by J. M. Adele
“Get in.” The detective opened the rear door and Shiloh slid along the leather, surprised that Carter followed her. Why isn’t she getting in the driver’s seat?
The cop slammed the door shut, cutting out the noise of the street, and Shiloh realized they weren’t alone. The big guy sat in the front, firing up the engine as his feral gaze ricocheted off the rearview mirror. Beside him, the goth turned and pointed a gun at Shiloh.
She grabbed for the door handle, her gut hollowing out as she yanked with no success.
Fuck. She was trapped.
Sweat broke out on her skin and she plastered herself to the seat, the instinct to get as far away as she could a futile response.
“Put the gun away, Evren,” Carter snapped.
“She fucking clawed my hand.”
“She’s desperate.”
Desperate? She was petrified and frustrated. Why wouldn’t anyone tell her anything?
“You don’t know how it is,” Carter added.
“Thank fuck.” Evren waved the gun at the detective. “And neither do you.”
What? Being kept in the dark? Having a gun pointed at your head? Being a prisoner in your own home?
Carter’s mouth tightened. “Put it away.” She pushed the gun aside and patted a hand on the driver’s massive shoulder. “Take us to the hills.”
Shiloh went taut, punching both fists into the seat. “No, you’re not taking me home. Where is Devlin?”
“He was discharged a couple of days ago. He hasn’t been home.” Carter plucked a piece of fluff from her pants and turned her attention to the view through the windshield. “No one knows where he is.”
He’s gone? Fuck.
Shiloh slumped against the door, all the fight evaporating from her body.
Streaks of light scanned across her as they passed by neon lit shops on their way back to Beverly Hills. She wished the beams were capable of erasing the past. For the first time in days, she wanted to curl up and sleep. To close her eyes and go to a place where all of this shit didn’t exist.
She hadn’t even realized she’d latched onto Devlin as a lifeline. He’d watched over her in school. He’d been there at the quarry, helping her uncover the truth. He’d fought for her and her sister in that old office building. He’d nearly died for her.
Now he’s taken off?
What if Devlin hasn’t gone? What if he was taken by Seth?
She had to stop calling him that.
His name is Jax.
They passed the turnoff to her place. She frowned, pulling her body up. “Where are we going?”
“We’re not taking you home. You’ll be staying with me. Our team are speaking with your parents now. We think it’s best for their safety, and yours, if you’re in a more secure environment. Jax is after you, not them. But he might use them to get to you. Don’t worry. They’re protected.”
“They’ll never agree to this.”
“They don’t have a choice. And besides, we have ways to make them agree.”
“Are you threatening them?” Shiloh’s voice squeaked in alarm.
“No. But vampires can be very influential when we want something. That’s how we ensure our food source when we’re Seekers—vampires still seeking their mate. Sometimes we need to partake in human blood if we can’t find an unmated vampire. We charm our victims into wanting us to bite them. That’s how Jax caught you in his spell.”
Yes. He’d been a drug. An addiction. Through all those years of training, she’d honed her body and mind to be the epitome of discipline. A precision instrument able to cut through the competition as easily as she did the water. At the height of her success, Jax had proven that she couldn’t completely shed her human vulnerabilities. Everybody had a weakness.
Could she learn how to control people’s minds?
She clasped her hands in her lap and bit her lip, thinking of Devlin’s captivating stare as he’d fed from Sienna. Was that what he’d been doing? Mind control?
The detective interrupted her thoughts. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t work on vampires unless the person manipulating you is your sire and your blood source.”
So Devlin’s seductive powers weren’t some mind trick. She had no excuse for her behavior.
With a click, Evren pulled back the slide on her handgun. “Pity.”
Shiloh felt the blood drain from her face, spotting the hulk’s smart-ass grin in the rearview mirror.
Who the hell are these people? She squirmed in her seat. “How is that supposed to be comforting? You’ve just told me Se—Jax still has the ability to mess with my mind. And why the sudden change? It’s been five days. What’s happened to warrant the need for more security?”
