin for her. Something sweet and beautiful. He caught her hand and warmth radiated through him.

  She pulled free. “I think I’d better hit the sack. I’m exhausted and you must be too.” She gave his shoulder a little squeeze and eased from the sofa.

  “But…” He didn’t want her to go.

  “What were you going to say?”

  “Nothing. Sleep well.”

  Chapter Twenty

  BANKS COULDN’T believe that asshole Framer had such piss-poor security that a pack of vampires had marched in and taken a prisoner from right under his nose. And killed three guards and one peon worker in the process.

  But, believe it or not, it had happened. The incompetent weakling. He didn’t have grounds to fire the man, at least none that could be put in writing. Getting rid of someone on the government tit was almost impossible. Getting rid of someone up to his eyes in a plot to commit genocide was impossible.

  The little bastard vampire would have been executed if Framer hadn’t fucked up. And he had fucked up big time. If the juvenile survived and someone untangled the elaborate web of deception they were weaving… No, he reassured himself, no one would put things together.

  The vampires were smart sons of bitches, but they didn’t have the necessary information to cause trouble. And even if they did figure things out, no one would believe them anyway.

  And if he didn’t have enough on his mind, Alex’s mother wanted an increase in her child support. His hand cranked into a tight fist. The dirty bitch was already bleeding him for two thousand a month. Calilla had him by the balls. As long as Alex lived, she had Banks trapped. If only he knew where she and her bastard lived. But she was elusive as smoke.

  He stroked his chin. Perhaps he should switch his focus to Alex. The kid was sixteen years old. He would be r
unning the streets with his friends. No matter what Calilla tried to tell him, he was still a kid and kids did stupid things. If Alex was separated from his mother…

  Banks took a large, calming breath and paced in front of the row of windows in his high-rise apartment. Usually, the night view soothed him, but he was too keyed up to enjoy the spread of lights. He angled to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink, downing it with one tilt of his wrist.

  The stress of dealing with Calilla was a close second to the little vampire who, thanks to Framer’s laxness, had been rescued by his buddies.

  What had become of the little fucker? And what latent symptoms would he develop, if any? Assuming he hadn’t died.

  Banks fiddled with his empty, then poured a refill.

  And who would the homicidal little vampire take his aggressions out on if he survived long enough to become a threat?

  If he attacked other vampires, would the virus spread? And in what form? Too many what-ifs lingered.

  None of the test subjects were supposed to survive. Now, who the hell knew what would happen?

  AN INCESSANT beeping at the edge of Vali’s consciousness had annoyed him for a while, though he hadn’t been with it enough to fully wake.

  The beeping picked up tempo.

  Where was he? How had come to be there? White. Everywhere. White walls. White bedding. White floor.

  He was sick. Bad sick. Perhaps close-to-death sick.

  He shifted and tried to get comfortable. Wasn’t happening. Fever roasted him as he lay in a tangle of sheets. He shoved the covers down to his waist and discovered some kind of hospital gown.

  Fear closed on him and locked icy hands around his throat, choking the breath from his lungs. He didn’t know why he was afraid which frightened him even more. He tried to move, but his legs lay like dead weights.

  He yanked the covers away. His leg sported a large bandage. How had he been injured? What had they done to him at the Security Center? Panic bit him with sharp teeth and gnawed on partial memories and half-truths.

  His stomach cramped with hunger. A combination of bloodlust and terror gripped him in a familiar yet foreign, mind numbing need to attack and feed from the first living thing he got his hands on.

  The mechanical beeping crawled under his skin. He growled at the machine parked somewhere behind him.

  An IV leaked fluid into the back of his left hand. His right arm was locked within a splint. He didn’t remember breaking his arm, but a deep ache confirmed a cracked bone.

  He growled at the IV, then grabbed the line and yanked it out. Blood spurted and splattered the sheet. Heat surged through his body. He grabbed the IV stand and flung it over.

  Footsteps approached. A man in a while coat came into the room. “Vali? What in the world?”

  Vali’s heart seized. His stomach knotted. The men who’d first tortured him had worn white coats. They’d hurt his hand and arm. Burned him. He hissed through clenched teeth.

  “Vali?”

  He shrank back in the bed and growled.

  “Don’t you recognize me? I’m Jason. I’m a doctor. I’m trying to help you.”

  Vali hissed again. Jason? He didn’t know any Jason. Where was he? Where was his family? Why had they left him with some stranger?

  Jason moved closer and something flashed in his hand. He sprang forward, grabbed Vali’s arm, and jabbed him with something sharp. Vali lunged, but his attacker moved too fast and leapt aside.

  His arm tingled and his head swam. The tingle spread throughout him. As he struggled to gain control over his body, he slid toward terrifying blackness.

  WHEN VALI woke, restraints frighteningly similar to the ones he’d been forced into at the Security Center, chained him to the bed. His insides lurched.

  An IV had been reinserted and dripped clear fluid into his arm. A tube ran into his nose. It irritated his throat and made him want to gag. A bag of blood worked its way through the tube. He would have yanked it out, except the binds on his wrists held him prisoner.