The detective shifted her eyes to the view of the LA skyline twinkling in the distance. “You. You’re getting weaker.” Carter spoke quietly, turning her sharp gaze back to Shiloh. “We can’t risk you running after him in bloodlust. And your deterioration will soon be noticeable. We can’t have your parents worrying or asking questions. We need to keep you safe until we can detain the perp.”
I just need a feed.
Wasn’t gonna happen.
Fuck.
She sat forward, too edgy to relax back on the seat. Besides, she had to pay attention to where they were headed in case she needed to escape.
After weaving through the streets of Los Angeles, they ended up on Mulholland Drive. From there, she lost track, breaking out in a sweat. The car took a convoluted route until they turned into a long, isolated driveway. Their progress was finally thwarted by two black steel gates imprinted with a basket weave pattern.
Faced with the imposing barrier, Shiloh reached for the door handle again—a last-ditch plea for freedom. It didn’t budge. The detective raised a dark brow.
Their driver put his face up to a small screen and spoke into the intercom. The big steel gates opened. After creeping around a bend, they drove up a gentle incline past manicured gardens. Soft lights guided their way. Pale gray rendered walls came into view, segmented by large tinted windows trimmed in charcoal, and a matching roof. A stacked stone feature wall greeted them at the entry, lit by matt-black steel sconces, and embraced by lush greenery in the adjacent garden bed.
Whoa. The place was a palace. A sprawling, three-story contemporary . . . prison.
“The LAPD pays way better than I imagined,” Shiloh mumbled.
Carter spoke over the duo of snorts coming from the front seats. “Sadly, no. But I do all right. I know how to invest wisely. I’ve been around a long time.”
“How long?”
“One hundred and eighty years.”
What?
Her three captors exited the vehicle, leaving Shiloh stewing on Sienna’s answer.
She scrambled after them towards the house. “How long do vampires live, on average?”
“I don’t know any that’ve died from old age, yet. Foul play, or terrible accidents are the predominant ways to go,” Carter replied.
The detective opened the door and Shiloh stopped to stare as the others bumped past her and disappeared. The foyer, complete with a waterfall trickling over stone, opened into a grand room. Leather sofas held plush cushions and rested on rugs in shades of rose, pink and gray. Walls of shelves cradled rows of books. Vases and trinkets were placed sparingly. It was all beautiful and welcoming.
Still a prison.
With a tap on a touch-screen, a television lowered from the ceiling. Carter handed her the control. “Here. Choose a channel. I’m sure you’re hungry. I’ll get us all something to eat before I show you to your room.”
Shiloh frowned at the device, the display looked about as decipherable as her math homework. Stupidly, tears welled in her eyes and she scrubbed them away with her sleeve. No, she didn’t want to watch TV. And there was no food in existence that could satisfy the hunger that eroded her gut.
Shiloh placed the control on the coffee table and followed the detective into a massive kitchen. Four refrigerators lined one wa
ll. One of them was dedicated to wine, its glass door proudly displaying its collection. Stainless steel and cream-colored stone contrasted with deep brown cupboards in design mastery.
“Why are you doing this? Having me in your home? Why not some other safe house?”
Sienna caressed the stone benchtop, adoration in her smile. “Because I like luxury, darling.”
Obviously.
The big vampire backed out of a fridge, dumping his final offering onto the banquet he’d collated, before taking a seat on a stool.
“Leave some for the rest of us.” Carter chastised.
He gave her a dark look from under his eyebrows as he shoved a raw lamb shank in his mouth, shoulders hunched.
The detective grabbed a plate from the cupboard and slid it under his nose. “Shiloh, meet Lock, the muscle of the unit. He’s also pretty handy with weaponry.”
And intimidating AF. “Hello.”
Apparently engrossed in feeding his face, he didn’t acknowledge her, or the plate.
Shiloh crossed her arms and looked around the space, wondering where the other sunshine twin had gone. Spotting a silhouette beyond the windows on a large deck, she had her answer. Against the backdrop of distant city lights, the goth had one hand up to her ear—presumably on her cellphone—and the other held a glowing cigarette.
“That’s Evren. She’s our sniper and Lock’s mate.”
They’re perfect for each other.
“Do you feel like some scrambled eggs?” Carter took a carton of eggs from the fridge and placed it beside the range.
“How long will I have to stay here?”
The detective turned, her shrewd gaze holding Shiloh in its grasp. “Until we eliminate the threat.” She picked up a spatula. “Eggs?”
“No. Thank you. Am I allowed to visit Lanie?”
Carter pulled a frypan out of a drawer. “No. It’s too risky. I have no doubt Jax is watching your every move. Either personally, or he has people helping him.” She flicked on the gas and cracked four eggs into the pan.
“Then he’s going to know that I’m here. Isn’t that a risk to you and your team? No offense, but a big gate and a lock on the door aren’t going to stop him from getting what he wants.”
God, she hoped she was wrong.
“We have cameras surrounding the premises, and sensors in the grounds, on all the windows, doors, and the roof. The entry points are reinforced and have retinal scanning technology and CCTV monitoring. The locks are manipulated remotely from our control room by one of the team. So if I come to the door under duress, the guard will not unlock it regardless of the retinal scan. The perimeter walls and gates are electrified. Yes, he can jump the boundary. But any humans he has working for him won’t be able to.” She sprinkled some paprika into the fluffy yellow mix. “And remember, he has to have sired a vampire, and continue to feed them, in order to control them. He can only give so much blood before he makes himself too weak. He wouldn’t be able to feed more than one or two vampires at a time. We also have a team of professionals—you’ll meet the rest later—and a glut of weapons. No one gets in . . . or out . . . without us knowing.”
Carter gave Shiloh a sidelong look as she turned off the heat.
No one gets out. Got it.
“Why? Why do you have all that stuff? Is there a war going on that I don’t know about? Are you related to the president? What could you possibly need all the gadgets for?”
“Oh, the toys aren’t mine, darling. They’re Devlin’s. I live here with him.”
Devlin. This is Devlin’s house.
A swell of energy rippled out from Shiloh’s chest at the mention of his name. She had to grab the edge of the bench to steady herself. What was it about him that had her reacting so strongly?
Who the hell was he?
And, more importantly . . . where the hell had he gone?
Visitors
She realized she’d been staring at the stone countertop when the plate of eggs slid into view. Their odor clogged her nostrils, her stomach pitching in response.
“Eat. You need food first, then sleep. Ask questions later,” Carter ordered.
“I don’t think I can eat.” Shiloh pushed the plate away, leaning her elbows on the bench and resting her forehead on her hands.
“Sit down! Don’t you dare vomit.”
A hard chair bit into the back of her thighs before two massive hands pushed on her shoulders, forcing her onto the seat.
“Put her head between her knees,” Carter barked at Lock.
“Stop.” Shiloh held up her hands. “I’m not going to vomit. There’s nothing in my stomach to vomit. I just . . .” She forced air out of her nose, feeling the dregs of her energy evaporate. “You know what? I’m tired. I need to go to bed.”
Carter’s mouth pinched. “Can you at least take an apple?”
Shiloh gave her a withering stare.
“All right. I’ll take you up.” Carter waved a hand for Shiloh to follow her. “Are you okay to walk?”
“Yeah, I’ll manage.”
Carter dipped her chin and led the way. “There are two staircases—one at the front of the house, one at the back. Your bedroom is at the rear, so I’ll show you through as we go.”
They passed another living room, this one more formal. It was decked out with teal and chocolate accents. Richly carved wood and sumptuous leather formed the bones of the room’s style. Chandeliers dripped from the ceiling, while elaborate floral arrangements decorated the two occasional tables.
“Most of the living spaces are on the first floor. You’ll find a billiards room across the hall with a bar. Access to the east wing with the gymnasium and pool are through there. We have a tennis court, but it’s outside, so that’s a no-go zone for you.” She pointed to the next set of paneled wood doors. “Theater room.”