  He tried to move his legs. Couldn’t. Tried again. His heart thundered against his ribs and his stomach squirmed.

  He was paralyzed.

  Jason came in. He had the kind of expression doctors wore when they didn’t want the patient to know things weren’t just not in order, but were fucked up beyond repair.

  Vali’s blood whooshed through his ears. “Jason? Why am I tied up? What’s wrong with me?”

  “You’re back.” Relief showed in Jason’s eyes.

  “Why am I strapped down?”

  Jason hurried to his bedside. “When you came to, you didn’t recognize me and you were violent. I’ll release you now that you’re lucid.”

  “I can’t feel my legs.” His voice trembled, on the verge of full-blown panic.

  “I know. I’m doing all I can for you. There’s no sign of a neck or back injury, so I think it’s temporary. Once you get some nutrition in you, it should help you heal. You’ll be okay, in time.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Don’t worry. Just concentrate on getting well.”

  How the hell was he supposed to not worry when Jason looked as though every word he uttered was a lie. The doctor didn’t wear falsehood well.

  “How about removing this tube? I can feed myself now.” Vali indicated the feeding tube. He focused on Jason’s throat. He turned his head away, afraid of the sudden urge firing his blood and hoping Jason hadn’t read it in his eyes.

  “Give it a few days. Let me take care of you. You had a close brush with death and you’re still fragile.” Jason patted Vali’s shoulder in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture. It set his teeth on edge and he had to work to keep from baring his fangs.

  What in the fuck was wrong with him? Jason was a friend.

  “You need the nutrition and the tube is in place. I want you to leave it alone when I remove the restraints.”

  “It’s irritating my throat.”

  “I know. But it stays. Trust me. Let me help you.”

  Vali nodded even though he didn’t appreciate being treated like an invalid.

  His stomach tightened and the truth crawled through him like fast acting poison. Jason was treating him like an invalid because that’s what he was.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  SARANNA HAD Julian to herself and she didn’t want Ashton and Slade showing up and taking him out with them. They probably wouldn’t. Ashton hadn’t completely recovered yet, but she wasn’t taking any chances. “Walk with me.”

  She pulled on her jacket and waited for him to get his. She admired his broad chest as he pulled the garment on. He had good blood in him. No doubt about it. The wound in his arm had mostly healed, though he was going to have a scar. Considering the condition of his arms, it wasn’t a big deal.

  He followed her outside and took her hand. “Where do you want to go?”

  “No place special. I just wanted to get out of there for a while. It’s so small and cramped.” She needed to move, be distracted.

  “It’s cozy. I like it.”

  “You like sleeping on the floor or the sofa?”

  “I’ll take what I can get.”

  “I wish I had more to offer you.” She couldn’t sleep with him. She wanted to, but every time she thought about having sex, she panicked.

  He gave her hand a little squeeze. “It’s okay. You’ll know when you’re ready.”

  God, he had the most incredible eyes. The dazzling blue-green evoked images of the sea and white sand beaches. How she would love to walk on a beach with him. Maybe someday things would be different and they would be free to make it a reality. But now, all they hoped for was to survive. And maybe find a little happiness along the way.

  “Saranna?”

  She looked into his fabulous eyes. He’d probably seduced a lot of women when they fell under the spell of his gaze.

  “Don’t let it destroy you.”

  “I won’t. I’ll be okay. Just give me a little time.” She tigh
tened her grip on his hand, thankful he wasn’t repulsed after those pigs had used her body so many times.

  Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away.

  He stopped and drew her up short. “There’s no rush.” He folded her into his arms and stroked her back in a soothing caress. “No one will ever hurt you again. I won’t allow it.” He brought her hand up and kissed the palm.

  Wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, she believed him. She stretched up and kissed him. His body tightened and she quickly pushed back a little. “Thank you, for caring.”

  “Come with me. Let me take you someplace nice for a little while.”

  They walked hand in hand, but she noticed he never let his guard down now.

  After walking for what seemed like forever, he led her along one of the winding paths of an inner city garden. “Want to sit for a little while?” He indicated an iron bench situated before a lovely fountain surrounded by flowers.

  She sat and relaxed, enjoying the fragrance of the blossoms and the tinkling water as it splashed from the fountain back into the pool below. “This is beautiful.”

  He sat close beside her. “I thought you’d like it here.”

  They sat until a fine rain began falling. She inhaled the fresh scent. They would have to leave soon or get soaked. “You won’t break my heart, will you?”

  “I’d never hurt you intentionally.” He slipped an arm around her.

  Maybe he wouldn’t hurt her on purpose but if something happened to him she would be worse than hurt. She’d be devastated.

  She wasn’t a fool. He wanted in the Resistance. Slade didn’t want him, but it was Ashton’s decision. If Ashton accepted Julian and someone killed him… But his being killed in the line of duty wasn’t as horrifying as the thing she didn’t want to consider.

  If Ashton accepted him into the Resistance, Slade would have easy access to him all the time. She didn’t like the idea of them being alone together. Slade was too possessive of her, to the point of inappropriateness.

  Maybe she should shut Julian down and end things before they went any further. If Slade killed Julian because of her, she didn’t think she would be able to stand it.