Shiloh had to pick up her feet to keep pace with the detective as she marched along.
“Further down, you’ll find offices and utility rooms. There’s a basic medical facility. Myles is our medic. You’ll meet him tomorrow”—she checked her watch—“later today, rather. Here are the stairs.”
After ascending to the second floor, Shiloh saw a long corridor that ran the length of the house. Doors lined either side, broken here and there by a sitting room, or a powder room. Across from the landing, there was a short offshoot leading to the upper level of the east wing. A set of double doors sat at the end.
“Your room is here.” Carter gestured to the first door to the right of the landing. “Devlin is in the east wing. The rest of us are that way.” Carter indicated towards the front.
“Do all of you live here?”
“Not all of us. The rest of the team only stay when they’re on shift. The support staff are here permanently.”
“You’re not in the east wing with him?”
“Oh, God no, honey. The man is a lone wolf. Nobody gets invited in there. Not even the cleaners. It must be vile. I don’t want to know.”
“Why don’t you have a place of your own?” Shiloh bit her tongue for leaking her curiosity. “Sorry. That was rude of me to ask.”
“It’s a reasonable question.” Carter shrugged. “We’ve been together a long time. We work well, so I stick around, sometimes despite my better judgement.”
They’ve been together a long time. As lovers?
So why had he watched Shiloh with lustful eyes while he’d been drinking from Carter?
Or maybe Shiloh had been the voyeur intruding on the couple’s passionate exchange. Ugh. She rubbed a hand over her stomach, thankful she hadn’t eaten those eggs.
“Get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.” Sienna opened the door and left Shiloh to stare in amazement at her room.
Holy cow. Her bedroom at home had all the comforts a girl could wish for. This room made a mockery of her idea of luxury. There was probably a display cabinet for the occupant to store their tiara.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and stepped into the grandeur. Th
e bed had its own floating ceiling, complete with sheer curtains. In the corner, a sitting area provided a perfect reading nook overlooking the gardens. She found a touch-screen control on an ottoman and pressed a few buttons on the menu. With a click, a discreet inbuilt cabinet across from the bed opened up. Concealed within, she had her own entertainment system. She clicked the button again to shut it.
Moving to the bed, she noticed the wall behind it didn’t span the entire width of the room, leaving openings at each end. Entering on the left, she walked into a closet. The spacious room looked like a boutique with rows of shelving for displaying handbags and shoes, yards of hanging space, and a floor-to-ceiling mirror at one end. Tucked into the shelves, a dresser mirror framed in light guarded a makeup station with a mauve bergère tucked under the bench. She walked over and took a seat to test it out. Comfy. In the mirror, she glimpsed a private bathroom through another door behind her.
She wandered in and spun around. The shower had its own Bluetooth connectivity with massage and steam capabilities. Oh, yes please. She rolled her shoulders, almost feeling the water pummeling her sore muscles.
Shiloh paused, gritting her teeth. What am I doing?
None of this was hers. She wasn’t supposed to get comfortable here. She was being held against her will. No massage shower or state-of-the-art entertainment system could make up for the fact that she couldn’t go and see her family. Her sister.
She trudged through the bathroom door, coming out on the other side of the bed. Yeah, she’d have loved to have fallen into the soft comfort it offered, but she couldn’t allow herself the surrender. Not while her sister was still in a coma. Not while Devlin was missing. And not while Jax was still free to wreak havoc on everyone she’d ever loved.
Closing her eyes, Shiloh reached out with her senses, testing the pull toward Seth. It was faint, buried under piles of hatred and possibly miles of distance. Who knew the real reason for their bond’s demise?
She slumped in a chair in the sitting area and fixed her eyes out the window. All she could see was a sparse scattering of stars—only those strong enough to outshine the halo of light pollution from the city. She knew she had to be as strong as the brightest star if she was going to smother Jax’s plans.